The Franklin Board of Realtors swore in the new 2012 Executive Board at the annual Christmas Celebration December 9, 2011 at the Dillard House.

The Board of Realtors are an active group participating in Relay for Life, contributing scholarships to graduating seniors and many other activities to make Franklin and Otto, NC the best place to live and work.

Vic Perry (L) member of the Rotary Club of Franklin presents a check from the club in the amount of $2,000 to Sallie Tallent, representative from Community Care Clinic for their work in the community. The check was presented at the January 25th meeting.

Two of the area’s successful real estate companies are joining forces to create a franchise that will serve a vast area of Franklin.

RE/MAX Elite Realty and Four Seasons, a long-time independent real estate firm, will merge under the RE/MAX Elite Realty name and under the leadership of Brokers and Co- Owners Ron Winecoff and Justin Harrell.

AdvantageWest, French Broad Vignerons, and Warren Wilson College provide support

With a month left before the conference several organizations have provided support in several ways. AdvantageWest is providing some sponsorship funding to the 2nd Annual North Carolina Conference on Sustainable Viticulture to be held Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at Warren Wilson College. Matthew Raker, Vice President Entrepreneurship & AdvantageGreen, said “Viticulture supports a diversity of expanding industries in Western North Carolina such as wine, natural products and tourism. AdvantageWest is excited to be able to support this conference bringing together nationally recognized leaders in sustainable viticulture and serving as an annual focal point for our region’s grape-based industries.“