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2018 Media Kit

Contact us today 828-694-7840

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[ [Market Profile Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania Counties, NC

PolkHenderson

Transylvania

Columbus

Brevard

Hendersonville

Total Households

73,703Average Household Income

$69,493

Total Population

170,551

Children at Home 18,733 25%

2018 Claritas, Henderson, Polk, Transylvania Counties, NC

Base: Total Households - 73,703

Own a Home 55,433 75%

Employment (population age 16+)Executive/Professional/Mgr. 9% Office/Administrative Support 9%Sales 5% Healthcare 5%Services 17%

Education (adults age 25+)College Graduate 49,033 39% Some College, no degree 29,646 23%High School Graduate 32,889 26% Other 15,439 12%

Household IncomeUnder $35,000 24,764 34% $35,000-$49,999 11,352 15% $50,000-$74,999 14,175 19% $75,000+ 17,230 32%

Age Median Age: 5618-34 28,756 21% 35-44 17,856 13%45-54 20,989 15% 55+ 71,951 52%

GenderMen 66,505 48% Women 73,047 52%

Base: Total Adults - 139,552

Consumer Spending

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Key Consumer categories Expenditure Apparel $120 Computers, Software & Accessories $28Education $60 Household Furnishing and Appliances $129Health Care $395Groceries $316 Automotive - All $768 Pet Related $48 Sports & Recreation $49Travel $141Dining Out $191

2018 Environics Analytics, Henderson, Polk, Transylvania Counties, NC

Total Annual Consumer Spending

$3.8 Billion

(in millions)

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69% of College Educated Adults

54% of High School Graduates

57% of HHI under $50,000

68% of HHI $50,000+

65% of Homeowners

58% of Families with Children in the Home Scarborough USA+ 2017 R1, National average; INA+ Audience (weekly print, monthly digital)

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Times-News | Friday, September 11, 2015 D1

WEEKEND

TODAY Mountain State Fair returns

The North Carolina Mountain State Fair will once again light up the mountains as it rolls into town today, continuing through Sept. 20 at the WNC Ag Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher. Gates open at 9 a.m., and rides open at 10 a.m.The Mountain State Fair celebrates the heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including agriculture, music, crafts, art, food, enter-tainment, display of livestock and competitions.The focal point of the fair is the carnival midway, featuring over 40 rides and numerous games for all ages. The many competi-tions are staples of the fair, featuring North Carolina’s best in livestock, creative arts, farm products and school projects.Free agriculture-based attractions include the Mooternity Ward, where visitors can see a dairy calf be born; Agricadabra, an ag-themed magic show; and more than two dozen livestock shows.Bands will perform nightly on the Heritage Stage.For hours and admission charges, visit www.mountainfair.org or call 828-687-1414.

6 String Drag will close out this year’s Top of the Grade concert series. MICHAEL TRAISTER.

The North Carolina Mountain State Fair comes to life today. MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

By Jason GilmerHalifax Media Group

The Mountain Song Fes-tival has become an event where world-class acts can perform, which is some-thing the Steep Canyon Rangers wanted to bring to Brevard when it started the festival.

After a Grammy win and multiple other awards, the Asheville/Brevard-based group isn’t just the host but another of the big-name performers.

Beginning Friday and

going to Sunday, the event (held at the Brevard Music Center and supporting The Cindy Platt Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County) brings together a who’s who in bluegrass’ past and future.

Names like The Del McCoury Band, Larry Keel Experience and Ricky Skaggs and Ken-tucky Thunder are mixed with up-and-comers like Town Mountain, The Milk Carton Kids and others.

“It’s such an honor to have such well-known and well-respected musicians willing to come to Bre-vard to play,” said Steep Canyon Rangers singer Woody Platt.

Platt and his bandmates, Mike Guggino (man-dolin, vocals), Charles Humphrey (bass, vocals), Graham Sharp (banjo, vocals), Nicky Sanders

(fiddle, vocals) and Michael Ashworth (percussion), play all three days.

When the festival added

MOUNTAIN SONG FESTIVAL

Grammy winners Steep Canyon Rangers to performBand playing songs from new release ‘Radio’

If you goWhat: Mountain Song FestivalWhen: Friday through SundayWhere: Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Lane, BrevardTickets: $35 and upInfo: 800-514-3849, www.mountainsongfestival.com

Schedule

FRIDAY4 p.m. — Gates Open 5:30 p.m. — Steep Canyon Rangers 7 p.m. — Shannon Whit-worth & Barrett Smith

8:30 p.m. —The Del McCoury Band

SATURDAY

Noon — Gates Open 2 p.m. — Town Mountain 3:30 p.m. — Sarah Siskind 5 p.m. — Larry Keel Experience 6:30 p.m. — The Milk Carton Kids 8:15 p.m. — Steep Canyon Rangers

SUNDAY

Noon — Gates Open 1:30 p.m. — Red Wine 3 p.m. — Steep Canyon Rangers with special guests 4:30 p.m. – Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Steep Canyon Rangers COURTESY PHOTO

TONIGHT6 String Drag closes out Top of the Grade concerts

Saluda’s Top of the Grade concerts in McCreery Park will wind up their third summer season at 7 p.m. tonight with 6 String Drag.After 16 years in hibernation, 6 String Drag is back! In the late 1990s, the Carolinas quartet stood out as pioneers of the nascent alt-country movement. Their Steve Earle-produced LP, High Hat, remains a classic of its era.Concert-goers are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to this free event. Coolers are wel-come, and local restaurants are open.For more information, contact Peter Eisenbrown at 828-290-4316 or visit www.saluda.com

THURSDAYKeeping the Fires Burning starts up second season

The Center for Cultural Preservation will launch the second season of its popular public program series Keeping the Fires Burning — Heroes of Mountain Culture at 1 p.m. Thursday in room 150 of the Patton Building on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College. Renowned mountain music performer and storyteller Betty Smith will kick off the new season.Smith is one of the keynote saviors of ballad music in the Southern Appalachians, having exten-sively researched traditional music through oral histories of the mountains and turning them into written history.The series features musicians, authors and heritage preservation leaders who are working to keep mountain culture alive.For more information, call 828-692-8062 or visit www.saveculture.org.

