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Henderson County News

IN 4-1 VOTE BOARD KILLS PROPOSED MORATORIUM

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners on Monday night turned back one commissioner's proposal to reconcile a gap between growth pressure and the county's overcapacity roads and limited sewer coverage, killing a building moratorium in a decisive 4-1 vote. Commissioner Grady Hawkins' proposed 90-day moratorium drew support from three-quarters of the 30 residents who spoke. The speakers got two minutes each to express their thoughts on the proposed moratorium, which Hawkins had pitched three weeks ago as a way to review the county comprehensive plan in a climate that is bringing intense opposition to big developments and nearly every proposed road improvement. Speakers in favor of the moratorium triggered strong applause; speakers opposed drew lighter support. Among those opposing a moratorium were the president of the Henderson County Home Builders Association and the WNC Manufactured Housing Association, a landscape contractor and the county's economic development agency. After the public comments and board discussion spanning 2½ hours, commissioners rejected Hawkins' motion to enact a 90-day moratorium on subdivisions of 100 units or more. Commissioners Tommy Thompson, Charlie Messer and Bill Lapsley all questioned whether the moratorium would achieve what residents hoped and Chairman Michael Edney directed a series of questions to County Attorney Russ Burrell about the many development regulations in state law that are beyond the control of counties. Supporters of the moratorium told commissioners that the timeout was needed to get a handle on roads and other infrastructure, to decide what kind of development is acceptable and consider the impact of high-density developments. About 22 of the 30 speakers spoke in favor of the development pause. Most were from Hunters Crossing and Hawthorn Hills, where residents are fighting a large development across the road from their subdivisions, and from Etowah, where neighbors rallied to defeat a 300-unit development last month. "Laurel Park was able to annex this 90-acre parcel even though it is in reality located 1½ miles outside Laurel Park town limits, only because it touches 350 feet of Davis Mountain Road," said Peggy Smith, president of the Hunters Crossing Homeowners Association. "Laurel Park is going to benefit from the increased tax base but bear none of the brnut of the negative impact of the high increased traffic of this high-density project... In reality it is county residents who will forever be living with a rental development that does not fit into our rural, single-family homeowner neighborhoods that we all moved here for and have already invested in." Another leader of the Hunters Crossing opposition, Doug Judkins, raised questions about Laurel Park's actions to annex the 900-acre site for the Arcadia Views project and its change of the zoning in 2006, when a previous development was in the works. "It would be good if the affected neighborhoods were told of these actions before the areas were annexed," he said. Burrell made it clear that state law sets strict limits on counties' ability to enact a building moratorium. "This board will need to make findings about issues that are so problematic that there needs to be a moratorium," he said. The ordinance must have a termination date, and that can't be extended except under extraordinary circumstances. The commissioners must draft "a clear statement of the problems and conditions necessitating a moratorium" and what courses of action may be thought about to remedy them, Burrell said. A moratorium can't block later phases of a development the county has already OK'd. State law also spells out how a property owner harmed by a moratorium can sue, placing the burden of proof on the county to show that it followed all the steps required for enacting a moratriium. If the moratorium goes on too long, he said, "it becomes a taking" barred by the Fifth Amendment. Commissioners pointed out that two major public needs — water and sewer systems and roads — are beyond the reach of counties. "We know that we can do very little if any about the roads," Messer said. "I guess I have a problem with the affordable housing industry and the construction workers. I don't know that a moratorium is going to fix the problems we've got. ... After listening to all you people, I can say I agree with you ... I think we've got to go back to the table and come up with something better that would work. It's a band-aid to fix something when I don't see that it fixes anything." Another problem, Thompson added, is that commissioners could enact a moratorium only in unincorporated Henderson County, leaving the cities to OK development that also puts pressure on roads and utilities. "That encompasses a lot of land that would not fall under this moratorium," he said. When it comes to road improvements and regulations on water and sewer, "those are state rules," Burrell said in answer to the line of questioning from Edney. For instance, state public health regulations, not a county ordinance, dictate how close a septic tank can be to a residential well. "Even in ideal soil conditions, a one-acre lot probably at the most could handle two units if you're lucky," said Lapsley, a civil engineer. The county also has no authority to tell the Asheville-based Municipal Sewer District or the city of Hendersonville where they should expand  water and sewer lines, Burrell said. Arguing for the moratorium, Hawkins said a 90-day timeout would give the Planning Board time to evaluate permitting of high-density residential developments. "We've pretty well recognized two major problems in the county, that being roads and water and sewer," Hawkins said. "We're looking for a solution to address those and yet we have no authority over either of them. ... However, we as a board have taken actions to address some of those. I think it would benefit the county to take a short timeout here and deal with water-sewer and roads. They have a common denominator and it's density because it's density that drives the need for water and sewer and it's density that drives the need for roads and byways .. and that basically is how to deal with these large subdivisions." His motion called for a moratorium on subdivisions of 100 units or more on 100 acres. "I don't think that will be an adverse impact on the construction industry, grants and affordable housing and so forth," he said. Lapsley pointed out that the development moratorium advocates cited repeatedly Monday night — Arcadia Views — is beyond the commissioners' jurisdiction; the Laurel Park Town Council will decide that. The other project residents brought up was the 299-unit development on McKinney Road in Etowah, which the Planning Board killed when it denied approval of a master plan. "My reaction to that is the process worked," Lapsley said. "The applicant went througn the process, presented a plan and the Planning Board reviewed it and said no. The point I'm making is I don't hear a lot of other issues from around the county. Everything seems to relate to these two projects." Edney agreed. "The Planning Board did the right thing in Etowah and our ordinance worked," he said. Besides roads, water and sewer is most often cited by residents opposed to high-density development. "Large developments are going to require community water and sewer," Lapsley said. "This board has a great deal of influence" with water and sewer providers. "I may be wrong to use the term veto power but I believe this board has that kind of authority to stop a project" by working with public utilities. Messer pointed out that the Laurel Park development, traffic hazards on U.S. 64 and an unpopular road improvement project on 64 in Laurel Park are not in Henderson County's power to stop or change. "A moratorium is not going to help fix anything there," Messer said.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Morris Broadband reports internet outage

