Sunday, November 17, 2013

Upcoming events for the week of November 17, 2013



Drones design:  FORESHADOWING

Design by Lillian Moats

In Afghanistan and Pakistan, unmanned drones have become the weapons of choice of the U.S. military and C.I.A. Operators, who sit at computer screens thousands of miles from their targets. An appalling number of civilian men, women and children have become unintended casualties of such "targeted killings" in this one-sided robotic warfare. The painting grew out of the artist's efforts to imagine what the presence of unmanned drones must be like for people on the ground. Biography: Lillian Moats is a Chicago area writer, artist and film-maker. The award winning animated art films she has produced with her partner JP Somersaulter have appeared in festivals around the world. 

This comes from the “Windows and Mirrors” exhibit by AFSC. More information at this link.


UPCOMING EVENTS

11/18/13 MOVE TO AMEND BUNCOMBE COUNTY MEETING
Time is 7 PM and location is North Asheville Library.

11/18/13 STORIES THAT BEND TOWARD JUSTICE AND PEACE
This Middle East Film Series runs from November 4 thru December 5, with showings in Back Mountain and Asheville. Time is 7 PM. Films sponsored by Western Carolinians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East. Free and open to the public. Today’s film is “Precious Life” and will be shown at Black Mountain Library. Mohammad Abu Mustafa, a 4-month-old Palestinian boy living in Gaza Strip, was born without an immune system, faces certain death, without a bone marrow transplant at an Israeli hospital -- an unlikely prospect. For more information, contact Bill at 314-374-7446.

11/18/13 NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH FILM SERIES   
Native American Heritage Month Film Series – “We Shall Remain: Trail of Tears”. PBS's acclaimed history series, WE SHALL REMAIN, establishes Native history as an essential part of American history. These five documentaries spanning almost four hundred years tell the story of pivotal moments in U.S. history from the Native American perspective, upending two-dimensional stereotypes of American Indians as simply ferocious warriors or peaceable lovers of the land. Time is 7 PM and location is the Intercultural Center, Room 114, on the first floor of Highsmith Union at UNCA. This is part of the Native American Heritage Month at UNCA.

11/18/13 EVENT AT UNCA
“Can We Know Them By Their Songs and Dances? Performing Mirrors: Reflections of War, Turmoil and the Human Spirit.” This will be at Lipinsky Auditorium at UNCA at 11:25 AM. Free.

11/18/13 TRANSITION HENDERSONVILLE PRESENTATION
“Our Solar Community” workshops are a free step – by – step guide to determine the feasibility, benefits and options available today for: solar electricity (photovoltaics), utility intertie - independent systems, emergency/back-up systems, solar hot water. Time is 6:30 PM to 9 PM and location is BIZ611 at 611 North Church Street in Hendersonville.

11/18/13 WLOS PROGRAM AND TOWN HALL MEETING
WLOS News 13 will be airing Mike Mason’s Investigative Piece: Buried Secrets on Monday 11-18-13 at 4 PM. The residents of South Asheville and the Mills Gap Community Advisory Group will hold a Special Town Hall Meeting to view the unprecedented 1 Hour Special. The location is at the Skyland Fire Department on Miller Road, just off Hendersonville Road. The Town Hall will be held in the main conference hall at the Skyland Fire Department, after first showing the WLOS report. There will be a press conference afterwards, as this program will be breaking new information into what happened to our community that sickened, killed and ruined lives here in south Asheville. This notice came from Tate MacQueen, Mills Gap, Concerned Citizens for a CTS Cleanup Vice President

11/19/13 CONCERT AND RECEPTION TO HONOR LOCAL ACTIVISTS
Charlie King and Karen Brandow are musical storytellers and political satirists. They sing and write passionately about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. This Perelandra Studio Concert will be held in east Asheville on November 19th.  6 PM reception with Charlie and Karen. 7 PM Concert. Both the reception and the concert will celebrate Asheville area participation in the Walk for our Grandchildren and Moral Mondays. Email hras@humanrightsaction.net or or call 314-374-7446 to arrange for tickets which are $20 (only advance tickets available).

