Ask around downtown Sylva, and it’s not hard to find someone with an opinion about traffic. Main Street should be two-way. It should remain one-way. There’s not enough parking. The new parking area on Mill Street is a godsend. The recently installed posts and left-turn lanes are obnoxious and confusing to visitors, or they are a great way to slow the speed of traffic and prevent accidents.

When election candidate sign-ups begin next week, at least one town board member plans on putting her hat in the ring for the mayor’s seat.

Sylva police can now start enforcing a town ordinance aimed at paring down the number of unpaid parking tickets, thanks to a law recently adopted in Raleigh. 

For the first time in seven years, Sylva residents will be able to watch Fourth of July festivities from downtown.

By Katie Reeder • SMN Intern 

Relaxing through methods such as massages and skin care treatments is not just a luxury. Rather, it is part of taking care of the body and pursuing wellness.

A wonderful writer. A fearless explorer. A fascinating person. An endless optimist.

Improving communication between the Main Street Association and downtown merchants was the goal of a survey sent out to merchants and property owners this winter, and the recently compiled results of that survey showed that communication itself is one of the biggest needs downtown.

If traffic seemed a bit slow through downtown Sylva on Friday (May 22), it probably had something to do with Gov. Pat McCrory’s afternoon stroll along Main Street that day.

A stalemate over whether to raise property taxes in Sylva ended last week with the majority of town board members opting to take money out of the town’s reserve fund to cover a $140,000 projected shortfall in next year’s budget.

The 18th annual Greening Up the Mountains spring kickoff street festival will be held Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Sylva.

The third annual Beer Garden will return to McGuire Gardens with craft beer offerings from Heinzelmannchen and Innovation breweries. The two businesses will also release a Heinz-Syl-Vation Collaboration Ale (blackberry spring wheat ale). Live music at the garden will include Alma Russ, Ian Moore and Dr. Pockets. Entry to the garden is $5, with craft beer and prepackaged treats from the Evolution Wine Kitchen sold separately.