It’s official. In September Weaverville became the 33rd community in the country and only the second in North Carolina (the first is Montreat) to become a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat.  To be awarded the community certification, the Weaverville Wildlife Habitat team worked with 65 homes, 10 businesses/common areas, and 1 school to have each certified as wildlife habitats.  Each certification garnerned points for Weaverville as a community, and in the end the town earned 422 points towards certification, exceeding the necessary requirements by172 points.

The following letter was sent to the Habitat Team from Roxanne Nersesian Paul, Senior Coordinator of the National Wildlife Federation Habitat Programs, who gave me permission to publish it. Sounds like we made quite an impression.  Congratulations to the team members and community members who worked to help Weaverville achieve this.

I am please to announce that Weaverville, North Carolina has just become the nation’s 33rd certified Community Wildlife Habitat.

Weaverville is a town of about 2850 people located 10 miles north of Asheville and 2300 feet above sea level in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Their team of volunteers was an extremely strong one, with two leaders both having their PhD’s and one of them a Habitat Steward as well.  Weaverville also received support from their local chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, one of our affiliates most actively engaged in education.

Having gone through their project notebook, I wish I could convey to you what an extraordinary project this was for such a small town.  In addition to getting their local elementary school certified, they certified 9 other community sites, including the Fire Station, a local funeral home (!), 3 inns, and a demonstration garden called Main Street Nature Park.  Sixty-five individual homes were also certified.

The team worked with the town government to modify the local weed ordinance to allow only native plants and well-behaved exotics.  The weed ordinance also prohibits the planting of invasives from the North Carolina noxious weed list.  A CVS will soon be opening in town and the team made specific recommendations about native plantings to replace the existing vegetation and the CVS management agreed!

In addition, one of the team leaders created a CD with a 161 page pdf with photos and descriptions of specific plants native to western North Carolina.  The CD was made available to town residents for a nominal fee, which helped support the project’s efforts.

Please join me in congratulating the Weaverville Community Wildlife Habitat team and the North Carolina Wildlife Federation.

The Vance Birthplace State Historic Site (911 Reems Creek Road) presents the Annual Fall Militia Encampment on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27. Admission is free both days. Here’s the info about the weekend’s events:

Once again, history will come alive on the weekend of September 26.  Vance Birthplace State Historic Site will be hosting the annual Fall Militia Encampment, Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m .and Sunday, Sept. 27, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  Admission is free.

This event will highlight the early years of our country’s history, when citizens banded together to form local militias to protect their lives and property.  Periodically, the militia’s officers would call a muster (a gathering of the members) for training, such as small arms drills.  The Catawba Militia, a group that portrays an early American citizens’ militia, will be encamped at Vance Birthplace throughout the weekend.  The group will demonstrate common camplife activities, drill routines and tell visitors what it was like to serve in the militia.  Members of the group will also provide some hands-on activities for children.

In addition to the Catawba Militia, the site will be receiving volunteer assistance for the two day event from the members of the site’s newly organized Tar Heel Jr. Historian Club. The club members will be providing assistance with the hands-on activities and with site tours and demonstrations.

Also, for 2009, the event will be highlighted as one of the events included in the Smithsonian magazine’s 5th annual Museum Day. On September 26th, the Fall Militia Encampment will be participating in a national program sponsored by Smithsonian magazine.  Details on the program are available at www.Smithsonian.com/museumday.

Vance Birthplace State Historic Site, the childhood home of Zebulon B. Vance, North Carolina’s Civil War governor, was settled in 1795 by David Vance, a Revolutionary war veteran.  The farm was the family’s home until the early 1830s.  Both David Vance and his son were officers in the Buncombe Militia during the early 1800s.  The site includes a visitor center, a reconstructed log house and six outbuildings.

Vance Birthplace State Historic Site, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, is located 12 miles northeast of Asheville on Reems Creek Road.  For more information call (828) 645-6706.

The rain stayed away.   A wonderfully successful Art In Autumn show.  Take a look.  Consider Dry Ridge Inn www.dryridgeinn.com and Weaverville  www.visitweaverville.com for your Western NC and Asheville Biltmore holiday.

The Weaverville Tailgate Market has been a great success this year thanks to all the local support it has received from Weaverville citizens and businesses.

Each Wednesday this summer the tailgate market offered a variety of locally produced vegetables, meats, cheeses, breads and preserves to the community. In addition, the market highlights local craftspeople and musicians. Often children are lined up to get their faces painted while their parents enjoy the friendly atmosphere and stocking up on fresh locally produced goods.Even still vendors are noticing new customers coming for their first visit to the market. It’s not too late to enjoy some of the late summer harvest! The market will continue until the end of October so if you have a free Wednesday afternoon come on by to enjoy some treats and friendly folks. The market is located in the Lake Louise Community center parking lot on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 6:30. Vendors are present every Wednesday rain or shine.

Thanks again to all the local people and businesses that helped make the market a success. The town generously allowed the use of the Lake Louise parking lot and several local businesses sponsored the endeavor. Sponsors include MyWeaverville.com, Tammy Allison State Farm Insurance Agency, Reems Creek Nursery, Mangum Pottery, Chris Hunter Logo Design, and the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. In addition, many businesses posted our flyers and Weavervillians joined our Facebook Market Group.

All are welcome! Come on by and give the market a try before the season ends!

Dry Ridge Inn is now on social networking sites. 

Sign on join the fun !

Become a fan of Dry Ridge Inn on Facebook here > www.facebook.com/pages/Weaverville-NC/Asheville-Bed-and-Breakfast-Dry-Ridge-Inn/112223503431

Become a follower of Dry Ridge Inn on Twitter here > www.twitter.com/DryRidgeInn

We will be posting specials, last minute deals, and events.