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Church shows DeMille’s passion movie ‘King of Kings’ – Asheville Citizen

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Email information about faith-based events and what’s going on at your place of worship at least two weeks in advance to Bruce Steele at bsteele@citizen-times.com and Carole Terrell at cterrell@ citizen-times.com.

Church shows ‘King of Kings’

BREVARD – Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church, 249 E. Main St., will host a free showing of the 1927 silent movie “The King of Kings” at 7 p.m. March 20. Considered a masterpiece in its day, the film was directed by Cecil B. DeMille and based on Biblical accounts of Christ’s ministry, death and resurrection.

Musical accompaniment will be improvised and performed by organist John Schwandt, on the church’s recently renovated organ. Schwandt is associate professor of organ and director of the American Organ Institute at the Oklahoma University School of Music.

Schwandt will also present a workshop on hymn improvisation from 10 a.m.-noon March 21 at the church presented by organist John Schwandt. The workshop is free and open to the public. To learn more, call 828-884-2645.

Tried Stone celebrates Elder Blount

ASHEVILLE – Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church, 100 Carroll Ave., will celebrate the 16th pastoral anniversary of Elder Alfred Blount at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. March 22.

The Rev. Keith Knox will be the preacher for the 11 a.m. service. The Rev. Charles Lomax, along with the choir and congregation of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Aloca, Tennessee, will be the guests for the 4 p.m. service. To learn more, call 828-285-0444.

‘Godspell’ at Owen High

BLACK MOUNTAIN – The joyous Broadway musical “Godspell” is being performed March 19-21 at Owen High School, 99 Lake Eden Road. All performances are at 7 p.m.

The show, a celebration of the Gospel according to Matthew, is directed by Lyn Nihart and performed by Owen students.

Tickets are $8 (plus fees) in advance via http://cdowenshs.ticketleap .com/godspell/ or at the door for $10, students $5. To learn more, call the school at 828-686-3852.

St. John’s hosts discussion series on Islam

ASHEVILLE – St. John’s Episcopal Church, 290 Old Haw Creek Road, is wrapping up a five-week series to increase knowledge of Islam. Classes meet at 10 a.m. Sundays. On March 22, the Rev. Ross Jones will lead discussion.

To learn more, call 828-298-3553 or visit www.st.johnsasheville.org.

Adult forums at FCUCC

HENDERSONVILLE – First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1735 Fifth Ave. W., invites everyone to its weekly Adult Forums at 9:15 a.m. Sundays in the Felix Building, To learn more, visit fcchendersonville.org or call 828-692-8630. Upcoming topics include:

•Sunday: “Conversation on Spiritual Practice: Hospitality.” First of a series on 10 spiritual practices. Gary Cyphers will moderate.

•March 29: “Messages to the Heart,” led by Asheville authors Elise and Phil Okrend based on their coffee table book of the same title, which pairs art with inspirational texts.

Lenten services ongoing in Black Mountain

BLACK MOUNTAIN – Mid-week Lenten services conclude March 25 with an event at Moore Center at Montreat Conference Center, below Ten Thousand Villages and the bookstore. The service begins at noon with scripture and prayer, music and a brief sermon, followed by a lunch of soup and sandwiches.

Holy Week services include:

•April 3: Good Friday, Black Mountain United Methodist Church, 101 Church St.

•April 5 at 7 a.m.: Easter sunrise service, Tabernacle UMC.

Prayer time at Grace Lutheran

HENDERSONVILLE – Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 Sixth Ave. W., invites the community to participate in the following services and programs:

•A monthly prayer time in the sanctuary is offered 12:15-12:45 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month. The next meeting is March 23. Everyone is welcome to come together to pray. Silent prayers will be followed by open prayer from anyone who cares to speak. The prayer time closes with the Lord’s Prayer.

•Stations of the Cross, a bilingual service, will be 4-5 p.m. March 25, hosted by elementary students and adult mentors. Soup, salad and dessert supper follows for $5, children $3, families $16 max. Service of Prayer and Healing at 6 p.m. Child care available.

•Preschool fall registration for the 2015-16 school year is now open. Grace Lutheran offers a half-day, Christian-based educational program for walkers through pre-K. Current winter-spring classes have a few openings. Contact Beth Ann Lehr at 693-4972 or gracepre@bellsouth.net.

•Healing prayer is offered the second Friday of every month by Grace Prayer Ministers and the Order of Saint Luke. Arrive from 1-1:30 p.m. April 10 and plan to stay at least 30 minutes. This is a Christian-based nondenominational time of prayer.

To learn more about Grace Lutheran, call 828-693-4890 or visit gracelutherannc.com.

Table Talk at First Presbyterian

HENDERSONVILLE – A program called Table Talk is presented at 6:25 p.m. Wednesdays at First Presbyterian Church, 699 N. Grove St. The events are free and open to the public.

On March 25, evangelist and ministry leader Nathaniel Jolly will present “The Time Is Now,” about how God has used him and can use everyone in ways no one thought possible.

There is an optional dinner for a small fee at 5:25 p.m.; reservations are required. Call 828-692-3211 to RSVP or learn more.

