Things and Stuff: 11/29/01

Notes from our business community
- and everywhere else

NEED HELP WITH HOLIDAY CHORES?...

See the "Santa's Helper" ad in this weeks newspaper issue.

RAY'S FLORIST...

along with the other businesses at West Sylva Shopping Center, will host an open house this weekend. See the full page ad in this issue for details.

A CHRISTMAS BAZAAR...

at Southwestern Community College is coming up this weekend, Friday, Nov. 30, through Sunday, Dec. 2. A headline in last week's newspaper mistakenly indicated the event was planned for this past weekend. For more information, call Steve Conlin, SCC's director of student leadership, at 586-4091, Ext. 226.

JACKSON'S GENERAL STORE...

will hold its Christmas Open House Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Save on selected clothing when you stop by for refreshments catered by Creative Cakes and Catering. On Saturday you'll get a free gift with every purchase, and don't forget to register for $100, $50 and $25 gift certificates.

THE GRINCH IS COMING!...

Stage Door Dance Studio will present "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" Friday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. at the new Scotts Creek School. For tickets, call 586-9841.

COOKIES WITH SANTA...

will be Friday, Dec. 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Golden Age Center and Monday, Dec. 10, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Family Resource Center. Sponsored by the Jackson County Recreation and Parks Department, these events are free to children age 5 and under. Preregister by calling 586-6333.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN HIGH...

students Christy Pruett and Tiffany Glenn worked with The Sylva Herald this semester on their senior projects. They were mentored by Sports Editor Carey Phillips in sports photography. Christy concentrated on soccer, while Tiffany primarily photographed volleyball. Several of their pictures were published. We enjoyed having them working with us.

CELEBRATE....

the sounds of the season with when Western Carolina University's music department presents a holiday concert Sunday, Dec. 2, at 3 and 5 p.m. in Hoey Auditorium. Music will be performed by the Concert Choir, Saxophone Quartet, Wind Ensemble, University Chorus, Trumpet Ensemble, Catamount Chamber Singers, Low Brass Ensemble, soloists and others. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and students and $15 for families.

SANTA CLAUS...

will be at What's the Scoop ice cream shop in downtown Sylva from noon until 3 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 1. Parents can take advantage of this visit to have their child's picture taken with the "jolly old elf."

DARRELL MATHIS...

has been named vice president of APAC-Tennessee Inc. Harrison Division. A native of Jackson County, Mathis is married to the former Nancy Hoyle and has two sons, Chris and Jeff. He has worked at Harrison for 20 years. The promotion was announced by Gordon Denton, Harrison Division president, who said Mathis has been a "dedicated employee who has always strived to make Harrison a leading corporate citizen in Western North Carolina."

DILLSBORO'S...

Post Office invites the public to its annual open house and free special stamp cancellation for Christmas cards Friday, Dec. 7, and Saturday, Dec. 8, during Dillsboro's annual Luminaire. People can mail cards, letters, packages and purchase Christmas stamps during this event. Postmaster Linda Bryant and clerk David Marker hope everyone will take advantage of this free, unique postal cancellation. For more information, call 586-5474.

HARRAH'S...

Cherokee Casino will soon be listed on the national roster of America's Healthiest Companies. To achieve this recognition, Harrah's secured the support of senior management, created a cohesive wellness team, collected data to drive programming efforts and created a supportive work environment.

CITY LIGHTS...

will host a reception for Sylva native Eric Brown on Friday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. Brown's science fiction story, "The Underneath," appears in the November issue of Black Petals Digest. Copies of the magazine will be available at the event. For more information, call City Lights at 586-9499.

OIL IN SAND?...

According to an article in the August issue of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' Journal, there is oil in the sands of northeastern Alberta, Canada. It's called Athabasca oil sands and may provide a much-needed energy source.

"There are more reserves in oil sand in Alberta than in conventional oil in Saudi Arabia. That sounds incredible, but experts agree it's true," states the article, which is found on page 10 of the journal.

Several oil companies are now in the process of building huge refineries, investing billions of dollars to extract the oil from the sand. One company expects to produce 225,000 barrels a day by 2002, and they look for the cost to be around $12.50 in Canadian money as compared with the approximately $35 Canadian a barrel of oil costs now. If this works out the way investors hope, it could mean that we would not be so dependent on the Middle East for our energy supplies. Our thanks to Luther Shelton of Whittier for sharing this information.