See Main Street like you've never seen it before.  It's called the Underground Tour and offers a glimpse of the past that most people have forgotten or never knew existed.  Curious?  Me too! May 16th the Hendersonville Historic Preservation Commission will offer a guided tour into underground Hendersonville, a subterranean area that at different times housed a beauty salon, a barbershop, a gentlemen's club and a 1950's teenage hangout. Tours will begin at 10a.m. and run through the day until 5p.m.  Tickets for the Underground Tour are $5 and can be purchased in advance at the Hendersonville Visitor's Center, 201 S. Main Street or on the day of the tour at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Main Street.  The Hendersonville Times News has provided more information below: http://www.blueridge... 05/11/2009

Looking for something to do today with the kids?  Head to the Blue Ridge Mall located in Hendersonville North Carolina.  From 10-6pm Elmo and friends are FREE to enjoy.  My daughter loved dancing and giving Elmo a hug.  You can even have your child fingerprinted for free.  This the first event of it's kind with more like this to come.  So please come out to support family friendly themes like this great event.           05/09/2009

Saturday May 9th is National Stamp out hunger day.  A staggering 35,000,000 Americans are at rick of hunger. Campbell Soup Company and The United States Postal Service are partnering once again with the National Association of Letter Carriers to sponsor Stamp Out HungerTM, the “nation’s largest single-day food drive”. Your participation in this cause is instrumental to its success.  How can you help? Place bags filled with nonperishable food items next to your mailbox.  Your letter carrier will pick them up and deliver them to local food banks!It’s That Easy to Make A Big Difference. For more information,visit: http://www.helpstampouthunger.com Donate items like canned meats and fish, canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables,cereal and rice. Please do not include items that have expired or... 05/09/2009

   WNC Regional MLS Reports 308 Total Sales Average List Price $248,871 Average Sales Price $231,873 * Seller’s achieved 93.2% of a realistic asking price.* Average days on the market: 154 Month-End inventory 8,592 Absorption Rate: 27.9  months     So here is what's selling:     263 Residential Sales Average list price $231,028 Average sales price $214,635 * Seller’s achieved 92.9% of a realistic asking price.* Average days on the market: 142 Month-end inventory: 7,099 Absorption Rate: 27 months   31 Condos Sales Average List Price $390,054 Average sales price $367,067 * Seller’s achieved 94.1% of a realistic asking price.* Average days on the market: 222 Month-end inventory: 846 Absorption Rate: 27.3 months     12 Townhome Sales Average list price $261,083 Average sales price $243,817 ... 05/08/2009

Anytime I have any tire, breaks, axel, shocks and struts questions I turn to the professionals at Downtown Tire Center located at 108 S. King Street in beautiful Hendersonville North Carolina. Owner Bobby Roland and staff are in my opinion the best in the business.  Bobby purchased Downtown Tire Center over 13 years ago.  Downtown Tire Company has been around for 36 years.  Its previous location was on Main Street. So I had a burning question about nitrogen.  What are the advantages of filling your tires with Nitrogen? 1. Consistent inflation pressure over longer periods * Nitrogen primates through the tire at a rate of 35% slower than regular air. * Under inflated tires flex and build up heat, breaking down the rubber over time. * 60% of blowouts are caused by under inflation. * Consis... 05/04/2009

Creative Beginnings Preschool located at 699 N. Grove Street in beautiful Hendersonville North Carolina is now enrolling for summer and fall classes. The summer program begins June 23rd - Tuesday & Thursdays from 8:45am to 11:45am and ends July 30th. Fall Classes begin September 8th.  There are currently the following openings: 8 openings in the turning two's. 1 opening in the two's class, 2 openings in the three's class and 3 openings in the four's class. Class times are from 8:45am to 11:45am with 5 day, three day or two day a week schedule available.  Please contact Fran at 828-692-3211 to schedule your tour of this wonderful God centered school.  My daughter has attended since she was 18months old and loves her teachers and friends. Please visit the Creative Beginnings official webs... 04/29/2009

