Page 1 August 2016

Page 1 September 2018

The Village Record The Newsletter of

Village of Flat Rock 110 Village Center Drive

Post Office Box 1288 Flat Rock, North Carolina Telephone: (828) 697-8100

Fax: (828) 697-8461

Editor: Albert Gooch

Volume XXVII Number 2 September 2018

once again as it was at the time of Carl Sandburg’s death. Continuing this fall is the work of the North Carolina Department of Transporta-tion and its consulting engineers in the drafting of plans for the North Highland Lake Road improvement project that has been a subject of discussion for some two and a half years since it was introduced by NCDOT to local government representa-tives in January 2016. The plans will provide for the recon-struction of the entire length of the road between Greenville Highway and Spartan-burg Highway, with improvements on the portion of the road within Flat Rock’s cor-porate limits that include, among other things, eleven foot wide travel lanes with a two-foot wide paved shoulder on the south side and curb and gutter on the north side of the road for most of its length within the village. The addition of paved shoulders and curb and gutter will make the road saf-er for travel, as well as easier to avoid acci-dents and moving around vehicles blocking the travel lanes after accidents and break-downs. While the road will follow the curves and contours of the current road, the entire roadbed will be shifted north to accommo-date the paved shoulder and curb and gutter additions. Such move will avoid encroach-ment upon historical properties on the

From the Mayor’s Desk Robert V. Staton

As fall approaches in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, we have much to look forward to in the coming months. One of the delights is the many colors of our deciduous trees that bring visi-tors to our area every fall, much to the de-light of local hoteliers, restauranteurs and other merchants whose livelihood depends on tourist traffic. Fall is also a good time of the year for the Flat Rock Playhouse with the continua-tion of popular shows on the mainstage in Flat Rock and at the Downtown Playhouse. If you have not attended a performance at the Playhouse during the 2018 season, or if you have and want more, you still have op-portunities at both theaters this fall, with the final show on the mainstage being a spectac-ular Christmas production with performers and musical delights for everyone’s enjoy-ment. A visit to the Carl Sandburg Home Na-tional Historic Site is always nice during the fall season. Not only are the grounds gor-geous this time of year, renovations of the main house have been completed, artifacts removed for the renovation are to be re-turned to the house, and the rangers, staff and volunteers are looking forward to the resumption of tours of the house furnished

Page 2 September 2018

a ¾% per month (9% per year) charge on the unpaid balance being added on the first of each subsequent month. So, please don’t feel the necessity to pay by September 1st but be sure to pay not later than January 7, 2019 to avoid the initial interest charge. Partial payments are allowed and should you find the amount of the tax bill to be more than you are comfortable paying at one time, you may split the payments into two or three separate actions and the bill is still interest free if you pay the full amount prior to Janu-ary 8, 2019. If you would like to establish a method of partial payments, contact Mar-tha Orr, Tax Collector, and together you should be able to work out a plan that is mutually beneficial. Property tax bills may be paid on-line by credit card (Visa and MasterCard are accepta-ble). Those wishing to use this service are advised that a 2% convenience fee will be added to the payment amount and charged to the tax payer. This convenience fee is estab-lished by the credit card company and the rate may vary depending on the card you use. To use this service, go to the Village web site (www.villageofflatrock.org) where you will find a link to tax bill payments on the home page. Click there and follow instructions to complete the transaction. If you have ques-tions or problems, telephone Martha Orr, Tax Collector, at (828) 697-8100. Property owners may also view their tax bills on line. To view your bill on-line, go to the Village web site (see above), click on the link, input your name and you can view your bill. The cooperation and understanding of all of our property owners is highly appreciat-ed and largely responsible for our collection record. Thank you for this and should you have questions or comments, telephone Tax Collector Martha Orr.

south side of the road. Other improvements include a five-foot wide paved sidewalk along the road at Pine-crest Presbyterian Church and a ten-foot wide paved multiuse path from the church’s drive-way, through the Park at Flat Rock, to the rail-road tracks on the village’s eastern boundary; a new entrance for the park and improved ac-cess for ingress and egress for Highland Golf Drive; left turn lanes as appropriate at High-land Lake Drive, Highland Park Road, the en-trance to the park, and Highland Golf Drive; and crosswalks from the Highland Lake com-munity to the park.

PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION UPDATE

2018/2019

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes… The 2018/19 property tax season has begun!

