It’s that time…vendor applications are now ready for our annual Fourth of July Celebration.

Applications are downloadable here.

Note:  Craft vendors, all items must be handmade by selling vendor. Also, receipt of application does influence vendor placement.

Roost Interiors & Gifts
51 West Main Street
884-2012

Baby Ink
77 East Main Street
877-BABY (2229)
getbabyink.com

Come check out our White Squirrel Festival performers…Julie Lee, The Fox Fire, Serious Clark, Nikki Talley, Chatham County Line, Fifth House, Jon Stickley Trio, Jason DeCristofaro Sextet, Naren, Jazz Drovers-a-5tet, Dave Desmelik, Davidson River Taiko…

You won’t want to miss the 14 free, live concerts – headlined this year by Firecracker Jazz Band and the Jeff Sipe Group with special guest Ike Stubblefield!

Brevard’s white squirrels would seem to be doing well as preparations are being made for the eighth Annual White Squirrel Festival on Memorial Day weekend May 26th and 27th.

Under the supervision of the Heart of Brevard, community volunteers conducted the 15th Annual Brevard Squirrel Count this past Fall over a three square mile study area centered on the Courthouse.

The Count is not meant to be a true census but rather an estimate of the percentage of the white versus the gray variant of the Eastern Gray Squirrel.

This year’s estimate of 40.3% is the highest yet on record, crossing the  40% mark for the first time and well above the 15 year average being 28.9%. Overall abundance of squirrels, both white and gray, was up again representing the third highest in count history just eclipsing last year number of squirrels per acre.  Statistical analysis indicates that while the percent white has steadily increased over this period. If the current trend continues, the white variant may be in the majority in about ten years.   Abundance fluctuates widely and is highly correlated to available food, particularly hard mast (nuts), over the previous year.

The highest concentration of the white variant was once again along the southeast margin of the study area north and east of Brevard Elementary School, Warren and  Bluebird Lane, McCrary Acres, Morgan Heights and the general area between Elm Bend Road and Outland Avenue.  The area south west of the Post Office was also a hot spot.  Because of its park-like landscape, Brevard College remains a good place to view your first white squirrel although their abundance there seems to have declined slightly in recent years.  More details can be found at the following links:

• Overall 2011 results
• Map showing 2011 percent white by Sector  
• Overall 2010 results 
• Details of 2010 count by Sector
• Bar graph of 15 year history (1997-2010) of percent white
• Bar graph of 15 year history (1997-2010) of abundance (gray plus white)
• Details of previous years’s counts
• Purpose of the annual squirrel count
• Brevard white squirrels’ distinctive pattern
• Origin of Brevard’s white squirrels
• Information on white squirrels in general
• Overview of Findings of the White Squirrel Research Institute
• FAQ

 To participate in future counts or in becoming a designated Squirrel Spotter for a neighborhood contact Madrid Zimmerman (828-884-3278; heartexec@comporium.net), Director of the Heart of Brevard, or Bob Glesener (828-862-3231; rrglesener@gmail.com), Director of the White Squirrel Research Institute.

It’s that time…vendor applications are now ready for the White Squirrel Festival.

Applications are downloadable here.

Note:  Craft vendors, all items must be handmade by seller.

Love our lights in downtown…then thank High Country Tree Service, Inc. for installing them!

About:
High Country Tree Service offers total tree care and removal. Their services include:  view pruning, tree removal, tree health improvement, and stump grinding. They are certified arborists and have on staff servicemen that are licensed commercial pesticide applicators. In addition, owner, John Wayne has a B.S. in Forest Management from NC State University. High Country Tree Service, Inc. is fully insured.

Contact information:
John Wayne Hardison Jr. (owner/certified arborist)

High Country Tree Service, Inc.
PO Box 61
Penrose, NC 28766

Note:  Check out more of Dan Bennett’s photos on his Facebook!

Go Nuts at the 9th Annual White Squirrel Festival: May 26-27, 2012 (Memorial Day Weekend)

White Squirrel Festival Receives Honor: Top 20 Event for the month of May 2009 by the Southeast Tourism Society

Thousands of fan go nuts in Downtown Brevard on Memorial Day weekend, in Brevard, North Carolina!

You don’t want to miss our 14 free, live concerts. Headliners this year:  Firecracker Jazz Band and Jeff Sipe Group with special guest Ike Stubblefield.

For those who prefer warming up early Saturday morning, run in the 5th Annual 5K/10K White Squirrel Race! Check out Brevard Rotary’s website for more information.

We will kick off the 9th Annual White Squirrel Festival with our 5th Annual Memorial Day Parade, which is organized by the American Legion and VFW. This crowd-pleasing event will take place on Saturday at 9:00am, followed by a “Presentation of the Wreath” ceremony at our county War Memorial.

