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On March 4, 2024, the City of Hendersonville began its spring bulk leaf collection service for City residents and will continue throughout the month of March and conclude on March 29.   

During bulk leaf collection, City residents should pile loose leaves at the edge of the street along the curb, without placing the leaves on the sidewalk or roadway. Leaves should not be bagged by City of Hendersonville residents.   

Residents can help prevent safety hazards by keeping leaf piles off the sidewalks. Obstructed sidewalks may force people to walk into the street and pose a danger for pedestrians and motorists. Keeping leaf piles out of the roadways and sidewalks also helps prevent debris from being washed into the storm drains which can cause flooding.   

The bulk leaf collection process is separate from brush collection crews; therefore, residents will need to keep their brush and leaves in separate piles until bulk leaf collection has concluded at the end of the year. Leaf piles should be free of tree limbs or other objects that may damage collection equipment. Fall bulk leaf collection typically occurs from mid-October through December.  

The public does not need to contact Public Works with leaf pick-up requests as this service is automatically provided to City residents. Leaf piles are picked up from homes every ten to fourteen days but, depending on the volume of leaves placed out for collection, the piles could be picked up sooner or later than that time frame. 

The City’s bulk leaf collection service does not include pickup for yard waste generated by landscaping companies. If any residents, businesses, or nonprofits use a contractor or landscape contractor to trim or cut trees or any yard work, the contractor is responsible for removal of the debris they generate including grass clippings, bulk leaves, tree trimmings, etc. 

For questions about this service, please call the Public Works Department at (828) 697-3084 or visit https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/public-works.  

 For weeks, 7th Avenue in Hendersonville has been closed for streetscape construction. The sidewalks and the businesses along the road have stayed open. People are still walking through the doors but to a lesser extent. Business owners are feeling the impact of that and will be for weeks to come.

“It is slower. It feels like it,” Claywood owner Carly Buntin said. “We are 14 weeks into a new business and we have a road closure in front of us.”

 

The road does not look too pretty at the moment.

“Right now, they’re doing a lot of the underground utility work,” Hendersonville Downtown Manager Jamie Carpenter said. “So, waterlines and all of that.”

The road has been closed since the start of February, and it’s affected the amount of traffic, including pedestrians, in the area.

“I think anyone’s going to have visceral reaction when a chain link fence goes up on a road in front of your brand-new business that’s nine weeks old,” Buntin said. “It’s a struggle. Every day I have to wake up thinking about how we’re going to market ourselves.”

Buntin is using this time to look at ways to improve her space. With fewer customers going through the door, she has more time to change things like the menu, drink options and market on social media.

“This is a good time for locals to come out and experience us when we’re a little bit more relaxed and stay a little bit longer,” she said. “That is a silver lining. We’re able to vet our business and make sure that we’re meeting our expectations and our standards. Think about flowers. They go into the ground, they need a rest period, and then they come back full to bloom.

The city of Hendersonville is trying to direct residents to the road, as well.

“Part of that is helping businesses with signage and getting people to the parking lots in the rear of their buildings and on Maple Street,” Carpenter said. “We’re really all coming together to try to support the businesses here. We think the community really is too.”

Through the slow period, Buntin and 7th Avenue businesses are staying optimistic.

“Seventh Avenue is going to look so gorgeous by the end of this. It’s going to have a different attraction to it,” Buntin said. “I’m going to have a patio in the front that I didn’t even consider when we made this business model.”

The full road closure is expected to end sometime in May.

 

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHendersonville's 7th Ave businesses stay optimistic through road work (wlos.com)

The League of Women Voters of Henderson County is excited to announce this year’s rollout of
VOTE 411 an online voters guide that offers personalized voting information for Henderson
County. If you are interested in more information about who to vote for in this year's Primary
election you can find information on each candidate online at Vote411.org. According to the
President of the League of Women Voters, Ernest Mowell, “this is the first time that every local
primary candidate in Henderson County has chosen to participate in VOTE 411; it’s a great
example of support for an informed electorate in the democratic process." Vote 411 will be
available to area voters through the March 5th election.
Go to Vote411.org, and enter your address to see your personalized voting page, see what's on
your ballot, check your voter registration, and find your polling place.
LWVHC celebrates Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by welcoming all members of our
community. For more information please go to the website www.lwvhcnc.org

 The Hendersonville Fire Department invited City Council members, construction representatives, community partners, and fire department and city staff to celebrate Fire Station 1’s construction progress at a beam signing commemoration at the Fire Station 1 construction site located at 851 North Main Street. Attendees signed the beam a day before it was lifted and placed atop the station. 

The signed, final structural beam will be visible in the apparatus bay after construction is complete. Attendees also had the opportunity to tour the building, which is expected to be completed by the end of May. A grand opening ceremony will be planned following the project’s completion where the public can join and celebrate this much-needed public safety amenity.  

 

The City of Hendersonville will sponsor its popular Document Shred Event for City residents on Friday, May 24, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This year’s event will be held in Patton Park located at 114 E. Clairmont Drive in Hendersonville. The Hendersonville Police Department will also offer a Drug Take Back as part of the event for community members to safely dispose of their unwanted or expired medications.

