A few days ago I published information about the North Buncombe BlackHawk Band’s Car Wash-A-Thon fundraiser.  Today I learned something new about it — they’re going waterless! According to an article in today’s Citizen-Times, in the newly named Car Care-a-Thon “the band plans to wash the exterior windows, clean the headlight and taillight lenses with window cleaner and paper towels. They have pledged not to use a drop of water.”    www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080822/NEWS05/80822006

Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store (113 North Main Street) hosts their free weekly wine tasting 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 22:

So, you’ve gotten the kids back to school, and you’ve just finished paying off the summer vacation. Not much money left over for wine? We thought it a perfect time to have one of our under $10 tastings. Come in and taste some delicious wines that won’t break the bank!

See you then!

The August 22 wine tasting has been canceled.

Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store (113 North Main Street) hosts their free weekly wine tasting 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, August 15.

Thank you for such a great tasting last week! I can’t wait for this week. We will have all new wines, and boy are they delicious!

See you then!

This week’s free wine tasting at Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store (113 North Main Street) will be 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 9:

Wine & Goat Cheese Pairing

This week we will be tasting out different types of goat cheese, from artisan to aged. And, of course, we will have wine! There will be wines paired with each of the cheeses. See you then!

This week’s free wine tasting at Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store (113 North Main Street) will be held Friday, August 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

This week we will have a representative from Dionysus Wine Distributors in the store. She will be pouring delicious, light, white wines.

We will be tasting:

• Les Vignerons De Saumur
• Cave de L’Ormarine Picpoul
• Mount Difficulty Pinot Gris
• Shepherds Ridge Sauvignon Blanc

Try some for you next picnic, garden party, or shindig!

Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store’s weekly free wine tasting will be Friday, July 25, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.:

This week we will have Josh Odom in from Owl’s Nest Distributors. He will be tasting out 2 whites and 2 red wines that are delicious for the hot weather we’ve been having!
We will be tasting:

• Buenos Ondas Torrontes (Organic)
• Yarraman Hay Burner Chardonnay
• Tamar Ridge Devils Corner Pinot Noir
• Pircas Negras Malbec (Organic)

Maggie B’s is located at 113 North Main Street.

No, Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store (113 North Main St.) isn’t closing its doors.  They are, however, hosting a farewell tasting for Tryon Distributing’s Kristen Adams.  If you’ve been to many of the wine tastings at Maggie B’s you probably know who she is, so stop by between 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18 for a special wine tasting and to wish her well.

We are very sad to say that Kristen Adams from Tryon Distributing will be leaving for a promotion. We’re very happy for her, but will miss her greatly. In honor of her last tasting, we will have out her favorites (plus cake)!

Come send her off in style!

Reems Creek Valley Nursery and Landscaping (70 Monticello Rd.)is hosting a seminar on butterflies Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m.  It’s free, but they ask that you please preregister by calling 645-3937.  Details:

Winged Wonders: Butterfly Gardening Basics
Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m.
Free. Preregister at 645-3937

Even a few well-chosen plants invite these winged beauties into your yard to delight you and your family. Butterfly nectar & host plants including natives, simple backyard habitat requirements, and the life cycle of butterflies will be discussed.

Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store (113 North Main Street) is hosting a Wine and Cake Pairing tasting 5:30-7:30 p.m. and an all day Stock-Up sale on Friday, July 11:

We will be introducing a new local line of cakes from Inventive Icings that we will be carrying in the store. We will also be pairing wines with 4 of the cakes.

Saturday, July 12th we will be closed. So, we are having a stock up sale all day Friday. Come in and buy at least 3 bottles of wine and get 10% off your entire purchase.

See you soon!

The annual Weaverville Garden Tour is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 12. This year’s tour, sponsored by the Weaverville Tree Board and Weaverville Wildlife Habitat, will feature five gardens which are National Wildlife certified wildlife habitats. Maps and additional information will be available on the day of the tour in front of Weaverville Town Hall (30 South Main Street). The tour is free, but donations to the Weaverville Wildlife Habitat project will be appreciated.

from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission:

Along with watching fireworks and grilling out, celebrate Independence Day by indulging in another favorite pastime, fishing — no license needed!

