March 2010 live music schedule for Well-Bred Bakery (26 North Main Street ).  They feature live music on Friday and Saturday nights, 7-9 p.m. with no cover charge:

Friday, March 5 – Zeem (Acoustic Folk)
Saturday, March 6 – P.J. Brunson (Country/Folk/Pop)
Friday, March 12 – Carol Rifkin & Paul’s Creek Band (Old Timey/Vintage Bluegrass)
Saturday, March 13 – Peg Twisters (Old-Time Music With a Twist)
Friday, March 19 – Carol Rifkin & Paul’s Creek Band (Old Timey/Vintage Bluegrass)
Saturday, March 20 – Katie LaRue (Acoustic Folk/Singer-Songwriter)
Friday, March 26 – Demijohn Varmits (Appalachian Dirty Shuffle)
Saturday, March 27 – Peg Twisters (Old-Time Music With a Twist)

Car need a good washing? Rodney’s Automotive (37 North Main Street) is offering a $25 car wash and vaccuum today only (Friday, January 15, 2010). If you’re interested, just drop your car off anytime today between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Expect it to take about 30 minutes per car. Only cash and checks will be accepted.

Keeping up with the guy in the red suit tonight? Links to the Official NORAD Santa Tracker, now also on Facebook and Twitter:

• Official NORAD Santa Tracker

• NoradSanta on Twitter

• NoradSanta on Facebook

MegaVote is a service provided by Congress.org as a means of tracking the most recent and upcoming votes of our elected Congressional officials.  This information is provided via e-mail on a weekly basis when Congress is in session.  Here’s last week’s edition for our district:

Recent Senate Votes

Motion to Table Nelson Amdt.; Abortion Funding Vote Agreed to (54-45, 1 Not Voting) During debate of the health care reform bill, the Senate rejected this amendment that would have prohibited federal funding of abortion coverage. Sen. Richard Burr voted NO……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Kay Hagan voted YES……send e-mail or see bio FY2010 Omnibus Appropriations bill Vote Agreed to (57-35, 8 Not Voting) The Senate gave final approval to this $446.8 billion bill that combines 6 unfinished 2010 fiscal year spending bills. The bills included are Transportation/HUD; Military Construction/Veterans Affairs; Labor/HHS; State/Foreign Operations; Commerce/Justice/Science; and Financial Services. The bill now goes to the President. Sen. Richard Burr voted NO……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Kay Hagan voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Tax Extenders Act of 2009 Vote Passed (241-181, 12 Not Voting) The House voted to extend a number of expiring tax cuts. The bill now awaits Senate action. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio FY2010 Omnibus Appropriations bill Vote Passed (221-202, 1 Present, 10 Not Voting) The House passed this $446.8 billion bill that combines 6 unfinished 2010 fiscal year spending bills. The bills included are Transportation/HUD; Military Construction/Veterans Affairs; Labor/HHS; State/Foreign Operations; Commerce/Justice/Science; and Financial Services. The Senate gave final approval to the bill on Sunday. Rep. Heath Shuler voted NO……send e-mail or see bio The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 Vote Passed (223-202, 9 Not Voting) This House bill would overhaul financial services regulations and place new controls on institutions deemed to pose a risk to the entire financial system. The bill now awaits Senate action. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – H.R.3590 The Senate is expected to continue working on this health care reform legislation. Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2010 – H.R.3326 Both chambers may complete action on the conference report funding the Department of Defense for the 2010 fiscal year.

Earlier this week I published the schedule for this year’s Christmas Candlelight Stroll (tonight, 6-9 p.m. on Main Street). Many of the Main Street businesses are also having sales and specials and/or entertainment during the Stroll. Here’s the ones I know about thus far:

aabani Salon & Spa
Entertainment: Harp player. Serving tea sandwiches and “Aveda comforting tea mimosas”.

Art Accents
“Live models” window display. 20% off sale + coupons for 20% off future purchase.

Blue Mountain Pizza
Live music from Acoustic Swing.

Dry Ridge Musuem (lower level of the Weaverville Library)
Open for tours. Serving food and drinks.

M7 Realty
This evening they’ll play host to Santa. A photographer will also be there to take pictures, and Joyful Noise Dragonscales Quartet will be performing.

Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store
Local wines will be out for tasting. Free gift with every purchase made during the Stroll.

Mangum Pottery
Annual Christmas Sale: 10-30% off all pottery.

Miya Gallery
They’ll have snacks, plus the Montford Park Players will be doing a skit inside the gallery. Their Holiday Art Exhibition with Mikpo Pottery and Maureen Hoxie is also open.

RBC Centura Bank
They’ll have “Leo the Lion” out at Rodney’s Automotive tonight handing out coloring books for the children.

Root & Root Law Firm
They’ll be showing children’s Christmas cartoons.

Secret Garden
They may not be open anymore, but they have a closeout sale going on now, with 25-50% off most items.

