Weaverville's e-Focus Newsletter

June 2019 | Volume 42

Memorial Day Remarks

Mayor, Council, guests, veterans, fellow Americans. I’m humbled to have this chance to speak to you on this important day when we recognize those who gave all in the defense of our country.

A title was given to me more than 30 years ago and will always be with me is; Sergeant Ron Davis, 2nd Battalion Airborne, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, United States Army.

Some of you might have detected a little pride when I said that. Indeed, I come from a long line of citizen soldiers who proudly served their country however they could and then continued on with civilian life. Like my father who was in World War II and served at a place called Guadalcanal. Even late in his life, everyone knew to be cautious when waking my father since he would often sling his fists and arms around him as if he was being woken by the enemy, not a loved one. And also, my Grandfather, who was in World War I in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and suffered from a persistent cough the rest of his life because of exposure to mustard gas.

Many of you might have been like my father’s side of the family, who were citizen soldiers, serving our country in your own way.

I’m sure there are others here who served like my wife’s family did and were truly, dedicated, life-long, professional soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines.

I know the service I have given to my country has been small compared to so many of you in the audience. Yet I will submit to you, that our devotion pales in comparison to all those who died in service to the nation we love.

When I was a civilian police advisor in Mosul Iraq, and I had the honor and privilege of serving alongside our fine young men and women in an Army Military Police squad. Our mission was to help train and equip the Iraqi Police ensure order and to help their county end a brutal insurgency. Everyday those wonderful young patriots would leave our base and almost everyday they were exposed to some type of deadly action. Yet every day they came back to base, had something to eat, and had smiles on their faces. Indeed, one of my most prized possessions is photo of me with that squad of kids; all of them with the biggest most sincere smiles you can imagine; They knew what they

were doing was deadly, yet they still smiled. Where does courage like that come from?

One day a fellow Military Police Squad was struck by a roadside bomb killing a young Lieutenant . A large cargo plane flew in late at night to pick up her body. The plane taxied down the runway without lights, the engines stopped, and the tailgate lowered. Since we were in a combat zone I was expecting to see troops and equipment being unloaded from the aircraft but it was empty; it was a military equivalent of a hearse having only one mission, to carry an American hero home . The Lieutenant’s soldiers stood in a formation on the runway all wearing camouflage to honor her. The area was dark and devoid of almost all color with the only light came from inside the plane. In fact, the only thing that stood out was the vibrant, almost glowing colors of our nation’s flag covering her casket. Then the Company Commander spoke of the fallen officer’s accomplishments, her outstanding performance and what kind of a person she was. It occurred to me then as it does now, “We only send our best”. We send only our best when our nation commits itself and therefore it’s only right, we should give our best to those who have fallen and their families. That young officer who was killed stands in a long unbroken chain of patriots dating back to the beginning of our country who were willing to say to our enemies; “We will pay a heavy price in the defense of our freedom and there is a point in which you must not advance.”

More than one million times in our nation’s history someone who was hoping to see their loved one again instead received horrific news they would not be coming home . That news might have come by letter, phone, or they might have been greeted by a Chaplain. Just like my father-in-law, Colonel William Fosmire. Who not only served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, but also delivered death notifications to family members at the height of the Vietnam War. The Colonel would always say when he approached a fallen solider family, “You never had to say anything, they always knew.”

In closing I would say the best way to honor all of those who have fallen in service to our country would be: Let us try to be better people. Help those who need to be helped. And contribute all that you can, however you can to the country they died to protect.

Thank you.

These remarks were given by Weaverville Chief of Police Ron Davis during the Town's Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 27, 2019.

Exciting Events Coming to the Weaverville's Main Street Nature Park Call for New Stairs and a Stage!

New stairs to the Nature Park from the Municipal Parking Lot and a new stage in the meadow of the Nature Park!

THANK YOU TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM!

2nd Saturday Summer Series in the Main Street Nature Park

Make plans to join us for our 2nd Saturday Summer Series beginning at 6pm on June 8! We will be hosting local traditional music artists every 2nd Saturday monthly June through September!

Let the Town hear from you regarding the new

Lake Louise Community Center

Take the community center input survey now

Introducing Cory Butler

Cory is a Maintenance Worker in the Public Works Department, joining our team in October of 2018. Cory performs a number of “behind-the-scenes” jobs for our citizens, including garbage pickup, brush chipping, mowing and weed trimming, park maintenance and yard waste collection. Cory is married and has 2 children and lives in the Candler area. When he is not working with the town, he is at home spending time with his family. They also take care of their 3 horses and a colt on the way, using Cory’s past experience when he worked as a horse trainer.

We are glad to have Cory as a team member at Public Works!

National Public Works Week was May 19 - 25, 2019.

The theme for 2019 is "It Starts Here", which represents the many facets of modern civilization that grow from the efforts put forth by the public works professionals across North America. ~American Public Works Association

A Note from the Town's Finance Department

You can now use VISA to pay your water bill in person at Town Hall. Due to recent developments, the Town can now accept VISA as a form of payment for utility bills paid in person.

