Taking a break

The office of the Weaverville Tribune will close Christmas Eve and remain closed through Jan. 1. We will reopen at 9 am on Jan. 2. Thanks to everyone in North Buncombe for making this another great year and happy holidays to everyone.

If you need assistance while our office is closed, please send an e-mail to wteditor@weavervilletribune.com.

Group opposes public station's license renewal

A group of 30 WCQS-FM Asheville-area listeners, calling themselves the Ad-Hoc Committee for Responsive Public Radio, has filed a petition with the FCC to deny the public radio station's license renewal. The station's license expired on Dec. 1, but the FCC automatically extended it while they consider the petition to deny, the station's response to the petition, and the Ad-Hoc Committee's rebuttal, which was submitted by mail on Saturday (Dec. 17).

The committee faults the station for being unresponsive to, and uninterested in, the views of its listeners. The group cites the fact that the station violated the Public Broadcasting Act for 13 years by not having a community advisory board (CAB), while testifying each year that they were in compliance with all federal laws in order to receive funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Forced to re-establish a CAB four years ago, WCQS management did not ask their Community Advisory Board for its advice before making sweeping program changes this year. These included the elimination of all local and national half-hour public affairs programming, a popular gardening show and a one-hour Celtic music program.

The committee also complains that the station, until this year, had not conducted any listener surveys, and the recent survey took place only after the program changes were made. Other gripes include not broadcasting programs requested by many listeners, not responding to mail from listeners, not airing programs created by any local independent producers, and violating the station's own mission statement as presented on their own website. That statement says that part of their mission is to broadcast local talk programs.

"Rather than offer to meet with critics, the station is spending who knows how much listener-donated money hiring Washington communications attorneys to represent them," according to Fred Flaxman, the committee's coordinator. "This is further evidence of their non-responsiveness to the community they are licensed to serve," he added.

Flaxman has a public broadcasting background, having retired to Weaverville after serving as a top executive for five public broadcasting stations throughout the U.S.

"It truly pains me to be fighting with a public radio station," Flaxman said, "because I have devoted my career to public radio and television and believe very strongly in the benefit they are to society. I moved to this area six years ago and volunteered to serve on WCQS's Community Advisory Board. That's when I learned that they didn't have one -- and didn't want one. I helped them reinstitute one, but gave up when I saw that their manager wanted to control the CAB and didn't want it to be the independent advisory body it is supposed to be. I only wished to see WCQS become the excellent public radio station this great community deserves. I would have preferred to work with them toward that end rather than against them."

Access to online pdf files of the Committee's "Petition to Deny," the station's "Opposition to Petition to Deny," and the Committee's "Response to Opposition to Petition to Deny" are available on request. Contact Flaxman at fflaxman@frontier.com.

Development hums along at Villages at Crest Mountain

Construction is moving along at the Villages at Crest Mountain in Woodfin. The new residential development is next to the Crest Center on Dryman Mountain Road. 

As of December, seven full-time residents now occupy homes in The Villages at Crest Mountain with three more homes nearing completion soon. Seventeen lots have been sold. Development began in 2009.


The homes and the community tout a wide range of environmentally friendly designs such as community rainwater harvesting and south-facing lots designed to optimize solar orientation.


The Villages at Crest Mountain sits on the former campus of Ben Lippen School.

Rabid animals and what to do

A fox believed to be rabid was spotted Tuesday (Dec. 13) off Clarks Chapel Road in a residential neighborhood. Residents also reported the sighting of a rabid fox Monday (Dec. 12) off Flat Creek Church Road.

A Buncombe County Department of Health official said the best thing to do when you spot an animal thought to be rabid is to call the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office - Animal Control division. They said residents inside Weaverville town limits could call Weaverville police or N.C. Wildlife Commission but she said certain agencies respond to certain animals and circumstances, so it is best to start with the BCSO. If an animal has not attacked or been confirmed to have rabies, agencies ask for anyone that comes near the animal to simply stay away.

The department recommends the following:

Rabies is easily transmitted among wild animals and unvaccinated pets, so the public has been alerted to watch for any animal that may be behaving strangely such as acting aggressively, stumbling or foaming at the mouth.

Rabies is not unusual among wildlife; however it’s important that steps be taken to prevent exposure to the disease among humans and pets. In North Carolina rabies is most common in raccoons, skunks, and foxes, but has also been found in dogs, cats, horses, cattle, bats and other animals.
The Buncombe County Department of Health makes the following recommendations to prevent the spread of rabies:

• Vaccinate your pets regularly according to North Carolina Law.
• Keep children and pets away from wild and strange animals. Don’t try to feed, touch, or play with a wild animal.
• Don’t allow pets to run at large.
• Secure garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids, and take them out in the morning of pick up, not the night before. Coyotes and other wildlife will scavenge trash.
• Feed pets indoors or remove food when your pet is finished eating outside. Wild animals are attracted to pet food left outdoors.
• Avoid contact with bats. If you find a bat during daylight hours, it is most likely unhealthy and should not be touched.
• Keep bird-feeder areas clean, and use bird feeders that keep seed off the ground. Foxes are attracted to small animals congregating on the ground. If you frequently see foxes, remove all feeders.
• Close off crawl spaces under sheds, porches, decks and homes. Some wildlife may use these spaces to rest or to build their dens.

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through the saliva of an infected animal. When contracted by humans, rabies is fatal unless early treatment is sought. There is no cure once symptoms develop, so immediate treatment is important to prevent the disease.

If bitten by any animal, clean the wound thoroughly (for at least 10 minutes) and then contact your doctor or Buncombe County Department of Health at 250-5109.

The fox in question was killed by an area resident. Neighbors who saw the animal said it was drooling, chattering his teeth and biting the bark off of a tree.

Update on Zaxby's in Weaverville

Zaxby's, a popular fast-food chicken eatery in the Southeast, will be opening its first Weaverville location, and fourth in Buncombe County, in early 2012, according to developers. The restaurant will be the first opening at Weaver Village, the new mixed-use development on the corner of North Main Street and Weaver Boulevard. Goodwill Industries will be opening at the village a short time later.

Final Nutcracker performance

Students at North Buncombe Elementary School, which has been annually putting on "The Nutcracker" play each Christmas, will be giving the final performance of the season at 7 pm tonight at NBES.

Mars Hill College graduation info

Mars Hill College will confer bachelor’s degrees on an expected seventy-five students during December graduation ceremonies at 5 pm on Dec. 16 in Moore Auditorium. 

Student speakers for the graduation will be: Christopher Philip “Kit” Powell, a music performance major from Antigo, Wisc.; Tenise Shavon Smith, a special education major in the adult studies program from Marion; and Luis Ramon Cruz, a physical education major from Anaheim Hills, Calif.

The invocation will be given by Britney Lynn Acosta, a math major from Glenville.

Volunteer opportunity

A volunteer opportunity from the American Cancer Society 

During this season of kindness and giving, have you resolved to do more to help others? How about helping a person or caregiver in coping with a cancer diagnosis? The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteers to work with patients. Some programs require special skills (licensed cosmetologist or aesthetician) or specific experiences (surviving cancer), but we currently seek help with these two programs and all you need is a caring heart. 

            Road to Recovery volunteers provide transportation for cancer patients to treatment. We’re seeking to increase our team of volunteer drivers. This is a very rewarding way of helping another person along the healing journey. Volunteers must be available weekdays and willing to drive patients in their own vehicle.

            Resource Center volunteers assist patients, caregivers, or others find answers to their questions about cancer diagnosis, treatment, and community resources. Volunteers must be available for a weekday shift at the SECU Mission Hospital Cancer Center. 