Community service offered

ASHEVILLE – The Community on Haywood meets the second and fourth Wednesdays. The next meeting is March 25. It also hosts a Bible and Brew Bible study at 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Visit http://TheCommunityOnHaywood.org for all events and activities.

On Tuesdays, The Community on Haywood offers a lunchtime program with open discussion geared toward working people. A light lunch is available for $5.

Parking and entrance is behind the church and across Virginia Avenue. To learn more, contact 828-258-0903 or Kent@westashepres.org.

Music program in Weaverville

WEAVERVILLE – First Baptist Church, 63 N. Main St., will host a program sponsored by the Weaverville Music Study Club at 7 p.m. March 27 titled “In Our Music, God is Glorified.”

Kevin Bryant will present a mix of organ masterworks and hymn arrangements along with lesser known works by composers such as Bach, Boellmann, Widor, Dan Miller and Robert Lau. A free will offering will be received.

Rabbi discusses Humanist Judaism

ASHEVILLE – The Jewish Secular Community of Asheville invites everyone to a weekend with Rabbi Robert Barr, founding Rabbi of Congregation Beth Adam, Cincinnati, a congregation that celebrates Judaism with a Humanistic perspective.

Barr will speak at 7:30 p.m. March 27 at a Secular Humanistic Shabbat Service. Refreshments follow. A second event will be at 9:30 a.m. March 28 called “On Being a Cultural Secular Jew.” A luncheon will follow. Both events will be at the Jewish Community Center of Asheville, 236 Charlotte St. Donations welcomed.

For either event, RSVP by March 24 to Barbara Wasserman at Events@JSCAsheville.org.

Palm Sunday luncheon at Holy Trinity

ASHEVILLE – The annual Palm Sunday luncheon hosted by the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. March 29 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 227 Cumberland Ave.

Proceeds go to local and worldwide charities. There will also be Greek music and dance presentations.

Call 828-253-3754 weekdays to place orders for pickup or 828-254-7424 on the day of the luncheon.

Families invited to ‘Walk With Jesus’

WEAVERVILLE – First Baptist Church, 63 N. Main St., will host an Easter event for families from 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 29 (Palm Sunday) called “Walk With Jesus.”

The event will guide children and their parents along Jesus’ footsteps during His last days on earth, including five stations of activities marking Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, Easter morning and more.

To learn more, call Aileen Lawrimore at 828-645-6720 or visit www.fbcwvl.org.

E. Asheville Methodist celebrates Lent

ASHEVILLE – The schedule of services for Lent at East Asheville United Methodist Church, 48 Browndale Road, across from the VA Hospital, is as follows:

•March 30-April 3: Ecumenical Holy Week Services at noon daily; lunch provided by donation.

•April 5: Easter sunrise service at 6:45 a.m. on the lawn at Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Road, Music by Reflection; indoor worship at 10:55 a.m. at East Asheville UMC, featuring the Easter Cantata.

To learn more, call 828-299-9742 or visit www.eastashevilleumc.weebly.com.

Salvation Army Holy Week, Easter services

ASHEVILLE – The Salvation Army will hold outdoors services at noon daily March 30-April 2 in Pritchard Park, downtown, including a brass ensemble, hymn singing, Bible reading and preaching.

A sunrise service will be at 7 a.m. April 5 at The Salvation Army, 750 Haywood Road, West Asheville, along with a regular 11 a.m. worship service.

Easter program at First Presbyterian

HENDERSONVILLE – The Creative Beginnings pre-schoolers will perform their annual Easter program at 10 a.m. April 5 at First Presbyterian Church, 699 N. Grove St. Pianist Gayle Stepp leads the group.

Registration is open for the five-week summer arts program for ages 1-4, meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays. To learn more, call Fran Rochester at 828-692-3211.

Celebration Israel set for April

ASHEVILLE – The annual Celebration Israel has been renamed Celebration Israel Festival and Expo and will be 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 26 at Congregation Beth Israel, 229 Murdock Ave.

The new name reflects the new array of attractions in addition to family-oriented activities, food and Israeli dancing. Posters, presentations and videos will educate attendees about science, technology, medical research, alternative energy and other topics related to Israel. The event is free and open to all.

The Jewish Community Center of Asheville will sponsor its annual Falafel 5K Camp Ruach Fun Run (for ages 2-12) that morning. To learn more, find the 5K on Facebook.

Spiritual awakening set for Fridays

HENDERSONVILLE – A spiritual awakening program begins at 6:30 p.m. Fridays at Hendersonville Presbyterian Church, 699 N. Grove St. It is free and open to the public.

The church opens its doors at 6 p.m. for prayer, followed by a mix of worship, teaching, prayer and ministry featuring local, national and international pastors and ministry leaders who will help train new leadership for the renewal movement.

To learn more, call 828-692-3211.

Kids for Christ offered every Wednesday

WEAVERVILLE – The Kids for Christ children’s program, offered 2:30-7 p.m. Wednesdays during the school year at First Baptist Church, 63 N. Main St., has resumed. The program is for grades one-six.