No alcohol is allowed at festival, except for approved designated area on Saturday. Thanks!

For safety reasons, only service dogs are allowed on festival grounds.
Pet sitting will be available for out-of-town guests at Pure Pets (31 South Broad St).

Vendor applications ready.

Check out all of our 2012 Sponsors…who make all of this FREE music possible!

Steve Owen & Associates

Oskar Blues Brewery

Brevard Music Center

United Community Bank

2012 Musical Performances

Our musical line-up is one of the region’s best, and no where else can you hear 14 spectacular concerts for free. John Felty (of Looking Glass Entertainment and of Jupiter Coyote fame) continues to bring in some up and coming, as well as some established, performers who know how to get their audience smiling, dancing, and clapping.

9th Annual White Squirrel Festival Music Headliners:

Firecracker Jazz Band
Saturday Headliner

Jeff Sipe Group with special guest Ike Stubblefield
Sunday Headliner 

Other Performers:

This is a rain or shine event! Only service dogs allowed.

More information on our artists!

Your chance to help with the White Squirrel Festival !

As one of the 2009 TOP 20 music festivals in the southeast, we are pleased to be able to offer 14 live concerts, free to the public.

But even with many of our performers adjusting their fees, it takes a lot of money to produce a festival of this quality.

There are opportunities for businesses to participate at several sponsorship levels. We even have a special music fund program for individuals who wish to make a tax-deductible donation.

For more information, contact us at (828) 884-3278 or email.

2012 White Squirrel Festival Schedule

SATURDAY – May 26

Memorial Day:  Parade                                                                      9:00am
“Presentation of the Wreath” 10:00am (Gazebo)
5th Annual 5K/10K White Squirrel Foot Race                        8:00am
(Brevard Music Center)
Street Festival:  10:00am – 6:00pm
6th Annual Squirrel Box Derby (Jailhouse Hill)                     9:00am – 5:30pm
(Races begin at 1:30pm)
“Pisgah Pete” (real white squirrel on the Gazebo block - Jennifer Burgin, Wildlife Rehabilitator)
White Squirrel Tours *pick up guide at Wildlife Rehab Booth
White Squirrel Exhibit (Trans. Heritage Museum)                           10:00am – 5:00pm
White Squirrel Photo Contest (Displayed at Lil Bo-tique – 72 South Broad St.)
Food Court (West Main, between Caldwell/England St.)
Street Vendors (Gazebo block, South Broad St.)
WSQL 1240AM Radio Live (West Main St. & Derby Finish Line)

SUNDAY – May 27

Street Festival:  10:00am – 6:00pm
6th Annual Squirrel Box Derby (Jailhouse Hill)                                     10:00am – 6:00pm
(Races begin at 1:30pm)
“Pisgah Pete” (real white squirrel on the Gazebo block - Jennifer Burgin, Wildlife Rehabilitator)
White Squirrel Tours *pick up guide at Wildlife Rehab Booth
White Squirrel Photo Contest (Displayed at Lil Bo-tique - 72 South Broad St.)
Street Festival:  12 noon – 6:00pm
Food Court (West Main, between Caldwell/England)
Street Vendors (Gazebo block, South Broad)
WSQL 1240AM Radio Live (West Main St. & Derby Finish Line)

Annual White Squirrel Photo Contest

It’s springtime and all your backyard white critters are scampering about.  If you’re able to catch them in some of their high flying acts or their persistent appearance at what you call a bird feeder, now is the time to bring out your cameras.

Enter our 9th Annual White Squirrel Photo Contest.  Photo entries must include at least one local white squirrel.  Submit your entries to the Heart of Brevard office (175 East Main Street, Suite 200) on or before May 23rd.  Call beforehand to make certain staff is on hand to receive your photo (884.3278).

Prizes are award for first place ($50), second place ($25), and third ($10).  There is a $5 entry fee to help generate funds for the prizes.

All photos will be displayed during the White Squirrel Festival (May 26-27).

Entry forms are ready!

Contest rules:

• No more than 2 photos per person can be submitted.
• Photo(s) must be taken by the entrant.
• Photo(s) must be mounted or framed  (no larger than 8”x10’ print; frame no larger than 11”x14”)
• Photo(s) must have on the back of the photo entrant’s name, contact information, and name/title of the photo

Judges will make their determination based on: subject, composition, technique, lighting, creativity, attractiveness, impact.

Other White Squirrel Festival weekend activities:

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Brevard’s Annual Fourth Friday Gallery Walk

May 25th 5:00 – 9:00pm
Enjoy an evening of art, wine, food in downtown Brevard.