            For more information on finding fulfillment through volunteering, please call the American Cancer Society at 828-254-6931 or 1-800-227-2345.

Swim match tonight

North Buncombe's swim teams are off to a good start this season. The boys' finished second in the first match of the season and dominated A.C. Reynolds by a score of 97-36 in the teams' tilt Nov. 29. The girls' team won the first match of the season but narrowly lost to Reynolds 90-78. The BlackHawks are hosting Erwin, T.C. Roberson and Tuscola beginning at 7:55 pm tonight at Mars Hill College.

Giving campaign ends Thursday

The Weaverville Police Department's "Cops for Kids" annual Christmas giving campaign ends Dec. 8. Collections are still be taken at the station located on South Main Street in Weaverville. For more information, call 645-5700.

Area Christmas events

We're listing all the area Christmas events we've received so far. Email wteditor@weavervilletribune.com to add your event to the list

* Dec. 3 beginning at 1 pm - Weaverville Christmas Parade. It will start at the corner of Dula Springs Road and North Main Street and continue south down Main Street and through downtown.

* Dec. 3 from 4 pm to 7 pm - Vance Birthplace candlelight tours

* Dec. 9 from 6 pm to 9 pm - Weaverville Candlelight Stroll - Downtown businesses stay open late as carolers and performers gather along the streets

* The adult choir at First Baptist Church will present "The Marvel of This Night” beginning at 10:55 am on Dec. 11.

* The First Presbyterian Church, Weaverville United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church will again take part in the churches’ candlelight walk beginning at 6 pm on Dec. 11. The walk will begin at First Presbyterian Church and conclude at First Baptist Church with events in each sanctuary.

* The children choir at First Baptist Church will present the program “Christmas Everywhere” at 7 pm on Dec. 14.

* The Brio Series will hold its last concert of the year at 7 pm on Dec. 15 with piano, clarinet and voice performances at First Baptist Church.

Magician show

Release from The Vanishing Wheelchair, an organization headed up Woodfin-based paraplegic magician Ricky Boone..

Santa Claus will be joining the magician founders of the public charity The Vanishing Wheelchair, Inc. to share the magic of the season at the Asheville Masonic Temple Theatre, 80 Broadway, Asheville, North Carolina on December 6  at 7:00 p.m. The family-friendly hour-and-a-half magic and music show is free to the public (donations are welcome).

 The Vanishing Wheelchair, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded by Ricky Boone and T.J. Shimeld. It is inspired by the mystifying misdirection of Ricky who uses magic and comedy to make his disability a great ability. The Vanishing Wheelchair, Inc. wishes to raise funds to establish a universally accessible hands-on museum centered around a magic show for children of all abilities to explore the arts and sciences at which people with disabilities can work and learn skills in performing, painting, photography, music, crafts, and wood working.  “Just like the old Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movie,” Ricky jokes, “we wish to find a loving home for misfit toys.”

Ricky Boone’s biography, The Four-foot Giant and the Vanishing Wheelchair, is T.J. Shimeld’s sixth book.  Proceeds from the book benefit the non-profit charitable organization. To download a free chapter of The Four-foot Giant and the Vanishing Wheelchair, visit www.FourFootGiantBook.com.

Author T.J. Shimeld and Ricky D. Boone will be available to sign books after the shows. A suggested donation of $10 for adult tickets and $5 for children tickets is appreciated. Tickets may be available at the door, but advanced reservations are strongly encouraged since seating is limited.

Local named to bike board

Weaverville resident Ben Elderd will be the town's representative on a regional, seven-county bicycle plan steering committee headed up through the Land of Sky Regional Council. The committee will look at developing biking initiatives throughout the area. Weaverville Councilman Doug Dearth nominated Elderd to the position.

Woodfin resident named top cyclist by USA Cycling

Press release from USA Cycling...

USA Cycling will award its annual “Athlete of the Year” designations on Nov. 5 at the 2011 U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in Davis, Calif.
 
Developmental mountain biker Stephen Ettinger (Cashmere, Wash./BMC Mountain Bike Development Team) will receive the men’s award while the women’s designation will go to the foursome of Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif./OUCH Pro Cycling), Dotsie Bausch (Irvine, Calif.), Jennie Reed (Seattle, Wash./OUCH Pro Cycling), and Lauren Tamayo (Asheville, N.C./Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12) for their success in the team pursuit. 
 
“Being recognized as ‘Athletes of the Year’ for the Women's Team Pursuit is such an honor,” said Reed. “We've all been working hard and continuing to get faster and faster, so it's always nice to be recognized for our hard work and achievements.  These women motivate and push me every day to reach a higher level.”
 
In the last two years, American women have experienced unprecedented team pursuit success. On May 12, 2010, Sarah Hammer, Dotsie Bausch, and Lauren Tamayo set the world record for the team pursuit—3:19.569—becoming the first team ever to break the 3:20 barrier. This achievement set the stage for the UCI Track World Championships, where the USA women had never won a medal. At the 2011 Worlds in the Netherlands, the determined trio of Hammer, Bausch, and Jennie Reed rode like the wind to reach the gold medal round against Great Britain and eventually earned the silver medal, another landmark for American cycling.

Looking back at NBHS football season

North Buncombe ended its season Friday (Oct. 28) with a loss to Reynolds, finishing the season 1-10 under first-year coach Brandon Allen. The BlackHawks have fallen on hard times since their last playoff appearance in 2008, winning just four games on the field (they also claimed a 2009 victory against McDowell due to the Titans' use of an ineligible player).

This season started on a rocky note in the first weeks of Allen's tenure when quarterback Christian Jewkes transferred to Christ School, leaving the BlackHawks' without its 1,000-yard signal caller from 2010. The move prompted Allen to shift the BlackHawks to a running team, and they used a variety of sets throughout the year to add spice to the running game.

Senior Adam Davis had a big year from the BlackHawks, rushing for 1,175 yards and 10 touchdowns. He spent half the season at tailback and the other half at quarterback, replacing Zac Shook. Davis also had 343 return yards, second on the team behind Colby Fox. The BlackHawks only completed 29 passes on the season with two touchdowns and seven interceptions.

They were at their most effective, such as in the lone win against Enka, controlling the clock with their running game.

Although the BlackHawks started the season 0-4, they were competitive in every game early in narrow losses to Madison, Draughn, West Henderson and Mountain Heritage. After the homecoming victory against Enka, spirits ran high as the BlackHawks had a chance to move to 2-0 in the Mountain Athletic Conference with an away game at McDowell on the docket. The Titans, at the time, had the longest losing streak in the state.

However, the Titans shut out the BlackHawks in a demoralizing defeat. As injuries began piling up throughout the season, Allen was forced to rely on inexperienced and overworked players. The BlackHawks ran out of gas as they faced the meat of the conference schedule (Roberson, Asheville, Erwin, Reynolds).

No one expected the turnaround to happen quickly. The BlackHawks will continue to rebuild in 2012.

Mars Hill College events and news

* The public is welcome to Local Food Night on Wednesday (Nov. 2) at Mars Hill College featuring an all-you-can-eat buffet of local food from farms in Madison and Buncombe counties. Cost is $8.25 for adults; $4.50 for children 5-11 years of age; and free for children 4 and under.  MHC Students will also be collecting nonperishable food items at the event for The Mars Hill Baptist Church Backpack Program to benefit Madison County students. 

