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LOCAL NEWS: Blessing animals, fall garden sale, pro-teacher postcard party

Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness will offer a “Blessing of the Animals” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, in the parking lot behind the Parish Hall in Flat Rock. [CONTRIBUTED]

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 5, 2024

Blessing of the animals

The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness will offer a “Blessing of  the Animals” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, in the parking lot behind the Parish Hall at 1905 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock.

Furry and feathered companions are invited to the special service to receive a blessing. Cats, dogs, snakes, chickens, horses, birds, goats — in fact all domestic animals — welcome. As an option, a stuffed animal or pet photo may be presented to receive a blessing. The outdoor meeting space will create a lively Eucharist for all creatures involved.

“The more time I spend in Creation, the more I feel connected to the plants and animals that surround us and the God who made it all," said the Rev. Josh Stephens, rector of the parish. "We know your pets and farm animals are members of your family so please come out for this special service that honors your animals and asks for God to bless and care for them as they bless and care for you."

The service comes a few days after the annual Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, a man with a true spirit of love and peace that could have only come from God. He turned the cerebral, inward-leaning theology and scholasticism of the Middle Ages, on its head by his radical commitment to living a life of poverty and service in the pattern of Jesus of Nazareth.

Those who encountered St. Francis were drawn into the peaceable Kingdom of God to know more fully the Prince of Peace. Even animals, it is said, were attracted to his Christ-like gentleness. In one story, he preaches to a flock of birds. In another, he makes peace with a wolf that had been terrorizing a village, calling the creature “Brother Wolf” and reconciling him to the village.

The church invites families and their animal companions for the fun outdoor worship service. In the event of rain, the service will be moved to the Parish Hall. For more information call 828-693-9783 or visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.

Bullington sales features fall plants

Bullington Gardens’ annual fall plant sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 12-14 features a wide selection of locally grown native plants, perennials, shrubs, trees and cool-season annuals excellent for fall planting. “Bullington Gardens is well known for offering unique and healthy plants,” Bullington Director Annie Higgins said. “Every purchase made during this sale directly supports our mission to connect people with nature and to promote well-being through the power of plants with our focus on horticultural therapy and environmental education.” Bullington is at 95 Upper Red Oak Trail. For more information, click on the events tab at www.bullingtongardens.org or call 828-698-6104.

Safelight celebrates 40th birthday

Safelight is celebrating its 40^th birthday with a free event front 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at Horse Shoe Farm, 155 Horse Shoe Farm Drive. 

Since 1984, Safelight has been serving survivors of interpersonal violence, abuse and exploitation in Henderson County. 

“Thank you to our incredible board members, donors, volunteers, partners, and community leaders. Thank you for believing in what we do,” said Lauren Wilkie, Safelight’s executive director. “You are all a part of this journey, helping us change over 45,000 people’s lives since 1984.”

Suitable for all ages, the free event features live music from Finkelstein Three, charcuterie, cake, s’mores and more. Safelight sponsors include Stuller Power Solutions, Champion Comfort Experts, Advent Health, Relocate 828, Horizon Heat & Air, UNC Health Pardee, Dunlap Construction and Southern Alarm and Security. Fortieth Birthday Celebration sponsors include Blue Ridge Cabinet Connection, DuraLine Imaging, the Edwards family, Engel & Volkers Real Estate, HomeTrust Bank, Horse Shoe Farm, Marked Tree Vineyard, Mr. Rooter Plumbing, Mountain Credit Union, ShareWell Coffee Company, Sugar Hollow Solar and Two Men and a Truck.

ICU nurse praised as advocate for her patients

Jamie Kilpatrick, a registered nurse who looks after intensive care patients in the hospital where she was born, has been named the newest Teammate of the Month, UNC Health Pardee announced.

Among her many responsibilities in caring for patients, Kilpatrick closely monitors patients’ vitals, administers high-risk medications and works closely with many interdisciplinary team members to optimize outcomes for the patient and their families.

Jamie’s relationship with Pardee has come full circle as she now cares for patients in the same hospital she was born. She said one of her favorite parts of her job is when she’s afforded the opportunity to train newly graduated nurses in the ICU.

“These nurses have come in with a strong knowledge base, eagerness, and resilience when faced with challenging circumstances,” she says. “They have impacted me countless times with questions that have allowed me to see things from new perspectives, and pushed me to expand my knowledge base.”

She adds that it’s rewarding to see them grow into their own and impact the lives of so many people in the community. Colleagues describe Jamie as a true advocate for her patients and an exceptional nurse, sharing that she consistently goes above and beyond to make sure her patients receive excellent care. 

The Teammate of the Month award is given to a Pardee employee who positively contributes to achieving the organization’s mission, vision and goals. The award is given to a person selected by a committee of their peers and recognized for going above and beyond their regular duties to support patients, customers, peers, the organization and its community.

Postcard party focuses on education support

The public is invited to join the Progressive Alliance of Henderson County at its next Postcard Party and Social Time from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 at Oklawaha Brewery, 147 First Ave. E. This is a monthly opportunity for like-minded individuals to mingle and write postcards to elected officials and others on current legislative topics and concerns of participants. 

On Sept. 20, the focus will be public education in North Carolina. We invite concerned citizens, area educators and students, as well as public school officials to join us in writing postcards to legislators advocating for full support of public education. Representatives of Public School Strong and other champions of public schools will be on hand to share information.

While there is no charge to attend the Postcard Party, donations for postage are always welcome. For more information visit www.progressiveallianceofhendersoncounty.com.

Bears in 'eat mode" become aggressive to stock up

Hyperphagia means a significant increase in appetite. And that is exactly what begins to happen to black bears this time of year.

