Life in Our Foothills December 2019

life IN OUR

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FOOTHILLS December 2019

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS DECEMBER 2019

BRINGING PRICELESS TREASURES BACK TO LIFE Blue Moon Custom Stained Glass

CREATING A VOICE FOR SPORTS & STUDENTS

LIQUOR STORE DIALOGUES

THE LIFE OF THE MILL FARM INN

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On the cover

John and Beth Fisher

Blue Moon Custom Stained Glass (Story on page 26)

Photo by Mark Levin 4

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

FROM THE EDITOR

Every year around this time, you hear people say, “How is it already December?” and “Where has the year gone?”

As we enter into the most hectic month of the year, I took a moment to reminisce back to a simpler time, when I was a kid.

When you’re a youngster, it takes forever and a day for Christmas to get here.

One sign of its impending arrival, and this may reveal my age a little, was when my parents received the Sears catalog in the mail. I couldn’t wait to open it to the toy section, circling all the cool new things I wanted Santa to bring.

I remember filling out that list of toys I wanted. Legos.

Matchbox cars. Lincoln Logs. Transformers (the original ones you could actually transform and were made of metal).

Another sign of the season that my parents introduced my sister and I to was the Hershey Kiss Calendar. You know, the one where you get to each a chocolate kiss with each day that passes?

That one didn’t work too well as all my chocolate was gone before the 10th, but that was fine with me! Good thing my parents bought a calendar for both of us, so we didn’t have to share. My sister and I had a rivalry that could match the one the Yankees and Red Sox have. We would fight like cats and dogs, but that’s a story for another month.

Fast forward a few decades to present day. The slowness of the arrival of Christmas is a thing of the past. Instead, the days leading up to it all fly by. On a typical day here at the office, it’s 3:00 p.m. before I know it. The one saving grace is that we changed the clocks last month. Driving home from work, I think to myself how late it is. When I get home, I realize it’s only 6:00 p.m. I have the whole evening at my disposal.

Like my column last month, Christmas is also about traditions.

One tradition my family has, like many others, is the ritual of decorating the tree. It has become more like an event. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we go out to eat breakfast, then on to a Christmas Tree farm to cut the perfect tree. Back home, we crank up the Christmas music, make a bunch of appetizers to nibble on, decorate our newly cut tree and drink eggnog like there is no tomorrow.

On Christmas Eve, we make the trek to my wife’s family’s house to spend the day. This laid back gathering always includes food, presents and usually target practice in the backyard.

Back at home that night, just before the kids finally make it to bed, a cup of milk and a plate of cookies is always set for the jolly fat man when he makes his way down the chimney overnight.

It’s things like this that are passed down from parents to their kids, then on to their kids and so on. Memories that bring a smile to your face.

In this holiday season, whatever your traditions are, whatever memories that will be made, on behalf of everyone at the Bulletin, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest New Year ever!

Kevin Powell, General Manager kevin.powell@tryondailybulletin.com

life IN OUR

FOOTHILLS General Manager Kevin Powell Marketing Magan Etheridge Ben Bouser Pagination Jullia Zeleskey Distribution Jeff Allison Jamie Lewis Alex Greene Administration Stacey Tully

Life in Our Foothills is published monthly by Tryon Newsmedia LLC. Life in Our Foothills is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Tryon Newsmedia LLC. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Please address all correspondence (including, but not limited to, letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to Editor, Life in Our Foothills, 16. N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782, or email to kevin.powell@tryondailybulletin.com.

Life in Our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and upstate South Carolina, and online at www.tryondailybulletin.com.

Subscriptions are available for $30 per year by calling 828-859-9151. To advertise, call 828-859-9151.

DECEMBER 2019

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Contributors Mark Levin, Writer and Photographer

Mark Levin is retired from a career in education. In addition to the classroom he has had a lifetime of experiences earning a buck as a photographer, videographer, author, musician and camp director. You can follow his blog about people & places in the foothills at www.FoothillsFaces.com or check out his new podcast he enjoys with a friend of 50 years at www.garyandmark.com.

Vincent Verrecchio, Writer and Photographer

When not working in advertising as a copywriter, art director, photographer, creative director, and finally agency owner, Vince was on a horse with a camera on hand somewhere in North America, Europe, or Africa. Now lightly retired from advertising more than 40 years, he writes about whatever strikes his fancy, looks for interesting photos everywhere, and wanders in the Foothills on a horse

Macy Cochran, Writer and Photographer

Macy Cochran is an English Writing student at North Greenville University. She is a lover of books, coffee and binge watching sitcoms from the 90’s. As a creative writer, she often spends her time working on her novels, poetry and short stories.

Jimmi Buell, Writer

Jimmi Buell, extension agent, family and consumer sciences, Polk County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, teaches cooking and nutrition classes with a focus on improving health with better food choices. She can be reached at jimmi_buell@ncsu.edu or 828-894-8218.

Pebbles, Writer

Pebbles is the “spokespony” for HERD, or Helping Equines Regain Dignity, a local nonprofit that saves equines from dire conditions and in many cases slaughter. She dictates her monthly columns about her adventures and what a rescue organization does to Heather Freeman. Pebbles and Heather can be reached through HerdRescue.org

Jullia Zeleskey, Photographer

Jullia has always had an passion for art and design. These two interests have blossomed into a career she can enjoy on a daily basis. As a photographer, her keen eye for that unique shot are showcased in the Tryon Daily Bulletin, Life in Our Foothills and Visitors Bulletin magazines. Most weekends, she can be found spending time outdoors hiking or mountain biking off the beaten path while sipping a vanilla latte with her boyfriend.

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

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Active members of the community & sponsors of Tryon Beer Fest, Tryon International Film Festival, Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce, Summer Tracks, Tryon Little Theater, Foothills Humane Society and Tryon Fine Arts Center

Contents 10 Around Town December Calendar of Events

16 Tryon Beer Fest 18 Polk Central Elementary Fall Festival 20 Landrum Halloween Stroll 22 Grandparents Day at Polk Central 24 Steps to HOPE golfing benefit

PHOTO BY MARK LEVIN

25 Tryon International Film Festival

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34

PHOTO BY MACY COCHRAN

26 Blue Moon Custom Stained Glass Bringing Priceless Treasures Back to Life

34 Andy Rhinehart

Creating a Voice for Sports and Students in Polk County

42 Liquor Store Dialogues

56 Away at the Manger

By Pebbles

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60 Quick Bites 62 Marketplace 64 Parting Glance Out for a Run

A Day with Roger Martin

65 Five Questions

50 The Mill Farm Inn

66 Ad Index

History of a Tryon Landmark

50

Tryon Town Manager Zach Ollis

PHOTO BY MARK LEVIN DECEMBER 2019

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AROUND TOWN Sunday, December 1 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Sheep Needle Felting Class FENCE, 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon fence.org

Jamie Laval’s Celtic Christmas

Sunday, December 1 through Saturday, December 21 Open Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

All Members Show “Magic and Mystery” Tryon Painters and Sculptors, 78 N. Trade St, Tryon tryonpaintersandsculptors. com Mondays, December 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Foothills Chess Club Polk County Public Library – Columbus polklibrary.org

Mailing Letters to Santa

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Tuesday, December 3 7:00 p.m.