*The Bailey Mountain Cloggers, Mars Hill College’s award-winning dance team, made an impressive showing at the America’s Clogging Hall of Fame national competition in Maggie Valley, October 22-23, winning 16 team awards and numerous individual awards. BMC took first place in Contemporary Moving Line, Contemporary Standing Line, Kentucky Running Set Precision, Smooth Appalachian Dance, and Props Exhibition. They also won Overall Titles with each of these routines. The team won second place in Country Hoedown, Running Set Hoedown, Southern Appalachian Hoedown, 4 or More Couple Hoedown, Artistic Expression and Open Precision. 

* Mars Hill College will be partnering with Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville and Healing Art Missions for an exhibition of Haitian art, called “Art from the Heart,” through Nov. 9 at Weizenblatt Gallery in the Moore building on the campus. The art will then be auctioned at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church on Sunday, November 13. All proceeds from the auction will go for medications and operating expenses for a medical clinic funded by Healing Art Missions in Dumay, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. 

Kruger Bros. concert in Marshall

The Madison County Arts Council presents

The Kruger Brothers in Concert

Saturday, November 5th   7:30 pm  $20

at the Madison County Arts Center

90 S. Main St

Marshall, NC  28753

The Kruger Brothers were awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant for Music from the Spring a sym­phonic suite composed and orchestrated by Jens Kruger, which premiered in 2007. In late 2010, the Kruger Brothers premiered the Appalachian Concerto, a concerto for banjo, bass, guitar, and string quartet. In addition to their regular concert schedule they perform these pieces regularly with select symphony orchestras and string quartets throughout the country.

The Madison County Arts Council is pleased to host the Kruger Brothers once again.  For more information contact www.madisoncountyarts.com or call (828) 649-1301.

Halloween safety tips from BCSO

Sheriff Van Duncan reminds all Buncombe County residents to follow these safety tips:

Motorists:

* Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.

* Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.

* Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.

* At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.

Parents:

* Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.

* Check the sex offender registry at www.ncdoj.gov when planning your child’s trick-or-treat route. You can view maps that pinpoint registered offenders’ addresses in your neighborhood, and sign up to get email alerts when an offender moves nearby.

* Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children's companions.

* Make sure older kids trick-or-treat in a group.

* Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.

* Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger's home.

* Establish a return time.

* Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home.

* Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.

* All children need to know their home telephone number and how to call 9-1-1 in case of emergency.

* Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address and telephone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.

Costume Design:

* Only fire-retardant materials should be used for costumes.

* Costumes should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath.

* Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard.

* Make sure that shoes fit well to prevent trips and falls.

* If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light colored materials. Strips of retro-reflective tape should be used to make children visible.

Face Design:

* Do not use masks as they can obstruct a child's vision. Use facial make-up instead.

* When buying special Halloween makeup, check for packages containing ingredients that are labeled "Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives," "Laboratory Tested," "Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics," or "Non-Toxic." Follow manufacturer's instruction for application.

* If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.

Accessories:

 * Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.

* Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with retro-reflective tape if children are allowed out after dark.

* Carrying flashlights with fresh batteries will help children see better and be seen more clearly.

While Trick-or-Treating:

* Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.

* Walk; do not run, from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards.

* Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.

* Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.

Treats:

* Give children an early meal before going out.

* Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.

* Wash fruit and slice it into small pieces.

* Throw away any candy that is unwrapped or partially wrapped, or has a strange odor, color or texture.

Homeowners/Decorations:

* Keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame.

* Remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.

* Keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could catch fire.

* Do not leave your house unattended.

"Halloween is a fun time in Buncombe County,”  Duncan concluded, "But let’s make it a safe time as well. The major dangers are not from witches or spirits but rather from falls and pedestrian/car crashes"

Storyteller coming to Marshall

The Madison County Arts Council presents a special storytelling workshop and performance with renowned teller Connie Regan-Blake from 1 pm to 5 pm on Saturday, Oct. 29.  The workshop fee is $60 and includes a ticket to the evening performance. Madison and Buncombe County teachers can participate at a reduced fee of $50 and can receive CEU credits for attending.

Regan-Blake will be presenting her workshop entitled "Ghouls, Goblins, and Ghosts: A Workshop on Telling Scary Stories."  During the workshop you will learn a story to tell for Halloween or around the campfire, nurture deep listening skills, explore appropriate stories for different ages, practice ‘embodying’ your stories and discover your innate capacity as a storyteller. 

She will also be in concert that evening at 7:30 pm.  Tickets for the evening performance, Out of the Grave: Chilling Ghost Stories and More are $10.  She will be joined by performance poets Rodney Bowling and Cindy Trisler.  This show is recommended for teens and adults.  No children please!  Call (828) 649-1301 for more information or visit www.madisoncountyarts.com.

News from North Buncombe's FFA chapter

On Oct. 6-8, the North Buncombe Future Farmers of America chapter participated in the Madison County Fair. Members capitalized on an opportunity to show market lambs, dairy goats and beef heifers competitively.

Josie Johnson showed her Alpine Dairy Goat and finished second in her class. Natalie Ball, Caleb Gillespie, and Cole Gillespie participated in the beef heifer show will Ball winning her class. High school FFA members who showed market lambs included Taylor Bishop, Bailey Strub, Jennifer Lopresti, Jonathan Ball, Shane Sluder, Matthew Young, Justin Crain, Emily Sprinkle and Brynn Shaver. Middle school members were Jacob Burleson, Dylan Kiser, Brook Wheeler and Jarrett Meyers. Elementary school students Charlie Burleson, Caleb Gillespie and Cole Gillespie also participated. In Class 2, Strub placed first, Lopresti placed second and Crain placed third. In Class 3, Sprinkle placed first, Shaver placed second and Sluder placed fourth. In Class 4, Kiser placed first, and Meyers placed second. In Class 5, Charlie Burleson placed first, Bishop placed second and Young placed fourth. In Class 6, Jacob Burleson placed first. Jacob Burleson’s lamb was named Grand Champion Market Lamb and Wheeler was named Reserve Champion.

On Oct. 4, the North Buncombe High FFA Forestry Team went to Dupont Forest to compete in the 2011 Regional Forestry Career Development Event. The competition was segmented into four different parts, including tree identification, measuring for pulpwood cutting, measuring for saw log production and identification of tools used in the forestry industry. Students had to be able to identify 40 different species of trees, use a Biltmore stick for proper saw timber and pulp wood estimation and identify 40 different tools used in the forestry and natural resource industry.  The team placed 11^th out of 17 teams in the Western Region. Senior team members were Sluder, Bishop, Bill Barrett and Becca Pope. Julie Maxwell and Gaige Cassada participated as junior individuals. High scoring member of the senior team was Barrett, placing 11^th out of the entire region.

Local manufacturer gets national pub

Release from Mills Manufacturing...

North Asheville defense contractor Mills Manufacturing is featured on the cover in the fall Manufacturing Today trade publication. Manufacturing Today is a quarterly magazine with nearly 40,000 readers throughout North America. The magazine selected Mills for the cover story based on the company’s passion for quality and position as a world leader in production of military parachutes.

“We were honored when we got the call from the writer at Manufacturing Today,” said John Oswald, president of Mills Manufacturing. “And we were very excited that we were selected for the cover. It’s a testament to our skilled employees and our quality process.”

The article provides an overview of the company’s products such as parachute systems and ancillary items, and details production capabilities. A major focus is on Mills’ quality process—the company is ISO 9001-certified, following its own quality assurance program on top of protocols set by the US government. Part of the quality assurance includes lean manufacturing processes with continuous improvement goals.

Mills Manufacturing produces high quality parachutes and related components for military use, including airborne troop and cargo parachutes, extraction and deceleration parachutes and related components. The company—in business since 1935—serves all branches of the U.S. military and more than 65 foreign countries. For more information, visit www.millsmanufacturing.com.

