New Green Coffeehouse and Juice Bar in Hendersonville
February 4, 2010
It seems that more and more businesses are going “green” nowadays. Jongo Java is a new green coffeehouse and juice bar that recently opened up in Hendersonville, NC. Located at 117 South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville, Jongo Java owner Jamie Tanner believes in an environmentally responsible business design. She uses real silverware, ceramic plates and compostable cups. Since the silverware and plates are reusable and the disposable cups can be composted down, they will not contribute to the already overburdened landfills. Regulars are encouraged to bring in their favorite mug to leave at the shop for future visits. There’s even a special shelf for these “favorites”. Tanner also buys bread from the local Underground Bakery and shares in recyling with the Never Blue restaurant to help herself and other Hendersonville businesses stay “green”.
To help keep expenses down and encourage community involvement, Tanner sub-leases part of her space to other businesses. Right now, “Once Upon a Sign” (a specialty gift shop) has signed up and a bookstore is a strong possibility in the future. By sharing business space, Tanner hopes to keep local Hendersonville businesses strong during hard economic times.
Jongo Java offers organically-grown specialty coffe, tea and some baked goods that are provided by local baker Daniel Duprey. They are gearing up to start offering real fruit smoothie using local, organic produce as well as soups and sandwiches in the near future.
Head to Jongo Java, a new green coffeehouse and juice bar in Hendersonville for your morning cup of joe. You’ll be supporting local businesses and Mother Earth at the same time. What a great combo!
Asheville Rotary Club Fundraiser
January 21, 2010
The Asheville Rotary Club is holding a fundraiser on Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 6-10pm at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel (31 Woodfin Street, Asheville, NC). Their beach themed “Makin’ Waves” fundraiser will include a live and silent auction, with music and a seafood buffet. Some of the items available for bidding are concert tickets, tickets for sporting events, vacation packages, golf packages, spa visits, art, wine and food baskets and much, much more. Tickets are only $50 per person and $95 per couple. Home Trust Bank, SunTrust, Asheville Savings Bank and Pisgah Community Bank are sponsors of this wonderful event. Proceeds from the event will help fund Asheville Rotary Club programs, which include giving dictionaries to Buncombe County 3rd graders, paying for WWII vets to fly to Washington DC and, this year, will include packaging 1 million meals for victims of the disaster in Haiti through Stop Hunger Now in April.
For more information about this event, including purchasing tickets, please call 254-3035 or visit the Asheville Rotary Club website. If you have an item or items you wish to donate to the fundraiser, please email Cindy Causby at cindy.causby@suntrust.com.
If you are able, please consider attending the Asheville Rotary Club Fundraiser this Saturday to help raise money for this fantastic organization.
Purchase Apple Trees to Help Hendersonville Nonprofit
January 14, 2010
Until February 6, 2010, you can purchase apple trees to help Hendersonville nonprofit organization ECO (Environmental & Conservation Organization). Since apples have been such a huge part of Western North Carolina’s agricultural history, ECO is offering over 20 different varieties of apple trees at its annual sale. These trees are unique in that many of them are hard to find since they were historically grown here in the southeast.
The goal of ECO’s annual apple tree sale is to help replace the apple trees that have been lost to development and neglect as well as increasing the diversity of this historically important fruit tree to the Hendersonville area. In addition, the proceeds from the sale help fund ECO’s environmental programs that include protecting the Western North Carolina environment.
Every year, the limited amounts of trees available through ECO sell out pretty quickly. This year, ECO will also be selling larger 2-year-old graft trees in 5-gallon containers for just a couple of dollars more than the regular 5-6′ tall semi-dwarf trees. They are also ready to be planted right away. So, make sure to put your order in early to get your heritage trees. Trees will be available for pickup by 12pm (noon) on February 6, 2010 in the parking lot of Hendersonville Visitor’s Center. Please purchase these heritage apple trees to help Hendersonville nonprofit organization ECO by calling 692-0385 or visiting the ECO website. Your family will thank you for the delicious fruit and the environment will thank you.
