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German manufacturer praises city water

Henderson County Business

'Brunch bill' allows booze on Sunday morning

RALEIGH — No discussion. No debate. No drama. A lopsided vote. A couple of hours after slipping through a skeptical Senate Rules Committee, Senate Bill 155, aka the brunch bill, breezed through the full Senate Thursday by a 32-13 vote. Republicans were split, 22-12, and those divisions became apparent, mainly during a Wednesday meeting of the Senate’s Finance Committee and to a lesser extent at the Thursday Rules session. If the House concurs with the Senate and the bill becomes law, North Carolina distillers will be able to sell five bottles per customer annually to patrons who take a distillery tour. The current annual limit is one bottle. Distilleries will be able to hold tastings at festivals, trade shows, and conventions that allow alcohol tastings. Restaurants and retail outlets also will be able to serve and sell alcohol beginning at 10 a.m. Sundays rather than at noon with the approval of local governing bodies. This will put North Carolina evem with 47 other states that allow alcohol to be served Sundays before noon, noted Sen. Rick Gunn, R-Alamance, the bill’s chief sponsor. The five-bottle provision would take effect July 1, if the bill becomes law by then. Taylor Howard, co-owner of H & H Distillery in Asheville, says the five-bottle law will help distilleries the most of any part of the bill. It would bring more people in more often, making the distillery more like a brewpub. “It’s not that we’re not trying to not support ABC stores, but being able to push our products out of the distillery would be a huge aspect for growth,” he said. The major objection among Rules members came from Sen. Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph. He scoffed at a provision in the bill charging a $750 per-event fee to auctioneers marketing beer, wines, and spirits — primarily aimed at auctions of high-dollar vintage merchandise or from estates. The events happen rarely. Legislative staff estimated the provision would raise a mere $3,000 a year, but said business might improve if they could include vintage spirits and other rare alcoholic beverages. The Rev. Mark Creech of the Christian Action League implored the committee to reject the bill on religious grounds, giving a speech much like the one he delivered at the Finance meeting. Scott Maitland, proprietor of Top of the Hill Distillers in Chapel Hill, owner of the popular Top of the Hill Restaurant, and president of the N.C. Distillers Association, told the committee the law would make a huge impact on distilleries. The five-bottle rule would make a big difference at his business and allowing alcohol sales before noon on Sundays would boost his restaurant’s business (and its ability to employ people) dramatically, Maitland said. The committee approved the bill by voice vote in what appeared to be a narrow margin. But when the bill reached the Senate floor, it passed quickly without any discussion or debate.   Read Story »

Henderson County Business

AVL adds nonstop to Vero Beach

Elite Airways, an airline brand new to our region, landed for the first time at Asheville Regional Airport from Vero Beach Regional Airport in Florida on Thursday morning, May 25. The flight was welcomed by a water cannon arch, a tradition in aviation used to commemorate special occasions. Once the plane taxied through the water arch and parked at the gate, AVL officials welcomed leaders from Vero Beach and Elite Airways to mark the day with a ribbon cutting ceremony on the airfield, with the Elite Airways jet nearby. "I am so pleased to welcome our new friends from Elite Airways and Vero Beach to our mountains," said Lew Bleiweis, A.A.E., AVL executive director. "It's great to see this beautiful Bombardier CRJ-200 at the gate, ready to take passengers straight to Vero Beach. There are strong connections between our two communities, and I anticipate that the route between the mountains and the Treasure Coast will be embraced. I look forward to a long relationship, and to making a trip soon on Elite Airways." "Today marks the start of nonstop jet service between Vero Beach, Florida and Asheville, North Carolina — two very popular destinations for arts, culture, music, and R&R," said John Pearsall, president of Elite Airways. "We have high expectations for this route, and thank city and airport officials for their support." The new service will provide the tenth nonstop destination available to regional travelers from AVL, with twice-weekly flights on Thursdays and Sundays. For more information about flights, or to book a trip, visit EliteAirways.com. .   Read Story »

Hendersonville Business

Publix close to breaking ground

The developer building a new Publix has assured city officials that it’s close to breaking ground on the grocery chain’s first store in Hendersonville.   Read Story »

