Blue Ridge Humane Society names new director

Henderson County News

Six advisory boards endorse countywide greenway plan

Clearing a major hurdle, Henderson County’s new Greenway Master Plan won the endorsement of the county Planning Board on Nov. 15, the fourth advisory board to bless the blueprint for a 71-mile network of paved trails. Last week, the Transportation Advisory Committee also blessed the plan, making six county boards to do so. Planning Board members asked questions about funding, how the county would get around unwilling landowners and whether rail company Watco would be willing to give up the track for a greenway. After a brief discussion, the board voted unanimously to recommend that the county commissioners adopt the greenway plan.“This is just the first step,” said Hunter Marks, a Planning Board member said who served on the Greenway Master Plan committee. “It’s a concept, it’s a plan of what we see down the road. There’s a lot of details, we’ll get to those details. This can be a game changer. Things like greenways help attract people, and I just think this is a really important step for the county.”Grady Hawkins, the county commission’s liaison to the Planning Board, said money is the biggest hurdle to a project of this magnitude.“When we were talking about right of way, we have already looked at running out of Jackson Park over to Blue Ridge Community College,” he said. “We explored some options there to go down the sewer line by the airport and it looked reasonable until we got to the end of the runway and we decided we didn’t want to mix it up with landing planes. It’s quite a challenge to have a 30-year plan. I would think we would at least realize the challenge that’s ahead of us on these projects and go after them — particularly the money.”Drafted over a six-month period, the 87-page plan envisions priority greenways, destination greenways and connection greenways that link parks and other destinations, such as the Carl Sandburg home and the Sierra Nevada and New Belgium breweries (in a segment connecting to Buncombe County greenways).The county’s plan would be woven into greenway plans that have been adopted or are currently under study in Fletcher, Hendersonville, Laurel Park, Mills River and Flat Rock. Funding could from a variety of sources.“It’s a mix of grants, public funding, nonprofit organizations such as Conserving Carolina and even groups like the TDA,” Chris Burns, the greenway committee chair, told the Planning Board. The Tourism Development Authority is setting aside revenue from a quarter-cent of the county’s hotel tax for greenway development. The master plan is one of the threshold assets any applicant for greenway money needs.“One of the first things they ask is, ‘Do you have a comprehensive plan in place?’” Burns said. Burns and John Mitchell, the county’s director of community and business development, assured the Planning Board that land acquisition would be on a voluntary basis. The process would be similar to what the state has used in developing the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.“Typically what happens is they would use a public right of way or they’d stick with the road” to go around unwilling landowners, Burns said. “The hope here is that over the years as people see that a lot of those concerns by property owners really don’t pan out, they are over time going to allow the trail to come through their property.”During a public comment period, three people spoke in favor of the greenway plan.While Hendersonville is known as a retirement community, the fastest growing demographic moving to the county is 33 and under, said Steve Gwaltney, a banker who moved to the area eight years ago. Greenways are one of the tools the county needs to recruit young workers, he said.“There are competing communities for the workforce that do not have the natural resources,” he said. “They don’t have our mountains, they don’t have beautiful rivers but they have greenways.”“It does invite industry,” Planning Board Chair Steve Dozier said. “The funding is not secure. It’s something that will take a lot of work and a lot of effort from many people to secure funding for it.”In an online survey, 93 percent of respondents said they approved or strongly approved of the greenway plan while just 2 percent opposed it. The most represented age group was 75-74. When asked what was the most important factor to consider in greenway planning, 55 percent chose “connection to other destinations.” Almost 600 people responded, which was the heaviest response of any recent county survey, planners said. Besides the Planning Board and Transportation Advisory Committee, boards that have endorsed the master plan are the Environmental Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Board, Board of Health and the Tourism Development Authority. Asheville-based land planning consultants Equinox is studying two greenway segments — northern and southern extensions of the Oklawaha Greenway. The planners are on track to present a report to the Board of Commissioners in December or January. * * * * * To read the greenway plan and respond to the survey click here.       Read Story »

Henderson County News

Junk Man’s Christmas 
concert benefits IAM

Guitarist and singer Peter Mayer of the Peter Mayer Group and Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band is bringing his 19th annual Stars and Promises Christmas Tour to Grace Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov. 30. Mayer’s band will perform timeless carols, original songs and stories from 7 to 9 p.m. to celebrate the magical Christmas season.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Symphony serves up 'Holidays at the Movies'

