Rutherford Weekly

OUR 24 th YEAR • ISSUE NO. 17 • April 28, 2016 RutherfordWeekly.com 828-248-1408 FREE FREE YOUR #1 ADVERTISING SOURCE YOUR #1 ADVERTISING SOURCE ©Community First Media Community First Media Mon-Sat 11am-6pm E Juice • Glass Pipes T-shirts • & More 719 S. Broadway, Forest City Right off Exit 182 from US74 828-229-3123 ©Community First Media Community First Media SIMPLY DEVINE & COPPER PENNY JOIN TOGETHER TO Celebrate All Mothers REGISTER TO WIN A $50 SIMPLY DEVINE GIFT CERTIFICATE & ALSO $50 COPPER PENNY GIFT CERTIFICATE REGISTER AT BOTH HARDIN'S DRUG LOCATIONS & COPPER PENNY GRILL WINNER WILL BE DRAWN SAT., MAY 7 TH 720 South Church St., Forest City 720 South Church St., Forest City 828-245-7274 828-245-7274 Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 1-6pm • Forest City location only Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 1-6pm • Forest City location only Located Located inside inside Celebrate All Mothers MayFESTival set for Saturday, May 7 th Rutherfordton is about to get "funky" once again. FUNC - which stands for Fridays Unplugged on Central - returns on May 6 at 7 p.m. This marks the second season for the music series which includes kid games, food, drinks, music and more. "FUNC will be held the first Friday of each month May through October," said Cindy Adair, director of Rutherford Town Revitalization. The grassroots event was begun in partnership with Small Town Coffee Roasters, with the purpose of bringing nightlife into town. The series has grown this year to include more offerings and to encompass new businesses in the Town of Rutherfordton, one of the event sponsors. "It's just great fun," Adair continued. "We'll have chalk again for kids to be 'pavement Picassos' as well as a train and a swing in the parking lot at Isothermal Planning and Development Commission." For those who see a cool refreshment at the end of a long work week, beer will be available from new breweries located in Rutherfordton - Yellow Sun and Ruff'ton Brewhouse. Music for the first FUNC of the season will be provided by Zack Byers, Ethan Morse and Toxaway. Are you a member of a band? Then your talents are in demand. "We are always looking for artists to take part in the series," Adair said. "It doesn't matter what kind of music you perform." Also planned during the event is the Crazy 4 Colby Obstacle Course (see related story, page 16). Dates for the remaining FUNC's for 2016 are June 3, July 15, Aug. 5, Sept. 2 and Oct. 7. If you are an interested musician, food truck operator, vendor or would like to help with planning, contact Doug Barrick at dbarrick@rutherfordton.net. Articles By: Allison Flynn, Rutherford Weekly Articles By: Allison Flynn, Rutherford Weekly LOCAL LOCAL BUY If April showers bring May flowers, then May festivals bring family fun for Rutherford County. Rutherfordton's Annual MayFESTival returns Saturday, May 7, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., complete with fresh-squeezed lemonade, handmade pottery and a little bit of something for everyone. "It is the kick-off to the festival season in the county," said Cindy Adair, director of Rutherford Town Revitalization, who plans the event each year. This year's MayFESTival Promises to be one of the largest, she added. "We will have the most booths we've had in a while," she explained. It will also be the first festival in a year in downtown Rutherfordton. Last year's Hilltop Fall Festival had to be cancelled due to inclement weather. As in year's past, various groups and organizations will be on hand with giveaways and information on the services they provide to the county. Boy Scouts from around the county will take part in the annual Scout Show, with a Pinewood Derby and flag burning ceremonies. Merchants in Rutherfordton will be open with specials, and the overall event this year has a focus on Mother's Day, which is May 8. "We'll have jewelry vendors and others, so there will be one-stop shopping for all the moms in your life," Adair said. Vendors come from as far away as Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia to participate, and have said they like the small-town feel of the event, Adair explained. Participants come from the region including Charlotte, Greenville-Spartanburg and Asheville. "We have great support from those who take part in the Gears & Gables ride for Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity," Adair said. While the event lasts only a day, the memories that can be made during MayFESTival can last a lifetime. "I always look forward to seeing all the families who attend, and just people having fun," Adair said. "I think it gives folks an opportunity to catch up with those they don't see often." Once MayFESTival is over, Adair said Rutherford Town Revitalization will begin to look toward other events, which will culminate with the Hilltop Festival. "MayFEST and Hilltop are the bookmarks around our festival season," she said. FUNC returns to Rutherfordton for second season R th f dt i b t t t "f k " i

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