News

As part of its ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and in celebration of Earth Day, the City of Hendersonville Stormwater Division is pleased to announce a stream clean-up event along Wash Creek. The event will take place on Saturday April 20, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. 

The stream clean-up initiative aims to preserve and protect the local waterways, enhance wildlife habitats, and promote community involvement in environmental conservation efforts. Wash Creek will benefit from the collaborative efforts of volunteers, city staff, and environmental advocates. 

Volunteers are invited to participate in the clean-up efforts. Participants will work alongside city staff to remove litter from the creek and its surrounding areas. 

"This stream clean-up is a wonderful opportunity for residents to contribute to the well-being of our local ecosystem," said Stormwater Manager Michael Huffman. "By working together to protect Wash Creek, we can ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the beauty and resources it provides." 

All necessary clean-up materials, including gloves, bags, and safety equipment, will be provided to volunteers. Participants are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for outdoor activities. 

Individuals and organizations interested in volunteering for the stream clean-up event are encouraged to register in advance at this link: https://www.cognitoforms.com/CityOfHendersonville4/StreamCleanUpRegistration 

Join us on April 20th as we come together to make a positive impact on our environment and celebrate Earth Day in Hendersonville. 

For more information, please contact Michael Huffman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

 The City of Hendersonville’s project to restore Brooklyn Creek will kick off construction later this month. Sullivan Park visitors will soon witness the transformation of Brooklyn Creek into a haven of biodiversity and natural beauty. 

The stream restoration project encompasses a comprehensive restoration plan, including habitat enhancement, water quality improvements, and the revitalization of the surrounding ecosystem. Native plantings, channel improvements, and sustainable landscaping techniques will be employed to create a balanced and thriving environment.  

The construction is scheduled to begin around April 10th; however, the park will remain open to visitors. Several small impacts are anticipated during the construction including closing the footbridge over the stream and temporarily relocating birdhouses along the edge of the stream buffer. The construction areas will be fenced off to ensure a safe environment for the contractor and park users.  

“The Brooklyn Creek Stream Restoration at Sullivan Park is a testament to our shared commitment to restore the creek’s health and ensure a flourishing habitat for future generations while honoring the history of the vibrant Brooklyn community,” said Stormwater Division Manager Michael Huffman. 

Last fall, the City of Hendersonville and community stakeholders held an event to commemorate the installation of the Brooklyn Creek sign and the launch of the Stream Restoration Project in Sullivan Park.  

The Stream Naming project was completed through a partnership between community members, the City of Hendersonville Stormwater Division, the Community Foundation of Henderson County, and RiverLink, a local environmental non-profit. Riverlink’s’ “Name That Creek Program” aims to connect communities to their local waterways and to lead to good stewardship of the natural resources while also providing an opportunity to recognize and remember a community’s history. The name “Brooklyn Creek” was chosen by community members as a way to honor the vibrant past of the historic Brooklyn community that once thrived in the area around the creek.   

“As we embark on this inspiring journey of renewal, the Brooklyn Creek Restoration Project will undoubtedly serve as a shining example of community collaboration, environmental responsibility, and the enduring connection between people and nature,” said Stormwater Division Manager Michael Huffman. 

The Gorillas - Robotics State Championship

Hello Supporters

HCPS FRC Team 1225: The Gorillas had an excellent build and competition season; which we have extended by advancing to the FIRST North Carolina District Championship at East Carolina University.

Our shop has been open over 146 hours in the last 10 weeks for the build season and we put in 60hrs during the last two event weekends. Our students and mentors hardwork and collective dedication has led them to great success. At the UNC Asheville District we played with the third place alliance and won the Imagery Award; for the integration of our team aesthetic into our robot design; giving us a professional & sleek product. At the Mecklenburg County event we once again played into the semi-finals with the third place alliance, and won the Innovation in Control Award, for integrating automatic driver feedback in our control system. This success has advanced us to the FIRST North Carolina District Championship (States) where we will play alongside the top 40 teams in the state. Allowing us to continue playing this year's FIRST Robotics Competition game; Crescendo presented by Haas, in hope of making it to FIRST Championship (Worlds) in Houston, TX.

We need your help! We are running a campaign to help us get to states, these funds will help cover our entry fee and travel costs for the weekend of April 5th-7th. Our all inclusive program never charges our students to compete, allowing us to serve any Henderson County High School Student that wants to participate. Funds will be designated to help cover the costs of states, and any overflow will continue to help support FRC Team 1225: The Gorillas.