Prepare for Cold Weather in Hendersonville
January 7, 2010
The National Weather Service’s issuance of snow before 2pm today, rains and further snow after 2pm and winds up to 9 mph, I thought I’d share a few tips on how to prepare for cold weather here in Hendersonville.
- Make sure your fireplace flue is open and clear. You want the smoke from the fire to go straight up instead of filling the room and causing a breathing problem.
- Keep all combustible materials away from any heat source, such as the fireplace, portable heaters and ovens/stoves. This includes paper, matches, lighters, etc.
- Don’t use the oven/stove to heat up the room. They are not meant to be used for long periods of time. Also, an unattended, open oven/stove runs a high risk of catching your house on fire.
- Keep an eye on children and paper products near a heating source. Paper is highly combustible, children can get burned if they get too close and children with blankets can accidentally get too close to an oven/stove, etc. and catch their blanket on fire.
- Check on your elderly relatives or neighbors. Make sure they have enough food, water, supplies, etc. and that their heating source works properly. If they don’t have a reliable source for heat, you may want to check with local government agencies to find out what programs they offer to help.
With the temperatures dropping in Henderson County, it is important to make sure you are prepared for cold weather here in Hendersonville.
Laurel Park Welcomes Two New Council Members
December 17, 2009
On December 15, 2009, Laurel Park welcomed two new council members: Dona Mennella and Carey O’Cain. This will be Dona Mennella’s third term to serve as a Laurel Park town commissioner and Carey O’Cain’s first term. Senator Tom Apodaca swore both new members in to their posts. Mr. O’Cain is president of the Laurel Park Civic Association and looks to be a promising new addition to the town council. I am also happy to report that the Council was gracious enough to elect me as Vice-Mayor for the next two years. I am very honored by this.
I would like to extend my congratulations and warm welcome to my fellow council members as they join me, Bob Vickery, Mayor Henry Johnson and Town Manager Jim Ball on the town council. We hope to see many more people at future council meetings as well. So, please check with the Laurel Park government website to find out when new public meetings are scheduled. We always love to hear from you.
More Christmas Fun in Hendersonville
December 10, 2009
There is more Christmas fun to be had in the Hendersonville area this weekend. The Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra will be performing a Carolina Christmas at the Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock on Friday and Saturday, December 11 and 12. The Carolina Concert Choir will be performing at 7:30pm on Friday and 4pm on Saturday. For more info, please call 828-697-5884 or visit the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra website.
The Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center in Hendersonville will host recording artist Timothy O’Keefe on December 11 at 7:30pm and December 13 at 3:30pm. Timothy will be performing Christmas favorites as well as romantic songs with a special guest vocalist and a small children’s choir. Tickets are only $15. For more info and to purchase tickets, please call 828-693-0087 or visit the Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center website.
Come celebrate Christmas the Sandburg way at the Carl Sandburg Home in Flat Rock. Enjoy beautiful holiday decorations as well as fun holiday music at this Christmas at Connemara event on Saturday, December 12 from 10am-3pm. For more information, please call 828-693-4178 or visit the Carl Sandburg Home website.
The Town of Fletcher will hold their Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 12. The parade will include floats, music and a visit from the big guy himself, Santa. The parade starts at 10:30am and will be held on Hwy 25 between Old Airport Road and Town Hall. For more info, please call 828-687-0751 or visit the Fletcher website.
The Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center will present “A Carolina Mountain Christmas” with Me & The Boys starts Terry Wetton and Angela Heatherly, Tom Fisch and humorist Louise Bailey. Tickets are only $15. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call 828-693-0087 or visit the Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center website.
I hope you get a chance to enjoy some of the christmas fun here in Hendersonville.
Enjoy an Olde Fashioned Hendersonville Christmas
December 3, 2009
Enjoy an Olde Fashioned Hendersonville Christmas tomorrow, December 4, 2009 at the gazebo on the 400 block of Main Street in Hendersonville, NC. There will be free carriage and hay rides, open houses of merchants in the historic downtown area, Santa Claus, live music and more. The schedule for live music being performed at the gazebo by our own talented local musicians is as follows:
5:00-5:30pm – Hendersonville Middle School Strings
5:45-6:45pm – Hendersonville Middle School Chorus
7:00-7:45pm – Hendersonville Middle School Jazz Band
8:15-8:45pm - New Life Family Ministry singing carols
Come to historic Downtown Hendersonville on Friday, December 4, 2009 to enjoy an Olde Fashioned Hendersonville Christmas. It’s a great way to kick off the Christmas season. Hope to see you there!
