The Beech Community will be publishing their 5th cookbook and are looking for your recipes. Deadline to submit is July 15, 2009. Here’s the info from the community’s latest newsletter:

We have received numerous requests for another cookbook and are in the process of publishing our fifth book. You can email your recipe to Mandy Maude at Amanda.maude@yahoo.com or contact her at 713-8413. Please include your name and telephone number in the event we have a question about your recipe. There will be a memorial section in the cookbook as well in the event you would like to submit a recipe in memory of a loved one. The recipe submission cut off date is July 15.

Here’s some of the festivities planned around Weaverville this Saturday for Independence Day:

Kiwanis Firecracker 5k Race
8:30 a.m., NBHS
More info…

Beech Community’s 125th Independence Day Celebration
10 a.m.-early afternoon, Beech Community Center
More info…

MPAC July 4th Block Party
10 a.m.-10 p.m., NBHS Soccer Fields.
More info…

If you’re wondering why there’s nothing listed for Main Street or Lake Louise, read this.

No fireworks in Weaverville this year. If you’re looking for fireworks, try Barnardsville. Their July 4th celebration starts at 2 p.m. at the Big Ivy Community Center and includes a parade, food, and music. Fireworks begin after dark. For other celebrations and fireworks displays options in the area, check out this list from Mountain Xpress.

The Beech Community will be celebrating their 125th consecutive celebration Saturday, July 4. Thought to be the oldest consecutive celebration in Western North Carolina, the festivities begin at 10 a.m. at the Beech Community Center (Sugar Cove Road ). Here’s what to expect:

The celebration starts with a parade at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. Line up by 9:45 a.m. on Roberts Cove Road . You can enter a float, decorate your pet, bicycle, truck, or 4-wheeler. After the parade, a patriotic program from guest speaker Tom Lawrence, a presentation of past celebrations, and music.  Following the program, a picnic lunch potluck – organizers ask that you bring your favorite food to share. To end the day, old-fashioned field games like the 3-legged race, sack races, watermelon spitting contest, and greased pole.

Also featured at the celebration this year, the Reems Creek Valley Extension Community Association will be demonstrating homemaking through the years in the community room after lunch.  Their group is the longest active Extension Community Association in WNC.

Finally, to commemorate the day, they have designed a t-shirt which will be on sale for $15, and a parade banner they would like everyone in attendance to sign.

The Beech Community is holding their annual yard sale Saturday, May 2, 8 a.m.-Noon, at the Beech Community Center. The Community Center is located at the corner of Reems Creek and Sugar Cove Roads, across the street from the Reems Creek-Beech Presbyterian Church .

Reems Creek Beech Presbyterian Church (4 Sugar Cove Road ) will be hosting a Valentine Dinner on Saturday, February 14, 5-7:30 p.m.  Details:

Join us on Saturday, February 14, for a casual spaghetti dinner which will include salad, dessert and drink.  Drop in anytime between 5 p.m and 7:30 p.m.  Donations will be appreciated, and all proceeds will go towards reducing the church’s debt for the new classroom addition.

For information contact 658-3568.

The Beech Community Center is hosting a number of events on Saturday, October 18, to raise funds to benefit the family of Cameron Martin.  Martin is a 3-year old boy who has been at Duke Hospital since June, undergoing treatment for a brain tumor.  All proceeds will go to his family for expenses while he is in treatment.  Here’s what they’ll be doing on Saturday:

Yard Sale:  8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Fall Festival: 10 a.m.  The festival includes booths, games, face painting, pumpkin decorating, and other fall activities.  A small concession stand will also be open during the festival.
Spaghetti Dinner: 5:30 p.m.  $5 gets you a plate of spaghetti, salad, and a drink.  A dessert table will also be available.
Bingo: 6:30 p.m.  There will be bingo games set up for both adults and kids.

Beech Community Center is located at the corner of Reems Creek and Sugar Cove Roads, across the street from the Reems Creek-Beech Presbyterian Church .

The 8th Annual Pig Picking at Reems Creek-Beech Presbyterian Church (4 Sugar Cove Road ) takes place 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, October 4.  More info:

An adult plate costs $9; a child plate costs $5. Each meal includes chopped barbeque with sauce, slaw, baked beans, potato salad, rolls, hushpuppies, dessert and drink. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance by calling the church at 658-3568. Take-out will also be available.

Music will be provided by Mark Clevenger, Harold Hollifield, and Jerry Sutton. The event will also include a silent auction featuring locally hand-crafted items.

Proceeds will benefit the Weaverville Senior Meal Site, and the new education building campaign for the Reems Creek-Beech Presbyterian Church.  The meal site, sponsored by Buncombe County’s Council on Aging, offers independence to seniors in Buncombe County through a free lunch service, exercise and activities. The program is free.

The Beech Community Center is hosting their annual yard sale Saturday, September 20.  The sale will run from 8 a.m. until Noon.  Beech Community Center is located at the corner of Reems Creek and Sugar Cove Roads, across the street from the Reems Creek-Beech Presbyterian Church ().  For more information contact Susan Wilson at 645-6588.

The Beech Community hosts their 124th consecutive July 4th celebration starting at 10 a.m.  Although it hasn’t been officially confirmed, this celebration is thought to be the oldest in Western North Carolina. The festivities include a parade, speaker, live music and old-time games. They take place at the Beech Community Center. To get there, follow Reems Creek until it ends, then turn right.

Parade, 10 a.m.
Anyone can be a part of the parade, whether you’ve put together an official float or have dressed up your dog in red, white and blue. Cars, bicycles, 4-wheelers, walkers, horses, dogs, cats — all are welcome. If you want to join in, you’ll need to line up on Roberts Cove Road at 9:45 a.m. Just want to watch? The parade officially starts at 10 a.m.

Program, 11 a.m.
Following the parade will be speaker Al Harrell, who will be talking about freedom. After that it’s time for some live music and a picnic lunch (please bring your own to share). Wrapping up the festivities will be some old-time games: sack races, 3-legged races, and more.

Sights and sounds of the 17-year Cicadas in the Beech Community. Warning: if you don’t like bugs, you probably don’t want to watch this video. You also probably don’t want to stand still around them with a video camera for any period of time, or you’ll be forced to edit the section of video where you scream because you realize one of them has landed on your shoulder.