Runoff

These pictures were sent in by Hartwell Carson of RiverLink. A recent July rain sent waters rushing through Little Ivy Creek, so impactful that some of the fish were unable to breathe and washed up on shore. Monday's rain turned the Little Ivy Creek a familiar color, brown. Taylor Barnhill has noticed the river brown after each rain storm this summer, but this time a host of dead fish washed up along the stream bank next to his property. The mud runoff was so great the fish could no longer breath in the water.

Since mud in thestreams in the number one polluter in the French Broad Watershed, RiverLink has been diligently training volunteers to monitor such incidents. Taylor Barnhill, who witnessed the waters, graduated from RiverLink's Muddy Water Watch training in 2008 and upon seeing the muddy stream was prepared to notify the appropriate regulators.

RiverLink has ongoing Muddy Water Watch trainings. For more information contact the French Broad Riverkeeper at 828-252-8474 or at riverkeeper@riverlink.org.

RiverLink is a regional non-profit spearheading the economic and environmental revitilzation of the French Broad River Watershed. Go to http://www.riverlink.org/ for more information.

Info on adult studies

Press release from Montreat College...

Montreat College School of Professional and Adult Studies will host an information session / application workshop at the Asheville Arts Center on Tuesday, August 4th from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. The information session will give parents the opportunity to learn more about Montreat's adult-focused degree programs in Asheville, while at the same time allowing them to view Asheville Arts Center's facilities and offerings. Montreat College's School of Professional and Adult Studies in Asheville has been offering Master's, Bachelor's and Associate's degree programs to fit the busy schedules of adults for over a decade with its unique, one night per week format.

The Asheville Arts Center is a school based on unlimited opportunities for students of all ages to explore their interests in music, dance, and drama. The school fosters a love and appreciation for the arts through student-teacher relationships, which encourage and help their students excel at doing what they dream of doing. They offer high-quality instruction and educational experiences because they are committed to the art of teaching and the teaching of the arts. It is their hope to build art and awareness in the community and provide a "home" for families to pursue their dreams.

Please join Montreat College at the Asheville Arts Center located at 308 Merrimon Avenue to learn more about both of these educational opportunities. Space at the Arts Center is limited so please RSVP today to reserve your seat. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Sarah Yerkey at (828) 667-5044 or syerkey@montreat.edu or Michael Wilson at (828) 253-4000 or michael@ashevilleartscenter.com.

Crafts fair in Burnsville

A release about the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair...

The town square of Burnsville will again serve as the picturesque setting for one of the largest crafts fairs in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The 53rd annual Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair takes place Aug. 7-8, offering nearly every kind of handmade craft imaginable. The popularity of the fair is such that it draws tens of thousands of people and has been named one of the Southeast’s Top 20 “must do” events for summer 2009 by the Southeast Tourism Society.

More than 200 juried crafters will showcase their wares, allowing visitors to choose from a selection that includes handmade quilts, jewelry from local gemstones, hand-turned wooden bowls, pottery of every design, traditional mountain instruments, jewelry, soaps & lotions, and stained glass art. Many of the artisans will be working their craft throughout both days.

In addition to the variety of exhibitors, the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair includes live entertainment and a food court showcasing such Southern staples as barbecue and homemade ice cream.

Entertainment on the bandstand includes such traditional mountain music as bluegrass, folk and gospel, as well as local dance and clogging groups.

“Not only is this one of the most iconic events in the Blue Ridge, it is also free,” says Peggy Rogers of the Yancey County Chamber of Commerce. “And where else can you find such unique items like hand-hewn rhododendron chairs, intricate candelabras, quilts from some of the best quilters since Betsy Ross, and jams and jellies as good as Aunt Bea used to make!”

Burnsville is located in Yancey County, which is home to Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi at an elevation of 6,684 feet. Burnsville is about 20 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway and 35 miles northeast of Asheville.

For information on the 53rd annual Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair, call (828) 682-7413, or visit www.mtmitchellcraftsfair.com.

What is the value?

Weaverville Councilman Gene Knoefel made a good point at the council meeting Monday (July 20) about the deed restrictions the council voted to place on the sale of the old fire station might have devalued the building.
Weaverville Town Manager Mike Morgan said two interested parties dropped out of the bidding process after reading the deed restrictions, although he added there are two more interested parties that might enter an upset bid.
The lone current bid is $350,000.
With the restrictions, the economy, and the repairs the building will need just to get to an operational state, what is the value of the old fire station?

Slow food gathering

A release sent to us from Bob Bowles in Barnardsville

Saturday, August 8, 2009 from 4:00-7:00 pm at Asheville Outdoor Center on Amboy Road next to Carrier Park along the French Broad River in Asheville.

Bring your family and friends, chairs and blankets, and sit back and listen to great music while you watch the river flow by!!!

Check out the wines from several North Carolina wineries, including Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery, Lake James Cellars, and RagApple Lassie Vineyards. You'll hear from their representatives about how they see our area becoming a wine mecca. You can also purchase wine by the glass or bottle from Asheville's own Weinhaus.

Register in advance to learn wine-buying tips in a fun and educational session, How to Be Cool while Selecting Wines‚ presented by wine aficionado Mike Kolker. To pre-register for this session, visit www.slowfoodasheville.org/Events.htm.

Check out exhibits of local WNC food products that illustrate the unique and delicious quality of our area. Bring your own goodies for a summer evening picnic or purchase food at the event.
Make it a whole day! Come early and take a great float trip down the French Broad River with Asheville Outdoor Center. Visit http://www.paddlewithus.com to see the various float trips they have to offer.

