Jay & Jewell Kaiser

To remove simply unscrew the old head from the water pipe (check for and remove any set screws). Most can actually be unscrewed by hand. If not, use masking tape on the jaws of a wrench or a pair of Vise Grips (to prevent marring) and unscrew it. Turn slowly and hold the water supply line while you are unscrewing the showerhead - you don't want to break the supply pipe. Clean off the base and threads of the stem and then apply plumbers dope or tape around it. Visually inspect to make sure the shower head is straight and then hand tighten the new shower head on the stem and turn on the water to test for leaks. Not sure which shower head? ConsumerReports.org has points to consider and ratings (members only) or see a retail site such as Neatitems.

The 2009 North Carolina Apple Festival marks the sixty third consecutive years the event has been held. The Apple Festival is held on Labor Day Weekend each year (Friday through Monday) to recognize the importance of the apple and the apple industry to Henderson County and North Carolina.
Henderson County's Famous Apple Festival is an outgrowth of the original Henderson County Centennial Celebration held in 1938. Following the centennial celebration, it was decided by a group of leading citizens that an annual fall festival was more desirable. For two years, 1939 and 1940, the event was held at the conclusion of the summer season. At the onset of World War II the festival was discontinued.
The festival program has varied slightly from year to year, but it has always contained crowd-pleasing events. Up until the mid 1980s, the festival was a week to ten days of activities.

Past activities included a beauty pageant (second only to the state's Miss North Carolina Pageant) muzzle-loader shoots, dancing and musical events. In 1988, the Apple Festival Committee shortened the event to four days to allow the festival to be considered as a well-packaged extended vacation for visitors and as exciting festivities for locals.
Events are varied, with Hendersonville's Historic Main Street hosting the most excitement. More than 150 vendors line eight blocks of the main event area. There is continuous entertainment on our professional stage from 10am to 10pm Friday through Sunday. The King Apple Parade, always held on Labor Day, culminates the Main Street activities. Reminiscent of early festivals, the North Carolina Apple Festival closes with a street dance.

The 2009 NC Apple Festival will be held on Main Street in downtown Hendersonville, NC over the weekend of September 4-7, 2009. The festival not only features a street fair with arts & crafts vendors but it includes continuous live musical entertainment, apple growers and their apples, children's & youth activities, special exhibits & open houses, food, and, to top it all off, on Labor Day, the King Apple Parade. Capture the spirit of a hometown celebration that has something for the whole family, with many individual events and entertainers throughout the festival. The festival is held annually, during the Labor Day weekend.

The Apple Festival's Street Fair covers 9 blocks of Main Street with more than 150 vendors . Main Street is closed to traffic from 6th Avenue to Caswell Street.
North Carolina is the 7th largest apple-producing state in the nation and Henderson County is the largest apple-producing county in North Carolina. The most widely-grown apples are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty and Galas. In addition, many orchards grow a number of other varieties. Fresh apples may be purchased at one of the many roadside apple markets or produce stands located throughout the county.

63 years..................................September 4-7, 2009

A good ole mountain fair is hard to beat. Not only are there great rides, some of the best eating for non dieters, as well as some of the best shows featuring the best of the best local, and regional talent. I love taking my granddaughter to the fair as she dearly loves all the glitter, the animals and cotton candy! If you like horses, cows, chickens, rabbits, sheep, goats, donkeys and much more then this is the place for you. It offers an up close view of the animals and I am sure many of the readers have never seen what we eat really close up!

"If you thought the fair was only wild rides, funnel cakes, and farm animals, then take a second look. Western North Carolina mountain heritage is bountiful at the Mountain State Fair and nowhere is that more evident than with our arts and crafts and competitive exhibits. Take some time to browse the vendors in the new log cabin building and you'll see an assortment of beautifully hand crafted items from jewelry to rugs. And so much of what you'll see is representative of western NC culture and history and made by local artisans.

