UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER
09/19/16 to 09/23/16 PEACE DISPLAY AT UNCA
“A Peace of My Mind” displays in Highsmith Union, Student Recreation Center, and Brown Hall on these dates. Contact Rachel at rbrelsfo@unca.edu for more information.
09/19/16 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE BOOK STUDY
Join the Creation Care Alliance’s Chas Jansen reading the Pope’s Encyclical Laudato Si’ -- On Care for Our Common Home, one chapter at a time with discussion questions available in advance. Six Monday evening classes will focus on climate science, creation gospel, humanity’s role, “Integral Ecology,” policy directions, and changing within. Starting 9/19 at Jubilee! from 6 to 7:15 PM. In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis asks, “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” Moving beyond scientific consensus on climate change, Pope Francis invites us to recognize “the rich contribution which the religions can make towards an integral ecology and the full development of humanity.” Despite disturbing ecological news, daunting challenges presented today by technology and excessive self-centeredness, as well as growing injustices visited upon the poor analyzed in this encyclical, Francis nevertheless threads a heartening message of hope through the entire document. This will be at Jubilee Community Church in downtown Asheville. Contact creationcare@mountaintrue.org for more information.
09/19/16 LECTURE AT UNCA
Islamic Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Collections, Interpretations, Presentations. In 2011 The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York opened its newly renovated galleries for the art of the Islamic world. The updated spaces present the rich collections in reference to new scholarship in the field. They also offer an interpretive approach that addresses the challenges of presenting the artistic heritage of Islam in post-911 New York. The talk will present the galleries, explain their philosophical approach and share perspectives on the works of art in the museum's important collection. Time is 7 PM and location is the Carmichael Humanities Lecture Hall at UNCA.
09/20/16 WHAT’S UP WITH WHITENESS?
This is an event by Asheville Standing Up For Racial Justice group. This is an event focused on dismantling white supremacy. This event is called “Accountability Through Action” and each month we will learn about a people of color led effort in Asheville, ways to support that work and take up a collection to help fund it. Join Asheville SURJ for month where we learn about a people of color led effort in Asheville, ways to support that work, and take up a collection to help fund it. This month we welcome Tami Forte Logan of the Center for Participatory Change to share with us the work of CPC and ways to support it. Potluck is at 6:30 PM, program at 7 PM. Location is Kairos Community Center in West Asheville. No contact information.
09/20/16 THE INDUSTRIAL R(E)VOLUTION: HOW A CRADLE TO CRADLE PROCESS FOSTERS SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH
This is a Krull & Company lecture series. You're invited to join us for a special evening with Lewis Perkins, President of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, as we discuss how we can create products that make noticeable differences in our communities. This one-time event will include a talk by our guest and a question and answer session. Doors open at 5:30 PM, with light refreshments available, and the talk starts at 6 PM. Location is The Collider at 1 Haywood Street, Suite 401 in Asheville. No cost, for individuals and businesses. Contact Kerry Keihn at kkeihn@krullandcompany.com for more information and to register.
09/20/16 TRANSIT COMMITTEE MEETING IN ASHEVILLE
This will happen at 3:30 PM and location is the 4th floor Police/Fire Training Room at the Municipal Building at 100 Court Plaza in Asheville. Call the City of Asheville for more information.