Tax bills were mailed from the Village on August 23 to just over 2,020 property own-ers. If you have a mortgage on your property and the mortgage company escrows funds for tax bills, you should not receive a tax bill. The tax bills will continue to be sent by a post card. Every year, we get comments about this method of billing and some people feel that having information about their taxes is an invasion of privacy! But, property tax values and tax rates are a matter of public rec-ord so the information on the bill is readily available in several different ways. The tax rate of $0.11 per $100 of as-sessed value is unchanged from the prior year. The bill which remains in post card for-mat will show that the taxes are due on Sep-tember 1st which is a requirement of North Carolina law. However, property owners may pay their tax bills at any time up until January 7, 2019, without any interest being added to the bill. On January 8, 2019, a 2% interest charge will be placed on unpaid accounts with

Page 3 August 2016

Page 3 September 2018

• Park Entrance and access to the park. The entrance to the park will be separate from the Highland Golf Villas commu-nity’s entrance. The entrance will be located a bit farther west than shown on the latest DOT plans. This will allow easier access to Dale’s Auto Service and lessen the congestion of having three drives (the park entrance, Highland Golf Drive, and Dale’s) close together.

• A crosswalk to the park will be installed

between Highland Park Drive and High-land Lake Drive. A sidewalk on the south side between these two streets will allow pedestrians to access the cross-walk and enter the park. Other possible locations for crosswalks are near Dale’s and near the Highland Lake waterfall.

• Bollards will be placed at the open ends

of the multiuse path, preventing vehicles from entering the park by that route.

• Multiuse Path. The multiuse path will

run parallel to the road but at a natural level down within the park, avoiding trees wherever possible. The path will be 10’ wide, ADA compliant and made of asphalt.

• It was determined that the multiuse path

at Pinecrest Presbyterian Church will be constructed within the existing right of way, but a temporary construction ease-ment will be required for grading and erosion control. The 10’ multiuse path from the park will end at the church driveway, with a 5’ concrete sidewalk continuing to the corner at Greenville Highway.

• Waterfall area and culvert. A guard-

rail will be installed on the waterfall side of the new culvert, replicating what is there now. The park side of the culvert will have a 42” high pedestrian rail. DOT stated that the State Historic Preservation Office may require aesthet-ic treatment to the walls of the culvert. Matching existing stone columns in the area was discussed.

SHRED DAY/ PILL TAKE BACK EVENT

The Flat Rock Council will provide a free shredding service on Saturday, October 13, from 10 am until noon at the Flat Rock Village Hall. Bring any sensitive documents such as financial information or medical rec-ords to be securely destroyed. Documents cannot be in a notebook or binder and must be free of rubber bands and binder clips. Staples and paper clips are OK. No cardboard. This service is to destroy documents containing personal and sensitive information. Please do not bring newspapers that can be safely recy-cled. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and TRIAD will also be on hand to collect unwanted or expired prescriptions and over the counter medications. Check your medi-cine cabinet and bring any surplus medication for safe disposal. This includes any old medi-cations you may have for pets. TRIAD will accept prescription pills, capsules, ointments, liquids in their original containers, inhalers, and patches. They cannot accept chemothera-

py medication, sharps/needles or Epi-pens. The Council will also be collecting items for Interfaith Assistance Ministry in Hender-sonville. In addition to canned goods and

nonperishable food, IAM is requesting hy-giene and grooming toiletries. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, deodorant, shampoo, con-

ditioner, bar soap, feminine products, combs, and hairbrushes are all needed. And disposa-ble diapers of all sizes are always welcome.

NORTH HIGHLAND LAKE ROAD UPDATE

Representatives from NCDOT and Vaughn and Melton met with members of the Flat Rock Village Council and Park Commis-sion on August 31 to resume discussion of the design of the North Highland Lake Road im-provement project. Many details still need to be worked out, but the following items were:

Page 4 September 2018

The Village has requested that guard-rails be oxidized steel, with wooden sup-ports. Oxidized steel has a bronze color and is more attractive than the standard silver aluminum rails. The Village will also con-sider other aesthetic options for other aspects of the plan. The Village will be responsible for cost differences of upgrades. Once 25% of the plans have been com-pleted, NCDOT and Vaughn and Melton will meet with the State Historic Preserva-tion Office to review the plan. This is ex-pected to happen in October. For more details about this meeting, visit the Village of Flat Rock’s webpage at www.villageofflatrock.org. Click on North

Highland Lake Road Improvement Project at the bottom of the page.