The program includes a snack, recreational time, homework help, Bible study, choir and hand bells by invitation. An optional supper is $2 per child and $3.50 per adult. After supper, mission groups are planned. Register with Joy Sprinkle or Aileen Lawrimore at 828-645-6720.

Meditation days at Cloud Cottage

BLACK MOUNTAIN – Monthly family night at Cloud Cottage Community of Mindful Living, 219 Old Toll Circle, 6-7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, is open to families with children of all ages.

The next meeting is April 8. Meditation gatherings are held every Wednesday at the center.

On family night, the Rev. Judith Toy will entertain children with stories, songs and snacks while parents have the opportunity to meditate. The children then will rejoin their parents for walking meditation and discussion.

“Mindfulness is a life skill that every child should learn early on,” the Rev. Toy said. “The Dalai Lama said that if every 8-year-old on the planet learned to meditate, we would have world peace within one generation.”

From 7-8:30 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of each month, Roger Shikan Hawkins offers a 10-minute meditation followed by an informal discussion, intended as a relaxed experience for people intimidated by the formality of the hall. Hawkins is an ordained Dharma teacher and author of “Great Doubt, the Spirit of Self-Inquiry.”

To learn more, visit www.cloudcottage.org or call 828-669-6000. All events are offered by donation.

Mills River Presbyterian hosts GROW

MILLS RIVER – On Jan. 8, Mills River Presbyterian Church hosted the first in a series of presentations related to the church’s Garden Rolling on Wheels project, or GROW. The presentation discussed the Farm Bill.

“Anyone who consumes food, pays taxes and is concerned about their personal health will gain a great deal of information at these sessions,” pastor Randall Boggs said. “The GROW program was designed to inform the community about food policy (production and distribution) and to inspire healthier food choices.”

The series continues in March with a talk on “Healthier Food Choices.” To learn more, call 828-891-7101. The church is at 10 Presbyterian Church Road, off School House Road.

Help provide socks for seniors

HENDERSONVILLE – Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Highway, is a drop-off location for Socks for Seniors. This project is sponsored by the Hendersonville Single Women’s Club. Bring in a new pair of winter socks 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

To learn more, visit www.opportunityhouse.org or call 828-692-0575.

Breakfast Bible study

seeks members

HENDERSONVILLE – A Christian Men’s Breakfast Bible Study is open for new members. The ecumenical group meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Dixie Diner on U.S. 64 West in Laurel Park.

Every week, the four Scriptures from the weekly lectionary used in most Christian liturgical churches are discussed. Participants should bring their Bible of choice.

Participants buy their own breakfast. To learn more, call Bob Andersen at 828-697-0464.

Cloud Cottage holds meditation

BLACK MOUNTAIN – Following is the weekly schedule for mindfulness meditation at Cloud Cottage Community of Mindful Living, 219 Old Toll Circle. To learn more, call 828-669-6000 or visit cloudcottage.org:

•Peaceful abiding: 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

•Meditation in the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh: 6 p.m. Wednesdays.

•Meditation in the Japanese Zen tradition: 8 a.m. Sundays, followed by book study until 10 a.m., hosted by the Rev. Judith Toy.

Rabbi leads history-rich tour

ASHEVILLE – Rabbi Batsheva Meiri, of Congregation Beth HaTephila, will lead a tour of Eastern European sites, “Jewish Roots Journey to Europe,” from April 18-30. The group will consist of about 25-30 people, in addition to the rabbi and the tour guide.

The tour will explore Jewish history, European culture and Jewish communities from Warsaw to Prague to Budapest. In each country, the group will trace the Jewish roots and hear personal insights and reflections on the past, present and future.

Trip highlights include paying tribute to the six million at Auschwitz, visiting Europe’s oldest synagogue in the Old Jewish Quarter of Prague, celebrating Shabbat with members of the Prague Jewish community, visiting the hot springs pools in Budapest and cruising on the Danube River.

Meiri will partner with Keshet, the Center for Educational Tourism, for the tour. To learn more, including costs, accommodations and exact itinerary, email admin@bethhattephila or call 828-253-4911.

Grief and Beyond

helps people adjust

WAYNESVILLE – The Grief and Beyond support group, for people who have lost loved ones, meets 4:30-6 p.m. every Thursday at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church.

Sessions are facilitated by social worker Jan Peterson and include video segments and personal sharing. There is no charge. In a support group, you are not required to talk or cry, but you will be in a safe place where you won’t feel embarrassed if you do.

To learn more, call Peterson at 828-550-3638 or Tim McConnell at Long’s Chapel UMC at 828-456-3993, ext. 17.

Food ministry needs donations

CANTON – Rose of Sharon Ministries, North Canton Road, is open to anyone who needs a helping hand. Donations are needed to fulfill its mission.

The warehouse is open 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday or by appointment. Nonperishable food items are needed.

To make donations, call 828-400-2261.

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Dillsboro officials discuss impact of bridge replacement

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Dillsboro Bridge

Herald photo by Nick Breedlove

Dillsboro Bridge

The Business 23 bridge that spans Scotts Creek between Sylva and Dillsboro is slated for replacement in 2018. Dillsboro officials, concerned about a potentially negative economic impact, are hearing from N.C. Department of Transportation officials and consultants as they seek to minimize disruption to the town’s tourist-driven businesses. The almost 75-year-old bridge was termed “structurally deficient” during its most recent inspection.