09/20/16 REPORT ON THE STANDING ROCK PROTEST AT UNCA
“Three Days in Sacred Stone Camp: DAPL & the Standing Rock Sioux” is the title of a panel discussion. This is part of UNC Asheville Native American Speaker & Performance Series. Gilliam Jackson (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), Trey Adcock, Ph.D.(Cherokee Nation) and Juan Sanchez Martinez, Ph.D. (Colombia) traveled to North Dakota to deliver supplies for the Sacred Stone Camp at the junction of the Cannonball and Missouri Rivers on the weekend of September 2-3-4. They will share their perspectives, photos, and video clips on Tuesday, September 20th, 2016 at 12-1 PM in Alumni Hall on the campus of UNC Asheville. They will share video clips of interviews with Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault, Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Tim Mintz, Standing Rock Youth Council member Gracey Claymore and many others. They welcome comments and questions from the public and the community, including EBCI members who have visited the encampment. The Standing Rock Sioux are protecting the waters of the Missouri River as well as their sacred sites from the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). More than one hundred tribes have committed their support. Gilliam Jackson is a fluent speaker of the Cherokee language who grew up in the Snowbird Community; he is also teaching Cherokee language as Adjunct Professor at University of North Carolina at Asheville. Trey Adcock, Ph.D. is the Director of American Indian Outreach and an Assistant Professor at UNC-A. They were joined on their trip by Juan Sanchez Martinez PhD, Assistant Professor of Spanish, who has worked on issues of water protection with indigenous people in North and South America. Time is 12 to 1 PM and location is Alumni Hall in Highsmith Student Union at UNCA.
09/20/16 BUNCOMBE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING - PROTECT BIG IVY
On September 20, the Buncombe County Commissioners will vote on a resolution supporting expanded wilderness for the Big Ivy area of the Pisgah National Forest. If passed, it will support the first and only wilderness in Buncombe County. The wilderness recommendation will not affect the trail network and will not change any current uses of Big Ivy. Mountain biking, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing will all continue to be allowed. The wilderness boundaries have been carefully drawn so that all mountain bike trails are outside the recommended area. No roads or trails will be closed to anyone. The wilderness recommendation will simply prohibit logging and development in trail-less, high-elevation areas of Big Ivy where most of the old-growth forests are located. Wilderness designation will best protect historical uses like hunting, fishing, camping and swimming and the unique ecological features of this special place. We want to keep Big Ivy just the way it is – wild, scenic, adventurous, and uncut. Please join us on September 20 at 4:30 PM at the County Commissioners meeting in downtown Asheville (200 College Street, Suite 326) and tell the Buncombe County Commissioners you support wilderness in Big Ivy. We need a big crowd and a lot of voices willing to speak on behalf of Big Ivy. If you can't make it to the meeting, send a note of support for Big Ivy wilderness to your Buncombe County Commissioners:
David Gantt: commissioner@davidgantt.com
Brownie Newman: brownie.newman@buncombecounty.org
Mike Fryar: mike.fryar@buncombecounty.org
Ellen Frost: ellen.frost@buncombecouny.org
Tim Moffitt: timothy.moffitt@buncombecounty.org
Holly Jones: holly.jones@buncombecounty.org
09/20/16 BUNCOMBE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING - PEACE DECLARATION
At 4:30 PM, the Commissioners will read the Proclamation of Peace.
09/20/16 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome. Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
09/20/16 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MEETING IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY
We are a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. This will be a Board Meeting, which happens every month on the third Tuesday. Time is 6 to 7:30 PM and location is Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore Village.
09/20/16 VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING IN ASHEVILLE
Join us on September 20th for a non-partisan voter registration training at the YWCA of Asheville (Multipurpose Room) at 182 S French Broad Avenue in Asheville. Time is 6 PM. Please RSVP to let us know if you can attend. To find out how to RSVP, contact Edward at Edward@democracy-nc.org.
09/21/16 GREEN GRANNIES BOOK CLUB
Founded in 2012, the Green Grannies are a group of women who are willing to make a ruckus about the need for action on climate change. This is their reading group and it is open to all. Time is 12 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
09/21/16 DOCUMENTARY AT UNCA
The “Inside Peace” documentary follows a group of inmates doing hard time in a Texas prison as they embark on a journey of personal discovery while struggling with society’s roadblocks and dangers as they prepare to re-enter a world that has labeled them as permanent problems despite having served their sentences. Time is 8 PM and location is the Grotto in Highsmith Student Union at UNCA. Celebrate the International Day of Peace with exhibits and various activities throughout campus to promote the idea of peace regardless of individual beliefs. Free.