Morris Broadband is reporting a spike in calls because of an internet outage on Monday. The cable TV and high-speed internet company that serves Henderson County said in a message that its call center was experiencing a high volume of calls because of the outage. A chart showed a spike in the number of customers without access to the web starting at about 10 a.m. Monday. There was no explanation of the cause or an exact number of customers affected.   Read Story »

Laurel Park News

Arcadia Views opponents want NCDOT to bar entrance on U.S. 64

Residents opposing the Arcadia Views development across from two large subdivisions on U.S. 64 are urging the NCDOT to require a single entrance on Davis Mountain Road instead of U.S. 64. Gregory Plumb and Peggy Smith, two leaders of the anti-development movement made up of Hawthorn Hills and Hunters Crossing residents and others, urged the state transportation agency "to effectively limit ingress and egress for the Cottages at Arcadia Views to Davis Mountain Road, Smith said in a letter to NCDOT District Engineer Steve Cannon dated Oct. 26. That followed Plumb's letter a month earlier recommending the same thing. WXZ Development is seeking approval from the Laurel Park Town Council to build 199 cottages on a 91-acre ridge with road frontage on U.S. 64 and Davis Mountain Road, a winding road that runs from Daniel Drive to Hebron Road. The first of six phases would contain 56 units on the lower part of the property on U.S. 64 across from Hunters Crossing. A single entrance/exit road on Davis Mountain Road, Smith said, "would bypass the unsolvable problems (unsafe sight distances and unsafe offset driveway distances) (posed by) the developer’s desired driveway access onto U.S. 64" and would disperse "Arcadia Views traffic in four directions via Daniels Road and via Crystal Spring Drive to White Pine, Hebron Drive, and 5th Avenue." Here's the entire letter:   October 26, 2017 Mr. Steve Cannon, PEDistrict EngineerNorth Carolina Department of TransportationHighway Division 14, District l4142 Haywood RoadMills River, NC 28742 RE: Follow-up to Cottages at Arcadia Views Street and Driveway Access Permit Application,Gregory M. Plumb’s Response dtd 9/25/17 and US64W Traffic Survey Request dtd 9/25/17 Q6AAXXYQVH Dear Mr. Cannon: The concerned residents of the US64W corridor realize that improvements to our road are inevitable in some form, probably within the 10-12 year timeframe you have suggested. However, to deal with the immediacy of the Arcadia Views approval in a well-thought-out, compliant and logical fashion, we believe North Carolina Department of Transportation should effectively limit ingress and egress for the Cottages at Arcadia Views to Davis Mountain Road, as previously suggested by Gregory M. Plumb on 9/25/17. We cite the following compelling reasons why this alternative should prevail: 1. It would bypass the unsolvable problems (unsafe sight distances and unsafe offset driveway distances) with the developer’s desired driveway access onto US64.2. There are already intentions by the developer to eventually build one access “driveway” onto Davis Mountain Road (as mentioned at the Laurel Park Town Council meeting in September).3. A Davis Mountain Road entrance would funnel Arcadia Views traffic in four directions via Daniels Road and via Crystal Spring Drive to White Pine, Hebron Drive, and 5th Avenue; dispersing traffic throughout the entire area. In addition, Davis Mountain Road connects to Etowah. Having no entrance on 64W prevents the Arcadia Views road from becoming a cut-through for Davis Mountain Road converging into a single intersection on US64W.4. Laurel Park police would likely travel up Davis Mountain Road from the police station if required to make a call in Arcadia Views since it would be the most direct and fastest route.5. We understand current developments (i.e. Charlotte, NC) are reducing theft and vandalism problems by deliberately designing their communities with a single entrance to cut down on easy escape routes for perpetrators . (Obviously, the necessity of a criminal having to drive right by the Laurel Park Police Department after committing theft/vandalism would deter such incidences, thereby increasing the overall safety of Arcadia Views residents.)6. Arcadia Views IS a Laurel Park medium density housing project and Laurel Park should attempt to solve the resulting traffic issues they are creating. As current 64W corridor residents, we would like to see a single entrance on Davis Mountain Road, with a landscaped berm along 64W to buffer noise and maintain the country feel that we wish to preserve. Again, referring to the 500 petition signatures already obtained from US64W corridor residents, we remind NC DOT and the Henderson County Traffic Advisory Committee that your mission is to listen to the public as stated at the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting this past Wednesday, October 18, 2017, prior to recommending transportation decisions that are not felt to be in the best interests of the community. Sincerely, Peggy Smith, PresidentHunters Crossing Homeowners Association     Read Story »