The silver screen is decked out in red and green this holiday season, as the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra presents “Holidays at the Movies” Saturday, Dec. 8, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Blue Ridge Community College’s Concert Hall. The concert is sponsored by Carolina Village.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

New theater company moving into former Playhouse space downtown

A new company has signed a lease for the former Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown space and plans a heavy schedue of professional theater, musical performances and children's theater starting in February. The Center for Art & Inspiration opens its doors at 125 S. Main on Feb. 23. Founded by theatrical writer and producer Jeanie Linders, the venture also will include a pop-up Malaprop’s bookstore, the renowned independent bookstore in downtown Asheville, and The Artful Cup Coffee Bar featuring the gourmet roasts of Independent Beans of Hendersonville's Historic Seventh Avenue District, the center said in a news release. The Center will include professional theatre from Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre under the direction of Broadway veteran Jimmy Ferraro (including My Big Fat Italian Murder Mystery, The Improper RoyalTea Murder and Murder on the High C's) to The Center Stage "Star" Series featuring "Liberace," "Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis," "John Denver," and "Barbra." International touring shows to be presented by The Center at Blue Ridge Community College's Bo Thomas Auditorium include In The Mood, a 1940s Big Band Musical Revue and the original London production ABBAMANIA. A Repertory Theatre Troupe will be showcased in Off-Broadway's Buyer and Cellar and Church Basement Ladies. Locating to The Center from Ft. Lauderdale, Dream Child Productions will bring a season of shows for children under the direction of founder Andrew Fiacco. Included in family programming will be events such as Disney's FROZEN Sing-A-Long. Also on the opening schedule are the Hendo Story Club, a series of creative art classes including Zentangle, Images in Words, Peeps & Chix H20 Color, plus Stand-Up Comedy 101 and 2ND SUNDAYS with musicians, storytellers, author talk-backs and more. "It's an ambitious schedule," Linders said in a news release, "but we have a team of professionals who are very committed to making this happen for our area. Having a meet-and-greet facility that can serve as a community destination for arts, entertainment and the opportunity to meet like-minded people has always been a dream of mine." "I believe that the continued growth of Henderson and nearby counties will make The Center the go-to alternative for top quality offerings in our backyard as opposed to down the road in Asheville," she said. Linders is the writer of Menopause: The Musical, a comedy that has played in more than 450 U.S. cities and another 300 worldwide. She believes there's room for more professional theater in the region, even though residents here already have access to performances at the Flat Rock Playhouse and in Greenville, S.C., and Asheville. "The truth of the matter is, there's an audience that is looking for a different type of performance and that's what we're offering," she said. "We're very excited about what the potential is here. What we do is totally different than what Flat Rock does so I don't think we're in competition with Flat Rock at all." Tickets are now on sale at www.thecenterai.com. Special pre-opening discounts, group sales savings and other information are available by calling 828-697-8547. The Center for Art & Inspiration including Malaprop's Books and The Artful Cup Coffee Bar will be open Tuesday through Sunday.   Read Story »

Saluda News

Event marks Carolina Special’s last run up Saluda Grade

SALUDA — After 53 years of running from Charleston to Asheville and beyond to the mid-west, the “Carolina Special” passenger train made its final run up the Saluda Grade 50 years ago on Dec. 5, 1968.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

City remembers firefighter who died in pool hall fire

“Heroism and Sacrifice” is the aptly named sculpture in Raleigh that honors all of North Carolina’s fallen firefighters. The name of Floyd A. Jackson, Jr. adorns the memorial as the City of Hendersonville’s only firefighter to have lost his life in the line of duty. Today marks the 68th anniversary of Firefighter Floyd A. Jackson Jr.’s death. “We continue to live on through the legacy of Firefighter Jackson,” said Chief Joseph Vindigni of the Hendersonville Fire Department. “We will always remember the sacrifice he made for the citizens of Hendersonville and surrounding communities.” On Sunday, Nov. 26, 1950, Jackson answered his final call responding to a basement fire that had broken out below the Brunswick Lunch and Billiards at 241 North Main Street. At approximately 6:15 a.m., Jackson, 31, fell through a weak area in the floor as he was working at the scene. Shortly after falling into the basement, a pool table slid through the opening in the floor, landing on Jackson and killing him. Firefighter Jackson was laid to rest on Dec. 3, 1950, at Oakdale Cemetery in Hendersonville. In addition to Floyd Jackson’s name appearing at the state memorial in Raleigh, his name can be found on the Hendersonville Fire Department Station 1 Dedication Statue and the Henderson County Fire and Rescue Memorial located at 851 N. Main Street.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Training is Wednesday evening for skating rink volunteers

