News

LOCAL BRIEFS: SNIP is working, United Way kickoff, Rescue Squad

The Carburetors, shown at Sunday’s Music on the Lake performance at Blue Ridge Community College, will be back on stage at 8 o’clock Friday night at Southern Appalachian Brewery, 822 Locust St., for the kickoff of the Henderson County United Way campaign.

By Bill Moss, Published: August 24, 2017

County library honored for improving technology

The Henderson County Public Library has received national recognition from the Urban Libraries Council for addressing technology needs across the county and improving services for each of the county’s unique populations.
Edge is an initiative led by the Urban Libraries Council and developed by a national coalition of leading library and local government organizations with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Edge Initiative is dedicated to helping libraries improve public technology services.
By using the Edge Toolkit, the library identified three main areas that needed attention: internal culture and services for individuals with disabilities, digital literacy services and community partnerships to address workforce and economic development. The resulting improvements in all three areas earned them recognition in this month’s Edge Newsletter. For more information, contact library director Trina Rushing at 828-697-4725 or visit http://www.libraryedge.org/ to read the article.
Memory Care supervisor
receives N.C. Hero Award
Lisa Banks, supervisor in charge for the Memory Care Unit at Carolina Reserve of Hendersonville, was one of three recipients of a Hero Award from the N.C. Assisted Living Association. The awards go to direct caregivers who exhibit exemplary service and care in protecting each resident’s right to privacy, fostering independence, nurturing the spirit of and promoting the individuality of each resident.

“Lisa has a soft spot in her heart for residents who either have no family or very little family,” David Fardulis, executive director of Carolina Reserve, said in a nomination. “Not only does she help to provide personal items, with her own money, but she also has been known to sit with terminally ill residents, on her days off, to bring them comfort. The commitment that she demonstrates is truly remarkable and is a role model for all staff.”
Formerly Spring Arbor, Carolina Reserve was purchased this year by Navion Senior Solutions. It is a 61-bed community with 24 memory care beds.

Playhouse wins $30,000 grant for family theater

The Flat Rock Playhouse has been awarded a grant of $30,000 by the Community Foundation of Henderson County to help underwrite theater’s educational initiative and family programming known as Studio 52.
In recent years, Studio 52 has produced family shows with such notable productions as The Wizard of Oz, James and the Giant Peach, and most recently, Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
“It is a wonderful honor to have been awarded this grant from the Community Foundation of Henderson County in recognition of our new Studio 52 Family Series Programming,” says Lisa K. Bryant, Producing Artistic Director for the Playhouse. “Our 2017 season is the litmus test for this new initiative and so far the results have been extremely encouraging.”
“Importantly, this generous grant will allow us to grow our Family Programming further so that we may continue to provide quality theatre and training at an affordable cost to both the students involved and the audiences coming to see them. We are encouraged by the Foundation’s generosity, and overjoyed for their support.”
There are three shows remaining in the 2017 Studio 52 Family Series — You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Pinkalicious The Musical, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
“After the recent completion of the strategic plan by the Flat Rock Playhouse, we are excited to help implement the Studio 52, children and family component of this plan,” said McCray Benson, president of the Community Foundation. “The work the Playhouse has completed thus far has placed them on the path for a very positive direction. This is particularly significant for such a key charitable organization in our community.”

Volunteers install 133 smoke alarms in homes

The city of Hendersonville, its fire and police departments, American Red Cross and the Hendersonville Housing Authority teamed up Saturday, Aug. 12, to install free smoke alarms. Four groups went door to door offering to check the condition of existing smoke alarms, replacing batteries and old non-functional alarms, and providing information about fire prevention.

Volunteers included local Red Cross and Hendersonville Housing Authority volunteers, Council member Jeff Miller, Assistant City Manager Brian Pahle, as well as firefighters and police officers.
In all, they installed 133 smoke alarms and visited more than 150 homes. There was no charge for the alarms or for the installation.

The Hendersonville Fire Department reminds everyone to check the manufacture date of your alarms and to replace them if they are over 10 years old. Smoke alarms are some of the cheapest insurance you can buy when it comes to protecting the lives of your family members. To have your alarms checked by the fire department call 828-697-3024.

