North Star Diner becomes Weaverville’s third live music venue (joining Blue Mountain Pizza and Well-Bred Bakery) on Friday, September 28 when Valorie Miller hits the stage. They tell me they’ll have live music every Friday and Saturday beginning at 9 p.m. Other performers on their schedule include:

• September 29: Cary Fridley and Darin Gentry
• October 5: Valorie Miller
• October 6: the Grit Pixies

I’ll be updating the calendar with their schedule as they send it to me, so check there for the current line up of performers.

A nice opinion piece about Weaverville in today’s Citizen-Times:

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770926071

California Wine Tasting
Saturday, September 29th
3:30-5:30 p.m.

They will have Anne Kaufmann from Dionysus Distributors pouring these wines from California:

• Steltzner Sauvignon Blanc
• Mount Eden Chardonnay
• Poppy Pinot Noir
• C. G. d’Arie Zinfandel

Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store is located at 113 North Main Street.
Note: Maggie B’s will be closing early, at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, September 27.

The Weaverville Library holds Family Storytime year-round for 3-5 year olds every Tuesday at 11:15 a.m.  Sign-up is not required.

Starting in October, the Library will also host an 8-week Toddler Storytime session at 10:30 a.m. for ages 18-36 months.  This session will run from the first Thursday in October to the last Thursday in November.  Sign-up is required. 

For more information or to sign up, contact the Library at 645-3592.  It’s located at 41 North Main Street.

This is a late announcement, but I wanted to put it out there for anyone who might be interested.  Note that if you go, you will be meeting with Elizabeth Dole’s staff, not Dole herself. 

Want to meet with Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole’s staff to discuss concerns or issues before Congress?  Her office will hold public office hours Tuesday, September 25, 4-6 p.m., in Room 302 in the Harvey L. Haynes Conference and Technology Training Center at Asheville-Buncombe Tech’s Candler campus.  Appointments are not required.

The campus is located at 1459 Sand Hill Road in Candler.

Gifts of Grace is an ongoing project open to anyone who sews, quilts, knits, crochets, or just in general likes to make stuff for people and who want to do it with others. It is held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month (except holidays) from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.  Bring a bag lunch and come for the day or even just an hour. 
 
Current Projects include:

• Quilts for Katrina/Rita victims 
• Lap robes for nursing home residents
• Satchels with pockets to attach to wheelchairs, walkers, etc. 
• Stuffed dolls for kids at NBSM, shelters, Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes 
• Mittens, hats & scarves for kids around the world 
• Greeting cards

First Presbyterian Church is located at 30 Alabama Avenue.

The Brio Concert Series will present Sounds of Our Heritage, a free concert at First Presbyterian Church, Sunday, September 30 at 4 p.m.

The performers include:

• Leonard Hollifield, Sr., Guitar
• Leonard Hollifield, Guitar
• Mark Clevenger, Hammered Dulcimer
• Lee Metcalfe, String Bass
• Cynthia Roop, Flute
• Gina Caldwell, Violin
• Cathy Walgenbach and Cindy Egerer, Voice

The Brio Concert Series presents chamber music with varied repertoire and distinct themes. For more information, contact 645-7344. First Presbyterian Church is located at 30 Alabama Avenue.

A number of Weaverville businesses will be hosting special events and sales during this Saturday’s Art in Autumn Arts & Crafts Festival.  Unless otherwise noted, these sales last for the duration of the Art in Autumn festival only (10 a.m.-5 p.m.).  Here’s what I’ve heard about so far:

Art Accents, 1 South Main Street
15% off storewide

Bee & Thistle Interiors, 55 North Main Street
10% off storewide

Brown’s Floral Design, 25 North Main Street
15% off all Fall Silk Arrangements
Bouquet of the Day special

Curtis Wright Outfitters, 24 North Main Street
Buy 2 Items, Get One Free
Buy 1 Item, Get 2nd 1/2 Off