11/19/13 HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR TALKS AT UNCA
In this talk, “From Mozart to Murder: A Holocaust Survivor Muses About Radical Evil” Professor Walter Ziffer will relate his personal encounters with such evil (genocide) to a number of attempts by scholars to explain how such monstrosities come into being, considering our human genetic potentials for such, as well as situations that trigger these potentialities to transform into acted atrocities. Time is 7 PM and location is Lipinsky Auditorium at UNCA.

11/19/13 PRESENTATION ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
The story of women's health is a major indicator for children's health. Learn more at “Findings from the NC Women's Health Report Card: A Snapshot of Women's Health Disparities” on Tuesday, November 19th, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Location is the MAHEC Education Building (121 Hendersonville Road, Asheville). The key presenter is Dr. Wendy Brewster, Director of The Center for Women's Health Research - UNC Chapel Hill. She will be joined by local experts. The event is free and sponsored by Women for Women. To register or for more information email tina.owen@mahec.net or call 828-257-4410.

11/19/13 “FRACTURING OUR LANDSCAPE?”
Katie Hicks, Clean Water For NC, speaks at Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society meeting about hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in NC. Time is 7 PM and location is the Reuters Center at UNCA.

11/19/13 WNC ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS MEETING
The Western North Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at the Kenilworth Presbyterian Fellowship Hall, 123 Kenilworth Rd.  Time is 10 AM. The ARA is a statewide organization of retired union members and their friends and families.  We are non-partisan and open to everyone who is concerned about the need for jobs which pay a living wage, as well as those issues which affect all of us. FMI contact Dick at dick@dickandnorma.com.

11/19/13 MUSICAL STORYTELLER AND POLITICAL SATIRISTS
Come out to hear Musical storyteller and political satirists Charlie King and Karen Brandow. They are passing through on way to Ft. Benning SOA Watch vigil. Cost is $20. Location is Perelandra in east Asheville. Advance tickets only. Limited seating.  Email for reservations: hras@humanrightsaction.net. Time is 6 PM.

11/19/13 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE PERMACULTURE POTLUCK
The 11th of our year-long series will feature local permaculture elder and teacher Patricia Allison. Patricia will present the principle "Use Edges and Value the Marginal". All are invited, and bring a friend! Also be sure to bring your dish to share, plate/bowl, cup, utensils, and your passion for creative community engagement. Location is Community Action Opportunities, 25 Gaston Street, Asheville. Time is 5:30 PM.

11/19/13 AUDUBON SOCIETY MEETING
November Program will be at 7:00 PM, in the Reuters Center, UNC Asheville. Join Katie Hicks of Clean Water for North Carolina to learn more about hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") for natural gas in North Carolina. What is fracking? Where do regulations stand in North Carolina, and how might certain parts of the state be particularly vulnerable to negative impacts on drinking water, infrastructure, agriculture and wildlife? Does natural gas production and combustion contribute to climate change? What's driving the political rush to open the state to the gas industry? Find the answers to these questions and more.

11/20/13 RESCHEDULED - HOWARD ZINN READ-IN
Please join the Asheville branch of the International Socialist Organization at 6:00 PM at the Pack Memorial Library (ground floor activity room) to preserve the incredible histories of people fighting for their rights, their lives, and a better world.  “A Peoples History of the United States” by Howard Zinn has been a definitive text for educators, activists, and revolutionaries on the Left for more than three decades. For more information, contact Asheville-socialism@googlegroups.com.

11/20/13 ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS
Enjoy a fashion show, a raffle of local products and, an enlightening presentation on “Conscientious Consumers: Feel good about shopping this holiday season!” by Franzi Charen of Asheville Grown Business Alliance and Mark Hebbard of Just Economics. We will be raffling off several prizes donated from local stores. Entry into the raffle is FREE as long as you are in attendance! Location is Green Sage Coffee House and time is 6 PM for the presentation. Socializing before and after event.

