From Staff Reports 

HENDERSONVILLE — Republican candidates swept all of the contested seats in historically conservative Henderson County in the Nov. 5 general election.

As a result of the strong, straight-party GOP vote, the party accomplished the following:

• The Henderson County Board of Commissions remains all-Republican.

• The GOP won all four seats on the newly partisan Henderson Board of Education, leaving it all-Republican — when school board member Stacey Caskey, who did not seek re-election, departs from the school board next month.

• The Republicans held on to the area’s congressional and state legislative seats.

• The GOP also snagged the only judgeship in the county that was not held by the Republicans.

“The only bright spot for the Democratic Party came in the city of Hendersonville, where voters elected two Democrats to the City Council in a nonpartisan contest,” the Hendersonville Lightning noted on Nov. 13.

Following are the winners of the two Henderson commissioner seats:

• Sheila Franklin, a long-time member of Fletcher Town Council who ousted incumbent County Commissioner Daniel Andreotta in the March 5 primary. On Nov. 5, Franklin defeated Democrat challenger Erik Weer.

• Jay Egolf, the current School Board chair, ran unopposed on Nov. 5, after defeating incumbent David Hill in the District 5 Republican primary.

From Staff Reports 

TRYON — An invitation-only showcase event held early evening Nov. 13 to allow guests to view — and experience — what is billed as “Tryon’s newest event venue,” The Fitzgerald, drew dozens of guests who appeared to enjoy the event and admire the sleek facility. 

Featured were cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dancing (or just listening) to the generally classic rock music performed by the Masci Family Band.

The Fitzgerald, a new art-deco-inspired event venue, is located at 69 Pacolet St., in the heart of downtown, next ot the Post Office. “Its Gatsby-inspired decor will transport you right back to the gilded age!” a promotion stated. “Let the Fitzgerald transport you to an era of glamour and sophistication.”

Another promotion stated, “Step into the opulence of the Art Deco era, inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald.”

(“In early 1935, Scott and his daughter, Scottie, traveled to Tryon for several weeks,” AI Overview noted. “Scott holed up at the Oak Hall Hotel to write, and possibly to convalesce from a bout of tuberculosis, while family friends watched young Scottie. He returned to Oak Hall for an extended stay in 1937, his final long-term stay in WNC.”

The Fitzgerald, which opened in August, bills itself as being able to host gatherings that are intimate (as few as 10 people) to grand celebrations (up to 400 people).”

From Staff Reports 

EAST FLAT ROCK— The announcement by Hope United Methodist Church of its intention to evict a daycare center that leases its space has “dismayed” leaders of the center, the Hendersonville Lightning reported on Nov. 13.

“I’m overwhelmed,” the Lightning quoted Terry Maybin, the director of Tomorrow’s Hope Daycare, as saying about the church’s decision. “There’s no daycare spaces in Henderson County. Where are all these children going to go? I mean, ‘Merry Christmas!’”

Meanwhile, Maybin and daycare board Chairwoman Gale Hoots stated in a letter to the center’s parents, dated Nov, 4, that they had received a certified letter from the church announcing that it was terminating the Tomorrow’s Hope lease at 5 p.m. Dec. 31.

The Lightning added, “Parents had been preparing to find new slots for their children by next August because Tomorrow’s Hope had decided last March that it would close then. The new date came as a shock to parents of the daycare’s kids.” (The center now serves 32 children.)

What’s more, the newspaper quoted Hoots describing the eviction notice as “not in keeping with Christian principles... There is almost a threatening tone. It’s mean-spirited. It’s just a slap in the face and we don’t know why it was done.”

Contacted by the Lightning, Hope UMC minister Danielle Hammett reportedly said the church’s community board, with support from church’s congregation, voted unanimously to end the relationship with the daycare. 

Also, a daycare center letter in March told parents that the church intends — instead — to expand services to homeless people on the property.  

From Staff Reports 

HENDERSONVILLE — Based on reader and advertiser demand, the Daily Planet, beginning with this issue, has launched a Hendersonville print edition of its biweekly (every other Wednesday) newspaper. 

The Asheville edition of the Daily Planet has been circulating in Hendersonville and the surrounding area since its founding — and earlier this year, the newspaper expanded , with the Upstate Daily Planet, to many other cities and towns in the Upstate, including Landrum, Travelers Rest, Greer, Duncan, Lyman, Mauldin, Simpsonville and Fountain Inn. 

What’s more, the Daily Planet plans to continue increasing its Hendersonville print edition distribution area.

The Hendersonville Daily Planet will offer a front page and jump page(s) featuring news from Henderssonville, as well as Henderson County, Polk County and Rutherford County. 

From Staff Reports 

HENDERSONVILLE — Hendersonville City Council became all-female on Nov. 5 when newcomer Gina Baxter, with 47 percent of the vote, joined incumbents Jennifer Hensley and Lyndsey Simpson in election victories.

More specifically, Baxter won 3,301 regular votes — as well as 112 write-in votes, or 0.87 percent.

Baxter defeated Colby Coren and Lynne Elizabeth Williams in the race for council’s at-large seat. Baxter will serve two years, as she is replacing Jeff Miller, who decided not to run. 

Meanwhile, Hensley, won 5,149 votes, or 40.02 percent; while Simpson, collected 4,357 votes, or 33.86 percent. Each will serve four-year terms.

Baxter, Hensley and Simpson will join Mayor Barbara Volk and Melinda Lowrance on council.

The Hendersonville Lightning noted that, as recently as 2019, Hendersonville council included four men and one woman — the mayor.