Mars Hill College news

A number of area residents - including Weaverville's Walt Stroud, a 38-year employee of the college, were honored during a recent ceremony recognizing the longtime employees of Mars Hill College.

From the university:

Dr. Virginia Hart first came to Mars Hill College as a student in 1941, and except for additional studies, she has never left. She started teaching at the College in 1945, founded most of the College’s women’s athletic teams, and retired in 1985 after forty years. Bored and missing the vitality of the campus, she returned in 1998 to work part-time in the cafeteria where she quickly established herself as “The Omelet Lady.” Now, with over 90,000 omelets behind her–as well as another thirteen years–she is still going strong, holding the longest record of employment of any employee in the College’s 155-year history. It was to honor Dr. Hart and 62 other employees with thirty or more years of service that a reception–“They came and they stayed!”–was recently given on campus by Mars Hill College’s Board of Trustees and President and Mrs. Dan Lunsford. Only one full-time employee has ever reached the 50-year mark: Nona Moore Roberts, Professor of French, who was also the daughter of the College's longest-tenured president, Dr. R. L. Moore, 41 years. Second in longevity of service was Frances Snelson who served 47 years as Assistant to Presidents Moore, Dr. Hoyt Blackwell, and Dr. Fred Bentley. Closing in on those records are two current employees: groundskeeper Vernon Carver at 46 years and secretary Sylvia Murphey at 44 years. Murphey who came to the College at age 21 said she had no idea she'd spend her whole career in Mars Hill and then added, "My association with the people at Mars Hill College has been special. They care." Indeed, the caring atmosphere became a leitmotif of the program as each of the 63 honorees was recognized briefly by Paige Faircloth, president of the Student Government Association; Mike Groce, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Jim Brown, Chair of the Faculty; Cindy Frost, Chair of the Staff Personnel Committee; and by President Lunsford.

* Also, the school named its 2011 Homecoming Queen and King recently. Brittany Hazeldine replaced the 2010 queen, Weaverville resident Megan Weaver.

From the university:

Brittany Hazeldine of Huntington, WV has been selected 2011 Mars Hill College homecoming queen by the student body. Brittany was crowned during half-time festivities of the homecoming football game at Mars Hill College, held Saturday, October 8. Brittany is a senior musical theatre major, and is active in a number of campus activities including Student Ambassadors, Gamma Chi Epsilon Christian sorority, Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society, The MHC Outdoor Club and blueprint Christian club. Also at the homecoming game, Jameson Donnell of Greensboro, NC was crowned homecoming king. Jameson is a senior sociology major with a concentration in criminal justice. He is the Student Government Association Chief of Defense and a Student Challenger. He is also involved in Christian Student Movement and the Black Student Association. Jameson and Brittany were crowned by the 2010 homecoming king and queen: Christopher “Kit” Powell and Megan Weaver.

Flu clinic coming to North Windy Ridge

The Buncombe County Department of Health would like for everyone to get a flu shot wherever it is most convenient for them. To help make that a little easier, the Department of Health, in partnership with Maxim Healthcare, is taking flu clinics to seven schools throughout the county. Because of this, the Department of Health will NOT have a flu clinic at the mall this year. Flu vaccine clinics, for anyone 6 months of age and above, will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at the following locations: October 10 Owen Middle School October 11 AC Reynolds High School October 12 TC Roberson High School October 13 Asheville Middle School October 17 North Windy Ridge October 18 Enka Middle School October 19 Erwin High School Flu shots will be $24, and flu mist will be available for $29. Payment may be made by cash or check; however credit cards may not be used. Most insurance carriers will be accepted, including Medicaid and Medicare Part B, if the cards are presented. Children through 18 years of age, who are not covered by insurance, may qualify for a flu shot at no cost.

Gas prices lowering

Gas prices in North Buncombe and elsewhere have been trending down in recent weeks. The average price of gasoline nationwide $3.433 and $3.356 in the lower Atlantic region, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In Weaverville and Woodfin, gas prices are hover somewhere around $3.25 to $3.35. While those prices represent a nearly .70 cent drop for a high of roughly $4.00 in May of this year, it is still around 70 cents higher than prices at this time last year.

Local book is released

Tracey Pacelli, a Woodfin author featured in Vol. 9, No. 32 issue of the Tribune, is releasing her book Time Warped. It was just released by Gypsy Shadow Publishing (www.gypshadow.com) and can be purchased at your an ebook store or at her site at: www.timewarped.net. Print books will be available shortly It is also profiled through Oct. 7 at booksonboard.com. Time Warped tells the story of an angsty teen who finds herself in a time loop where she meets her mother in 1969 in an insane asylum.

Two good concerts coming to Marshall

The Madison County Arts Council will be hosting Hot Rize, featuring Tim O’Brien, Pete “Dr. Banjo” Wernick, Nick Forester and Bryan Sutton, for the band'sonly shows in Western North Carolina at The Madison County Arts Center in Marshall. There will be two shows on Sunday, October 2, at 2:30 & 7:30. For tickets visit www.madisoncountyarts.com or call (828) 649-1301. These shows will be part of a special fundraising week for the Arts Council. Also that week MCAC and Harvest Records will present Bonnie “Prince” Billy in Marshall. Bonnie “Prince” Billy, the stage name for Will Oldham, will play at 8 pm on Oct. 5 at Marshall High Studios. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the doors.

Rabid fox release from Buncombe County

Buncombe County Department of Health officials have confirmed that a fox found dead in Black Mountain has tested positive for rabies. The dead fox was found in the area where a woman was bitten on Saturday. Rabies is easily transmitted among wild animals and unvaccinated pets, so the public has been alerted to watch for any animal that may be behaving strangely such as acting aggressively, stumbling or foaming at the mouth. If such an animal is seen in the Black Mountain area, residents are asked to take children and pets inside and call the Buncombe County Sheriff’s office at 250-6670. Rabies is not unusual among wildlife; however it’s important that steps be taken to prevent exposure to the disease among humans and pets. In North Carolina rabies is most common in raccoons, skunks, and foxes, but has also been found in dogs, cats, horses, cattle, bats and other animals. The Buncombe County Department of Health makes the following recommendations to prevent the spread of rabies: * Vaccinate your pets regularly according to North Carolina Law. * Keep children and pets away from wild and strange animals. Don’t try to feed, touch, or play with a wild animal. * Don’t allow pets to run at large. * Secure garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids, and take them out in the morning of pick up, not the night before. Coyotes and other wildlife will scavenge trash. * Feed pets indoors or remove food when your pet is finished eating outside. Wild animals are attracted to pet food left outdoors. * Avoid contact with bats. If you find a bat during daylight hours, it is most likely unhealthy and should not be touched. * Keep bird-feeder areas clean, and use bird feeders that keep seed off the ground. Foxes are attracted to small animals congregating on the ground. If you frequently see foxes, remove all feeders. * Close off crawl spaces under sheds, porches, decks and homes. Some wildlife may use these spaces to rest or to build their dens. Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through the saliva of an infected animal. When contracted by humans, rabies is fatal unless early treatment is sought. There is no cure once symptoms develop, so immediate treatment is important to prevent the disease. If bitten by any animal, clean the wound thoroughly (for at least 10 minutes) and then contact your doctor or Buncombe County Department of Health at 250-5109. For concerns about possible rabid animals within the City of Asheville residents should call the Asheville Police Department at 252-110. Residents in Buncombe County should call the Buncombe County Sheriff’s office at 250-6670.

'Support the Troops" campaign at SECU

State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) has launched its second annual statewide holiday campaign --“SECU Supports the Troops”-- to benefit North Carolina’s National Guard and Reservists deployed throughout the world.