Laurel Park News

NIMBY NATION: Greatest hits of grassroots uprisings

Residents rising up against big developments, road projects and disruptive land-use changes have had some remarkable successes over the years. The grassroots movements to prevent development have staged fights against the big and hugely consequential — a TVA proposal to build 14 dams — to the trivial — the playground at the Park at Flat Rock. Here’s a look at some of the notable past and current fights in our area’s colorful nimby history.   Dam fighters defeat TVA, 1968-72 A David and Goliath battle pitting natives and newcomers against the giant TVA and its many powerful allies ended in 1972 when voters locally and statewide replaced project advocates with those who opposed the ambitious flood-control project. Organizer Jere Brittain called the effort a “perfect storm” of politics and timing. The new National Environmental Policy Act gave opponents a strong weapon to force the government into accountability and public hearings. Retirees with expertise joined natives with their family homesteads at stake to form a powerful grassroots coalition that finally prevailed. Here's an in-depth look at the historic fight. Ingles on N.C. 191, 1995-2005 Bob Ingle badly wanted to build a supermarket on N.C. 191 in the Rugby area. Rugby residents wouldn’t allow it. Ingles Markets tried unsuccessfully in 1995 to build a store next to Rugby Middle School. It tried in 2003 on N.C. 191 at North Rugby Road — withdrawing a zoning request before it reached the Board of Commissioners — and again in 2005. Five-hundred residents who turned out at the West Henderson High School auditorium cheered when commissioners voted 5-0 against the rezoning. Clear Creek Connector, 2000 Residents of neighborhoods on N.C. 191 in Hendersonville and tenants of the Beverly Hanks Center packed hearings to oppose the NCDOT’s plans for the Clear Creek Connector, a new bypass from I-26 to N.C. 191 that had the strong support of the Chamber of Commerce. The roadway would have sliced through the office complex and Patton Park, and residents of the Haywood Road neighborhoods feared a flood of traffic. In June 2000, the Hendersonville City Council reversed an earlier vote in favor of the project and voted to kill the project. The Cliffs at Brevard, 2000 The Friends of DuPont Forest had members and support far beyond the area adjoining the 2,200 acres of waterfalls, trails and woods they ultimate saved. Hikers, campers, hunters and conservationists made up a broad coalition that successfully blocked developer Jim Anthony from turning the forest land into an upscale subdivision called the Cliffs at Brevard. Led by Chuck McGrady, a summer camp owner who would become a county commissioner and state legislator, the Friends of DuPont Forest raised money, wrote letters and lobbied local and state officials. In October 2000, the state Cabinet voted to buy the property under its power of imminent domain. The state’s initial payment of $12 million was doubled to $24 million in a settlement filed in Transylvania County Superior Court. Anthony, who bought the land for $6.35 million in 1999, said he had invested another $14 million on improvements. Grimesdale asphalt plant, 2001 In 2001 residents of the neighborhood off Brookside Camp Road packed hearings and organized Citizens Against the Asphalt Plant to fight an asphalt plant Tarheel Paving Co. planned on 16 acres on Asheville Highway. The CAAP, held rallies, distributed pamphlets, sponsored public forums and attended hearings to warn of what they regarded as the plant’s adverse effects on air quality, water quality, health and property values. It was a valiant fight that failed. When a Superior Court judge upheld the issuance of a permit by state air quality regulators, the Grimesdale Homeowners Association gave up. The plant has operated since with no air quality complaints. I-26 widening, 2002. A federal judge blocked NCDOT’s plan to widen I-26 to six lanes after opponents filed a lawsuit on environmental grounds. Opponents, who had formed Citizens for Transportation Planning, argued that the Federal Highway Administration and the NCDOT failed to study how the I-26 widening in Henderson County and three other related projects in Buncombe would affect air pollution, traffic