Click Donate Here today!
Please share this email and link far and wide, to help us out!

Checks can be made out to "Henderson County Robotics"
Memo: Team 1225
Mail to:
32 Greenland Path
Mills River, NC 28759

If you are interested in sponsoring us, we can hang your banner in the pits, and put your logo almost anywhere.

Give me a call at 828-290-6428 or email me at the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Join our 2024 Sponsor List:

Henderson County Public Schools

Monday.com

The Bell Foundation

Equilibar

Optimum

We will see you at East Carolina University on April 5th-7th for District Championship
We will see you at North Henderson High on April 13th for FIRST Lego League
Check us out at team1225.com.

Thanks
--

Billy Freeman

Lead Mentor

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

E: 8282906428

team1225.com

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Stop the invasion of our nation

Dr. Glenn Mollette

If President Biden could announce on November 1, 2024 that all student debt is forgiven, he would do so. That would surely be a way to get a few more votes. If you have a $100,000 student loan, then you have a heavy burden of paying back that loan. To suddenly have the debt cleared would be a marvelous feeling.

Would this make you feel like Biden is a great President? Would this boost your confidence in his ability to lead our nation? Or, would you see such an act as a last-ditch effort to do whatever it takes to stay in the oval office for four more years?

Thousands of Americans have carried the weight of student loans for years. Thousands have paid back the loans. Loans are never fun to pay back. Car payments, house payments, and credit card debt are tough to carry for years and years. Is it fair that many Americans have paid off student debt but suddenly thousands of Americans could have a large portion of their debt wiped away? It doesn’t seem fair. Is it good for America? Many more Americans need to borrow money for college. Paying back student loans is one way to keep money circulating back into the government coffers.

What if someone paid back 75% of their loan in ten years then the other 25% would be forgiven? What about a two or three percent interest rate on student loans? What if people went to community colleges their first two years? There has to be a better way than just waving the magic wand and clearing debt to boost popularity.

Interest rates are going to come down between now and November 1. A 30-year mortgage by November 1 will be closer to six percent. The stock market is roaring. If you have some money in stock then you have to be enjoying the increase. What goes up always comes down some, eventually. Don’t look for it to go down much between now and November first.

The one thing President Biden doesn’t seem to want to do is stop the invasion of America. The invasion of America continues. Allowing up to 8.5 thousand illegals per day is not a fix. Outlaw gangs have taken over parts of South America in Columbia and Venezuela and parts of central America. Gangs have taken over Haiti. The cartel seems to roam freely in Mexico. These outlaws are coming into America. Violence, stealing, and killing are all they know. They will fight with and kill police officers, assault and murder women, steal from you, and terrorize our communities. Most of our small American counties are understaffed to protect our citizens from gangs armed with semi-automatic weapons. The invasion must be stopped today. Border states deserve all the help the federal government can give in securing the borders immediately instead of making it difficult on the states.

Soon there will be so many illegals from China and throughout the world in our country that we will not have enough police or military to protect ourselves. We see this happening before our very eyes.

The issues of student loans, interest rates, gasoline prices, inflation, and much more impact our lives significantly. Nothing is impacting our nation like the invasion.

Please Mr. President and Congress, stop the invasion of our nation.

The No. 11 Wolfpack won their ninth consecutive elimination game to beat No. 4 Duke 76-64 in the Elite Eight on Sunday. The win means NC State is the sixth No. 11 seed to make the Final Four in men’s NCAA tournament history. No team seeded lower than No. 11 has ever made a Final Four.

The Wolfpack’s two DJs led the way. Both DJ Horne and DJ Burns were phenomenal. At one point during the stretch they scored 10 consecutive points for NC State. Burns was 13 of 19 from the field and finished with a game-high 29 points. Horne had 20.

Duke went to a full-court press over the final three minutes in a last-ditch attempt to cut into NC State's lead and it backfired. The Wolfpack consistently broke the pressure and got easy baskets at the rim to keep the lead in double figures.

It’s the fourth Final Four trip in school history for NC State and the school’s first since it won the national title in 1983 as a No. 6 seed. That fabled team led by Jim Valvano knocked off two No. 1 seeds and a No. 4 seed over its final three tournament games to win the National Championship.

