Liquor store sales

Woodfin Town Administrator Jason Young acknowledged the town's ABC store sales have recessed since the opening of the Weaverville ABC store in October. He again told the town's aldermen during their monthly meeting in January he expects the Weaverville store to become unsustainable in the future in part due to its debt service payments.

Sales for the month of December at the Woodfin store were down nearly 50 percent from December 2008. November sales followed a similar loss from the previous November. The decline was the largest such decline of any store in the statewide system from the November and December timeframes. December sales at the Weaverville store, while outpacing Woodfin, were more than $100,000 less than Woodfin's tally from December 2008. For more on ABC store revenue reports, go here.

North Windy Ridge Haiti relief drive

North Windy Ridge School in Weaverville has raised more than $1,200 so far for a Haiti relief drive to purchase shelter boxes stocked with needy supplies for those who were devastated by the Jan. 12 earthquake. Becky Payne's classroom at North Buncombe Elementary School is also raising funds as well. NWRS drive ends Friday. For more on it, go here.

The exotic winter destination of Asheville

Several Weaverville town officials made tongue-in-cheek remarks at last night's monthly council meeting when discussing attending an N.C. League of Municipalities' Essentials of Municipal Government in February.

"It's in Asheville, not Hawaii," Weaverville Town Manager Mike Morgan quipped.

Members of the Asheville Regional Airport board came under fire recently for attending a conference in Hawaii.

Sending a council member to the conference at the Doubletree Hotel in Asheville will cost the town $325 per attending councilman.

Book signing

Reminiscing Books is pleased to announce that Kevin Burton McGuire will appear at Barnes and Noble in the Asheville Mall at 7pm on Wednesday (Jan. 27) to discuss and sign his new book "Fire Gazer - Arson at the Wolfe House."

In the book, McGuire has given us a dramatic fictional account of events leading up to the 1988 fire at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, and offers answers to the question, “Who and why would someone intentionally burn such an historic treasure?”

The Big Bang at Asheville Community Theatre

What: The Big Bang
Written by Jed Feuer; book and lyrics by Boyd Graham
Directed by Eric Mills; starring Michael Cheek and Jerry Crouch

Where: Asheville Community Theatre – Mainstage. 35 East Walnut Street, Asheville, NC 28801      

When: January 15 – 31.  Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm; Sundays, 2:30pm
Tickets are $22– adult; $19 – senior/student
Recommended for mature audiences

Tickets: 828-254-1320 or online www.ashevilletheatre.org

This week at NBHS

Wednesday
4 pm - Girls' junior varsity basketball vs. McDowell High School
5 pm - Boys' junior varsity basketball vs. McDowell High School
6:30 pm - Girls' varsity basketball vs. McDowell High School
7 pm - Varsity wrestling @ McDowell High School
8 pm - Boys' varsity basketball vs. McDowell High School

Thursday
5 pm - Coed varsity swimming vs. Asheville, Roberson, McDowell & Owen


Friday
4 pm - Girls' junior varsity basketball @ Roberson High School
5 pm - Boys' junior varsity basketball @ Roberson High School
6:30 pm - Girls' varsity basketball @ Roberson High School
7 pm - Varsity wrestling vs. Asheville High School
8 pm - Boys' varsity basketball @ Roberson High School

Saturday
TBA - Wrestling - Enka JV Tournament @ Enka

NBMS Carrabba's dinner

WHAT:  Carrabba's chicken and pasta dinner - to go orders only  

WHERE:  North Buncombe Middle School

WHEN: From 5 pm to 6:30 pm on Feb. 2

PRICE: One meal - $12; Two meals - $24; Three or more meals - $10 each

Proceeds to go toward NBMS. Order forms and money must be turned in by Jan. 27. Checks payable to NBMS PTO. For more information, call Shelia Green at 645-3126.

Haiti benefit in Woodfin

Guitarist Mark Guest has organized a Haiti benefit at the re-opened and re-named Curras Nuevo Cuisine (formerly Curras Dom) in Woodfin. The event will take place Jan. 25. Read more here.

Another Woodfin establishment, Twilight Salon, will be donating proceeds to Haiti on Feb. 15.

Read more about each of these events in an upcoming issue of the Tribune.

In the meantime, are there other North Buncombe benefits for Haiti in the coming weeks? Post them here.

Christmas roundup from Woodfin

The Woodfin Police Department's "Cops for Tots" program that collects gifts from area needy children during Christmas had a successful year, said Woodfin Police Chief Brett Holloman.
The group gathered bikes during a two-day donation drive at Bellagio Bistro in November.
The snow before Christmas wrecked havoc not only on Woodfin roads but on the machines clearing those roads. Woodfin Town Administrator Jason Young said some replacement equipment was ordered, but the town credited the public works department for its efforts during the winter blast.
In crime news, Holloman said the department made several juvenile arrests in relation to some vandalism occurances a few weeks before Christmas.