THURSDAYRhythm & Brews ends Thursday

Eric Congdon and Aaron Burdett, two of Hendersonville’s most loved local musicians, will take to the stage and share the headliner spot in a split set at Rhythm & Brews from 6-9 p.m. Thursday in the Azalea parking lot downtown.The name of Congdon’s fourth CD, “Acoustic Wanderer,” describes Congdon’s ability to play various acoustic instruments and to pull a crowd into his own musical adventures.Singer-songwriter Aaron Burdett blends original Americana music with folk-rock, bluegrass and blues.Desiree Ricker, one of Hendersonville’s own, will perform at 5 p.m., bringing her smooth acoustic folk and Indies sound.This free event is the fi nal concert of the Rhythm & Brews season.

ALL WEEK‘Fly’ soaring at Flat Rock Playhouse

The Flat Rock Playhouse 2015 season will continue with the critically acclaimed “Fly,” which will run through Sept. 27 on the Clyde & Nina Allen Mainstage, 2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock.“Fly” a story about the experiences and challenges of the Tuskegee Airmen, the fi rst African-American fl yers in the U.S. military during World War II. Hailing from Chicago, Harlem, rural Iowa and the West Indies, each man arrives at boot camp with a dream to serve his country as a combat fi ghter pilot, overcoming many obstacles including prejudice along the way.This raw tale of courage and triumph is brought to life through a powerful combination of speech, multimedia, and tap dance as the “Red Tails” achieve great heights of distinguished service and forged brotherhood.The Playhouse has also teamed up with HonorAir, the organization responsible for fl ying over 100,000 WWII veterans to the nation’s capital to experience their memorial, as a community sponsor.Starring as the four Tuskegee Airmen are Donte Bonner, Donald Paul, Carter Redwood and Robert Karma Robinson. Omar Edwards will perform the role of the Tap Griot, a “storyteller” who uses tap dance to set the mood and tone throughout the play.Sharing the stage as the domineering commanding offi cers are Christian Carmean, Michael MacCauley and Scott Treadway. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays with 2 p.m. matinees Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 27.Tickets are $15-$40 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box offi ce at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-732-8008 or online at www.fl atrockplayhouse.org.

SEE RANGERS, D3

Times-News | Friday, September 11, 2015 C1

QUESTIONS? Contact Editor Dean Hensley at 828-694-7868 or dean.hensley@blueridgenow.com

SPORTSNUMBER TO KNOW

ONLINE

INSIDE

Steelers-Patriots season opener

Due to an earlier deadline, the Steelers-Patriots game wasn’t over by press time on Thursday night. For coverage, go to the Sports tab at BlueRid-geNow.com

Calendar of high school sports events

Our area high school sport-ing events calendar runs through September. It’s avail-able on the Schedules tab at preps.blueridgenow.com

Video from HHS-East football game

A short video clip from last week’s Hendersonville at East Henderson football game is available online at BlueRidge-Now.com

Kuechly now NFL’s highest-paid MLB

The Panthers sign Kuechly to a fi ve-year, $62 million contract extension on Thursday, making him the highest-paid middle linebacker in the league. C5

3 The number of Henderson County opponents Hender-

sonville High’s football team faces in the fi rst four weeks of the season. The Bearcats host the North Henderson Knights tonight.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTERSports editor Dean Hensley: @BRNDeanPrep writer Joey Millwood: @BRNJoey

By Dean HensleyTimes-News Staff Writer

Now in its 44th year, the AppleJack Amateur Championship golftournament at Crooked Creek GolfClub will have plenty of familiarfaces when players tee off at 8a.m. Saturday to begin the two-day tournament.

There are several former cham-pions in this year’s loaded field,including Cecil Whitmire, who isback to defend his Open Divisiontitle.

“Whenever you start talkingabout Apple Jack favorites, youalways have to start the discussionwith Cecil,” Crooked Creek GolfClub General Manager TommyLaughter said. “He’s back, andhe’s playing really well, despitenot getting to play as much due tohis work schedule.”

Also returning is Apple Jackregular Fred Edwards, who is alsoa former champion.

“You can never count out ‘FastFreddie.’ He’s been here so manytimes, but he’ll be as competitiveas ever. He’ll be trying to win it justlike he was when he first played init many years ago,” Laughter said.

Other players to watch in theOpen Division are Blake Bickford,Jim Sparks, Brandon Craven andShane Dotson.

For the always highly-compet-itive Senior Division, the field ispacked with past champions, ledby Joe Collins.

“Just like you start the con-versation of the Open Divisionfavorites with Cecil Whitmire,for the Senior Division, you haveto start the conversation with JoeCollins. He’s always going to betough to beat,” Laughter said.

Other key players are DavidBlackley, Paul Roberts, DeanGosnell and Johnny Johnston,according to Laughter.

The players will tackle a coursethat’s in tip-top shape, accordingto Laughter.

“Our guys have been work-ing hard all year long to keep ourcourse in great shape, despite usnot having as much rain as we usu-ally do,” Laughter said.

Spectators are welcome.

AMATEUR GOLF

Apple Jacktees off for 44th yearWhitmire returns to defend his Open title

Tee timesSaturday’s tee times are listed in Scoreboard, C2

By Joey MillwoodTimes-News Staff Writer

Hendersonville’s foot-ball team will wrap up its county gauntlet tonight, as it will play a county rival for the third consecutive week, hosting North Henderson.

North (2-1) will bring a tough, edgy defense to Dietz Field tonight.

That defense is led by hard-hitters like Ashton Woodring, Cole McCarson, Drew Mitch-ell and speedy defensive backs like Darren Lammons.

Last week alone, Woodring had a sack and broke up a backfield pass that led to a Knights touchdown. He also caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Trevor Craft.

On the other side, after struggling against West

Henderson, the Bearcat (1-2) offense found its swagger against East Henderson. The Bearcats topped the Eagles after tallying over 500 yards of offense.