On a local note, Jim Valvano visited WHKP the year before winning the National Championship to meet up with NC State friends and sponsors when the station featured the Wolfpack on our AM station and the Tar Heels on our FM WKIT.   After a round of golf at Hendersonville Country Club he boldy proclaimed that he was going to win the National Championship the next year and we all laughed as we poured down some 'adult beverages'.  Guess who had the last laugh ?

UNC Health announced on March 28, 2024 that it had signed a new, long-term agreement with UnitedHealthcare which will allow United members across North Carolina to continue receiving uninterrupted care from UNC Health providers, clinics and hospitals.

Some Hendersonville residents had shared their concerns with News 13 in February about the potential end to the contract between the two, with many using the services of Pardee Hospital and Pardee UNC Health Care. One resident, Ginger Talbert, previously said she had received letters stating Pardee Hospital would no longer accept UnitedHealthcare coverage as of April 1 if an agreement was not reached between the two. A release from UNC Health said the end of the contract would have created an “out of network” situation for thousands of patients.

The new. multi-year deal covers all United commercial, Individual Exchange and Medicare Advantage plans.

“This new agreement will benefit our patients across the state as well as our providers,” said Dr. Matt Ewend, chief clinical officer at UNC Health, in a press release. “Our patients will not face increased costs and stress of going out of network or seeking new providers for their care. We look forward to working with United in the coming years to improve access, reduce costs and eliminate obstacles to care.”

UNC Health said affected patients will be notified "as quickly as possible" about the agreement.

"UNC Health began negotiations with United last year and agreed to a new deal this week," the March 28 press release stated. "The new agreement with United follows UNC Health’s recent announcement of a long-term contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina."

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOS 

WHKP AM and FM will broadcast two Hendersonville Honeycrisps baseball games this year!

On opening day May 18 WHKP will broadcast "fan fest" from 12 Noon till 2pm at Berkeley Park,and then at 2:30pm we will broadcast the Yard Birds at Honeycrisps baseball game.

May,18th is a big day at Berkeley Park...we will celebrate 75 years of the park by broadcasting the game this night beginning at 6pm.The ballpark is located at 69 Balfour Road.

The City of Hendersonville is studying the feasibility of connecting the Ecusta Trail to the Oklawaha Greenway and they’re inviting the community to share their input! 

Last year, the City of Hendersonville secured a Feasibility Study Grant from NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division. This grant aims to investigate options for seamlessly connecting the Ecusta Trail near downtown Hendersonville with the Oklawaha Greenway in Jackson Park and the 7th Avenue Historic District. Aptly named "Above the Mud," in homage to its proximity to Mud Creek, this project signifies a significant step towards enhancing local connectivity and recreational opportunities. 

The City of Hendersonville and Henderson County have made great strides in building a connected greenway network that includes the Ecusta Trail, the Oklawaha Greenway, and the Clear Creek Greenway. While working to build longer segments of the trail and greenway network, the City of Hendersonville is also committed to bridging smaller gaps to seamlessly connect these larger trails. 

Since receiving the grant, the City has been identifying routes that prioritize pedestrian and cyclist comfort, garner community support and are feasible for funding and construction. The project team has identified two alternatives that align with the project’s overarching goals.  

Community members are invited to participate in the “Above the Mud” survey to provide input on how they envision using this future greenway. Feedback will play a crucial role in shaping the project's direction and ensuring it reflects the needs and desires of the Hendersonville community. 

Join us in shaping the future of our city's greenway network! Take the survey at publicinput.com/abovethemud before April 30, 2024. For additional information on the "Above the Mud" project, please visit hendersonvillenc.gov/abovethemud 

UNC Asheville and Blue Ridge Community College Renew Direct Admission Program for Transfer Students

FLAT ROCK, N.C. – A program that offers graduates of Blue Ridge Community College to opt for direct admission to UNC Asheville, North Carolina's premiere public university for liberal arts and sciences, has been renewed through the Direct Admission Program.

On March 27, Blue Ridge Community College President Laura B. Leatherwood and UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort formally signed a memorandum of understanding, reaffirming their commitment to a collaborative partnership. This partnership aims to enhance student pathways to success in Henderson County, Western North Carolina, the broader State of North Carolina, and beyond.

