More retirees are choosing a college town as a place to retire I just read an article in the Retirement Places newsletter, and found some interesting information. As people get ready for retirement and think about moving to a new location, more and more are considering a college town for various reasons. Some are looking for the intellectual stimulation, some for the arts and culture a college atmosphere brings with it. The more popular towns seem to be those with more scenic views and great health care. Naming Asheville NC as one of the best Mountain Communities, Asheville has the University of North Carolina, Asheville in the downtown area. They have Mission Hospital, a great place for Health Care.And the arts, good eats, culture and more. For those looking for a smaller town just a f... 07/10/2010

Open Houses and Other Events for the Weekend of July 10, 2010 This weekend you will find 39 homes for sale that will be open to the public. Be sure that you check the times as well as the dates. Although most of the homes will be Sunday from 2-4, a few will be on Saturday and some will have longer hours. The Do Tell Story Fest will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 10-11, 2010 on Main Street in Downtown Hendersonville. This is the second year for this event and there will be two stages set up for the event as well as activities in various other areas of downtown. Check the Do Tell Storyfest website for schedules and places for each event. One stage will be set at the Old Courthouse, and one will be further north near the Arts Center. There will be Music on Main Street tonight at the ... 07/09/2010

Unusual New Business Starts in Hendersonville NC When Kimberly Sweet moved to Hendersonville, NC and was not able to bring her pets with her from Florida, she decided to start a business that would allow her to be around pets and fill that void. Now Kim's Pet Taxi will help seniors, the disabled and busy workers get their best friends anywhere they need to go. Soon to come will be a fitness center for your best friend, Kim's Canine Fitness Center, located on South Grove Street. It will feature dog treadmills and hydrotherapy for your best friend, grooming and more. Read all about Kim and her new business. If you need more information on Kim's services, you can call her at 828/388-3822.     07/04/2010

Hendersonville NC - Fourth of July Events! Sunday July 4 Jackson Park in Hendersonville NC will start celebrating our Independence Day Remembrance at 2 PM until dusk ending with a great fireworks display sponsored by Pepsi.This is a favorite family event to celebrate the day with many activities for all to enjoy. There will be live music, the SAWA Lumberjack Series Competition, food and craft vendors, car show, wrestling show and a kid's area provided by STJ's. Here's a schedule of events for the July Fourth Events at Jackson Park and map if you are not familiar with the Jackson Park location. This is a great Website to learn all about the history of why and how come we can celebrate the Fourth of July.  It is full of information and videos for those interested.  Although cookouts and ... 07/03/2010

  Our Old Henderson County Courthouse To Host a Play in Hendersonville!  The Flatrock Playhouse has staged "Twelve Angry Men" in our Historic Henderson County Courthouse in downtown Hendersonville, NC.  How neat is that!I'm sure many are familiar with the story line of the twelve jurors given the task of judging a sixteen year old boy accused of murdering his dad in their Bronx, NY apartment.  As the jurors convene in the jury room and had hoped to reach a fast guilty verdict there is one dissenter who votes not guilty.  As the discussions drag on the passions and personalities of the individual jurors come to life.  This drama keeps you glued to your seat as you feel transported into the jury room amidst these "twelve angry men" as they try to reach a verdict.This superb Flatrock Playh... 07/02/2010

What is Happening in Hendersonville NC This July Fourth Weekend, 2010 Friday July 2-4 the Mountaineer Antique Auto Club Car Show & Flea Market will hold their event at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center. It is located across from the Asheville Airport on Highway 280. You can call for more information at either of these numbers. 828-687-1414 or 828-456-3272 Music on Main Street will be held tonight, at the stage by the Henderson County Visitor Center, 201 South Main Street in Historic Downtown Hendersonville. Bring a chair and the family. Set up starts at 5:30 and Music will be from 7-9pm. Tonights featured band is locally grown Sound Investment, playing Oldies Rock. On Monday, July Fourth the Fabulous Fourth Celebration will be held in Jackson Park. They will have arts and c... 07/02/2010