This week at NBHS

Tuesday

4 pm - Girls' junior varsity basketball @ A.C. Reynolds High School
5 pm - Boys' junior varsity basketball @ A.C. Reynolds High School
6:30 pm - Girls' varsity basketball @ A.C. Reynolds High School
7 pm - Varsity wrestling vs. A.C. Reynolds High School
8 pm - Boys' varsity basketball @ A.C. Reynolds High School

Friday
4 pm - Girls' junior varsity basketball @ Enka High School
5 pm - Coed varsity swimming - MAC @ Mars Hill
5 pm - Boys' junior varsity basketball @ Enka High School
6:30 pm - Girls' varsity basketball @ Enka High School
8 pm - Boys' varsity basketball @ Enka High School

Saturday
10 am - Varsity wrestling - Ram Duals @ Roberson

Haiti benefit

WHAT: HELP HEAL HAITI Benefit Concert

WHEN: Sat Feb 6th 7 – 11:30 and Sun Feb 7th 2 – 11:00 (Music from 2-6, and the Super Bowl on the mega screen from 6:30-11)

WHERE: White Horse Black Mountain
105C Montreat Road
Black Mountain NC 28711
669-0816
whitehorseblackmountain.com

WHO: Bob Hinkle (www.bobhinkle.com) and Kim Hughes, co-owners of the White Horse, and Nikki Talley, Benefit Coordinator and Performer (nikkitalley.com/), are putting on the benefit.
Don Talley of www.blackmountainmusicscene.com , Nancy Mason of www.nancymasondesign.com and many volunteers are giving their time to raise money in this way for Haiti.

CURRENT PERFORMER LIST: David Holt, Akira Satake, Kat Williams, Sons of Ralph, Nikki Talley, Menage, Paco Shipp, Sirius B, Ol’ Hoopty, Ty Gilpin, Daniel Barber, Kim Hughes & Rich Inman, RiYen Roots. This list will expand. Go to helphaitihealbenefit.com for more.

One-year anniversary of Flight 1549

One year ago today, U.S. Airways Flight 1549 en route from New York City to Charlotte was struck by birds shortly after take off, disabling the engines. Cap. Sully Sullenberger miraculously landed the plane in the Hudson River and thanks to timely work by the crew, all the passengers survived.

One of the crew members was Shelia Dail, a Woodland Hills resident. Today, Capt. Sullenberger, crew and survivors will take a boat into the Hudson River and hold a toast to remember the event. It is not clear if Dail would be attending, but this Associated Press article makes mention of her near the bottom and updates how she has been able to handle the lingering stress effects incurred by Flight 1549's ordeal.

MSD update

Metropolitan Sewage District reported the December power failure at its plant that resulted in a sewage spill, said board member Jackie Bryson at Monday's (Jan. 11) Woodfin Water Board meeting. She said MSD will find out in several months the likely fine from the N.C. Department of Envirornment and Natural Resources.

Area American Idol connection

Internet chatter is indicating Jesse Barry, the 17-year-old bluesy dynamo who heads up local band Skinny Legs and All, will be on this season's edition of American Idol and is believed to have made it to the all-important Hollywood week, according to this American Idol spoiler blog and Ashvegas.
Barry's band played an enthusiastic show at MPAC's July 4th party last year at North Buncombe High School. Here's a picture of her at the show. If you are watching this season (and Lord knows I will), cheer on Barry.

This week at NBHS

Monday

4pm - Varsity wrestling - Enka/ Christ School JV @ Christ School

Tuesday
4 pm - Girls' junior varsity basketball @ Clyde A Erwin High School
5 pm - Boys' junior varsity basketball @ Clyde A Erwin High School
6:30 pm - Girls' varsity bBasketball @ Clyde A Erwin High School
7 pm - Varsity wrestling vs. Clyde A Erwin High School
8 pm - Boys' varsity basketball @ Clyde A Erwin High School

Friday
4 pm - Girls' junior varsity basketball vs. Asheville High School
5pm - Boys' junior varsity basketball vs. Asheville High School
6:30 pm - Girls' varsity basketball vs. Asheville High School
8 pm - Boys' varsity basketball vs. Asheville High School

Saturday
TBA  - Coed varsity swimming - Buncombe County meet @ Asheville School

Save on your energy bills

A news item from the Buncombe County Extension Service...

