News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Tour d'Apple, Clubhouse, Mountain State Fair

By Lightning Reports, Published: August 25, 2023

Grant helps attract out-of-state riders

A $1,300 grant from the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority has helped Four Seasons Rotary Club’s effort to attract out-of-state cyclists for the 11th annual Tour d’Apple bike ride, held annually on Labor Day.

With two weeks before the event at Blue Ridge Community College, riders from eight states and Washington, D.C., have already registered to pedal one of the Tour’s four routes around Henderson County. 

“We are grateful to the Tourism Authority for helping us reach out-of-town cyclists through our social media,” said Michele Garashi-Ellick, President of Four Seasons Rotary Club. The club’s post-event surveys each year have shown that most out-of-state cyclists spend at least one overnight locally and dine at local restaurants during their visit. 

Dick Miley, co-director of the Tour and a member of Four Seasons Rotary, said he loves the comments he receives from cyclists each year complimenting the joy and beauty of cycling through Henderson County’s apple orchards and mountain roads. “We hope our event will entice out-of-town cyclists to come for the NC Apple Festival, but then come back again for a longer stay in our beautiful area,” Miley said.

Cyclists can still register through RaceRoster or at tourdapple.com. Tour routes, ranging from 25 to 100 miles, have fully stocked rest stops manned by volunteers. Following the ride, cyclists will enjoy a full Mexican lunch and live music by Bear Creek String Bandits.

Clubhouse celebrates 40 years of service

One of the community’s best kept secrets, The Clubhouse, is celebrating 40 years of service in Henderson County this year. Currently located in Laurel Park, the program was called the Sixth Avenue Clubhouse when it was located near Pardee Hospital.

Now run by the local nonprofit Thrive, The Clubhouse continues to provide a day program for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Program participants are called “members” rather than “clients” because of their ownership and involvement in the daily running of the program. Clubhouse members have a work-ordered day that helps them to improve skills in many areas. Members learn things like how to apply for and interview for a job, how to be a good employee, how to have healthy relationships and set boundaries for themselves and even how to live independently.

The Clubhouse is different from other mental health programs in that it provides the highest level of care outside a hospital setting. Clubhouse staff work alongside Clubhouse members with a focus on “doing with” rather than “doing for.”

When members are engaged in services at The Clubhouse, they experience fewer psychiatric hospitalizations and also are less likely to be incarcerated. The program has helped hundreds of individuals to improve their mental health in the past 40 years. Thrive is celebrating the anniversary all year long. To schedule a Clubhouse tour, contact Thrive’s Clubhouse Director Adam Olenik at aolenik@thrive4health.org or call 828-489-3887.

Maxwell McCarty earns DeJoy-Wos scholarship

Maxwell McCarty, a Mills River native studying at UNC at Chapel Hill, has been chosen for the prestigious DeJoy-Wos Family Foundation Scholarship.

Through the scholarship, funded by Louis DeJoy and Dr. Aldona Wos, McCarty received tuition and housing to attend educational and professional programs hosted by The Fund for American Studies (TFAS). He also spent the summer in Washington, D.C., taking college courses through George Mason University, attending a variety of educational and interactive lectures by national leaders and completing a professional internship with the Potomac Institute.

Louis DeJoy, a North Carolina business leader and current U.S. Postmaster General, his wife and former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia Dr. Aldona Wos, and The Fund for American Studies recently announced the 2023 recipients of the DeJoy-Wos Family Foundation Scholarship.

“TFAS is grateful for the continued generosity of Louis DeJoy, Dr. Aldona Wos, and the DeJoy-Wos Family Foundation,” said Roger Ream, TFAS president. “Their support is a testament to how vital these programs are. We greatly appreciate their incredible commitment to TFAS’s educational mission.”

DeJoy currently serves as the 75th U.S. Postmaster General, a role he was appointed to in May 2020 by the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service. Formerly, he was the chairman and chief executive officer of New Breed Logistics. Dr. Wos served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia from 2004 to 2006 and as head of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services from 2013 to 2015. Wos also served as vice chair of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, one of the nation’s most prestigious programs for leadership and public service. She is currently the president of the Institute of World Politics.

Racing pigs, thrill rides and NC food

Racing and swimming pigs, splashing sea lions and a swirling and spinning new spectacular ride are a few of the new attractions planned for the 2023 N.C. Mountain State Fair Sept. 8-17 at the WNC Ag Center.

In addition, food lovers can sample and buy some of the tastiest North Carolina products at the debut of the Got to Be NC Pavilion in the Chevrolet Davis Event Center.

“We look at the entertainment lineup every year and work to bring in new and exciting shows, rides and activities for fairgoers, to pair with our heritage crafters, livestock events, competition exhibits, musical stages and agricultural exhibits,” said Sean McKeon, Mountain State Fair manager. “It’s shaping up to be a great fair.”

Chase’s Racing and Swimming Pigs shows feature four races where petite piggies zip around the track to take home the winner’s checkered flag, bragging rights and a cookie. Two of the races feature a water obstacle where the piglet’s make a big splash.

Sea Lion Splash is a fun and educational show that demonstrates trained and natural behaviors of these enchanting marine mammals.

On the midway, Sub Zero makes its scream-inducing debut, where it will join nearly 40 rides that range in intensity from kiddie level to thrill-seeker.

Keep an eye out for a baby male dragon or a juvenile female dragon accompanied by a dragon master. MythiCreatures is an interactive strolling act that creates unique selfies for dragon lovers.

Popular returning acts include chainsaw artist Joey Rowe, the Human Canon Ball - David “The Bullet” Smith, a clogging competition, mountain music, comedy hypnotist Brad Matchett and an agricultural magic show.

During the week, the fair will host a series of Caring for our Community Days to raise awareness of local groups serving veterans, kids, seniors and those who are food insecure. Salute to Service will be Monday, Sept. 11; Caring for our Kids Day will be Tuesday, Sept. 23; We CAN Fight Hunger Day sponsored by Ingles is Wednesday, Sept. 13; and Caring for Seniors Day sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is Thursday, Sept. 14. More information on each of these days can be found online at www.mountainstatefair.com.

The Mountain State Fair runs Sept. 8-17 at the Western N.C. Ag Center in Fletcher. Discount tickets are now on sale at www.wncagcenter.or.