Organizers of the iceless skating rink at the Visitor Center parking lot are seeking volunteers to help in the operation. Volunteer training will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28. The rink will be open Dec. 18 though Jan. 1. The larger and improved synthetic ice-skating rink is made from special polymers so it can be enjoyed year-round in any temperature. The skating rink is a fundraiser for the Henderson County America in Bloom Committee. To volunteer call Mia Freeman at (828) 698-4600 or email Karen Baker at kbaker@visithendersonvillenc.org   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Season of Giving: Find your passion and volunteer

Late last year Michael Willey had a casual conversation with someone he had just met about charitable organizations. The United Way came up. “Where I’m from in Los Angeles, United Way has blackout days” that bar other agencies from fundraising, he said. “They had a fairly high cost with overhead. Not only that, you had to get your fundraising campaigns approved if you were a United Way-funded organization. That was my biggest issue.” Willey shared those misgivings with a woman he was speaking with. She turned out to be Jessica Chipriano, the United Way’s operations coordinator. “Oh no, what have I gotten myself into?” Willey said to himself. But he rolled with it and agreed to Chipriano’s invitation to come see the United Way operation here. Months later, Willey was doing three different volunteer jobs for the United Way. “I was glad” to be proven wrong. “It was perfect,” he said. “It was time for us.” Michael and his wife, Christa, were starting to turn from rearing twin daughters to young adults — they’re on the way to college on rowing scholarships in the Northeast — and looking to engage in community work. “Once the objections for me were overcome, I understood more clearly,” Willey said. “The overhead is extremely low at our United Way. The Medical Loan closet, which is a great organization, probably wouldn’t exist without the United Way.” Denise Cumbee Long, the United Way’s executive director, calls Willey a converted non-believer. She nominated Michael and Christa to be among the Lightning’s Season of Giving profiles in volunteering. They’re “a wonderful example of a United Way husband and wife volunteer team,” she said. The Willeys also model what nonprofit leaders describe as two most critical factors when choosing a nonprofit to invest time and energy in: Find a cause you’re passionate about, investigate the organization and make good on your commitment of time. ‘Have a heart for the mission’ The Lightning surveyed 15 nonprofit leaders across Henderson County to find out what makes a good volunteer, what makes a good board member and what are examples of services nonprofits provide that save taxpayers’ money. (Hint: It amounts to millions of dollars’ worth.) When it came to volunteer service — on the front lines or the boardroom — the word passion came up over and over. A good volunteer “is truly devoted to the cause and believes in it, not just involved for the sake of being involved,” said Marybeth Burns, vice president of Blue Ridge Honor Flight. “First and foremost,” said Pardee Foundation’s Kim Hinkelman, “a volunteer needs to have a heart for the mission of the organization. This is something that is coming from a passion and willingness to make a place, an organization, or a community better.” “Enthusiasm,” said Karla Reese, manager of Pardee’s volunteer services, makes for an effective volunteer experience. “When a person is enthusiastic, you can see it right away — it’s contagious.” The “small group of volunteers” that founded Four Seasons hospice 40 years ago would agree that “a great volunteer is made up of many amazing qualities,” said Callie Davis, Four Seasons’ marketing director. “They are enthusiastic about the work that they are doing and take great pride in the outcomes. They have passion and it shows in every interaction they have. A great volunteer is selfless, compassionate, and reliable.” Besides passion and enthusiasm, nonprofit leaders also emphasized the need for volunteers to be flexible. “A good volunteer is someone who has a heart for service and passion for the work that your charity does,” said Elizabeth Willson Moss, executive director of Interfaith Assistance Ministry. “In IAM’s case, our volunteers serve because they want to help their neighbors — children, women and men — who are in financial crisis and need a compassionate hand-up during their difficult times. They are team players, kind-hearted, reliable, committed, engaged and flexible enough to roll with the punches when additional needs arise.” Added McCray Benson, the president of the Community Foundation: “They have no reservations when it comes to lending a hand, even with mundane ‘chores,’ and are willing to support and/or assist in fundraising efforts.” ‘Interview key leaders’ Henderson County has more than 300 nonprofit organizations, most of which are hungry for volunteers. So a volunteer ought to be able find a job that suits his or her talents. “Ask questions about the mission and purpose, so you know it fits with who you are and what you hope to offer,” Hinkelman said. Making an appointment for an on-site visit is a good start. “Get to know people who are already established volunteers at the organization and ask questions,” said Julia Hockenberry, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club. “Visiting and observing volunteer activities before making a commitment also ensures a good fit.”