Partnership makes gains in spay-neuter services

Henderson County, the city of Hendersonville and Blue Ridge Humane Society have partnered to provide low cost spay-neuter services for dogs and cats in our area since early July 2017. To date, the program is showing signs of being highly successful. In the month of July, 36 cats and 38 dogs were spayed or neutered through SNIP.

“I’m impressed by how well this program started,” Henderson County Animal Services Director Brad Rayfield said. “I didn’t anticipate any major problems, but did expect some bumps. So far, the program has gone smoothly, the staff at Blue Ridge Humane Society and Henderson County have done an excellent job of getting this program underway. In July a total of 77 animals were spayed or neutered through the Spay Neuter Incentive Program.”

For more information about SNIP or to find out how to receive services for your four-legged friends, visit Henderson County Animal Services at 828 Stoney Mountain Road, call Blue Ridge Human Society at 828-698-4481 or email snip@blueridgehumane.org. For more information visit www.blueridgehumane.org/community-services/snip/.

Republicans to gather at Southern Appalachian

Henderson County Republicans will host a meet and greet 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at the children- and pet-friendly Southern Appalachian Brewery on Locust Street.
The meet and greets are held roughly every four to six weeks and offer an opportunity for those who are unable to make regularly scheduled events to attend, become informed and involved in Republican Party activities at the local, state and national level. For more information call 828 329 4971 or email noirs@aol.com.

Mountain Showcase recognized for growth

Mountain Showcase Group Inc., local family-owned-and-operated custom cabinetry manufacturer, has been recognized on Inc. Magazine’s 2017 list of America’s 5000 Fastest Growing Companies.

In the last three years alone, Mountain Showcase experienced a growth rate of 73 percent and created 13 new jobs.

“It is exciting and we feel extremely blessed to have such a great network of employees and customers to get us on the list of the U.S.’s 5000 fastest growing companies of 2017. If we keep things up, we hope to also be on next year’s list,” said Chris Casto, son of founder Dan Casto and employee at Mountain Showcase. “I am proud to be a part of this family legacy and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.”

Founded in 1997, Mountain Showcase is the product of one man’s ambitions and desires, backed by the support of family and mentors. Dan Casto began his journey into woodworking at the age of ten. Working in his uncle’s woodshop in Ohio as a boy, Dan went from building birdhouses to fulfilling a lifelong passion. After falling in love with Hendersonville during a family vacation years later, Dan decided to move his family from Ohio to Western North Carolina to start Mountain Showcase Group Inc.

Rescue Squad celebrates 60 years

The Henderson County Rescue Squad is celebrating 60 years of service to Henderson County this year and we would like to invite the public to help us celebrate this milestone.
In conjunction with the Henderson County Heritage Museum, the Rescue Squad will host an exhibit of the history of the Rescue Squad from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Aug. 26. The program will include equipment displays and demonstrations for the public located out front of the Historic Courthouse.
Rescue demonstrations times are scheduled for 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Henderson County Rescue Squad personnel will be on hand during this event to answer any questions. Apparatus on display will include ambulances, rescue trucks, dive trailer, boats and various equipment. The event is free. For more information visit www.hendersoncountyrescue.org.

Sheriff's Office announces drug take back days

Henderson County Sheriff’s Office along with TRIAD Henderson County, Hope Rx, and other community partners are continuing to offer free Document Shred and Drug Take Back Days in 2017 across Henderson County. Locations and dates:

• Mills River Town Center, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, 24 Town Center Drive, Mills River.
• Blue Ridge Community College, 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, Sept. 21, 180 W. Campus Drive, Flat Rock, during fourth annual Aging in Place Conference. Document Shred & Drug Take Back.
• Blue Ridge Community College, 9 a.m.-noon, during the fourth annual Aging in Place Conference. Drug Take Back Only.

• Etowah United Community Bank, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, 50 United Bank Drive, Etowah. Document Shred & Drug Take Back.

• Flat Rock Town Hall, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 14, Flat Rock Village Town Hall. Document Shred & Drug Take Back.

• Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, 100 North Grove Street, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, National Pill Take Back. Drug Take Back Only

The public is always welcome to bring their unused/expired medications to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office lobby located at 100 North Grove Street during regular business hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m-5 p.m.).

Prescription pills, capsules, ointments, vitamins, liquids in their original containers, inhalers and patches are accepted. Radioactive chemotherapy medications and sharps/needles/EpiPens cannot be accepted.