July 2009 live music schedule at 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, July 3 - Joe Hallock
Saturday, July 4 - Ryan Furstenberg
Friday, July 10 - Kim Reinhart
Saturday, July 11 - Dave Wendelin
Friday, July 17 - Kim Reinhart
Saturday, July 18 - Garry Segal
Friday, July 24 - Ryan Furstenberg
Saturday, July 25 - Jay Brown
Friday, July 31 - Dave Wendelin

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This week’s free weekly wine tasting at Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store (113 North Main Street ) will take place all day Saturday, July 4 (no tasting on Friday night this week). Details from their weekly newsletter:

Happy 4th of July!
Saturday, July 4
All Day

All day July 4th will be tasting Jarhead Red from Firestone Winery.  Besides being a delicious wine, 100% of the proceeds go back to a Marine scholarship fund.  So, come support your troops by buying a bottle.  Also, show support for your hometown of Weaverville by purchasing “The Doors of Weaverville” poster.  Now for sale @ $10 each! We hope you have a wonderful 4th of July!

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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.

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

Wednesday, July 1 - Open Mic
Thursday, July 2 - Mark Appleford
Friday, July 3 - Locomotive Pie
Saturday, July 4 - Luke Malone
Sunday, July 5 - Luke Wood
Tuesday, July 7 - Makia Groove
Wednesday, July 8 - Open Mic
Thursday, July 9 - Mark Bumgarner
Friday, July 10 - Mark Bumgarner
Saturday, July 11 - Locomotive Pie
Sunday, July 12 - John Cook
Tuesday, July 14 - John Cook
Wednesday, July 15 - Open Mic
Thursday, July 16 - Mark Appleford
Friday, July 17 - Acoustic Swing
Saturday, July 18 - Mark Bumgarner
Sunday, July 19 - John Cook
Tuesday, July 21 - Mark Bumgarner
Wednesday, July 22 - Open Mic
Thursday, July 23 - Makia Groove
Friday, July 24 - Acoustic Swing
Saturday, July 25 - Patrick Leonard
Sunday, July 26 - Luke Wood
Tuesday, July 28 - Patrick Leonard
Wednesday, July 29 - Open Mic
Thursday, July 30 - Mark Bumgarner
Friday, July 31 - Acoustic Swing

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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 this week’s edition for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District:

Recent Senate Votes

Nomination of Harold Hongju Koh to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State Vote Confirmed (62-35, 2 Not Voting) The Senate confirmed Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh as Legal Adviser of the State Department. 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

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 Vote Passed (389-37, 7 Not Voting) On Wednesday, the House passed this bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2010. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Department of Defense Authorization, FY 2010 Vote Passed (389-22, 1 Present, 21 Not Voting) The House approved this bill to authorize funding for military activities and prescribe military personnel strengths in Fiscal Year 2010. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation, 2010 Vote Passed (254-173, 6 Not Voting) The House passed this bill funding the Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency and related agencies for Fiscal Year 2010. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio American Clean Energy and Security Act Vote Passed (219-212, 3 Not Voting) This climate and energy bill, which includes a cap-and-trade program, was passed by the House on Friday. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Editor’s Note: Congress is now in recess for the 4th of July holiday. The Senate will return on Monday, July 6. The House will return on Tuesday, July 7.

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Governor Bev Perdue announced today that Baldor Electric Company will expand its Weaverville plant (70 Reems Creek Road), adding 32 jobs over the next 3 years. Here’s the press release from her office:

State Grant Helps Baldor Electric Co. Expand in Weaverville

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Baldor Electric Co., an international supplier of industrial electric motors, mechanical power transmission products, drives and generators, will expand its Weaverville operations.  The company plans to invest more than $4.8 million and create 32 jobs during the next three years.  The announcement was made possible in part by a $64,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

“North Carolina remains attractive to thriving companies like this one,” Gov. Perdue said.  “Our top-ranked business climate and knowledge-based workforce help keep our manufacturing sector strong and diverse, providing the good jobs our citizens have come to expect.”

Baldor Electric Co., headquartered in Arkansas, operates 26 manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Canada, England, Mexico and China, and provides products to more than 70 countries. Three of the company’s plants are in North Carolina, in Weaverville, Kings Mountain and Marion, employing a combined workforce of nearly 700 people.

Baldor is consolidating its Sleevoil hydrodynamic bearing line in Indiana and moving those operations to its Weaverville plant, which currently employs 128 workers.  The 32 new jobs added over the next three years will pay an average wage of $42,209, not including benefits, which is higher than the Buncombe County average of $32,968.