09/21/16 PLAY AT NC STAGE - GROUNDED
When a hotshot air-force pilot throws up on the tarmac after a flight, she realizes that she’s pregnant. After her daughter is born, she returns to the military but is told that she is no longer needed on her fighter jet. Instead, she will report to duty at Creech Air Force Base in the Nevada desert. She will be at the forefront of the latest advances in aerial combat as the operator of an Unmanned Ariel Vehicle, A Reaper, a Drone. She will smite the enemy by day and return to her family at night. And she will be challenged and changed in ways she never dreamed possible while looking out into the endless blue. The play is called “Grounded” and is written by George Brant. This play runs until October 9, 2016. More information and tickets can be obtained at 828.239.0263 and the NC Stage Box Office.
09/21/16 WHAT’S UP WITH WHITENESS? - CANCELED
This is an event by Asheville Standing Up For Racial Justice group. This is an event focused on dismantling white supremacy. This event is called “Accountability Through Action” and each month we will learn about a people of color led effort in Asheville, ways to support that work and take up a collection to help fund it. Potluck is at 6:30 PM, program at 7 PM. Location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. This has been moved to 9/20/16 and a different location.
09/21/16 REBUILDING AFFRILACHIA - PEARSON PLAN WORKSHOP
DeWayne Barton will be offering a Pearson Plan Workshop on September 21, October 19, November 16 from 5 to 6 pm at the Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton Street, in Asheville. Learn more about this plan for Rebuilding Affrilachia and how you can be a part of it. There is no charge for the workshop, though contributions to support the Pearson Plan will be accepted. If you'd like to be part of this, please join him; there is no pre-registration necessary. Questions? Email info@hoodhuggers.com.
09/21/16 GREEN DRINKS MEETUP
Sustainability and Social Justice Meet-up at The Block Off Biltmore at 5:30 PM. Come early for community connections and green drink specials. Presentation starts at 6 PM. This came from their MeetUp page, no further information. (Mountain Express lists them as meeting at Lenoir Rhyne Center for Graduate Studies at 7 PM. Who knows what is up with these folks? - dancewater)
09/21/16 ASHEVILLE SOCIALIST MEETING AT UNCA
This Wednesday, the Asheville socialists will meet from 6:30 to 8 PM in Highsmith Student Union room 102 (near the game room). There is visitor parking near HSU and students, campus workers, faculty, and community members are welcome as always.
09/22/16 SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM AT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST IN BLACK MOUNTAIN
The Social Action Committee's September film is Brave New Films “Making A Killing: Guns, Greed and the NRA.” The film tells the stories of how guns, and the billions made off of them, affect the lives of everyday Americans. It features personal stories from people across the country who have been affected by gun violence, including survivors and victims' families. The film exposes how the powerful gun companies and the NRA are resisting responsible legislation for the sake of profit - and thereby putting people in danger. The film looks into gun tragedies that include unintentional shootings, domestic violence, suicides, mass shootings and trafficking - and what we can do to put an end to this profit-driven crisis. Rebecca Williams will lead a post-film discussion. Time is 7 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation Swannanoa Valley at 500 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Contact Suzanne at 828-581-0564 for more information.
09/22/16 HOMEWARD BOUND’S NEW DONATION CENTER
Homeward Bound is a local nonprofit to end homelessness in Western North Carolina, having moved nearly 1,500 people into homes since 2006. Coming up they’re having a ribbon cutting and open house for their new donation center. Their donation center collects gently used furniture and household items from the public, then use those goods to furnish the new homes of their clients. Come help them celebrate this addition to their services. Time is 4 to 6:30 PM and location is 549 Elk Park Drive, Unit 708. Also, if you have any gently used furniture, to donate, you can bring it to the donation center, again at 549 Elk Park Drive, Unit 708. For more information about Homeward Bound, give them a call at 828.258.1695.
