Rutherford Weekly

Some folks traveled more than two hours for a bowl of delicious hot soup and a mixed up salad on a cold winter evening recently in Lake Lure. The Souper Supper on February 25 sponsored by the Chamber of the Hickory Nut Gorge was the chamber's fi rst community event since the Winter of 2019. It was a great success. The Riverside Event Center was the scene of the event and people of all ages gathered for award winning soups, salads, desserts and most of all fellowship. Donna Hunt of Charlotte, Ruth Russell, Mooresville, Margie Sullivan and Linda Reynolds of Charlotte saw the event notice on Facebook and decided it was time to take a road trip to Lake Lure. The friends met each other on their jobs at Novant Health in Charlotte. "A wonderful event. We had a great time," Margie said. Others traveled less miles, but had the same goal in mind, to get out of the house for much needed fellowship, good soup, salads and a way to fi nancially support the Gorge Chamber. "The Souper Supper is an event the locals have been encouraging the Chamber to bring back to life after COVID cancelled so many events for the past two years," said Laura Doster, executive director of the Chamber of the Hickory Nut Gorge. "It was heartwarming to see everyone out, enjoying great food and each other's company," she said. The soup table featured 26 soup entries from people from the Hickory Nut Gorge. There were also 11 salads, all with various fl avors. Many of the local restaurant owners submitted entries. "The donated desserts were out of this world, and it was a full house," Doster continued. "We were very thankful to Riverside Event Center for donating the center, to all the volunteers, cooks and attendees." "We hope to make this an annual event, combine it with A Taste of the Gorge and expand it to include a month-long experience of "Tastes of the Gorge", she added. The Chamber's next signature event will be a new endeavor — a farmer's market in Lake Lure's Town Center. "This will run from the week after Memorial Weekend to Labor Day Weekend (at least that's the goal right now)," Doster said. Future events, Doser said, could include bartender mix-off, chef's cooking competition, vineyards tasting competition, locals' bake off, local market exhibit, art classes, cooking classes. Visit www.hickorynutchamber.org to learn of all the events tab and keep up with member's events, as well, Doster said. SOUP WINNERS: 1st; John & Megan Venuto of Highland's Kitchen + Bar - Chili 2nd; Adam Craven - Tomato & Bacon Bisque 3rd;Laura Doster - Chicken Tortilla Soup Salad Winners: 1st; Julie McKinney - Seven-layer Salad 2nd; John & Megan Venuto - Wedge Salad 3rd; Laura Doster - Jalapeño Coleslaw Continued on page 3. ISSUE NO. 10 • March 10, 2022 ISSUE NO. 10 • March 10, 2022 • • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 Our 30 th Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers WE WILL BUY WE WILL BUY YOUR CAR TODAY! YOUR CAR TODAY! www.mooresautos.com www.mooresautos.com 345 S Broadway, Forest City 828-245-8067 M O O RE ' S AUTO S ALES ©communityfi rstmedia NOW OFFERING NOW OFFERING 187 NORTH POWELL STREET, FOREST CITY ADAS Calibration In House On Vehicles ADAS Calibration In House On Vehicles Equipped With Front-View Cameras Equipped With Front-View Cameras Article And Photos Provided By: Jean Gordon. A Souper Supper — A Souper Supper — what the Gorge needed what the Gorge needed RUTHERFORD COUNTY'S ONLY WEEKLY NEWSPAPER! RUTHERFORD COUNTY'S ONLY WEEKLY NEWSPAPER! Four out-of-town friends (left to right) Donna Hunt of Charlotte, Ruth Russell, Mooresville, Margie Sullivan and Linda Reynolds of Charlotte learned about the event on Facebook and decided to take a road trip. The friends met each other on their jobs at Novant Health in Charlotte. Judges Scott Doster, Lake Lure Mayor Carol Pritchard, TDA Executive Director Don Cash, Lake Lure Police Chief Sean Humphries and Rutherford County Manager Steve Garrison. Teri Coutu, president of the Chamber, spends time with one of the youngest guests, Silver. Silver assisted with the ticket drawing for a 50/50 and a cake drawing. Among the event's soup and salad winners were (left to right) Laura Doster, Julie McKinney and Teri Coutu. The long soup table held more than 20 pots of soup. Desserts were the icing on the cake for the event.

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