“The One NC Fund grant will help us invest further in the products we build and the jobs we provide in Buncombe County.  We are proud to be part of the Weaverville community, and we look forward to many more years together,” said Bill Ramsbey, vice president-operations.

This project follows two other recent One NC Fund announcements for Baldor facilities in Western North Carolina.  In June, Gov. Perdue announced 114 new jobs and an investment of $12.2 million in Cleveland County.  In May, the governor announced 25 new jobs and an investment of $3.1 million in McDowell County.

The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state.  Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds.  These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 40,000 jobs and $7 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other project partners include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges and Buncombe County.

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The town is taking bids for the old Weaverville Fire Station until July 15. Here’s the announcement from the Town’s Bid Requests page:

Public Notice
The Weaverville Town Council is currently in the process of receiving and soliciting for bids for the property located at 10 South Main Street, Weaverville North Carolina. This property is also known as the “Old Weaverville Fire Station”. The Town of Weaverville will dispose of this surplus property according to North Carolina General Statute’s 160A-269 “Negotiated offer, advertisement, and upset bids” process.

The Town of Weaverville will receive or solicit an offer to purchase the above noted property until July 15, 2009 at 3 p.m. Offers to purchase must be sent to:

Michael JaVan Morgan, Town Manager
Weaverville Town Hall
30 South Main Street
Weaverville, North Carolina 28787

Upset bids will be allowed as according to NCGS 160A-269.

For your review, a “Prospectus for the Old Weaverville Fire Station Facility” is available at the Weaverville Town Hall. This is only a guide to assist the potential buyer of the property. The buyer must evaluate the condition of the property and complete their own “due diligence”. The Town will be selling the property as is and will make no guarantees or warranties. Please note the deed restrictions and easements that will be placed on the property by the Weaverville Town Council. The buyer will need to make connections to the Weaverville Water System and MSD Sewer based on usage of the facility. The Town of Weaverville has the right to reject any and all bids.

For additional information please contact the Weaverville Town Manager.

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July 2009 events at the Weaverville Library (41 North Main Street ).  For information on these or any other program at the Weaverville Library, call the library at 250-6482 or email weaverville.library@buncombecounty.org.

Weaverville Afternoon Book Club
Wednesday, July 1, 12:30 p.m.
The book to be discussed is the second half of “Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin. All interested readers are welcome to attend.

Weaverville Evening Book Club
Tuesday, July 7, 7 p.m.
The book to be discussed is “On Chesil Beach” by Ian McEwan. All interested readers are welcome to attend.

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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.

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There’s going to be a benefit BBQ Dinner and Auction for Kali Holderfield this Saturday, June 27 at the Weaverville Community Center (60 Lakeshore Drive ). Kali, who just celebrated her third birthday, was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms in November 2006. You can learn more about her fight at www.kalielizabeth.com. Benefit info:

Saturday, June 27 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. we are having a Benefit BBQ Dinner/Silent Auction for Kali Holderfield.  It will be at the Weaverville Community Center at Lake Louise. All food has been donated by local restaurants.  We will have local bands, such as the Sons of Ralph, a dunk booth, moon house, and carnival games. BBQ plates  are $10 and Hot Dog Plates are $5. All proceeds go to benefit Kali Holderfield.

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Raku pottery artist Steven Forbes-deSoule is hosting another 50th Firing Kiln Opening at his studio on July 18. Yesterday he started firing the first of 49 raku pieces he’ll create over the next 16 working days. On Saturday, July 18, he’ll open his studio to visitors to watch the firing of the 50th piece, which he’ll then give away. He’ll be documenting the process on his blog, www.stevenforbesdesoule.com/blog.  Details from the invitation:

Steven Forbes-deSoule’s 50th Firing Kiln Opening
Saturday, July 18, 2009, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
143 David Biddle Trail, Weaverville

You are invited to an exclusive Raku firing demonstration and sale at my studio.
I will fire 49 raku pieces, one piece at a time, over the course of sixteen working days leading up to the opening event and will document this on my website/blog starting June 25. On the day of the event, the 50th piece will be fired as visitors observe. At 5 p.m. this final piece in the series (estimated value of $700) will be given away in a random drawing to one of the day’s attendees. You need not be present to win. The other 49 raku works produced during this conceptual event will be on display and available for purchase.

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This week’s free Friday Wine Tasting at Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store (113 North Main Street ):

Fox Hill Meadery
Friday, June 26th
5:30-7:30 p.m.

You all have been asking for this, so here it is!  Fox Hill is Asheville’s first meadery located in Marshall.  Jason Russ, the owner, will be in tasting his traditional, blackberry, spiced, and ginger-apricot mead.  Check them out at www.foxhillmead.com.  See you then!