 Other tips: “Tour the agencies you are considering and really understand if your passions line up with their mission,” said Kristen Martin, the executive director of Thrive, a mental health agency for adults. “If you believe in the cause, it is easy to support them in time.” “Once you’ve made the commitment, please show up unless you are sick or have a personal crisis,” Moss said. “Be a team player. If you don’t like the organization you’re volunteering for, leave and try another one.” “Interview and visit with key leaders of the organization,” Benson said. “Be willing to review the attributes of what a good volunteer is for that organization and reflect on whether it’s a good fit for you both.” ‘Doers who walk the talk’ Although board service may be less physically demanding than repairing roofs, loading canned goods or coaching 8-year-olds, commitment and enthusiasm are no less important, the nonprofit leaders told us. “Great board members tend to be great listeners who are highly attuned to the needs of the organization as well as the needs in the community,” Hockenberry said. “Great board members also demonstrate courage and initiative as advocates. They are doers who know how to walk the talk.” “Show up — mentally, emotionally, with curiosity and creative interest,” Benson said. “Drop in on the organization.  Be alert to what it is doing in the community and alternatively be alert to where in the community the organization could be to best serve its mission.” What makes a good board member? “A good board member prepares for and attends all of the board meetings and is involved in at least one committee, attends the nonprofit’s events and donates funds to the nonprofit,” Moss said. “A good board member is also an ambassador in the community for your nonprofit.” “A great board member asks the tough questions and uses that knowledge to further the mission by volunteering and recruiting other volunteers and donations,” Martin said. “Commitment of time, treasures and talent – it’s a ‘churchy’ phrase, but works well for any volunteer board situation,” Hinkelman said. Patching the safety net If it weren’t nonprofits, families in crisis would go without, creeks would be trashier, more dogs and cats would be put down, some children would go hungry and the frail and elderly would be cold in winter. But for the organizations that patch holes in the social safety net, taxpayers would pay more. Donations from individuals, corporations and foundations plus free labor by hundreds of volunteers enable nonprofits to step in where public aid stops. The Community Foundation “distributed more than $3.5 million this last year to 297 nonprofit organizations,” Benson said. “Almost all of these organizations use volunteers and according to a recent report by the Federal Reserve volunteers stretch the value of the dollars contributed on average by 50 percent more than the amount contributed. … We’re invested in the Leader-in-Me program at our public schools, helping to fund those addressing addiction, building better health care for each generation, supporting access to the arts, strengthening civic engagement, helping care for animals, enhancing early childhood development and much more.” For the absurdly low annual membership fee of $5, the Boys & Girls Club offers tutoring, enhanced arts, music and education, sports, science, field trips and more — and every single member graduates. “Compared to the high school graduate — a dropout costs taxpayers an average of $292,000 over a lifetime,” Hockenberry said. “The Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County has maintained a 100 percent high school graduation rate since 2009.” We tend to think government programs make sure people don’t go hungry, lose electricity in a cold snap or go to kindergarten with two left shoes. A nonprofit is often the court of last resort for the needy. “Through October 2018, Interfaith Assistance Ministry has helped more than 10,000 children and adults through utility bill and heating assistance, rent assistance, a full week’s worth of three meals a day of nutritious food, clothing that fits, bus tickets, gasoline vouchers, prescription assistance, school supplies, blankets, linens, diapers, personal hygiene items, rides home from IAM, free budget and tobacco cessation classes, an action plan, scholarship funds and a Working Women’s Clothing Closet to help women who can’t afford interview clothing and special clothing for manufacturing, food service, nursing and other professions with the needed clothing and shoes to accept a better paying job,” Moss said. When a client has a need IAM can’t cover, the agency refers the person to a sister agency that specializes in that area, such as legal aid or medical care. At Thrive, “our Day Program helps adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses stay healthy and stable and decrease hospitalizations that they can’t afford, thus saving the taxpayer dollars,” Martin said. “Our Representative Payee and Housing Program helps to ensure long-term housing stability through assisting in payment of basic needs such as prescriptions, rent, utilities, and food first.” Through its Women Helping Women program, the Pardee Foundation provides free medical care to uninsured women. “For over 20 years women have gathered to raise dollars and awareness in our community — it started with providing free mammograms and has expanded to any health issue a woman faces.” Rewarded with smiles A can of beef stew, a new pair of sneakers for the first day of school, a wheelchair loaned for free, a home repair or a winter coat are tangible donations nonprofits make. Ask a volunteer what they love about volunteering and one intangible invariably comes up: smiles. “I think the best thing is just the interaction, particularly with children and families and seeing what joy a farm brings to them,” said Becky Varnadore, a veteran volunteer at Historic Johnson Farm. “It’s a good feeling, especially around back-to-school time when kids come in and get their new backpacks their school supplies,” said IAM volunteer Bo Boteilho. “The joy on their faces is something to see.” “It’s seeing those kids’ faces’ smile and light up you when they see you and you’re picking up where you left off and asking how they’re feeling,” said Carla Duncan, who volunteers in the art room at the Boys & Girls Club. “The best thing I think is seeing the smiles on their face and their eyes light up when they are being thanked as a veteran and I think it helps them heal from some old wounds,” Blue Ridge Honor Flight volunteer Laura Cline said.     Read Story »