Henderson County Business

Walk, bike or bus — don't drive — to Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is encouraging people to come on foot or by bike, carpool or bus for a brew and a conversation about the future of multi-modal connectivity across Henderson County during a Brewery or Bust event as part of Strive Not to Drive this week. The Sierra Nevada event is 5:30-8:30 p.m. today. Options include: BUS - Catch a bus at 5:30 p.m., provided by The Trolley Company. Meet and park at the lower parking lot of the Henderson County Courthouse on East 4th Ave., across from the old Grey Hosiery Mill. The bus will return at 8pm, and on the way will drop off any cyclists who do not wish to make the return night ride. BIKE - Bike a roughly 12-mile route, taking backroads to the brewery. Nobody gets dropped! Meet at Bold Rock Cidery at 5 p.m. to roll out. Limited bus seats and cargo space will be available to those uncomfortable biking back by dusk, but bring a headlight and tailight and be prepared. WALK - A roughly half-mile hike along the emerging trail system on Sierra Nevada's property will meet at 6pm in lower parking lot “6 Row," located off of Old Fanning Bridge road near the roundabout. CARPOOL - Work out a carpool plan with a friend, or try www.ShareTheRideNC.org - putting in your home and Sierra Nevada's address (100 Sierra Nevada Way, Fletcher, NC) to find a shared ride to the event. The Sierra Nevada brewery event is one of several promotions this week to encourage options other than driving. On Thursday, Rhythm and Brews is offering FREE BIKE VALET PARKING. The concert, featuring the Get Right Band, is the first of the summer series. An Apple Country Public Transit bus will be on hand to teach riders how to use the bus bike rack and get answers on using  the system. Friday, May 19, is National Bike to Work Day. Click here for a full list of events.        Read Story »

Henderson County Business

Kanuga offers 'Dirty Dancing' package

Kanuga Conference Center is offering a "Dirty Dancing" package in August to celebrate the filming of the made-for-TV remake of the 1987 hit. The remake, airing at 8 p.m. on May 24 on ABC, was filmed at the historic Kanuga property and at other locations in the North Carolina mountains in the spring of 2016. Kanuga’s secluded setting and rustic surroundings provided a lush backdrop for the storyline set in the 1960s. Several iconic scenes were filmed there, including the conga line from the beginning of the movie and Baby’s famous watermelon scene. Johnny’s cabin scenes were filmed at the Fox Pavilion at Camp Kanuga, while the Fox Cottage on the main campus was repurposed as the Kellerman’s cabin. “We hope the movie provides a chance for viewers to fall in love again with Western North Carolina’s beauty,” Kanuga president Michael R. Sullivan said in a news release. “While the movie is a fictional story, Kanuga is a place where people can truly experience a vacation filled with old-fashioned fun and relaxation.” To celebrate the re-imagining, Kanuga is offering a limited-time Dirty Dancing package. Available Aug. 18-20, the package coincides with the Dirty Dancing Festival in nearby Lake Lure. Lake Lure served as the backdrop for several memorial scenes in the original movie. The package includes accommodations at Kanuga and breakfast for up to two guests; call 828-692-9136 to make reservations. Other getaway options are also available during the summer, fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas seasons. Designed to serve as a respite from the hectic pace of daily life, stays at Kanuga include meals, lodging at the inn or guest cottages, and activities. More information about Kanuga’s guest periods and seasonal conferences and retreats can be found online at kanuga.org. The three-hour filmed musical event features the story from the beloved 1987 romantic drama and instant movie classic told from a fresh perspective. Dirty Dancing stars Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine”) as Baby, Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”) as Marjorie Houseman, Bruce Greenwood (“American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson”) as Dr. Jake Houseman, Nicole Scherzinger (“Dancing with the Stars”) as Penny, Colt Prattes (“Rock of Ages,” Pink’s music video “Try”) as Johnny, Sarah Hyland (“Modern Family”) as Lisa Houseman, Tony Roberts (“Annie Hall”) as Max Kellerman, Trevor Einhorn (“Mad Men”) as Neil, Shane Harper (“The Passion”) as Robbie Gould, J. Quinton Johnson (“Everybody Wants Some”) as Marco, Beau “Casper” Smart (“Perfect Match”) as Billy, Katey Sagal (“Sons of Anarchy”) as Vivian Pressman and Billy Dee Williams (“Star Wars”) as Tito. Dirty Dancing, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, is produced by Lionsgate Television in association with Allison Shearmur Productions. Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances “Baby” Houseman falls in love with the camp’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle, and nothing is ever the same for anyone in the Houseman family. Modernized, updated versions of the memorable, favorite songs from the original film, including “Time of My Life,” “Love Man,” “Do You Love Me,” “Hungry Eyes,” “She’s Like the Wind,” teamed with well-known songs that are new to Dirty Dancing, such as “Fever” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” are woven into the storytelling and performed by the talented and versatile cast.     Read Story »