09/22/16 WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR OUR POLITICAL PARTIES?
On September 22nd at The Weinhaus, representatives of the Libertarian and Green parties along with non-partisan grassroots movements will participate in a panel forum discussion on the topic of the relevance of third parties titled “America at the Crossroads: What does the future hold for our political parties?” featuring local Asheville city councilman and former Democrat, Cecil Bothwell, former city councilman and Republican, Carl Mumpower, Libertarian candidate for NC Senate in District 49, William Meredith, NC Green Party Volunteer Coordinator, Tony Ngege, and more. Among the many problems voters face when seeking fair representation, we draw attention to these prominent issues: ballot access and zero representation. Time is 7 PM. Location is The Weinhaus at 86 Patton Avenue in Asheville. For more information, contact Nate at chair@buncombe.lpnc.org or (313) 694-9240. Join us for this free event and bring questions with you as we will open the discussion to the audience for a Q&A session! While we are not charging admission for the event, Weinhaus is kind enough to host our event for free so please support them with a purchase.
09/22/16 LECTURE AT UNCA
A Cultural Genocide: ISIS and the destruction of Cultural Heritage in the Middle East. This lecture examines the destructive acts against cultural heritage sites in the Middle East committed by ISIS since 2014 in the light of radical ideologies rooted in the puritan Salafi interpretation of Islam.This event is part of the Islamic Art week, featuring the exhibit: Ravaging the Past: Radicalism, Civil Wars, and the Destruction of World Heritage in the Middle East and Beyond, Ramsey Library Foyer, on display Monday Sept. 19-30. This event is free and open to the public. Time is 7 PM and location is Carmichael Humanities Lecture Hall at UNCA.
09/22/16 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS EVENT IN HENDERSONVILLE
A candidate forum for state offices will be held at 6 PM. This will include NC Senate District 48,NC House District 113, NC House District 117. This will be held at the City Operations Building at 305 Williams Street in Hendersonville.
09/22/16 AUTHOR EVENT AT UNCA
Ben Fountain's satiric novel, “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk”, set in Texas during the war in Iraq, won the National Book Critics Award and was a National Book Award finalist. The book was called “the Catch-22 of the Iraq war” by novelist and Marine Corps veteran Karl Marlantes. A movie based on Fountain’s novel and directed by Oscar-winner Ang Lee will be released in November. Free and open to the public. No tickets required. Time is 7 PM and location is the Manheimer Room at the Reuter Center at UNCA.
09/23/16 ANTI-RACISM ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP AT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST IN ASHEVILLE
A weekly group focused on Standing Up For Racial Justice core values for people beginning to wake up to the impact of white supremacy on our culture and seeking a safe place to begin to talk about it. Time is 10 AM and location is 23 Edwin Place, next to Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.
09/23/16 LECTURE AT UNCA
The 2016 Election and The Future of Our Country. Speakers will be George Peery, Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Mars Hill University and World Affairs Council Member, Asheley Moraguez, Assistant Professor of Political Science at UNC Asheville, and Asheville Citizen-Times political reporters Mark Barrett and Joel Burgess. Dr. Peery and Dr. Moraguez will focus on the national election, which is unique relative to past races. Mr. Barrett and Mr. Burgess will focus on North Carolina and local elections. This is an opportunity to learn more about why candidate rhetoric has become so divisive and what the predicted outcomes will be this year. What is the future for the major political parties? What are the prospects for governing in the future of the United States? This matters to anyone who cares about what our country, our state, and our community will become. Time is 11:30 AM and location is the Manheimer Room at Reuter Center at UNCA. Free and open to the public. Purchase lunch in our Reuter Café or bring your own brown bag.
