The new executive chef at Red Fox Country Club, Josh Jones, learned the job was available and arranged for an interview while motoring east from Santa Barbara, Calif., with his newlywed bride, Samantha.

My mother-in-law told us about this wonderful area, from Asheville to Tryon, and the more we looked the more excited we became, Jones said. The quality of life is beautiful and sustainable yet the cost of living is reasonable. Believe me, theres a lot of buzz about this area.

The newly arrived California native is not yet 30 but already has 10 years of restaurant experience and just last year studied under executive chef Andrea Trapini at Apicius Culinary Institute in Florence, Italy.

I strongly suggest anyone interested in this business spend about ten years learning it from the ground up and then go to culinary school, use it like a finishing school, Jones said.

One of the first things Jones did after starting work is introduce Andrew Davis, a local youngster who is just getting started in the food service business, to the team concept of food preparation.

Andrew has an amazing amount of natural talent, Jones said. Hes a quick study and not afraid to try new things.”

Red Fox General Manager Tony Jackson said, The team approach has already proven itself. We recently introduced an expanded Sunday brunch menu and last Sunday we turned a full dining room three times between 10:30 and 3.

The clubhouse dining room and Tally-Ho Tavern at the local country club are open to the public Wednesday through Saturday&bsp; and for Sunday brunch.

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Landrum Eclectics, a new antiques, collectibles and garden shop owned by John Dobson and Wayne Levister, is now open at 601 W. Rutherford St. in Landrum, just up from the Hay Rack on Hwy. 14 toward Greer and Greenville on the corner of W. Finger St.

The former Howard House has been remodeled and offers eight spacious rooms of eclectic items from the owners, consignors and different vendors as well as a porch and yard with vintage pieces of all kinds and varieties, including in the near future custom made rock planters and bird baths made by Levister, which are all at present being made for a number of Fatz Cafs, where he worked for the last 10 years.

Dobson has more than 25 years in the antiques business. He invites you to feel free to bring your friendly dogs when you visit, as Kona and Roscoe, the resident canines, also love to sniff out new friends.

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Elaines Attic Fabric and Quilt Shop will be attending the American Quilt Society show in Knoxville July 14-17.

It is an honor to be accepted as a vendor at this wonderful show, said Elaines owner Robin Kaluahine. There are quilts from all over the U.S.A. To say they are amazing is an understatement.

More information about the show is available at www.americanquilter.com . &bsp;

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National retailer Dollar General opened its newest store in North Carolina on Wednesday at 987 Ozone Drive in Saluda.

The 9,014-square-foot store is bigger than most Dollar General stores and features a customer-centric design, said Paula Greene, the stores manager.

The new store employs seven people and features a layout designed to make shopping easier for customers. Dollar General sells brand-name and private-label merchandise, such as health and beauty products, cleaning supplies, housewares, stationery, seasonal goods, basic clothing, packaged food products, refrigerated foods like dairy products and lunch meat, and frozen food.

The majority of the stores products are priced at $10 or less, with about 25 percent of the products priced at $1 or less.

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Dr. Angel Mitchell of Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital has recently completed a four session course in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). TCM incorporates the use of herbs, acupuncture, diet, and lifestyle to improve health and well-being. The course focused on the use of Chinese herbal formulas for the treatment of medical and behavioral problems in dogs and cats.

Dr. Mitchell has been practicing acupuncture for more than 16 years and began adding herbal formulas to her practice 10 years ago. She says Chinese herbal formulas are complex combinations of multiple herbs that have synergistic affects with minimal side effects.

Many of the formulas are classical formulas which have been in existence for hundreds of years, but some have been modified to increase their effectiveness in veterinary diseases. TCM is one of the integrative modalities offered at Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital along with chiropractic care and nutritional counseling.

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Pardee Hospital is offering a new class, Seniors in Motion. The new class, which is free for wellness members and Pardee associates, is located at the Pardee Rehab and Wellness Center, 212-B Thompson Street near Epic Theaters. Classes will take place each Wednesday and Friday from 10 until 10:30 a.m.

This class is designed to help promote range of motion, breathing, stretching and moving the entire body with the aid of motivating music. Participants are required to stand independently and tolerate light to moderate cardiac exercise.

For more information about Seniors in Motion or for additional class information please call the Rehab and Wellness Center at (828) 698-6774.