Shop Around the Corner
Entertainment: Flute Ensemble from Mars Hill College. Free food samples.

Sunnyside Cafe
Bring 3 canned goods and get 1 free cup of soup per entree (they’re doing this Saturday night too).

Weaverville Yoga
Will be showing artwork by two of its teachers, Leslie Cunningham and Donna Hollinshead.  Free warm chai for visitors.

Well-Bred Bakery
Live music from Jason Waller

Pictured above are Weaverville Business Association board members Jennifer Jenkins and Cindy Ward presenting a check to Officer Andy Mace of the Weaverville Police Department. The donation was for the department’s Cops for Kids Toy Drive, which ends tomorrow (Tuesday, December 8, 2009). I’ve heard many local groups stepped up and donated, especially after hearing about the slow start the drive had (their big kick-off event, the Cops for Kids Bike Run, was marred by bad weather this year).

If you would like to donate, Tuesday’s the last day to do so. New, unwrapped gifts for kids ages infant-teen will be accepted at the Police Department during the day or officers will also be at the Ingles on Weaver Blvd. from 4-7 p.m. (look for the Police truck in the parking lot). All donations go towards making the Christmas season a happy one for needy children in the Weaverville/North Buncombe area.

December 2009 live music schedule for Blue Mountain Pizza (55 North Main Street).  Blue Mountain has live music nightly (except Mondays) from 7-9 p.m. with no cover charge:

Friday, December 4 – Acoustic Swing
Saturday, December5 – The Wellhouse Band
Sunday, December 6 – John Cook
Tuesday, December 8 – Makia Groove
Wednesday, December 9 – Open Mic
Thursday, December 10 – Patrick Fitzsimons
Friday, December 11 – Acoustic Swing
Saturday, December 12 – The Wellhouse Band
Sunday, December 13 – Luke Wood
Tuesday, December 15 – Makia Groove
Wednesday, December 16 – Open Mic
Thursday, December 17 – Billy Owens
Friday, December 18 – Acoustic Swing
Saturday, December 19 – Mark Bumgarner
Sunday, December 20 – John Cook
Tuesday, December 22 – Makia Groove
Wednesday, December 23 – Open Mic
Saturday, December 26 – The Wellhouse Band
Sunday, December 27 – Luke Wood
Tuesday, December 29 – Makia Goove
Wednesday, December 30 – Open Mic
Thursday, December 31 – Mark Bumgarner

Note: Blue Mountain Pizza will close at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and reopen December 26.

Film night at the Weaverville Library Tuesday, November 10, 2009:

The film “The Third Man” will be shown at the Weaverville Library (41 North Main Street) on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 7  p.m. with an introduction and commentary by local film historian Bill Brittain.  The Friends of the Weaverville Library are sponsoring this program and will provide FREE popcorn.  For more information call 250-6482.

Great picture of downtown Weaverville taken from Hamburg Mountain by Weaverville’s Jeff Pott. Jeff also owns the computer consulting company PC Plus.

News from this week’s edition of the Weaverville Tailgate Market newsletter. The market is held 2:30-6:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the community center behind Lake Louise.

You were probably thinking by now that you were going to be spared a market email this week, but no such luck.  We were just a little late in gathering information, but hopefully this means we have been thorough and can give an accurate prediction for Wednesday:

We are proud to welcome Oak Moon Creamery to Weaverville, with their fine selection of artisan goat’s milk cheeses.  We also welcome the Herban Bakery, offering gluten-free baked goods, frozen pizza crusts, and delightful cookies.

We’ve still got:
peppers, kale, chard, lettuce, squash
seafood, pasture-raised beef, eggs, chicken
jams & jellies, creative herb blends, pasta sauce and pesto
oh, and sorghum molasses too

We will have music of some sort, unfortunately research fell a bit short on this point, but it will be lively and entertaining and you should toss them a buck.  And ask them to play Free Bird.  Everyone knows that song, whether they admit it or not…

Scribbles the Clown will be painting faces, arms, etc.  We might have pumpkins, but this is uncertain.

Thanks as always for your support and patronage, we look forward to seeing you Wednesday!

P.S. Market 2:30-6:30 Wed. PM, behind Community Center @ Lake Louise.  Please write weavervillemarket@yahoo.com if you need to reach us.

Reems Creek Beech Presbyterian Church (4 Sugar Cove Road) hosts their 9th Annual Pig Picking and Singing on Saturday, October 3, 2009. Info:

9th Annual Pig Picking and Singing
Reems Creek Beech Presbyterian Church
October 3, 2009
5-7 p.m.

Adult BBQ Plates – $9
Child BBQ Plates – $5

Great food, a raffle, and music by Clearwater Connection, Jim & Jan McCoy and Alice Taylor.

Proceeds go towards the church’s expansion and the Weaverville Senior Meal Site.