09/24/16 WNC 4 PEACE ART CONTEST AND OTHER EVENTS
A celebration of the International Day of Peace. WNC 4 Peace has held an art contest for school children this summer, and the winners of which will be announced Saturday, September 24, along with annual Peace Makers of the Year awards for local activists, at 2 PM at the Center for Art and Spirit at St. George, located at 1 School Road in Asheville. From 10 AM to 2 PM, come and make Peace Rocks, Peace Collages, Peace Flags and Pinwheels for Peace. Veterans for Peace will have an open house at their office during this time, and Christians for a United Community will have a staffed information booth. Dances of Universal Peace will be at 3 PM. Contact Rachael at 828-378-0125 or rachael_bliss@yahoo.com for more information.
09/24/16 MOUNTAIN TRUE EVENT
Join volunteers for the first ever Pisgah Pride Day! Volunteers will be working with The Pisgah Conservancy and the Forest Service to complete projects all over Pisgah National Forest as a part of National Public Lands Day. Follow the link to sign up and for more information on this fun volunteer opportunity! Time is 8 AM to 2 PM. Contact Mary Kate Dodge at 828-258-8737 or marykate@mountaintrue.org for more information or to register.
09/25/16 ACLU BANNED BOOKS READING
The ACLU has historically championed free speech and academic freedom. The issue of book-banning crops up regularly all over the country, and this year the Western North Carolina chapter of the ACLU of NC will bring attention to it by hosting an afternoon at Malaprop’s, where area writers, artists, musicians and booksellers will read passages from banned books both notable and lesser-known. Please join us as we discuss the issue of freedom of speech and the freedom to read. Time is 3 PM. Call Malaprops for more information.
09/25/16 PEACE VIGIL RETURNS TO ALL SOULS
The Vigil Returns - Beginning Sunday, August 21, at 5 PM, the Vigil for Peace on the All Souls Cathedral grounds in Biltmore Village, will resume and continue weekly until the Nov 8 election. Sponsored by the Episcopal Peace Fellowship of WNC, it is a way of asking people to make special intercessions in their prayer and life for peace and justice in our American culture. The tone of the current political campaign makes it obvious that we are neglecting our Baptismal vows to respect the dignity of every human being. This is a call to pray with actions as well as words. We invite you to join us each Sunday for our thirty minute Vigil.
09/26/16 AUTHORS FOR ACTION COLORING EVENT with MAKEDA LEWIS
Atlanta artist Makeda Lewis joins us for this unique event, when our Authors for Action series meets the adult coloring book. Makeda’s powerful new release “Avie’s Dreams: An Afro-Feminist Coloring Book” is part coloring book and part surrealist poem about protagonist Avie’s self-discovery and embrace of her identity as a young black girl. Filled with striking illustrations, it touches on themes of “feminism, death and rebirth, Afrocentricity, gender issues and power dynamics.” Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprops in downtown Asheville. Call Malaprops for more information.
09/26/16 LECTURE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH
Dr. Alan Lockwood will talk about the findings in his current book, “Heat Advisory.” He will discuss the health effects that we face from climate change, along with a prescription for preventing them. Dr. Lockwood is Emeritus Professor of Neurology and Nuclear Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo and author of “The Silent Epidemic: Coal and the Hidden Threat to Health.” This starts at 5:15 PM with hor d’oeuvres and the presentation is at 6 PM. Location is the Collider at 1 Haywood Street, Suite 1, in downtown Asheville. Sponsor and host is The Collider. Co-sponsors are Western NC Chapter Physicians for Social Responsibility (WNCPSR) and Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC). Access to the building: for this event is through the glass door facing Patton Avenue, a couple of steps around the corner from the ATM machine. There will be someone there to let in attendees from 5 PM to just after 6 PM. This event is free and open to the public. Contact Dot Sulock at dsulock@unca.edu for more information.