Film Series: Sweet Charity Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org

Fridays, December 6 and 20 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Landrum Farmers Market Landrum Train Depot, 100 N Shamrock Ave, Landrum cityoflandrumsc.com Friday, December 6 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Tryon Christmas Stroll Trade St. in Downtown Tryon downtowntryon.org Saturdays, December 7, 14, 21 and 28 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Columbus Winter Market Rural Seed Restaurant, 322 E Mills St., Columbus polkcountyfarms.org Saturday, December 7 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Jingle Bells Holiday Workshop Tryon Arts & Crafts School, 373 Harmon Field Rd., Tryon tryonartsandcrafts.org Saturday, December 7 1:30 p.m.

22nd Annual TubaChristmas Concert Polk County High School, 1681 NC Hwy 108, Columbus tubachristmas.com

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Saturday, December 7 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Columbus Hometown Christmas W. Mills St. in Downtown Columbus discovercolumbus.com Saturday, December 7 6:30 p.m.

TFAC Holiday Ball 2019 Caitlyn Farms, 286 A.R. Thompson Rd, Mill Spring tryonarts.org

TFAC Film Series-Sweet Charity

Sunday, December 8 4:00 p.m.

Holiday Concert featuring Quatrophonics Saxophone Quartet FENCE, 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon fence.org Wednesday, December 11 5:00 p.m.

Tryon Christmas Parade Trade St in Downtown Tryon

TFAC Crowd Pleasers Series Tony Grant

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Tuesday, December 10 and Wednesday, December 11 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Copper and Textured Bronze Workshop Tryon Arts & Crafts School 373 Harmon Field Rd. Tryon tryonartsandcrafts.org

Quatrophonics Saxophone Quartet

Christmas is in the air at The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run

have a wonderful holiday!

tm

385 blackwood rd • columbus, nc 828.863.2017 • redbellrun.org

Friday, December 13 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saluda Hometown Christmas Main St in Downtown Saluda saluda.com/hometown-christmas Saturday, December 14 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Landrum Christmas Parade and Stroll E. Rutherford St. in Downtown Landrum Bladesmithing Tryon Arts & Crafts

Saturday, December 14 7:30 p.m.

Crowd Pleasers Series: Tony Grant Tryon Fine Arts Center 34 Melrose Ave. Tryon tryonarts.org Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Intermediate Bladesmithing Tryon Arts & Crafts School 373 Harmon Field Rd. Tryon tryonartsandcrafts.org

Jingle Bells Workshop Tryon Arts & Craftsmas 14

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Decorating the Christmas tree in Downtown Tryon

Friday, December 27 7:30 p.m.

Jamie Laval’s Celtic Christmas Tryon Fine Arts Center 34 Melrose Ave. Tryon tryonarts.org Tuesday, December 31 7:30 p.m.

Tryon Midnight Trade St., Downtown Tryon downtowntryon.org

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April Sprinkle, John Mitchell, Christen Corrivau, Pat Martin, Peter Eisenbrown, Bill Crowell, Dave Goss and Joesph Kuras

Tryon Beer Fest 2019 People from as far away as Virgina came to the 8th Annual Tryon Beer Fest to enjoy the different types of beers on Saturday, November 2nd.

Between the beautiful weather, the lovely view of downtown, oysters and unique beverages, visitors spent the afternoon smiling, laughing and having a great time with friends and family.

By Macy Cochran

Johnathan Gerst

Gisele Mondon and Joseph Dinan

Dawn Lawson and Mark Knipe

MJ Freeman and Amy Harris

Jason Weathers, Katrina Pittman, Lora and Jeff Thomas Laurie and Tim Wood

John Roper and Wayne Rogers

Scott and Stephanie Senger

Emory and Grant Burns 16

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Kathy Ackerman

Mary Twitty and Audrey Kendrick Theresa and Iain Fitch

Adam Hunter and Christen Mode Kimberly Lee and Savannah Miller

Alex Fraizer and Jessica Pullara

Mike Hughes and Jaime Sanchez

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Polk Central Elementary Fall Festival Fun for all was had on October 18, 2019 at Polk Central Elementary 2nd Annual Fall Festival. With games, prizes, races and even a rock wall, there was something for everyone who attended.

Danielle Gibbs, Tiffany Searcy, Kristan Holbert, Benesa Rhymer, Jennifer Dill

By Magan Etheridge

Brianna & Haley Lance

Bruce Rhymer and Brandon Searcy Garrus Etheridge & Hadley Newlin

Haley Lance

Meghan Clay & John Mauldin

Olivia Bradley

Natalie Brown

Makenzie Jolley

Krislynn Billings Samantha Etheridge Principal Jan Crump

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Paxton Gibbs

Landrum Halloween Stroll It may have been a day late, but Landrum didn’t let the rain stop their annual Halloween stroll. Trick-or-Treaters lined Main Street on Friday, November 1st where there were games, contests and lots of candy being handed out from every shop you could see.

By Macy Cochran Avery Robinson and Marie Horton

Gracie Treadwell

Bentlee and Kade Brown

Kimberly Baker Derek Armstrong

Brewer Baker

Haley Padula and John Robert Gimler

Lillian and Elijah Culbertson

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Kara Meahl

Jeremy, Eleida and Lael Dann

Tanner, Mason and Mitch Fain

Owen and Kyrina Smith

Willow Brock, Sailor Blanton, Dixon Rhymer, Layla Brock and Mackson Rhymer

Malaki, Easton and Alona Ballentine

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Outings to local restaurants, downtown shopping, day trips or just enjoying a day outside on the newly renovated White Oak patio are part of everyday life in the Village.

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Amari, Ashtyn and Sharon Jackson

Grandparents Day at Polk Central Over 200 grandparents and family members joined us at the annual Grandparent’s Day Celebration at Polk Central. Grandparents and other designated family members visited our students, eating breakfast or lunch with them.

This event has grown each year into a tradition that has been happening over ten years.

By Ashley Bell

Cadence, Annette, Grayson and Erika Bradley

Caroline, Gracie, Ricky and Loretta Edwards

Corey Sharpton and Laura Conner

Zayven Cunningham, Dorrell Littlejohn and Paula Harris

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Colton Wilson, Janet and Bobby Ruff

Krislynn Billings, Kathy Cox and Jack Jonston

Isaac Whitley and Linda Jackson

Kaylee and Kathy Cooper

Ethan and Emily Dotson, Debbie and Robert Gilbert Eva, Aiden and Billy Staley

Destiny and Lisa Stewart, Natalie and Makenzie Jolley

Dakota Proctor and Mary Savard Davis and Maggie Holbert, Diane and Ellis Searcy

Vinnie Henderson and Samantha Etheridge

Romulo Contreras, Alexander Cristino and Maricela Contreras

Marvin, Carleigh and Juanita Parnell DECEMBER 2019

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Peter Delgado, Grayson Wooten, Jimmy Littlefield and Steve Eggles

Steps to HOPE Golfing Benefit Steps to HOPE is an organization dedicated to compassionately offer assistance to victims of sexual assault or domestic violence.

