Home Care In Brevard, NC

The Brevard Music Center continues its inspiring Parker Concert Hall Series on Thursday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. when the multi-award winning pianist and composer, Chad Lawson, appears in concert.

With millions of followers and an entire catalogue of music that has been streamed over 500 million times, the North Carolina native is well-known as a contemporary artist creating “classical music for the Spotify generation,” according to a BMC press release.

Lawson, who is also the host and creator of the iHeart-nominated and acclaimed mental wellness podcast “Calm It Down,” will lead a special pre-concert session at the Parker Concert Hall at 5 p.m.

Entitled “BREATHE,” the session will explore how focused breathing techniques in combination with live meditative music help individuals achieve a more relaxed state of mind.

Admission to “BREATHE” is free for all Chad Lawson ticket holders.

“Chad Lawson is truly a ‘modern-day master of reinvention,’” said Jason Posnock, BMC president and CEO.

“Not only does he create music that soothes the mind, body and soul, but his bold interpretations of classical and contemporary works result in a distinct signature sound like no other,” said Posnock. “I am delighted to present this multi-talented North Carolina pianist, composer and Steinway artist at the Brevard Music Center.”

ABOUT CHAD LAWSON

Multi-award winning pianist and composer, Lawson has an impressive list of accomplishments in recent years that many artists could only hope for in a lifetime, said the release.

He has released seven critically acclaimed albums, worked with renowned musicians and producers, and has the distinguished honor of being a Steinway artist.

Born in North Carolina, Lawson knew he wanted to be a musician at the age of five.

He pursued this dream at age 18 when he enrolled at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. While in school, he began his career as a studio musician and after his studies at Berklee, he decided to go on tour with Babik Reinhardt, son of legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Following his stint on the road, Lawson formed the Chad Lawson Trio.

They released their self-titled debut album in 1997 followed by “Dear Dorothy;” “The Oz Sessions” (jazz trio arrangements of “The Wizard of Oz”) in 2002 and “Unforeseen” two years later.

Taking a sabbatical from the jazz trio in 2007, Lawson went on tour in Europe and South America with Julio Iglesias as a keyboardist.

In 2009, Chad released his first solo album “Set on a Hill.”

The album was produced by the legendary Will Ackerman, a Grammy winner and founder of Windham Hill Records, and it was voted Album of the Year by Whispering Solo Piano’s 1 million listeners.

Tickets for Chad Lawson in Concert start at $40.

To find out more about this and all remaining PCH season performances, visit brevardmusic.org/tickets, call (828) 862-2105 or email the BMC Box Office at boxoffice@brevardmu sic.org.

When you’re in the mood for a mountain adventure, set your sights on Western North Carolina. Few mountain towns are quite as charming as Brevard, a spot with music, arts, and culture, as well as strong brewing and cycling scenes. Add all of that to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the state, and you have all of the makings of a perfect weekend adventure. Whether you’re in the mood for a fancy dinner followed by a concert or a hike followed by a lounge in a wind-nudged hammock, Brevard has just the thing for you.

Stunning natural beauty, world-class performing arts, and outdoor adventure come together in this small mountain town, which is home to fewer than 8,000 people. It's a gorgeous spot any time of year, but things get particularly exciting (and busy) during the warmer months, when the region's summer camps fill with campers and the Brevard Music Center kicks off its popular summer season. Shop downtown. Go waterfall-watching. Stock up on locally-made breads and pastries. Marvel at overlooks. Glimpse white squirrels. Come for the fun, stay for the magic of the mountains–it’s all waiting for you.

Explore Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest is Brevard’s playground. It stretches over more than 500,000 acres of dense forest, much of it criss-crossed with hiking trails, overlooks, and opportunities for outdoor adventure. You can find more information on Pisgah hiking areas here.

One of the jewels of Pisgah National Forest is Looking Glass Falls, a popular road trip stop and photo op. The 60-foot-tall cascade is easily accessible from U.S. 276. A stretch of gravel parking lies along the roadway, and a boardwalk with stairs leads down to the base of the falls. Brevard is smack-dab in the middle of waterfall country. Once you’ve seen Looking Glass Falls, keep searching. With hundreds of waterfalls in the area, you won’t have to wander far to find more dramatic cascades.

Farther into the forest is Sliding Rock, a natural water slide that stretches along 60 feet of cascading cool water. Adventurous visitors can take a turn (or several) on the water slide, which will deposit you in a bracingly cold pool at the bottom of the falls. The recreation area is staffed by lifeguards during the summer months.

Shop Downtown

For years, D.D. Bullwinkel’s has been the place where locals and visitors alike ready themselves for outdoor activities. At the big downtown shop, you can find camping gear like tents and sleeping bags as well as kayaks, hammocks, shoes, and apparel that can stand up to whatever your next adventure has in store.

Brevard’s premiere printmaking studio and gallery is Starfangled Press, a bright and cheery space filled with artful paper goods made with a myriad of printing methods. According to the shop, “Inspired by life in the mountains of Central Appalachia and rooted in the creation of handmade original prints, Starfangled Press is heavily influenced by the techniques of traditional printmaking such as woodcut, etching, screenprint, and letterpress.” Each piece is handmade, with the perspectives of the artists impressed in every one.

