Weeki Wachee Mermaids

Some guests from over the mountain at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tenn., recently stopped by The Weaverville Tribune offices to announce a special event. The world famous Weeki Wachee mermaids of Springs, Fla., will be appearing for nine shows beginning Friday (May 1) and ending Sunday (May 3).

The mermaids will perform their underwater synchronized ballet each day at 1, 3 and 5 pm. This will mark only the second time these mermaids have appeared outside their historic home in their 62-year history.

The shows are free with admission but reservations are required. Call Courtney Thompson at 888-240-1358, ext. 2142.

Tenant for Village at Monticello

It appears the Village at Monticello, the mixed-use development on North Main Street in Weaverville, will soon have its first business tenant. A new Edward Jones office will move into the bottom floor of the building sometime in the near future.

The building was the first in a planned mixed-use community. But after opening in late 2007, the downstairs business offices sat empty for more than a year. At least one of the upstairs condominiums have been occupied.

Let's see if this move breaks the seal on other businesses moving into the attractive space.

Dining Out For Life

Reminder on Thursday...
The Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP) will join 50 other cities across the country and in Canada on April 30 for the seventh annual Dining Out for Life benefit. Over 90 restaurants will take part in the event locally, including Blue Mounrtain Pizza and Stoney Knob Café in Weaverville and Bavarian Restaurant & Biergarten and Curra’s Dom in Woodfin. More than $117,000 was raised last year by area restaurants donating a portion of their daily proceeds.

National Woodfin mention

More on this in Thursday's edition.... Here's a link to the Parks and Recreation article featuring Avery's Little Corner in Woodfin:

http://nrpablog.typepad.com/prnow/april09/new%20life%20for%20old%20playgrounds_jess%20clarke.pdf

NBHS Prom

Have any leftover pics from the North Buncombe High School prom on Friday? Send them to wteditor@weavervilletribune.com, along with cutline information, by Tuesday night and we'll get them in the paper.

Seafood market returns

The Blue Water Seafood Market in Hendersonville will again have a seafood tailgate selling a variety of fish from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday (April 25) at Reynolds Village in Woodfin.

Jencks fundraiser

Eleven-year-old Kaitlin Jencks of Weaverville could attend the world-famous Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan for six weeks this summer on a $3,600 scholarship -- the highest awarded this year -- if she can raise the rest of the tuition and expenses, another $4,848.
At her young age, Jencks has an extensive acting and performance background with groups such as Montford Park Players, Class Act Players, First Stage Youth Theatre, Asheville Contemporary Dance Theater/New Studio/BeBe Theater, Asheville Community Theatre, Asheville Symphony Children's Chorus and Celebration Singers.
Deadline to have the funds in by is May 1.
Any individual or organization interested in being a sponsor should contact Kaitlin's grandfather, Fred Flaxman, at 645-8580 or go to http://www.kaitlinjencks.com/ and click the donate button at the bottom of the page.

Leftover notes from Woodfin aldermen meeting

* The town collected 34.5 tons in recycling during the month of March. Woodfin Town Administrator Jason Young said 73 percent of town residents are participating in the recycling initiative that began last year, a figure well above the national average.

* Young also said the the town's Web site is currently switching to a new Web provider and should be re-established soon.

* The dark sky ordinance was taken off last night's schedule as the town continues to work with various entities, such as Progress Energy, in remedying the language of the ordinance.

Florida Street discussion

One item removed from last night's Weaverville Town Council meeting was discussion on closing a portion of Florida Street for a pedestrian mall. The Weaverville Business Association supported this proposed concept at a recent meeting. The Weaverville Tribune reported on this in last week's issue.

One citizen spoke against closing Florida Street over concerns of forcing truck traffic on the residential Alabama Avenue. They said the street is not capable of handling wide loads.

Councilman Walt Currie said the council will considered this concern when the matter again comes before council. Time will tell how this one shakes out.

Leftover notes from Weaverville council meeting

Notes from the Town of Weaverville's meeting last night...

* May 17 will be the date for the town's Arbor Day celebration at Lake Louise.

* Weaverville Town Manager Mike Morgan is using govdeals.com to sell surplus items. The Web site offers greater exposure but charges 7 percent of the sell cost as commission.

* Three provisions were added to the town's water shortage plan to comply with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

* The town passed a motion to urge local lawmakers to oppose House Bill 768 and Senate Bill 839. These bills deal with forced merger of the ABC board. The state Program Evaluation Division made these suggestion in December 2008. You can read the report here.

Road closures

The North Carolina Department of Transportation will close a portion of Longs Chapel Road in Weaverville between the South Main Street Extension and Herron Cove Road beginning Monday and lasting until Sept. 2 for bridge replacement.

The road was open Tuesday morning but NCDOT workers were on the scene

Construction continues on N.C. Hwy. 251 in Alexander for bridge work there. Traffic is reduced to one lane through the construction area. That work is also scheduled to be completed in September.

For a complete list of projects in the area, go to the NCDOT's list here.

Traffic backed up about a mile

Traffic is backed up between Exit 23 and Exit 19 on the future Interstate 26 East in Woodfin this morning. One lane is blocked for bridge maintenance.

Doors opening soon

Just a reminder.... legendary poet Maya Angelou will be speaking tonight at Moore Auditorium on the campus of Mars Hill College. Doors are opening at 6:30 pm and she will begin speaking at 7:30 pm.

Operation Pill Crusher

This announcement meant to make this week's issue but was accidentally overlooked. We apologize for the mistake.

"The Weaverville Police Department in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation will be accepting voluntary disposal of old, unused and expired medical conditions from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday (April 18) at Ingles on Weaver Boulevard. For more information, contact the DEA at 828-350-3440 or the Weaverville Police Department at 645-5700."

Lane closed on future I-26

The right lane is closed for bridge maintenance just south of the Elk Mountain Road exit on the future Interstate 26 West. Traffic is flowing smoothly this morning.

Meeting at Big Ivy Community Center

Soil and Water Conservation District
Planning For The Future of Your Farm
6 pm - 8 pm - April 14, 2009

*Maximizing wealth and harmony in the family farm
*Keeping your land profitable and sustainable for the next generation
*Strengthening local support for farming and forestry

Scene secured

The scene at 14 White Cedar Drive was secured by Weaverville emergency officials this afternoon after earlier reports of a structure fire.

Town likely to suspend merit program

The Town of Weaverville is considering suspending its merit pay program for the coming fiscal year. Although the final budget will not be approved until June, council members did not have any opposition Monday (April 6) to the suspension of a merit program that in the past has increased the pay of town employees several percent of their salary based on performance. Cost-of-living increases will remain in effect.

Richmond Hill investigation ongoing

Buddy Thompson of the Asheville-Buncombe Arson Task Force said the investigation into the March fire at the Richmond Hill Inn in Asheville is still ongoing.
"We still pushing through," he said.
There is no indication as to when the investigation might complete.

Everything OK at Barnardsville Elementary

Some food burning in the microwave was the cause of a evacuation this morning at Barnardsville Elementary School. All the students and teachers were safe and officials did a check of the building before securing the scene.