On Friday, November 1st, golfers gathered on a very crisp fall morning at Links O’Tryon Golf Club to raise money to support this wonderful organization.

By Macy Cochran Chalan Black and Jessica Hall

Beth Morris, Rita Nichols, and Mandy Shaw

Carolyn Elsey

Dennis Sakos and Donnie Carruth

Jerry Perry, Bonnie Sakos, Bob Morgan and Art Brown

Kerry Arrowood, BJ Bayne, and Zach Ollis

Jessica Cashwell and Paula Ravan

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Dek Kennedy

Tryon International Film Festival On October 11-13, the 5th Annual Tryon International Film Festival returned to town. Filmmakers and judges flew in from all around the world, presenting their artistic skills to one of our most aesthetic towns in the Foothills. This event included many issue-driven films that exposed audiences to many different cultures.

By Macy Cochran

Shelly Jefferson Hamler, Noel Jefferson, Angela Byrd, Corolyn Teague

Tom Brylowe, Curt Smith, Jay Paul Deratany and Dorothy Easley

Steve Collins

Calvin and Robin Wells

Becky Collins, Shaun Mobley and Ashley Menetre

Tom and Patti Trobaugh and Dr. Sandra MacCormack

Katie and Roz Sugarman

Joe Pullara and filmmaker Nischal Poudyal

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Beth and John Fisher

Priceless Treasures being brought back to life Blue Moon Custom Stained Glass

T

Writer & Photographer Mark Levin

The name of this unique shop in Tryon should give away what you might expect to see inside – amazing hard-to-find treasures. “Once in a Blue Moon” is a great idiom to describe this shop and the things you find here on Trade Street. The items in this shop might not come this way again for quite some time.

John and Beth Fisher have been here for the past few years establishing themselves as a place of amazing discoveries.

In addition to carrying very hard-to-find antiques, John and Beth are masters at repairing and restoring stained glass. That’s their specialty, but they also repair, restore and rewire antique lighting fixtures. Of course, they can also fix more contemporary items.

The shop is filled from top to bottom with a diverse

collection of items you might not be expecting.

Alongside a 100-year-old stained-glass Tiffany lamp might be a lighted Indian head hood ornament from a 1940 Pontiac. Just walking around the store is a history lesson in the making. John and Beth will readily give you the background behind any object that makes you stop and take a look.

John says he’s always had an interest in stained glass, even as a young boy. He remembers sitting in church and his dad saying, “If you can’t pay attention, study the pictures in the windows.” And John did just that and his interest in creating stained glass windows from scratch and repairing and renewing old stained glass in windows, lamps and doors has been a passion for all these years.

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John didn’t set his career path on being a stained glass artist. He, like so many others in the area, saw textiles as their future and John headed to NC State University after high school and received his degree in textiles technology. His future looked bright and he soon found a job in the dye division with Dover Textiles in Shelby. He never anticipated that Dover would ever shutter its doors but like so many other factories across the region, textile manufacturing was headed elsewhere and in 1997 his job with Dover was over as the plant ceased operations.

John had been taking classes in stained glass artistry from Cleveland Community College.

Four years after college and had his own home studio in Lattimore. After a full day’s work at Dover, he would come home and spend several more hours learning and practicing the art of stained glass. He took every class he could and got proficient enough that he started teaching in the evenings at Isothermal Community College.

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This mermaid chandelier is perhaps the rarest piece in the shop’s collection. At one time it graced the ceiling of a floating gambling saloon.

Business Info: The shop is located at 354-B South Trade Street in Tryon.

They are open six days a week.

Check the website for hours and more info at: www. bluemoonestainedglass.com or call 828-859-5340.

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John with shelves of colored glass used for repairs and for new commissions.

Beth, was a professional wallpaper hanger.

John boasts that, “She was one of the best in the field anywhere.” Married in 1995, they knew they were meant for each other in life and in business.

When John walked out the door of Dover for his last time, he went over to tell Beth… and together they decided it was time to see if they could make a go at doing stained glass work.

Initially for two years, John worked for Beth in the wallpaper hanging business while still working in his studio at night. Finally, it was time to see if the stained-glass business could fly.

They took the plunge and they haven’t looked back.

In 2007 they came to Tryon and set up a shop next to Architectural Warehouse. John had a job managing the actual warehouse for Architectural Warehouse and Beth helped with sales at the Landrum and Tryon locations. After his workday was over, he would head on over to his adjacent workshop and get busy on a variety 30

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of projects that were starting to come his way.

John still has the shop down the road next to the Architectural Warehouse building and that’s where he works on some of the larger pieces.

Four years ago, they moved into their current location sandwiched between Tryon’s ABC Store and Nana’s Kitchen. The Fishers have no need for the ABC store, but Nana’s is quite handy and is where many mornings begin.

It’s not unusual for John and Beth to put in 70 to 80 hours a week with their work. John says he has no desire to retire anytime soon even though he’s certainly at the age where he could.

A recent quintuple heart bypass hasn’t slowed him down.

They both love the work they do, and they love getting to meet the people who come into their shop. They relish helping people bring life back to an item that the owner thought was impossible. Many of these items are priceless family heirlooms with deep memories. However,

Shop exterior at night. (John Fisher submitted photo.)

John cutting a piece of glass to fit into a lampshade.

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Ornament from a 1940 Pontiac.

they do have some pastimes centering on going to church, going out to eat and spending time with family – especially the grandkids. They also dote on their 12-year-old shop dog, Nick, a Boston terrier.

One of John’s specialties is bending glass in order to get it to fit into existing lamp frames.

Beth’s specialty is refinishing of the metal and arranging and pressing flowers that a family might bring in from a life event like a wedding or even a funeral. It takes Beth and John working together to craft a memento like that with the flower arrangement encased forever in glass.

Fixing things others say can’t be fixed is a job they’re always proud of. John says if you have something that’s old and broken, give them a call or come in for a visit. If they can’t fix it, they know others who might be able to help. Chances are; however, you’ll have come to the right place.

A visit to Blue Moon Custom Stained Glass should be in your future.

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One of Beth’s specialties is metal re-finishing. She’s just starting this piece.

Nick, the Boston terrier, is the official shop dog.

He’s been part of their lives for 12 years.

A real stuffed chicken is no spring chick. (John Fisher submitted photo.)

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Andy taking action shots at a recent Polk County Middle School Volleyball game

Andy Rhinehart

Creating a Voice for Sports and Students in Polk County

I

Writer & Photographer Mark Levin

It’s always an interesting story when a chance encounter changes one’s life.

Andy Rhinehart’s life changed when he was a senior at Pisgah High School in Canton attending a baseball game. At the time Andy was planning on going to UNC-Charlotte to study electrical engineering in the fall. But a chance meeting at the game turned into a summer internship at The Mountaineer, the local paper out of Waynesville.

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It just took that summer experience for Andy to know that sports writing and newspaper work is what he’d love to do for the rest of his life.

