Things and Stuff: 04/12/01

Notes from our business community
- and everywhere else

KENNY ROGERS ...

will perform in Harrah's Cherokee Pavilion for two shows only, tonight (Thursday) and Friday, April 13, at 8 p.m.

With a stellar career spanning more than 30 years, "The Gambler" has been winning hearts and generating number one hits like "Lucille" and "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town," since the 1970s. County music legend Rogers has made 59 albums and won four Grammy Awards, 28 American Music Awards and eight Academy of Country Music Awards. Rogers played in Cherokee to sold-out crowds both in 1999 and 2000. Tickets for the Rogers concert start at $35 and may be purchased through the pavilion box office or by calling 1-800-HARRAHS.

A NUMBER OF FINE LOCAL ...

restaurants are featured in our Easter Dining Guide on the back page of this section. Be sure to take a look at their offerings as you make plans to celebrate Easter with you family and friends.

CITY LIGHTS ...

Bookstore will host a special Easter/Springtime storytime for children and their parents Saturday, April 14, at 11 a.m. For more information, call the store at 586-9499.

THE JARRETT HOUSE ...

will reopen Friday, April 13, at 5 p.m. for the Hartbarger Family's 27th season. The historic inn will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Easter dinner will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. with reservations accepted for parties of 10 or more at 586-0265.

SYLVA FAMILY PRACTICE, ...

located on Fisher Creek Road, will be closed on Good Friday, April 13, and will reopen Monday, April 16.

TOM VALENTA ...

is a new employee at the Sylva Post Office. Born and raised on Long Island, N.Y., Tom is single and lives in Fletcher, although he'd like to move closer to Sylva. He's a NASCAR fan and loves to ride his Honda Shadow motorcycle in the mountains. Tom, a 10-year postal service veteran, replaced Matthew Coppola at the Sylva P.O. Matt, who was behind the counter for 10 years, moved back to Long Island to be with his family.

ORGANIZERS OF...

an effort to raise money to buy a whirlpool for Laci and Hannah Wike of Cullowhee have almost reached their goal of $3,100. Only $963 is left, said Teri Browning of Shear Images last week. Those wishing to contribute may call Browning at 631-1513 or see Judy at NuWave Pool and Spa, located on the Asheville Highway near Tim's Auto Parts.

GRAEME MCGUFFICKE ...

of Edward Jones in Sylva recently shared his expertise and helped train investment representatives with less experience at the company's Canadian headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

OAKMONT LODGE ...

in Cashiers will hold an Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 14, weather permitting. Egg coloring will begin at 2 p.m. with the hunt to follow at 3 p.m. A visit by the Easter Bunny is expected. Participants may register to win a two-night stay at the lodge. The Cashiers Humane Society Stop'n'Adopt program will be at Oakmont Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. Call 743-2298 for more information and to register your kids.

WESTERN CAROLINA ...

University faculty member Monica Bellon came oh-so-close, but couldn't quite make the "hot seat" during her stint on the popular ABC game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."

Bellon, head of WCU's department of human services, appeared on the Millionaire episode that aired on Friday, April 6. She competed in a total of four "fast-finger" rounds, hoping to take the chair opposite show host Regis Philbin for a chance to win big money.

Since she didn't make the hot seat, Bellon is eligible to be on Millionaire again if she can once again navigate her way through the show's tough qualification process, which requires contestant hopefuls to call in and correctly answer questions and survive random drawings. She plans to start calling in again when the show phone lines open up on May 31.

THE FOLLOWING

was sent to us via email by former county resident Linda Hardy, who is currently a university administrator in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was completed by the newsroom's Rose Hooper, Herald features editor:

The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.

The New York Times is read by people who think they run the country.

The Washington Post is read by people who think they ought to run the country.

USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don't understand the Washington Post.

The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn't mind running the country, if they could spare the time.

The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country.

The New York Daily News is read by people who aren't too sure who's running the country.

The New York Post is read by people who don't care who's running the country, as long as they do something scandalous.

The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren't sure there is a country, or that anyone is running it.

The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country.

The Sylva Herald is read by people who live way out in the country.