When you finish with the arts and crafts, be sure to check out all of the competitive exhibits in the new livestock exhibition building. With competitions in categories such as photography, clothes, painting, quilting, wood carving, and horticulture products, you're sure to find something that catches your eye. My personal favorites are the giant vegetables and the wood carvings. And I guarantee that you'll be amazed by the talent that exists in western North Carolina, especially from our younger participants.

So this year at the fair, be sure to take full advantage of everything the fair has to offer." Casey Allen, Media Specialist

Our Local Producers and the Founding Families of Transylvania County

Farm Fair Chamber of Commerce and the Transylvania Heritage Museum Celebrate
Our Local Producers and the Founding Families of Transylvania County on Saturday, September 5 On the East side of Town
9am - 2pm
On the East side, the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce and the community will celebrate our local producers at the first annual Transylvania Farm Fair. The event will be held at the American Legion on East Jordan Street in Brevard. The event will have a lot to offer and is free to the public! You can begin your day with breakfast made from local eggs, sausage and much more! Not only can you enjoy your breakfast and lunch at the Farm Fair, you can get your produce, meats, eggs, honey and more, all from local producers. There will also be an educational component to the day. Farm Bureau, County Extension, Cattleman's Association and our area 4-H and FFA will be there to share information about their organizations as well as all that they offer our local students and the community. Music will be provided by the local band, "Mason Jar Drinkers" from 10am-2pm.
For a first time event, the response from the community has been overwhelming. The Farm Fair idea originated from the "Try Transylvania First" campaign which the Chamber reintroduced with the "Spend it Local," initiative last holiday season. The Chamber is excited to expand upon community awareness of all the County has to offer. Buying local and paying a fair price keeps the county farmers farming. Small farms help preserve rural culture and landscape, strengthen the local economy, encourage sustainable farming practices, and increase the availability of fresh foods.
Don't miss this fun filled day! There will be activities for children and a display of farming equipment for everyone to learn about and enjoy. Join in the celebration and support our local agriculture. The Farm Fair is co-sponsored by Duke Energy, Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority and Think-It Studio. On the West side of Town
10am - 6pm
On the West side, the Transylvania Heritage Museum will be holding their first Annual Founders Day Fair, celebrating the Founding Families of Transylvania County. Starting at 10 am, crafts people will be demonstrating their skills in the old-fashioned arts of spinning, weaving, patchwork, woodcarving, and more. They will be selling their wares, many dressed in period costumes. Raffle tickets will be sold by the Museum for a hand-carved bowl made that day by Walter Kluge, with the winner announced at 6 pm, the close of the event.
The Museum will be showcasing Founding Family displays with descendants on hand to discuss the lives and legacies of Transylvania's settlers. Docents will lead walking tours of Historic Downtown Brevard, leaving the Museum at 10:30, 12:30 and 2:30. Old-fashioned children's games will be held at 11 am, 1, 3 & 5 pm. Also, local authors will be signing their books at the Heritage Gifts booth in front of the Museum, and a few pioneers may actually be strolling through the crowd. With all this activity, people will be hungry and thirsty, so several vendors will be available to fill this need.
Current sponsors of the Founder's Day are Comporium, O.P. Taylor's, and Susan Breedlove Properties. Contributors are Wachovia Bank, Blue Ridge Porta-John, and Diamond Rush Jewelers. To sponsor or participate in Founder's Day, contact Merle or Linda Anders, 862-8228 or heritage@citcom.net. Center of Town
10am - 6pm
Old Wachovia Bank parking lot - from 10 am to 6 pm, the Main Stage, will be showcasing local musical talent, including: Lynn Goldsmith's Band, Joe Pye Band, East Fork Gals, Carolina Boys, Transylvania Troubadours, and Soul Vision. A "Transylvania Has Talent" show is planned from 2 - 4 pm, with local talent being allowed 10 minutes to impress the judges. Entry fee is $25 with 50% going to the winner and 50% going to support our local Museum. Come on out and share your talent!