Things and Stuff: 04/17/03

Notes from our business community
- and everywhere else

EVERYONE IS INVITED....

to Friday's (April 18) Grand Opening celebration of Fashion Police, Style Street Studio, Dean Coward and All Dressed Up, located across from O'Malley's. Festivities will last from 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and will feature music, food and drawings for door prizes.

WESTERN CAROLINA...

University's first Jazz Festival will be Thursday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Coulter recital hall. Admission is free.

PAMELA DUNCAN...

critically acclaimed for her first novel,"Moon Women," which was a Southeast Booksellers Association Award finalist, returns to the milieu of Southern women in her new novel, CPlant Life." She will be at City Lights Bookstore at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, to read excepts about three generations of women who work in a local cotton mill, and the joys, pains, hardships and celebrations they experience during one memorable year at the plant.

JOIN THE CROWD...

for Dillsboro's 15th annual Easter Hat Parade Saturday, April 19. Judges will be on the lookout for great hats in more than 20 categories: Biggest, smallest, most springlike, poofiest, outrageous, funniest and most creative, just to name a few. What's that you say? You don't have a hat? No problem, Easter hats are available to borrow. In addition to all the wonderful hats, members of the Old Timer's Model A Club of Asheville will be drive their antique cars in the parade. Town merchants will participate in a sidewalk sale. The parade starts at 1 p.m., but participants are encouraged to arrive earlier.

WRGC...

has named Karen Johns vice president/general manager of the Sylva radio station. Johns, who has managed Georgia-Carolina Radiocasting Co.'s Union, S.C., station, will start her duties here May 12. Patrick Moore, who has managed WRGC since the station was purchased from the Childress family last year, will remain with the company's Franklin station. Johns, who has been with WBCU in Union since 1987, said she looks forward to coming to Sylva."You can feel the positive energy in the community when you visit here," she said.

DOGWOOD CRAFTERS...

will hold a book signing Saturday for the store's history book, written by Susie Ray of Cullowhee. The event will begin at 10 a.m. and last until 3 p.m. Stop by the store for lemonade and a copy of the book.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS...

of the late Melanie Thompson will hold a roadside cleanup this Saturday, April 19. Volunteers should meet at Webster Baptist Church at noon. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Work gloves, orange safety vests and garbage bags will be provided. For more information, call Kathy Thompson at 293-1115 or e-mail her at kth45kt@aol.com.

JANNA DEITZ...

daughter of Starlotte Deitz of Sylva and the late Carter Deitz, has joined the faculty of Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill., where she will teach political science. Deitz, who will receive a Ph.D. in May from the University of Georgia, received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master's from WCU. She is the granddaughter of Maxie Carpenter and the late Earvin Carpenter and the late Alvin and Dana Deitz.

MYRTLE'S TABLE...

in Cherokee is under new management and guidance from Chef Giavanni. Customers can choose from fresh-cut steaks and prime rib, pasta, chicken wings and good old American cuisine such as barbecue, trout and catfish. See their ad on this week's Easter Dining Guide.

A REUNION...

will be held Saturday, June 28, at the old Canada School beginning at noon. All former students are invited. For more information, call Thelma Alexander at 293-5973.

SOAR...

located in Balsam, will hold an open house Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more information, call (828) 456-3435 or visit www.soarnc.org.