"Sylva Skates" Phantom Funraiser for Mill Street Improvements

Submitted by Julie Sylvester, Downtown Sylva Association

It’s been a century or so since anyone’s ice skated on Scotts Creek, but the Downtown Sylva Association thinks its a tradition that should be revived – at least in spirit! The DSA and the Town of Sylva have announced plans for a “Sylva Skates” ice skating party on Scotts Creek, February 5, 2011. There’s only one caveat: if the creek doesn’t freeze the whole thing’s called off!  The “event” is a phantom fundraiser to benefit continued improvements to public spaces in the Mill Street area of Sylva.  Click here for the full invitation.

The DSA and the Town of Sylva are applying for a grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Main Street Program to make improvements to Mill Street. Assuming Sylva is awarded the grant, property owners on Mill St. who contribute funds toward the grant would have their contributions matched by the state, and could then apply those funds toward upgrades to their buildings.

Funds from the “Sylva Skates” ice skating party will be applied to a separate fund to be used to improve public spaces in the same area. Donations received on or before February 5th could be matched by the state of North Carolina. The “Sylva Skates” fundraiser was inspired by a century-old photograph, donated by Teresa Beck for publication in the 1987 book “The History of Jackson County”, which showed Sylva residents skating on a frozen Scotts Creek.

For more information, visit the Downtown Sylva Association website at downtownsylva.org.