E-Newsletter

Town of Weaverville

Monthly News & Updates

Weaverville's 150 Year Anniversary Proclamation

Dry Ridge Museum 150 Years of History March 28th

Weaverville Police Department Welcomes Officer Blanton

The Weaverville Police Department invites you to join us in welcoming our newest officer, Colby Blanton. Officer Blanton was raised in the Weaverville area and attended North Buncombe Schools before enrolling in Madison County’s Early College program. While there, he earned his high school diploma and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice.

Officer Blanton served at the Madison County Sheriff’s Office for nearly four years before joining our team in February. He initially worked as a telecommunicator while attending Basic Law Enforcement Training and subsequently transitioned to the patrol division after being sworn in as a deputy.

Officer Blanton appreciates fishing, weight training, and quality time with his family during his leisure hours. If you encounter Officer Blanton in the community, please take a moment to extend a warm welcome on behalf of Weaverville.

Provide Input to the State to support Buncombe Co. Recovery Efforts

From our team at Buncombe County Government:

Help the State Support Buncombe County's Recovery-

Now is your chance to have a say in how North Carolina allocates $1.4 billion in federal disaster recovery funds following Hurricane Helene.

The Governor and the N.C. Department of Commerce need your input for an Action Plan focused on rebuilding housing, infrastructure, and the local economy.

Ways to Participate:

Email your comments to helene.recovery@commerce.nc.gov

Send a letter or fax (full details at commerce.nc.gov/recovery)

Why Your Input Matters:

-This funding will directly impact housing recovery, infrastructure improvements, and economic revitalization.

-The Plan proposes a majority of funds go to housing recovery for low- and moderate-income residents. The Plan also proposes funds for infrastructure rebuilding and economic support, particularly for small businesses and commercial districts.

-The final plan will determine how federal recovery dollars are spent.

The deadline to provide feedback is March 20, 2025. This is our chance to advocate for Buncombe County’s fair share to build back stronger.

Invasive Species Workshop - March 11th at 11:30 a.m.

Join the Garden Club of Weaverville

for the March 2025 Program & Meeting

The Garden Club of Weaverville

Tuesday, March 11th at 11:30

Location: Weaverville Community Center

60 Lakeshore Drive

Program: If You Plant It, They Will Come!

Are you interested in learning how to control non-native invasive plants in your yard, on your street, or on your homeowners’ association property?

If so, please join the Weaverville Garden Club at the upcoming meeting where Bob Gale, local invasives expert and ecologist, will discuss issues related to non-native invasive plants, methods of control, and ideas for moving your yard toward a more natural ecosystem. He will also describe landscape changes that you can expect to occur—regarding both native and non-native invasive plants—as a result of Tropical Storm Helene, and he’ll share ideas for restoration planting and erosion control.

In 2023, Bob retired as the ecologist and public lands director for the non-profit organization MountainTrue, where he worked for 25 years providing scientific input on issues related to environmental policy and protection and restoration of Southern Appalachian mountain forest communities. While with MountainTrue, he founded the organization’s non-native invasive species program, promoting invasive plant control methodologies and native plant replacement.

Following his time at MountainTrue, Bob formed RestoraFlora–Gale Botanical Consulting, a business focused on advising individual homeowners and HOAs on non-native invasive plant removal and wildlife friendly native plantings.

Bob received his bachelor’s degree in geology and biology at the University of South Carolina. His special interest is botany, and he has spent his life working in fields related to this subject. For over two decades, Bob served in many positions as an environmental activist with the Sierra Club in South Carolina, which helped prepare him for his career with Mountain He also spent many years as a nature writer and photographer—contributing to regional and national magazines—and as a wetlands scientist for Ballantine Environmental Resources in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Bob has an additional interest and expertise in paleontology and, with his wife and son, co-authored the first field guide to Atlantic and Gulf coastal fossils.

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The Garden Club of Weaverville is a co-ed, non-profit organization open to everyone.

For more information on what we do, becoming a member or supporting the club:

https://gardenclubofweaverville.org/.

Weaverville's Shamrock Festival Sunday, March 16th

The WBA (Weaverville Business Assoc.) presents: St. Pat’s Day in downtown Weaverville!

Sunday, March 16th

2PM - 6PM

Florida Ave. & Merchants Alley

Patrick “Paddy” O’Weave, everyone's favorite leprechaun will provide an afternoon of live music, kids’ activities, cornhole, delicious eats from Bigfoot-Longs Hot Dogs, and an exciting raffle!