After a discussion with his parents, he decided he was heading to UNC-Asheville to major in mass communications.

After college, Andy spent his first years in the newspaper business working on the sports staff as both a writer and an editor for several area

Some of Andy’s favorites that he has taken over the years.

Working together to serve Western North Carolina and the Carolina Foothills for all your residential real estate needs.

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Ana Lilburn & Dori Ray BROKER ASSOCIATES

Ana: (828) 290-0533 Dori: (828) 808-8334 ana_dori@beverly-hanks.com beverly-hanks.com/saluda

The three photos above were taken by Andy Rhinehart

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Polk County School Superintendent Aaron Greene with Andy at a planning session.

papers including the Asheville Citizen-Times, the Hendersonville Times-News and the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. At the Herald-Journal he was around for the beginning of the era of newspapers doing more online from nothing to complex websites and then social media. It was Andy who developed GoUpstate. com, the Herald-Journal’s online presence. In the process of his newspaper work, Andy received several awards for his writing.

Being a sports writer meant late nights at games and then coming back to write, edit, select photos and file stories. With the birth of his daughter he knew he wanted to spend more time at home with his family.

His last year in the newsroom was in 2008. After that he joined the corporate team at New York Times Media. That position led to his current work with Parse.ly, a company based in New York that works internationally with publishers and other brands to help their customers understand how people are interacting with the content on their websites. He’s Director of Customer Support and one of the benefits of that job is being able to work mostly from home.

It’s a fulltime job but the hours are somewhat flexible and Parse.ly is very supportive of staff members being involved in their communities.

This flexibility made it a bit easier for Andy to find 36

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a way to scratch that itch to get back on the sidelines of local sports events. It had always been on his mind.

His idea was what we now know as PolkSports.com, a concept that was a perfect fit for his skills and his love of the game and his ability of how to leverage online media to get the coverage to the public.

Andy launched his brainchild PolkSports.com in 2013. He registered the domain name, set up a website and he was in “business.” Of course, the business was getting the sports news out, there was no real income coming in. Andy never intended to make a living from this passion. It was his ingenious way of continuing his love of local sports while using his mastery of reporting on and delivering a muchappreciated service.

Andy’s work with his PolkSports.com was turning heads and building a large and wide-ranging fan base. He had become the go-to voice for local sports.

This service was definitely noticed by Polk County Schools.

A couple of years into this endeavor, Andy was approached by then Polk County Schools Superintendent Bill Miller and Assistant Superintendent Aaron Greene about coming onboard as a contractor with Polk County Schools. They would take over ownership of the website and Andy

Andy interviewing former NBA star and Tryon native Hawthorn Wingo

Photo by Andy Rhinehart

would continue to provide the content. In addition, they came up with the idea to create PolkStudents.com, a site dedicated to highlighting all of the great things happening off the fields and courts.

Today, Andy often spends twenty to thirty hours a week devoted to PolkSports.com and PolkStudents.com. This is on top of the fulltime work with Parse.ly. Whereas most people would say they’re working too long and too hard, to Andy, it’s an adrenaline rush. He is so appreciative of the school system and of Bill and Aaron’s foresight into thinking and knowing this idea would be good for the students and good for the schools. Andy points out that in Polk County, it’s all about doing what’s best for the students.

Andy also makes it clear that none of this would have been possible without the love and patience of his family. They know how much he enjoys it. His wife, Leslie, teaches chemistry at Polk County High School. She knows how much her students enjoy reading about their events and classmates.

Andy meets weekly with Aaron to discuss upcoming events and story ideas. Coaches help fill in with sports news when Andy can’t make it to a particular game. Teachers and principals provide much of the school news. Andy puts it all together and pushes it out to all area media outlets as well as updating the two websites, Facebook pages and Instagram accounts.

At the end of the day, the whole community benefits from Andy’s efforts. We get to have a glimpse inside classrooms across the county and a best-seat-in-the-house perspective at sporting events. We should consider ourselves lucky and blessed. What an amazing opportunity we’ve been given by Andy Rhinehart.

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Photo by Andy Rhinehart

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Photo by Andy Rhinehart

Photo by Andy Rhinehart

Align goals, investments, and the right advice to make the perfect blend Life changes, markets fluctuate, and your portfolio might need an adjustment to help keep you on track toward achieving your goals. If you’re wondering whether you have the right investments in your portfolio, we’d be happy to give you a professional evaluation. It could be the only thing you need is more cream in your coffee, but your investments are worth an important second look.

Call today for a complimentary consultation over coffee.

Michael Ashworth, CFP® Managing Director – Investments 187 N. Trade St. Tryon, NC 28782 828-859-9499 mike.ashworth@wfadvisors.com wellsfargoadvisors.com

Steve Collie, CFP® Vice President – Investment Officer 187 N. Trade St. Tryon, NC 28782 828-859-9499 steve.collie@wellsfargoadvisors.com

Katheryn Gordon Financial Advisor 187 N. Trade St. Tryon, NC 28782 828-859-9499 katheryn.gordon@wfadvisors.com

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When explaining vintner notes with all of their poetic complexity, Roger advises, “If you can afford it, taste it... if you like it or not, describe it however you want. It’ll still taste the same.”

Liquor Store Dialogues A day with Roger Martin Writer & Photographer Vincent Verrecchio

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This was going to be a story about buying wine. It would have started with cab in a box that goes well with pizza and gets consistent customer reviews of “good for the money.” I also wanted to learn why Ermitage L’Ermite 2016 was $565 a bottle and how to interpret its notes in Wine Spectator magazine: “Steeped and focused black cherry...and plum fruit flavors are carried by a substantial but very refined structure, ending with waves of anise, smoldering tobacco and black tea. An iron accent at the end adds further definition and length.”

For me, there was poetry and romance to the words. I understood the promise of pleasure evolving through the sniff, sip, swish, swallow and then sensing what happens over a few moments, but I still couldn’t imagine the taste.

I wanted to try it but not at about $113 a glass.

I was sure Roger Martin, owner of Blue Ridge Wine and Spirits in Landrum, could help me learn enough to write 1,000 words about wine buying. I knew from personal experience he knew his varietals.

About four years ago, I first browsed his stock, scanning

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more than a dozen bottles with the Vivino app on my phone. He watched bemused as I read on my screen the regional and world rankings, average retail prices and customer comments. I was placing my selections on the counter when he asked, “Well, are you going to tell me?

How’d I do?”

“Every wine I checked was rated high, except one was average,” I replied. “And your price for every one was below average. How do you do it?”

Roger was now finally going to answer. I got to the store early, took a chair behind the counter with him, thinking we could chat between customers. But as customers came and went, from a stately woman in black to a Civil-Warbearded truck driver in bib-overalls, I found a bigger story than wine; bigger than Cognac, bourbon, vodka and the other spirits of varying proof, price and quality. As hours passed, I found the story of how this grid of aisles in 2,000 square feet at an interstate exit, tight with racks and shelves, bottles and colorful cases, captured the comfortable spirit of a local tavern.