What's holding the cost of health care hostage? I can tell you one thing that is keeping our costs for any services from being reasonable. I was at Pardee Outpatient Radiology today waiting for a friend to have an MRI. I was so cold in there that I had to wait outside. I was thinking it was just me. I don't have air conditioning in my home, so figured I was just not used to it. But then I saw a woman about my same age, and she was huddled under a blanket that she requested because she was so cold waiting for a Friend of hers. Later I saw a very elderly male in a wheelchair and he too was wrapped in a blanket. Everyone I looked at was hugging themselves in an effort to stay warm. And on a hot summer day! If we were all so cold in the lobby then what was it like for patients in the MRI wi... 07/01/2010

Someone visited me last night, Who can it be?? This is what I awoke to this morning early. I had the squirrels licked, and the moles and raccoons as well. So who could it have been? They didn't leave a calling card. Bears again? They drug a garbage bag from the back of my truck, about 100 feet away and spread the contents across the lawn, then broke this heavy duty post for the feeders. Well, maybe this is the end of feeding the birds. If so, I am going to be very sad. I am already sad watching the birds fly to the spot where the feeders were just last night, screech to a halt and fly to a tree and look back, What??? they seem to be saying. The bears are back! 07/01/2010

Hendersonville NC Raising Parking Meter Rates!  A sign of the times.  City Manager Bo Ferguson is reminding folks that parking meter rates in the city limits of Hendersonville are being raised effective 1 July 2010.  That's as of now!In an effort to assist the tight budget it was decided that Hendersonville's rates were low compared to other communities.  Sooo, the rates go from 0.25 to 0.50 an hour for parking at meters.It will be interesting to see if this has an effect on visitors to our beautiful downtown and businesses.  Non metered parking can be hard to find in downtown and the parking lots are needed.For more info you can visit the online Times-News Article.Visit Robin's Website for information on Hendersonville NC and Western NC. 06/30/2010

The biggest mistake in selling your home Are you planning on playing the interview game? You know what I'm talking about. You interview ten agents and wait to see who will put the highest ticket on the home you need to sell. Well, if that is your plan, this article is for you.   Lets ask ourselves what your home is REALLY worth? How do you really know? The first place to start is to look though the sales, preferably for the last three months. But if sales are slow, you may have to look back six months. If you live in a neighborhood or development, then it is even better. Gather all of your data and start comparing that data to your home. You should only look at sold homes that have the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and square footage should be with 10% in either direction. Then... 06/30/2010

Dear Mary,Please accept our sincere thanks for your pleasant and expert assistance during our recent home search.  Your services to us were excellent throughout and made a potentially stressful and challenging process both simple and satisfying.We are very pleased with our new home and confident that, with your assistance, we made the right choice.  Thanks to you; we saw an array of homes, each of wich exactly met our stated requirements; we were well informed as to the good and bad points of each potential home and it's environment; we were supported in the buying process be several capable specialists which you had identified for us.  The net result is that we now own a lovely home in a beautiful subdivision and look forward to a long and happy life in Western North Carolina.We are gr... 06/29/2010

Feeding Our Gang of Visiting Ducks For about the last 5-6 years each spring and through the summer we have our mallard families visiting for breakfast lunch and dinner.  Their menu is very consistent -- crushed corn.  If the corn isn't there when they arrive they wait until we notice them and come to greet us as we go to get the corn.Tonight there was a family of nine!  The Park has a pond right down from us where they spend a lot of time and we enjoy feeding them in the woods.  Some times we'll see them waddle up and down the streets.  One year we got a special thanks when a momma duck brought her eight babies up to visit!  I had a picture but can't find it!  It was almost like she was telling them, "this is where you come to eat". We also feed a few racoons, bunnies and possums which... 06/27/2010

 Shouldn't Be Much Longer - Home Grown Maters Are Coming!   Marvin's small garden is coming along just fine.  We've already been enjoying onions, radishes and cucumbers.  The cucumbers are prolific and we've been sharing them with neighbors so we don't waste any.We enjoy them as a salad like we make in Pennsylvania with vineger, sugar, onion, salt and pepper.I took these pictures yesterday and some of the tomatoes were showing yellow.  With all the heat and sun we've been having the yellow has turned to pale red on several.  Shouldn't be long and I'll be eating a mater sandwich for lunch!The bell peppers are looking great and shouldn't be much longer for those as well. It's just so neat and delicious when things cooperate and you can get to enjoy the fruits of your labor from a garden.... 06/27/2010

