News

A local group is hosting a fundraiser to help those affected by the devastating wildfires in Maui last month.

The Hendersonville Ukulele Group has planned a Singing for Maui fundraiser from 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 15 in the outdoor courtyard of Saluda Moon Glass Studio, 24 West Main St. in Saluda.

All proceeds will go to the Maui Strong Fund, a locally based group that is directly helping the residents of Maui.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHendersonville Ukulele Group to host Singing for Maui benefit to aid wildfire victims | WLOS

The Town of Fletcher held a groundbreaking for Henderson County's new Fletcher EMS Station No. 6 on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

The new $3 million facility will be on Howard Gap Road beside Fletcher Elementary School.

The addition of the Fletcher EMS station will allow other ambulances in the county to remain in their districts, which will result in decreased response times across the county.

"We have a targeted response time of 9-and-a-half minutes to get an ambulance to a patient in a time of need," said Jimmy Brissie, director of Henderson County Emergency Services. "We rely heavily on our first responder partners to get there quickly, but getting that ambulance with the paramedics there with the advanced life saving skills is critical to successful patient outcomes."

The new EMS station will have one ambulance on site to respond, staffed 24 hours a day.

It should be completed by summer 2024.

It was paid for by money awarded through the county's American Rescue Plan Fund.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSNew Fletcher EMS station will help decrease response times for Henderson County ambulances | WLOS

We were contacted this week by the Henderson County Planning Department asking us to remove our “No RV Park” signs from public rights of way, e.g., along public roads.  If you have placed signs along major roads or intersections, please retrieve these signs, and save them just in case we need them in the future. 

However, we do not have to pick up signs in front of our homes if they are not in the Department of Transportation right of way, usually a few feet from the asphalt.   So to comply, just make sure your sign is at least five to ten feet from the edge of the road.

Members of the Steering Committee have discussed new signs that better represent our current focus, e.g. “Say No to Tribute” or “No Sewer System”.  We have decided to defer purchasing signs at this time.  Our current signs still represent our community coming together.

Planning Board Meeting

The Planning Board will meet next on October 19^th to vote to accept or reject the subdivision master plan for the south course of the Etowah Valley Golf and Resort.  We have been told there will be no public comment period.  However, our team is refining its reasons why there should be no subdivision on the south course, and we are working on alternate ways of informing the Board.

We continue to ask the Community to not criticize or blame the Planning Board members.  As we have said, they are caught in the middle.  Their responsibility has been characterized as just ensuring all appropriate documentation has been submitted. 

Regardless of how the Board votes, there is likely to be an appeal.  This appeal will first be made to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.  This is the quasi-legal process in which both sides will be represented by attorneys and individuals will apply for standing.  This is the process we were preparing for when the developer was applying for a zoning exception to allow the development of an RV Park.

The Legal Complaint

The WNC Resort Properties, LLC, and Tribute Investment & Development, Inc. filed a motion with the court to dismiss our lawsuit.  The motion denies our allegations and provides several affirmative defenses.  Our attorney and other legal consultants in our community have noted that this legal step was to be expected.  We will be asking the Court to allow our complaint to proceed.  We are seeking a trial before a jury.

County Commissioner Meetings

Several individuals in the Community have proposed we speak up during the public comment times during the Commissioner meetings each month.  If you choose to do so, please be respectful and courteous.   We don’t want to lose the support of those public officials who agree with us. Whenever possible, please provide factual and unique information.

Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS) is excited to continue a heartwarming district tradition that will take place this week to welcome the incoming class of kindergarteners. In partnership with local businesses, the district will be providing each student with a special commemorative t-shirt, proudly displaying “Class of 2036” on Sept. 6-7.  

Although it may be a bit early to expect kindergarteners to think about high school graduation, these brightly colored t-shirts will serve as a visual reminder to spark conversations about future aspirations from a young age. 

This year, Advent Health, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office STAR Program, Hendersonville Family Dental, Mills River Family Dental, Horizon Heating & Air, Blue Ridge Orthodontics, NC Printing, the Hendersonville Honeycrisps, Epperson Tree, and the Henderson County Education Foundation, have made it possible for kindergarten students to receive their “Class of 2036” shirts, celebrating the beginning of their education in Henderson County. 

Each child will have the same shirt – regardless of which middle and high schools they eventually attend – building community among the students, as well as the parents and community members who will see the bright blue shirts around town. 

As a thank-you to our generous partners in the business community, HCPS has invited employees and representatives from each of the sponsor companies to the 13 elementary schools to help distribute the T-shirts and meet the students they’ll be impacting.

I wish it could go on forever,' 77th annual NC Apple Fest comes to a close
by Taylor ThompsonMon, September 4th 2023, 4:27 PM EDT

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The 77th annual North Carolina Apple Festival came to a close Monday after four days of events, food and fun.