11/20/13 ASHEVILLE S.A.C.E.E. DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THE WEATHER
Transition Asheville is a big fan of Maggie Ullman, head of the City’s Office of Sustainability and the rest of the folks at SACEE (Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment).  Their sponsorship of the upcoming open house proves, again, this is a forward looking group which is serious about looking on the effects of weather and climate change on the people of Asheville, Buncombe County and this region. Please come and share your interest and ideas! On Wednesday, Nov. 20th, from 6-8 PM, the City and NEMAC are hosting an open house about weather impact strategies which everyone is invited to. The open house will include interactive local maps of past and projected climate impact mapping as well as long term climate adaptation strategies. Location is NEMAC (National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center) at 116 Grove Arcade, 1 Page Avenue in Asheville.

11/21/13 STORIES THAT BEND TOWARD JUSTICE AND PEACE
This Middle East Film Series runs from November 4 thru December 5, with showings in Back Mountain and Asheville. Time is 7 PM. Films sponsored by Western Carolinians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East. Free and open to the public. Today’s film is “Precious Life” and will be shown in Asheville at the Brooks-Howell Home on Merrimon Avenue. Mohammad Abu Mustafa, a 4-month-old Palestinian boy living in Gaza Strip, was born without an immune system, faces certain death, without a bone marrow transplant at an Israeli hospital -- an unlikely prospect. For more information, contact Bill at 314-374-7446.

11/21/13 NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH FILM SERIES   
Native American Heritage Month Film Series - We Shall Remain: Geronimo. Time is 7 PM and location is the Intercultural Center, Room 114, on the first floor of Highsmith Union at UNCA. This is part of the Native American Heritage Month at UNCA.

11/21/13 REALLY SCARY MOVIE #9: DO THE MATH
We’re jump-starting a new movement, and we need your help. It is simple math: we can emit 565 more gigatons of carbon dioxide and stay below 2°C of warming — anything more than that risks catastrophe for life on earth. The only problem? Burning the fossil fuel that corporations now have in their reserves would result in emitting 2,795 gigatons of carbon dioxide – five times the safe amount. Fossil fuel companies are planning to burn it all — unless we rise up to stop them. In November 2012, Bill McKibben and 350.org hit the road to build a movement strong enough to change the terrifying math of the climate crisis. The Do the Math Tour was a massive success, with sold out shows in every corner of the country. The USA tour is now over, but the campaign it launched is just getting started and the tour has gone global, and this film is one reason why. Time is 7 PM and location is First Congregational UCC, Room 107, in downtown Asheville.

11/21/13 LAND OF THE SKY VEHICLES ROADSHOW
Land of the Sky presents their second annual Propane AutoGas Roadshow with presentations and exhibits discussing fuel costs, reducing GHG emissions, and supporting domestic fuel. Held at 170 Sweeten Creek Road. Registration required. Time is 9:30 AM to 1 PM. Contact bill@landofsky.org or 251-6622 for more information.

11/21/13 RIVERLINK BUS TOUR
A Riverlink bus tour of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers will start at 11:45 AM and go to 2 PM. Meeting place is Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. More info at riverlink.org or 252-8474.

11/21/13 UNCA PANEL DISCUSSION
Panel discussion on copy-right and digital media will be held at the Ramsey Library, Whitman Room, at UNCA. Time is 12:30 PM. Free.

11/21/13 CHILDREN FIRST/CIS MIND THE GAP TOUR
The Children First/CIS Mind the Gap Tour will call attention to issues that hinder the success of children and families in poverty. Donations not requested. Info and registration with AdrienneA@children-firstbc.org or 259-9717.