News Archive

• Volunteer profile: Patsy Farmer Jones, Pardee Foundation       Comments
• Volunteer profile: John Bell, Community Foundation of Henderson County       Comments
• Volunteer profile: Chuck White, Thrive       Comments
• Volunteer profile: Michael Willey, United Way       Comments
• Volunteer profile: Carla Duncan, Boys & Girls Club       Comments
• Volunteer profile: Sandy Brown, Garden Cafe, Pardee Hospital       Comments
• Volunteer profile: Gordian “Bo” Boteilho, Interfaith Assistance Ministry       Comments
• Volunteer profile: Bob Winters, The Storehouse       Comments
• Volunteer profile: Laura Cline       Comments
• Volunteer profile: Becky Varnadore       Comments
• ICE KNOCKS OUT POWER FOR 4,400 CUSTOMERS       Comments
• The Lightning is on the street!       Comments
• Woman sent to prison for poisoning boyfriend       Comments
• Sierra Nevada to brew Resilience to support recovery from Camp Fire       Comments
• Ethics panel raps Meadows over handling of harassment complaints against top aide       Comments
• Mike's expands next door, adding beer, evening hours       Comments
• Hendersonville singer going 'straight to Hollywood' for American Idol       Comments
• Family Dollar celebrating new store with gift cards for early birds on Nov. 24       Comments
• Metcalf appointed U.S. magistrate judge       Comments
• Winter storm expected to bring sleet and freezing rain       Comments
• Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (195)       Comments
• Season of Giving in this week's Lightning       Comments
• Health Dept. investigating a case of whooping cough       Comments
• Greenway plan envisions 71-mile network of trails       Comments
• Sierra Nevada sets up fund for Camp Fire, which threatens its headquarters       Comments
• Local nonprofit wins grant to continue David Holt's State of Music       Comments
• Laurel Park honors Lt. Hubert M. Smith, a late casualty of WWI       Comments
• Brother Wolf waives fees for senior dogs and cats in November       Comments
• Award-winning duo
 perform old-time music Nov. 17       Comments
• City hires sheriff's office media aide as first communications manager       Comments