After almost 8 hours, Roger and I never got around to discussing his thoughts on composites the widely discussed possible health benefits of red wine. But he’d like to chat about it.

In the valley of cases in the backroom of Blue Ridge Wine and Spirits, Roger knows exactly where to find a customer’s repeat order or limited case special request.

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From Hennessy XO in a black box to Black Box Wines, Tom Dinsmore has been helping Roger direct customers to what they want since 2011.

Roger was telling me how he had liked wine since college, working for a BA in Business Admin. “I got past the trendy stuff real fast and found Bardolino and Valpolicella, knowing a fancy sounding name made it easier to impress a date. I remember ordering a dozen oysters and a bottle of Champagne. She liked my pronunciation.” Roger was explaining his continuing passion for Champagne, such as Louis Roederer Cristal Brut, when a veteran of the Green Creek Hounds came in, a woman with a smiling “Hi Roger.”

Roger stood and said without prelude, “I only have a couple bottles left of that Chilean. The end of the 2016 Gran Riserva Carmenere.” Somehow they segued from talking about the signature grape of Chile to Allesverloren Chenin Blanc from South Africa and why the winery name translates to “all is lost” because of a fire in 1704.

Alone again, we were talking about his working at age 12 in a pro wrestling concession stand, then as a comedy club manager, bartender, buyer for an industrial construction company and how his father didn’t care what job as long as it wasn’t a lawyer.

That’s when a retired lawyer walked in, commenting as if he’d been in the conversation all along, that after awhile a lawyer gets too old for arguing. Roger countered, “I like a good argument as long as all sides are respectful and truthful.”

As the lawyer set his Sailor Jerry Rum and Famous Grouse on the counter, the conversation about the value of truth in today’s society morphed into a concurrence of opinion about the public ownership of the Green Bay Packers. Both DECEMBER 2019

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Roger Martin, owner at left, and Tom Dinsmore at right, stock clerk and more since 2011, are both hands on for sorting, stacking, selling, greeting and keeping customers coming back.

men were not only fans of the distant team but shareholders as well.

Back into our interview, Roger explained how his older brother had founded the store in 1998. The space, next to a convenience store/gas station, was then two stores, liquor and satellite TV. Due to the brother’s health, the Blue Ridge was going bankrupt in 2000 when Roger intervened to help with his BA, love of wine, and experience as a buyer. He paid off the most pressing bills and then worked long days until 2009 when there was finally enough business to expand through the wall.

“No way was I going to give up. I’m competitive and when committed, I want to be excellent. There was, and is, much to learn but I read, question and talk with experts and keep 46

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tasting. For the most part, I no longer rely on vintner notes to match my stock with customers’ tastes. Part of my job is tasting nine wines in 20 minutes presented here by a distributor rep. I use the same glass, rinsing between each wine from lightest to heaviest and make a decision.

Ultimately I’ll be cherry-picking 200 SKUs from as many as 20,000 wines from boutique and large reps.”

“I’d like to try that,” I said.

“Not as much fun as you may think because if I make a bad choice, I lose money.”

That’s when a grizzled, serious fellow came in and asked for a recommendation for church wine. Roger explained the value and alcohol content of a box wine with the same care that he had described a $140 bottle of anejo tequila to

To suit taste, budget, and fancy of the moment, a top shelf scotch from the banks of Campbeltown Loch joins a wee bit of triple distilled whiskey from Ireland.

“I have a present,� the lady announced and presented Roger with one of the mysterious aggravations of the wine business: a bottomless bottle from an unopened and dry unstained case she had taken home.

An apology and replacement were immediate.

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a Florida couple that stops on every drive north.

“I’m a straight-forward salesman. I’ve tried everything in this place and know what I like but I have to know what customers like. I listen and sell by education.”

Toward day’s end, reading from one of Roger’s Wine Spectators, I asked, “How will I know if I’ll like ‘an elegant profile, featuring a silky texture and well-integrated chalky tannins?”

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“First, don’t rely on the brand name and region, the taste changes year to year. Ignore label graphics, no matter how pretty. Look for alcohol content and such designations as the Italian DOCG. If you can afford it, taste it. You’re sampling the vintner’s imagination, and if you like it or not, describe it however you want. It’ll still taste the same.”

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DECEMBER 2019

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The Life of the

Mill Farm Inn Writer & Photographer Macy Cochran

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Driving through the Foothills of Polk County, the Mill Farm Inn is the first house to welcome you as you enter Tryon. The history of this iconic building begins with a fierce, independent woman and continues to this day with passionate owners Gary Corn and James Blanton. “We bought a landmark,” stated Gary. “We’re lucky to have it, and it’s lucky to have us.”

After living in Grasse, France for a short time, divorced and wildly determined, Francis Williams returned to the United States around 1900. By 1936, she had purchased the Mill Farm Inn as her own and recruited the original architect, Russell Walcott. From there, Francis created a space that welcomed guests to spend their winters, enjoy three provided meals a day, discuss their latest artistic and literate thoughts or most current reads. She designed the Mill Farm Inn to resemble the buildings from her prior hometown.

Though Francis ran the majority of the Inn herself, her help included cooks, gardeners and maids. Nine years later, she had a stroke and could no longer care for herself.

She built a home on the property and lived the rest of her life just yards away from her precious Mill Farm Inn. “She was a divorced woman running a business in the thirties after the Great Depression. Any normal female didn’t just do that back then,” said Gary in awe of Francis’ pursuit.

Gary, originally a government worker and now real estate broker, and James, as a successful grocery store manager, never once dreamed of owning the Mill Farm Inn. Both have been residents of the Foothills for their entire lives and had ventured past the beautiful Inn regularly, not once entertaining the idea that they would own it someday. Having lived in a condo on Melrose Mountain, James decided he needed a change—a house to make a home. “Something a little bigger,” he would say.

“But not as big as the Mill Farm Inn,” Gary responded.

Upon hearing the suggestion from a friend to check out the Inn for sale, they were skeptical, but after spending time touring the property and despite their previous desires, Gary proclaimed boldly, “I think we can do this.”

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Owners James Blanton and Gary Corn in front of Mill Farm Inn

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Fourteen years later, they have spent hours pouring their time into the home and taking extensive care of it, even keeping an annual bucket list for maintenance tasks. Gary did not imagine having to work this hard to be retired, but his degree in British History and James’s heart for eclectic pieces of art gives them the initiative to vigorously keep searching for the historical depth of the Mill Farm Inn. Don’t let the name fool you—this is not an ordinary, overnight bed and breakfast. “It was built to be an Inn, but is now a private residence,” explains Gary. This home, as described by James, has extended stay apartments, but “we all share the front door.” The owners provide a cozy room for those who do not yet know where they are headed in life; however, those who come do not want to leave the Foothills. The Mill Farm Inn has been a home to a current resident for seven years, and another for two years.

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“We’ve had everything and everybody,” said Gary. “But nobody is ever from here.” Most residents of the Inn knock on the door in interest due to hearsay from the locals.

Each work of art, piece of furniture and bottle of wine has a story to offer those willing to experience the endless wonders of the ivyblanketed, stone house. Even the locally made rugs tell a story.