Bears are in “eat mode” through fall, and sometimes even into winter, so they can put on extra weight — up to 2-3 lbs. a day — to get ready for denning season. Hyperphagia is a behavior adapted by some bear species, including black bears, to combat a decline in natural food availability in the colder months. 

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is informing the public of this seasonal increase in bear activity at residential homes, business areas, in the woods and on roadways during hyperphagia and offering guidance on bear encounters. 

Bears are searching for food up to 20 hours a day during hyperphagia. They are typically most active at dawn and dusk, and their constant search for food can take them across roads more often. Steps to avoid a vehicle collision with a bear or any wildlife include:

• If driving with a passenger, put them on wildlife watch.
• Always drive at a reasonable speed and follow the speed limit.
• At night, consider driving below the speed limit to give yourself more stopping time, and scan the sides of the road for eyeshine at night. 
• Pay extra attention in areas where bushes and trees are close to the road.

Most insurance companies advise that if you see an animal in the road, honk your horn repeatedly, flash your high beams and try to avoid it if you can do so safely. Do not swerve into another lane or slam on your brakes unless you know you can do so safely.

In August and Sept., many bears travel extensively, including beyond their home ranges as they search for food, such as berries and nuts. They are opportunistic eaters, which results in more chances for humans and bears to come in close proximity of each other. Resources to avoid attracting bears or how to co-exist with bears can be found at Bearwise.org and Six At-Home BearWise Basics for coexisting with black bears are important steps to keeping bears from looking for food at or near your home.

Hyperphagia will continue as long as food is available. Even bears that won’t den until December or January still industriously look for food practically around the clock and eat as much as they can find. And in areas where bears have fbutterfly\\ound dependable year-round supplies of human-provided foods, they won’t den at all but will eat as if they are going to.

Gorges State Park hosts Mountain Monarch Festival Sept. 28

SAPPHIRE— Gorges State Park in Transylvania County will host the third annual Mountain Monarch Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at the park visitor center.

The festival celebrates the monarch butterfly during its migration and brings attention to the species’ declining numbers.

The park lies along the monarchs’ migratory route. The butterflies can be seen in late September each year flying over the park, heading south to the high-elevation fir forests in central-southern Mexico’s Volcanic Belt, where they overwinter until early spring.

The festival will offer educational programs and exhibits featuring the monarch butterfly, including monarch-themed children’s crafts, food trucks, a live photo board, face painting by Color Me Happy, local art for sale and a Monarch Migration Passport to lead families through monarch-themed activities.

Featured speaker Joyce Pearsall, a conservation specialist with Monarch Watch and a master gardener, will speak about “The World of Monarch Butterflies.” Other speaker topics include “Monarch Life Cycle and Tagging,” by Brian Bockhahn, education specialist for North Carolina State Parks, and “Butterfly Gardening,” by Bryan Thompkins, a wildlife biologist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Monarch butterflies have two sets of deep orange and black wings and a wingspan of 3-4 inches. Male monarchs have two black spots in the center of their hind wings.

The migratory subspecies of the monarch was recently added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s “red list” of the most threatened species on Earth. Those who wish to help monarchs return to healthy population levels can plant locally native milkweed in their yards and support efforts to reduce pesticide use.

The Mountain Monarch Festival is sponsored by Friends of Gorges State Park and organized in partnership with Monarch Watch, the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority, the Transylvania County Library, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Transylvania County 4-H, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Carolina Aquariums, and The Land and Sky Chapter and the Oconee Bell Chapter of the Native Plant Society.

The event, activities and programs are free and open to the public. Registration, which is required, is available until 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27 at https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/gorges-state-park/events/monarch-fest-2024/registration. Registration will close once the park reaches capacity so register early. The event will be held rain or shine. For event details, visit https://www.friendsofgorges.org/mountainmonarchfestival

Duke Endowment turns 100

The Duke Endowment hosted a centennial community celebration at the North Carolina Arboretum on Aug. 26 to honor the work of local grantees and partners from across Western North Carolina.

The event Monday at the arboretum in Asheville featured speakers from the endowment and from Crossnore Communities for Children, one of North Carolina’s largest and most innovative child welfare and behavioral health organizations.
Crossnore CEO Brett Loftis told those gathered for the celebration that Crossnore would not be where it is now without the willingness of the endowment to invest in innovative ideas and take risks.
With support from the endowment, Crossnore built upon its trauma-focused model in 2018 to establish the Center for Trauma Resilient, a national model that supports individuals, organizations and communities as they recognize the often unspoken long-term wounds of adversity and trauma. CTRC has trained nearly 10,000 people in 12 states to build trauma resilience. Other speakers included Endowment President Rhett Mabry, Endowment Board Chair and Duke family descendent Charles C. Lucas III and Biltmore Farms President and CEO John F.A.V. Cecil, who is also an endowment trustee.
Cecil welcomed the nearly 180 guests gathered at the arboretum, applauded their work and thanked them for all they do in their communities while Lucas provided a history of the Duke family. When industrialist and philanthropist James Buchanan Duke established the Duke Endowment on Dec. 11, 1924, he committed through an Indenture of Trust to nurture children, promote health, educate minds and enrich spirits in North Carolina and South Carolina. Since its inception, the Charlotte-based foundation has invested $4.8 billion across the Carolinas, with more than $249 million invested in Western North Carolina. Although the endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, all are separate organizations.
Throughout 2024, the endowment will hold centennial celebrations across the Carolinas to spotlight the impact of its grantee partners. To learn more, visit 100years.dukeendowment.org.