From midnight until 11:59 p.m., on July 4, anyone — resident or non-resident — can fish in any public water, including mountain trout waters and coastal waters, in North Carolina without a fishing license.

“The purpose of the free fishing day is to show people how much fun fishing can be,” said Kent Nelson, fisheries program manager for the Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries. “It’s a great way to spend quality time with your kids outdoors and help them develop an interest in nature and conservation.”

While the fishing is free on July 4, fishing regulations, such as size and creel limits, bait and tackle restrictions, and park use fees apply.

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.

Weaverville Library, along with all branches of the Buncombe County library system, will be giving out one free reusable shopping bag per person (while supplies last) beginning Tuesday, July 1. Additional bags will also be available to purchase for $1 each.  The library is doing this in an effort to encourage people to use reusable shopping bags.

Every year the average citizen goes through 6 plastic bags per week or 312 per year. That may not sound like much, but when multiplied by the number of Buncombe County citizens that’s a potential of 1,260,000 bags per week. The cost of disposing of these bags in the landfill is about 17¢ each, and as you can imagine, that cost adds up. By using just one reusable bag for a year, the average household would save the disposal of 20 pounds of garbage in our landfill.  If you multiple that by the number of households in the County, the potential savings is 600,000 pounds of trash a year.

The cost of recycling plastic bags so outweighs their value that most recycling facilities will not take them - leading to more and more being thrown into the landfill. Thanks to their light weight, plastic bags are the debris most likely to fly away from landfills and garbage trucks, settling in trees, storm drains and road sides.

Lots of events this month at the Weaverville Library, including more events from the 2008 Summer Book Reading Program.  For more information about any event, contact the library at 250-6482.  It’s located at 41 North Main Street.

Weaverville PM Book Club: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Tuesday, July 1, 7 p.m.
The book to be discussed is “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon. All interested readers are welcome to attend.

Weaverville AM Book Club: Water for Elephants
Wednesday, July 2, 12:30 p.m.
The book to be discussed is “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen. All interested readers are welcome to attend.

Chicken Hollow String Band
Thursday, July 3, 11 a.m.
Come be a part of all the fun as we welcome back our local friends the Chicken Hollow String Band! Enjoy old time music, dancing, an interactive puppet show and much more! It will be a knee-slapping and clapping good time! Free ticket required, please pick up your ticket at the library prior to the program.

Bedbug Storytime
Tuesday, July 8, 7 p.m.
Come to an evening storytime featuring some of our favorite bedtime stories and lullabies. Feel free to wear your pajamas and bring your teddy bear!

Miss Spider’s Tea Party
Thursday, July 10, 11 a.m.
It’s time for tea with Miss Spider and all of her friends! Come for stories, songs and a lovely library tea party! Free ticket required, please pick up your ticket at the library prior to the program.

Metamorphosis At Your Library
Thursday, July 10, 4 p.m.
Calling all teens! Mark your calendars, there’s a special event just for YOU! Stay tuned for details.

Bug Garden Stepping Stones
Thursday, July 17, 11 a.m.
Learn how to make and decorate your own personal stepping stone for your garden! Join us for a very special buggy craft time outside on the patio and don’t forget your bug spray! Parental assistance is encouraged for this project. Free ticket required, please pick up your ticket at the library prior to the program.

“Microcosmos” Family Movie Matinee
Friday, July 18, 4 p.m.
Galloping Grasshoppers! It’s Jurassic Park in your own backyard! Don’t miss this fascinating up-close look at real live bugs and the world they live in. Popcorn and bug juice served.

Rags to Riches Theatre Troupe
Thursday, July 24, 11 a.m.
Don’t miss the Rags to Riches travelling theatre troupe, entertaining the young and young at heart with stories pulled from history, literature and fantasy. Come enjoy a show full of music, laughter, improvisation and audience participation! Free ticket required, please pick up your ticket at the library prior to the program.

Book Sales
Friends of the Weaverville Library host the Wednesday Book Sale on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Wednesdays of every month. The sales take place 1-3 p.m. in the lower level of the Weaverville Library.

The start of this is just minutes away, at 11 a.m., continuing through the afternoon:

The Weaverville branch of HomeTrust Bank will be grilling hot dogs today (Friday, June 27) at their North Main Street location. The cookout is free, in appreciation of their customers and the Weaverville community.