Gary explained that everything in the house has a connection to the Foothills, but it ws no easy task collecting these antiques. An intense amount of Gary and James’s time goes into seeking additions to their collections. Many pieces that are distributed throughout their home came from the Tryon Toy Makers from decades ago, and every almost every painting is an original, many from local artists.

Their secret to success, they claim after long and thoughtful consideration, is their teamwork.

“Crow’s Nest” is the name of this exquisite folly because of the numerous crows overhead and because of the technical term for such a unique little structure: a small lookout near the top of a ship. While a folly is not built for practicality, it provides a space to observe one’s property.

“It is meant to be attractive to the eye, a place you would see and think ‘I want to go there,’” explained James.

The goal for the owners was to make their folly resemble the original structure of the Mill Farm Inn, as if made from the leftover material of the first building. They decided to build this folly in honor of their home’s 80th anniversary.

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“You have to have a passion for it,” said Gary. “It takes a lot of problem solving.”

James added, “You have to love it to make it what it’s supposed to be.”

Gary and James agree that they did not approach this building as an Inn; they approached it as a home. Everyone who walks into the front door knows that the Mill Farm Inn is more than just a house. It is alive with the heartbeat of two zealous people who will do anything to make sure the home has a welcoming atmosphere for all who enter.

Neither Gary nor James knew any history of the Inn until they purchased it. Then one lifechanging night, a friend made the suggestion that they should try to get on the National Register of Historical Places. “That’s what sparked the flame,” said Gary.

Presently, the Mill Farm Inn is number eighteen on the NRHP. But what buildings were the other seventeen?

They decided to dedicate a large portion of their time to setting up interviews with the owners of the remaining historical places and providing a short write-up about them. After completion, 54

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a party was thrown honoring the process of their research and accomplishment of putting together a collection of each building belonging to the National Register of Historical Places.

They both agree that the book was “a labor of love.” Today, the intricately organized book rests in local libraries and the photographs hang proudly on the wall of the Polk County History Museum in Columbus.

“We’ve struck a lot off the list,” said Gary. “We have a beautiful life here.”

James affirmed with a smile on his face, “This is the best place to be. This is the spot. Our dreams came true way beyond our expectations.”

“I’m staying at the Mill Farm Inn until I move to McFarland’s Funeral Home,” Gary laughed.

They have traveled across the world and back, even stopping in France to gather more information on Francis, but they always end up back in their hometown.

Gary acknowledged that “if it ended tomorrow, it’s been good to know that every day, you’re lucky.”

They count it as an honor that frequent passersby admire their home and say in astonishment, “It must be a dream to live there.”

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Honey

Gem

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Away at The Manger

By Pebbles

There stood two small, thin mares each with a nursing foal at her side. Thrown into the mix of larger horses, mules, donkeys and stallions on a crowded livestock trailer, these four-month old leggy babies had not fared well. Neither had their mothers.

Hide was missing over much of their small bodies from bites in the crowded hell-on-wheels ride to the most infamous kill lot, owned by the Stanley Brothers. Super powerful in Louisiana, they are not closely regulated for the ill care of horses in their custody before they ship them to Mexico. They have buyers in the Carolinas and in the mountains beyond in Tennessee who buy up unwanted horses from auctions and from “for sale” advertisements in local newspapers. These sinister men build a load and then bring them down for a brief stay in the pens in Louisiana before pushing off to their destination in central Mexico,

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to be rendered alive. Many never survive the long journey without food and water. Luckily these two young mares and their offspring would!

An angel of a woman, who is a kind HERD supporter, saw photos of the four sad, frightened souls and paid their ransom to buy their freedom. Horse transporter Tim Riffe went with his truck and trailer to get them in Louisiana for us. They would go to his family’s quarantine at Bessie Belle Farm to recover before being able to enter our care with clean horses in training.

One mare came with a Coggins test paper identifying her as Honey. Her foal was a handsome chestnut colt with a big blaze, whom we now call Hercules.

The second pinto mare we named Maui, with her wonderful smoky buckskin color and soft eyes. She had a dark bay filly in tow.

On closer inspection, it was discovered that the baby filly had a pronounced hernia that would require surgery to repair it as soon as she was well enough to handle sedation. With a diamond-like star on her face, I decided we should call her Gem. All four of the new arrivals had snotty noses, elevated temperatures and little appetite. Within 48 hours, Dr. Perry Parks deemed that they all had a very severe case of a strangles, a virus contracted from the livestock yard most likely. In their poor weight and stressed condition, it was no surprise they caught it. It was not likely that foals this young and in such poor condition would survive.

Tim’s wife Delores and her daughter, Paige Day, are devoted to caring for the horses in their quarantine. They nursed on these mares and foals round the clock.

Dr. Parks had to return and lance the abscesses swelling on baby Hercules so he could eat and move around freely. The prognosis still did not look good for the babies. However, determined Delores kept up her vigil as their fevers finally broke and they resumed eating. The light of life slowly returned to their innocent eyes. We were all beyond grateful.

Honey and Hercules recovered quickly and could be delivered to my mistress, Heather, to start their training program. Honey was weary but halter broke to lead. Hercules while curious, feared humans. It is no wonder after what he went through at the hand of man during his short lifespan.

In order to trim Hercules hooves and administer his vaccinations, building trust over the next several months is of paramount importance. Currently, only six months old, he will of course grow up in HERD’s care until he is mature enough to start riding lessons at age three.

Back at Bessie Bell Farm, little Gem underwent the hernia surgery. After three weeks of stall confinement with her mother, she was able to go out to play. Dr. Parks was pleased with the results and Gem should grow up to be a lovely big girl. Unlike Hercules, she adores the human touch and attention as does her sweet mother, Maui.

Unfortunately, her five-year-old mother was not doing

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Maui well. All four of her feet blew painful abscesses. The farrier continued to monitor her recovery. Poor nutrition and the drain of nursing a foal robbed poor Maui of her ability to heal and gain weight. A large abscess appeared on her right side, the size of a grapefruit, from a kick from her playful, confined daughter. Her hind legs also ballooned while standing up in a stall for a month’s duration while Gem healed from her hernia surgery. What we really needed was a miracle.

A decision was needed quickly. To save Maui, baby Gem must be weaned from her mother. This is always a sad and challenging process for younger foals, but necessary to give Maui a chance to recover. Gem was moved to a pasture with Delores’ mini horses who would be gentle with her and keep her company. She will go to a foster family to grow up safely in neighboring South Carolina with a HERD member.

At this point it is unclear on the fate of Maui. She stands 58

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away from the others, head down in the stable’s manger nibbling on hay. Her previous owner failed her.

She was starved badly while pregnant and during the first four months of her foal’s life. Every rib can be counted on her sides despite an ample refeeding program. Her pointy hip bones protrude. Yet there is a wanting in her eyes that keeps us all up at night.

What to do?

Maui is a very young horse. Money will have to be raised to afford her vet bills and continued recovery. She was clearly born into humble beginnings, never a fancy show horse with a stellar career. She has never known the spotlight, been the apple of some little girl’s eye. But she could be if return to wellness is possible.