 

Shred-it will have its shredding truck at the Patton Pool parking lot to allow residents to dispose of sensitive materials. City of Hendersonville residents are invited to bring up to two boxes (or up to 50 lbs.) of paper items to be shredded. Suggested items to shred are financial statements, canceled checks, credit card statements, payroll stubs, insurance forms, old tax returns, forms from doctor's offices, etc. This event is not for business shredding. The public can simply drop their documents off or stay and watch their documents be destroyed. The event will happen rain or shine. If the shredding truck fills up before 10:30, the event will be over.

 

During this time, the Hendersonville Police Department along with Hope Coalition will host a Drug Take Back event to allow the public to dispose of expired/unused medication, such as prescription and over-the-counter pills, vitamins, ointments, and patches. No chemotherapy drugs, needles, inhalers, or EpiPens will be accepted. The Hendersonville Police Department also provides a permanent medication disposal box located in the lobby of the Police Station at 630 Ashe Street that is available during business hours, Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Drug Take Back portion of the event is open to everyone.

 

To make this part of a community outreach effort, the City is asking residents coming to the event bring non-perishable pantry items to donate to Interfaith Assistance Ministry (IAM). Suggested items are listed on IAM’s website at https://www.iam-hc.org/current-needs. 

 

Additional information on the event is available at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/news/document-shred-drug-take-back-event 

 

Questions may be directed to Lu Ann Welter at 828-233-3204 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Remington, the nation's oldest gun manufacturer, which has been located for more than 200 years in Ilion, New York, will move to LaGrange, Georgia, on March 4, according to the latest news reports.

"Two hundred and eight years of history. Gone, gone," Ilion Mayor John P. Stephens told the New York Times. "Ilion is Remington. Remington is Ilion."

Remington said it no longer feels welcomed in left-leaning New York. In a Facebook post, the company's chief executive, Ken D'Arcy, referred to Georgia as "a state that supports and welcomes the firearms industry."

"We are deeply saddened by the closing of this historic facility," D'Arcy continued. "But maintaining and operating those very old buildings is cost prohibitive. And New York State's legislative environment remains a major concern for our industry."

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY., whose district includes Ilion, released a statement on the relocation and aimed her critique directly at the Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul.

"It is because of New York Democrats' unconstitutional gun grab policies that the oldest gun manufacturer in the country has been run out of the state," Stefanik said.

Remington said it will invest $100 million in the operation in LaGrange, located near Atlanta, and will hire more than 800 people over five years.

Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks and NAI Beverly-Hanks Close on 644-Acre Property in Henderson County

February 21, 2024 (Asheville, NC)—Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks, REALTORSⓇ, the leading real estate company in Western North Carolina, has sold a 644-acre property in Henderson County known as “Horse Shoe Mountain”. The property closed today for $15 million.

Horse Shoe Mountain was co-listed by Billy Harris of Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks’ South Brevard office and Karl Nelson, CCIM, of NAI Beverly-Hanks, the leading local commercial real estate firm of Asheville’s MSA.

Since 2022, Harris has been consistently ranked as one of the top real estate brokers in WNC with a focus on land and luxury property. Over the past 20 years, he has sold 850 list/sales sides amounting to $250 million.

"I have spent over 20 years in this business, and during that time, I've had the privilege of selling a few tracts over 500 acres,” said Harris. “Honestly, when I first toured this property, I had no idea that something this extraordinary still existed in the greater Asheville marketplace. Karl and I dedicated numerous hours exploring every inch of the 644 acres to ensure it was the perfect fit for the buyer, and we're confident that this legacy property is now in excellent hands."

Horse Shoe Mountain is one of WNC’s largest land tracts, making it also one of the most versatile parcels in the region outside of state and national forests. With sweeping mountain views and pristine woodland, this rolling, parklike expanse is a totally unique corner of the Blue Ridge.

The mountain is easily accessible from many local communities. Property highlights include:

• Located next to the renowned 650-acre golf community of Cummings Cove
• Close proximity to the Ecusta Trail system, an upcoming 18-mile multi-use trail connecting Hendersonville to Brevard, NC
• Across the highway from French Broad River access points
• Unobstructed views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounding ranges
• Partial road system traversing the property with gentle topography throughout
• Less than 20 minutes to the Asheville Regional Airport, Downtown Brevard, Downtown Hendersonville, DuPont State Recreational Forest, and Pisgah National Forest

“Most 100-plus-acre tracts we look at today are either farmland with limited trees or not a great location because the topography is steep and views are limited,” said Harris. “To find a tract of 644 acres that is untouched with the exception of a fairly robust roughed-in road system and is only 15 minutes from the Asheville airport and downtown Hendersonville—it truly is a legacy tract and a very special find.”

Because of the property’s unique location and attributes, Nelson was brought in to extend his commercial real estate expertise to the sale.

“One of the most challenging aspects of this sale was the property's sheer size and diversity,” said Nelson. “Managing a property of this great size requires a nuanced understanding of its potential uses, zoning regulations, and the intricacies of large-scale transactions.”

