Big Guns, Isothermal team up; Gingerbread Contest set; honors for Carolina Village, Ellis
Big Guns Coffee, Isothermal open first hydroponic coffee farm
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Big Guns Coffee, owned and operated by 9-year-old Charli Johnson and her father, T.Shane Johnson, is partnering with Isothermal Community College to unveil an innovative venture – the first-ever indoor Hydroponic Coffee Farm.
According to a news release, the initiative will transform a 2,300-square-foot space within the Technology Building on Isothermal's Spindale campus. The project is set to utilize expertise from various departments, including robotics, technology, engineering, agriculture, business, marketing and video/audio to create a state-of-the-art coffee production facility utilizing Isothermal’s Business Incubator Program for small business.
"This partnership is a game-changer. It provides us with a living proof of concept to attract investors for a large-scale coffee farm right here in Polk and Rutherford counties in North Carolina. It showcases Isothermal's dedication to fostering local community and farming, making us pioneers in the industry," T.Shane Johnson said in a news release.
The journey began three years ago when then 6-year-old Charli Johnson and her Marine Corps veteran father, TShane Johnson, embarked on a mission to establish their coffee brand, Big Guns Coffee. Since then, they've expanded to three locations across two states, reaching coffee enthusiasts worldwide. TShane Johnson, a former world record holder for pushups, recently shattered records with 3,050 pushups in one hour.
17th annual Gingerbread Cookie Contest is set
The 17th annual Gingerbread Cookie Contest, organized by Barbara Hughes, the owner of Narnia Studios on Main Street, is under way, with winners to be announced on Dec. 1.
“Bakers of every age are encouraged to create their best gingerbread man or woman, boy or girl. We are looking for the most artistic creations the entrants can cook up,” said Hughes in a news release.
There are four categories: traditional, unusual, bakers under 14 and teamwork, Hughes said.
The cookies must be 100% edible and the deadline for entries is Dec. 1.
"We will announce the winners during our 29th annual Christmas Open House on Dec. 2 and have all the cookies on display throughout that weekend. The top winner in each category will be awarded a $50 floral gift certificate from Narnia Studios, Hughes said.
For more information, call Hughes at 828-697-6393. Narnia Studios is located at 408 N. Main St. in downtown Hendersonville.
Johnson Family Farm's inaugural Village Nights to be held
The sisters of Johnson Family Farm announced their holding their first annual Village Nights from 5-9 p.m. on two Saturdays in December: Dec. 2 and Dec. 9.
According to a news release, the holiday festivities will highlight the store located at 1202 Kanuga Road in Hendersonville. Fresh Fraser Fir trees, wreaths, garland and a bow and ribbon bar will be featured, along with treats, hot cocoa and reindeer games for the kids.
“We’re going to decorate this place up to get everyone in the holiday spirit,” said Heather Johnson Price, one of the sisters and owners, in the release. “We want to put this event on to connect with the community and have an ole timey Christmas, go back to the basics.”
Normal store hours remain in effect from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday- Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. For more information visit www.johnsonfamilyfarmnc.com or call 828-484-2522.
Carolina Village Ranked in top 19% nationally
The Carolina Village Medical Center earned the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Nursing Homes distinction for 2023, according to a news release.
Among 15,000 skilled nursing facilities in the country, only 19% of them were rated as “High Performing,” the highest possible rating.
The Carolina Village Care Center and Medical Center routinely receive high rankings from the North Carolina Department of Health Service Regulations and the Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services, the release said. Carolina Village ratings are available at www.medicare.gov.
“Best Nursing Homes ratings are based on U.S. News’s in-depth analysis of publicly available data, including information that is not factored into CMS’s star ratings,” said Mark White, vice president at U.S. News & World Report, in the release.
“We are very proud to once again receive top honors,” said Carolina Village President and CEO Kevin Parries in the release. “Our team takes quality healthcare very seriously, which means delivering superior care to each resident each and every day.”
Hope for the Holidays Jingle Jog to be held
The third annual Hope for the Holidays Jingle Jog 5K Fun Run/Walk is set for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 16, starting and finishing at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse in downtown Hendersonville.
The course starts and finishes in downtown Hendersonville and runs through nearby neighborhood streets. All finishers will select a custom Hope ornament off the tree as their ‘finisher’s medal.’ Cookies and a hot chocolate bar will be waiting for participants at the finish line.
After the race head, participants can go to The Buzz for a free mocktail or coffee. All ages and abilities are welcome. Holiday attire is welcomed for this festive winter race.
Boys & Girls Club seeking toy donations
This holiday season, the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County is reaching out to the community with a request for donations of toys for children ages 6-12 as part of the club's Santa's Workshop.
The deadline for donations is Dec. 13.
"We believe every child deserves a joyful holiday experience regardless of their circumstances,"said Carolyn Ashworth, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club, in a news release. "Through this toy drive, we hope to bring the season's magic to as many children as possible."
The Boys & Girls Club serves over 1,000 youth annually, with 92% of members qualifying forfree or reduced lunch last year. Factors like this highlight the importance of community supportduring the holidays for these households.
Donations should be unwrapped toys. They can be dropped off at the Club located at 1304 Ashe St. in Hendersonville. For more information about the toy drive or how to get involved, call StacieMarlowe, director of development, at 828-693-9444 or send an email to donorservices@bgchendersonco.org.
Bat Cave's Ellis joins Oregon's Buchholz and Buchholz Nursery
Jordan Ellis, the son of John and Becky Ellis of Bat Cave and graduate of Oregon State University, has joined the team at Buchholz and Buchholz Nursery in Gaston, Oregon, according to a news release.
Ellis graduated from OSU cum laude with a degree in horticulture, concentrated insustainable production. He has worked in various nurseries ranging from retail to wholesale inthe gulf, East and West coast regions of the country, the release said.
Ellis’ interest in Japanese Maples began when he was introduced to Acer Palmatum ‘MikawaYatsubusa’ in college, he said in the release. He saw a magazine about Buchholz at one of his previous jobs, and now that he is working there, Ellis he said that he “couldn’t think of anything better ... it’s a dream opportunity.”
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Big Guns, Isothermal team up; Gingerbread Contest set; honors for Carolina Village, Ellis