What to do for this young mare? Only time will tell, along with a miracle, for Maui’s recovery. We pray for a bright star to illuminate her future accomplishments.

BRIGHT STAR COOKIES Makes 7 dozen

Ingredients 1-1/2 cups butter, softened 1/2 cup shortening 1 cup sugar 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 large eggs, room temperature 1/4 cup thawed orange juice concentrate

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt

Frosting 3 cups confectioners’ sugar 1/4 cup butter, melted 1-1/2 teaspoons thawed orange juice concentrate 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 to 4 tablespoons whole milk Optional: sprinkles or colored sugar Hercules

Directions In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange juice concentrate and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle, about 2 hours.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a 3-in. star-shaped cookie cutter dipped in flour. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350° until edges are firm, 7-8 minutes.

Remove to wire racks to cool.

For frosting, combine the confectioners’ sugar, butter, orange juice concentrate, vanilla and enough milk to reach spreading consistency. Tint with food coloring if desired. Frost cookies. Decorate as desired with sprinkles or colored sugar for a dazzling finish.

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Quick Bites

Holiday treats that aren’t so bad for you

H

By Jimmi Buell

Have you noticed that many of the foods we enjoy during the holidays are typically not all that healthy?

Think about the treats that are made out of candy, cookies and frostings that are put together in the shape of turkeys, pilgrim hats, and snowmen. These foods are fun, but often add extra calories, fat, sugar and salt to our diet. Consider planning some holiday snacks that are not only fun but also healthy.

Here are some ideas to help you create healthy snacks in fun designs: • Use whole grain cereals to make rice cereal treats.

Then make holiday shapes such as turkeys or Christmas trees.

• Use dark chocolate for dipping or drizzling to get more antioxidants.

• Serve a healthy trail mix made of peanuts, pretzels, whole grain cereals and a few pieces of candy in an individual bag or cup decorated with fun holiday cutouts instead of cookies or candies.

• Use whole grain flour when making cutout cookies and decorate with a light, colorful glaze.

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• Serve an oatmeal cookie on a plate surrounded by thin slices of red and green apples fanned out like turkey feathers. Use raisins for the eyes and cheese pieces for the feet and bill.

• Serve fun snacks like apple smiles made from apple slices, peanut butter and miniature marshmallows or ants on a log made from celery, peanut butter and raisins. They aren’t necessarily holiday themed, but they are fun any time of the year.

• Choose holiday cookie recipes that include fruits such as dried cranberries, dates or raisins. And, if adding chocolate chips, choose dark chocolate.

• Serve hot chocolate made from scratch with fat free or low fat milk. Or, if choosing instant hot chocolate powder, choose ones with less sugar and added calcium.

Another way to help to somewhat healthy during the holidays is to modify some of your standard holiday recipes. You can reduce fat and calories without sacrificing taste by swapping out a few ingredients in your favorite recipes.

HOLIDAY TREATS

DOING REAL ESTATE DIFFERENT

Ingredients 2 cups crispy rice cereal 2 cups quick cooking oats 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar ½ cup agave ½ cup peanut butter 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries ½ cup dark chocolate chips

#JamieJoKnowsRealEstate

Jamie Jo NoBLe

Directions 1. Wash hands with soap and water.

Combine cereal and oats in a large bowl and set aside. Bring brown sugar and syrup to a boil in a saucepan over medium high heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved.

2. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal, stirring until coated. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir in raisins and chips. Make into holiday shapes or press into 9 x 13 pan. Makes 24 servings.

Each serving contains 124 calories, 4 grams fat, 49 mg sodium and 1.5 grams fiber.

Recipe Modification Ideas!

• Using two egg whites in place of one egg can reduce the cholesterol.

• Use low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth in your mashed potatoes to add flavor and cut back on added butter or margarine.

• Substitute applesauce for oil, margarine or butter in muffins and quick breads like banana bread. Try substituting a small amount at first, as the more you substitute the more the texture of the finished product changes.

• For dips, sauces and pie toppings, use fat-free yogurt, sour cream and whipped topping.

• Sliced almonds make a delicious, crunchy topping in place of fried onion rings.

• Choose reduced-fat or low-fat cheeses for salads

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Marketplace Life in Our Foothills • 828.859.9151

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•Salary DOE ($40,000- call David at $60,000) Email: 828-713-4154 housemanagersc@ gmail.com DIXON AC & HEATING • Your Caregiver Seeking HVAC Service & Repair Employment •Retired Expert • Serving the Nurse •Private Tryon area for 30+ Caregiver with 9yrs years. exp. •Hospital/Hospice Call (828)863-0555 exp.References in ce Tryon area •Drug cleaning tailored free,reliable,honest, to suit your needs!

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Long-term lease with application, security deposit, & background check required. Owner broker. Call or text: 828-817-0755 KIRBY’S PAINTING •Pressure Washing•Seal Coating •Gutter Cleaning •Small Carpentry •Sheetrock Repair 25 yrs Experience Interior & Exterior Fully Licensed & Insured Residential or Commercial Free Estimates Call: 864-310-3548 andykirby1220@ gmail.com 14.25 Acres in Tryon/Green Creek •Cozy/very build-able property •8 acres; established pasture, w/woods,small springfed creek •Near TIEC Location is minutes from I-26 and Hwy74 $254,000 Contact: 386-717-2485

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Call 828-252-0694 or visit us at www. mitchcontracting. com.

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Apply in person: 85 Pinecrest Ln, Tryon or email resume to jobs19@pinecrestinn. com Landrum/ Campobello 2BR/2BA, Appliances, with scenic views and convenient to interstate, two levels. $850/month + security deposit Call: 864-590-7444 Polk County Farm Bureau Insurance Hiring Part-Time Associate Agent •15/ hrs weekly •Assist w/customer service, marketing •Property and Casualty License preferred Please Contact Us: 828-894-3320 EOE

POLK COUNTY SCHOOLS •Full-Time Custodian/Bus Driver Tryon Elementary School •Afterschool Group Leaders/All Schools-$10.00/hour •Bus Drivers-$13.74/ hour-$14/hour •Substitute Bus Monitors-$11/hour •Food Service Aide Substitute $8.28/ hour Visit:www. polkschools.org/ employment Call: 828-894-1001 Price Services Heating & Air Lead Installer •Ability to lead crew to ensure quality installation for each customer.

•Starting pay $20+/ hour •Experience Preferred •Pay Increase D.O.E. ts Provided Apply in Person: 2374 Chesnee Road, Columbus. Apply online: priceservices heatingandair.com Rojas Maintenance & Gardening •Fall Clean-up •Leaf Blowing •Tree Trimming •Landscaping •Mulch Services FREE ESTIMATES!!! Horacio Rojas 864-518-6793 $10 Off Fall Preventative Maintenance (Reg $75) Rutherford Heating and Air 828-287-2240 7-K Garbage Service Monthly • Weekly One Time Service We Pick It Up! 828-894-9948

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Most leaks repaired under $200! Call Ken: 864-901-6150 Steelwood Construction, Inc *35 years Experience* Steps to HOPE: HELP WANTED: Part-time Thrift Store Warehouse Assistant.