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Blue Ridge Bison in the Reems Creek area is one of 15 Buncombe County farms participating in the 2009 Family Farm Tour, scheduled for June 27-28, 2009. Tickets can be purchased locally at Reems Creek Nursery (70 Monticello Road ) or any of these locations. More info:

The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) Family Farm Tour is your invitation to visit 38 farms and gardens throughout six counties in Western North Carolina. The region is home to agriculture of all kinds, ranging from century farms cultivated by the same family for generations, to certified organic farms, to urban gardens. Tour your choice of a wide selection of the area’s most outstanding farms and gardens during The Family Farm Tour, June 27 and 28, 2009, from 1-6 p.m.

Here’s how it works: Get a farm tour map and button. Gather your friends, fill a car, choose the farms you want to visit, and plan a route. There are more than enough choices to fill a schedule for Saturday and Sunday. Come with a cooler and your appetite. A variety of vegetables and fruits, trout, beef, pork, lamb, eggs, artisan cheeses, herbs, mushrooms, honey, preserves, and much more are available to sample or for sale. Products including yarn, soap, and crafts are offered as well. Watch animals such as bison, llamas, baby lambs, and bunnies. See traditional skills in practice-and even try them out yourself-during demonstrations of border collie shepherding, outdoor apple butter making, milking, the maple syrup tapping process, and wool spinning. Or, learn about new ideas during a tour of renewable energy systems, see a  hydroponics system, visit an edible landscape, and explore a garden labyrinth. Eat bread fresh from a wood fired oven and artisan ice cream, and stop for a picnic at one of the many beautiful farms along the way.

You may purchase buttons at farms on the day of the tour for $25. One button admits everyone in your car. If you only wish to visit one farm, pay $10 on-site. You can download a map, but the file is 10MB+, so  downloading it is not recommended if you’re using a dial-up connection.

Farms on the tour:
Buncombe County
Blue Ridge Bison, Cane Creek Valley Farm, Flying Cloud Farm, Gladheart Farms, Good Fibrations Angora Goats, Hawk and Ivy, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Highlander Farm, Imladris Farm, Long Branch Environmental Education Center, Martins Creek Homestead, Pearson Drive Community Garden, Pisgah View Peace Garden, Round Mountain Creamery, Venezia Dream Farm

Haywood County
Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm, Rux Gardens, Sunburst Trout Company, The Ten Acre Garden

Henderson County
McConnell Farms

Madison County
Bee Tree Farm and Vineyard, Briar Rose Farm, East Fork Farm, Philosophy Farm, Spinning Spider Creamery, Sunset Valley Farm, Three Graces Dairy, Wake Robin Farm, Zimmerman Berry Farm
Transylvania County
Colonial Acres Nursery, Holly Hill Farm, Queen’s Produce and Berry Farm

Yancey County
Arthur Morgan School, Firefly Farm, Maple Creek Farm, Mountain Farm, Mountain Gardens, Wellspring Farm

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The Honey Holler Girls and the Sustainable Gourmet will join the usual vendors at Wednesday’s Weaverville Tailgate Market:

This weeks Weaverville Tailgate Market will be held on Wednesday June 24, 2009 from 2:30-6:30 p.m. on the hill at Lake Louise in beautiful Weaverville. We have music and the Sustainable Gourmet this week. Toes a tappin’ to the music of the Honey Holler Girls. If you missed them the first time, try to catch them this time around. Michael Gentry, the Sustainable Gourmet, will be at the market preparing and sampling seasonal goodies.

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Help Meals on Wheels restock their pet food pantry at the Weaverville Library (41 North Main Street ) this summer:

Buncombe County Public Libraries are having a summer pet food drive to help Meals on Wheels restock their pet food pantry. Please bring unopened dog, cat or bird food to any Buncombe County Public library in June, July or August. For more information call the Swannanoa Library 250-6486 or email library@buncombecounty.org

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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.

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Three Weaverville residents, David Brank, Jeremy Johnson and Renee Garcia, will be showing their registered French Alpine Goats at the WNC Ag Center (1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher ) this weekend (Saturday, June 20-Sunday, June 21) at the “Summer in the Mountains” Dairy Goat Show. The show runs from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. each day and admission is free, so check them out and cheer them on if you have a chance. Here’s some more details about the show:

About the Show
The “Summer in the Mountains” Dairy Goat Show offers an excellent educational opportunity for families and young people interested in learning more about the Dairy Goat. The show will run from Saturday, June 20-Sunday, June 21, 9 a.m. until about 5 p.m. each day. It will be held at the WNC Agricultural Center Sale barn and will feature classes for the six recognized dairy goat breeds in the United States: Alpines, LaMancha, Oberhasli, Nubian, Saanen, and Toggenburgs. There will also be classes for the Nigerian Dwarf, a miniature dairy goat. The public is invited and admission is free.