The festival chairman Mark Shephard was born and raised in Hendersonville and has been volunteering with the festival for most of his life.

He said this was his parents’ 49th year of volunteering for the festival and they always took him and his sister along to help and now they both also volunteer for the festival.

Shephard said the event to celebrate the flavorful fruit has become the largest volunteer-run festival in the state, going so far as to describe it as Hendersonville’s own local holiday.

Although thousands of people from different parts of North and South Carolina attend the festival, it’s the locals who make the magic happen, Shepherd said.

“For locals here in this community, this is truly a tradition. Labor Day is a big holiday here in Hendersonville,” he said.

77TH ANNUAL NC APPLE FEST CHARMS THOUSANDS IN HENDERSONVILLE WITH ALL THINGS APPLE TREATS, LIVE MUSIC, FUN APLENTY

Shephard said he even knows many kids who left for college that always make it back home for the Apple Festival.

While the economic impact of the event hasn’t been studied in more than 10 years, Shepherd said the last time it was studied it showed that it brought in $13 million in just that one weekend.

The parade came to a close with the King Apple Parade early Monday afternoon.

“It’s just a huge blessing that we’ve had such a great festival,” Shepherd said.

The festival was filled with hundreds of vendors, including Danny McConnell and Liam Barrett.

'THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR DAY' ANNUAL NC APPLE FESTIVAL SET FOR SEPT. 1-4

McConnell, part of McConnell Farms, had a tent set up all four days of the festival -- his 21st year participating.

While the farm provides many treats, McConnell said he prefers to keep it to the basics.

“I just like the apple, that's true. Yes, that’s right. The apples are what brought us here,” he said.

McConnell said it’s been great to see the growth that’s taken place in the festival in the years since he has been involved.

“We had more visitors now on the first day than we used to have in all four days,” he said.

Barrett and his family run a shaved ice tent at the festival.

“We like to come out here and give out shaved ice to, hopefully, make people happy,” he said.

While Barrett is from Hendersonville, he and his family moved a few years back. But he said they always make it back for the Apple Festival.

“I love just working with my family, but I also love exploring all the different vendors and I love to see everyone having such a good time,” he said.

His favorite treats are the apple cider donuts or the caramel apples.

“I wish it could go on forever,” Barrett said.

McConnell said that while he’s sad to see the weekend come to a close, they’re already getting ready for next year because it takes a lot of prep work.

“This year has really been a blessing after last year’s festival and the parade being rained out for flooding here in downtown Hendersonville. You know, the weather this year has just really been a blessing,” Shepherd said.

COURTESY OF WLOS-TV13

Western North Carolina residents headed out Monday to temperatures in the low 60s, but this afternoon will be sunny and hot, with highs near 90.

The latest forecast calls for highs near 90 on Tuesday and Wednesday before a cool down to the mid to upper 80s for the rest of the week.

Several systems are worth watching in the tropics, but nothing threatens the U.S. at this time.

The latest weather forecast calls for highs near 90 on Tuesday and Wednesday before a cool down to the mid to upper 80s for the rest of the week. (Image credit: WLOS staff)

Labor Day: Mostly sunny and hotter. Highs in the mid to upper 80s.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny and hot. Highs near 90.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 90.
Thursday: A few showers and thunderstorms, Highs in the upper 80s.
Friday: Chance for showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid-80s.
Saturday: Chance for showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 80s.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the low 80s.

COURTESY - WLOSTV13

 Food, farm animals, and family fun! The 2023 North Carolina Mountain State Fair is set to kick off on Friday, Sept. 8. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know before you go.

Gate admission tickets can be bought online or at the fair. Adult admission is $9 in advance and $12 at the gates. Seniors (ages 65+) are $5 in advance and $5 at the gates. Children (ages 6-12) are $5 in advance and $7 at the gates. Young children (ages 5 and under) get in free.

All fairground parking is free and can be found at Gate 7 on Highway 280.

Ride tickets are sold at the fair and are in addition to gate admission. Unlimited ride stamps are available daily for $35 per person on Friday-Sunday and $25 per person Monday-Thursday. Other pricing options are listed below:

Wheelchair, scooters and strollers are available for rent.

• Single ticket: $1.25
• Sheet of 21: $20
• Sheet of 55: $50
• Sheet of 120: $100

Opening Day (Friday, Sept. 8) is Student Day. Students K-12 can enter free until 6 p.m.

"We CAN Fight Hunger Day" is Wednesday, Sept. 13. Get free admission to the fair when you donate five canned goods (benefits MANNA FoodBank).