The Bearcat offense is led by quarterback Michael Schmidt, who has thrown for 682 yards in three games so far this season. He’s also accounted for 244 yards on the ground as he poses a legitimate duel threat for opposing defenses.

Tonight will prove once again to be a tug-of-war between a high-powered spread offense and a tough-as-nails defense.

The other in-town county game tonight will be North Buncombe at West Hen-derson. The Falcons (2-0) are coming off of a week of rest. What awaits is a heavy

Blackhawk passing attack. North Buncombe quarterback Chase Parker has thrown for 665 yards this season.

The Falcons have already shut down one power passing attack this season in Hen-dersonville. Stephen Perron,

PREP FOOTBALL: WEEK 4

Tonight’s gamesKickoffs are at 7:30 p.m.North Henderson at Hender-sonville, 1450 AM, 107.7 FMNorth Buncombe at West Hen-derson, 1600 AM, 95.3 FMPolk County at Landrum (S.C.)Brevard at Madison, 1240 AMMountain Heritage at Rosman, 1240 AMOPEN: East HendersonUPDATES: Updated scores will be available at BlueRidgeNow.com

North Henderson quarterback Trevor Craft scrambles for yardage against Hendersonvile last year at North. MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

Another county battleHHS hosts North, its third and fi nal county foe

SEE FOOTBALL, C3

I remember exactly where I was the day it happened.

I was standing at a table at USC Upstate trying to get new members for my frater-nity. A friend rolled by and asked whether I’d seen what was going on in New York.

I had no clue what he was talking about. He didn’t seem to know many details. He said something about he thinks that a plane had hit a building.

I ran into the closest build-ing where I knew a television

would be. I stood there at first with a couple of friends watching the largest terrorist attack in our country’s history unfold right before my eyes.

I was mesmerized. I couldn’t leave the television.

It was 30 minutes before I noticed that our group of three had turned to more than 30. I stared in horror as replays showed the planes hitting the two towers at the World Trade Center. In the quiet crowd around me, I began to hear mumbles of anger, sobbing and just a general disbelief of who could’ve done this.

I was shaken, but the grief didn’t hit me until I was sitting

in my dad’s chair at my par-ents’ house hours later. I sat and watched the footage. It was then that I saw something fall from one of the towers in footage. It was a person.

I began to cry in that moment.

Thousands of people had gone to work that day as if it were any other day. Nearly 3,000 people didn’t return home. That date would no

PREP FOOTBALL COMMENTARY

Pigskin Picks: A day never to be forgotten

JOEY MILLWOOD

SEE MILLWOOD, C5

By Joey MillwoodTimes-News Staff Writer

Engineering runs in the family of North Henderson High tennis player Sally Gross.

Her brother is a mechani-cal engineer and her uncle is an aerospace engineer. Gross wants to be an engineer as well.

Her interest in engineering, however, lies in prosthetics.

It was only natural that the senior combine that interest with the sport she loves. Gross is putting together a singles tennis tournament for Oct. 10 at the North tennis courts. The tournament, “Serving for Sol-diers,” will raise money for the Wounded Warrior program.

The program is for veterans with prosthetics.

“I’ m so p rou d and not

PREP TENNIS

Athlete serves vets with tourneyNorth Henderson tennis player Sally Gross is organiz-ing a singles tournament to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. JOEY

MILLWOOD/

TIMES-NEWS

Sally Gross’ tennis tourney will support Wounded Warriors; set for Oct. 10 at North

SEE TENNIS, C5

Women’s semifi nals delayed by rain

NEW YORK — Serena Williams will have to wait before continuing her bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam: Her U.S. Open semifi nal was postponed because of rain in the forecast.

The top-seeded Williams was supposed to face 43rd-ranked Roberta Vinci of Italy on Thursday night at Flush-ing Meadows, but nearly four hours before that match would have started, the U.S. Tennis Association — citing a predic-tion of “rain throughout the evening” — pushed back both women’s semifi nals to today.

Williams is trying to become the fi rst tennis player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to earn all four Grand Slam titles in a single season. She won the Australian Open in January, the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July. Now the 33-year-old American has won her fi rst fi ve matches at the U.S. Open, and needs two more victories to add that champi-onship to her 2015 collection.

The other women’s semifi nal moved to today from Thurs-day is No. 2 Simona Halep of Romania against No. 26 Flavia Pennetta of Italy.

It created a high-profi le and packed schedule for Friday, when the men’s semifi nals already were slotted. In those matches, No. 1 Novak Djokovic meets defending champion Marin Cilic, and No. 2 Roger Federer plays his Swiss Olym-pic and Davis Cup teammate, No. 5 Stan Wawrinka.

The U.S. Open has a long history of scheduling problems because of weather, including fi ve consecutive men’s fi nals postponed from Sunday to Monday from 2008-12.

— The Associated Press

US OPEN UPDATE

Times-News | Friday, September 11, 2015 B1

QUESTIONS? Contact Editor Jennifer Heaslip at 864-694-7872 or jennifer.heaslip@blueridgenow.com

LOCAL&STATEREGION BRIEFS

School system has 12th highest SAT scores in NC

With an average SAT score of 1524, Henderson County Public Schools had the 12th highest SAT score among the 115 public school districts in the state in 2015, and saw a 17-point increase in its SAT average compared to the previ-ous year.

While North Carolina’s SAT performance showed a decline in average scores, similar to the performance of students nationwide, local scores increased. North Carolina’s 2015 seniors posted an average SAT score of 1478, down fi ve points overall from the class of 2014’s average score.

The national average is 1490 on the Critical Reading, Math and Writing tests that com-prise the SAT. North Carolina’s critical reading score (498) surpassed the nation’s read-ing score (495), while HCPS’ critical reading score (512) was above both the state and the national average. The state’s math was 504, compared to the national math average of 511 and HCPS’ average of 516.

On the writing test, HCPS’ average of 496 surpassed both the state average of 476 and the national average of 484.

North Carolina has been considered an SAT state for many years, with a majority of college-bound students elect-ing to take this admissions test. However, in 2012, all high school juniors took the ACT for the fi rst time as part of the state’s new READY account-ability model. This means that students can use their ACT results for college admission and not have to pay to take a college entrance exam.

