Eaton Corporation and Bank of America/Merrill Lynch sponsor Habitat home

A $25,000 donation from Eaton Corporation and $10,000 donation from Bank of America/Merrill Lynch will help pay for the construction of a new Habitat house in West Asheville. Located in Habitat’s Hudson Hills neighborhood, this house is Eaton’s 8^th and Bank of America’s 6^th house sponsorship. Additionally, the lot on which the house sits is sponsored by “Adopt-a-Lot” sponsors David Greiner and James Gray who made a $10,000 gift to purchase the land.

Once completed, the house will be purchased by Dee Shannon who, with her daughter Chenoa, is currently working on the “sweat equity” component of their partnership with Habitat. This means they are taking homeownership classes, participating in the building of their home and others in their future neighborhood, and helping at the Habitat ReStore. When both construction and sweat equity requirements are complete, the family will purchase the home and repay a 30 year, 0% interest mortgage to Habitat.

In lieu of a traditional wall raising event, Eaton recently held an ice-cream social at their headquarters in Arden so that more than 100 of their employees could meet the partner family and write messages on studs that were later used to build the first wall. A similar event is being planned for Bank of America/Merrill Lynch employees.

Over the past ten years, Eaton Corporation has donated a total of more than $310,000 in cash, in-kind donations, and through matching employee gifts to Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity! Eaton donates electrical products for each Habitat house built in Buncombe County.

Bank of America/Merrill Lynch has donated a total of nearly $79,000 in that time period for home construction and through matching employee gifts. “We are so grateful for long-term partners like Eaton and Bank of America/Merrill Lynch who enable us to continue to build safe, decent, and affordable homes in our community,” said Betsy Warren, House Sponsorship Coordinator. “Habitat truly is about partnerships and these two companies are great examples of what it’s all about.”

5th Annual National Craft Celebration brings Western NC together

Held annually the first Friday of October, and lasting 10 days, American Craft Week is the national event that brings together everyone who loves, supports, creates, and sells hand-made fine craft in our country. This year, the celebration takes place October 3 – 12 and includes over 40 events in Western North Carolina. With craft festivals, open studios, gallery exhibitions, art markets, and demonstrations there will be is something for everyone to enjoy during this years’ American Craft Week celebration.

The public is invited to kick-off the WNC American Craft Week celebration in Asheville on Friday, October 3 at The Center for Craft Creativity & Design (CCCD), 5:30pm, with Mayor Esther Manheimer.  Mayor Manheimer will speak on what she believes sets our area apart as a leader in the National Craft Industry, as well as her views on Craft’s role in making Asheville a Destination. The CCCD is located at 67 Broadway Street in downtown Asheville, NC.

On Saturday, October 11 at 5:00pm, everyone is invited to join the Art and Business Community to hear American Craft Week in WNC Keynote Speaker, Karen Fowler, Executive Director of ArtFields, in Lake City, SC.  Lake City is the hometown of financier Darla Moore, who has donated millions to the Universitiy in South Carolina and is one of only two women members of the Augusta National Golf Club. She has been one of the key organizers of ArtFields, which is an effort to revitalize Lake City. ArtFields is considered an art event of epic proportions, designed to have economic and life-changing possibilities for its community as well as the Southeast.

With the American Craft Week 5^th anniversary emphasis on Cultural Tourism, Karen Fowler’s experience with ArtFields is a perfect fit and we look forward to hearing her story and insights.  This event will take place at HandMade in America, 125 S. Lexington Ave. at 5pm (enter from Hillard Ave, between Church and Lexington).

Western NC’s American Craft Week collaboration is an example that others in the nation have followed and this year is shaping up to be a huge event! See americancraftweek.com for national events and americancraftweek.com/wnc for all the Western NC details.

New business comes to Gerber Village

CPR Cell Phone Repair is now open in South Asheville’s Gerber Village. With a skilled team of experts, CPR offers a wide range of mobile device repairs such as cracked screen repairs, charging problems and water damage. CPR Cell Phone Repair is the nations leader and largest retail cell phone repair business. They repair all types of electronic devices including all makes of mobile phones, iPhones, tablets, iPads, computers and game consoles—with all repairs made on-site, usually within hours.
"We are really excited to be a part of the Gerber Village Community and have found the energy and warm welcome from everyone to be outstanding,” said owner Chris Phillips. “We look forward to building long and lasting relationships with all of our customers and neighbors.”

CPR Cell Phone Repair is open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. CPR has trained technicians and offers free estimates and walk-in repairs. More information on CPR Cell Phone Repair can be found at www.cellphonerepair.com/south-asheville-nc/.