Hendersonville honors its Appalachian roots every Monday evening with its weekly Street Dance event.  Mountain music and dancing have been time-honored ways to celebrate life in Western North Carolina.  Downtown Hendersonville fills up with the sounds of banjos and fiddles playing bluegrass and the musical voice of the square dance caller.  Everyone is kicking up their heels, even if it's for the first time. Beginning at 6:30pm, caller Walt Puckett teaches everyone the basics of square dancing.  Then, beginning at 7pm, the music starts up and everyone is invited to join in on the fun, practicing the moves they just learned.  Several clogging teams make special appearances to show off their talents to eager audiences.  A different live band will be performing each week as well.  If the w... 07/19/2012

I Just Bought The Sony Nex-5N! Over the last year I have really struggled with finding an inexpensive camera that would be easy for my needs, easy on the wallet, and yet still take good pictures. After trying several small point and shoots that were supposed to yield very good results, and major disappointment when they didn't, I bit the bullet and spent more than I wanted, in order to get a good camera. I still wanted the ease of a point and shoot, but with a bit more flexibility. After some research I decided to try the The Sony NEX-5N. It comes with an 18-55 range lens, but has interchangeable lenses. Priced at $699 in my area, as well as online. As soon as I got home I put it together, and set out to take a few trial images in my yard. Using just the settings it came with, I shot ab... 07/17/2012

Selling a home in Hendersonville North Carolina is no easy task, like any other community around the country. It takes skill, a great deal of education about the current market, and very good negotiating skills. But the largest part of selling a home in Hendersonville is the partnership and trust of the Seller and the Listing Agent.  When a Seller meets with a Listing Agent, their hope is to get the news that their home is worth the price they paid, plus the value they placed into the home through repairs, sweat equity and improvements. But, as we all know, in today's market that's just no longer the case. And it hasn't been for a long time.  Sellers often have the idea too, that since they have invested time and money into a home, that somehow their home is exempt from the losses we ar... 07/13/2012

How Savvy is your Social Media? Asheville Moving Company  A few months back I acquired new clients, Asheville Moving Company. Owned by Bruce Hensley and Clete Flannagan, they are so much fun to work with. And they way out-perform anyone I know in Social Media. It is just out and out amazing, leaving me dizzy! Every moving job is seen another opportunity to get referrals. Clete is the videographer, and Bruce stands with the people they just moved, right in front of the moving van. They tape a conversation with their latest clients, who are quick to say how great they are. Their You Tube Channel is out and out amazing in the number of video's they have posted.  Here is the thing I love. They were not tech savvy at first, and they are still pretty crude in the equipment. They use their pho... 07/06/2012

Southern Mountains Sports Recycler, Hendersonville NC I have been working with Chris Tiger, owner of the new Southern Mountains Sports Recycler store, located at 232 Kanuga Street, in Hendersonville, NC. He opened in January of this year, and has really gotten off to a great start.  Chris' business is consignment based. He sells used sporting equipment of all kinds. From baseball, to camping and hiking, to fishing, he has it all. His gently used equipment has great prices, saving the Hendersonville Community a lot of their hard earned money. I have been working with Chris for about eight months now, and during that time I have seen a lot of equipment come and go. He seems to have a new store every time I stop by. I really love that, and have had fun watching him grow as a business perso... 07/05/2012

Western North Carolina MLS (NCMMLS) Tools in Hendersonville NC, Tools for Realtors Series   Today I attended a class at the Hendersonville Board of Realtors to learn how the new Data Co-op program, Part of Core Logic System, works. It is a new feature in our Hendersonville MLS (NCMMLS) that offers some excellent information for us to take advantage of. Even though I am not a Realtor, I do work as an assistant for several in this area, so wanted to learn how I could get my cients more bang for their buck. So, if you live in Western North Carolina and you are part of the NCMMLS, listen up! Called 'MLS Data Sharing Made Easy' by Core Logic, they have really made that mission a reality. There is a lot of information, and it is incredibly easy not only to use, but to share. Wanting to look m... 06/25/2012

Hendersonville knows how to celebrate and the 4th of July is no exception.  From parades and music to ice cream socials and pyrotechnic splendor, the fun lasts all day long.  Feel free to join in on any and all of Hendersonville's fabulous 4th celebrations. The annual Independence Day Parade will make its way around Downtown Hendersonville at 11am.  You may want to head out a little early, though, to find a good seat.  Of course, bringing your own chair can make parade viewing a lot more comfortable.  Anyone interested in joining in the parade itself should visit the Hendersonville Merchants & Business Association website to download an application.  Whether you have a group of people or just you and your family, the cost is just $10 for up to five vehicles.  Decorate your bike, trike, ... 06/21/2012

