Send listings to celolist@gmail.com. Please keep your listings short--100-word limit. Submissions of over 100 words will be edited for length. Verbose listings may be edited regardless of length. No attachments or pictures (links are fine) -- please put all the relevant text in the body of your e-mail so I can copy and paste. And please include your full name so we know who is speaking.
Please limit listings to activities/stuff in Yancey and Mitchell. Political events and announcements are fine but not political rants. Real estate listings from property owner only. The Celo List is currently going to 2,500 subscribers, mostly in Yancey and Mitchell. Unsubscribe link is at the bottom.
Needless to say, a listing here does not constitute an endorsement of truthfulness or good character.
The Celo List archive is here: celolist.substack.com/archive
-Robin, 828-284-8823
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CURRENT SITUATION
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Updated Yancey County Helene Response Information Is Here
Updated Mitchell County Helene Response Information Is Here
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Amy Waller
acwaller@gmail.com
828-467-1183
Beginning now Mitchell County stakeholders meetings will be held once a week, on Wednesdays at 10am at Mitchell County Senior Center, 152 Ledger School Rd, Bakersville, NC 28705. These meetings include updates from local government and other stakeholder representatives (some examples from past meetings: Duke Energy, Mayland Community College, NCDOT, State Senator Ralph Hise and Zito). Participants have opportunities to ask questions and coordinate with other stakeholders. These are public meetings and anyone can attend.
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Kiesa Kay
kiesakay@gmail.com
Grants available for craft artists affected by the storm -- Craft Emergency Relief Fund
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ELECTION
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Robin Dreyer
robindreyer@gmail.com
I hope you have voted already or you are registered to vote and have a plan to vote on Tuesday. There are important local and state races on the ballot, and North Carolina is currently considered a toss-up for President. Your vote matters.
-Election day is Tuesday, November 5. The polls are open from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM. If you are in line at 7:30 PM, you will still be able to vote.
-If you are not sure where your polling place is located, you can find that information through the NC State Board of Election Voter Lookup function. Click Here. Enter your name, year of birth, and county, then click on your name. Scroll down a bit and you will see your polling place listed. This screen will also show you a sample ballot.
-Many people have been displaced by the storm. If, for any reason, you are unable to vote at the precinct where you are registered, you can cast a provisional ballot in at any polling place in your county. Your vote will be counted.
-Yes, you need a valid photo ID to vote in this election, but there are wrinkles in this law that make it easier to comply:
There are a number of acceptable forms of ID. You can find the list here.
A voter 65 or older may use an ID it was unexpired on their 65th birthday.
You can vote without a photo ID by filling out an ID Exception Form stating why you do not have an ID. This will allow you to vote even if you have lost your ID. If you are registered and you do not have a valid photo ID, please come vote anyway. It will take a little longer, but if you are registered, your vote is likely to count.
I’m happy to report that Yancey County had a record number of early voters: 8451 out of approximately 14,500 registered voters. So if you are voting in Yancey on Tuesday, you may not have to wait too long (but don’t hold me to that).
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Geeta McGahey
mcgahey@yancey.main.nc.us
828-707-5487
It's important to support our democracy and our children's and grandchildren's future by voting. I have sample ballots. Let me know, best by text, if you need help getting to the polls.
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EVENTS
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Molly Rouse
mamamollyr@gmail.com
828-778-4958
New Beginnings: a free group for new and expectant moms has resumed meeting Fridays, 10am-12noon. All pregnant and postpartum moms (with babies up to 6 months old) are welcome to gather for self-care, snacks, connection, and learning.
Our former meeting place, the Burnsville library, is being used by FEMA so we’ll be at a new location TBD. Text or email for that info. Lucy Lodge and I look forward to seeing everyone and hearing tales of navigating the last few weeks.
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April Henkel
Henkelag@outlook.com
850-228-1228
Dementia Caregivers Support Group Meeting - Thursday, Nov. 14, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m., at First Baptist Church, 51 Town Square, Burnsville. Support groups offer caregivers a safe space to share experiences, gain insights, and find encouragement from others facing similar challenges. You'll learn about resources and receive handouts on topics like communication and safety. Limited onsite group respite for folks living with early-stage dementia (no personal care assistance) may be available. This is not drop-off respite, but a program for your loved one while you attend the meeting. Contact April Henkel at (850) 228-1228 for more information and to pre-register for group respite.
