The essential Ashvegas hot sheet: Keeping up with the Burning Man bus, the flu, the festivals and more

Lots of fun…

-Burning Man bus: A week or so ago, I wrote about a local crew that had built a crazy bus-boat contraption to take out to Burning Man. You can follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/fvgypsyqueen.

-Back to school needs: I met a young school teacher who works out at Johnston Elementary School, who told me she’s dead broke and in serious need of school supplies for the start of the new school year. Johnston Elementary School is one of the most diverse schools in Buncombe County, and has one of the highest number of economically challenged kids.

I promised this teacher I’d implore Ashvegas readers to help out local schools. The state has cut back funding for schools because of the hobbled economy, so teachers need help to buy things like erasers and Post-It Notes. I know KISS-FM, with the help of other media partners, just held a Tools for Schools drive to collect supplies, but I don’t think that’s enough. There needs to be a sustained effort to help teachers this year.

-Rumor control #1: There’s a rumor going around that College Street Pub and Grill is up for sale. Anybody got any details?

-Rumor control #2: Several people on Saturday told me that some folks are working on putting together a new spring beer festival in Asheville. So far, though, it’s not a done deal and there are no details. I’ll let you know when I hear more.

-Preparing for flu season: I attended the Buncombe County health department’s flu briefing last week and I have to admit that it made me a little nervous. If local public health officials are as worried about the upcoming flu season as I think they are, then folks need to be prepared. Are you prepared if schools shut down, or if your entire office is out sick with the flu? Get ready now – flu shots, back-up kid-care plans, stocked up food in your pantry or whatever.

-Musical greatness: Asheville has one incredible local music scene, and four of the best were on display at Baseball and Beer on Saturday. Firecracker Jazz Band, Kellin Waton, Jar-E and Woody Wood all played great sets. For my money, Woody Wood tops them all. The guy is one amazing guitarist with a perfect sandpapery voice. He should be a star. Let me rephrase that – Woody is a star. He should be known by the world.

-Citizen-Times Half-Marathon: The Asheville running community is focusing on the Sept. 12 Asheville Citizen-Times Half-Marathon. This is the 10th year of the race, and there’s a new course that a lot of people are complaining about. Complaining because it’s hard. Complaining that there are too many hills. The newspaper’s runner and outdoors editor Karen Chavez blogged it thusly: I have one word, which I can’t really write here, but it starts with an “S” and ends with an “ucks.”

My point is that the toughness of the course should be a badge of honor. Yes, let’s make it the toughest damn course in the country. Once you train for it and do it, you’ve just accomplished something. Like, really accomplished something. We live in the mountains. Courses are going to be hilly. Let’s just embrace it and go for it.

-Festival round-up: I’ve heard lots of good reports about the new local music festival Digg held over the weekend. Anybody go? I did not attend the fund-raising event for Asheville FM at the Orange Peel, but would like an update. Anybody? This weekend, it’s Goombay. Then LAAFF. The parties just keep coming.