Elizabeth Wilkes joined the FANS Board in April. Elizabeth is a newcomer to Swannanoa, having moved to the area in February, 2017 from the east coast of NC. She grew up in the woods of Tennessee, and was looking for more variety in the seasons – so Swannanoa was a perfect place to hang her hat. Elizabeth has an accounting and office management background, and has also worked as a personal assistant. She enjoys reading, spending time in her yard, and hiking and exploring with her dog.
Archive for FANS News
Help us Raise Money for a New “Welcome to Swannanoa” Sign
Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa (FANS) is launching a community fundraising campaign to raise money for a new “Welcome to Swannanoa” sign, and we need your help. The current sign, located on U.S. 70 in front of the Swannanoa Ingles, is over 50 years old, and has deteriorated beyond repair. It’s time to install a new sign that will welcome residents and visitors to Swannanoa for years to come, and that reflects the pride we have in our beautiful community.
The new 3.5′ x 7′ sign (see design above) will be two-sided so that it can be seen by folks entering Swannanoa from the east as well as the west. It features the words “Welcome to Swannanoa” beneath a colorful mountain scene, and will be mounted on a river rock base, in honor of the Swannanoa River. The design will be sandblasted and painted on long-lasting cedar wood. We hope to install landscaping around the base of the sign to add even more visual impact.
The total cost of the sign, to be created by Jimmy Lamb of Lamb Sign Company, is $4,000. Several FANS board members and other Swannanoa residents have already come forward with $2,000 in matching funds. This means that every donation from the community will be matched dollar-for-dollar until we reach our fundraising goal of $4,000. We’re already half way there! Will you help us close our fundraising gap by making a donation? No amount is too small.
Please make your check out to Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa (write “Welcome Sign” in the memo line) and mail it to PO Box 697, Swannanoa, NC, 28778. FANS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so all donations are tax deductible. Thank you!
Charlie Milling and his wife Joyce moved to the Swannanoa Valley in 2010. They live on the campus of Warren Wilson College, where Joyce works in housing and residence life. Charlie taught at Warren Wilson College for a time, but now has the pleasure of serving as the Volunteer and Human Resources Coordinator at Verner Center for Early Learning in Riceville. Charlie and Joyce have two young children. They love calling the Valley home, and hope to help preserve its simple beauty. They are both avid scuba divers, and enjoy nature, reading and hiking.
Jennifer Burnett and her husband, David Mulder, have lived in Swannanoa for the past eleven years. Jennifer attended the University of Texas at Austin and later earned her Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder, CO. She has been practicing acupuncture for the past thirteen years. Jennifer and David chose the Swannanoa Valley as home because of its abundant natural beauty and their love of the outdoors, hiking and spending time in nature. David is a chef at the Grove Park Inn, and they have two children, ages five and nine. Jennifer enjoys travel, has an interest in backyard homesteading, and is a beekeeper and avid gardener.
The FANS E-Newsletter (you’re reading it!) is now available in a print edition. After receiving a number of requests for a print version from Swannanoa residents without regular access to a computer and email, FANS was able to marshal the resources to make the print edition a reality. The newsletter will be available later this month at a number of locations around Swannanoa, including the Swannanoa Welcome Table, the Swannanoa Library, Moments Cafe, Ledford’s Produce, and Native Kitchen. FANS would like to extend a special thanks to our newsletter sponsor, Davidson Homes, for providing printing services.
Please help spread the word to your friends and neighbors who may not have a computer!