August 2018   |  Volume 32
July 4th Celebration: A Success
Submitted by Dottie Sherril, Town Council
This year July 4th fell on Wednesday. The weather was hot and humid but without showers. The Kiwanis Club along with Steak & Shake sponsored a 5K run through downtown Weaverville. This early morning race began at 8:00am. There were over 340 runners. Money from this event goes toward scholarships for North Buncombe High graduates.

The vendors began setting up their booths at 4:00pm on Lake Louise Drive and actually started selling at 5:00pm. All activities were held at Lake Louise Park. Since parking is limited, shuttle service was provided from various parking areas around town. A very large tent was set up in front of the booths with tables and chairs for folks to get out of the heat, sit in the shade, and enjoy the food.  
  
The Opening Ceremonies began at 7:00pm. The music and entertainment began right afterwards and lasted throughout the rest of the festivities. People enjoyed the music from a large stage located below the vendors. Featured this year was the band, Devils in Dust. They were brought back by popular demand.

Fireworks were shot off by Pyrotecnico,Inc. and began at 10:00pm. Everyone raved about the display and said they were the best ever. I received so many comments that it would be impossible to list them all in this article. Several of my neighbors brought chairs and watched the fireworks from the street next to my house. They all commented what great fireworks for our small town.

It was estimated over 3000 people came to Lake Louise Park. Some of the remarks from the vendors afterward were as follows: Angie Moore, who helped serve the Bar-B-Que sponsored by Little Mt. Zion Church said they did really well.  The North Buncombe High School Band couldnt make funnel cakes quick enough as the line was so long. Teleta Waldrop with the Band Boosters told me they made $2100 toward sending the band members to Normandy, France, in the coming school year.

A lot of hard work and planning go into the preparation for this one evening. A special thanks to the following:

  • Selena Coffey, Weaverville Town Manager, for her help in organizing events, purchasing the fireworks, getting Pyrotechnico to set them off, and lining up the band for our enjoyment.
  • Weaverville Police Chief, Alan Wyatt, and his staff for lining up the shuttle buses, street closures, and crowd control.
  • Weaverville Fire Chief, Ted Williams, and his crew for traffic control, overseeing fireworks, and emergency standby. 
  • Dale Pennell, Public Works Director, Rick
Harper and the entire Public Works team for set up, additional help anywhere needed, and clean up after everything was over.

A special thanks for the fine booths present for the purpose of providing information or making money to help out their organization:
  • North Buncombe High School Band (food and games)
  • Forrest Weaver and Family Bar-B-Que
  • Chris Sexton (ice cream and lemonade)
  • North Buncombe High School Baseball Team (snow cones and drinks)
  • Taiwanna Conner (jewelry and dream catchers)
Thank you to the Weaverville Business Association
The Town of Weaverville’s Municipal Parking Facility (clock lot) now offers parking for bicycles as well as automobiles. The Weaverville Business Association has generously purchased a new bike rack and donated it to the town, and it has been installed by Public Works Department crews. Its location is south of the clock and just behind the sidewalk, alongside a trash receptacle and bench. The location should be very convenient for bicyclists on Main Street as they park to visit our downtown shops and restaurants. The Town is very fortunate to have such a vibrant and exciting downtown, and our new bike rack will add convenience and safety for our cycling friends.
Weaverville Police Department Collaborates with the Pink Patch Project
The Pink Patch Project is a collaborative effort between the Los Angeles County Police Chief's Association and over 110 public safety agencies throughout the United States. The program centers on vibrant pink versions of the agency’s uniform patches. Officers from the participating agencies wear pink patches or pink badges on their uniforms during “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” in October. 

The Pink Patch Project is an innovative public awareness campaign designed to bring attention to the fight against cancer and to support breast cancer research or treatment organizations in combating this devastating disease. The Weaverville Police Department’s Pink Patches are intended to stimulate conversations with our community and to encourage public awareness about the importance of early detection.
The Weaverville Police Department will donate all money from the sales of our Pink Patches and memorabilia to The Hope Chest For Women and other women's cancer charities in Western North Carolina.

Please contact Detective Somer Oberlin at (828) 645-5700 at the Weaverville Police Department for more information about this important project.
Recognition of Randy Burroughs' Contributions to the Main Street Nature Park
The Town of Weaverville and the Weaverville Garden Club recently recognized Randy Burroughs' contributions to improvements in the Main Street Nature Park with the dedication of a beautiful stone with Randy's name and recognition engraved. Thank you for all you do, Randy!
Trent Duncan Graduates from Municipal & County Adminstration Course
CHAPEL HILL, NC Trent Duncan, Water Resources Superintendent/ORC, Town of Weaverville, has successfully graduated from the 2017­–2018 Municipal and County Administration course of the School of Government at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The program in Municipal Administration is designed for managers, department heads, and officials whose responsibilities require a broad understanding of functions beyond individual areas of specialization. The course is approximately 150 hours in length, and more than 60 instructors participate in leading the program. Course instruction covers North Carolina local government law, organization and management, finance and budgeting, employment law and administration, planning and regulation of development, and the delivery of specific city or county services.
Trent was one of 96 officials who graduated the Municipal and County Administration course this year and is one of more than 3,200 officials who have completed the course since it began in 1954.