5th Annual White Squirrel Twirl (The Sylvan Squares Dance Club)

May 26th 7:30pm
St. Timothy United Methodist Church
$7 per dancer
Call 828.884.6428 for more information or email.

Street Vendors’ Application:

Annual Squirrel Box Derby – May 26-27, 2012 (Races begin at 1:30pm)

Our 6th Annual Squirrel Box Derby is just one of many venues, during our White Squirrel Festival. This gravity race is the only legal opportunity in Brevard where you can try to break the speed limit down Jailhouse Hill! All vehicles are hand built and decorated to please the crowd, as well as designed for speed. Contestants competed for trophies for the fastest critter and the nuttiest design.  In addition, businesses fight to win the overall Golden Nut Trophy, which combines speed and design.

Come watch the thrills down Jailhouse Hill!

Race Schedule
The Derby takes place during the White Squirrel Festival.

Saturday – May 26:  Ages 8-11 years and Ages 12-17 years

9:00am-10:00am    Registration/Inspection – Participant Set-up (8-11 years, 12-17 years)
9:00am-9:45am      Memorial Day Parade
10:00am-11:00am   Finish Line Safety set-up
10:00am-10:30am   Line-up display/judging
10:00am-11:00am   Memorial Presentation of the Wreath
11:00am-12:30pm  Trial Runs
12:30pm-1:30pm    Lunch Break
1:30pm-6:30pm      Races
6:45pm                  Awards Ceremony (West Main Street Stage)
6:30pm-7:00pm      Breakdown

Sunday – May 27:  Ages 18+ years and Businesses

10:00am-11:00am  Registration/Inspection – Participant Set-up (18+ years and Businesses)
11:00am-11:30am  Line-up display/Judging
11:30am-12:30pm Trial Runs
12:30pm-1:30pm   Lunch Break
1:30pm-5:30pm     Races
5:45pm                 Awards Ceremony (West Main Street Stage)
6:00pm-7:00pm     Total Breakdown

Parking and Registration Information

For Saturday race:

1) Registration will take place in the College Plaza parking lot on French Broad/North Broad Street.

2) Parking for all registrants/families is available in the side parking lot of the College Plaza on French Broad Street.  Please do not park in the north end of the College Plaza or First United Methodist Church’s parking lots—that is reserved for their business customers.

For Sunday race:

1) Registration will take place on the corner of French Broad/North Broad Street in the College Plaza parking lot.

For more information call Heart of Brevard 828.884.3278

In order to continue to keep safety our #1 priority, here are some guidelines, as you begin designing your entry for May 2012:

Note:  Race course has been extended

• Braking System: must affect a minimum of 2 of the 4 wheels that are on the ground. We do not recommend that you have two independent brake “pedals” for the primary system. The dominant hand/foot may cause the vehicle to start spinning. *We strongly encourage having a back-up breaking system.
• Steering System: must affect 2 of the 4 wheels that are on the ground.  Try to design to prevent over-steering that can lead to flipping over.
• To protect the head and/or prevent falling out: a DOT-approved helmet is MANDATORY. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND a roll bar/cage or designing the back of the kart so that it is higher than the driver’s head (in case the kart flips). We REQUIRE a safety belt/restraint.
• Towing Capacity: we are REQUIRING that you include towing hooks (eye screws) both at the back and front ends for towing up Jailhouse Hill.
• The propulsion of the derby car is solely driven by gravity. Spring-loaded and shifting, or artificial starting devices are not allowed.
• Driver cannot have contact with the ground or wheels from inside the derby car.

Other Entry Requirements:

• Overall footprint dimensions cannot exceed 32 square feet.
• Wheel base needs to be wider than the height of the vehicle body. *This does not include lightweight safety apparatus (i.e. roll bar, windshield.
• Total maximum weight (driver & vehicle):  250 lbs. (ages 8-11), 350 lbs. (ages 12 and above).
• Hand-built and must incorporate some form of bodywork.

Besides the mandatory DOT-approved helmet, we REQUIRE that drivers wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts/jackets, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. We encourage children and youth to wear elbow pads, as well. Major road burn can be avoided with proper clothing.

(Standard derby kit cars will need modification to meet our safety standards. We encourage you to create your own design).

Don’t forget those creative designs for the nuttiest category!

NO ALTERATIONS/ADDITIONS/DELETIONS CAN BE MADE TO THE VEHICLE ONCE IT PASSES INSPECTION (EXCEPTIONS FOR SAFETY WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARED WITH THE EMERGENCY SAFETY DIRECTOR AND HEART OF BREVARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).

For more information…Download the 2012 Derby Safety Guidelines.. Derby applications ready early April.

Adult & Business application fees go to the Brevard Rescue Squad!