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Danny Blose
828 803 8319
Please join us for another ecstatic dance with live music in Green Cay on Sunday 11/10 at 2:00. Donations for AMS and the musicians are appreciated, but if 10-20$ is a burden for you come anyway. Moving together with spontaneous music is a wonderful way to be with all the things we're feeling in these times!
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Jennifer Dorfield & Jonathan Polgar
An invitation to save the date: Sunday, November 17th, a second annual Community Grief Gathering. What began as the 1st than-aversary of our son Julius’s death last year, we’d like to offer as an opportunity for communal support of what so many have lost and endured through Helene. We’d like to offer a place and time to collectively honor what’s been put before you plus community to hold you through it like so many of you did for us. All losses welcomed as well as all who’d like to help each other. Details here with updates coming.
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Jean McLaughlin
jeanwmclaughlin@gmail.com
Mica Gallery reopens with regular hours on November 1. The gallery will be open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. 11:00-5:00 Monday-Saturday and noon-5:00 on Sunday. VIsit the gallery to support your Mitchell and Yancey County artists. Make this an artist holiday season!
Mica is located in Bakersville at 37 North Mitchell Street. www.micagallerync.com
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STUFF
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Eric Witherspoon
eric.j.witherspoon@gmail.com
Did you lose an instrument from Hurricane Helene?
Click "Receive Instruments"
Fill Out the Simple Form
You will be contacted
Any questions? ReStringAppalachia@gmail.com
Let’s get instruments back into the hands of those who lost them.
ReString Appalachia is an initiative from American Songcatcher supported by over 150 musicians, instrument makers, nonprofits, venues, visual artists, actors, and media outlets.
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Lucy Doll
lucydoll@fastmail.com
When my wifi went down after Helene, I ordered a Starlink. As soon as it arrived, the wifi came back. I sold the Starlink to a friend, and we found the customer support for transferring ownership was impossibly ineffective. I refunded my friend and got a free return shipping label for the Starlink. I highly recommend taking this route rather than trying to sell or buy a Starlink locally.
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Autumn Brown
call or text - 706-296-8403
Available for pick up only:
MPI Monitor K-1 heating unit- works well, had an annual service shortly before I removed it from my home - would appreciate $100
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Scott Points
scott.points@gmail.com
706-614-1039
Looking for Lost Chainsaw
Tailgate latch failed and lost my chainsaw driving from Lower Browns Creek Rd. to West Yancey Vol. Fire Dept. Echo CS490 orange with black front-handle/chain-stop and 20" bar.
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Gregg Johnson
gregg_w_johnson@yahoo.com
Friends and fiberworks has collected and donated yarn and knitting needles to the Micaville knitting circle for those who lost them in the storm. please contact me at 828 765 3793 if you need replacements. if I cannot pick up the phone when you call please leave a message so that I can get back to you.
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Molly Rouse
Mamamollyr@gmail.com
828-778-4958
ISO: a small folding table and 3 folding chairs to use/borrow until mid-Dec.
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April Rainsong
aprilsteffler@gmail.com
I'm repurposing various materials for a woodshed. Do you have any metal roofing panels that are in decent enough shape to be taped up for woodshed use? I'm not above scavenging debris piles. Also looking for decent pallets and scrap 2x4s and 2x6s.
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Jerry Newton
jerry_newton2001@yahoo.com
828 284 6045
Looking for mushroom spawn to inoculate logs
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Diana
404-915-6947
Free Bed Frames
I have 2 bed frames. One white antiqued large headboard and footboard and the side rails for a queen bed. Another a standard double frame with old carved headboard for sale. Also have an exercise type bike you go forward and backwards on but is stationary $30. Please call as internet is sketchy in South Toe for me. I’m off Hwy 80 near South Toe School.
