News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Food for fines, Laurel Park plan, Chimney Rock

By Bill Moss, Published: April 6, 2016

Laurel Park seeks input on 2025 plan

LAUREL PARK — Got ideas about the future of Laurel Park? The Laurel Park Town Board wants to hear from you.
The town board and a steering committee that is drafting a 2025 Comprehensive Plan are hosting community open houses from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 7, and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 9, at First Congregational Church.
Residents may drop in when convenient and visit a variety of stations to review maps, read elements of the plan, ask questions and make comments. There will be a kid’s station, too, so families are encouraged to attend.
The comprehensive plan mostly preserves residential zoning in Laurel Park and identifies the U.S. 64 corridor from Laurel Park Village to the Valley Hill fire station as a potential “commercial area that provides neighborhood services and gathering spaces.”

Give food, get fine waiver

The Henderson County Public Library will celebrate how “Libraries Transform” during the National Library Week by hosting a “Food for Fines” exchange. From April 11-16, any Henderson County Public Library branch will accept one non-perishable food item to waive $1 in fines on a patron’s library account. There is no limit to the number of food items you can give to waive your late fees. Items must be in-date. The waiver does not apply to lost, damaged or debt collection fees. Food will be donated to Interfaith Assistance Ministry to help those in need in our community.

Entegra Bank sponors document shredding

TRIAD Henderson County and Entegra Bank are partnering on an Earth Day event offering free document shredding and prescription drug disposal service from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 22, at the Entegra Bank branch at 1617 Spartanburg Highway.
The bank will have a shred truck on site to provide free document shredding (of past tax records, bank records, medical documents, etc.) to customers and residents of Henderson County. The event will also have a Drug Take Back (for outdated and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs) supported by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and HopeRX of Henderson County. The goal is to help the community and especially the elderly better protect themselves from scams, frauds, identity theft, abuse and theft.
TRIAD is a national partnership among law enforcement, older adults and organizations providing services to seniors with a focus on reducing victimization. Triad’s mission is to reduce criminal victimization of older citizens by working to decrease unwarranted fear of crime and improve safety and quality of life for all seniors in our community.

Snail mail thefts rising, sheriff says

As a result of increased attention paid to online fraud, criminals are reverting to older methods of crime, Henderson County Sheriff Charlie McDonald said.
The sheriff’s office recommended a number of steps to prevent the theft of personal and financial information that goes through the mail:
• Do not place checks, letters, or packages with your financial information in your mailboxes at home. The raised flag is a sign to would-be criminals that something of value may be inside. It is better to mail these items at USPS ‘blue box’ or at the post office.
• Have financial information or other sensitive mail delivered to a Post Office Box instead of your home mail box. Criminals will only need to spend a few seconds outside of your home to get access to your accounts or your identity.
• Request the USPS hold your mail when away from home for extended periods. This will help disguise your absence and not leave personal information in reach of thieves.
Many victims do not know they have be targeted until thousands of dollars turn up missing from their accounts. If you believe you have been a victim of theft from your mailbox, contact your financial institution so they can be alert for suspicious activity. Contact your local law enforcement or the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office at 828.697.4911 to file a report.

Chimney Rock elevator to close for repairs

CHIMNEY ROCK — Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park will be closed the week of April 11-15 while Duke Power runs new lines from Lake Lure to the elevator on top of the mountain. Inconsistent power has interrupted use of the park’s elevator since it was modernized and reopened in 2012.

Student artwork on display at AVL

The Student Artwork Showcase, an exhibit of student art at the Asheville Regional Airport Art Gallery, is on display until May 1. This showcase highlights the creativity of students across our region. The exhibit displays a variety of mediums and techniques by students attending Carolina Day School, ranging from grades kindergarten to 12th grade.

The bold uses of color in many of the pieces are highly contrasted by the traditional black and white photography on display. The students’ work varies in medium, from pen and ink, pottery, painting, to paper collage. Overall, the showcase is a bright escape into a creative point of view.

“The art gallery is truly a way for both the passengers and public alike to experience a taste of our region,” said Alexandra Bradley, marketing and public relations specialist at Asheville Regional Airport and curator of the gallery.

Correction

Lee H. King of Flat Rock, shown in a chart of N.C. Senate campaign donors in the March 23 issue, was misidentified as the Henderson County register of deeds. The donor was not the register of deeds, who is William Lee King.