Posted: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 2:00 pm

Dillsboro officials discuss impact of bridge replacement

By Quintin Ellison

The Sylva Herald

There’s another challenge ahead for Dillsboro — the bridge on U.S. 23 Business over Scotts Creek will be replaced three years from now, potentially stopping or delaying traffic into the tourism-dependent town.

Town officials are hyper-aware of the economic dangers, and are already talking with N.C. Department of Transportation officials about how to best limit dollar damages to merchants. They met March 9 with a DOT official during a board meeting for a general briefing. Next week town leaders talk with a representative from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc., an engineering firm based in Boston with offices in Raleigh. DOT hired the group to oversee work on the bridge.

“Typically a bridge replacement doesn’t garner much attention and can be handled internally with DOT, without public input,” Lauren Triebert, a transportation engineer with the consulting group, wrote in an email. “But we aim to be sensitive to potential effects (human and environmental).”

Triebert said she plans to discuss cost estimates with town officials and present a timeline.

The almost 75-year-old bridge was ruled structurally deficient during its most recent inspection, meaning it’s safe for motorists but was built using old design standards and is in relatively poor condition or lacks sufficient load-carrying capacity.

Dillsboro’s bridge rates in the bottom 25 percent of 13,500 state-maintained bridges in structural sufficiency, Triebert said, making it a candidate for replacement in 2018. Inspections take place every two years and are shaped on federal standards.

The sufficiency rating is calculated based on a Federal Highway Administration formula that places 55-percent value on the structural condition of the bridge, 30 percent on serviceability and 15 percent on how essential the bridge is to the public, according to DOT’s website.

Dillsboro’s bridge lies between Sylva and Dillsboro at the turnoff of Old Home Town Place, above the Monteith Farmstead and Park. U.S. 23 Business is a major thoroughfare into both towns, but Sylva has several points of access while Dillsboro has but two.

Many business owners in Dillsboro have struggled to stay afloat since 2008, when Great Smoky Mountains Railroad moved its headquarters to Bryson City. Just last month, Mayor Mike Fitzgerald called the town board into session to discuss his idea of attracting new businesses by offering cash incentives. Board members agreed to set aside $25,000.

Last week, town leaders discussed with DOT Division Construction Engineer Brian Burch the need for traffic to flow through at least one lane during the project.

The project is still in the planning and design stages, a phase including “the determination of the appropriate replacement method, whether that be on existing location or a slightly shifted, new location,” Triebert said.

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WTVI’s focus on Kings Mountain history

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A film crew descended on the town Monday, capturing shots of the Kings Mountain Historical Museums campus and conducting interviews with its director Adria Focht, playwright Bob Inman, Mayor Rick Murphrey and others in town.

The reason for the visit? WTVI, Charlottes N.C. public television station, is creating a short promotional video about the museum that will air during the stations airing of Carolina Impact. It will vie with spots about two other non-profit organizations for a chance to win $10,000. The video profile will provide exposure on to audiences across WTVI’s 13-county viewing region.

Kings Mountain residents can help KMHMs video win the competition by casting a vote at www.PBSCharlotte.org from April 21 through May 5. The spot will air at 7 p.m. April 21, but will be viewable online following that.

According to Focht, the museum she heads is one of three finalists along with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation and the Allegro Foundation in WTVIs Community Give Back non-profit spotlight contest.

If chosen by the viewers, the museum could receive $10,000 in free underwriting on PBS Charlotte as part of the Community Give Back nonprofit spotlight contest. This promotional support would go beyond the museum’s current resources for advertising and marketing.

Along with the opportunity to win this money Focht says the museum will be able to use the video profile to highlight the community partnership project centered around Liberty Mountain,” the Revolutionary War drama by author and playwright Bob Inman and presented by the Kings Mountain Little Theatre.

By lunchtime Monday, the film crew was busy staging shots of volunteer re-enactors in period dress doing a variety of activities such as spinning fabric and talking about the life of a 18th century hunter. The stage was replete with a handful of city employees posing as visitors to the citys popular museum as the cameras and a videographer sought to capture great footage for the video WTVI is putting together.

Later in the afternoon, the crew traveled to City Hall to get shots of two murals that hang there and to hear Mayor Murphrey speak about the economic impact of Inmans Liberty Mountain: The Revolutionary Drama as well as the importance to the City of having these cultural attractions in its historic buildings.

Museum President Susan Champion said the Museum is partnering with cultural non-profits Southern Arts Society and Kings Mountain Little Theatre to create a community-wide effort to better promote cultural institutions. With cooperation and assistance from the Mauney Memorial Library, the City of Kings Mountain, the Kings Mountain Main Street Program, and the Chamber of Commerce, the goal is to use the promotion of local cultural groups to enhance Kings Mountain’s image as a destination for tourism. This effort has been developed under the auspices of the Main Street Programs Organization Committee and is closely associated with revitalization efforts in downtown Kings Mountain.