and growth. The plaintiffs won their case at trial, effectively blocking the I-26 widening for almost 20 years. (A six-lane project in Henderson County is scheduled for 2019.) Crail Farm Road bridge, 2008. Residents of Middleton Road and the vicinity in Flat Rock objected to a plan by the NCDOT to replace a 43-year-old wooden bridge on Crail Farm Road, a lightly traveled dirt road that connects Kanuga and Middleton roads. DOT engineers described the bridge as “structurally deficient” and “functionally obsolete” and said floodwaters would likely “take out a center support” and wash the bridge away. A discussion of the bridge construction dragged on for 5,400 words in minutes of a Board of Commissioners meeting. The NCDOT ultimately redesigned and constructed a new bridge. Duke Energy transmission line, summer of 2015 The biggest nimby uprising since the TVA battle, this was another grassroots battle that involved regular folks against a powerful adversary. Unlike developments that can be stopped at the local level, a utility’s plans for new transmission lines and power plants are exempt from zoning and other local laws. But one characteristic common to nearly all successful nimby movements is their refusal to be cowed by long odds. A coalition of homeowners, environmentalists, tourism industry businesses and farmers turned out people by the hundreds at hearings in Henderson County and Upstate South Carolina to oppose Duke’s plans. Every city in Henderson County except Hendersonville adopted resolutions opposing the 45-mile 230-kilovolt transmission line and the Hendersonville City Council and county Board of Commissioners urged a second, independent look at whether the project was needed. After five tumultuous months of protests, public hearings and negative publicity, Duke pulled the plug. Bradley Road event barn, October 2015 Stan Shelley has led the fight against an event barn in his backyard.Although the Zoning Board of Adjustment granted a permit for the event barn for weddings and other gatherings two years ago, the opposition has not retreated. Homeowners and dozens of allies from as far away as Crab Creek and Asheville have protested the decision at subsequent Zoning Board of Adjustment and county commission meetings, saying commercial uses should be barred in residential zones. Although the permit was upheld by the state Court of Appeals, homeowners have continued to press their case at the zoning board meetings, asking it to revoke the permit. Flat Rock Playground, summer 2016 Residents of the Highland Golf Villas implored the Flat Rock Village Council to suppress the noise at a children’s playground at the Park at Flat Rock or move the facility far from their homes. After several months of protest and a noise study, the Village Council says no. Moving the playground would be too expensive, Mayor Bob Staton said, and would disrupt future development spelled out in the park master plan. Eagles Nest at Horse Shoe Farm, December 2016 The Henderson County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to deny developer John Turchin’s rezoning request for 225 cottages and apartments at Horse Shoe Farm on the French Broad River. Residents of Tamarac and other subdivisions on South Rugby Road packed Planning Board and county commission meetings to oppose the project. Carl Sandburg Home Historic Site parking lot, April 2017 Planned for years by the National Park Service, a second parking lot on Little River Road triggered a small but effective nimby response by across-the-street neighbors. When a contractor bulldozed 36 trees, the neighbors called their congressman and the Flat Rock Village Council, complained to the chief ranger for the historic site and mounted a petition drive to block the project. Work has stopped since the opponents sought to block the parking lot. Senior living apartments, Aug. 3, 2017 The Hendersonville City Council unanimously denied a rezoning that would have allowed 126 senior apartments plus a café, movie theater and library on eight acres in the city’s extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction on U.S. 64 east of Laurel Park. Neighboring homeowners argued that the development was incompatible with the residential area and would overburden already congested U.S. 64. The Farm at Eagles