Handcrafted is the name of the game at Newfound Artisan, a shop for people who care about the craftsmanship behind what they buy. The shelves here are filled with artisan-made goods, and the space also hosts workshops that teach the processes behind the pieces they sell, from leather and woodwork to metal and clay practice.

Weekend Like a Local

Everyone within a fifty-mile radius knows where to go for Brevard’s best breads. Bracken Mountain Bakery has been turning out delicious, scratch-made baked goods downtown for years, and it’s a must-visit spot while you’re in town. Choose from pillowy loaves to take home for later, or pick from the delicious rows of scones and danishes beckoning in the pastry case.

There’s no shortage of great restaurant food–and great dining experiences–to find in Brevard. For an upscale meal, make a reservation at Wild Morel, which serves French- and Italian-inspired dishes with fresh and local ingredients. Also try The Bohemian Restaurant, which is located next door.

If you visit Brevard during the summer months, you’ll no doubt be drawn down Music Camp Road and Andante Lane to the Brevard Music Center. There, you can enjoy concerts spanning genres including classical, opera, pops, and jazz during BMC’s Summer Institute & Festival. Beyond the summer season, you can experience other performances and concert series here throughout the year.

During your trip to Brevard, it won’t take long for you to encounter one of the town’s most famous residents. The area’s population of white squirrels has become a favorite mascot for the town. Find them emblazoned on hats and t-shirts at downtown gift shops. (According to local legend, the squirrels originated from an escapee pair brought to town by a carnival.)

If a typical hotel just won’t cut it, book a stay at Pilot Cove, which offers modern cabin rentals just outside of town. Located close to the entrance of Pisgah National Forest, the cabins are well-outfitted, with big covered porches, forest views, kitchens, and a hammock included in each–perfect for lounging in the mountain breezes.

The Blue Ridge Parkway curves along the opposite side of Pisgah National Forest from Brevard, making it easily accessible for a day trip. Drive through the forest via U.S. 276, emerge on the other side, and you’ll find yourself on the parkway. Take a right towards Asheville, or continue left to stop at overlooks over the Pisgah National Forest and see Looking Glass Rock (pictured above) rising out of the forest.

Try a Regional Brew

Mornings in Brevard are slow–unless you’re up early for a bike ride or want to get to Bracken Mountain Bakery right when they open for a loaf of your favorite bread. Take it easy and have breakfast at Morning Social–either indoors or out–or grab a cup of coffee downtown at Cup & Saucer.

This slice of Western North Carolina is known for brews as well as bikes and music. You’ll find a few great breweries here, including Ecusta Brewing; Noblebräu Brewing; Brevard Brewing Co., which is located downtown; Oskar Blues Brewery, which has live music and mountain views from its open-air taproom.

You’ll have your pick of great Brevard breweries when you’re in town. The Hub and Pisgah Tavern is a longtime favorite located just a stone’s throw from Pilot Cove Forest Lodging and the Pisgah Forest, so you’ll be well positioned for an adventure or an end to the night. Shop in The Hub for gear, and tune-up your bicycle while you’re at it. Bikes, outdoor gear, and beer–what else could you need?

PISGAH FOREST – A major intersection leading to the entrance of Pisgah National Forest with popular destinations like Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Falls and the Cradle of Forestry, will soon look a whole lot different, thanks to a recent contract awarded to a contractor by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

According to a news release, the NCDOT recently awarded a $20.3 million contract to Mountain Creek Contractors of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, to build a two-lane roundabout at the intersection of U.S 64/N.C. 280 and U.S. 276/U.S. 64 in Transylvania County.

Clearing operations may begin as soon as later this week, the release said, and construction operations may begin as early as April 15. Utility line relocations are currently underway in the area. It's a project that's been in the works since 2018, and Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof told the Times-News on Jan. 11 that everyone is happy to see it becoming a reality.

"I am excited that we are moving forward with this important transportation improvement. The city of Brevard has worked closely with the NCDOT for many years in planning for this roundabout," she said.

"City Council approved the plan back in 2018 after discussing it for several years at multiple community input sessions. Since the plan was approved we have seen traffic volume continue to increase at this critical intersection often resulting in delays."

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She said the new roundabout will improve traffic flow, improve safety and reduce congestion and idle times of vehicles, thus reducing air pollution.

"Having this improvement at the entrance to the city of Brevard and the entrance to Pisgah National Forest will enhance the ability of both residents and visitors to access our beautiful city, forest and surrounding areas," she said.

According to the NCDOT release, at least one lane of travel in all directions will remain open at all times. In addition, crews are restricted from closing or narrowing lanes from 7-8:30 a.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m. when school is in session. They are also restricted from closures on major holidays.