Western Carolina Regional Animal Hospital and Veterinary Emergency Hospital in Henersonville NC Located at 205 North Highland Lake Road, the Western Carolina Regional Animal Hospital has been open for a little over one year.  Their location is just south of Downtown Hendersonville. We have many good Veterinary Doctors in the area, but until we got the Western Carolina Regional Animal Hospital, we had no emergency facilities. If one of our pets was in distress or in an accident after hours, we would have taken them to a hospital in Asheville. REACH has been a great provider for our emergencies, but the drive to Asheville was long, and with a sick or injured pet, was quite stressful to drive.  So the Western Carolina Regional Animal Hospital has been a very welcome addition to the Henders... 06/27/2010

 The Economy Has Another Victim - The Peddler Steak House I just read today in the Times-News that The Peddler is the latest victim of the current rotten economy and will be closing the doors for good July 1. The Peddler is a family owned business and Scott Surrette said he has sold for health and economic reasons. The Hendersonville restaurant was known for its steaks. Rumor has it that Patty Cakes Restaurant will take over the space and probably open in the next few weeks.  Alledgedly they will be keeping their other, smaller (much) spot on Haywood Road.It's sad to watch these long established local business's having to close their doors.Sue of Robin and Sue 06/25/2010

  Here is your list for Open Houses this weekend: Hendersonville NC Open Houses for Sunday June 27, 2010 There will be 40 homes open for you to walk through.Here is your chance to see a lot of homes in a short time, with no pressure. Be sure and look closely at the times and days. Although most Open Houses will be scheduled for Sunday, some will be on Saturday. And some will be 2-5, but others will be 1-5. On the Open House Link there will be a route maker, so that you can move through the list and see everything in the most efficient way possible. I am looking for a Sunny Day on Sunday. Happy House Hunting! 06/25/2010

Hendersonville Hot Dog World Is Honored!  If you are familiar with Hendersonville you more than likely are aware of Hot Dog World.  I took this picture early in the morning before folks were arriving to even start preparing for the day. Before the doors even open people start pouring into Hot Dog World's parking lot from all walks of life.  As soon as the doors open you'll find a long line snaking out from inside.  The good news is the line goes through fast, the people are friendly and the customers don't mind the wait for what they know will be coming -- great food.  Nothing fancy like plates, etc but great hamburgers, dogs, Rubens, salads, shakes and much more.  The place hums with organized chaos and a well oiled chain of proficiency from the moment your order is placed and you wat... 06/25/2010

Month of Sunday's in Hendersonville NC. Check out Downtown Historic Hendersonville this month and see who is open on Sundays for you. Local businesses will be opening their doors on Sunday and will give you an added day to walk Main Street and see what is Downtown. So mosey on down and check it out! 06/24/2010

Hendersonville NC Council On Aging has been serving Henderson County since 1969. It was set up to serve Henderson County residents over the age of 60. They provide several services for Hendersonville and the surrounding areas. Meals on Wheels is one service they provide. Volunteers deliver meals to the elderly Monday through Friday. But meals are just a part of the service provided by these visits. While volunteers are delivering the meals, they offer conversation to shut ins who are lonley. This may be the elderly persons only human contact of the day. It also serves and a way to check in and make sure that they are in good shape and safe. Another service of The Council on Aging is Partnership for Independent Living. Social Workers assist the elderly in living independently by assuring... 06/22/2010

Susie's Law - North Carolina OK's Tougher Animal Cruelty PenaltiesMr. Willie was very happy to learn after the terrible abuse that Susie had to endure in August of last year as an 8 week old puppy that North Carolina finally enacted a law to punish animal abusers!Susie's story captured the hearts and soul of many here in North Carolina as to what she endured and her survival thanks to the contributions of many citizens and the aid of the veternarians who cared for her.Susie's owner had not only beaten her but set her on fire and left the puppy for dead!  She suffered for two weeks hidden in a park until a passerby found her still alive and got her help.  Her condition at that time is too gruesome to describe.  The vet hospital where she was taken and others notified the public and the o... 06/19/2010