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Frank Connolly
Fxconnolly@gmail.com
Alpcour bike trainer $50
F21pl framing nailer with several hundred nails $125
48" grow light with stand $35
Tubing bender 3/16-1/2 od free
2012 Polaris ranger xp with snow plow, 700 hrs, 5k miles, works great in one or two wheel drive $4500
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Lucy Doll
lucydoll@fastmail.com
Free to a good home: Helene-felled black walnut trunk pieces. No rot. Mostly 18"-ish diameter chunks, cut to 1-2' pieces. Some longer, skinnier pieces as well.
Needed: pruning on two heritage dwarf apple trees. I've got a 5' ladder.
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SPACES
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Amy Waller
acwaller@gmail.com
828-467-1183
If you need a private place with reliable internet for a zoom meeting or something similar, the Mayland Community College Small Business Center (SBC) has spaces available. The SBC is located at 67 Hotel Ave, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. Contact SBC Director Morgan Wood at mwood@mayland.edu or (828) 766-1295 for more information or to schedule a time.
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Michelle-Marie Nelson
feralfascination@gmail.com
My partner, cat, and self are looking for a place in/close to Burnsville to rent temporarily. Due to Hurricane Helene our home remains inhabitable, We have work and school in Burnsville so being close would be ideal. What are we looking for? Cat friendly, Clean, Winterized, with basic utilities. Ideal budget is $700. Also open to exchange garden work for rent reduction.
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Isak Pertee / High Lonesome Timber
contact@hltimber.com
828.284.8353
We are seeking dump sites for material generated by storm cleanup. If you are interested in a free delivery of wood chips or firewood, please fill out this Wood Chips / Firewood Request Form. Please fill this out even if you have contacted us in the past. We are also looking for sites along state maintained roads to stage storm debris for pick up by FEMA contractors. Please email or text if you have an available roadside site.
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Andy Palmer
ajpalmer2121@gmail.com
My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a building in downtown Bakersville on North Mitchell Street. The place used to be Bowditches, was Shane Mickey's studio/gallery, and Dot's Cafe before that... Our hope is to find someone interested in opening up a coffee shop and/or pastry place and/or sandwich shop or something like that. Our town is in desperate need now that Lee's is out of business, Helen's is gone due to the severe damage from the flood, and Southern Ridge Cafe is listed and looking for a purchaser. If you'd like more information etc. please get ahold of us.
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Debi Anne Dematerra
HetueaStarTree@gmail.com
919- 444-3563
I am an artist and writer seeking a new place to live (after home was flooded in hurricane.) I am also now selling all of my paintings - colorful, visionary acrylics and pastels. Please contact me with any information on housing, and to see if you are interested in my art, visit my youtube channel. Here is the link. The paintings can be seen in the 9 "a poem and a painting" videos.
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HELP WANTED/JOBS
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Claire Wygand
704-650-5789
Looking for someone who can remove large tree stumps from our property and haul them away.
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Linsi Deyo
metta@zafu.net
Carolina Morning Designs, www.zafu.net, manufactures pillows, yoga props and meditation cushions in Celo. We’re looking for someone to do production sewing 20 hours a week or more. Sewing experience a must, production experience a plus. Send resume or email describing your interest and experience to metta@zafu.net
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Sean Alsup
earthworksBVL@gmail.com
East Fork Foods is seeking a qualified individual with working experience in bread / pastry, food prep, and customer service. Desired individual would be a self starter that is able to work alone. Please have a reliable insured vehicle. Pay is based on experience. If applicable a profit share could be discussed. This position would be 1 day a week for up to 8 hours (Monday) with a potential to expand during the holidays.
Duties may include food prep, cleaning, packaging, shaping/baking, and delivery. We are located in downtown Burnsville. If interested please send us your contact information as well as a bit about yourself.
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OTHER
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Samantha Krop
samantha@soundrivers.org
I'm following up with results from the two springs and surface waterways that we sampled while in the Celo area. While we did have a lot of wells come back positive for bacteria, the results from our surface water sampling are encouraging.
Here is what we found:
Both the Cane and South Toe surface waterways were very clean of harmful e. coli bacteria. Levels in both rivers were well under the EPA's threshold for primary contact with surface waters, so safe to swim in, bathe in, etc, as far as harmful e. coli bacteria goes, though of course not safe to drink from. We also conducted an assessment of basic parameters such as pH, conductivity, and turbidity in those rivers, and were happy to see all parameters came back within normal ranges.
