News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Flower sale, United Way grants, Hops for Hope, Hall of Fame

BRCC will sell plants and flowers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at Farm City Day in Jackson Park.

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 26, 2023

Plant sale at Farm City Day

The Blue Ridge Community College horticulture program will hold its inaugural fall plant sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, as part of the Farm City Day in Jackson Park.
Plants and flowers including mums, perennials and woody plants will be for sale. Payment is accepted by cash or check. All proceeds will benefit Blue Ridge’s horticulture program.
“At Blue Ridge, horticulture students experience and explore the green industry at all levels,” said Rachel Meriwether, horticulture department chair. “All the plants are student-grown, both from cuttings as well as seeds, and they will be applying their business skills by running this fall sale at each step.”
Meriwether hopes the sale will help fund her students’ travel and fees to attend the Green and Growing Conference hosted annually by the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association.
“We’re hoping to bring as many students as possible to attend two days of educational and trade show events at this premiere conference,” she added. “This event helps students to broaden their understanding of the horticulture industry, as well as build connections for future employment and opportunities here in North Carolina.”
The fall plant sale will be a first for the College. It joins the annual spring plant sale in April, which attracts gardeners to Blue Ridge Community College from across Western North Carolina.
The horticulture program at Blue Ridge Community College was established in 1980 to offer education and training to students interested in pursuing careers in agricultural and related fields. The program offers certificate, diploma and degree options. To learn more visit blueridge.edu/horticulture or contact Meriwether at r_meriwether@blueridge.edu.

United Way announces grant application process

United Way of Henderson County will be accepting applications for funding for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 fiscal years in a competitive grant process focused on addressing target issues of Education, Financial Stability, Health and Basic Needs/Crisis Services.
Accepted every other year, applications go a thorough community-vetted panel review process. Grant awards will be announced next May.
Programs applying to partner with the United Way must be able to show results that align with UWHC’s objectives as detailed in HC2025, the agency’s plan for improving our community. Goals address the issues of Kindergarten Readiness; School Success; Economic Self-Sufficiency; Affordable Housing; Physical Activity & Nutrition; Healthy Youth Behaviors; and Basic Needs/Crisis Services. Details on the objectives and sample strategies the United Way has identified to achieve the objectives can be found at www.liveunitedhc.org under “What We Do.”
All applicants must meet eligibility requirements in order to apply for funding. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) or public tax-exempt health and human service organization serving Henderson County; have at least a two-year history of providing health and human service programs; and have program results that clearly align with UWHC goals. Agencies may combine resources and apply together as a collaborative program addressing one or more of the UWHC 2025 Target Issues. For other eligibility criteria, detailed timelines and required Policies and Procedures for Funded Partners visit www.liveunitedhc.org/apply-funding.
All eligibility and application materials are submitted through an online portal. New agencies interested in applying for funding must contact Kat Carlton, UWHC Director of Community Development, by Oct. 24 to be added to the online portal. New and current applicants are encouraged to sign up for a Community Investment Grant Information Session at www.liveunitedhc.org/apply-funding. Here is the grant process timeline:
• In person grant information session: 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 Sixth Ave. West.
• Zoom grant information session: noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5.
• Eligibility criteria due: Nov. 10.
• Applications due: Feb. 9, 2024
• Funding decision notification: May 2024
For questions about the grant process, contact Kat Carlton at 828-692-1636 ext. 1104 or emailkcarlton@liveunitedhc.org.

Nomination window opens for Education Hall of Fame

The Henderson County Education Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2024 Education Hall of Fame through Jan. 5.
The Hall of Fame honors outstanding individuals who have demonstrated measurable influence and made significant contributions to the growth and development of education in Henderson County. Nominees may include educators, teaching assistants, bus drivers, support personnel, administrators, board members, volunteers, donors and community leaders who have directly impacted education.
Nominations may be submitted online at hcefnc.org/ourwork/halloffame/. The website contains detailed information on eligibility criteria and the selection process.
One of only five Education Halls of Fame in North Carolina, the HCEF Hall of Fame inducts up to five nominees each year. Since the Hall of Fame was founded in 2003, 148 members have been inducted. Their photos are on a special wall at the central office of the Henderson County school system.

Hops for Hope benefits Women Helping Women

Pardee Cancer Center is hosting Hops for Hope, a family-friendly fundraising event in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, at Dry Falls Brewing Co. at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5.
At 6 p.m. there will be a butterfly release ceremony to honor breast cancer survivors. Proceeds from the event will benefit Pardee Hospital Foundation’s Women Helping Women program.
Pardee’s mobile mammography bus, Mammo on the Go, will be on-site for screenings. Appointments are limited, so individuals are encouraged to sign up early. Those interested in registering for a mammogram may do so online at MammoOnTheGo.com. The event is free. Individuals interested in attending may register on the UNC Health Pardee Facebook page.