For the project, SECU will collect “wish list” items for soldiers and provide “gifts from home” during their tour of duty. Collection boxes for “wish list” items will be placed in each of SECU’s branches for members and those in the community who wish to participate in this exciting effort. Canisters will also be provided on the teller counters for those who wish to give a monetary donation to help ship the supplies to the troops.

“Wish list” items may be dropped off at local SECU branches through Oct. 31.

Weaverville's branch is located on North Main Street next to the post office.

If It's Special going out of business

If It's Special, a unique gift shop in downtown Weaverville, is closing soon. The owner is retiring, and all merchandise is drastically marked down.

Bins for recycled cooking oil available

The Cooking Oil Recycling (COR) Program of Buncombe County is a unique pilot project to recycle used cooking oil into biodiesel and keep oils and greases out of the waste water system. Funded by the Biofuels Center of North Carolina, the COR Program is a collaboration between the Metropolitan Sewerage District (MSD) of Buncombe County, Blue Ridge Biofuels, and Green Opportunities. A new website, www.cookingoilrecycling.org, provides the public with information on the program as well as the location of cooking oil recycling bin locations. The first of 35 recycling bins are located at the Buncombe County Landfill and at the new River District Recycling Center behind the old silo off West Haywood Road through the Hatchery Studios parking lot.

Waste cooking oils are one of the major causes of costly sewer maintenance in Buncombe County. These sewer overflows are a potential threat to the environment and take up valuable resources of the local budgets for public works.

By placing public recycling bins across Buncombe County, the COR Program seeks to keep waste oils out of the sewers and divert them to Blue Ridge Biofuels for processing into biodiesel. MSD was the first major purchaser of biodiesel in Buncombe County. and has been using biodiesel in its fleet of 85 vehicles for over seven years.

Thermo Fisher to add 110 jobs

Great news for the area. The company announced an expansion of jobs in late 2009 as well.

Here's the release from the Asheville Chamber of Commerce:

In conjunction with the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced its plans to expand operations in Asheville, with the creation of 110 new positions within the next seven months. These new positions strengthen the company’s significant presence in Buncombe County, with 580 employees in its Aiken Road plant in Weaverville, over 200 employees in its technical customer service center in Biltmore Park and additional sales and service professionals throughout the region.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, a global leader in serving science, set roots in Asheville over 25 years ago. Locally, the company manufactures ultra-low temperature freezers among other products supplied to pharmaceutical, biotech, and research institutions. These new positions will support the manufacture and assembly of high-efficiency cooling pumps, used to control temperature in a variety of Thermo Fisher Scientific products.

The continued growth and performance of the Asheville facility has strengthened its reputation both within the corporation and throughout its industry. Company CEO Marc Casper noted his visit to Thermo Fisher’s “flagship laboratory equipment facility in Asheville, North Carolina” in an April 2011 earnings call. The executive praised local leadership for their implementation of PPI (Practical Process Improvement) and Lean initiatives which allowed the team “to grow site capacity to keep pace with customer demand, while averting typical expansion costs.” Excess site capacity and performance of existing workforce were influential in attracting the new product line to Asheville.

The company was also selected in 2011 as the first E3 manufacturer in Buncombe County, a testament to its pursuit of continuous improvement. The E3 program, facilitated by NC State University’s Industrial Extension Service, emphasizes Economy, Energy and Environment, joining community resources with state and regional agencies to assist manufacturers in becoming more sustainable. Thermo Fisher Scientific’s interest in becoming a zero-landfill manufacturing facility made the company a logical addition to North Carolina’s E3 community.

“We’d like to offer our thanks and congratulations to Jeff Powers, director of manufacturing operations, and the employees of Thermo Fisher Scientific here in Buncombe County. Their dedication to world-class quality, environmental sustainability and continuous improvement yields a more skilled and productive workforce, a more profitable enterprise and more secure employment in the long-term for Buncombe County,” said K. Ray Bailey, EDC chairman.

Chairman of the Buncombe County Commissioners, David Gantt, commented, “Thermo Fisher Scientific is a Fortune 500 employer with operations in over 40 countries worldwide. We’re grateful to local company leaders and staff for their strong work ethic and competitive spirit that brought this opportunity home for the citizens of Buncombe County.”

For additional information on Thermo Fisher Scientific and job opportunities with the organization, please visit thermofisher.com.

Friends of the River Awards

The Land-of-Sky Regional Council presented “Friends of the River” Awards on August 30, 2011 at the 34th Annual “Friends of the River” Dinner in Asheville. These awards recognize individuals, private organizations, civic groups, and/or public agencies in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties who have made significant contributions toward the enhancement or restoration of the French Broad River as a cultural, economic, natural, or recreational resource.

Rob Pulleyn was one of six recognized for his efforts to preserve historic buildings and revitalize communities along the river especially his effort to renovate the old Madison High School into art studio Madison High Studios.

In 2006, the old Marshall High School, which had served students in the town since 1925, was scheduled to be demolished. However, protests from the residents of Marshall, a petition drive that gathered 3,000 signatures, and a fundraising effort led to a different outcome. The funds raised were used to pay for a structural analysis of the building and buy prominent ads in the local newspaper urging county commissioners to save the valuable community resource.

The renovation took nine months and required a total investment of almost $2 million. Today, Marshall High Studios is at 80% occupancy. The rehabilitation project not only saved a valuable structure, but also ignited the community's passion for its historic architecture, serving as a catalyst for other renovation projects, new business development and a more positive community image.

Also recognized were the Henderson County Erosion Control Program, the Black Mountain Greenways Commission, Transylvania farm Everett Farms, RiverLink volunteer Denise Snodgrass and Forrest Westall for his lifelong efforts to address point and non-point sources of pollution in the French Broad River Basin and entire state.

Big Ivy poet's latest work

Local author Joan Medlicott and Big Ivy poet Nancy Dillingham have collaborated on a book entitled "Reflections in a River." Medlicott took the photographs, and Dillingham wrote the accompanying haiku.

While traveling down a country road shortly after moving to Barnardsville over 14 years ago, Medlicott came upon this river. For 12 years, she went back to photograph it, in all seasons. She later learned that it is a branch of the Toe River in Burnsville. About two years ago she invited Dillingham to write the haiku for the photographs.

An Oct. 1 official release date of the book has just been announced by Grateful Steps Publishing House and Bookstore (159 S. Lexington Ave.), the publisher of the book. The price is $19.95.

Dillingham's latest book of poetry, "Home" (March Street Press, 2010) was also nominated for a Southern Independent Bookstore Alliance (SIBA) award this year. She has donated a copy of "Home" (and of her other five books) to the library housed in Big Ivy Community Center--and will also donate a copy of "Reflections in a River."

Blood drive to honor late fire captain

The American Red Cross is holding two blood drives in memory of local area resident Capt. Jeff Bowen. The first drive will be held from 8 am to 5:30 pm on Thursday (Sept. 1) at the Asheville Fire Department, 100 Court Plaza. For those unable to make that date, a followup drive has been scheduled for 9 am to 1 pm on Monday (Sept. 5) at Skyland Fire Department on Hendersonville Road in Skyland.

Bowen died in the line of duty while fighting a fire July 28 near Mission Hospitals. Burn victims, as well as automobile accident victims and cancer patients often need blood transfusions to survive. A single donation can be divided into its components and can help to save the lives of up to three people.

To schedule an appointment for the blood drive at Asheville Fire, please contact Barbara Berry at 259-5636. To schedule an appointment for the blood drive at Skyland Fire, please contact Katie Presley at 684-9092 ext. 305.