Nest, Oct. 19, 2017 The Henderson County Planning Board rejected a 299-unit development in Etowah.Nine months after the county killed his Horse Shoe Farm plan, developer John Turchin stood before the Henderson County Planning Board and asked for the green light for a 299-unit development of rental cottages, apartments and RV spaces on a 225-acre tract in Etowah that’s currently a cow pasture. The Planning Board said no, agreeing with the nimby assembly’s objections based on traffic, water and sewer access and neighborhood compatibility. Arcadia View cottages, pending Residents of Hunters Crossing and Hawthorn Hills have organized strong opposition to a development of 209 rental cottages on Davis Mountain across from their subdivisions. Wearing green “Fix U.S. 64” buttons, opponents have attended public hearings on road projects and meetings of the Board of Commissioners, the county Transportation Advisory Committee to demand U.S. 64 improvements. The Laurel Park Town Council asked the NCDOT for a second in-depth traffic impact study, which is pending. Boyd Drive bridge, pending Residents of Boyd Drive, Flat Rock Forest and other subdivisions have decried a planned bridge replacement over Memminger Creek as an overdesigned monstrosity that would bulldoze dozens of large hardwoods and destroy the aquatic habitat. NCDOT says the bridge is unsafe and has to be replaced. Residents and Village Council member John Dockendorf have been negotiating with NCDOT engineers for a more modest design. Highland Lake Road widening, pending Residents turned out in large numbers to oppose the Highland Lake Road widening project.Opponents of the NCDOT project that would widen Highland Lake Road, straighten curves and add a separated multi-use lane have organized to block the project on the grounds that it’s an overreach that takes too many trees and threatens the Park at Flat Rock. Although the Flat Rock Village Council endorsed the project earlier this year, two council members are pushing their colleagues to reverse the endorsement or demand changes. Historic Flat Rock members oppose the project as inconsistent with the historic character of the village. Kanuga Road widening, pending Signs saying “No widening Kanuga,” “Yard Not for Sale,” and “Save the Trees!” dot Kanuga Road from Church Street in Hendersonville to Little River Road in Flat Rock. Kanuga residents are rallying against the $20 million project. They argue that widening the travel lanes to 11 feet and adding 4-foot paved shoulders as dedicated bike lanes is “government overkill” that would take hundreds of trees, remove rock walls and subdivision gates and turn a rural road into a speedway. The 4.2-mile project also would include turn lanes at the Kanuga-Erkwood intersection and a 5-foot sidewalk north of Erkwood. U.S. 64 improvements, pending Residents on either side of U.S. 64 in Laurel Park have raised objections to planned improvements from Blythe Street to White Pine Drive that include 12-foot travel lanes, 5-foot striped bike lanes in each direction, 5-foot sidewalks on either side, a 17-foot grass median and roundabouts at (realigned) Windsor Drive-White Pine, Pisgah Drive and Glasgow Lane. After the NCDOT moved roundabouts and made other changes to accommodate businesses, the Laurel Park Town Council endorsed the plan on Feb. 21. The 1-mile project also passes through Hendersonville and unincorporated Henderson County. Meanwhile, residents further west, in Hunters Crossing and Hawthorn Hills, oppose a development on Davis Mountain and say the highway should be improved before more development is allowed. Sources: “Gun Fights, Dam Fights and Water Rights: Essays on the History of Henderson County, North Carolina, and Vicinity,” James Brittain, 2001; History of Grimesdale (grimesdale.org/history) by Merle D. Thornton (president, 1950-1986), Arthur F. Drant Jr. (1987-1991) and Evelyn M. VandenDolder (1992-2008); minutes of Henderson County Board of Commissioners, Hendersonville City Council, Flat Rock Village Council, Laurel Park Town Council; Henderson County Transportation Advisory Committee, NCDOT public information brochures on road improvement projects, City of Hendersonville NCDOT Road Projects Update, Hendersonville Lightning, (Hendersonville) Times-News, interviews.   Read Story »