 

Ronnie Pepper to perform at Feed & Seed

The Fletcher Feed and Seed storytelling series continues at 4 p.m. Saturday with Ronnie Pepper telling African-Amer-ican folk tales and personal stories.

As a teenager, Pepper was a neighborhood Youth Corps worker at the YMCA, where he began his journey as an educational and entertaining storyteller. He has an Associ-ate of Arts in Early Childhood Education Recreation Lead-ership and an associate’s degree in Humanities Services Technology.

For many years Pepper has served on several boards of directors in Henderson County. In 2003 he was selected for his leadership in his community as one of ten Early Childhood Professional Award Win-ners featured in the national publication Scholastic Early Childhood Today. He was inducted into Hendersonville High School’s Hall of Fame, and in 2012 he was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park for community leadership.

“Wherever I go, I share a story. Storytelling comes from the heart and engages the listener,” he said.

The Feed and Seed storytell-ing series was established by Karen-Eve Bayne, who also founded Hendersonville’s DoTell Fest and S.T.E.A.P. Inc, storytelling education and arts program that organizes and presents performances in schools and for organizations. Bayne and her committee selected Elena Diana Miller, an independent performing artist and artist in schools with the Arts Council of Henderson County, as the director of the Feed and Seed storytelling arts series. Miller was an interpre-tive national park ranger for many years performing history stories and folk music in the Grand Canyon, St. Louis Arch and Carl Sandburg Home NHS.

The Fletcher Arts Story-telling Series is funded by a Grassroots Grant from North Carolina Arts Council and the Arts Council. For more informa-tion, visit FeedandSeed.com or DoTeliFest.com.

By Beth De BonaTimes-News Staff Writer

After recently being diag-nosed with ALS, Mickey Marvin is starting to speak about how he is coping with the disease.

The Hendersonville native and former professional football player revealed his optimism and faith regarding his diag-nosis in front of members of Mud Creek Baptist Church on Wednesday.

“I can see God’s grace through it all,” said Marvin. “I see God’s hands leading me … allowing this to come into my life for His greater glory.”

The Mud Creek appearance was the result of an invitation from the Rev. Greg T. Mathis as an opportunity for Marvin

to share his journey.T h e t w o m e n , w h o s a t

in matching leather wing-back chairs in conversation at the evening service, have been friends for over 30 years – Marvin often drops in to Mathis’ office to discuss life and religion.

“When this happened he con-tacted me and asked if I’d walk through this valley with him,” said Mathis.

Mathis suggested to Marvin that just like God had put him on the stage with pro football, maybe God was putting him on a stage with the diagnosis.

By talking about his journey with ALS, Marvin could “show what a great God He is, not just

MUD CREEK BAPTIST

Marvin speaks about ALS diagnosis

Former professional footballer Mickey Marvin spoke publicly on Wednesday for the first time about his recent diagnosis of ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, with the Rev. Greg T. Mathis and the members of Mud Creek Baptist Church. BETH DE BONA/TIMES-NEWS

By Emily WeaverTimes-News Staff Writer

Eight men have been con-victed of murder after jury trials in Henderson and Polk counties in the past three years. Every one of their cases followed the natural next step to appeal. But only two, so far, have netted rulings in the North Carolina Court of Appeals and in both cases the

higher court found “no error,” keeping the convictions intact.

The sole argument on appeal from 40-year-old Steven Ramirez, convicted of the first-degree murder of Oscar “Poochie” Corn in 2012, was that the trial court erred in admitting Corn’s wife’s in-court identification of Ramirez.

Ramirez argued that Joyce Corn identified him in court as the shooter because of her

exposure to media coverage of his arrest and his presence in court during pretrial pro-ceedings. The appeals court disagreed in a July 2013 opin-ion, noting that Corn testified to seeing the face and eyes of the home intruder who shot her husband to death.

The sole argument on appeal from 42-year-old Jermaine Deprie Glover, convicted of second-degree murder in the 2009 death of Misty Lynn Carter, was that the trial court

NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS

Cases slowly work their way through appeals court

By Gary D. RobertsonThe Associated Press

RALEIGH — Republican lead-ers at the General Assemblyneared final agreement Thurs-day on a budget deal that wouldend a fiscal stalemate that beganin June and has led to the lon-gest budget-writing session in14 years.

House Speaker Tim Moore,R-Cleveland, said he and Senateleader Phil Berger, R-Rocking-ham, had resolved almost all theissues that couldn’t be resolvedby the top budget-writers serv-ing under them.

Moore said he and Bergerhoped they could settle the otherpending issues later Thursday,although Sen. Harry Brown,R-Onslow, co-chairman of theSenate Appropriations Com-mittee, cautioned it could spillover into early Friday.

It would still be early nextweek before the two chambersrelease budget documents andhold two required votes neededbefore the legislation goes toRepublican Gov. Pat McCrory.

GOP leaders are aiming to getthe final two-year plan donebefore a stopgap spending mea-sure expires Sept. 18. It’s thethird “continuing resolution”to operate state governmentsince failing to pass a budgetbefore the fiscal year began July1. The last time it took this longto complete budget work in anodd-numbered year — when theentire two-year plan is written— was 2001.

Moore and Brown said sepa-rately Republicans had agreedto fund driver’s education andteacher assistants in the publicschools, but the final details onspending the money were beingworked out. The Senate budgetapproved in June would haveeliminated funding for thou-sands of assistants and wouldhave eliminated the requirementthat teenagers take driver’s ed.The House plan had money forboth programs.

The two sides also closed in ondeals about two ancillary itemsrelated to the budget.

Brown and Moore said nego-tiators had essentially agreed onseparate legislation to overhaulhow the state pays to treat itsMedicaid patients. AlthoughMoore said that bill would beconsidered later, the budgetwas expected to contain somedirections and funding as theMedicaid program transitionstoward managed care.