Here’s some of the sales and specials local businesses are having during Saturday’s Art in Autumn festival.  I’ll add to this list as I find out more:

• Curtis Wright Outfitters: Sale – 40% off on seasonal clothing
• Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store: Wine Tasting, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
• Pistil & Stamen: Sale – 10-40% off all items
• Shop Around the Corner: Gullah Gourmet, Dessert Cheese Ball, and their Famous Iced Tea tastings
• Weaverville Drug Company: Ice Cream and sidewalk sale

Also, Robert Mitchell from Art Accents will be out with his aerial photography balloon, the one he used to capture this 2009 photo.

I was asked about parking during the festival.  Here’s that info:

Free Parking
On the North side of the festival, free parking will be available at the First Presbyterian Church on Alabama, the Weaverville United Methodist Church on Main Street, and the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall on Main Street.

On the South side of the festival, free parking will be available at Town Hall and the Weaverville Primary School. You can also usually park at West Funeral Home if they don’t have any services planned that day.

Handicap parking spaces will be available at the Weaverville United Methodist Church on the north side and Pistil and Stamen on the south side.

Volunteers will be located at each end of the festival (at the barricades) to assist with finding parking spaces. There’s also a Festival Map with parking marked at http://www.artinautumn.com/maps.htm

Most important: Please do NOT park along Central, Church, or Alabama. They need to keep those streets clear for emergency vehicles so you’ll likely be ticketed or towed if you park there.

One of the three entrances to Weaverville’s Main Street Nature Park. This one is off Pine Street (across from the First Baptist Church parking lot). The other two entrances are located behind the Public Parking Lot and in the lower level parking lot behind Town Hall (to the left). All the usual town ordinances apply at the Nature Park, including dogs must be on leash, no littering, and it’s closed after dark.

More photos from a recent walk I took through the Nature Park can be viewed here.

Reems Creek Nursery (70 Monticello Road ) is hosting a Water Gardening Seminar Saturday, July 11 at 10 a.m. It’s free, but you should pre-register by calling them at 645-3937.

Water Gardening Seminar
Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.
Free

Watching fish is entertaining for everyone, and the sound of water adds tranquility to any spot. Pond expert Marc Montell will introduce you to various water gardening plants and fish, and he will discuss year-round pond, fish, and water plant care. Marc’s talk will include design considerations, water gardening through the seasons, and he will demystify pond care products and pond maintenance devices. Saturday, July 11 at 10 a.m. Free, but please pre-register at 645-3937. 

At Wednesday’s Weaverville Tailgate Market:

This week’s market will be held on Wednesday July 8, 2009 from 2:30-6:30 p.m. on the hill at Lake Louise in beautiful Weaverville. This week we have a new musical group the “French Row Actives”. So put on those dancin’ shoes and come on out to the market. A friendly reminder on parking: Please do not park on the street next to the market. It is not wide enough for the Fire and Rescue vehicles to get by in case of emergency. We will do everything to make sure that you can park in the market parking lot and have a wonderful tailgate experience. So come one and come all. Remember to support your local farmers, food value, and artisans.

Some of the selections available at the market this week are: NC seafood, eggs, cheese, fresh roasted coffee and coffee beans, potatoes, okra, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, squash, beets, green beans, basil, chard, greens, kale, onions, cauliflower, peas, tomatoes, cabbage, blueberries, mushrooms, plant starts, molasses, honey, pork, chicken, lamb, beef, jewelry, yarns, breads, pastries, sauces, preserves, salad dressings, dipping oils, soaps, Japanese maples and other shrubs/perennials.

From Buncombe County News:

Asheville Transit Routes in Jeopardy

As you may have heard the future of Asheville Transit Routes #28 (Black Mountain) & 54 (Weaverville) are uncertain at this time. The routes will operate in their current configuration through the end of October 2009.

Currently there is a collaborative effort underway to retain these services. Asheville Transit (City of Asheville), Mountain Mobility (Buncombe County) Black Mountain and the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) are working with NC Department of Transportation to maintain the state and federal funding necessary to continue to operate these routes.

At this time ridership on Route # 28 & 54 continues to grown rapidly, with ridership in 2009 for the Black Mountain route at 55,000 riders and Weaverville Route #54 with 27,000 riders in 2009.

Citizens are encouraged to consider writing a brief statement detailing the benefits that these routes have for their transportation patterns to iride@ashevillenc.gov.

Please forward this message on to others who may have concerns with this loss of service.

The Weaverville Tribune has a summer internship available. Here’s what they’re looking for:

The Weaverville Tribune is seeking an intern for the summer. A qualified candidate would be a college student with a background in writing and a strong interest in community newspapers. Access to a digital camera is preferred but not required. Interested candidates should send their resumes to wteditor@weavervilletribune.com.

Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. on March 8, so remember to change your clocks and watches either Saturday before you go to bed or Sunday morning when you wake up. “Spring forward”, so move them ahead an hour!