11/21/13 WNC GREEN CONGREGATIONS THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION
On Nov. 21, our friends and partners at WNC Green Congregations will celebrate and share gratitude for Richard Fireman, its co-founder and a longtime supporter of faith-inspired environmental efforts in Western North Carolina. After many years of courageous efforts to protect our mountains and the planet (and all who depend on it), Richard is celebrating his 70th birthday by taking a sabbatical. While he will no longer serve as WNCGC’s co-coordinator, he will stay engaged as a friend and adviser. Make sure to come out on Nov. 21 and give him a big thank you hug! This gathering will also be a time of celebration and gratitude for the amazing support and grace on WNCGC’s efforts over the past year and a half, as well as a chance to look ahead to 2014. Even if you have yet to make one of WNCGC’s meetings and events before, you’re encouraged to join this celebration. For more information (including the time and place), email AnnaJane@WNCA.org.

11/21/13 THEATRE UNCA PRESENTS ‘COLUMBINUS’
Theatre UNCA, UNC Asheville’s student theater company, presents “Columbinus,” written by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli, directed by Rob Bowen, associate professor of drama. The play examines the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. A discussion will follow each performance. This play will be preformed from 11/21/13 to 11/24/13. 7:30 PM on Thurs.-Sat. and 2 PM on Sunday. Location is UNC Asheville’s Carol Belk Theatre. Info at 828/232-6610.

11/22/13 to 11/24/13 SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS WATCH CONVERGENCE ON FORT BENNING

11/22/13 SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM AT UU CHURCH
The November 22nd film will be the award-winning film "Chasing Ice".  The time is 7 PM and the location is Unitarian Universalist church at Edwin and Charlotte Street in Asheville. In the spring of 2005, acclaimed environmental photographer James Balog headed to the Arctic on a tricky assignment for National Geographic: to capture images to help tell the story of the Earth’s changing climate. Even with a scientific upbringing, Balog had been a skeptic about climate change. But that first trip north opened his eyes to the biggest story in human history and sparked a challenge within him that would put his career and his very well-being at risk. Donations accepted, open to the public.

11/22/13 HONORING THE STORIES OF ILLNESS
Observing the 20th anniversary of the film “Philadelphia” and building the narrative medicine practice in WNC, in collaboration of the Columbia University Program in Narrative Medicine. The film will be screened at 7 PM in the second floor conference room at Lenoir-Rhyne University Asheville Campus at 36 Montford Avenue in Asheville. There will be a discussion following the screening. The following day, there will be a Narrative Training Workshop from 10 AM to 4 PM in Room 315 of the same building.

11/22/13 WESTERN CAROLINIANS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
There will be a meeting at 3:15 at the Media Center at Brooks-Howell House on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Contact Bill at hras@humanrightsaction.net for more information.

11/22/13 COURTYARD GALLERY FILM SERIES
Film will be “Forbidden Games” and is a French film by Rene Clement. A young French girl orphaned in a Nazi air attack is befriended by the son of a poor farmer, and together they try to come to terms with the realities of death. Location is the Courtyard gallery at the Phil Mechanic Studio on Roberts Street in Asheville. Time is 8 PM. Free, donations accepted.

11/23/13 KXL PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE TRAINING
Local organizers are planning trainings for the Pledge on November 23 and December 14. These will take place at the Asheville Friends Meeting House (Quakers) at 227 Edgewood Rd in Asheville (between Merrimon and UNCA). Time will be 9 AM to 1 PM. This is organized by 350 Asheville, the Rainforest Action Network, and CREDO Action. This is the Pledge: If President Obama succumbs to industry pressure and reneges on his promise to green light the Keystone XL only if it does not contribute to global warming (spoiler alert: it does), then citizens will take action to hold him to his word by occupying Federal Buildings and other key locations in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience. Info on the Pledge at:  http://act.credoaction.com/sign/kxl_pledge. For more information on the trainings or to register for them, please contact Debbie dgenz@skyrunner.net or call 828-216-2018.

11/25/13 NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH FILM SERIES
Native American Heritage Month Film Series - We Shall Remain: Wounded Knee. Time is 7 PM and location is the Grotto on the first floor of Highsmith Union at UNCA. This is part of the Native American Heritage Month at UNCA.