The two leaders also saidthe chambers had agreed there

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS

Budget deal within reach

Arguments on three previous murder convictions heard last month

T he North Caro-lina Mountain State Fair opens

at 9 a.m. today, with midway rides open at 10 a.m. The fair celebrates the people, agriculture, art and tradition that make the region great, officials said. Tickets are $9 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, $5 for seniors 65 and older, and children 5 and under are admitted free. Free park-ing is available on the fairgrounds on Highway 280 at Gate 6. Acrobats, performing sea lions, pig races, livestock shows, live music, a hypnotist and an illusionist, rides, exhibits, food and more are packed into the fair’s 10-day run. Visit www.wncagcenter.org for more information and a schedule of events.

SAFETY DAY

Workers prepare for the opening day of the Mountain State Fair in Fletcher on Thursday. PHOTOS BY PATRICK

SULLIVAN/TIMES-NEWS

N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler speaks during Safety Day at the Mountain State Fair in Fletcher Thursday.

SEE MARVIN, B2

SEE BUDGET, B2SEE APPEALS, B2

By Amy B. McCrawTimes-News Correspondent

If worshippers at Hen-dersonville’s First United Methodist Church wanted an enthusiastic new pastor, it seems their prayers were answered.

“I’m having a ball,” Pastor Mark Ralls said. “It’s wonder-ful. Thrilled doesn’t begin to cover it.”

Ralls took over as senior pastor at First Methodist in July.

He said he has been busy over the last month getting to know the congregation and the community in Henderson-ville. So far, Ralls said he has

not made specific plans or set new goal for the church.

“I’m very excited about the church’s outreach and excited about building on that and expanding,” he said.

Ralls, 49, came to Hen-dersonville with his wife, Jennifer, from Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem.

But Ralls grew up in West-ern North Carolina, and he said coming to a church in the mountains was more of a home-coming than a move to a new town.

“I’m very much coming home,” he said of his move to Hendersonville. “My wife and I have felt at home here since the first day. It’s been the smooth-est transition we’ve made.”

Ralls said that smooth transition happened in part because the congregation at First Methodist and others in

the community have been so welcoming.

“They are the warmest most hospitable people I’ve ever met,” he said.

Ralls served at St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Brevard several years ago before he moved away from the moun-tains for a time.

In a letter to the congregation at First Methodist, Ralls recalled the trips he and his wife took to Hendersonville during the time he served in Brevard.

“We always looked forward to our jaunts to the big town

of Hendersonville, and as we passed by your beautiful facili-ties, one would remark to the other, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if one day we were appointed there,’” Ralls wrote.

Ralls also wrote that he was impressed by the church’s excellence in worship and music. The congregation’s passion for missions and its creative programs for all ages were also impressive, he wrote.

“For the past month, I’ve been joking with close friends in the ministry that with this won-derful appointment, I have just won the ‘clergy sweepstakes,’” he wrote.

Ralls received a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in divin-ity from Duke University. He received a doctorate degree

Times-News | Saturday, August 29, 2015 D1

FAITHNew classes coming to Grace LutheranGrace Lutheran Church is offering new Bible studies starting Sept. 14 at 1245 Sixth Ave. W., Henderson-ville. Registration for both classes, titled “66 Love Letters” and “Grace: More Than Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine,” is due by Friday.“66 Love Letters” is a study of the book of the same name by Larry Crabb and will take place from 1-3:15 p.m. every Monday for sev-eral months. George Kiefer will facilitate. There is a $15 cost for the book.To register, visit bit.ly/graceletters.“Grace: More than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine” will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. the second and fourth Mondays of September, October and November. The class description says, “Grace. We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. But do we really understand grace? Max Lucado asks: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Softened by grace? Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.” The book costs $8.To register, visit bit.ly/gracelucado.Registration for either class may also be completed by calling the church offi ce at 828-693-4890, ext. 304.

Spots open for Salvation Army after-schoolThe Salvation Army has six spots available for the after school day care program. The cost is $40 a week with a onetime registration fee of $25. The program is open most teacher days and breaks. School pick-up is provided.Call Chrissy House at 828-693-4181, ext. 31, for more information.

RELIGION NOTES

Events“Advanced Course for Souls Living on the Earth Plane”: Program by Suzanne Gie-semann, 6-9 p.m. Monday, Unity of The Blue Ridge, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. Tickets are $25 and available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1761624.AWAKE worship series: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Hendersonville Presbyterian Church, 699 N. Grove St., Hendersonville. Visit fi reinthemountain.com or call 692-3211.Bishop George E. Battle Jr.: Presiding Prelate and Senior Bishop of the AME Zion Church to speak at 11 a.m. Sunday, St. Paul Tab-ernacle AME Zion Church.First Congregational United Church of Christ Adult Forum: 9:15 a.m. Sundays, 1735 Fifth Ave. W., Henderson-ville. This week’s topic is “The Contemplative Life – Part II” with Pam and Hank Federlein, Nolleen Kelly, the O’Keefes and others. Call 692-8630.Healing prayer: Offered the second Friday of every month at Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 Sixth Ave. W., Hendersonville. Arrive between 1 and 1:30 p.m. and plan to stay at least 30 minutes. Call 693-4890.Ladies Tea: 11 a.m. Sept. 19, Anointed Word Church, corner of Highway 64 and South Rugby Road, Horse Shoe. RSVP by Sept. 10 by calling 242-1066. Adults only.Health fair presented by Pardee Health: 10 a.m. Thursday at Mills River

United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall. Lunch reservations are required. Call the MRLEC offi ce at 08-5581 by noon the Tues-day before each program.Table Talk: 6:25 p.m. Wednesday, Henderson-ville Presbyterian Church, 699 N. Grove St. For dinner at 5:25 p.m., reservations are required and can be confi rmed by calling the church offi ce at 692- 3211 or visiting Hendersonvil-lePC.org.

MusicAnniversary Singing: 4 p.m. Friday, Refuge Baptist Church in Dana. Featuring The Sound of Singing Men, The Singing Laymen and The Refuge Ladies Quartet.Fifth Sunday Hymn Sing: 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Trinity Pres-byterian Church, 900 Blythe St., Hendersonville. Hymn requests can be emailed to dc.trinity@mac.com.Pianist Andrew Rogelberg: Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Providence Baptist Church, 1201 Oakland St., Hendersonville.