Henderson County Business

AVL wins $18M grant

The Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority has been awarded an $18.2 million discretionary grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Federal Aviation Administration will allocate the funds, which will be used to complete the airport’s new runway project. “Maintaining a modernized hub of transportation is critical for our region and business community, so I’m excited to hear of this new development,” U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows said in a news release. “I’m confident that these additional grant funds will go a long way in allowing our local transportation officials to serve our region to the best of their ability. I want to particularly recognize and thank my friend and A.A.E. executive director, Lew Bleiweis, for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Asheville Airport.” The rehabilitation project for the airport’s runway has been a priority of the FAA to improve the airport’s infrastructure and ensure that the runway system meets construction standards. The grant is another step toward the completion of the project. “We are pleased that our elected officials understand the infrastructure needs at Asheville Regional Airport, and that they have advocated for the discretionary grant funding,” said Lew Bleiweis, executive director. “I would like to extend recognition to Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, as well as Congressmen Mark Meadows and Patrick McHenry for their leadership. The airfield project is the most significant construction project our airport has undertaken since the airport opened in 1961, and will ensure our ability to serve the aviation needs of Western North Carolina for decades to come.”   Read Story »

Hendersonville Business

Moss column: And they said we wouldn't make it

They said we wouldn’t make it five minutes, five weeks or five months but here we are, celebrating our fifth birthday.After we created our company in February 2012, we went live with HendersonvilleLightning.com on April 24 and debuted the print issue on Wednesday, May 9, with coverage of the Tuesday primary.That issue was chock-full of news because we had gotten a head start on reporting. Since we had launched the website three weeks earlier, I had been on the street reporting for six weeks when the inaugural issue went to press.The launch gets ahead of the story.People ask me why I made the Lightning. So many ask, in fact, that’s it the topic of my standard stump speech when civic clubs invite me to speak. I made a stab at answering why I made the Lightning in a column on our second birthday, in May 2014.I recalled how I plunged back into covering news during my consulting job in 2010 and 2011 fixing broken newspapers. I had forgotten how much fun on-the-ground reporting was.At the risk of a rerun for longtime readers, here’s part of what I said then:“Because they see me at so many meetings, fundraisers and news events, people ask me if I ever sleep. Yes, I do. But I’m more excited than ever to get up early and go scout for news. Armed with nothing more than a pen, a pad and a Canon, I might fill a notebook and snap a hundred frames before noon. To me it’s fun work but also important work. Local news matters.“How come I made the Lightning? Because I wanted to try and practice a brand of journalism that was as good as our extraordinary community deserved.”I think it’s worked. What matters more is the number of people who take the trouble to tell me it’s working. I keep them all in a document called Yay Lightning! I’m now on Yay Lightning 2. It’s 4,007 words. Yay Lightning 1 was 4,748 words.Here are three recent comments:• “Thank goodness Hendersonville has the ‘Lightning.’ It is the ONLY access we now have to LOCAL news. The news is clear, concise and honest. No worries here about ‘bias’ in any form. Thank you to the entire staff!”• “In re your editorial on Walk of Fame. That took courage, Bill. Thanks.”• My favorite paper to read!!!! I like knowing what’s going on around Henderson County, not so much the whole country. Great job at covering the most important things that matter to the natives of Henderson County.” * * * * * But enough about me.We could not have done it without the Friends of the Lightning, the angel investors who took a chance and provided the working capital back in late 2011 and early 2012. I prayed that we would make payroll, cover expenses and turn the corner and we did before 2012 ended. When the Hendersonville Lightning was nothing more than a concept and a prospectus, attorney Sharon Alexander of Prince Youngblood & Massagee guided me through the process of organizing a company and trained me in corporate governance.I remember thinking, She’s a darn good business lawyer; that must be her specialty. Wrong. She’s a savvy, tough and skilled general practitioner. If I had a First Amendment emergency, she was right there. She didn’t just have good answers and good advice. She had the steel nerve to defend and advocate for the Lightning against any legal threat that might come our way. * * * * * We could never have started the Lightning without Denise Ward as our original news designer and Zollie Ward as distribution coordinator for the first three years. Paula Roberts built up our roster of advertising partners for the first 4½ years of our existence. She’s succeeded by Melanie Matteson, who is becoming a terrific advertising and marketing consultant for our advertising partners.Jan Chapin is now in the role of news designer, receptionist, office manager, legal advertising coordinator. John Dunn is our reliable and always hard-working distribution coordinator. John is the one who’s out in the predawn cold, rain and snow filling the racks so the Lightning is on the street before first light on Wednesday.Finally, our marketing and advertising sales consultant Ruth Birge has helped us in too many ways to list. I told her once I have a button on my phone that says “Panic!” It calls Ruth. If there were ever any hazardous shoals, Ruth was there to help steer.Hundreds more people deserve credit for the Lightning’s success. I don’t know all their names. They are our readers and advertising partners. Without them, the Lightning would not have made that five-week or five-month lifespan I mentioned at the top. So, thanks, y’all, for reading the Lightning and supporting the Lightning. * * * * * I’ve been lucky in my newspaper career over 41 years to have had stops at newspapers that weren’t in it primarily for the money. The first was the Salisbury Post, owned at that time by the Hurley family, and the second was the St. Petersburg Times, a half-million circulation daily that’s owned by a nonprofit journalism think tank. A newspaper that’s not in it for the money is really hard to find these days. One of my great joys is the Quixotic fight against that convention. Because we’re independent, we can’t be bossed, bullied or bluffed. We make news decisions based on what’s right for the readership and the community, not what’s right for Wall Street. Wall Street has no appreciation for one of my credos: Good journalism is good business.In my Lightning stump speech, I explain our commitment with a declaration followed by a question.“I’m the creator, founder, owner, chairman, president, CEO, publisher, editor, photographer and reporter of the Hendersonville Lightning,” I tell the audience. “Which one of these titles is the most important?”And you know what?The audience always gets it right.Reporter.It’s the job I’m proudest of. It’s the Lightning’s gift to the community, not just on our fifth birthday but every day.Plenty of towns have a newspaper that has reporters.Hendersonville has a reporter that owns a newspaper.     Read Story »