Thank you, Trent, for your initiative and congratulations on completing this important course!
Think About This Before You Use That Next Plastic Straw
On average we use over 500 million plastic straws every day in America. End to end, straws used daily in the United States could circle the planet more than 2 ½ times a day.

More plastic means that we need more oil and gas extraction and more electricity to power the plastic production and transport of the plastic straws. On the disposal end, nearly every piece of plastic ever made, regardless of whether it has been recycled, still exists. Most plastic straws are too lightweight to make it through a mechanical recycling sorter. They drop through sorting screens and mix with other materials and are too small to separate, contaminating recycling loads or getting disposed as garbage. 

Few people realize that straws are among the top 10 items found during beach clean ups and can do so much harm to seabirds, turtles and other marine creatures. Although straws amount to a very small fraction of ocean plastic, their size
make them one of the most dangerous as they entangle marine animals and are consumed by fish and birds. An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When they ingest plastic, marine life has a 50% mortality rate.

As an item of convenience for the vast majority of us, refusing the single-use plastic straw is the easiest and simplest way for people to take action today to reduce plastic pollution.
It's Not For the Ducks or Geese
Chasing or feeding ducks, geese and other waterfowl can be harmful to their health
Submitted by Michell Fleckner
We all love to see excited ducks and geese gather around for tidbits of food on the ground or in the water. The birds grab the stale bread, crackers or popcorn then hurry back for more.
You’ve probably seen people chasing or feeding waterfowl stale bread or crackers at a park or pond. In fact, you may even have done it yourself. But what most people don’t realize is that chasing or feeding ducks and geese can be very harmful to the birds. It can even lead to their death.

Chasing the birds can seem like a fun activity for a young child or dog at the park, however, it’s not fun for the ducks or geese. If provoked a goose or duck will defend themselves especially during nesting season.  Some of these attacks on human can be quite painful so it’s best to not chase them. 

When a chasing a bird, they will make snap decision on how to protect their life and sometimes that can mean getting their leg or wings caught on rocks or in trees. Waterfowl with broken legs or wings can almost guarantee a short life from not being able to defend themselves, forage for food or depending on the injury, the bird will die from infection.  

Why Experts Say Don't Feed the Ducks or Geese

While kids can get away with eating junk food occasionally, young birds can’t. Birds grow much faster than humans. What they eat each day is very important to their proper growth. Without proper nutrition, problems occur.
Proper nutrition is just as important for adult waterfowl as it is for their young. Adults need strong muscles for migration. They also need a healthy body for reproduction and replacement of their feathers. 
A high- carbohydrate, high- protein diet is associated with a wing deformity known as “ angel wing” or “airplane wing”.  Angel wing is a condition where the last joint on the wing is distorted and causes the end feathers to stick out laterally—sideways—instead of lying flat against the body. This prevents the bird from flying.
Foods to never feed ducks or geese:
Bread, popcorn, crackers, chips, cereal, sweets, moldy food

Specifically, a high-protein diet contributes to the wing bones growing too fast and making the wing too heavy for the joint. The excessive growth also twists the joint. Angel wing can be reversed in ducklings but is incurable in adults.
Community Events
Weaverville Tailgate Market
The Tailgate Market is open for the season and will be held every Wednesday from 2:30pm – 6:00pm except for July 4. The Market is held at Lake Louise at the site of the old community center.  
This year we will be offering the following and much more! 
 
Seasonal, Locally Grown Vegetables, Fruits, Flowers & Herbs  • Handmade Jewelry, Wood Crafts & Soaps  •  Herbal Tinctures  • Trees & Plants  • Baked Goods  • Mustards, Dressings & Salsas  • Tamales & Empanadas  • Eggs  • Pork  • Rabbit  • Chicken  • Grass-fed Beef  • Chair Massages  •  Dog & Cat Treats  • Seafood • Pickles • Jams • Jellies • Coffee
Find the market online at   weavervilletailgate.org
Also be sure to "like" us on our  Facebook  page for the latest updates on what's going to be at market each week!
Town of Weaverville
Mayor & Town Council

Al Root, Mayor

Doug Jackson, Vice Mayor

Dottie Sherrill, Councilman

Patrick Fitzsimmons, Councilman

Andrew Nagle, Councilman

Jeff McKenna, Councilman




Town Hall Physical Location:
30 South Main Street, Weaverville, NC 28787

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 338, Weaverville, NC 28787

Phone:  
(828) 645-7116

Town Hall Business Hours:
8:30am- 5:00pm Monday - Friday

Town Council Meetings:
3rd Monday of each month at 7:00pm
Meeting at Town Hall, 30 South Main Street

Town Council Meeting Agendas & Minutes:


e-Focus  Editor:  Selena Coffey , Town Manager