Check the Museums Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kings-Mountain-Historical-Museum/

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Visit North Carolina’s TRAC in Yadkinville March 26

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Visit North Carolina, part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, will offer its community-based training program designed to help tourism-related businesses in Yadkinville and the surrounding area.

The Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC) session will be at the Yadkin Center of Surry Community College in Yadkinville on March 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Offered in partnership with the Yadkin County/Yadkinville Tourism Development Authority, TRAC will bring EDPNC program managers to local communities for a day of one-on-one discussion of the nuts and bolts of working with the EDPNC.

The program is designed to help tourism-related businesses engage more fully with programs offered by the EDPNC/Visit NC and its partners. Whether it is a large attraction, medium-sized company or small, privately-owned business, the EDPNC/Visit NC wants to be a business development and marketing partner. Representatives from the EDPNC/Visit NC will be on hand to discuss services they can provide businesses including strategic planning, assistance with identifying funding sources, and as liaisons with other local, state, and federal agencies.

There is no charge to attend, no PowerPoint presentations and no reservation is required. For additional information on this session or to schedule a specific appointment time, contact André Nabors at 919-447-7771.

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Asheville’s Katuah Market to close – Asheville Citizen

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ASHEVILLE – A local food pioneer says he’s been forced out of business by high overhead and increased competition. Katuah Market, which opened in Biltmore Village in late 2013, will close its doors permanently March 31.

“We’ve been struggling ever since we opened and, for whatever reason, sales dropped off a cliff at the first of the year,” said John Swann, owner of Katuah Market and former partner in Asheville’s Greenlife Grocery. “At this point we can’t continue — we’d need to be 50 percent higher in sales.”

This spring, Swann said sales were down 20 percent over last. “Evidently Asheville is not interested in what we’re doing.”

Swann cited a crowded natural foods market as a major factor in Katuah’s closing. “This town is the most over-saturated market in the United States per capita for natural foods,” he said. “There’s nowhere in the country that has that number of stores that’s the size of Asheville.”

CITIZEN TIMES

Will Asheville’s grocery bubble burst?

Swann said the natural-foods grocery store was at a break-even point in sales last summer. But with the opening of the new 30,000 square-foot Whole Foods on Tunnel Road, sales plummeted 25 percent. His overhead — which included up to $12,000 a month in power bills alone — became unmanageable.

“We’re in a viciously competitive market, and I know that Whole Foods has a very effective marketing machine,” he said. “One could argue that they’re a lot more sizzle than they are steak.”

The perception, Swann said, is that Whole Foods is more local than it really is. “But get under the covers and really look, and you’ll see a different story.”

Swann’s beef with Whole Foods dates back to 2010, when the natural foods superstore purchased Greenlife Grocery.

At the time, Swann was a minority partner, and he said the transaction was negotiated without his knowledge between Whole Foods and former owner Chuck Pruett. “From my point of view, it was a hostile takeover,” Swann said in an interview last year.

When Katuah opened, Swann said Whole Foods’ new Tunnel Road store was only a “slight concern.”

He figured his intense focus on local food would set Katuah apart from the bigger stores, and he also hoped strong lunch and dinner sales in the cafe would help drive his business.

CITIZEN TIMES

Asheville’s supermarket loyalties

“We wanted to create an alternative to the corporate big-box stores,” he said.

But over time, grocery sales dwindled. Food-service sales remained strong, but the profit margins were low. “We had lots of people coming in and they like buying lunch, but our average transaction is less than half of what the other (natural food) stores are,” Swann said.

The Biltmore Village location was also challenging for shopper access, and the ritzy, tourist-rich village gave shoppers the impression that Katuah was a pricier store than it really was, Swann said. The tourist traffic also demanded more of a convenience store model than than he ever intended.

“The word tourist never appeared in my business plan,” he said. “I opened the store to support local industry and local food, and to service the Asheville market … tourism was not where we wanted to go.”

He also tried scaling back the full-service options, including no longer staffing a butcher and reducing his supplement offerings. “But nothing ever worked,” he said.

Swann believes if he had built Katuah on the north side of town, it would have thrived. But the irony, he said, is that he may have priced himself out of his own market.

Trader Joe’s, he said, paid $3.2 million for its 1.6-acre property, made more valuable by its location near Greenlife.

“The ironic part is that we developed the local food market immensely when we opened Greenlife,” Swann said. “It’s gotten to be the only people who can buy commercial property in Asheville are multibillion dollar corporations … I hate to this day that we sold Greenlife, because it just opened the floodgates.”

Bobby Sullivan, general manager of the French Broad Food Co-Op, is hesitant to blame the demise of Katuah on competition. “Success and failure are so hard to be exactly right about,” he said, acknowledging that FBFC members are “heartbroken” over the store’s closure.

But the FBFC has weathered competition well. Sullivan said the store budgeted for flat sales this year in response to increased competition, “and we’re far outpacing our expectations.”

But what happened to Greenlife is a perfect example of why we need co-ops, Sullivan said; they belong to the community. “Two thousand people would have to vote for us to sell to Whole Foods.”