Nelson and Harris conducted an in-depth analysis to segment the property, highlighting its best uses for different buyers.

“This strategic segmentation allowed us to attract a broader spectrum of interested parties, thereby maximizing the property's value and appeal,” said Nelson. “This quick sale exemplifies our firm's commitment to leveraging our extensive network, deep market knowledge, and innovative strategies to achieve optimal outcomes for our clients.”

WNC’s ultra-luxury real estate market has picked up considerable steam over the last decade, and especially since emerging from the pandemic. From 2014–2019, two homes in WNC sold for more than $5 million. During COVID (2020–2021), that number rose to six homes. In the two years since the peak of the pandemic (2022–2023), 11 homes sold for more than $5 million. These trends appear here to stay for the foreseeable future.

“The quick sale and premium price of this parcel reinforce the significant shift in our local WNC market dynamics,” said Josh Baker, Vice President of Marketing at Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks. “Both individual buyers and investors are increasingly drawn to the allure of the Western North Carolina mountains, and our well-established luxury network consistently delivers exceptional results in transactions of this caliber.”

Horse Shoe Mountain offers many possibilities for its buyer, represented by John E. Haynes of Retreat Realty, Ltd.—Keller Williams Professionals. At this time, Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks has no knowledge of the buyer’s plans for the property.

See more information about Horse Shoe Mountain at horseshoemountainnc.com. Reach out to Billy Harris at (828) 553-9666 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or Karl Nelson, CCIM at (828) 713-0927 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 A partnership between several agencies across Henderson County is bolstering trauma response from paramedics.

Intubation is a high-risk, low-frequency intervention that requires paramedics to insert an airway to help patients who can't breathe for themselves. And it's only done a handful of times a year in the field, according to a Henderson County paramedic.

Because of a collaboration with UNC Health Pardee and Blue Ridge Community College, paramedics are now able to train and get feedback from anesthesiologists in the Pardee operating room.

"My history in trauma, I know that paramedics don’t often get the opportunity to intubate patients, and this was just a very natural thing that we felt like at Pardee we should be doing to help them so that they're able to get the number of intubations that they need to keep their certifications,” UNC Health Pardee Trauma Program Manager Angela Morrow said.

Paramedic James Kanupp said working on a live patient versus a mannequin also makes a difference because airways differ from person to person.

 

STOYR & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHenderson County partnership elevates paramedic trauma response with hands-on training (wlos.com)

The City of Hendersonville Environmental Sustainability Board in partnership with MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina, the Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO, Caregivers of Mother Earth, and Blue Ridge Bicycle Club have organized the second annual Hendo Earth Fest occurring on Saturday, April 20th, 2024, in Downtown Hendersonville. Hendo Earth Fest will be centered around Main Street from 6th Avenue to 4th Avenue from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and is sponsored by the Hendersonville Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB).  

Local organizations and environmental champions will educate, entertain, and raise awareness of the need to protect our planet for future generations. There will also be fun, family friendly activities for children of all ages and engaging musical acts. 

At 11:45 am, City Council representatives will welcome attendees and provide remarks from the music stage on Main Street between 5th and 4th Avenue.  

What:                   Hendo Earth Fest  

When:                  Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm   

Where:                 Main Street from 6th Avenue to 4th Avenue and 5th Avenue east of Wall Street to King Street with the Maple Parking Lot closed and Edwards Alley closed to vehicles with bicycle access only 

A few exhibitor highlights include The Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO, various City of Hendersonville Boards, Sundance Solar, Gribley Permaculture, and many more. Visitors are encouraged to bike to the event where Blue Ridge Bicycle Club will be offering free, convenient bike checking services. 

The Hendo Earth Fest Subcommittee is seeking volunteers to assist for two-hour shifts during the event. Interested community members are requested to email Ann Twiggs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to sign up.   

Come join your friends and neighbors to celebrate Earth Day at the second annual Hendo Earth Fest!   

Additional information on the event is available at www.hvlnc.gov/hendoearthfest   

Following a well-attended and collaborative Gen H Comprehensive Plan Open House event, the City of Hendersonville is extending an opportunity for virtual feedback to community members who were unable to attend on February 13. 

The public is invited to participate in an online survey at www.hvlnc.gov/GenH to review and provide feedback on potential land use scenarios, focus areas, goals, and the vision for the 2045 Comprehensive Plan. The survey will remain open until March 1, 2024. The input received will be integrated with feedback from the open house and stakeholder meetings, enriching the development of the draft plan.  

The City of Hendersonville’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan will establish a forward-thinking vision for sustainable growth and conservation. Named Gen H to foster a generational perspective on Hendersonville’s future, this plan will build upon the foundation laid by the existing 2030 plan, while also updating and expanding the policy framework for the years ahead.  

The concepts and materials shared during the Open House and reflected in the online survey have been shaped by previous community conversations and surveys conducted in 2023. Additional feedback from this phase will contribute to shaping the final document, which will serve as a guiding framework for City Council, staff, and partner organizations as they make decisions shaping the community's future.   

Visit www.hvlnc.gov/GenH to participate in the survey and discover more about the Gen H plan. A few minutes of your time can help shape Hendersonville’s future.