Friday, Sept. 15 is Student Day and Senior Day. Students K-12 and seniors over the age of 65 receive free admission until 6 p.m.

Schedule:

Each day, gates open at the same time listed for buildings. Gates close every night at 9:45 p.m. (except Sunday, Sept. 17) with no re-admittance.

Friday, Sept. 8
Buildings open 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Rides open 10 a.m.-12 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 9
Buildings open 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Rides open 10 a.m.-12 a.m.

Sunday, Sept. 10
Buildings open 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Rides open 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Monday-Thursday, Sept. 11-14
Buildings open 3-10 p.m.
Rides open 4-11 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 15
Buildings open 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Rides open 10 a.m.-12 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 16
Buildings open 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Rides open 10 a.m.-12 a.m.

Sunday, Sept. 17
Buildings open 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Rides open 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

With acts like Chase's Racing Swimming Pigs, the Human Cannon Ball, chainsaw carving, Sea Lion Splash, and illusionists, there's no shortage of things to keep you and your family entertained at the fair.

CLICK HERE for a complete schedule of entertainment, musical acts, demonstrations, competitions, and more.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOShttps://wlos.com/news/local/north-carolina-mountain-state-fair-2023-schedule-ticket-prices-student-day-free-shows-demonstrations#

THE MUSIC OF DIRTY DANCING

SEPTEMBER 8 - 24 - Flat Rock Playhouse on the Leiman Mainstage

Flat Rock, NC (AUGUST 16, 2023) – Get ready to relive the magic and passion of one of the most beloved films of all time as The Music of Dirty Dancing takes center stage in a spectacular live music concert performance. The timeless soundtrack that captured the hearts of millions is set to ignite emotions and transport audiences back to the summer of 1963.

The unforgettable melodies and electrifying beats that made "Dirty Dancing" a cultural phenomenon will be brought to life by a talented ensemble of musicians, singers, and dancers. This extraordinary production promises to deliver an immersive experience that will have fans singing, dancing, and reminiscing about their own summer romances.

From the iconic opening notes of "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" to the sultry rhythms of "Hungry Eyes" and the heart-wrenching ballad "She's Like the Wind," the music of "Dirty Dancing" has become synonymous with romance, passion, and the thrill of forbidden love. Audiences can expect to be swept away by the infectious energy and nostalgia that this live performance will evoke.

With breathtaking choreography, stunning visuals, and a live band that will bring the music to life, this show promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans of all ages.

"We are thrilled to bring this concert, the music of 'Dirty Dancing' to the stage," says Lisa K. Bryant, Producing Artistic Director. "This timeless soundtrack has touched the hearts of so many people around the world, and we are excited to give audiences the opportunity to relive the magic in a whole new way."

The Music of Dirty Dancing is presented by WTZQ, Forvis Private Client, Norm's Minit Mart, and Mountain Inn & Suites.

Flat Rock Playhouse's 2023 Season is supported by Mainstage Series Sponsors Charlotte & Bob Otto, and Season Sponsors Optimum, WHKP, and WTZQ, and North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Tickets are going fast! For a complete lineup with show descriptions and to purchase tickets, visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

Laurel Park's summer and fall repaving project is now underway.
Seven roads/streets are scheduled to get these repaving efforts by Tar Heel Paving Company who won the bid among four other paving contractors at $883,561.
The work is to be done during the balance of summer and fall with the rest of paving included in budget to be done next Spring.

USA TODAY’S 10 Best

Henderson County wine region makes national list

Dean Hensley Hendersonville Times-News | USA TODAY NETWORK HENDERSON COUNTY - Having been in the wine-producing business for just the past 12 years, Henderson County’s wine region is now being honored with the likes of the top wine-producing regions in the country, like California and Colorado.

USA Today recently announced in its 10Best feature that is picked by readers nationwide that the Crest of the Blue Ridge in Henderson County was among the top 10 best wine regions in the country, coming in at No. 8 on the list.

According to the article, Henderson County is home to North Carolina’s newest American Viticultural Area, which is a designated wine-grape-growing region in the United States. The link to the article is https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/ best-wine-region-2023.

“What a tremendous accomplishment by Henderson County vineyard owners to be recognized on a national stage, with such a high ranking alongside well-known west coast production areas,” Agribusiness Henderson County Executive Director Mark Williams told the Times-News on Aug. 11. “It’s even more impressive how quickly Crest of the Blue Ridge growers gained this notoriety.”

THIS STORY AND PICTURE COURTESY OF HENDERSONVILLE TIMES-NEWS

From left to right, Alan Ward and Barbara Walker of Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards and Sandra Oates and Lemuel Oates of Burntshirt Vineyards stand under their respective signs. PHOTO PROVIDED