The FBFC will hold a public meeting Saturday to discuss its expansion in downtown Asheville. It’s an opportunity for the public to have a say in Asheville’s local food narrative.

“And also development,” Sullivan said. “(We) have one of the largest plots in downtown Asheville that’s going to be developed in the next 3-5 years, and you can actually have a say in how that happens.”

For his part, Swann stands to lose more property; within the month, he’ll file for Chapter-7 bankruptcy. He’s lost his Maple Creek Farm and other property in West Asheville to the bank, he said. He fears he’ll even lose his house. “We may or may not be able to keep it; I’m bankrupt, personally.”

Swann will work in consulting with a grocery store in development outside the city, though he couldn’t divulge details.

“I don’t want to leave Asheville, but the sad thing that hurts the most is that I opened the store largely as a mission to help local vendors,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of that and brought new products to market and helped people get on their feet — that’s a big part of my life’s purpose.”

But he’s built up unmanageable debt. “We owe everyone under the sun lots of money,” he said. “We wound up hurting local vendors. And that’s the most difficult thing.”

Katuah employs 45 people, all of whom are looking for work, Swann said. “Part of the reason I stayed open past New Year’s is because I thought right after Christmas is a terrible time to be out of work,” he said.

Katuah will be open for the next two weeks with deep discounts on inventory, though not on prepared foods. “We’re hoping people will come out and give us one last whirl,” Swann said.

Katuah Market is at 2 Hendersonville Road.

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Austin, Salt Lake City Lead US Metros in Job Creation

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PRINCETON, N.J. — Austin, Texas, and Salt Lake City have the highest Job Creation Index scores among the 50 largest U.S. metro areas, based on employee reports of hiring activity where they work. San Francisco, Houston and Orlando rank just behind Austin and Salt Lake City in job creation.

Many of the top-ranking metro areas are being boosted by growth in technology jobs, including traditional tech centers in San Francisco and San Jose but also emerging ones in Austin and Salt Lake City. These latter two may be increasingly attractive destinations for tech workers, given salaries that are becoming more competitive for the industry, along with a much lower cost of living than in California. Salt Lake City is also benefiting through growth in tourism and energy sector jobs. The growth in job creation in both Austin and Salt Lake City also spills over into growth in housing and construction jobs to meet the basic needs of the growing workforce in those areas.

The results are based on Gallup Daily tracking conducted throughout 2014. Gallup asks working Americans to say whether their employer is hiring workers and expanding the size of its workforce, not changing the size of its workforce, or letting workers go and reducing the size of its workforce. Overall, throughout 2014, an average of 39% of U.S. workers said their employer was hiring workers, compared with 13% who said their employer was letting workers go, resulting in a nationwide Job Creation Index of +26. Reports of job creation are currently quite strong and have improved each year since 2009.

Gallup assigns respondents to metro areas using the definitions for Metropolitan Statistical Areas developed by the federal Office of Management and Budget. Each MSA sample is weighted to ensure it is representative of the population of that metro area. Sample sizes range from a low of 745 for Birmingham, Ala., to a high of 11,362 for the New York City metro area.

Hiring activity appears to be a bit stronger in the larger U.S. metro areas than in the U.S. as a whole, given that all but 15 of the 50 most populous metro areas have Job Creation Index scores higher than the +26 national average. The full data for each of the largest metro areas appear at the end of the article.

The areas with the lowest index scores among the top 50 MSAs are New York, San Diego and Hartford, Conn., at +20, and Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Va., and Las Vegas at +21. Although these scores are the lowest in a relative sense, they are still strong in an absolute sense.

San Diego and Virginia Beach-Norfolk have large military presences, so reductions in defense spending could be limiting job growth in those areas.

Houston, Salt Lake, Orlando Consistently Among Job Creation Leaders

Gallup previously assessed job creation by metro area for 2012 and 2013 combined. Houston led the other metro areas for that two-year period, but despite an increase in its Job Creation Index score, it was edged out by Salt Lake City and Austin this year. Houston, along with Salt Lake City and Orlando, has ranked among the top five metro areas for both 2012-2013 and 2014.

Meanwhile, New York and San Diego ranked near the bottom in both reports. This is in spite of significant improvement in the Job Creation Index scores for both metro areas this year, including a seven-point increase for New York (from +13 to +20) and an eight-point increase for San Diego (from +12 to +20).

More broadly, each of the 50 largest metro areas had at least a nominal increase in its Job Creation Index score, with the average improvement being eight points. The metro areas with the largest improvements since 2012-2013 are Raleigh, N.C., at 14 points, and Sacramento, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; and Detroit, Mich., at 13 points each. After the improvements, Raleigh, Portland and Detroit now rank among the leading MSAs in job creation. Sacramento had one of the lowest job creation scores in 2012-2013, and now ranks in the middle of the pack.

Implications

The U.S. job market has steadily improved since the depths of the 2008-2009 recession, and the largest metro areas have tended to show an even better job situation than the country as a whole. In particular, metro areas with strong or emerging technology industries rank among those with the greatest hiring activity, based on workers’ reports of what is happening at their own workplaces. Metro areas that are successful in attracting workers in a certain growth industry — be it technology, energy or health — will likely reap even greater benefits as the growing job base has snowball effects that lead to job creation in industries, like construction, to support the growing workforce living there.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted in 2014, on the Gallup U.S. Daily survey, with a random sample of 201,254 employed adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of workers, the margin of sampling error is ±1 percentage point at the 95% confidence level.