Henderson County Business

Clifton Shipman award goes to Tom Cooper

The Hendersonville Merchants and Business Association honored Tom Cooper, of Cooper Construction Co., as the 2017 recipient of the Clifton J. Shipman Community Service Award.Now operated the second and third generation, Cooper has served the general contracting, utility and HVAC needs of private and public clients in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.The construction company was founded in 1967 by James W. “Tommy” Cooper, who had been one of the founders three years before of Industrial Maintenance Overflow Corp. (IMOCO) in Fletcher, a contractor that specialized in industrial and mechanical construction.After graduating from East Carolina University in 1974, Tom Cooper joined his father’s company, ascending to the role of president in 1985. After attending Brevard College, Tom’s brother, J. Michael “Mike” Cooper joined the company as executive vice president. Tom and Mike Cooper became sole owners in 1997.The company now has a third generation of leadership. Kelly Ford, a graduate of Elon University, joined the company in 2003. Her husband, N.C. State University graduate Trey Ford, joined the company in 2004. Tom’s youngest son, Zach, joined the company after graduating from Clemson University in 2008.The company has completed more than 1,700 projects since 1967. As president and CEO, Tom Cooper devotes most of this time to project management, communications and business development. As operations officer, Mike Cooper oversees field activities and holds the contractor licenses under which the company operates. Along with senior staff, the brothers manage contract negotiations and sales for larger negotiated projects and design/build work.Past winners of the Shipman Award, from 2002 through 2015, were Clifton Shipman, Doris Eklund, Steve Easler, Carson Calton, Boyd “Bub” Hyder, Sammy Williams, Doc Moore, Sandra Walker, Don Holder, Chat Jones, Danny Williams, Pat Shepherd, Melissa Maurer and Jeff Miller.   Read Story »

Henderson County Business

Residents rise up against N.C. 191 event barn

Thirty residents urged the Henderson County Board of Commissioners on Monday to revoke a permit that a county zoning board issued for an event barn in a residential zone off N.C. 191.   Read Story »

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