Henderson County News
A community garden that will help train, socialize and mainstream children and adults with autism won the top prize in the Promise Competition during the wrapup Saturday of the 2014 Speak Out for Kids campaign.The working garden, proposed by the St. Gerard House and its Grotto School for the treatment and support of children with autism and their families, won a $10,000 grant that the school plans to use to buy supplies and other materials to plant the garden this spring.The campaign was designed to draw attention to gaps in Henderson County in a set of "5 Promises" that research shows will help young people become successful adults — Be a Caring Adult, Provide Safe Places, Provide A Healthy Start, Deliver an Effective Education, and Provide Opportunities to Serve.The effort involved recorded programs that identify gaps and successful strategies, "listening sessions" during which people listened to and responded to the sessions and Saturday's wrap-up.After the presentation of five proposals for the Promise grant, judges selected three finalists. Then the people who attended the Saturday morning event voted by text for the winner.In a surprise, the runner-ups also won money.An anonymous donor approached Children and Family Resource Center Director Elisha Freeman during the event and offered a $5,000 grant each to the second and third place finishers.The five finalists were "Feed the Need," the community garden for children and adults with autism, by the St. Gerard House, a business enterprise program run by the Boys and Girls Club, "Balanced Weigh," an educational program for parents of children at risk of obesity; a sensory motor room, also by the St. Gerard House; and a Partners in Reading program by Smart Start.
Winners of the $5,000 grants were the Boys and Girls Club business training for kids and Smart Start's early reading initiative."When we launched these little businesses, it was with the real intent that they could spin off into the world and become their own entity," said Boys and Girls Club Director Kevin Lauritsen. "These entrepreneurs will become spenders and savers and taxpayers in our community."The community garden fits well with the strong emphasis that the Gerard House puts on nutrition."There's an immense resource of organic growers here," Long said. "Nutrition is a big part of what we teach at Grotto. The garden really is an agent to get these kids socially engaged and teach them the soft skills they're not taught in schools." Read Story »
Henderson County News
United Way of Henderson County (UWHC) celebrated the 2013 Campaign at its LIVE UNITED Celebration and Annual Meeting today. The event, held at and sponsored by Lake Pointe Landing, was attended by 120 volunteers, business representatives and community members.
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Henderson County News
Dana Elementary students entered the first-ever White House Student Film Festival and received an Honorable Mention for their short film, " 21st Century Techno-Leaders." Read Story »
Hendersonville News
Stein Mart will more than double its floor space and add men's and children's departments and home wares at South Center Shopping Center.
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Henderson County News
Henderson County resident Lucas Armena has been appointed to the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission. Read Story »
Henderson County News
A security camera recorded images of an armed robbery at a convenience store on 1726 Old Spartanburg Road and investigators are asking for help in identifying the robbers.
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Flat Rock News
FLAT ROCK — The Flat Rock Village Council last week authorized a $15,411 contract for stream and creek work and tentatively committed about $150,000 to renovate the clubhouse for restrooms at the village’s new park.
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Henderson County News
"Arts After Dark," postponed by last week's snow, debuts tonight with food from a variety of restaurants and vendors, beer and wine and musical and dramatic entertainment.
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Hendersonville News
The city of Hendersonville and Elks Lodge 1616 have partnered to repair restroom facilities at Sullivan Park on Ashe Street in Hendersonville.
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