11/25/13 ASHEVILLE EARTH SABBATH CELEBRATION
The Earth Sabbath Celebrations are contemplative and experiential services which utilize community building exercises, readings from many faith traditions, music, video, ritual, movement, chant, guided meditation and other modalities to reach deep into the grief and love we feel for our Earth and help both salve and energize our spirits so we can continue the work of restoration and repair of and with the Creator and creation. Time is 7 PM and location is St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Asheville. Free.

11/28/13 THANKSGIVING DINNER TO BENEFIT ROOM IN THE INN
Looking for Thanksgiving plans?  Enjoy a free Thanksgiving meal at FIG Bistro in Biltmore Village from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.  Diners will be encouraged to donate to the FIG Fund, with all donations benefiting our Room in the Inn program!  Reservations are required and can be made by visiting www.figbistro.com.     

11/29/13 PROTEST SODASTREAM ACTION
Western Carolinians for Peace & Justice in the Middle East will hold a protest in front of Bed Bath & Beyond store on South Tunnel Road in Asheville. Time is noon to 1 PM. Contact Bill at hras@humanrightsaction.net for more information. All are welcome.

12/02/13 STORIES THAT BEND TOWARD JUSTICE AND PEACE
This Middle East Film Series runs from November 4 thru December 5, with showings in Back Mountain and Asheville. Time is 7 PM. Films sponsored by Western Carolinians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East. Free and open to the public. Today’s film will be “The Other Son” and will be shown at Black Mountain Library. Accidentally switched at birth, an Israeli soldier and West Bank Palestinian discover their real identities. This discovery sends their families reeling. For more information, contact Bill at 314-374-7446.

12/03/13 WATER SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE PRESENTATION
Transition Asheville and WaterLinks, PLLC, are presenting the Water Sustainability Initiative of WNC to encourage residents to address problems from both flood and drought conditions using available, cheap, and easy-to-apply methods for managing rain water.  Come by to learn more about what you can do to help mitigate these water concerns. Time is 6:30 PM to 8 PM and location is West Asheville Library.

12/05/13 JUST ECONOMICS 2013 ANNUAL CELEBRATION
Join us for our 2013 Annual Celebration featuring a unique performance titled Asheville's Got Talent starring JE members, special guest performers, and local celebrities. Our Annual Celebration will also include free music from Pleasure Chest, food, beer, and fun. Purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win great prizes and support our work. The event is free and a time to celebrate the work we all did in 2013 to build a more just and sustainable local economy. Time is 6 PM to 9 PM. This will be held at Jubilee, on Wall Street in Asheville.

12/03/13 WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL PRESENTS ‘AFRICA – A HOPEFUL CONTINENT’
Come to the Reuter Center for these fascinating lectures and panel discussions that aim to advance international awareness and foster Western North Carolina's global ties. OLLI members receive a discount on WAC annual membership fee. Non-members may attend individual lectures for a fee of $10/per lecture. Full-time students are admitted free of charge. Time is 7:30 PM to 9 PM and location is Reuter Center at UNCA.

12/04/13 SIERRA CLUB MEETING AND HOLIDAY PARTY
Time is 7 PM (program starts at 7:15) at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville (corner of Charlotte & Edwin). Contact: judymattox@sbcglobal.net, or 828-683-2176 for more information.

12/05/13 STORIES THAT BEND TOWARD JUSTICE AND PEACE
This Middle East Film Series runs from November 4 thru December 5, with showings in Back Mountain and Asheville. Time is 7 PM. Films sponsored by Western Carolinians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East. Free and open to the public. Today’s film will be “The Other Son” and will be shown in Asheville at the Brooks-Howell Home on Merrimon Avenue. Accidentally switched at birth, an Israeli soldier and West Bank Palestinian discover their real identities. This discovery sends their families reeling. For more information, contact Bill at 314-374-7446.