The Garden Station, One Merrimon Avenue
Grand Opening Gala
Food, drinks, and music by The Buckerettes from 2-4 p.m.
10% off all purchases of $25 or more

Maggie B’s Wine and Speciality Store, 113 North Main Street
Wine & Snacks, 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Crescent Woodworking artist Gary Egerer will be showing his handcrafted wood home furnishings, 1-5 pm

Secret Garden Inn & Spa, 56 North Main Street
Chair Massages: $1/minute with 15-minute minimum

Weaverville Drug Company, 3 North Main Street
30% off Framed Art
10% off Wall Hangings
15% off Gift Items
15% off Plush Animals
10% off Webkinz
Free North Buncombe hat with $30 purchase (excluding prescriptions)
Free Hot Dog with purchase of chips and a drink

The North Buncombe High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) will host a benefit Poker Run Saturday, September 22, beginning at Noon in the North Buncombe High School parking lot. Cost is $10 for one hand or $20 for three for a chance to win the $100 cash grand prize.  There will be free food for participants, a 50/50 raffle and door prizes. You must be present to win.

The first bike goes out at noon and the last bike goes out at 2 p.m. with the last bike in by 4 p.m.  The event raises funds to help the FFA attend more competitions and conventions during this school year. 

For information contact Jeff, Debra or Madelyn Johnson at 683-1619, 691-6894 or 691-3247, or Gary or Jackie Fender at 680-9507, 208-7224 or 768-3540.

The Citizen-Times reported yesterday that the Buncombe County Planning Board voted 6-3 Monday to deny plans submitted for the Phoenix Cove development off Reems Creek Road.  Developers were asking for reduction in road width from 16 feet to 13 feet, but after a two-hour debate the board rejected the plans.  http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770918073

Fly Tying Classes for beginners and Fly Fishing Classes are being offered at all Curtis Wright Outfitters locations this Winter.  Dates and times can be found on their website at  www.curtiswrightoutfitters.com/whatsnew.html

Fly tying classes are 5 weeks in length and costs $75.00 (minimum 3 people / maximum 6 people per class). Curtis Wright provides all fly tying tools and students pay for all materials at a 20% discount. Learn to tie Wooly Buggers, Palmers, Elk Hair Caddis, Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear, Adams, and the Tennesse Wulff.  Call Rich at 828-274-3471 for more information. Sign-up is available at each location.

Fly Fishing Classes provide an overview of fly fishing equipment, trout species, habitat, entomology, reading water, knot-tying and casting. All equipment and materials are provided. Cost is $75 per person (minimum of 2 people and maximum of 6 people per class). Sign-up is required. Call Curtis Wright for more details.

The Christ Love Preschool will be having a benefit pancake breakfast on Saturday, September 22, 7:30-10 a.m. at the Christ United Methodist Church.  Breakfast will include pancakes, bacon, sausage, juice, milk and coffee.  Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children (10 and under).  The Church is located at 80 Garrison Branch Road.  For more information call 645-5785.

The state has lifted its monthlong ban on open burning.  The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources said recent rainfall and lower temperatures have reduced the threat for wildfires.  Residents should still remain cautious, officials said, and if drought conditions continue and wildfires pick back up, the ban could reinstated. 

Take advantage of a fantastic book sale every Wednesday except the first Wednesday of every month from 1-3 p.m. at the Weaverville Library. The Friends of the Weaverville Library have a huge selection of books for sale at great prices in the lower level of the library, located at 41 North Main Street. Call 645-3592 for more information.

If you want to see what life was like in the early 19th century on a mountain farm, visit the Fall Militia Encampment 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, September 22 or 1-3 p.m. Sunday, September 23, at the Vance Birthplace State Historic Site. Admission is free both days.

The Catawba Militia, a group that portrays an early American citizens’ militia, will be encamped at Vance Birthplace throughout the weekend. The group will demonstrate common camp life activities, drill routines and tell visitors what it was like to serve in the militia.

Vance Birthplace State Historic Site is located at 911 Reems Creek Road.  For more information, call 645-6706.