Talking trash

Some Woodfin residents have been getting notices lately informing them that their trash cans are too big.

Woodfin Town Administrator Jason Young said they are sending about 60 notices out.

Because the town does not have trash trucks that lift the cans into the compactor, town ordinances limit the cans to 32 gallons, although residents can have up to six cans.

Locals place in ladies' golf tournament

Martha McDermott of Reems Creek Golf Club had the lowest net score of 71 in Flight #2 in the Blue Ridge Women's Golf Association tournament on Aug. 11 at Maggie Valley Golf Club.

Misuk Bailey and Frieda Cooper, both of Reems Creek, also had the lowest gross in Flight #3 and Flight #4, respectively.

The Blue Ridge Women’s Golf Association (BRWGA) is comprised of women from the ladies leagues of eleven golf clubs in the surrounding Asheville area. They are Black Mountain, Connestee Falls, Crooked Creek, Etowah Valley, Glen Cannon, High Vista, Laurel Ridge, Maggie Valley, Reems Creek, Rumbling Bald and Wolf Laurel. Ladies that participate in these monthly tournaments must be members of a ladies league at a club that is a member of the BRWGA and have an established USGA Handicap Index of 29.9 or less. The object of the association is to organize, promote, and encourage participation in golfing activities for women.

Perdue visits

Gov. Bev Perdue is scheduled to visit North Buncombe High School on Friday (Aug. 19) morning. She is expected to address the students and tour the grounds.

Softball tryout

The Alley Cats 16u Softball Team will have tryouts from 3-5 pm on Aug. 28 @ Dorman High School. For details go to www.eteamz.com/alleycats1/ and click on the potential players tab.

Call Donnie Moore at 864-505-1588 for more information.

Bus safety reminder from BCS

Asheville City school buses are back on the streets August 16, and Buncombe County school buses are back on the road August 18. Buncombe County operates the eighth largest school bus transportation system in North Carolina. Each school day 290 school buses travel 15,800 miles and transport 16,700 students.

Motorists need to be extra cautious about children standing at bus stops in the mornings. It has been 10 weeks since children have been standing alongside the road waiting for the bus.

The school bus is the safest mode of surface transportation. The danger for the student lies in getting on and off the bus. When a bus is stopped to pick up children, the law requires motorists to stop for a school bus if they are traveling in the same direction as the bus. Also, motorists are required to stop for a school bus if they are traveling in the opposite direction of the bus unless the road is divided by a physical barrier, wall or median; or it is a four-lane highway divided by a center-turn lane.

A one-day stop arm count was conducted on March 23 of last school year, and bus drivers reported 63 violations. If you multiply that by the number of days in a school year, that is over 11,300 violations in a given year.

One violation is one too many. School bus drivers have been instructed to report vehicles that pass a stopped school bus. The drivers fill out a form which identifies the vehicle and includes the license tag number, and submit it to the North Carolina Highway Patrol. The troopers assigned to school bus safety in Buncombe County investigate each complaint filed. Stiff penalties accompany a conviction for passing a stopped school bus. Motorists receive five points against their driver's license, face a $200 fine, and possibly 120 days in jail. Anyone who witnesses a school bus stop arm violation should contact the Highway Patrol at 298.4252 with the vehicle license tag number.

Safety is our top priority in transporting our state's most valuable resource: Children.

For additional information on school bus safety, please visit the North Carolina School Bus Safety website at www.ncbussafety.org or contact the Buncombe County Schools’ Transportation Department at 232.4240. Also, please visit http://www.ncbussafety.org/SchoolBusSafety/SBSWlaw.html for a brochure on the North Carolina School Bus Stop Law.

Deadly Asheville fire deliberately set says ATF

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with criminal investigators from the Asheville Fire and Police Departments and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), have determined that the July 28 fire at the Medical Office Complex Building, 445 Biltmore Avenue was deliberately set.

Asheville Fire Department Captain Jeffrey Scott Bowen was killed and over $20 million in damage occurred as a result of the fire.

The investigation is being conducted jointly by ATF, the Asheville Police and Fire Departments and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI).

Anyone with information about this crime is strongly encouraged to contact these agencies at the following numbers:

ATF Arson Hotline at (888) ATF FIRE or (888) 283-8477.

Asheville Police Department Crime Stoppers at (828) 255-5050.

NC State Bureau of Investigation at (800) 334-3000.

All information will be treated confidentially, and callers will remain anonymous if they request.

Business news around North Buncombe

* A new salon is slated to open in the former location of MVP Barber Shop located near the corner of Merrimon Avenue and Main Street in Weaverville.

* Common Ground opened earlier this month on Merrimon Avenue next to The Pink House and Serenity Skin and Nail in Woodfin. Their Facebook page reads: "One-of-a-kind merchandise made from reclaimed and vintage materials; empowering the community & supporting environmentally conscious lifestyles." Right now, they are open 10 am to 6 pm Thursday through Sunday. For more, go to their Facebook page.

* Don't forget to stop by Citizen's Do It Best Hardware in Woodfin before they close for good at the end of August. All items are 30 percent off now, and discounts will get deeper as the closing date nears.

Anyone know any other business news?

Montford Park Players announce auditions

The Montford Park Players announces auditions for Romeo & Juliet, our fall production at Asheville's historic Masonic Temple. Audition dates are:

Sunday, August 7, from 1 - 4 pm and Tuesday, August 9, from 6 - 9 PM with callbacks Wednesday, August 10, from 6 - 9 PM at the Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway, Asheville.

The production will be directed by Jeff Catanese, who says: "We're seeking great actors, ages 13 and up...no previous experience required. MANY roles are available!"

Rehearsals begin August 15. Production dates are October 13 through 23 at the Masonic Temple.

Headshots and resumes are not required, and prepared monologues are not necessary...audition pieces will be provided. Audition pieces can be downloaded at http://www.montfordparkplayers.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/R-J-Audition-Sides1.pdf

For more information call (828) 254-5146 or email info@montfordparkplayers.org.

Buncombe County release pre-teen vaccine info

Because of vaccines, our country rarely sees many diseases that once devastated families here. But some serious vaccine-preventable diseases continue to threaten the health of our families like pertussis, meningitis, and cervical cancer. Immunity received from some childhood vaccines can begin to wane over time, exposing a child to serious diseases that can easily spread, leading to missed weeks of school or worse. It’s important that teens and preteens see their doctor for a check-up and make sure their immunizations are up-to-date, as well as asking about other vaccines that are recommended for their age.

Children in public schools who are entering the 6th grade are required to have the Tdap vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, or whooping cough as it’s also known. Though not required, several vaccines are also recommended for this age including the vaccine for meningitis, a second chickenpox shot (if they have never had chickenpox disease), flu shot and the HPV vaccine which protects against cervical cancer and genital warts. Though originally developed for girls, the HPV vaccine is now recommended for boys as well.

Parents of preteens who are not covered by health insurance or who have insurance that does not cover vaccines, should ask their doctor or health department about the Vaccines for Children Program. This program provides vaccines for children who are uninsured or underinsured.

Protecting the health of our youth is one of our most urgent priorities. Parents should contact their child’s doctor to schedule a check-up and receive the vaccines they need. They may also take their children to their local health department for all their teen and preteen vaccine needs.

The Buncombe County Department of Health provides immunizations for all ages Monday – Friday from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. No appointment is necessary. Parents whose rising 6th grader still needs the required Tdap vaccine are encouraged to get their vaccine as soon as possible. As the beginning of school nears, the number of visitors to the Immunization Clinic often doubles, as does the wait time

For more information, please visit www.buncombecounty.org\preteen or www.cdc.gov/Features/PreTeenVaccines.