Music lovers rejoice!  Beginning tomorrow, June 8, 2012, Hendersonville Music on Main, is back!  It's time to put on your boogie shoes and head to downtown Hendersonville for this free local favorite.  Every Friday, from June 8th to August 17th, a new musical act will perform from 7pm to 9pm.  Whether you enjoy oldies, classic rock, pop or contemporary music, there is something for everyone. HENDERSONVILLE MUSIC ON MAIN LINEUP June 8th - Tuxedo Junction (Big Band) & Car ShowJune 15th - Wishful Thinking (Acoustic/Alternative/Minimalist)June 22nd - Dashboard Blue (Rock/R&B/50's/Disco/Funk) & Car ShowJune 29th - Asheville's 96.5 House Band (Early 60's Favorites)July 6th - Sound Investment (Pop/R&B/Rock) & Car ShowJuly 13th - Special EditionJuly 20th - Deano and the Dreamers (Music from the... 06/07/2012

If you love history and architecture, this may be the event for you!  Take a driving tour of historic Hendersonville homes on Saturday, May 20, 2012.  This self-driving tour is brought to you by the Hendersonville Historic Preservation Committee.  For just $20, you can tour eight private Hendersonville homes that were designed by noted Hendersonville architect Erle G Stillwell in the 1920s and '30s. Erle G Stillwell lived and worked in Hendersonville and Henderson County during the early part of the 1900s.  The Depression made a large impact on his design style.  In addition to private Henderson County homes, he designed several cinemas, schools and other civic buildings throughout the state.  In the 1940s, Stillwell helped found the Asheville architectural firm of Six Associates.  The... 05/10/2012

Mother's Day is just over a week away.  If you're not sure what to do to show your mom, grandmother or wife how amazing you think she is, show her the beauty of Western North Carolina by taking her on a Tour de Falls of DuPont Forest for Mother's Day.  Throughout the entire weekend (May 12th & 13th), 12 mile long tours of Bridal Veil Falls, High Falls, Lake Julia and Triple Falls will be available via shuttle bus every half hour beginning at 9am and continuing through 2:30pm. For a small donation of $12 for adults (ages 18+) and $6 for kids (ages 6-17), you can embark on a tour of some of the most breathtaking natural sights in all of Western North Carolina.  Just park your car near the High Falls parking area (1300 Staton Rd, Cedar Mountain).  Follow the Tour de Falls signs for your sh... 05/03/2012

The Environmental and Conservation Organization (ECO) will be holding its annual Earth Stewardship Day in Hendersonville on Saturday, April 28, 2012.  ECO held past Earth Stewardship Days at the Blue Ridge Community College.  However, this year, they are doing something a little different.  Instead of hosting one family and eco-friendly event, they have decided to be a bit more ambitious by holding several different ecologically minded projects around the City of Hendersonville throughout the day. The ECO believes that the community that works together, thrives together.  Some of the projects for Earth Stewardship Day in Hendersonville include: 7th Ave Community Organic Garden - building orchards and community gardens Boylston Creek - planting grass and pollinator patches along the buff... 04/19/2012

Spring is in the air.  It's time to open the windows, let the sunshine in and get to work on your spring cleaning.  Do you have extra stuff just laying around your Hendersonville home that you have no use for?  How about selling it at one of the biggest yard sales in the county?  On Saturday, May 12, 2012, the Henderson County Department of Social Services will be holding its annual yard sale fundraiser event.  From 8am to 12pm, the parking lot of the Henderson County Health Department Building (located at 1200 Spartanburg Hwy, Hendersonville) will play host to the Henderson County Giant Yard Sale and Car Seat Check.  All proceeds from this event will benefit the Henderson County Foster Parent Association. If you are interested in bringing your "stuff" to the Henderson County Giant Yard... 04/12/2012

The Hendersonville City Council needs a citizen volunteer for its Hendersonville Board of Adjustment.  The City believes that the best way to make living in the community better for everyone is to have its residents be an integral part of its daily operations.  Volunteering for one of its boards and commissions is probably the best way you can do this.  As part of the Hendersonville Board of Adjustment, some of your duties will involve: Listening to and deciding on appeals from administrative officials regarding enforcement of the Zoning or Subdivision Ordinances as well as reviewing orders, requirements, decisions and determinations brought to the Board by an administrative official. Listening to and deciding on Zoning Ordinance variance requests. Interpreting the Official Zoning map a... 03/08/2012