Also as a reminder there are several ways to pay your monthly water bill. In addition to mailing us your check these options are available:

Consider automatic monthly bank draft, a safe and convenient way to pay your water bill in a timely manner each month, with no extra fees attached. Contact Town Hall for an enrollment form.
We also have a drive-by lock box located in the lower parking lot behind Town Hall where you can drop your payments off at any time.
You can go online to pay your bill at www.officialpayments.com. A processing fee of $2.95 will apply.
You can call Official Payments at 1-800-272-9829 to pay your bill. Service charges will apply. As a reminder Town Hall staff cannot take credit card payments over the phone.

Important Note: Official Payments is the only legitimate company that the Town uses to process online and over the phone payments. We have heard accounts of other companies claiming to be affiliated with the Town, who will take your credit card information and charge excessively high fees to send us your payment. Please remember to only use Official Payments to pay online or by phone.

Events Around Town

3rd Annual Weaverville

Music on Main Set to Draw Crowds

for Music, Food, Drink and Fun for the Whole Family

The Weaverville Business Association brings 5 J Barrow, Drayton & The Dreamboats, and The Phantom Playboys to Main Street in Weaverville on Saturday, June 22, 2019.

The Weaverville Business Association, sponsors of regional art festivals Art in Autumn and Weaverville Art Safari, is hosting the third annual Music on Main – a one-night, open-air concert on Main Street in Weaverville, featuring 5J Barrow, Drayton & The Dreamboats, and The Phantom Playboys.. The event takes place in front of Town Hall (30 South Main Street, Weaverville, NC 28787) from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday, June 22, 2019. The event is free and open to the public.

Originally from NYC, and now part of the music scene in Asheville, 5j Barrow writes music and lyrics with a unique folk rock sound. This duo was named “Best Band in NY” after winning The Greene Space WNYC/WQXR’s Battle of the Boroughs 2014. 5j Barrow released their debut album ‘From the Dim, Sweet Light’ in 2014, and their first two installments of three EPs, produced by Grammy nominated producer David Mayfield, were released October 6th, 2017 (The Journey, Vol. 1) and May 19th, 2018 (The Journey, Vol. 2). The Journey, Vol. 3 is scheduled to release in 2019.

Asheville’s Drayton & The Dreamboats perform timeless music with the class and charisma to match. With a well-crafted mix of swing tunes, latin numbers, and vocal ballads from the golden age of radio, Drayton & The Dreamboats have captured the attention and imagination of fans in western North Carolina and beyond. Their shows are polished, interactive, and endlessly entertaining. With clever arrangements and rock solid musicianship, the band breathes new life into some of the twentieth century’s greatest tunes.

The Phantom Playboys bring the sounds of Rock-a-billy and 50’s Rock-n-Roll with a splash of surf and flying jump-kick of raw energy! Imagine a zombified Elvis Presley joined The Squirrel Nut Zippers and Recruited Unknown Hinson to play guitar. Get out your dancin’ shoes, because when this five-piece brass and steel freight train comes barreling down the tracks from Wilmington, NC, there won’t be a still foot in the house!

The event will include food, drink, kids’ activities and booths. Kids’ activities will include LEAF’s Easel Rider mobile art bus, bubbles, hula hooping, face painting and more!

Local restaurants will be open all along Main Street. Traffic will be stopped between Merrimon Avenue and Brown Street. Parking is free at Weaverville Primary School.

The Weaverville Business Association is a vibrant network of local business owners who collaborate to foster a thriving Weaverville business community. Established in 2004, this growing group of 80 businesses initiates numerous activities to bring the community together and promote the unique spirit and pride of Weaverville including Art in Autumn, Candlelight Stroll, Music on Main and Weaverville Art Safari. The WBA also supports community efforts including Reems Creek Greenway, Cops for Kids, Arts for Life, The Weaverville Nature Park, The Lake Louise Community Center, an annual WBA scholarship for a North Buncombe High senior, Weaverville Schools Leadership Day, the Dry Ridge Museum and the Weaverville Tailgate Market.

Patron sponsors for the event are Weaverville Realty and Duke Energy. Our Supporting Sponsor is Twisted Laurel. Community-level sponsors include Aabani Salon, Atlantic Bay Mortgage, Beverly Hanks, Blue Mountain Pizza and Brew Pub, Gotta Gave It! Antiques & Uniques, Great Smiles Orthodontics, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store, Miya Gallery, Optix Eyecare, Residences at Biltmore, and Trout Insurance.

To learn more about this exciting event go to www.VisitWeaverville.com or follow us on Facebook or twitter . Contact: [email protected]

Weaverville Business Association Needs VOLUNTEERS for Music on Main!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094cabad2ba3fa7-weavervilles

Weaverville Tailgate Market

Visit the Weaverville Tailgate Market! At the market, you will find the following vendors and items:

Dogwood Cottage Baking; Little Creek Nursery

Simple Bread; Sister of Mother Earth; Ivy Creek Family Farm; Fermenti; Sweet Brine'd Fermented Foods; Visual Dialogue; Balm Mtn Soap; Brockwood Furniture; Dillingham Family Farm; Fox Run Farm and Rabbitry

~ Submitted by the Weaverville Tailgate Market

Bon Voyage Normandy Performance by the North Buncombe Blackhawk Band

The North Buncombe High School Blackhawk band has been invited to honor the Greatest Generation through music by representing our school, our community, and our country in the 75th Anniversary of the WWII D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France. During our trip from June 4 – June 11, the band will participate in events and activities surrounding the Musical Salute to the Veterans by performing at several iconic landmarks throughout the Normandy region and Paris.