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This roundabout is similar to a new roundabout south of this location on U.S. 64/U.S. 276 closer to Brevard, the release said. It is expected to increase safety and reduce congestion in the area. A five-year crash study by the NCDOT revealed a total of 95 crashes in the study area, with rear-end and angle crashes accounting for 66 percent of all crashes.

Included in the roundabout's center will be a grassy area with trees and a new sign, welcoming visitors to the city of Brevard.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at [email protected]. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

Editors note below

Former Brevard Middle School Principal Tammy Deaver has been transferred to a new county-wide position based at Davidson River School following a suspension and investigation which started in early December, according to a Transylvania County Schools spokesperson.

“While I truly believe that returning to complete the school year would have been best for Brevard Middle School, this new administrative role gives me the opportunity to create a middle school rebound program that will benefit Transylvania County Schools,” Deaver said in response to her transfer.

Deaver’s new position at the county level will be a grant-funded position as a middle school rebound coordinator. The job entails creating a program to keep the system’s middle school students on track for a brighter future in secondary education environments.

Deaver claims the decision to remove her from her position as the principal at Brevard Middle fell to Superintendent Lisa Fletcher and was not reached by the Board of Education. Deaver declined to comment on whether the new position would result in a cut in salary.

The former principal’s new role will start this school year, but the program she is planning will not be put into place until the 2024-25 school year.

Deaver was placed under investigation Dec. 5, but no specifics have been publicly released about what she was being investigated for. Deaver said the suspension was a result of a series of grievances formally filed by parents from the school.

“I was found to have no wrongdoing as far as any type of grievance that was written in regards to my tone or aggressiveness,” Deaver said. Deaver's assertion of no wrongdoing in regards to specific allegations have not been verified by the Transylvania Times at this time.

Carrie Norris, the county’s director of elementary and middle curriculum, will continue her role as interim principal at Brevard Middle School until a suitable replacement is found. She has been working in the role since Deaver’s initial suspension.

Editors note:

The Transylvania Times has identified some shortcomings of this article in regards to comprehensive coverage of the issue.

At the time of publishing, representatives from TCS would not provide comment on the specifics of Deaver's transfer or her investigation proceedings. TCS employees are advised against making public comment on personnel matters as outlined in the TCS policies handbook.

The Transylvania Times has already reached out to TCS for public records requests regarding Deaver and TCS has not yet provided any records.

Attempts were made to reach out to parents involved with the grievances, but no statements could be verified before the time of publishing.

Deaver's statements are her own conjectures of her actions and her take on the investigation. Her assertion of no wrongdoing in regards to specific allegations have not been verified.

Blue Ridge Community College’s Student Government Association recently celebrated National Cereal Day with free cereal for students, faculty and staff.

To promote school spirit everyone was encouraged to wear their comfiest robes and pajamas, according to a college press release.

Blue Ridge’s SGA officers plan dozens of fun events every year to engage other students and promote a positive and welcoming environment.

Research indicates such events are linked to enhanced academic performance, better test scores, improved leadership skills and increased graduation rates, said the release.

For more information on attending Blue Ridge and to learn about student events and clubs visit www.blueridge.edu or call (828) 883-2520.

BREVARD, N.C. (WLOS) — An Upstate company plans to build a $30 million lodging development called Brevard Staytion just outside Brevard.

Upstate company to invest $30 million in new lodging development outside Brevard

Pisgah Hospitality, a boutique development group and hotel operator focused on modern, upscale, eco-friendly hotel and treehouse-style accommodations, plans to build the complex on 15 acres along Asheville Highway near Lamb's Creek Road. The project will include a 36-room lodge, tree house rental cabins and an entertainment venue.

“From start to finish, this is a great project for our community - the hotel will provide excellent accommodations and amenities for residents and visitors, connect its guests with Brevard’s many world-class recreation assets, and the development team has shown a strong desire to be meaningful stewards of their land while working with local partners to develop and build the hotel,” Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof said in a news release.

TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY OKS INCENTIVE GRANT FOR PISGAH HOSPITALITY'S $30 MILLION INVESTMENT PLAN

On Oct. 23, Transylvania County commissioners approved an incentive package, valued at almost $764,000, for the project with certain conditions.

“Tourism spending exceeded $188 million in Transylvania County in 2022, and Brevard Staytion is an exciting addition to our strong brand as a destination and a hub of hospitality tax base and job creation,” Transylvania County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jason Chappell said in the release. “This project is another example of Transylvania County's ongoing commitment to having a diverse and vibrant economy and is a quality project that will bring new hospitality amenities to Transylvania County and will help make our community even more attractive for visitor spending.”

The grant is performance-based and hinges on the company making at least $30 million in taxable investments through 2026. The company must also create five new full-time jobs with an average wage of $80,000 a year.

The project plans to break ground in early 2024.

"We've been working on this project for almost two years and are very eager to get started,” Matt Grandy & Brice Bay, two of the partners leading the development team, said in a news release. “Through all aspects of this process: working with the city of Brevard through permitting and zoning, engaging with local suppliers, vendors and partners, and Transylvania County's strong support, have all helped streamline the development process and create a dynamic relationship with community partners.”