12/6/13 - RECONCILIATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Director of Musalaha, Dr. Salim Munayer, will be visiting the United States to speak about his organization and their efforts towards peacemaking and reconciliation in the West Bank, Israel and beyond. Musalaha (Arabic for 'Reconciliation') is a non-profit organization in Bethlehem that seeks to promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. For more info about Salim and his organization, visit: www.musalaha.org. This is a FREE event, donations to support the organization are encouraged. 6 PM. It will be held at the Haywood St. Methodist Church (297 Haywood Street, corner of Patton and Clingman Ave.)

12/06/13 WNC ALLIANCE BLUE RIDGE BIOFUELS TOUR
Join WNCA and Blue Ridge Biofuels for a tour of their facility and an opportunity to learn more about the process used to create biodiesel. Time is 4 PM and location is 109 Roberts Street in Asheville. RSVP to Isabelle at isabelle@wnca.org or 828-258-8737 ext 201.

12/07/13 PROTEST SODASTREAM ACTION
Western Carolinians for Peace & Justice in the Middle East will hold a protest at Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. Time is noon to 1 PM. Contact Bill at hras@humanrightsaction.net for more information. All are welcome.

12/08/13 PAN HARMONIA BENEFIT CONCERT
Join us on December 8th at 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church downtown for a special holiday performance by Pan Harmonia of the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah. The suggested donation of $25 will benefit Pan Harmonia, an independent artist collective, and our work to end homelessness.

12/12/13 SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM AT FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The film will be “The Next American Revolution” and will be shown at 6:30 PM. Location is the First Congregational UCC Church at 20 Oak Street in Asheville. In the manner of TED talks, Gar Alperovitz describes the economic system, already taking form, that will follow corporate capitalism and state socialism. Informative and optimistic in outlook, he shares some American economic structures, mostly local, that are part of our national history and currently in place but overlooked by corporate media. This will be a first showing, with others to follow early next year.

12/14/13 KXL PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE TRAINING
Local organizers are planning trainings for the Pledge on November 23 and December 14. These will take place at the Asheville Friends Meeting House (Quakers) at 227 Edgewood Rd in Asheville (between Merrimon and UNCA). Time will be 9 AM to 1 PM. This is organized by 350 Asheville, the Rainforest Action Network, and CREDO Action. This is the Pledge: If President Obama succumbs to industry pressure and reneges on his promise to green light the Keystone XL only if it does not contribute to global warming (spoiler alert: it does), then citizens will take action to hold him to his word by occupying Federal Buildings and other key locations in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience. Info on the Pledge:  http://act.credoaction.com/sign/kxl_pledge. For more information on the trainings or to register for them, please contact Debbie dgenz@skyrunner.net or call 828-216-2018.

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ONGOING EVENTS
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TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 4:30 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument

WEDNESDAY
Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville

THURSDAY
Asheville Homeless Network meeting at 2 PM at Firestorm Cafe

FRIDAY
Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville
Women in Black have a monthly vigil at 5 PM at Vance Monument in Asheville (first Friday only)

SATURDAY
Transylvanians for Peace and WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility have a weekly vigil at noon in front of the courthouse in Brevard
Third Saturdays – Asheville’s Green Grannies invites the public to “sing for the climate” at Vance Monument.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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Forever Free: The Slave Deeds of Buncombe County

October - December 31, YMI Cultural Center, 43 Market St.

This exhibit has traveled from the Register of Deeds to Pack Memorial Library and is now at the YMI.  Included in the exhibit are original books from both the register of deeds and the clerk of court who detail the sale and inheritance of enslaved people prior to 1865. These resources are also available on line for student primary source document research. To learn more visit this website.

Cohabitation Records of Buncombe County  
Now ONLINE
Following the Civil War, African American people who had lived as married people during slavery, though were not allowed to marry, were encouraged to go to the Register of Deeds and record the years that they had been as a married couple. These were called Cohabitation Records. Two months ago Drew Resinger began the work to have these records, now in the archive in Raleigh, digitized so that they could be brought back and made assessable to Buncombe County residents.