A free educational workshop about some lost cost ways to save on energy bills is scheduled for 5:30 pm on Jan. 21. Participants will also have the opportunity to sign up for home energy audits at a special workshop price. The standard cost of $500 will be reduced to $100 and participants can have a qualified Home Energy Rater conduct an audit of their home and make energy saving recommendations on a personal level. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Register by calling 255-5522. Only individuals attending the workshop will qualify for the reduced audit price.

Info on audits:

* Home no larger than 2,000 square feet

* One HVAC system

* Age of home is 5 or more years

* $100 payment, by certified check on the day the audit is performed.

* Audit will last approximately 4 hours. Homeowners must be present and available during the audit.

* Only homeowners who have attended an E-Conservation Workshop can receive an audit through this program.

* The homeowner must agree in writing to participate in post-audit surveys that will be conducted by their local agent.

Send us your recipes and tips

Beginning with next week's issue, we will no longer be running a weekly cooking column. We will still print recipes as we receive them. If you would like to send us your recipes or cooking tips, please email them to wteditor@weavervilletribune.com. Include a little information about yourself as well.

MLK Day event

"What?! 42 years after MLK,Jr. Racism Still in America and in Asheville?" will be presented by Jane Kennedy and Dwight Mullen from 2 pm to 3:30 pm on Jan. 17 during the meeting of the Ethical Society of Asheville at the Botanical Gardens Visitor Center, 151 W.T. Weaver Blvd. 

Ms. Kennedy is American Red Cross Southeast Division Director of Education and Organizational Development, and an alumnus and Program Committee member of Building Bridges of Asheville, Inc.  Dr. Mullen is a Professor and the Director of the Political Science Department at the University of NC-Asheville.  The title of this presentation is adapted from a September 2009 article by Jim Wallis of Sojourners (http://blog.sojo.net/2009/09/17/what-racism-still-in-america/ ).  

There will be a discussion period following the presentation and, following the meeting, there will be time for informal conversation. All are welcome!  For more information contact: asheville@aeu.org, www.aeu.org or 687-7759.   

Local business updates

Several local business updates...

Dr. Nicole Ogg has opened Dry Ridge Family Medicine on Main Street in Weaverville.

Thai Citrus restaurant has opened in the Stone Ridge Business Park in Woodfin.

Kaylynne's Florist has re-opened in its new location next to Accent on Books in North Asheville. It had previously been located in the former Newbridge Shopping Center in Woodfin.

Curras Dom in Woodfin has a sign on its door announcing a re-opening on Jan. 18.

A certain North Buncombe newspaper has moved from its Weaverville offices to Reynolds Village in Woodfin. Several former employees of Secret Garden plan to open a new business in the Tribune's former offices behind Preservation Hall in Weaverville.

Any other business news out there?

Free yoga

Lighten Up Yoga, located at 60 Biltmore Avenue, announces FREE YOGA DAY and Fundraiser for Asheville Greenworks, Friday January 15th and Saturday January 16th.
Open to all students, the classes are an opportunity to learn about yoga in a safe and supportive environment. In the spirit of community, Lighten Up will be collecting donations for Asheville GreenWorks, a volunteer-based organization working to keep Buncombe County clean and green through community organizing, educating and environmental stewardship. Clear your mind and connect with heart at Lighten Up Yoga while helping this great cause. Our talented teachers boast years of practice and experience.

Students will sample a range of topics and teaching styles offered by the professional instructors at Lighten Up.
FREE CLASS SCHEDULE

Friday: 5 pm – Stretch and Tone - Adam
Saturday:

9 am Wake Up Yoga - Laura

10 am Core Strength Yoga - Kay

11 am Go with the Flow - Kim

12 pm Twist and Shout - Gea

1 pm Open Heart: Open Mind - Katherine

2 pm Back Care Basics - Lillah

3 pm Creating Awareness - Stacy

4 pm Grow Your Roots – Danielle

Lighten Up Yoga Center, founded by Lillah Schwartz, is now celebrating its 29th year and has been serving the Asheville community since 1981. Based in the Iyengar Method, our classes are progressive and safe for beginners, yet challenging for students of all levels. Visit www.lightenupyoga.com to learn more about our offerings.

Games reshuffled

Tuesday's North Buncombe High School game versus T.C. Roberson was moved to Wednesday because of snow. The BlackHawks were going to try and reschedule Wednesday's game with Polk County to Thursday.

UPDATED: Wednesday's game with T.C. Roberson will take place, beginning this afternoon at NBHS.

Back in business

We have returned from our holiday vacation and have reopened our offices above the Neighborhood YMCA in Woodfin. Internet is up but phones are still down, so if you need immediate contact with us, shoot an email to wteditor@weavervilletribune.com or better yet, stop by our new offices in Reynolds Village, located on the third floor above the YMCA.