50 YEARS AT CARL SANDBURG HOME NHS

Carl Sandburg Home NHS was author-ized on October 17, 1968. This year we cele-brate 50 years of preserving the legacy of Carl Sandburg. We invite the community to join us for day of special events on October 17, 2018. The celebration will begin at 9:00 a.m. with a live reading of Sandburg’s poem, The People, Yes. Visitors can sign-up for a five minute reading spot through the "Calendar of Events" page on the park website. The live reading will take place until 1:00 pm. After a short break the celebration will continue at 2:00 pm. From 2:00 – 4:00 pm special guest speakers, including the park Superintendent and poets Glenis Redmond and Kimberly Simms will reflect on the history of the park and significant Sandburg works. The pro-gram concludes with a folk music set by Grammy award-winning musician Dan Zanes. Refreshments will be served during the music. A special silent movie night is also planned for Sunday, October 28 at the Flat Rock Cinema. Charlie Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush” will be shown. The film was one of Sandburg’s favorites while he served as a film critic for the Chicago Daily News. 1920’s attire encouraged. Tickets $10 at the door collected by the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara. In the 1960s the National Park Service was actively seeking to preserve America's cultural heritage including a writer's home. After Carl Sandburg's death in 1967, Mrs. Sandburg began working to ensure her hus-band's contributions to American literature, song and history were preserved. The Secre-tary of the Interior at the time, Stewart Udall, traveled to Connemara and met with Mrs. Sandburg to discuss the possibility of its be-coming a unit of the National Park Service. During his visit, Mrs. Sandburg and her fami-ly walked to the top of Big Glassy Mountain

Page 5 August 2016

Page 5 September 2018

as conversations continued. With the support from Mrs. Sandburg, the Congressional dele-gation and the community, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site was authorized as a unit of the National Park Service on Oc-tober 17, 1968, dedicated to preserving our nation's heritage for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

KUDZU PATROL

Everyone who lives in the Southeast-ern part of the United States is familiar with kudzu, a deciduous twining vine that can grow up to a foot a day. Kudzu can quickly cover a field or smother a tree can-opy, blocking leaves and preventing photo-synthesis. In 2002, the Village of Flat Rock began providing kudzu removal to homeowners whose property is infested with kudzu. Since then, over 60 residents have signed consent forms allowing a li-censed applicator to enter their property and spray an herbicide specific to kudzu. Late in August, the Kudzu Commit-tee headed by Liz Curtis and Dennis Flana-gan visited and sprayed kudzu on 28 prop-erties in Flat Rock. Thirteen other proper-ties have been designated for mechanical removal (digging), which will happen in January. Six properties previously treated show no signs of kudzu returning. This is an ongoing battle and re-quires cooperation from Flat Rock home-owners. Recognizing this plant and treat-ing it before it gets out of control is key to successful eradication. Kudzu leaves have , and two-lobed side leaves that are asymmetrical and look like mittens. The

three parts: a center leaf with three lobes, and two-lobed side leaves that are asymmet-rical and look like mittens. The stems are fuzzy. Kudzu needs sunlight, so be sure to look up toward the tops of trees when look-ing for it. Kudzu can be treated with broad-spectrum herbicides, such as Round-Up. In addition to spraying the leaves, cutting the stem and applying the herbicide to the open cut will work and will save any plant the kudzu is growing on from the effects of the spray. This is also useful when the kudzu leaves are up too high to reach. It may take several applications in order completely to kill the vine. If you see kudzu growing on your or a neighbor’s property, please call the village at 697-8100, and ask for treatment help. A volunteer will visit you and identify the ex-tent of the infestation. You will be asked to complete a form allowing access to your property and permission to spray. If the kudzu belongs to a neighbor, the village will contact them. The kudzu team is always looking for volunteers. The time commitment is small: a few days once a year to visit identified properties. The spray treatment is done by a professional, so you will not be handling any chemicals. Locating the kudzu and cut-ting are the main tasks. It is important and satisfying work. Visit www.villageofflatrock.org to down-load a volunteer form.

Page 6 September 2018

Flat Rock, NC (September 14, 2018) – As summer starts to wind down and make way for fall, The Flat Rock Playhouse 2018 Season will transition from a bright, block-buster summer to a mysterious, intriguing fall with The Glass Menagerie. This Ameri-can Classic will unfold on the Playhouse stage from September 27th to October 13th. Combining the strong Flat Rock creative team and the powerful language crafted by playwright, Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie promises to be a beautiful and fascinating production. Commonly known as a memory play that premiered originally in 1944, The Glass Menagerie last appeared at the Flat Rock Playhouse stage 25 years ago starring Janie Bushway, Scott Treadway, Mark Warwick, and Tony Award Winning, Rachel Bay Jones (Dear Evan Hansen). This marked the begin-ning of Project Playhouse, a program de-signed to provide school shows to local high school students and the required transporta-tion. On the 25th anniversary of Project Playhouse, The Glass Menagerie will return to the Playhouse stage and will again wel-come local students to see this notable pro-duction at the historic State Theater of North Carolina. Whether an avid theater-goer or a novice to live performance, The Glass Menagerie will enchant audiences and touch the hearts of all who attend this momentous production at the Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage from September 26th to October 13th.