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WOMEN AT RISK HOLIDAY PARTY

Women At Risk Needs Your Help! The annual holiday party for Women At Risk clients will be December 11th, and to make gift bags for the women, staff are seeking donations of gloves, hats, scarves, chapstick, nail polish, lotion, soap, or feminine products.  Donation dropoff can be coordinated through Betsy Burnett, a Women At Risk case manager, at betsy@homewardboundwnc.org.  

Cut the Risk
It's planning time for the annual fundraiser for Women At Risk!  Cut the Risk is a community-wide event that happens each Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, where salons, spas, and other personal service providers donate their services and all proceeds from the day support the Women At Risk program.  If you're connected with folks who might be interested in participating, please contact Beth Russo at beth@homewardboundwnc.org to make this benefit a success!

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FROM CHILDREN FIRST/CIS

We've got a new accountability tool for tracking WNC legislators' votes - www.wncvotetracker.org. Visit this infomative website to learn how legislators voted in the most recent session on issues related to: Economic Security, Education, Environment, Health & Safety, Government & Democracy, and Women's Issues. The site also provides an overview of the budget and tax bills.

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USFS: Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Plan Revision open houses scheduled

To make up for the Oct. 5 workshop that was cancelled by the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Forest Service has scheduled a series of “Need-For-Change” drop-in open houses at six locations. The events will be from 4-7 PM on the following dates. Members of the public are invited to drop in at any time between 4 and 7 p.m.

Marion Open House (Nov. 18):
McDowell Technical Community College
William Harold Smith Building (#19); Room 113
54 College Drive, Marion, NC 28752

Brevard Open House (Nov. 19):
Transylvania County Library
212 South Gaston Street
Brevard, NC 28712

Murphy Open House (Dec. 3):
Tri-County Community College, Enlowe Multi-Purpose Room
21 Campus Circle; Intersection of  US-141 and US-64
Murphy, NC 28906

Mars Hill Open House (Dec. 3):
Appalachian Ranger District Office
632 Manor Road
Mars Hill, NC 28754

Robbinsville Open House (Dec. 5):
Graham County Community Center
196 Knight Street
Robbinsville, NC 28771

Franklin Open House (Dec. 17):
Nantahala Ranger District
90 Sloan Road
Franklin, NC 28734

At the open houses, attendees will have the opportunity to submit written ideas for how the 1987 plan needs to be changed. U.S. Forest Service specialists will be on hand to assist, answer questions and listen to concerns. Sample “Need-for-Change” statements were shared with the public in September and are available online HERE. For a paper copy, please call Heather Luczak at 828-257-4817. The sample also explains how you can share ideas via U.S. mail if you are not able to attend an in-person meeting.

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From the Highlander Center:

In 1979, Sandi Smith was 22 years old and a nursing student at Bennett College, where she was student body president. She was also working at Cone Mills textile plant in Greensboro, NC, where she was unionizing fellow workers and battling sexual harassment, low wages, and unhealthy working conditions. On November 3 of that year, Sandi and 4 other organizers--César Cauce, Mike Nathan, Bill Sampson, and Jim Waller--were murdered by the KKK and Nazis during an anti-Klan rally. Sandi was helping children hide on the porch of the community center when she was shot and killed.

In the memory of the organizers and to carry on their legacy and work, Highlander is honored to announce that it is now accepting applications for the next class of Greensboro Justice Fund Fellows. Through a generous gift from the Greensboro Justice Fund, Highlander is able to train 5 organizers, one for each of those killed, in a yearlong fellowship of thinking, learning, and acting.

Applications are due by Monday, December 9. For more information about the fellowship and how to apply, please visit: http://highlandercenter.org/now-accepting-applications-third-class-greensboro-justice-fund-fellowship-deadline-dec-9-2013/

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