For results based on MSA-level data, the margin of sampling error is no more than ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, and is ±3 percentage points for most MSAs. Respondents are assigned to metro area using OMB definitions of metropolitan statistical areas.

All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.

Learn more about how Gallup Daily tracking works.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Extended Stay America hotels – the largest owner operated hotel chain in the U.S. – today announced the official launch of its new loyalty program, Extended Perks, an exclusive program developed to recognize and reward members with instant savings. Extended Perks members will enjoy savings at Extended Stay America properties nationwide as well as with more than 150,000 top national and local merchants. Stepping away from the traditional point-based system, Extended Perks delivers the sense of exclusivity and privileges consumers expect from members-only programs, while delivering the instant gratification they desire.  

“Recognizing guests’ passion toward saving, and their frustrations with traditional points based hotel rewards programs, Extended Perks is the answer to the un-met need of our loyal consumers,” said Tom Seddon, chief marketing officer of Extended Stay America. “Each year, more than 3.5 million guests select our brand for their traveling needs. When developing the program it was important to establish a way to show our appreciation and loyalty, rather than making our guest earn points that often go unrewarded — so we focused on the perks.”

To achieve a greater scale of instant discounts and savings, “we sought partnership with Access Development — America’s largest merchant discount and rewards network,” added Terry Atkins, Extended Stay America, senior director marketing communications. “The collaboration will create an enhanced user experience for our guests with greater savings potential.”

Customers can join Extended Perks free of charge by going to ExtendedStayAmerica.com and start saving immediately through the website or the user-friendly mobile app that’s  available for IOS and Android platforms. Once enrolled, participants gain exclusive access to incredible perks, including an instant 15% off next stay offer, preferred hotel status and expedited check-ins with guaranteed room preferences – as well as annual savings up to $2,500 on everyday purchases or to enhance future travel via weekly deals from hundreds of top dining, car rental, salon, retail brands and more.

For more information on Extended Perks, please visit extendedstayamerica.com.

About Extended Stay America

Extended Stay America, Inc., the largest owner/operator of company-branded hotels in North America, owns and operates 682 hotels in the U.S. and Canada comprising approximately 76,200 rooms and employs approximately 10,000 employees in its hotel properties and headquarters. The Company owns and operates hotels under the core brand Extended Stay America®, which serves the mid-priced extended stay segment, and other brands. Visit www.extendedstay.com for more information about the Company and its services.

About Access Development

For 30 years, Access Development has helped organizations connect with their customers and build revenue, loyalty and retention through custom rewards and discount programs. The company’s discount network of over 300,000 merchant locations is America’s largest, providing discounts of up to 50% on everyday items to millions of end users. For more information on Access, please visit www.accessdevelopment.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contacts:

Erin Vogt | Christa Hudson
The Zimmerman Agency
(850) 668-2222 | ESA@zimmerman.com

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SOURCE Extended Stay America

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Another public meeting on offshore drilling on NC coast

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Moore County Schools is “fully cooperating with law enforcement,” a system spokeswoman said Monday, after a teaching assistant resigned amid a human trafficking investigation.

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NASHVILLE – The Nash County Board of Commissioners has passed a resolution supporting federal legislation that paves the way for a new interstate running through Rocky Mount from Raleigh to Norfolk, Va.

The commissioners have joined a growing number of local government boards and chambers of commerce in voicing support to transform parts of U.S. 64 into a new interstate to connect manufacturers in North Carolina to the Port of Virginia.

A new interstate also would enhance tourism, allow agribusiness to grow, create economic development opportunities and improve the transportation network, said county board Chairman Fred Belfield, who introduced the supporting resolution at the county’s most recent regular meeting. After discussion at the board’s budget workshop last week, the resolution was approved unanimously.

“This will mean more businesses and safer transportation for Nash County residents,” Belfield said.

The highway would follow existing U.S. 64 from Raleigh to Williamston and U.S. 17 from Williamston to Hampton Roads, Va., upgrading parts of U.S. 64 and U.S. 17 to interstate construction standards. The proposed interstate would be named I-44, I-50 or another two-digit designation.

The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce joined others in a recent lobbying effort to convince congressional leadership that the proposed interstate was crucial to economic growth in North Carolina and Virginia.

The new interstate would bring both manufacturing and retail businesses to Rocky Mount, said Alan Matthews, director of business recruitment at the Chamber.

Shoppers want to get to stores quicker, and having I-95 and another interstate running through Rocky Mount would mean more business opportunities.

“We see this as a real opportunity for economic growth,” he said. “Being at the intersection of two major interstates would be an incredible recruitment tool for businesses. Retailers and consumers are always looking for ways to reduce consumer drive time. Any time you can reduce consumer drive time you increase the consumer spending base.”