Local ladies' golf news

The Blue Ridge Women’s Golf Association (BRWGA) is comprised of women from the ladies leagues of eleven golf clubs in the surrounding Asheville area. They are Black Mountain, Connestee Falls, Crooked Creek, Etowah Valley, Glen Cannon, High Vista, Laurel Ridge, Maggie Valley, Reems Creek, Rumbling Bald and Wolf Laurel. Ladies that participate in these monthly tournaments must be members of a ladies league at a club that is a member of the BRWGA and have an established USGA Handicap Index of 29.9 or less. The object of the Association is to organize, promote, and encourage participation in golfing activities for women.

Etowah Country Club hosted the Blue Ridge Women’s Golf Association Tournament on July 14.

Locally, Frieda Cooper from Reems Creek finished in a tie for lowest gross in Flight #4 with a 98.

The club offers three nine-hole courses. The tournament was played on the North and South courses.

Filing for election closed

Several more candidates for North Buncombe boards filed for election before filing closed at noon Friday (July 15).

In addition to incumbents Gene Knoefel, Doug Jackson and Walt Currie, two other town residents are running for one of three Weaverville Town Council seats this November. Andrew Nagle - who’s profile is in this week’s paper - and John Penley.

In Woodfin, Mayor Jerry VeHaun, and Aldermen Don Honeycutt, Jim Angel and Ronnie Lunsford will all run unopposed.

At the Woodfin Water Board, chair Keith Snyder and member Sarah Gassaway are seeking another term. Shirley Wood and former member Robin Cape will seek one of the three available seats. Current member Lisa McDaris is not seeking her second term.

More on AB Emblem

AB Emblem is one of Weaverville's most notable industries. It has two other factories--in Mexico and China--in addition to its Weaverville plant.

Perhaps the most famous client of AB Emblem products are the NASA astronauts. In talking with executive vice president Andrew Nagle this week--who is also running for Weaverville Town Council this fall--he estimated the plant produced 30,000 patches per shuttle launch and patches worn by NASA astronauts on flight missions are made in AB Emblem factories.

The plant moved to Weaverville in 1963.

Gas tax set to increase

The gas tax in North Carolina will rise to a record 35 cents starting July 1. A question that comes out of this is whether municipalities will see extra residuals from that increase.

What do you think about the gas tax going up and the sales tax dropping by a penny?

Discount tickets to Horn in the West

Horn in the West, one of the nation's longest running outdoor dramas, is hosting a "Buncombe County Night" this weekend of the 24th-26th. Tickets are discounted down to $8 for adults and children with proof of Buncombe County residency. The drama takes place in Boone, North Carolina, where visitors can experience the nearby scenic Daniel Boone Native Gardens and the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, which brings the 18th century back to life through reenactors and restored period cabins.

Horn in the West, one of the nation’s longest running outdoor dramas, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this summer. Horn’s story is as old as America itself. The narrative follows the hopes and dreams of intrepid frontier explorers, ordinary Piedmont settlers backed into a corner by undemocratic British policies, and the struggle to achieve cross-cultural understanding between Cherokee and pioneer.

Busy mom makeover

Promotion from U.S. Cellular

Are your readers busy moms who are always on the move, managing a busy schedule? Are they constantly trying to do five things at once, like balancing soccer practice with school lunches, play dates and homework?

U.S. Cellular has the perfect opportunity for those moms who define the word “multi-tasker”. We’re offering five busy moms a life-changing makeover opportunity with renowned organization expert, Peter Walsh. You may recognize Peter from appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show and now his show “Enough Already!” on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Each mom will receive private consultations with technology, organization and beauty experts who will offer tips and tools including a new U.S. Cellular mobile device that will help organize and enhance her life.

To be considered, moms just need to visit www.mobile-mom-makeover.com between June 20 and July 5 and submit an entry form along with a brief video (less than 2min), explaining why they need an organization overhaul.

Plea from local business

A note from local business owner Martha Young who is working to keep the doors open on her business, My Father's Light, in Woodfin.

Locally owned and operated, My Father’s Light is in danger of closing. The store with a unique mix of locally and regionally made items has fallen behind on rent due to the tough economic times. While they are in a desirable location next to Bellagio Bistro on Weaverville Highway, they are facing the prospect of closing their doors. The closing of the store would impact numerous local and regional artists which are already struggling, as well as creating another retail vacancy in a time where many owners are struggling to find tenants. My Father’s Light is asking the awesome citizens of Asheville to drop by and show their support for this popular local business by making purchases. Small purchases of less than $10 by a large base would be enough to prevent closure and support the many great artists they feature. Ashevillians have always showed a desire to support local businesses and My Father’s Light is counting on this.

My Father’s Light is operated by Martha Young, who makes natural soy candles, hand-made soaps, and allergy free lotions, shampoos, and bodywash. She has been featured in WNC Parent, the WLOS segment Craft Corner, and as a feature business at Capital Bank. Other featured items in the store include pottery, handcrafted jewelry, baby clothing, home décor, and furniture made from reclaimed barnwood. Please contact Martha Young at 828-645-7627 or via email, myfatherslight@gmail.com to schedule an interview or for more information.

Lost dog

A lost dog notice from Appalachian Animal Hospital in Weaverville

We found a dog yesterday afternoon June 15 in the parking lot of Walmart in Weaverville. She is an adult female australian shepard mix 44 pounds. Mostly black with brown legs and white socks. We have her is safe keeping and have posted flyers in the area. She had on a collar and no tags, no chip.

Contact info:
Appalachian Animal Hospital
68 North Main St
Weaverville NC 28787

(828)658-8989

UPDATE: Owner has been found 6/16

Local to show works in Chicago

Local artist Diane English has been selected to show her work in an exhibit titled "Seriously Funny" at Chicago's Woman Made Gallery, July 8 - August 18. The submissions for this national competition were juried by professional cartoonist Isabella Bannerman.

The artist, owner of The Great Cosmic Happy Ass Card Company, classifies her designs into three categories: Funny, Inspiring and Spiritually Incorrect. With established distributors in North America and Europe, her cards have recently been launched in Australia by B Luscious.

In Western North Carolina, English’s cards and magnets can be found at Mountain Made Gallery, Gaea Gifts, and French Broad Food Co-op in Asheville, Seven Sisters Gallery in Black Mountain, Miya Gallery in Weaverville and Earthworks Galleries in Waynesville.

Rooster hunt continues

Release from Weaverville Business Association about the ongoing rooster hunt in Weaverville-area business.

Local residents and visitors to the area are flooding businesses in Weaverville to participate in An Enchanted Animal Affaire rooster hunt. Twenty-four decorated roosters, created by area artists using a variety of mediums, are residing in participating businesses until June 20.

The rooster seekers each receive a card that will be stamped by participating businesses when each rooster is found. All completed cards will be dropped off at Aabani Salon Spa in downtown Weaverville and entered into a drawing for one of the decorated roosters.

Those who are not able to take part in the rooster hunt can still join in the fun! A raffle drawing at a silent auction to be held later this month will have one lucky person winning a rooster. Raffle tickets are being sold at participating businesses, as well as at the Weaverville Tailgate Market on Wednesday afternoons.

On Friday, June 24, the silent auction will be held at the Reems Creek Golf Club from 6 – 8pm. The remaining roosters will be auctioned with proceeds benefiting the Weaverville Business Association. Admission to the silent auction will be $10 at the door.

EarthShare North Carolina recognizes contributions

EarthShare North Carolina recently recognized several individuals and groups for their outstanding contributions to the group.