The two community springs in Celo (Grindstaff Road and Hwy 80 near Locust Creek Road) came back with zero e. coli. Zero e. coli is required for drinking water, so this is also good news!
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Julie Spitzer
jspitzer623@gmail.com
The community choir will be performing with the Toe River Chamber Ensemble again this year. This is a non-auditioned, volunteer choir. The only requirements are that you love to sing and are willing to put in the time. Rehearsals begin 11/5 from 6:30 - 8:30pm at First Presbyterian Church in Burnsville. All rehearsals are on Tuesdays until the performance on 12/17.
This will be a new selection of Alfred Burt carols, John Rutter, and Dan Forrest, plus a few choral pieces from Handel's Messiah. It should be exciting. Please come sing and make a joyful noise to share with our community!
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Jim Smith
jimsmith1945@gmail
There was a presentation at Mars Hill University last Tuesday on bioremediation. I can forward to you if email me.
There are many farms, homesteaders, animal pastures full of mud and sand or totally washed out. What can we do to help restore this land? If any of you can join a meeting to collectively share need, experience or ideas please come.
I have two dates for gathering. One is Tuesday evening the 12 at 5:30, other is Saturday the 16 at 2:30….both at Homeplace in Burnsville.
After meetings I can put together the ideas and how we might go about implementing them. Especially helpful are those with compost, vermicullture , biodynamics experience.
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CLASSES/WORKSHOPS
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Sean Alsup
earthworksBVL@gmail.com
Earthen Oven Workshop
South Toe, Blue Rock Rd, 11/09 11-3pm
RSVP / Family Friendly / no charge / disaster relief supplement
During the storm several of my ovens fed many folks living far and wide. Exemplifing the oven’s intended purpose.
Please join us on Saturday. We will build another earthen oven. Participants will gain hands on experience and the knowledge of how to create an earthen oven of their own. This particular oven will become the central hub for many families in the event of future power outages. Email with interest.
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FOOD SERVICES
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East Fork Foods
eastforkbagels@gmail.com
-Organic New York Sour Dough Bagels, Vegan/Boiled/Steamed/Stone Baked
-Sour Dough Pan Loafs $11
Tuesday, November 5th, 3-5pm, HW 80 South / previous TTT parking lot
Sesame, Poppy, Everything, Plain, and Cinnamon Raisin
$4 each / 6 for $15 / 12 for $28
pre-orders advised (c.o.d)
Cash is best. Venmo accepted @eastforkpizza
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SERVICES
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Andy Laws
(828) 284-7954
SimpleScapes is thankful to have made it thru Helene with minimal damage and hope everyone is trying to get back to normal one day at a time. Offering storm cleanup work in the Newdale, South Toe, Bakersville areas with various pieces of equipment:
Mini-excavator and tractor for clearing debris /large logs, cleaning out ditches/fine grading
Dump truck and dump trailer to haul away brush or deliver Rip rap/gravel/fill dirt
Wood chipper, Cultivators, augers for organic soil rebuilding
Also trying to get back to normal landscape operations for any other fall maintenance or projects (leaf removal, plantings, retaining walls, etc)
Please email simplescapecontracting@gmail.com or give Andy a call at (828) 284-7954. You may also try our new team member Cory Boone at (828) 467-3025
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Rachel Swinney
865-688-8953 text
chawchaw47@gmail.com
Hurricane massage/bodywork relief:
No charge for those who lost their living space or their livelihood, or both.
Sliding scale payment for ALL others, currently.
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Azra Bertrand
contact@azrabertrand.com
Beginning this week, I will be offering free eco-somatic, hands-on energy healing sessions to assist with stress and trauma symptoms in the aftermath of Helene (both 1-on-1 and small group sessions will be available). Many people are experiencing "brain scramble", disorganized thoughts, problems with concentration and short term memory, etc. This will be a hands-on energy experience, in connection with Gaia, to support recovery. Email me to learn more, OR if you are a healer/bodyworker and would like to help. If you have a space in the South Toe that could host a free small group healing experience, please let me know.
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Eclectic news and notes at celophoto.blogspot.com
Today: SOUTH TOE PRECINCT