News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Ringers, Immaculata, grant schedule

Hendersonville-based Blue Ridge Ringers will play free concerts in December.

By Bill Moss, Published: November 14, 2015

The Blue Ridge Ringers, a community handbell ensemble based in Hendersonville, will present five free concerts during the month of December.

Founded in 1995, the ensemble is in its 20th year of performing. Robert Currier of Brevard is the group's music director, Karen Grady is assistant music director, and Connie Engle is founder and managing director. Joella Newberry is flutist and Blaine Russell, also a ringer, is percussionist.

The schedule of concerts:

• Friday, Dec 4 - Henderson County Public Library, Hendersonville -- 2 pm
• Tuesday, Dec 8 - Transylvania County Public Library, Brevard - noon
• Friday, Dec 11 -- Immaculate Conception Church, Hendersonville -- 7pm
• Friday, Dec 18 -- Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Brevard -- 7 pm
• Sunday, Dec 20 -- Hendersonville Presbyterian Church, 4 pm

A freewill offering will be asked at the final two concerts. For more information, call 828-692-4910

Immaculata teams win crowns

The girls volleyball team and boys soccer team at Immaculata Catholic School won their the division in the Western Carolina Christian Middle School Conference. Immaculata Catholic School is SACS accredited and serves children from Pre-K 3 and 4 through 8th grade and welcomes families from all denominations. For a tour and welcome packet, please contact our office at (828) 693-3277 or visit www.immac.org.

Immaculata alumni honored

Immaculata Class of 2013 graduates Carlin Compton, Jenna Burns, Lauren Kanipe and Terry McCurdy were inducted into the Valentine Chapter of the National Honor Society at Hendersonville High School. Inductees were chosen by faculty based on character, leadership and service. Students are given automatic points based on grade point average.

Playhouse reinstates season ticket flex plan

The Flat Rock Playhouse has reinstated the flexible ticket plan for 2016 after patrons said they wanted it back.
The plan launched on Sept. 1 that consisted of three packages: Plan A, one ticket to all nine shows in the 2016 season; the Summer Musicals Plus Package, one ticket for “The Music Man,” one ticket to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” and eight tickets to do however the buyer wants (when purchasing, but with flexible dates); and the Music on the Rock Package, one ticket to each of our Music on the Rock concerts.
The packages, at over 20 percent off regular ticket prices, ofered twice the savings that the Playhouse had offered in previous years and boosted box office sales $100,000 better than a year earlier.
“Many patrons were very concerned that we modified the Flex Plan,” marketing director Dane Whitlock said. “We received calls, emails, Facebook posts. The concern was they needed more flexibility. They didn’t want to pick their shows in advance.”
The Playhouse reinstated the Flex Plan, offering the eight-ticket package for $280 plus tax to any show (except Music on the Rock). Subscribers who have already purchased subscription plans for 2016 and want to exchange their packages for the Flex Plan may do so by calling the box office before Dec. 11.
To buy tickets call 828.693.0731 or visit the box office in Flat Rock or downtown Hendersonville.

United Way opens process for funding

The United Way of Henderson County announced the process for applying for funding for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Nonprofit agencies must show work that advances the United Way’s long-term goals in the areas of Education, Income and Health. Programs providing Crisis and Basic Needs services will also be considered for funding. Applicants must be able to show results that align with goals that address Kindergarten Readiness; School Success; Financial Stability; Affordable Housing; Reducing Obesity; and Healthy Youth Behaviors. Details on the goals and strategies UWHC has adopted to achieve the goals can be found at www.liveunitedhc.org under “Our Work.”
Applicants must meet eligibility requirements in order to apply for funding. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) or public, tax-exempt health and human service organization with at least a two-year history of providing health and human service programs to the residents of Henderson County. Other eligibility criteria can be found on the United Way website. All application materials must be completed through the United Way’s online portal.
Eligibility criteria are due at noon Friday, Dec. 11. Applications are due
at noon Friday, Feb. 5. Funding decision notification takes place in June. Current funded community partners can access materials beginning Nov. 20.
New agencies interested in applying for funding must contact Sarah Kowalak, UWHC Director of Community Impact, by Nov. 20 for orientation information. Kowalak can be reached at 828-692-1636 ext. 1103 or skowalak@liveunitedhc.org.

Community Foundation sets application deadline

Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations or IRS-equivalent or accepted fiscal agents wanting to be considered for Community Foundation of Henderson County’s next competitive General Grant cycle are invited to submit applications to the Community Foundation by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Guidelines, the application form and more details about CFHC’s General Grants program can be found at www.CFHCforever.org/generalgrants. Questions also may be directed to Senior Program Officer Lee Henderson-Hill at LHenderson-Hill@CFHCforever.org or (828) 697-6224, Ext. 15 or to anyone at the Community Foundation.
Founded in 1982, Community Foundation of Henderson County’s mission is helping people who care make lasting contributions to causes that matter. CFHC accepts gifts from individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create a permanent pool of charitable capital from which grants are awarded. This past fiscal year, CFHC donors provided awards of more than $2.6 million to charitable causes. Learn more about Community Foundation of Henderson County at www.CFHCforever.org, at the Community Foundation’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and by calling (828) 697-6224.

Trinity invites donors to fill ‘The Mitten Tree’

Trinity Presbyterian Church is inviting the community to decorate “The Mitten (and more) Tree” in the church atrium as part of its Advent celebration.
Through Dec. 20 donors may contribute warm clothing for children in need including mittens and gloves, wool hats, toboggans and stocking caps, socks, underwear and other small clothing items. The gifts on the Mitten Tree will be given to the children in the community through Interfaith Assistance Ministry. Trinity Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) is at 900 Blythe Street. For information visit www.trinitypresnc.org.