Attention Garden lovers and beginner gardeners!  Imagine 100 vendors of local artists, crafts, plants and more.  You have growing questions?  Someone is bound to have the answer.  Master gardeners will be on hand to share their expertise.  Looking for a native hard to find plant?  Here's your chance to find it.  Looking for lunch?  They'll have that too.  This truly is a must attend event.   Schedule of events are as follows: Saturday, May 2310:00AM-6:00PM Street Festival (6th Ave. - Caswell St.) arts & crafts, plants and food10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Lowe's Kids Clinic, Located at the Visitors Information Center (201 S. Main St.) Lowe's Garden Clinics with Bill Slack at the Visitors Information Center (201 S. Main St.) 11:00 AM "A Picture Perfect Landscape"   1:00 PM "Pathways, Patios & Plant... 04/27/2009

Oumi -  located at 633 N. Main Street in Historic Downtown Hendersonville offers superior presentaion and quality of Japanese and Sushi cuisine.  From it's entrance to the restrooms it is evident the owners have gone to great lengths to impress. My personal favorite is the Green River Roll which can't be adequately described, it must be experienced.  Another favorite is the Shrimp Tempura and on rare occasions plumb wine or Sake.   Lunch Hours are: Monday - Friday 11am-3pm - Saturday & Sunday 12noon-3pm Dinner Hours are: Monday - Thursday 4:30pm-9:30pm - Friday & Saturday 4:30pm-10pm. and Sunday 4:30pm-9pm.  For a complete printable menu please visit the official Oumi website at: http://umisushinc.com/menu.aspx You will not be disappointed. 04/27/2009

MARCH 2009 MARKET UPDATE - HENDERSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA   HOME SALES The average closing price for a home in the Hendersonville, North Carolina area (Henderson County) was $197,324 in March 2009 representing a slight drop from the previous month when the average was $220,495. It was also slightly down from March 2008 when the average price was $200,191. The median closing price for March was $178,750 which was up from the previous month, and slightly more than 1% higher than March 2008. There were 63 closings in March 2009, only one more than the month prior. However, that number marked a significant drop from March 2008 when there were 112 closings. Like neighboring Transylvania County and the Brevard, NC area, the lions share of sales were in the $100,000-$300,000 price range. The... 04/24/2009

On March 25th, I was "locked up" at our local Hendersonville Outback Steakhouse to help raise money for the Muscular Distrophy Association.  This was a fun event where about 120 local business-people were thrown in a makeshift jail, complete with striped uniform, shackles and even a mug shot (you can see mine here).  Before I was picked up and taken to the association's Maximum Appreciation Facility, I had raised $1500 for my "bail money".  However, after making some phone calls from my "jail cell", I helped raise even more.  This was a fun event that helped raise $45,000 for a great cause, which, even in these tough economic times, was $5000 more than last year. Rich Cooke, Western North Carolina Real Estate 04/06/2009

The Arts Council of Henderson County will be presenting "The Artists of Tomorrow" and "Elementary Art" exhibits through April 18th in its "The Art of Our Children" series in Hendersonville, North Carolina.  "The Art of Our Children" series is dedicated to all art teachers as well as the students they inspire and mentor along the way.  "The Artists of Tomorrow" exhibit features art by local secondary schoolchildren and will be ending this Saturday, March 28th.   The "Elementary Art" exhibit will start on April 3rd and continue through April 18th.  This is the 14th year that the Arts Council has featured children's artwork from local area schools.  This series is free and open to the public.  So, take advantage of this marvelous program while it lasts. The Blue Ridge Community College wil... 03/26/2009

On Saturday, March 14th, come to historic downtown Hendersonville from 10am-9pm to watch the March of the Leprechauns St. Patrick's Day Festival.  There will be a parade at 10am, a fun costume contest at 1pm and there will be entertainment going on throughout the day.  I hope to see you there. 03/12/2009

The Community Foundation of Henderson County's annual Vintage Carolina fundraiser will be held Monday, March 9th at the Hendersonville Country Club from 6-9pm.  International food and wine stations will be set up around the country club as "ports of call" at the cruise-themed festivities.  Some of the countries represented at different ports of call will be France, Italy, Australia, South Africa and Spain, just to name a few.  Tickets are $75/person and space is limited.  So, reservations are required.  Please call 697-6224 to make a reservation or come to the Community Foundation of Henderson County in person to place your request. 03/05/2009