Laurel Park News

Moss column: The 'no grow' movement is winning

We’ve taken a deep dive this week into our county’s history of nimbyism — the efforts to block developments that residents perceive as harmful.   Read Story »

Laurel Park News

NIMBY NATION: County has colorful history of citizen uprisings

When he started his unlikely fight against a gigantic project to build 14 dams on tributaries of the French Broad River, Jere Brittain knew the odds were stacked against him.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Safelight director leaving for new job

The Board of Directors of Safelight, Inc. announced Sunday Executive Director Tanya Blackford will be leaving her position effective Jan. 23, to become Area Director for Crossnore School & Children’s Home.Under Blackford’s leadership since 2003, Safelight and its affiliated programs have significantly expanded the services available to adults and children who have been victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. The expansion of services included the merger of Mainstay, the domestic violence center, with The Healing Place, sexual assault center. Through innovative partnerships, additional services have been added including the Dandelion Eatery, Believe Child Advocacy Center, the Henderson County Family Justice Center, and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program at Park Ridge Health, Pardee Hospital, and The Free Clinics. Blackford’s vision also led to a transformative renovation of the Safelight shelter this year, creating more private living spaces for individuals and families.“Tanya led our organization during a time of significant transitions and partnerships that strengthened our ability to provide services,” said Board Chair Pat Ashe. “The Board is grateful for Tanya’s hard work, dedication and inspiring leadership. We will miss her but wish her well in her new position.”Crossnore School & Children’s home works to create a sanctuary of hope and healing for children in their homes, schools, and in the community. Services include residential group foster care, community-based foster care, clinical services, and educational services. Crossnore currently has campuses in Crossnore and Winston Salem, NC, with plans to begin serving children in the Hendersonville area.“Although we are all sad to see Tanya leave Safelight, we take comfort in the fact that the children of our community will be the future beneficiaries of her talents,” Ashe added.Blackford begins her new position on Jan. 25.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Marathon cyclist covers miles in the 100s

Larry Oslund has only been a part of the Ultra Marathon Cycling world for three years and has left his mark in dramatic fashion.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Roots music, Happy Tails, compost pumpkins