The Glass Menagerie will feature return-ing Flat Rock favorites Paige Posey as Aman-da and Scott Treadway as Tom. Newcomers to Flat Rock Playhouse Sara Barnett will play the role of Laura and Karack Osborn as Jim, the Gentleman Caller. Scott Treadway previously appeared this year in Clue: The Musical! and The Love List and most recently directed Always a Bridesmaid. Paige Posey is a longtime Vagabond currently serving her second year as President of the Flat Rock Playhouse Board of Trustees. Having started her journey at the Playhouse in 1982 as an Ap-prentice, Paige Posey has shaped the Play-house over the years as an actor, director, and manager. The Glass Menagerie will be directed by Producing Artistic Director, Lisa K. Bryant. Adam Goodrum will serve as Production Manager. Dennis C. Maulden, Todd O. Wren, Rebecca Conway and Will Burns will serve as Scenic, Lighting, Costume, and Sound Design respectively. Bill Muñoz serves as Stage Manager with Chelsie Kolarik as Assistant Stage Manager. Cassidy Bowles will be designing the properties. The Glass Menagerie is presented by Opening Night Sponsor BMW of Asheville and Mainstage Series Sponsor Henderson County Tourism Development Authority. Hunter Subaru is the official Transportation Sponsor of Flat Rock Playhouse.

Paige Posey and Scott Treadway star in The Glass Menagerie at Flat Rock Playhouse

Page 7 August 2016

Page 7 September 2018

TICKETS AND SCHEDULE

The Glass Menagerie will run from Sep-tember 27th through October 13th at Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage in Flat Rock. Perfor-mances Wednesday and Thursday at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm, Friday at 8:00 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sunday at 2:00 pm Tickets are $20 - $52 with a child ticket at $17 for 17 and under and can be purchased by call-ing the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-737-8008 or online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org. Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage is locat-ed at 2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, NC 28731.

HISTORY OF THE

FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE

In 1937, a group of struggling perform-ers, led by Robroy Farquhar, organized them-selves as the Vagabond Players. The Vaga-bonds worked in a variety of places over the course of three years, and in 1940 found them-selves in the Blue Ridge region of Western North Carolina. The local and tourist commu-nity welcomed them with open arms when they presented their first summer season of plays in a 150-year-old grist mill they convert-ed into The Old Mill Playhouse at Highland Lake. So successful was that summer, they returned in 1941. After WWII, the Vagabond Players reorganized, came back to the region and opened a playhouse in nearby Lake Sum-mit. The Lake Summit Playhouse thrived dur-ing the post war years and soon the Vagabond Players were looking for a larger and perma-nent home. In 1952, the troupe of performers, and a newly formed board of directors, made an offer to buy an 8-acre lot in the Village of Flat Rock. This new home made the Vaga-bonds “locals” and a rented big top gave birth to Flat Rock Playhouse. As the beautiful Western Carolina region continued to grow, so did the Playhouse and in 1961, by Act of the North Carolina General Assembly, Flat Rock Playhouse was officially designated The State Theatre of North Carolina. What began as a few weeks of summer performances in 1940

is now a nine-month season of plays in-cluding Broadway musicals, comedy, dra-ma, and theatre for young audiences. The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a professional series; a summer and fall college appren-tice and intern program; and Studio 52, year-round classes and workshops in thea-tre and film for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 100,000 patrons annually and is a significant contributor to the local econo-my and the Arts in North Carolina.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2018 DON’T FORGET TO

FALL BACK

FALL IN FLAT ROCK

Page 8 September 2018

Schedule of Meetings

All monthly Council Meetings are on the second Thursday of each month, and will start at 9:30 AM. Agenda Workshops are scheduled to start at 9:30 AM on the Monday 10 days prior to the Council Meeting, unless that Monday falls on a holiday. The Planning Board meets the first Tuesday of each month from 10:30 AM until 12:00 Noon The Board of Adjustment meets the first Tuesday monthly at 3:00 PM (if there are agenda items). The Historic Landmarks Commission meets the second Thursday of each month after the monthly council meeting (if there are agenda items). Village of Flat Rock office hours are

9:00 AM—4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The deadline for articles to be included in the April issue of “The Village Record” is November 19,, 2018

Village Directory Mayor: Robert V. Staton 696-4020 Council Members: District 1 Nick Weedman, Vice Mayor 693-5300 Sheryl Jamerson 698-3330 District 2 Paige Posey 606-7078 Ginger Brown 698-3465 District 3 John Dockendorf 606-1991 Albert Gooch 698-0045 Village Clerk: Michelle Parker, CMC 697-8100 Tax Collector/Deputy Village Clerk: Martha Orr, CMC 697-8100 Village Administrator Pat Christie, CZO 697-8100 E-Mail Address: vofr@bellsouth.net Maurean Adams maurean_adams@villageofflatrock.org Director of Development Park Foundation

Website: villageofflatrock.org

Village of Flat Rock P.O. Box 1288 Flat Rock, NC 28731-1288