Quackers, oinkers, meowers to be included in this year's festival fund-raisers

By Rose Hooper

"When I became president of CVS Student Council, I wanted to do something that impacted the whole county, not just CVS," said Katie. "I wanted to get a lot of students involved. I thought about raising money for New Century Scholars because that affects all the schools, and I told my parents about my Ducky Derby idea. Next thing you know, all three of us blurted out, 'Ducks on the Tuck!'

Their idea was to float numbered rubber duckeys down the Tuckaseigee River.

"I calculated that if we adopted the ducks out at $5 each and we had 3,000 ducks, that's 30 students who could receive scholarships," Katie said.

A community-based effort between Jackson County Schools, Southwestern Community College and Western Carolina University, New Century Scholars provides scholarships and support to selected rising seventh-graders to continue their education beyond high school.

Sylva's Greening Up the Mountains celebration seemed like a natural tie-in, Katie said of the April 28 event.

The train whistle will blow at 11 a.m., signaling the start of the race. The Jackson County Chapter of Trout Unlimited has constructed a funnel to determine the winners as they come out.

Prize winners will be announced at 3 p.m. on the Sylva stage. You do not have to be present to win.

Other fund-raisers are also tying in with Greening Up the Mountains:

KISS THE PIG

The Jackson County Family Resource Center is sponsoring a "Kiss the Pig" contest, with heavy voting expected to take place during the street festival.

The FRC has selected 21 candidates to raise money for the center. The one raising the most money gets to kiss a pig during a picnic Saturday, May 12, at the center, formerly the old Webster School.

On Saturday vote for your favorite candidate: Lib Balcerek, Blue Ridge School; Jeff Carpenter, Jackson County Recreation and Parks Department; Bob Cochran, Department of Social Services; Sheriff Jim Cruzan; Jackson County Manager Jay Denton; Joyce Dugan, Harrah's Casino; Joe Ferrera, Smoky Mountain Center; Cecil Groves, Southwestern Community College; Bill Haggard, Western Carolina University; Sonja Haynes, Macon Bank; Rose Hooper, Sylva Herald; Sylva Police Chief Jeff Jamison; Mark Leonard, Harris Regional Hospital; Gene McAbee, WCU; Jackson County School Superintendent Mack McCary; Yonnie McDowell, community representative; Kenny Nicholson, Smoky Mountain High School; Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver; Frank Padgett, faith based representative; Jackson County School Board Chairman Martha Queen; and June Smith, Region A Partnership for Children.

CATMAN

Harold "Catman" Sims will have a booth promoting his new Cat Rescue and Adoption Center proposed for Bo Cove Road in Cullowhee. The building will contain more than 3,000 square feet of heated area, including three separate cat play rooms. The land will be donated by the Sims family. The cost of the building is $100,000 and equipment will cost another $25,000. As a non-profit, all contributions to Catman's organization are tax deductible.

SBC

The Sustainable Business Community is sponsoring a raffle Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets are $1 each, or six for $5, and proceeds benefit the festival.

Each hour, prizes will be raffled, including a $15 gift certificate to Friedman & Sun; an aromatherapy basket made by Patti Liming of Summer Mountain Herbals; a half-price chimney cleaning from the Chimney Sweep; a pickup load of fire wood or wood chips donated by Rockenstein's Tree Service; one dozen chocolate chip cookies by Jeannette Evans of the Mad Batter; a candle lantern by Jackie Palmer of Dark Cove Pottery; a half-hour polarity energy session with Kathy Calebrese; and one month of recycling and trash hauling service by Earthworks Recycling.

Visit the festival for additional fund-raising activities Saturday.

Back to Archive: 04/26/01.