Things and Stuff: 07/26/01

Notes from our business community
- and everywhere else

JESSICA ALMEIDA ...

Almeida

has been promoted to branch manager of Wachovia Bank's Cullowhee location. A Western Carolina University graduate, Almeida has been with Wachovia since February 1999. She began as a teller at the Cullowhee branch, served as a customer service representative in Waynesville and most recently worked as a personal banker in Asheville. Almeida, a native of Indian Trail, is the daughter of Bolivar Almeida of Waxhaw and Sheila Baucom of Indian Trail.

WHITTIER POST OFFICE ...

Ray

Regan

employees Gerald Reagan and Debbie Ray were recently presented certificates and pins recognizing them for completing 25 years with the U.S. Postal Service. Reagan started his career at Whittier as a substitute rural carrier. He was a full-time carrier in Brevard and Sylva before transferring to Whittier in 1997. Ray started her career at the Sylva Post Office as a clerk/carrier and in 1988 transferred to Whittier, where she is a clerk. Postmaster Pauline Beck also honored all Whittier Post Office employees for an outstanding year in safety, attendance and commitment to service.

REG MOODY JR. ...

fourth-generation funeral director of Moody's Funeral Home in Sylva, was recently awarded the designaton of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. The academy's goals are to recognize those practitioners who have voluntarily entered into a program of personal and professional growth, to raise and improve the standards of funeral service and to encourage practitioners to make continuing education a lifelong interest. To receive the award, the practitioner must complete a 180-hour program of continuing education and must accumulate 20 hours per year to maintain certification.

HEATH JONES ...

is now a full-time partner at J&H Pump Service in Sylva. Father-and-son-team Joe and Heath Jones will work together to keep water wells in Jackson and surrounding counties operating correctly.

BLUEGRASS AND OLD-TIME ...

musicians are invited to compete at the 2001 N.C. Mountain State Fair for thousands of dollars in prize money in both categories. The competition will be divided into individual and band competitions in both styles of music. Cutoff date to register is Thursday, Aug. 1. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on the opening Friday (Sept. 7), Saturday (Sept. 8) and Sunday (Sept. 9. A concert by the winners will be held the final Sunday evening (Sept. 16) at 8 p.m. Winning bands will appear on that final evening concert. In addition to the band competitions, individual instrument competitions will be held for fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass, mandolin and dulcimer. Individual competitors will be judged within the band performances. For more information or an entry form, call the office at (828) 687-1414 or visit online at www.ncmountainstate.fair.org.

LARRY PHILLIPS ...

of Sylva has been nominated for the 2001 World Champion Amateur Poet Award. He has also been invited to be inducted into the International Poet of Merit and Honor Member Society. Phillips was nominated for his poem, "This Boy, This Man," written as a gift for his son, Joe Denmark.

FOOD LION ...

will help the March of Dimes by donating 5 percent of purchases made Monday through Wednesday, July 30 through Aug. 1, to the organization. A special coupon must be scanned at checkout for March of Dimes to receive the donation. Ask at the checkout counter if you don't have a coupon, and one will be provided.

PATHWAYS ...

for the Future is accepting donations of merchandise for a yard sale Saturday, Oct. 6. Operating appliances, usable furniture, tools, antiques, and kitchen items are all acceptable donations. Donations of clothing will not be accepted. Tax donation forms will be provided for all donations. Items may be dropped off at Pathways for the Future, 525 Mineral Springs Drive, from 8 a.m. until noon Tuesdays and Thursdays or 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Pickup service may be arranged for larger items by calling Anita Cogdill at 631-1167. Those wishing to volunteer their time to help with the fund-raiser may also contact Cogdill. Proceeds from the yard sale will be used to support the CyberPals computer program and the Kids on the Block Puppet program.

SESQUICENTENNIAL ...

T-shirts are now on sale at the Jackson County Recreation Department for $10 each. The all-cotton shirts are silk-screened with the official logo of Jackson County's 150th birthday. Call 586-6333 for more information.