One of the things I love most about living in Western North Carolina is the amazingly beautiful scenery we get to enjoy every day.  A nice drive on a Saturday afternoon lets you see this natural beauty up close.  This is especially true if you're a motorcycle enthusiast.  That's why the police and sheriff's departments are offering free motorcycle safety classes in Hendersonville. On March 10, 2012 and March 16, 2012, the Henderson County Sheriff's Department and the Hendersonville Police Department will be offering motorcyclists an education in cycle safety, rules of the road and techniques to improve your skills on your bike.  Whether your "hog" is a heavy duty Harley Davidson or a sweet little moped that helps you tool around town, you're sure to learn something at the class.  The Sh... 02/16/2012

On Wednesday, February 8, 2012, the City of Hendersonville NC officially unveiled two new electric vehicle charging stations at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  In an effort to reduce America's reliance on foreign oil as well as maintaining the natural beauty that Western North Carolina offers, the City of Hendersonville has partnered with the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition's Electric Vehicles Committee to make using alternative fuels a viable option for Hendersonville citizens.  These two charging stations are only the beginning. Typically, owners of completely electrical vehicles (such as the Nissan Leaf and Smart ED) or hybrids (such as the Chevy Volt, Ford Escape Hybrid or Toyta Prius Hybrid) charge their vehicles at home because charging stations are hard to come by.  The installa... 02/09/2012

The City of Hendersonville NC released a fantastic video recently highlighting what makes Hendersonville so great.  I wanted to share it with you so that you can get a glimpse of our beautiful community as well as the wonderful people who inhabit it.  City of Hendersonville, NC from City of Hendersonville on Vimeo. Just let me know when you are interested in becoming a part of our Hendersonville family and I'll be happy to help you put down roots here. Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/02/02/what-makes-hendersonville-nc-great/. 02/02/2012

Now that the holidays are over, what do you do with your tree?  This kind of wood burns too hot for an indoor fireplace or wood burning stove and can create a dangerous buildup of creosote (black soot), increasing the chances of a house fire.  Therefore, chopping it up and using it for firewood is not a good idea.  Don't worry, though.  The City of Hendersonville has the solution! You can recycle your Christmas tree in Hendersonville this Saturday, January 7th at Jackson Park's Field #6 parking lot (801 Glover St) from 9am to 2pm.  If you can't make it to the event this Saturday, however, you can drop your tree off earlier in the day at Field #6.  All trees that are dropped off will be ground up into mulch which will then be given back to the public for free to use for your household la... 01/05/2012

Benjamin Franklin’s quote: “Lost time is never found again” is a powerful reminder to sellers that time is critical.  ·        The best opportunity to reach a buyers attention is within the first 30 days a home is on the market.  ·        The number of showings is greatest during this time if it is priced at a realistic market value. ·        Starting too high and dropping the price later misses the excitement and fails to generate strong activity.  ·        Many homes that start too high end up selling below market value. Sellers need to price correctly in order to be competitive before the market moves on to newer listings.   01/02/2012

There’s a myth that buyers only purchase in the spring - and some sellers are missing ready, willing and able buyers.  Statistics show home inquiries skyrocket in January.  Serious buyers are shopping and buying now. On the morning of January 1st, 1,172 WNC homes expired on the Multiple Listing Service.   For various reasons, these sellers will miss an opportunity to sell their home.  They’ll ‘wait till spring’ to sell when inventory skyrockets, and it becomes more difficult to grab buyers’ attention.  If you want to sell your WNC home, don’t wait to put it on the market.  Now is the perfect time to sell! 01/01/2012

As I reflect on this year I'm so thankful for your encouragement and support. It gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and refocus on what is important.   I realized that I’d gladly give away the things I once “just had to have” in order to live a simpler life. I'm happier with less "stuff". God, Family and Business - It's that simple. My home is filled with laughter and love. I'm happiest when I can bring joy to others and find myself turning the TV and noise off so that I can enjoy quiet moments.  Blessings to you and your family as we embrace 2012. Perhaps the even number will bring even greater blessings.   Sincerely, Mary Sitton 12/31/2011