Feeling lucky? Show off your Irish spirit! Paddy will be keeping an eye out for the best-dressed attendees—we’ll be handing out 10 “Lucky Charms” to those showing off their festive flair!

WBA wishes to give a THANK YOU to sponsors & vendors for making the event possible:

Live Music Sponsor: Century 21 / Foley Realty

Kids Activities Sponsor: Eluvium Brewing

Vendors: Lion Dog Lounge, Zebulon, Leveller, Eluvium Brewing

Supporting Businesses: Blue Mountain Pizza, Art Accents, Miya Gallery, Alan’s Jewelry & Pawn, The Local Collective, Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe, Maggie B’s, Aire Serv HVAC of WNC.

Join the fun. Sign-up to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com

Lake Louise Water Wheel Repairs are underway!

The iconic wheel was significantly damaged during the Helene storm and now repairs to the Town's water wheel is underway. The Town has found a vendor who is qualified to restore the historic marker, and we anticipate the installation of the beloved water wheel in the upcoming future!

Please Do Not Feed the Ducks, Geese, or Waterfowl

Now more than ever! Stormwater Runoff Fact Sheet

STORMWATER-FRIENDLY LAWN CARE

Spring is in the air and lawn care on our minds. There are many easy things we can do to keep our lawns looking good while also protecting our water quality.

Follow these Tips from the Sodfather for stormwater-friendly lawn care:

Mow high and let the clippings lie – they contain 90% water, which is good for the lawn, and keeps nutrients out of waterways.
Keep yard waste off the street and away from storm drains and drainage ditches.
Compost clippings and leaves to create your own natural fertilizer.
Have your soil tested before applying fertilizer and only apply it if needed.
Use phosphorous-free fertilizers unless your soil is lacking in 'P', and use slow-release nitrogen fertilizers or organic compost.
Only use the recommended amount of fertilizers, and don’t apply before windy or rainy days.
Reduce potable water usage by choosing native and drought-resistant plants, and by collecting rainwater in a rain barrel. Rainwater also contains nutrients so it can further reduce the need for fertilizer.
Do not overwater lawns and garden. Use a soaker hose, a porous hose that releases water directly to the ground, which can reduce overwatering that carries away fertilizers that would otherwise enrich lawns and gardens.

Save the Date- Arbor Day Program April 10th

Interested in Serving on a Board or Committee, just click & submit

The Town of Weaverville is looking for you. If you are interested in serving on a board or committee, just complete an application, or request one from the Town Clerk’s office and return it to Town Hall. tmercer@weavervillenc.org

This Form is a click it, fill it out and submit it: Board Application

NCDOT Upcoming Spring Litter Sweep

Traditionally scheduled for the last two weeks of April and September, Litter Sweep is the N.C. Department of Transportation’s biannual statewide roadside litter removal initiative. Residents throughout the state participate in local efforts to help clean up North Carolina's roadways.

In addition to volunteers, NCDOT maintenance crews devote one week of their time to pick up litter and collect orange bags placed on the roadsides by volunteer pickups.

Volunteers are provided cleanup supplies, such as reversible orange/blue trash bags, gloves and orange safety vests, from their local NCDOT County Maintenance Yard office.

If you or your team needs supplies, or if you have any questions, contact your local NCDOT litter program coordinator: Buncombe Co. David Hoskins (828)225-2763 or (828) 298-0397

https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/environmental/adoptahighway/Pages/coordinators.aspx

Weaverville Fire & Rescue Dept. Spanning the Gap

On a cool February afternoon, over a swollen Reems Creek, Firefighter Ball gets ferried over the rushing creek below. His objective, along about eight other fellow Weaverville Firefighters, is to gain access to a simulated patient on the far side of the creek, load him into the stokes basket and back across.

“It’s a really great exercise that makes us utilize all of our skills and equipment,” said Senior Firefighter Dustin Stuart. “It’s not something we are called to do very often, but, when the situation arises, there may not be another alternative to rescue that individual.”

A highline in technical rescue is a type of rope system used to transport rescuers or victims across difficult terrain, such as cliffs, ravines, or areas with unstable ground. It provides a horizontal lifeline that allows personnel to move safely across challenging environments when other means, like walking or driving, are not possible or safe.

“Around here, we’ve used them at Reems Creek Falls. There is a high potential for need in the Coleman Boundary and surrounding wilderness, but we can be called anywhere,” said Stuart. “We can really be an asset in these areas because the first arriving departments may not have the necessary equipment or manpower to affect a highline rescue.”

As always, we are thankful to our Team and their expert life-saving skills at the Weaverville Fire Department!