The Chamber is moving on three fronts to ensure the project rolls along, said Chamber President Theresa Pinto.

“We met last week with all the chambers along the corridor. Everyone is on board and each chamber is meeting with their board to draft resolutions of support,” Pinto said.

The chamber is also exploring funding possibilities for a economic impact study and identifying key businesses along the corridor willing to partner in promoting the new interstate.

“We’re on an accelerated timeline with the DOT behind us and its focus on connectivity,” Pinto said.

Legislation to make the interstate a reality is making its way through Congress after being introduced last year. Senate Bill 2720, known as the Road Act of 2014, is being reviewed in the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. House Bill 4829, known as the Route to Opportunity and Development Act, has been sent to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Both bills are enjoying the bipartisan support of North Carolina lawmakers. The Senate bill was cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and then-U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C.. The House bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-1st District, and U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, R-3rd District. Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, thanked Butterfield for his work on the bill.

While the bills don’t earmark any specific funds, they would make U.S. 64 and 17 priorities when allocating federal funds for road projects and require any improvements to either road be done at interstate quality. U.S. 64 from Raleigh to Williamston is built to freeway standards, but U.S. 17 from Williamston to Elizabeth City requires upgrades. The bills stipulate the interstate must run through Rocky Mount, Williamston and Elizabeth City.

The recognition of the need for a Raleigh-to-Norfolk highway stretches back to 1991 when the road was set as a priority for future federal highway funding by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. A preliminary step in the process was taken in 2013 when the N.C. Transportation Department named the stretch of U.S. 64 between I-95 in Rocky Mount and I-440 in Raleigh as Future I-495.

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Nation’s Largest Wine Boutique Franchise Announces Expansion Plans

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WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — WineStyles Tasting Station®, a boutique concept dedicated to simplifying the wine and craft beer shopping experience, announced today aggressive expansion plans to grow its national footprint. The company currently has more than 20 locations across the country where customers can taste, learn and enjoy the best in wine, craft beer, artisanal cheeses, fine chocolates, gourmet foods, pizzettes and other small bites.

As part of its national initiative, the West Des Moines-based company aims to grow the business to nearly 50 stores over the next several years. The brand is seeking qualified candidates in new cities such as Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa; and Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham; N.C. Additionally, WineStyles plans to expand its presence in existing markets and is targeting communities in the Greater Chicago Area; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Omaha, Neb.; Houston; Greensboro, N.C.; and Northern Virginia for future development.  

“We’re embarking on an aggressive growth strategy to capitalize on the rising consumer interest in fine wines, craft beer and specialty food pairings,” said Bryan McGinness, CEO of WineStyles Tasting Station. “WineStyles’ dedicated system of franchisees has established a loyal customer following at our existing stores and we see great potential to continue to bring our unique shopping experience to more cities across the U.S.”

The company’s expansion plans are part of the brand revitalization strategy under the new franchisor ownership team, in which existing WineStyles franchisees Bryan and Andrea McGinness purchased the company and spearheaded the shift from its traditional retail outlets to the WineStyles Tasting Station concept. Last fall, the brand unveiled its new store design at the opening of its flagship location in Coralville, Iowa.

With an expanded product and service offering, WineStyles Tasting Station offers a unique retail experience and warm ambiance that is reminiscent of an old-world wine cellar. Wines are categorized by style and taste, rather than by varietal or region, which helps to simplify the shopping experience. The selection includes a rotation of unique labels and hard-to-find wines from both small and large vineyards from around the world. Each bottle is accompanied by a description listing the wine’s characteristics, flavors and suggested food pairings.

Additionally, most WineStyles Tasting Stations feature craft beers on tap and a full wine bar, as well as small plates of artisanal cheese pairings, handmade chocolate truffles and other gourmet items. Furthermore, its stores offer a variety of gifts and wine accessories including customizable gift baskets, monthly wine, beer, and cheese clubs, and a frequent buyer program. WineStyles Tasting Station’s stores also feature weekly wine and beer tastings, private event opportunities, as well as education classes.

To fuel WineStyles Tasting Station’s growth across the country, the company is seeking passionate entrepreneurs with retail experience. WineStyles Tasting Stations will be developed through single-unit and area developer agreements. Depending on the real estate site selected, franchisees can expect the total cost of investment for one store to be approximately $229,000 – $380,500. The initial franchise fee is $25,000. For more information on franchising and conversion opportunities, visit www.winefranchise.com or call 866-WINECLUB.

About WineStyles Tasting Station:

WineStyles Tasting Station demystifies wine and craft beers by categorizing bottles by style and taste, rather than by varietal or region. Each store features regional craft beers and hundreds of rotating wines from around the world with most priced $15 – $30 per bottle. WineStyles Tasting Station customers can also Taste, Learn and Enjoy® the best in wine, craft beer, artisanal cheeses, fine chocolates and other gourmet items. Headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, WineStyles Tasting Station currently operates more than 20 locations across the country. WineStyles Tasting Station encourages all customers to drink wine and beer responsibly. For more information, visit www.winestyles.com.

Media Contact:
Elayne Sommers
Fish Consulting
202.588.8138
esommers@fish-consulting.com

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