Studies and retreatsChildren’s Church: 9 a.m. third Sunday of every month, St. Philip’s Episco-pal Church, 256 E. Main St., Brevard. Call 884-3666.Christian Men’s Breakfast Bible Study: 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Dixie Diner, 1724 Brevard Road, Hendersonville. Four Scrip-tures are chosen weekly. Participants should bring their Bible of choice and no

homework is required. Call 697-0464.End of times study: 9:45 a.m. for 12 Sundays starting July 5 at West Hendersonville Baptist Church, 30 Willow Road, Hendersonville. The course will examine every-thing from how accurate is the Bible as a source for understanding today’s world to the role of biblical archaeology. Wes Husted will lead the class and has been teaching the Bible and writing Bible study lessons for over thirty-fi ve years and maintains a Bible study website. Call 692-6607.FAST program for fi fth- and sixth-graders: 9:30 a.m. Sundays and 6:35 p.m. Wednesdays, Henderson-ville Presbyterian, 699 N. Grove St., Hendersonville. Call 692-3211.First Presbyterian Church PCUSA weekly PC service: 2 p.m. Sundays, 610 Yarbor-ough St., Hendersonville. Adult and children’s Sunday school classes at 1 p.m. Email 1stPresHendo@gmail.com.Hendersonville Presbyterian Church’s Sunday School adult programs: 9:30 a.m. Sundays, 699 N. Grove St., Hendersonville. Call 692-3211 or visit Hender-sonvillePC.org.“How Lutherans View Other Faiths: Men’s Bible Study”: 8 a.m. Thursdays during breakfast at Denny’s, 1550 Four Seasons Blvd., Hen-dersonville. Call 692-7027.“How Lutherans View Other Faiths: Women’s Bible Study”: Led by the Rev. Philip C. McLain, 10 a.m.

Wednesdays at Mount Pisgah Lutheran Church, 2606 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville. Call 692-7027.Men’s Prayer Breakfast: 8 a.m. Saturdays, Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church Hendersonville, 312 Fifth Ave. W., Hendersonville. Cost is $3. Call 693-3493.“Remember the Sabbath”: 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Etowah United Method-ist Church, 110 Brickyard Road, Etowah. This is a class based on the book “24/6” by Dr. Matthew Sleeth. This class will provide opportunities for a healthier, more God-centered life among a digitally crazed, always-on world. The book is $12.99. Call 891-4360 or visit www.etowahumc.org.Survey study of the Bible led by the Rev. Barbara Rathbun: 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1735 Fifth Ave. W., Hendersonville. Each session is self-con-tained. Call 692-8630 or visit fcchendersonville.org.Women’s DVD-based discus-sion book study: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays for six weeks starting Sept. 9, Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 Sixth Ave. W., Hendersonville. The discus-sions are based on John Ortberg’s book, “All the Places to Go.” Registration due by Sept. 1 and can be completed by calling the church offi ce at 693-4890 ext. 304 or register online at bit.ly/graceplacestogo. $9 for the participant guide.

MiscellaneousBread ministry: Free bread from 3-4 p.m. Mondays at Balfour United Methodist Church, Highway 25 North, across from Hunter Chev-rolet. Call 692-5501.Calvary Chapel of Asheville Food Bank Ministry: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 5516 Boylston Highway, Mills River. Call 277-7703.Calvary Kids Club: Meets from 3-4:30 p.m. the fi rst and third Sunday at the church, 2840 Henderson-ville Road, Fletcher. Call 684-6266.Centering prayer service: noon Tuesdays in the church library of Calvary Episcopal Church, 2840 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher. Led by the Rev. Dr. Norma Hanson. Call 684-6266.Celebrate Recovery: 6 p.m. Mondays at First Baptist Church Hendersonville, 312 Fifth Ave. W., Hender-sonville. A Christ-centered 12 Step program that allows us to surrender our struggles to Jesus. Email Buck Dewhurst at buck-dew@gmail.com.Celebrate Recovery: 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays at Mud Creek Baptist Church, 403 Rutledge Drive, Henderson-ville. For anyone dealing with an addiction. Call 692-1262, ext. 135.Dementia/Caregiver Support Group: 3:30-5 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at United Methodist Church, 204 Sixth Ave. W., Hender-sonville. A care-receiver program is provided at the same time for loved ones.

Call Lisa at 828-696-9799.Early Stage Alzheimer’s Sup-port Group: 1:30- 3:30 p.m. second and fourth Tues-day of the month at Mud Creek Baptist Church, 403 Rutledge Drive, Hender-sonville. Join this group for support, encouragement and help as you and your loved one walk the path of Alzheimer’s or Dementia. This group is appropri-ate for care givers as well as care receivers. Pre-registration required. Call 692-1262 ext. 135.Extended Family: 6 p.m. the third Monday of each month at Blue Ridge Prison and Jail ministries house, 410 E. First Ave. For fami-lies facing the trauma of incarcerated family mem-bers. Call 696-0607.Free children’s ministry: 1-5 p.m. the fi rst and third Thursdays of each month at Cummings Memorial United Methodist Church, Banner Farm Road, Horse Shoe. Free children’s clothes for up to 6 years old, along with diapers, supplies and equipment at the BEAR closet. Call 891-9413 or 891-1557.Free community meal: 5:30-7 p.m. fi rst Friday of every month, Balfour Baptist Church fellowship building, 2502 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville. Everyone welcome. Call 692-8336.Good News @ 6: 6 p.m. the fourth Sunday of each month at Calvary Episcopal Church, 2840 Hender-sonville Road, Fletcher. Welcoming all ages to a

RELIGION BULLETIN

Rev. Mark Ralls is the new pastor at First United Methodist Church. Here he stands in the sanctuary, where backpacks have been collected for schoolchil-dren. PATRICK SULLIVAN/TIMES-NEWS

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

New pastor says Hendersonville post is like coming home

The Rev. Mark Ralls says the transition has been smooth

SEE PASTOR, D2

SEE RELIGION, D2

“I’m very excited about the church’s outreach and excited about building on that and expanding.”—Pastor Mark Ralls

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Times-News | Wednesday, November 4, 2015 D1

FOOD&HEALTH

The best burgers

■ 1 pound ground turkey (a mix-ture of white and dark meat)■ Cloves from 1 head roasted garlic, mashed■ 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce■ 2 teaspoons tamari or soy sauce■ 1 to 2 sprigs fresh thyme, stemmed■ ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper ■ 1 egg, beaten (use half)■ ¼ cup dry bread crumbs■ 2 tablespoons vegetable oil■ 1 onion, thinly sliced■ 4 slices Cheddar cheese■ 4 ciabatta buns

Place turkey in a medium bowl; add garlic, Worcestershire, tamari, thyme and crushed red pepper. Mix well. Add half the beaten egg, discarding the rest. Add breadcrumbs and combine well. Form into 4 patties.

Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add turkey patties and cook about 5 minutes per side, until thor-oughly cooked. Place cheese on burgers while cooking the second side. Place each on a ciabatta bun. Garnish burgers with lettuce, tomato slices and your favorite condiments. Serves 4.

By the editors of Relish Magazine

W hen roasted, a head of garlic is transformed into a buttery, sweet purée that

you can stir into soups, dips, or meat mixtures. In this recipe it takes turkey burgers from the ordinary to the sublime.

Here’s how to roast it: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the top off a garlic head off so that the cloves are exposed. Drizzle a bit of olive oil over the exposed cloves. Wrap tightly in alumi-num foil. Place on a baking sheet. Roast 1 hour. Let cool 5 minutes. Remove the foil and squeeze the garlic head to release the roasted cloves. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator up to 1 week.

Roasted garlic makes these winners

Roasted Garlic Turkey Burgers

— Mark Boughton Photography /styling by Teresa Blackburn.

By Michele KayalThe Associated Press

Some people are all about the stuffing. Some can’t do without the mashed potatoes. And the debate over marshmallows with the sweet potatoes can stoke family feuds spanning decades. But at the end of the day, Thanksgiving is all about the bird. Because face it, the turkey is the centerpiece. And getting it right — delivering a succulent, perfectly browned, magazine-worthy specimen — presents the holiday’s biggest challenge.

To unlock the secrets of roasting a great bird, we asked some of the country’s top chefs and food experts the tough questions: To brine or not to brine? High-heat or slow roast? Basted or not? Then we culled their answers to produce our recipe for the ultimate bird, as well as offer you some take-them-or-leave-them weird and wonderful tips for your own perfect turkey.

The birdLet’s start at the beginning:

A 12- to 14-pound turkey gives you the best chance of cook-ing success. Anything larger is difficult. That’s because the white and dark meat need to be cooked to different tempera-tures, and the bigger the bird the more difficult it is to nail that. If you need more than 14 pounds of turkey, our experts suggest roasting two.

Most of our chefs favor fresh,

free-range turkeys. “An animal that isn’t caged and is allowed to live a more free life will be a happier animal,” says Brad Deboy, chef de cuisine at Wash-ington’s Blue Duck Tavern. “Happier animals will always taste better.” But if you can’t afford or find a fresh, free-range turkey, don’t despair. “In our testing, we found that fresh didn’t always equal better,”

America’s Test Kitchen editor Bridget Lancaster said via email. Frozen turkeys, Lancaster says, may not be subject to the temperature fluctuations that sometimes afflict fresh birds during transit.

The brineDry brine, wet brine, it

doesn’t matter, our experts say, just brine that bird. The typical wet brine submerges the turkey in water containing salt, sugar and aromatics such as sage, rosemary, thyme and black peppercorns. Richard DeShantz, executive chef at Pittsburgh hot spots Meat & Potatoes and Butcher and the Rye, gives his birds a subtle sweetness with a 50-50 mix of apple cider and water. Chef Michael Solomonov, who just released the first cookbook from his Philadelphia restaurant Zahav, creates a Mediterranean profile with allspice, dill seed and black cardamom. Point being, feel free to play with the seasonings.

THANKSGIVING

Turkey 101 to get ready for the holiday

Regardless of how you cook a turkey on Thanksgiving, experts say to make sure you let it sit, undisturbed, on a cutting board or platter for at least 30 minutes before carving. MATTHEW MEAD/AP

I t’s been a long time since I’ve taken care of a newborn, but I can

still remember feeling over-whelmed with basic baby care when my husband and I brought our first child home from the hospital. Fortunately, I had my mom to help, but even so, I still had concerns and questions.

Unlike new electronics, appliances, furniture and automobiles, new babies don’t come with individual instruction manuals. “It’s a learn-as-you-go, practice-makes-perfect, kind of process. It’s not uncommon to find parents of all backgrounds and ages who are unprepared for the daily tasks of caring for their infant,” said Health Educator Kaye Brownlee.

Many new moms are sur-prised by their response to the exhausting physical and emotional experience of a newborn. Some moms are all alone in figuring out how to breastfeed or appropri-ately dress their baby for the weather, for example. Other moms may be confused by the normal mixed feelings that come with having to adjust to a new lifestyle and responsibilities.

Care managers from the Care Coordination for Chil-dren (CC4C) program see many different levels of knowledge about infant care and a range of emotions in their interactions with the families they follow. Part of a care manager’s job is to offer information to the family about child development and parenting, and that can some-times be tricky.

“When I see something that a new parent may not be aware of, I ask them if I can make a suggestion,” said Olga Esco-bar, registered public health nurse and CC4C care manager. “But I’m also very encouraging and tell them they’re doing a great job as I work with them. Praise and encouragement go a long way.”

The growing need for instruction in basic infant care for their clients brought about a search for what was currently available in our community and input from the Department of Social Services and the Children and Family Resource Center. When noth-ing was found that matched what was needed, the health department decided to offer classes.

“We saw a need in the com-munity for a class about basic infant care,” said Shelby Ball, RN, CC4C care manager. “We talked with other agencies to see what could be offered, and eventually decided that since we teach this material every day in our jobs, we could offer classes for the public.”