The Center for Cultural Preservation, WNC’s cultural history and documentary film center, continues its 2017-18 “Keeping the Fires Burning” series with a performance by up-and-coming Johnson City roots musician Amythyst Kiah at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, at Thomas Auditorium at BRCC. Kiah’s commanding stage presence is only matched by her raw and powerful vocals—a deeply moving, hypnotic sound that stirs echoes of a distant and restless past. An expert performer on the banjo and acoustic guitar, she also has an incredible grasp on the history of Appalachian African-American roots music. Her eclectic influences span decades, drawing heavily on old-time music (Mississippi Sheiks, Son House, Jimmie Rodgers, Olla Belle Reed, Carter Family), inspired by strong R&B and country music vocalists from the ‘50s-’70s (Big Mama Thornton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Mahalia Jackson, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn) and influenced by contemporary artists with powerful vocal integrity (Adele, Florence and the Machine, Megan Jean and the KFB, Janelle Monae). Tickets are $10 and advanced reservations are strongly recommended by visting www.saveculture.org or calling (828) 692-8062. Recycle your holiday leftovers Between Halloween and Thanksgiving households will accumulate plenty of jack-o-lanterns and fall squash leftovers. Instead of filling the landfill, they can become compost at the Henderson County Convenience Center.Residents can bring leftover pumpkins and decorative squash to the food waste collection bins at the Henderson County Convenience Center through Dec. 8. Since September, residents have deposited 243 pounds of food waste into the bins at the recycling center, kicking off a strong start to the 10-month pilot program. Providing this voluntary collection option is part of the Solid Waste Division’s long-term waste reduction strategy. The collected food waste and pumpkins is taken to Atlas Organics in upstate South Carolina, mixed with other organic materials, and eventually become saleable gardening material. Throughout the month of November, residents can also participate in a canned food drive at the Convenience Center to benefit local food pantries through Manna Foodbank. Needed items include: dried/canned beans, peanut butter (no glass jars), canned meats, hearty soups, canned fruits, fruit/vegetable juices, cereals and grains (bag or box), canned vegetables, and meals in a box or can (stews, chili, mac-n-cheese). Find more information online at https://www.mannafoodbank.org/how-you-can-help/donate/donate-food/. This food waste and pumpkin collection program is for use by Henderson County residents. No household trash or recycling is acceptable in the food waste collection bins. Only organic materials are accepted, even painted pumpkins (please remove any candles or other items). The Convenience Center, at 265 Convenience Center Drive, is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information on this and other recycling programs, visit hcrecycles.org or call Environmental Programs at (828) 694-6524. Master Gardener signup is now open Henderson County’s Extension Service is accepting applications for its 2018 Master Gardener program through Nov. 10. The program’s educational component includes a required 12-week class typically offered on Wednesday mornings from mid-January through early April. Topics include general botany; soils and fertilizers; annuals, perennials and woody ornamentals; trees; and plant diseases. Students also give 40 hours of volunteer service for the remainder of their first year. Once certified as a Master Gardener, each must volunteer 25 hours per year on approved projects, and continue their horticulture education through occasional part-day classes.Applications are available at the Extension Office, 100 Jackson Park Road in Hendersonville. Candidates can also request an emailed form by calling 828-697-4891 or emailing sdpettis@ncsu.edu. The training fee is $130, and class size is limited. Pardee on rebound from weak 1st quarter Pardee Hospital reported a lackluster first quarter financially but is off to a strong start in the second quarter of its fiscal year, the Pardee Board of Directors was told last week.The finance committee reported that admissions were 7.9 percent under budget and 1 percent above last year. In-patients surgeries were up by 7.7 percent while emergency room visits were 2.8 percent below budget and 4.6 percent behind last year. The hospital lost $563,399 in September.The first quarter report came after the board received a positive presentation on its FY17 audit, which showed that the hospital finished the year on June 30 with a 1.5 percent margin, bouncing back from a 10.5 percent loss in the previous fiscal year.The first quarter has been up and down, CEO Jay Kirby said, with a weak July followed by a strong August and a weak September. October is sustaining the pattern.“We’ve already more than made up for that (loss in September),” Kirby said. “You’ll see in October.” Happy Tails Lady offers pet care tips Charlotte Sheppard, The Happy Tails Lady, is hosting a “Spoil Your Pet” fundraiser for the Blue Ridge Humane Society 2-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at Sanctuary Brewing Company, 147 First Ave. E.The event is designed to teach pet owners little-known ways to care for their pets. The public is invited to attend short classes to learn how to use essentials oils to benefit pets, participate in a group healing for pets and their parents led by a Reiki Master Healer, and learn about pet massage, training, and nutrition. There will also be a class on pet trusts so attendees can learn how to provide for their pets if they survive their parents. Vendors will be on hand for early holiday shopping. Admission is free.For information on the fundraiser, visit Facebook.com/HappyTailsLady/. To learn more about Blue Ridge Humane Society visit blueridgehumane.org   Read Story »

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