News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Fall plant sale, read to a goat, race on AVL runway, Pardee CMA

The Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site's Read to a Goat program celebrates National Literacy Month. [LIGHTNING FILE PHOTO]

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 7, 2023

Bullington Gardens holds fall plant sale Friday and Saturday

Bullington Gardens, the nonprofit horticultural learning center and botanical garden, hosts its Fall Plant Sale 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

There will be an early bird special invitation for Friends of Bullington. For information on membership opportunities, visit https://www.bullingtongardens.org/store/p/friendsofbullingtongardens.

The sale features a range of natives, old favorites and new introductions. Among the standout additions are Toad lily Tojen; Gordlinia, a small tree introduced by Tom Ranney of Mountain Horticultural Crops Research; and a Coreopsis Flower of Hope, the purchase of which benefits the Mayo Clinic.

Sandburg Home hosts ‘Read to a Goat’ month

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site has kicked off its celebration National Literacy Month through its Read to a Goat program. Throughout September, the park will have a red wagon full of Sandburg’s books at the barn area. Visitors of all ages are invited to come to the park, pick out a book, and read to a goat.

“Carl Sandburg was a Pulitzer Prize winning writer. We want this park to be your ‘goat-to place’ for discovering his books,” said Superintendent Polly Angelakis. “Visitors can also bring a favorite book from home. Whether you read to our goats or choose to participate at home and read to a family pet instead, post a selfie online with the hashtag #ReadToAGoat.”

During March and September only, readers who come to the park and read to a Sandburg goat receive a special bookmark that is good for a small discount on books sold in the park store. 

Signup now for AVL's Runway 5k

Asheville Regional Airport will host its annual Runway 5K on Saturday, Oct. 7, where runners and walkers will race down Taxiway Bravo while jets take off and land on the adjacent runway. All participants must pre-register no later than 9 p.m. Sept. 26. Race registration closes Oct. 4

In partnership with Hensel Phelps, Hunter Subaru and Paradies Lagardere, the Runway 5K, raises money to support local aviation scholarships administered by both A-B Tech Department of Aviation and the Western North Carolina Pilots Association Educational Foundation.
The event will take place on the north end of the airfield, with parking in a nearby area. All participants will be shuttled to the event site, which is in a secure area near the airfield. Three food trucks offering coffee, pastries and smoothies will be at the event, as well as music, merchandise, special photo opportunities and more. To register visit flyavl.com.

Pardee honors pain center CMA

Lisa Harris, a certified medical assistant, was honored as Teammate of the Month in July at UNC Health Pardee, the hospital announced.

A CMA at the Pardee Pain Center, Harris works closely with patients, escorting them to exam rooms, taking vitals, reviewing medical history and getting them ready for procedures.

Harris has been with Pardee for more than 30 years, first working at Hendersonville Surgical Associates before the practice joined Pardee’s network. She joined the team at the Pain Center in January 2023. She’s stayed with the organization all these years because she loves helping people and has great coworkers, she says.

Colleagues noted that Harris is a team player at all times, jumping into any situation that needs attention and doing it all with a smile on her face. “Our department looks up to Lisa, feels very confident in her ability and is grateful for how she goes above and beyond to help the team,” coworkers said.

The Teammate of the Month award is given to a Pardee team member who positively contributes to achieving the organization’s mission, vision and goals. The Teammate of the Month award showcases the many different roles of keeping a health system like Pardee operating and delivering patient-centered quality care.