To get the classes rolling, Brownlee spent considerable time researching infant care educational materials and selecting topics that seemed to be basic and important to know. She then created a series of two one-hour classes called Parenting ABCs-Building Blocks for Basic Infant Care.

Topics covered in the first class include holding and swaddling baby, bathing, diapering, dressing, pack-ing the diaper bag, nutrition including breastfeeding and oral hygiene. The second class addresses baby’s crying and ways to calm, sleeping

PUBLIC HEALTH

Infant care classes build parent confi dence

KIM HORTON

SEE HORTON, D4 SEE TURKEY 101, D4

Times-News | Thursday, September 10, 2015 D1

COMMUNITY

W ell, collabora-tion is a big deal. Nonprofits across

the globe, including Hen-derson County, offer a plethora of essential services for a wide variety of clients. Individually, nonprofits can be game-changers for the folks they serve. Some-times, through partnerships and collaboration, their strengths can be magnified.

Locally, the Healing Place and Mainstay are teaming up with others to provide a new Child Advocacy Center that will provide needed services for children and families who are victims of abuse. This impacts Big Brothers Big Sisters because we are exiting our longstanding office in the United Way building on Fifth Avenue to allow part of the space needed for the center to be created. It’s the right thing to do to help this cooperative endeavor come to fruition. Look for some great work to come from the Child Advo-cacy Center.

BBBS’s search for a new home ends with another collaboration. Elisha Free-man, executive director of the Children and Family Resource Center, heard about our need and offered a solution in the form of office space in the CFRC building near the corner of Spartanburg Highway and Upward Road. CFRC does incredible work in our community directly or through hosting programs/services with a focus on our children. Now, BBBS is very proud to be under the same roof with the caring people and innovative organizations associated with CFRC.

Continuing in the col-laborative mode, BBBS has partnered with Henderson County Public Schools to provide a very unique service to match adult role models, known as “mentors, or Bigs,” with students in the county's four elementary schools with the highest poverty rates. This effort, Project BIG Start, pairs first-, second- and third-graders at Sugarloaf, Dana, Upward and Bruce Drysdale elementary schools with adult mentors, who meet with their “mentees or Littles” once a week for one hour during the school day/year.

The children are from single-parent homes or are being raised by their grandparents, and BBBS is focused on providing more educational resources to these kids and their families. The need is clearly there, as research has shown that students who establish meaningful relationships with adults have improved academic performance, self-confidence and classroom behaviors.

Project BIG Start differs from the standard BBBS community-based men-toring program in that all interactions take place at the child’s school, during a time that suits the schedules of both the mentor and the stu-dent. In essence, this service provides an “educational booster seat” in the form of a supportive, nonjudgmen-tal friendship with a trained and vetted volunteer. The relationships formed can

What’s the big deal?

STEVE KIRKLAND

SPECIAL APPEARANCE | REPUBLICAN WOMEN’S CLUB FUNDRAISER

Debbie Meadows is guest

Debbie Meadows, wife of Congressman Mark Meadows, was the special guest at the Henderson County Republican Women’s Club 2015 fundraiser, held at the home of Peter and Carolyn Davis. Pictured are Melody Heltman, president of the HCRWC, Carolyn Davis, Debbie Meadows and Doris Hawkins, vice president of the HCRWC. PHOTO PROVIDED.

Brenda Gorsuch is one of four journalism educators to be hon-ored with the Medal of Merit by the Journalism Education Association on Nov. 14 at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Orlando, Fla. The award is for

exceptional service to JEA, state and regional associations and the profession at large.

At West Henderson High, Gorsuch is the adviser for the school’s Wingspan newspaper and Westwind year-book. She served on the JEA board of directors

from 2003 to 2014, and over the course of her career has pre-sented at national and state conventions and workshops.

Gorsuch’s many accolades include Dow Jones News Fund 2004 National High School Journalism Teacher

of the Year; 2014 H.L. Hall Yearbook Adviser of the Year; Colum-bia Scholastic Press Association Gold Key; and National Scholas-tic Press Association Pioneer.

“Over the course of the past 18 years I have been awestruck,

amazed, inspired and challenged by the absolute profes-sionalism and talent of Brenda Gorsuch,” wrote nominator Mary Kay Downes, MJE, of Chantilly High School in Virginia. “(Gorsuch) is a born teacher and she is generous.”

HONOR FOR EDUCATOR

Gorsuch to receive national journalism award

Community Partner-ship for Pets Inc. founders Mike and Mary Cervini hosted and sponsored a dinner at the Henderson-ville Country Club on Aug. 8 to celebrate CPPI’s tenth anniversary. CPPI is an all-volunteer nonprofit that helps families spay/neuter their pets. In the last 10 years, 19,433 spay/neuter surgeries have been com-pleted; the result has been that 36.3 percent fewer

animals are coming into the Henderson County Animal Shelter.

At the anniversary event, the Cervinis recognized local veterinary clin-ics partnering with CPPI. These included: All Saints Animal Hospital, Animal Care Clinic of Hender-sonville, Animals R Us Veterinary Clinic, Apple Valley Animal Hospital, Etowah Valley Veteri-nary Hospital, Laurel Park

Animal Hospital and Saluda Veterinary Hospital, PA.

Individuals and groups recognized at this event were County Manager Steve Wyatt and Assistant County Manager Amy Brantley, the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, Mayor Pro-Tem Ron Stephens, City Councilman Steve Caraker and the entire Hen-dersonville City Council, Sheriff Charlie McDonald and the Sheriff’s Office’s

Animal Enforcement Divi-sion, Henderson County Animal Shelter Director Brad Rayfield and his staff, CPPI’s donors and the CPPI board of directors and volunteers.

CPPI has been providing affordable spay/neuter ser-vices for Henderson County families since August 2005. For information about programs, to volunteer or to donate, visit www.commu-nitypartnershipforpets.org.

SUPPORT FOR ANIMALS | CPPI ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Assistant City Manager Amy Brantley and Henderson County Manger Steve Wyatt are shown with Mike and Mary Cervini at the 10th anniversary celebration for Community Partnership for Pets. PHOTO PROVIDED.

‘Community partners’ honored

SEE KIRKLAND, D2

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