Hendersonville Brings Friday Night Lights to Town
November 25, 2009
After you’re done doing your early morning shopping to get in on those Black Friday “deals” at the stores, Hendersonville will be bringing Friday Night Lights to town. The annual Downtown Lighting Ceremony will be taking place at the gazebo in downtown Hendersonville beginning at 5:30pm. Bring the family down for free carriage rides, caroling, thousands of twinkling lights and a special appearance by Santa himself. Anyone can participate in the Christmas caroling if they want to. Song sheets will be available upon request.
Not only will Santa be available to listen to all the kids Christmas wish lists and pass out candy canes, but he will be flipping the switch to start the lighting ceremony. Make sure to bring your cameras! Even Hendersonville residents will be allowed to participate in the lighting ceremony in a “hands on” way for the very first time ever. But, you’ll have to come to the Downtown Lighting Ceremony to see just how this will happen. Just like past lighting ceremonies, four evergreen trees will be planted on Main Street for everyone to enjoy throughout the year. Local nonprofit organizations have also decorated Christmas trees that will be visible around Main Street, with lots of lights in the flowerbeds and planters as well. Make sure to bring your family to downtown Hendersonville when they bring Friday Night Lights to town on November 27, 2009.
Henderson County Swine Flu Clinic
November 19, 2009
The Henderson County Swine Flu Clinic is scheduled to take place this Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 8-11:30am at the Henderson County Department of Public Health in Hendersonville. Due to the limited availabilty of vaccine, only available those people in the designated priority group* will be allowed to receive vaccinations, which will be provided for free. Vaccinations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Henderson County Health Department will continue to provide H1N1 vaccine clinics as vaccine is available Mondays through Thursdays from 9am-12pm by appointment only. For more information and to make an appointment, please call the Hendersonville Flu Hotline at 694-4040. Bilingual nurses are also available upon request.
*People in the priority group are pregnant women, people who live with or care for children ages 6 months or younger, healthcare and emergency medical personnel, children and adults between the ages of 6 months and 24 years and those people ages 25-64 who have health disorders or compromised immune systems that would make them at higher risk for adverse affects from the H1N1 virus.
$8000 Tax Credit Extended
November 12, 2009
The $8000 First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit has been extended both in time and to include a $6500 tax credit for existing homeowners. Previously, only first time home buyers (those buyers who have not owned a home for at least the three previous years) were eligible for an up to $8000 tax credit based on the purchase price of the home. This was set to stop December 1, 2009. However, President Obama has just signed an extension to the First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit that applies to all homes purchased by April 30, 2010. If you have a signed binding sales contract in effect by April 30, 2010, you have until July 2, 2010 to close escrow.
In addition to the $8000 First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit, President Obama made available a $6500 tax credit for current homeowners looking to purchase a new home. Existing homeowners must have used their home as their primary residence for at least five consecutive of the last 8 years to qualify for this new tax credit.
Income Limits:
If you are a single home buyer or married filing head of household, you cannot make more than $125,000. If you are married and file jointly, you cannot make more than $225,000 to receive the total tax credit you are eligible for. You are eligible for a partial credit if you are single or a head of household filer and make between $125,000 and $145,000 or married filing jointly with an income between $225,000 and $245,000.
Homes That Qualify:
Only a home that is purchased and used as a primary residence is eligible for the appropriate tax credit. That means that vacation homes, rental properties and commercial properties do not qualify. Also, the purchase price cannot exceed $800,000.
These tax credits do not have to be paid back provided you use your house for your primary residence for at least three years. However, if you sell your home before the three year time period is up, you will be required to pay back all the tax credit you received. For more information on the tax credit extensions and how they effect you with your Western North Carolina home, please contact me.
