Things and Stuff: 04/25/02

Notes from our business community
- and everywhere else

THE USED BOOKSTORE ...

on Main Street, operated by Friends of the Library, is holding a spring cleaning sale and free drawing. Stop by and register for the book drawing - a signed copy of a John Parris book and a signed copy of "The Legend of Nance Dude." Also, take advantage of the spring savings on books and register to win these collector's books. The drawing will be held Saturday, April 27, in conjunction with the downtown Greening Up the Mountains street festival.

AND SPEAKING OF BOOKS,...

Fairview School will hold its annual Scholastic book fair Monday, April 29, through Friday, May 3, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day with special evening hours until 6:30 p.m. April 29. Proceeds from the fair will help provide materials for Fairview's media center. For more information, call Jackie Methven at 586-2818.

WESTCARE ...

Health System Foundation will provide yet another opportunity to stock up on summer reading material with its annual Spring Book Fair at Mountain Trace Nursing Center in the second floor family room Wednesday, May 1, from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and at Harris Regional Hospital lobby Thursday, May 2, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Friday, May 3, from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will support WestCare projects and programs serving the residents of Western North Carolina. For more information, call Michele Garashi at 586-7669.

BODY ALIVE,...

a conscious breath and movement class, will begin Wednesday, May 1. For additional information, call Silas at 293-0613.

JULIE SPIRO,...

director of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, said that a company has been calling Chamber of Commerce members in an attempt to sell advertising space on a magnet and telling them that the Chamber will distribute the magnet. The company, Universal Ad Co., is not endorsed by the Chamber, and the Chamber will not distribute a magnet or any other product from that company, Spiro said.

AT THE REQUEST ...

of many groups in North Carolina, the Rural Internet Access Authority has extended the deadline for submitting responses to its request for information on Internet connectivity projects statewide until Wednesday, May 15. The agency hopes to receive responses from non-profit, for-profit, government, health care and educational organizations in rural and urban North Carolina with plans to develop infrastructure or applications to expand high-speed Internet access and use. To submit a response, visit the "What's New" section of the authority's Web site, www.e-nc.org, click on "Request for Information," and enter a response into the automated form, or send a hard copy response to Jane Patterson at the Rural Internet Access Authority's headquarters at 4021 Carya Drive, Raleigh, N.C. 27610. Response should include: organization's name and identification as a non-profit, for-profit or public entity; contact information; name and brief description of the project; cost of the project and current funds available; status and timeline for the project; and a list of counties that will be served by the project.

CONTINUING A TRADITION...

begun in 1984, Dillsboro will present its 18th annual Dillsboro Heritage Festival Saturday, June 8, and is issuing an invitation to local crafters and artisans to apply for booth space for this event. The Heritage Festival is a juried show and all wares will be produced by the artisans. There are two fee schedules for booth space for that day with special consideration being offered to those artisans willing to "work" throughout the day demonstrating the crafts they are selling. A limited number of food booths are also being sought. Please contact Dillsboro Merchants Association at 586-3198 for an application. Applications must be received by May 20.

JOHN WILLIAMS ...

playing eclectic blues will perform at SoHo Grill and Racquet Club in Cullowhee Saturday, April 27, at 7 p.m. The restaurant is located at the intersection of N.C. 107 and Little Savannah Road, across from the Cullowhee Post Office. The entertainment is being offered for "those who want to mellow out after Sylva's Greening Up the Mountains," said restaurant owner Charles Greer.

SHIRLEY CROFT...

of Wayehutta placed second in the World Cow Chip Throwing Contest Championship in Beaver, Okla., Saturday, April 20. Because of heavy rains, the event was held indoors inside a large arena which Croft said threw her off a bit. "Plus, I was the first contestant to throw and that made me a bit nervous," she said. Her distance was 80 feet, 5 inches. Grand-prize winner was Dana Martin of Goodwell, Okla., who threw 99 feet, 3 inches. There were 16 contestants in Croft's category and even through she didn't win first place, she did come back with a "I Slung the Dung" T-shirt. Croft thanks all her supporters who helped make her trip to Oklahoma possible.

A COMMITTEE...

of family, friends and volunteers will man a booth at this Saturday's downtown Sylva festival to raise funds to cover costs for a kidney and pancreas transplant for Chris Lopez of Sylva. Lopez suffers kidney and pancreas failure due to Addison's disease and diabetes, conditions he has suffered with most of his life. The local committee, in cooperation with the National Foundation for Transplants, needs to raise $100,000 to cover costs associated with the transplants. Festival-goers can purchase raffle tickets for a beautiful, hand-sewn quilt, currently on display at Bessie May & Co. in downtown Sylva.

For more information or to get involved, stop by the Lopez Committee booth at Greening Up the Mountains, send an email to list@lopezfund.org or call 293-0750.