The rare appearance of Loomis on the East Coast of the United States had its origins in October 2003. Chuck Corne took Rene to France that year for her birthday, to attend cooking school at Loomis&squo; home base, On Rue Tatin, in Louviers, Normandy, France.

The couple hit it off with the chef and offered to host one of her schools in the United States this fall. In addition to teaching in Louviers, Loomis regularly gives classes in Paris and typically visits the West Coast of the United States.

Students attending Loomis&39; classes in Landrum will be treated to wine tastings, market visits, restaurant visits in addition to cooking classes and instruction in preparing multi-course meals with cheeses and wines.

&dquo;The experience (at On Rue Tatin) was fabulous!&dquo; Rene Corne said. &dquo;I met people from Alaska, California, Illinois and France as well as Susan&squo;s family. Susan&squo;s focus was twofold, to utilize local, fresh and organic ingredients in season and take the mystery out of French cooking. The ingredients were everything from watercress from a local stream to a small goat farm producing small amounts of cheese for sale at the weekly market.&dquo;

For more information, go to www.onruetatin.com.

* * *

Dr. Roy Hobbs, MD, FRCS(C), FACS of Carolina Plastic Surgery will open an office in Columbus on Sept. 11, 2009. Dr. Hobbs is an award winning surgeon who has worked and studied all over the world.

Hobbs is Board Certified in plastic surgery in the United States and Canada. He is the Director of the Western Carolina Cleft Lip and Palate Center, and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the American Cleft Lip and Palate Society, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Dr. Hobbs is now taking appointments for consultations to be held in Suite 3B at St. Luke&squo;s Hospital, 54 Hospital Drive, Columbus. Hand and Plastic Surgery services will be provided at St. Luke&squo;s Hospital. For more information call 828-894-6321 or 864-583-1222.

* * *

Parker&squo;s Place Consignments is now open for business and welcoming new consignments. The store began taking consignments in February, and is named after owner Kim Swayngham&squo;s daughter, Parker.

There is a little of everything on the showroom floor at Parker&squo;s from furniture, to clothing, appliances to equestrian items, Harley Davidson parts to World War II collectibles. There is even a Mazda Miata on display for purchase.

Consigners allow Parker&squo;s Place to sell their merchandise in return for a percentage of the profit. Anyone can consign merchandise at the store, and all merchandise in good condition is welcome.

Swayngham said the economic downturn is a perfect opportunity for seller&squo;s to make extra money and shopper&squo;s to find great bargains. All merchandise that is not sold or reclaimed by sellers is donated to local charities like Steps to Hope and Habitat for Humanity.

Parker&squo;s Place Consignments is located at 205 W. Rutherford St., Landrum, in the Fred&squo;s shopping center. For more information call 864-457-3930.

* * *

Machael Parise, owner of a top L.A. catering company, is now the chef at the Esmerelda Inn in Chimney Rock. Joining Parise is Kostas Vlanakis of Asheville, preparing breakfast and lunch specials. Parise closed his Asheville restaurant to focus on the Esmerelda.

A resident of Mills River in Henderson County, Parise said he fell in love with Rutherford County and the area about 25 years ago when he worked in a restaurant near Franklin. He decided to come back to the mountains to raise his family.

Parise&squo;s catering company, Cannoli Kings, has catered Hollywood lights from Halle Berry to Michael Jackson and The Emmy&squo;s. Parise also has a new reality show, &dquo;Dear Chef.&dquo;

His Esmerelda restaurant, the New American Bistro, will be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

* * *

John Hicks, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon with Blue Ridge Bone & Joint, will present &dquo;Understanding Back Pain&dquo; at the Pardee Health Education Center on Wed., Sept. 2, from noon until 1:30 p.m.

* * *

ACTS Retirement-Life Communities, a not-for-profit aging services organization and parent company of Tryon Estates in Columbus, has been selected to receive the 2009 Excellence in the Workplace Award from the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA).

The award is given in recognition of the organization&squo;s effectiveness in advancing a healthy workplace culture and environment that promotes recruitment, retention and development of staff at all levels. ACTS will accept the award at AAHSA&squo;s Annual Meeting & Exposition taking place in November.

* * *

Vincint Marini has been named the new Executive Director of the Flat Rock Playhouse.

&dquo;For more than 50 years, Flat Rock Playhouse has been an invaluable artistic asset to Henderson County and one of the most well-respected theatrical organizations in North Carolina,&dquo; Marini said in a recent Playhouse newsletter.

&dquo;With the support of the Playhouse staff and board, I intend to further strengthen the ties between the theater and the community it serves while also giving the Playhouse an opportunity to stretch its wings and take its rightful place as one of the most important producing theaters in the southeastern United States,&dquo; Marini said.

Robin R. Farquhar, the former artistic and executive director of Flat Rock Playhouse, passed away Nov. 3, 2008 at the age of 59. A native of Flat Rock, he was the son of Robroy and Leona Farquhar, founders of Flat Rock Playhouse.

During the 29 years of Farquhar&squo;s tenure, the organization grew from a 10-week summer stock company to a year-round professional regional theater and school. The performing series now spans nine months and entertains over 95,000 theatergoers.

Flat Rock&squo;s YouTheater instructs up to 1,000 students each year. Seasonal artists and college students number more than 100.