To prepare for your adventure at the goat show, did you know?

• Male goats are called bucks, female adult goats are called does and baby goats are called kids.
• Goats were domesticated between 11,000 and 10,000 b.c. in Turkey and Iran by Neolithic farmers, who kept small herds for milk, meat, as well as using their dung for fuel and their coats for clothing and building. Swiss dairy goats came to the United States in 1940. It is estimated that there were 310,000 dairy goats in the United States in 2008.  There are approximately 780 million goats in the world.
• Each breed of dairy goat produces a different tasting milk. Oberhasli goat milk tastes the closest to cow’s milk. Any thing you can make with cow’s milk you can make with goat milk. Goat milk has a higher butterfat than cow’s milk. Their milk is much easier to digest than cow’s milk and is often used for babies who have difficulty digesting cow’s milk.
• Goats are extremely picky about what they eat. They DO NOT eat tin cans and they are browsers, not grazers. Goats only have bottom front and side teeth with a large molar in the back to crush harder food. Goats will not eat food that is spoiled or hay that has fallen on the ground.
• Goats are as smart as dogs but behave more like cats. They are playful and love human contact. They generally live 10 to 15 years. They are easy to house requiring around 15 square feet of space per goat. Goats can help cut carbon emissions by replacing the lawnmower and it takes less of our resources to care for goats.

Learn more
To learn more about goats, the Piedmont Diary Goat Association invites you to visit during the show and discover the wonderful world of goats or visit our website: www.piedmontdairygoats.com.

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This week’s free Friday Wine Tasting at Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store (113 North Main Street ):

Father’s Day Wine Tasting
Friday, June 19
5:30-7:30 p.m.

Come honor your father or man in your life by bringing them to the wine tasting where they can pick out the wine to pair with their Father’s Day dinner! We will be tasting:

• Foris Pinot Blanc
• Miguel Torres Sauvignon Blanc
• Pinot Black
• Fly Over Red

Happy Father’s Day!

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If you want to run in this year’s Kiwanis Firecracker 5k race and you’d like to save $5, be sure to register by Saturday, June 20.  Early registration fee is $20. After June 20, it’s $25.  Proceeds from the race go to scholarships for North Buncombe High School students.  Here’s the race details:

16th Annual Kiwanis Firecracker 5k
Join us Saturday, July 4, 2009, for the 16th Annual Firecracker 5k Run to provide scholarships for some of our North Buncombe students planning to attend a college or technical school.

When and Where
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Race Start: 8:30 a.m.
North Buncombe High School parking lot
890 Clark’s Chapel Road

New Course
This year’s course will begin in the parking lot in front of North Buncombe High School. It follows a rolling course on paved roads through the North Buncombe countryside, concluding back at the high school.
Course map

Registration
Register online at www.active.com or download a registration form. Entry fee is $20 before June 20, 2009, and $25 after June 20, 2009. Note: Online and mail-in registration ends 48 hours before the race. After this time, we accept walk-up runners on race day.

Awards
Each participant who pre-registers by June 20 will receive a specially designed, 100% cotton T-shirt. 5K awards will be presented to overall Male and Female finishers, and to the top three Males and Females in each of the following age groups:
12 and under, 13-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 and over

Fun Walk
Sorry, we are not able to have our 1-mile “fun run” this year.

Sponsors
If you’re interested in being a sponsor, e-mail Kiwanisfirecracker@yahoo.com. Sponsorship levels are Bronze ($100), Silver ($250), or Gold ($500).

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Bike Night at Rodney’s Auto Service (37 North Main Street ) tonight (Thursday, June 18):

3rd Thursday Bike Night at Rodney’s Auto Service
Join the Carolina Faith Riders for Bike Night at Rodney’s Auto Service on Thursday, June 18, starting at 6 p.m. There’s always music, fun and fellowship! They’ll be serving hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cold drinks, plus 50/50 and door prizes.  All bikes welcome.

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Time for this month’s Blue Mountain Pizza (55 North Main Street ) Third Thursday fundraiser:

On Thursday, June 18, Blue Mountain is again donating proceeds from its Third Thursday fundraiser to the Weaverville Senior Meal Center. The Center “provides a non-denominational program every week day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Among the topics the Center provides information on are exercise, health, music and nutritious meals.” 10% of Blue Mountain Pizza’s receipts are donated on the third Thursday, plus for the entire month they match 100% of the cash donations made in the canister next to the register.

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