I walked into a record store 15 years ago and met my wonderful husband Ken.  March 3rd will mark our 14th wedding anniversary.  It was our passion for music that sparked conversations which led to our first date and, to this day he still moves me. Ken is a gentleman, Renaissance man, father, friend and my soul mate.  His flaws are so few to his goodness, kindness and love.  I appreciate and respect the man God blessed me to be with and I'm happy to say that we have more laugh lines on our face than anger or worry. Tonight I pulled out old photos to have some laughs and I wanted to share with you a part of our history - Our wedding photo.  We were babies! March 3, 1995 Photo taken by Chuch Hill who granted permission to post to my blog In honor of our anniversary we are going to eat at H... 03/02/2009

  ____________Self Directed IRA’S______________ Have you ever wondered if there was a safe place for all that IRA money? Someplace you can plant it that wouldn’t cost you in penalties when removed from a dying IRA Account before you retire? Someplace safe that won’t lose a dime? I have the answer for you. And it is not a gimmick. It is being done all over the country by savvy investors. In one easy move you can transfer your money to a Self Directed IRA. What does this mean? It is still a retirement plan. The big difference is that instead of someone else investing where they think your money should go, you direct them to place it where you want it to go. From Wikipedia:  A Self-Directed Individual Retirement Account is an IRA that requires the account owner to make investment decisions... 02/21/2009

There are only two more shopping days 'til Valentine's Day.  If you haven't found something to do yet, you're in luck!  There are two events going on this weekend that any couple can enjoy.  On Saturday, the VFW Post #5206 in Hendersonville will be sponsoring a Valentines Dance.  Rock out with your sweetie to country and oldies rock tunes performed by The Carolina Misty Band.  The dance begins at 7pm and is open to anyone aged 21 years or older and costs only $7/person.  For more information on this fabulous event, call the VFW in Hendersonville at 828-693-5930. If your sweetie is a wildlife lover, take a Guided Bird Walk with the ECO & Henderson County Bird Club at Jackson Park in Hendersonville.  The walk begins at 9am.  For more information, please call 828-692-0385. Contact me for a... 02/12/2009

After completing its two-year, $10.8 million renovation, the Henderson County Historic Courthouse was honored January 29th with the North Carolina Office of Urban Development award for "Best Public Building Improvement".  When a new courthouse was opened in 1995 in Hendersonville, the old courthouse became abandoned.  But, with the recent renovation, the Henderson County Historic Courthouse houses the county's Heritage Museum as well as administrative offices for the county.  Part of the renovation included adding a 12,000 square foot annex for office space, rest rooms, a community room, museum space and a meeting facility for the county commissioner that seats 140 people.  The renovation of the old courthouse as well as the award of recognition have helped revitalize Hendersonville's d... 02/05/2009

A great place to live or vacation, We are the expert for the area, call us for any information on the wonderful city. Diane - 828-674-0205 or Constance 828-216-3632. 02/03/2009

Bruce Drysdale Elementary, located in Hendersonville, is requesting that the Henderson County Board of Education put them on a year-round schedule instead of the traditional school year.  The new schedule would keep the same amount of school days throughout the calendar year.  But, instead of the traditional nine months in school and three months off in the summer, students would attend school for nine weeks and have three weeks off.  This is supposed to help students retain more during their breaks, since research has shown that the retention level of a student after a long summer break is much lower than after a brief respite.  There are already four other public schools in Western North Carolina that operate on the year-round schedule.  If you are a parent of a child at Bruce Drysdal... 01/29/2009

I represent a number of LAND INVESTORS in a gated community where the lots were sold out in 2004 without any payments due until a year or so back.  The underground utilities are in, the roads are paved and curbing is set; the onsite clubhouse with pool and spa are also in and one house has been built.  The community consists of 70 Estate-Sized lots ranging from .87 acres to well over 4 acres with incredible mountain views located near an interstate, shopping and medical care.  These lots were sold in a one-day event with lots of fanfare and special financing. Since this was speculative buying there have been no improvements to the lots and some have gone into foreclosure and are now bank owned and back on the market.  Only one lot has been sold in the past 2 years and it was for much le... 01/27/2009