The Weaverville Business Association is selling raffle tickets from now through the Candlelight Christmas Stroll on Friday, December 7.  Tickets are $1 and all proceeds benefit North Buncombe Samaritan Ministries.   You can purchase them at most local businesses (especially on Main Street) or during the Candlelight Christmas Stroll.  The drawing will be held Friday, December 7 at 9 p.m.  You do not need to be present to win.

Here’s the list of prizes you could win:

• Miya Gallery — $25 Gift Certificate
• Beverly Hanks — $25 Gift Certificate to Brown’s Florist
• Weaverville Eye Associates — Free eye exam AND ½ off glasses
• Blue Mountain Pizza — $25 Gift Certificate
• Preservation Hall — THREE $10 Gift Certificates
• Art Accents — $50 Gift Certificate
• Quality America — DVD Player
• The Garden Station — Hot Pink Watering Can
• Sunnyside Café — Lunch for two ($25 value) AND Dinner for two ($60 value)
• Century 21 Mountain Lifestyles — $50 Gift Certificate to Sunnyside AND $50 Gift Certificate for Brown’s Florist
• Mangum Pottery — $50 Gift Certificate
• Shop Around the Corner — $25 Gift Certificate
• Dry Ridge Inn — TWO Bed and Breakfast Cookbooks
• Inn on Main — TWO vouchers for $25 off a stay at the Inn OR free breakfast for two
• Brown’s Florist — $25 Gift Certificate
• Maggie B’s — $25 Gift Certificate
• Weaverville Lawn & Tractor — FREE homeowner lawnmower service
• Bee and Thistle — TWO $25 Gift Certificates
• Curtis Wright Outfitters — TWO $25 Gift Certificates
• Weaverville Drug Company — Gift Basket filled with goodies
• Edward Jones — Folding Chair
• Home Trust Bank — $25 Savings Bond
• MyWeaverville.com — $30 Weaverville Prize Package
• Well-Bred Bakery — FIVE $5 Gift Certificates
• The Secret Garden — $50 Gift Certificate
• De La Terre — $25 Gift Certificate for the Garden Station
• Mike’s Main Street Grill — $20 Gift Certificate
• Mercer Design Group — $25 Gift Certificate Well Bred Bakery
• M7 Realty Solutions — $40 Gift Basket from Bee & Thistle
• Peregrine Properties — $50 Gift Basket from Bee & Thistle
• Weaverville Tribune — One Year Subscription
• Handle With Care — 25% off shipping OR $25 in store merchandise
• Weaverville Pet Pantry — $25 Gift Certificate

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

Weaverville’s first Art in Autumn Arts & Crafts Festival is almost here.  The event takes place Saturday, September 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in downtown Weaverville.  Main Street, from Merrimon Avenue to Church Street, will be closed that day for the festival. 

More than 65 artists will be participating in this year’s event, which will also feature a music stage and food from local Weaverville restaurants.  Check out their website, www.visitweaverville.com/artinautumn, for the latest information.  They’ve just published the list of participating artists, and a music schedule should be available online soon as well.

They are also looking for volunteers to help out with the festival.  Please contact (828) 658-9929 if you’d like to help. 

The Weaverville Business Association is sponsoring a Candidate Forum at the Weaverville Town Hall, October 25, 7-9 p.m for the nine candidates running for Town Council.  The moderator will be Barbara Coulson of the Madison County League of Women Voters. The public is invited to attend and learn the platforms and direct questions to these candidates.  For more information about the Candidate Forum, contact (828) 658-9929.

While we’re on that subject, listed below are the the people who are running for Town Council (all information courtesy of Buncombe County Election Services).  It’s the first time in my memory that so many are on the ballot.  I think this speaks to the controversial nature of developments which have been happening here in Weaverville.  Whether you are happy or unhappy with the direction our town is taking, please let your voice be heard, if not at the Candidate Forum, then at the voting booth on November 6.

Warren Alcorn
22 Perrion Ave
Weaverville, NC 28787
Phone (H): (828) 658-3510
Phone (C): (828) 713-7634

---

Walter L. Currie
3 Ridgewood Avenue
Weaverville, NC 28787
Phone (H): (828) 658-1914
Phone (C): (828) 216-3198

---

Robert (Fish) English
40 Hamburg Dr.
Weaverville, NC 28787
Phone (H): (828) 658-9223
Phone (C): (828) 712-4426
Phone (B): (828) 645-5137

---

Darryl Hansome
19 Alexander Rd
Weaverville, NC 28787
Phone (H): (828) 484-9086
Phone (C): (828) 658-1027

---

Doug Jackson
2 College Crescent
Weaverville, NC 28787
Phone (H): (828) 645-5894

---

Mel Kelley
41 N.College St.
Weaverville, NC 28787
Phone (H): (828) 645-1650
Phone (C): (828) 301-0530
Phone (B): (828) 301-0530

---

Gene Knoefel
10 Highland Pointe Drive
Weaverville, NC 28787
Phone (H): (828) 645-8800
Phone (C): (828) 231-9511

---

Marcy D. Nisbeth
10 Spruce Street
Weaverville, NC 28787
Phone (H): (828) 658-0348

---

Bryan E. (Cleve) Rice
85 South Main Street
Weaverville, NC 28787
Phone (H): (828) 658-9367
Phone (C): (828) 774-1656
Phone (B): (828) 255-5000

---

Some additional information for voters:

• 2007 Election Schedule
• Registering to Vote
• Casting Your Vote
• Sample Ballots (This where you’ll find them — they aren’t posted just yet)
• Polling Locations

Questions about voter registration or the election process should be directed to the Buncombe County Board of Elections.