“I am grateful to President Leatherwood for renewing the Direct Admission Program and her ongoing collaboration with UNC Asheville to assure that we are a destination of choice for Blue Ridge Community College graduates,” said Chancellor van Noort.

“Those Blue Ridge transfer students who come our way will find an abundance of vibrant, innovative program options from mechatronics, new media, business, and atmospheric sciences to our top majors: psychology, environmental studies, and biology,” van Noort added. “They will also experience a range of high-impact learning experiences like internships, collaborative undergraduate research, and community-based learning, and benefit from our commitment to student success and career-readiness.”

The Direct Admission Program is built on the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA). The Program allows currently enrolled Blue Ridge Community College students a direct-entry pathway to UNC Asheville upon graduation. The Program requires completion of the Blue Ridge Community College associate's degree for guaranteed admission. There is no additional fee to participate.

“It’s an honor to continue our partnership with UNC Asheville to maximize the higher education pathways available to Western North Carolina learners,” said Dr. Leatherwood. “This direct admissions agreement will encourage students to prioritize their professional development beyond their years at Blue Ridge Community College. By experiencing the best of our respective institutions, graduates will one day enter their careers with highly respected credentials from both Blue Ridge and UNC Asheville, ultimately resulting in a stronger workforce. I’m grateful to Chancellor van Noort for visiting our campus today to formalize these shared aims to enable student success and increase access to a brighter future.”

Students who wish to participate must satisfy the following conditions:

• Be a currently enrolled student at Blue Ridge in a degree-seeking capacity;
• Submit a UNC Asheville application for admission by UNC Asheville deadlines;
• Submit the application fee or waiver and fulfill all commitment action steps;
• Be in good standing at Blue Ridge and other institutions attended;
• Earn and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at Blue Ridge and;
• Enroll at UNC Asheville within one academic year (within the next two regular terms) of completion of the Associate’s degree.

The Program affords Blue Ridge Community College students access to information about academic programs, faculty, and staff at the UNC Asheville campus, which will facilitate their transition. The Transfer Promise Program prioritizes the ability to receive admission, financial aid, registration, and orientation communications early in the transition process, which sets Blue Ridge students up for maximum success at both institutions.

UNC Asheville also has previously established Direct Admission Programs in collaboration with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, South Piedmont Community College, and Haywood Community College. Students transferring to UNC Asheville can pursue degrees in more than 65 programs through these programs. UNC Asheville consistently ranks among the top 10 public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, earns recognition as a “Best Buy” in the Fiske Guide, and is featured in the 2024 edition of Colleges Worth Your Money.

For more information on the program, visit www.unca.edu/admission/apply/partnerships. Information about admissions to Blue Ridge Community College is available at www.blueridge.edu/admissions.

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The City of Hendersonville, NC is undertaking an Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan project to improve accessibility in all aspects of its services. A Transition Plan is required by ADA regulations for all municipal entities with more than 50 employees. 

“Our City has always believed that facilities, programs, and services should be accessible to all members of the community,” said Public Works Director Tom Wooten. “Our goal with this Transition Plan is to mark where we are succeeding now and where we need to improve going forward.” 

The Transition Plan will involve an assessment of accessibility barriers on City-owned public right-of-way as well as sidewalks within NCDOT’s right-of-way. Barriers can include insufficient sidewalk width, absent or non-compliant curb ramps, level changes (trip hazards), and other items. A plan for remediation of barriers will be created and implemented over the coming years. 

“We recently completed our Walk Hendo Pedestrian Plan which identifies areas and projects to improve the pedestrian experience in our City,” said Tom Wooten. “Committing to this Transition Plan update shows that Hendersonville today and Hendersonville going forward is investing in growing accessibly.” 

Key to the ADA Transition Plan process is public input. Community collaboration enhances the ADA Transition Plan by ensuring focus isn’t just on accessibility barriers, but also on the lived experience of those with disabilities in the community. 

Hendersonville community members are encouraged to take the survey below and to spread it to other members of the community. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be available until the end of April 2024.  

Community Engagement Survey: https://survey.precisioninfrastructuremgmt.com/c/Hendersonville 

Hendersonville has contracted with Precision Infrastructure Management (PIM), a consulting firm with extensive experience in ADA-related projects, to perform, manage, and draft the final ADA Transition Plan with close City support. Those wishing to communicate with PIM and offer additional feedback, can do so by contacting: