News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Flood of 1916, ice cream social, free concert

Old Fort people clean up after the great flood of 1916.

By Bill Moss, Published: April 27, 2016

Exhibit on flood of 1916 opens in Old Fort

OLD FORT — Babies were torn from mothers’ arms, landslides wiped out families and homes and at least 50 people died when the flood of 1916 ravaged western North Carolina.

Mountain Gateway Museum will recall the catastrophe with the exhibit ‘So Great the Devastation: The 1916 Flood’ opening May 1. The free traveling exhibit consists of four interpretive panels and an interactive touch screen of the event 100 years ago. The exhibit runs through May 31 before moving to Asheville.
When two hurricanes collided over the area in mid-July 1916, historic rainfall washed away thousands of jobs, caused millions of dollars in damage and left a thick, black sludge where crops once stood. Although Old Fort suffered minor damage, roads and railroads were hit hard.
In commemoration of the tragedy, the North Carolina Office of Archives and History organized an exhibit that will travel across the region through March 2017. Find the full schedule at http://www.ncdcr.gov/flood-exhibit. For more information call (828) 668-9259 or visit www.mountaingatewaymuseum.org. Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center is at 24 Water Street, Old Fort. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday and noon to 5 p.m. Monday.

Celebrate Flat Rock serves up ice cream and more

The Village of Flat Rock will host the annual Ice Cream Social on Saturday, June 4, on the grounds of the Village Hall from noon to 4 p.m. (rain date is the following day) during Celebrate Flat Rock.
The Dick Powell Band will play music of the Fifties and Sixties while the Studebakers celebrate the music of America in the post-war days that brought the country into the varied world of pop music. Kentucky native Carrie Morrison performs original songs that are melodically strong with personal, whimsical lyrics.
The event also features Hunters in the Sky — naturalist Carlton Burke’s presentation on birds of prey. Burke runs an educational service called Carolina Mountain Naturalists and teaches various nature related classes for the Blue Ridge Naturalists program at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville.
The Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site will again host walking tours of the grounds of Connemara as part of Celebrate Flat Rock 2016. The free one-hour tours start at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Sandburg home. The Book Exchange (the Old Post Office) will hold a half-price sale on all used books from 10 a.m. to 4 p. m. The store has cookbooks, history, biographies, science fiction, novels, children’s book and more. The Blood Connection will hold a blood drive from noon to 4 p.m.
Ice cream servers are needed. To volunteer email Mary Smith Msfrogg@aol.com. For information, please call Carol Andrews at 828-697-0208

‘On the Verge’ opens at Community Theatre

Hendersonville Community Theatre continues its 50th season with Eric Overmyer’s comedy ‘On the Verge’ opening Friday and playing through May 8 at the theater on Washington Street.
Al Edick directs the tale of three Victorian females who begin their journey in 1888 and continue their travels through different times and places. The cast features Veronica Brown, Sally Burnett and Lynn Place with Sam Teague appearing as eight different beings that they encounter throughout their journey.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $22 for adults, $18 for students and $12 for students under 18 and may be purchased on line or by calling the Hendersonville Community Theatre box office at 828-692-1082.

Brevard Music Center, HSO playing free concert

Brevard Music Center, in partnership with Brevard College, the Osher Lifelong Learning Center in Asheville and Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, will play a free concert on Tuesday, May 3, at 12:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. The program will include Paul Hindemith’s Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op, 11, No. 4, Nicolai Kapustin’s Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op. 69 and Eduard Putz’s Blues for Benni for Viola and Piano.

Community Orchestra performs May Day concert

The Community Orchestra of Hendersonville will perform a one-hour May Day Concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 900 Blythe Street.
The concert includes works by Frescobaldi, Boyce, Tchaikovsky, Grieg and more. Soprano Katie Cilluffo, guest soloist, will sing Mozart’s ‘Alleluia’ and Puccini’s ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ from Gianni Schichi. Ms. Cilluffo studied music at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Indiana University, and the University of Michigan.
The May Day concert is free. A love offering will be taken to benefit the non-profit Hendersonville Community Music Center, which provides affordable music lessons for all ages, toddlers to seniors. For class and scholarship information, contact Hendersonville Community Music Center Director Andrew Hiler at andrewhiler76@gmail.com. For more information, call 828-692-6114.