Must be able to lift 50+ lbs and work some Saturdays. 2028 daytime hours per week. Valid driver’s license required.

Please send resume to: Steps to HOPE, PO Box 518, Columbus, NC 28722 or apply in person at Second Chance Thrift Store, 232 East Mills Street, Columbus.

SYNERGY IN ACTION FULLTIME & PART-TIME positions available in group homes.

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Apply in person: 20 Jervey Rd Suite 102, Tryon NC MondayThursday 10am-2pm.

RUTHERFORDTON AREA Beautiful, Quality-Built home on 3.13 Acres at end of cul-de-sac, 4BR/4.5BA plus Bonus Room! $550,000 MLS#3248342 Call Pat Jackson The Real Estate Place 828-429-6695 Looking to rent?

Give us a call: Thousand Pines 828-817-3691 Commercial Units for Lease 799 W Mills Street, Columbus. Currently 700 and 2000 sq.ft.can be combined or subdivided. Close to I-26. Owner will renovate to suit.

828-817-3314 TRADEMARK BUILDING SUPPLY. 343 E Mills St. Columbus, NC 28722.

828-229-3160. From DeWalt Tools to Exterior Products, call or visit Trademark for all of your remodeling and building needs.

Triple L Mechanic Services LLC is a locally owned and operated mobile mechanic.

Specializing in diesel eet

equipment like trailers and forklifts also farm equipment and can handle light duty repairs on cars and trucks.

Call 352-206-2181 Quiet Mind Meditation & Qigong Classes.

Wednesday evenings in Tryon - $5.

828-273-4342 Come join the team at White Oak of ts (FT).

Tryon.

Competitive pay.

Great environment!

Applications currently accepted at White Oak of Tryon, 70 Oak Street, Tryon, NC 28782. White Oak of Tryon is an equal opportunity employer.

Yellow House Landrum 508 E.Rutherford St•Landrum Sleeps 5-9 in 4 Bedrooms Is your family coming to town for the holidays and there is not enough room?

If so take advantage of our Thanksgiving & Christmas special!

Book 4 nights & get 5th night FREE!!!

Call: 828-426-3638 www. yellowhouselandrum. com ce/Retail Space: 900sq.ft. 2060 Lynn Road - Valley Plaza Center. Columbus c.

Convenient parking.

Space for sign.

Move-in ready. $700/ month+deposit. Lease Required.

Call: 828-777-6158

Parting Glance

Tryon Half Marathon

On November 16, over 200 runners came out on a brisk Saturday morning to participate in the Tryon Half Marathon. Proceeds from the race benefited Thermal Belt Outreach Ministries. Photos by Carson Parnell 64

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

5 Questions

Q&A with the Town Manager of Tryon Zach Ollis

T

By Macy Cochran

Tryon Town Manager Zach Ollis knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life: be a town manager.

Having gone to Appalachian State University to earn his degree in Communications, Zach is very qualified for all of the communicating he does on a daily basis, including befriending everyone. His goal is to make citizens of Tryon feel relaxed and safe at all times.

Born and raised in Charlotte, he desired a life in Tryon. Years later, he successfully manages the surprisingly complex job of keeping Tryon the lovely village we all know as home.

What does it take to manage a town?

My job is to hire and fire people, which is very stressful. I’m over all of the employees in the Town of Tryon. But to manage a town, you have to be approachable. You have to be able to manage budgets, finance, laws and many other things. You also have to know what’s going on around here, and know what your people need. I try to get involved with things like the fire department and make sure everything is okay with them regularly.

In this town, we want people to feel comfortable when they see our staff and we want to let our community know they’re in good hands.

What is your favorite part about managing Tryon?

The people, whether that’s talking with, dealing with or meeting with them. Everyone is a character and they each have a crazy, quirky story about how they ended up in Tryon. It’s like a town in a Hallmark movie. I just love being part of the community. I know the people

who do everything—mail, power, water. It’s great to be a part of that.

Tryon is the best of both worlds. You’re in a small town, so you feel very secluded, but you’re also thirty minutes away from a city. I enjoy this area and appreciate what it gives me. The Foothills inspire me. Stephen Brady once told me that he absolutely loves living here because “I feel like I live in the mountains, but I do live in the mountains.” Nobody but us can go to Harmon Field and be surrounded by mountains. You can’t get that anywhere else.

The people of Tryon also inspire us here at Town Hall. Our employees work extremely hard because Tryon is their home too.

There’s a strong sense of community in Tryon.

How do you make sure to keep that?

Everything we do is geared toward community.

The fire department waters the flowers downtown.

Public Works changes flat tires when people need them. Our police patrol the shops in town after they close at night. We all work together to make Tryon a better place.

Jeff Arrowood, Chief of Police, says, “A lot of things that Zach does involves the community, for the community.”

I can’t see myself doing any other job. It’s gotten into my blood and made me who I’m supposed to be. I’m staying here because I love it here.

What did you do before you were town manager of Tryon?

I was administrator for a town called Wilson’s Mills. Before that, I had a job at the homeless shelter after interning there throughout my college career.

Then I came to Tryon for the job, but mostly because I always wanted to be in Western North Carolina.

Tryon had been on my list of small towns to reside for a long time.

I knew I wanted to be a town manager before I had the job, but the surprise was that all of my previous experience working at the homeless shelter contributed to me doing what I do now.

Are there any future changes for Tryon?

There’s a ton of different projects going on now, but we tend to have different things going on at different times. Either way, we focus on them as a team. Our biggest project right now is getting the dam inspected to make sure it’s safe and sturdy.

Currently, though, I don’t foresee anything changing. We try to improve ourselves daily, so long term changes will probably organically spin from our constant development. If the Board wants to change anything, I can handle it. But things have been going wonderfully recently. In the three years that I’ve been here in Tryon, we’ve paved about ten roads and done so many other good things. We’ve simply done everything we can to do provide greatness.

DECEMBER 2019

65

Advertiser Index Odean Keever & Associates Real Estate

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A Growing Concern

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Parkside Dental

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Parsec Financial

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Beverly Hanks Real Estate – Saluda

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Carolina Storage Solutions

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Price Heating & Air

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Red Bell Run

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St Luke’s Hospital

Hensons Building Supply

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Strauss Attorneys

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Hospice Carolina Foothills

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The Book Shelf

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JB Trees

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Tryon Builders

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Lake Pointe Landing

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Back page

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Tryon Fine Arts Center

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LaurelHurst/ Laurel Woods

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Tryon Garden Club

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McFarlands Funeral Home

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White Oak Village Retirement Community

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7

Giving Back is Central to Parsec Financial Since 2005, Parsec has donated more than $1.3 million to 72 non-profit organizations across North Carolina through the Parsec Prize.

‘Tis the season of giving.

But for Parsec that’s year-round.

Photo: Conserving Carolina, a 2019 $15,000 Parsec Prize recipient

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