This is a pivotal event for the future of Western North Carolina's Wine Industry, so plan to join us at Asheville Outdoor Center on Amboy Road next to Carrier Park along the French Broad River in Asheville. We'll share wine and food, and show our support for Asheville's first Wine and Food Festival in 2010!

To purchase advance tickets, visit www.slowfoodasheville.org/Events.htm. The cost is only $10.00 per person. This event is sponsored by Slow Food Asheville, RiverLink, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, and WNC Magazine. Right now is your chance to show support for what will be a fantastic Wine and Food Festival in 2010, so mark your calendar for August 8 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

If you would like to volunteer for this introductory event, please email info@slowfoodasheville.org. You will get a sneak peek at the plans for next year's big festival.

Basketball registration needed bu July 17

MADISON COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION
3 on 3 YOUTH BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

SATURDAY, JULY 25TH
(FRIDAY EVENING GAMES IF NEEDED)

Rising 4th-9th Grades

Tournament Overview

The tournament will consist of pool play followed
by a single elimination tournament.

Each team consists of 3-5 players. There will be girls & boys divisions for 4th/5th, 6th/7th, and 8th/9th grades. Unlimited substitutions are permitted when the ball is not in play. No roster changes are permitted once the first game starts. Girls are allowed to play in the boys division. Players may play “up” one division, but no players will be able to play down. Local youth league rules on age requirements will be applied.

Games are played to 16 points or 25 minutes, whichever happens first. Each team is allowed two 45-sec timeouts.

Officials will be provided for all games. Officials and tournament staff reserve the right to eject any team or player for improper conduct.

Entry Fee: $60 per Madison County team (at least 3 players must be residents of Madison) $75 per non-resident team(less than 3 Madison residents), must be received along with registration form by noon on July 17th.

Registration forms and rules can be obtained at Madison County Parks and Recreation Office or by calling 649-3635.

A typical newspaper dilemma

This week brought up an interesting circumstance that happens all the time at newspapers, and The Weaverville Tribune is no exception.

We received a call telling us a potentially damaging, or at the very least, embarrassing incident for a local municipal-maintained office.

We followed up on the tip and got a slightly different side to the story. No shock there, right?

However, when we went back to the source asking for verification on their story, they were unwilling to provide it.

That's the rub in this business. Our door is always open, and we are always willing to listen to anyone who has something to say. If a claim can be substantiated, then we'll look to do just that.

Guided free hike at Roan Mtn.

Here's a release from the Southern Applachian Highlands Conservancy

"Join the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for a grassy bald management / goat-viewing hike on beautiful Roan Mountain at 10 am on Saturday, July 25.
This summer, the “Baa-tany Project,” is rotating goats through test plots of vegetation on the high-elevation grassy balds of protected Roan Mountain, in hopes of finding a low-impact method of bald preservation.
Ecologists suspect that historically, grazing animals such as woolly mammoth, bison, elk, and then the cows of European settlers maintained the open balds that characterize the Roan massif. Just to prolong our beautiful day, we’ll continue on to Grassy Ridge. We’ll be able to compare the mechanical efforts with those of the goats up close and personal. The hike will be around 5 miles of moderately steep terrain.
Please dress for the weather and remember to bring hiking shoes, rain gear, backpack lunch, water, and a camera. We’ll break for a picnic in the middle. Directions and meeting location will be sent upon RSVP. This hike is free and open to the public.
For more information contact: Stacy Neiman at (828)253-0095 ext. 205 or stacy@appalachian.org

Amick wins another race

Watauga Democrat has a story here about Weaverville resident Daniel Amick winning a race at Grandfather Mountain that climbs more than 1,500 feet in altitude. Amick has won the Firecracker 5K in back-to-back years.

Convicted killer dies in prison

The Atlanta Journal-Constitutional had a story about the convicted killer of Weaverville toddler Avery Nicole King. Lanny Barnes died in prison of leukemia. He was convicted of the 2006 slaying in a McDonald's parking lot in Georgia in late 2007. Here's the rest of the story, including more on a protest outside the funeral by Avery's mother, Anita.

Small Town Main Street Program

The Weaverville Business Association submitted its application for the Small Town Main Street program at the end of June. If accepted, the town will get to work side-by-side with N.C. Department of Commerce officials in creating a "brand" for Weaverville. Other WNC towns accepted into the program include Burnsville. The town had numerous supporters, including Weaverville Town Manager Mike Morgan, the Dry Ridge Museum and others. For more on the program, go here. The association expects to hear a decision by late summer/early fall.

Crystal skull in Johnson City

Thanks to last year's underwhelming and uneccesary Indiana Jones sequel, appearently crystal skulls have become fashionable.

MAX: The Texas Crystal Skull and his keeper, JoAnn Parks will be visiting Johnson City, Tenn., for a special public presentation at the Double Tree Hotel, 211 Mockingbird Lane on Saturday morning, July 11, 2009 from 11 am -1 pm. This presentation includes a lecture about the story of MAX, the story and facts of other existing crystal skulls, a special meditation and hands on time with MAX.

Of the crystal skulls known in the world at this time, MAX is the largest, weighing 16 pounds. Many researchers, including the British Museum, consider MAX to be one of the rarest artifacts ever found on the planet. Estimated to be at least 2,000 years old, MAX was found in a tomb in St. Augustine, Guatemala, between 1924 and 1926. He was used by the Mayan priests for healing and prayer.

Admission price for the public and private presentation is $25.00 and $50.00, respectively.

More can be found at www.therapeuticmassageandwellnesscenter.com