The Community Friend award for extraordinary contributions to ESNC was given to two of North Carolina’s true environmental heroes, Fred and Alice Stanback.

If you remember in 2004, the Salisbury residents donated $500,000, in addition to a $4.1 million grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, to purchase a conservation easement on 1,900 acres of the watershed for the Woodfin Sanitary Water and Sewer District on Blackberry Inn Road in the Reems Creek area, protecting the land for future logging. The area is one of the largest remaining intact watersheds in Western North Carolina.

The Stanbacks have received numerous awards for their commitment to environmental education including the North Carolina Award for Public Service.

Others recognized by EartShare North Carolina included Elizabeth Guthrie for her volunteer work, June Blotnick of Clean Air Carolina for her outstanding leadership ESNC Vice President Kathleen Gray received the Allan Spalt Award for outstanding contribution by a board or committee member.

Principal to retire from NBMS

North Buncombe Middle School Principal Vicki Biggers will retire at the end of this school year.

Here's the release from Buncombe County Schools:

Thirty eight-year education veteran principal Vicki Biggers has provided leadership at North Buncombe Middle School since her days as an assistant principal there from 1988-98. She became principal in 1998, and has become known for her high expectations, professional yet pleasant manner, and patriotism as evidenced by the remarkable Veterans Day and Memorial Day observances the school has put on for the community.

Says Biggers, “I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure as an educator in the Buncombe County Schools System. I have spent the last 23 years of my career as an administrator at North Buncombe Middle School, and I leave with mixed emotions. I will miss the high energy level of young adolescents, witnessing the educational and emotional growth that takes place during the middle school years, and working with a wonderful staff and community. My immediate plans include traveling to Fort Hood, Texas, next week to welcome home my son, Captain Taylor Biggers, from his year long deployment in Afghanistan. I look forward to spending time with my family, traveling, and volunteering in the community.”

Biggers earned her bachelor's in early childhood from Western Carolina University in 1972, and a masters in guidance counseling there in 1974. She received her administrative certification at WCU in 1986. Biggers worked as an elementary school teacher for Henderson County, and a school guidance counselor for Davie County, before coming to Buncombe County Schools as a guidance counselor at Erwin Middle School in 1977.

An announcement on her replacement could be made as early as Friday (June 3), according to BCS.

More on Joey Bryson

North Buncombe High School named Joey Bryson as its new head boys' basketball coach. Bryson replaces David Rhoney, who left the BlackHawks after 12 years to lead Erwin's program.

Bryson, 34, led the North Buncombe junior varsity squad last season and worked as an assistant on Rhoney's staff. He also has three years of head coaching experience on the high school level at several stops in Georgia.

However, he is a native to Western North Carolina and a graduate of West Henderson High School. His first head coaching job, in fact, was in the Henderson County School System leading Rugby Middle School's boys' team.

He is a former classmate of NBHS Head Baseball Coach Wesley King. Bryson said he and King talked about the opportunities at North Buncombe and the strength of both the academic and athletic departments.

"My wife and I prayed that another head coaching job would come available and thankfully it did," Bryson said of the new opportunity.

Local receives IT scholarship

Release from Progressive Integrations

Announcement of this year’s Association of Computer Repair Business Owners Scholarship Awardees 2011.

Each year the association receives applications for the scholarship from all over the United States.

The scholarship was established to provide financial assistance to a deserving individual(s). Applicants must be high school seniors graduating in the spring/summer semester, whose plans include the technology industry through attending college, business school, technical training or actual hands-on in the industry.

This year’s awardees:
This year’s selectees are Shaquoya Moultrie from Edisto Island, SC, who plans on attending Winthrop University and Shawn Hanson from Barnardsville, NC, who plans on pursuing a career in the information technology field.

About Progressive Integrations, Inc.:
Progressive Integrations will take the confusion out of designing the system of your dreams. Our audio video integration specialists and designers will work closely with your builder, interior designer, architect, and electrician to ensure your system will integrate properly into your home. Progressive Integrations is also is a full service computer consulting firm specializing in home user and small businesses. Our services range from virus removal, network support, data systems backup, hardware and software upgrades, as well as managed services.

Update on Senate budget, Vance

The proposed Senate budget released May 30 restores funding to state historic sites, according to this report from WRAL-TV. The sites, including Vance Birthplace in Weaverville, have been the target of potential state budget cuts during this year's budget process through the N.C. House and Senate. Gov. Bev Perdue will have to sign an agreed-upon budget from the General Assembly into law later this summer.

Coach sees program progressing

North Buncombe baseball finished this season 20-9 and claimed the Class 3-A Mountain Athletic Conference regular season crown. The BlackHawks also advanced to the third round of the Class 3-A NCHSAA playoffs for the second time in three years. The Tribune caught up with coach Wesley King for a few thoughts on the tough elimination game against South Point as well as his impression of the 2011 season.

South Point game was tough hard fought game, we ran into a great team one that has been ranked number 1 all season. Our guys worked so hard and executed everything that we had asked them to do we just could not push a run across, but South Point had a couple of outstanding plays that kept us from scoring first which I felt whoever scored first would win the ball game and that ended up being true.

Overall season was a tremendous success for our program. I felt this season was an unbelievable ride one that has sparked some much passion and desire to get better in our young kids, that they are ready to begin preparing now for next season. We are going to miss our four seniors (Will Brank, Holden Phillips, Sam Rector, and Christian Bridges) they gave so much to our program over the last few years that they will be missed. But moving forward our baseball program is on the rise and we have a lot of our guys back and we are ready to get back to work on the field, and in the weightroom to erase the feeling we had on May 20, 2011.

Vanessa Hudgens in Barnardsville

Vanessa Hudgens, best known for her roles in the popular "High School Musical" series, was in the Asheville/Barnardsville area over the weekend and spent at least a portion of her time zip-lining at Navitat Canopy Adventures.

A picture on Navitat's Facebook page shows her on the tour along with fellow actor and rumored boyfriend Josh Hutcherson. Hutcherson was last seen in "The Kids are All Right." He will have a lead role in next year's "The Hunger Games" that is currently shooting in the area.

More worries for Vance?

The N.C. Senate's proposed budget again puts some N.C. State Historic Sites in the crosshairs, including Vance Birthplace in Weaverville. Director Keith Hardison wrote a letter to supporters asking them to contact their representatives in the N.C. Senate. The $1,151,073 in newly recommended cuts, when combined with the cuts identified in the governor’s budget, constitute a reduction of 28 percent in the operating budget for the N.C. State Historic Sites, according to Hardison.

The proposed Senate budget would close the six-year-old Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City and the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex in Fayetteville, an important Civil War Sesquicentennial destination, according to a release from the James K. Polk site.

Significant reductions in the funding of Tryon Palace in New Bern will reduce hours and service to the public, beginning in July 2011, and would result in its closing to the public in fiscal year 2012-13.

Other possible closures in addition to Vance and Polk include Alamance Battleground, Aycock Birthplace, Fort Dobbs, Historic Bath, Historic Stagville and House in the Horseshoe. The budget, if adopted in its current form, could potentially close around one-third of the state's sites.

In April, an initial N.C. House budget also detailed cuts detailing a reduction of roughly 30 percent in the budget for state historic sites. An amendment to re-distribute $1.2 million for an affordable housing fund eliminated the House shortfall.

Citizens can examine the budget bill at the General Assembly website at ncleg.net.

The full Senate is expected to vote on the budget bill May 31.

Following that vote, the bill will be reconciled with the House of Representatives version of the budget proposal. A final version of the bill must then be signed into law by Gov. Bev Perdue.