09/26/16 CITY OF ASHEVILLE TRANSIT MEETING
The City of Asheville is considering updates to the ART bus system. During the budget process, the Asheville City Council approved additional funding for Route S3 and for expanding evening service hours on some routes. Staff are currently reviewing options and coordinating with community groups to identify optimal scenarios for expanded hours. In addition, staff is also reviewing other minor changes to Routes S2 and 170 to improve the effectiveness of the transit system. Public feedback regarding proposed changes is encouraged. Once approved, final changes will take place in January of 2017. A public meeting will be held on Monday, September, 26th from 4 – 6PM at the Pack Memorial Library in downtown Asheville, located at 67 Haywood Street. There is also an online survey you can take, contact the city for more information. The survey will be available September 9-23.
09/26/16 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS EVENT IN HENDERSONVILLE
This will be a nonpartisan candidate Meet & Greet for Henderson County Commissioners Districts 2 & 5 and NC District Court Judge District 29B. Location is the Carolina Village at 600 Carolina Village Road in Hendersonville. Time is 6:30 PM.
09/26/16 PORTRAITURE AS A CATALYST FOR DIALOGUE
“Visualizing Human Rights: Portraiture as a Catalyst for Dialogue” will be presented on Monday, September 26 at 4 PM in the Laurel Forum at UNC-Asheville by UNC-Asheville graduate Ben Betsalel. Ben is a remarkable artist whose work focuses on art in the transitional justice process. Benjamin M. Betsalel is a 2004 UNCA graduate (BA drawing and painting, university research scholar). Since graduation, he has lived and worked in Senegal, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and Colombia exploring the effects of conflict and change through portraiture and writing. He has lectured on portraiture in Mekelle, Ethiopia and has conducted self-portrait workshops inside prisons across Colombia. In 2014 Betsalel began collaborating with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), creating portrait vignettes on the themes of Missing (Ever Present, Ever Absent, 2014) and Detention (Human Beings, Inside and Outside, 2015). Each series was exhibited in conjunction with ICRC awareness campaigns and media/stakeholder events. From 2006-2012, Betsalel worked out of the Wedge Gallery in the River Arts District and has exhibited in the USA, Europe and South America and is currently based in Paris, France. Sponsored by the Political Science Department, the Political Science Club, the UNC Asheville Chapter of the ACLU, and the Belk Distinguished Professor in the Humanities.
09/27/16 NAACP VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE
The NAACP activities engage public and public policy. The Asheville-Buncombe Branch NAACP, in coalition with Democracy NC, will continue its voter education and engagement campaign, “It’s Our Time, It’s Our Vote.” Voter registration training and/or registration drives are scheduled for several upcoming dates: Sept. 27 at A-B Tech, UNCA, Warren Wilson College, Mars Hills College, local high schools throughout the county; and Oct. 1 at Hill Street Baptist Church and Blue Ridge Pride Festival. To volunteer, or for more information, contact Darlene Azarmi, Political Action Chair, at darlene@democracy-nc.org or (828) 216-3430.
09/27/16 OCCUPY WNC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Occupy WNC General Assembly will be at 7 PM at The Sneak E Squirrel Community Room at 1315 W Main Street in Sylva. The Sneak E Squirrel is located on the left side of Main Street as you are leaving Sylva headed towards Dillsboro -- past Watson Park. For more information, contact Lucy at lucy.christopher42@gmail.com.
09/27/16 LECTURE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH
Dr. Alan Lockwood will talk about the findings in his current book, Heat Advisory. He will discuss the health effects that we face from climate change, along with a prescription for preventing them. Dr. Lockwood is Emeritus Professor of Neurology and Nuclear Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo and author of “The Silent Epidemic: Coal and the Hidden Threat to Health.” This is at Warren Wilson College, time not listed. Contact Dot Sulock at dsulock@unca.edu for more information.
09/27/16 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome. Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
09/27/16 NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY AT AB TECH
Do you know the new rules for voting? Have you registered to vote? Check out the voter registration table in Coman Student Center Lounge at A B Tech to register and be better informed. Time is 9 AM to noon.
09/27/16 NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION AT BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS
The Buncombe County Voter Engagement Coalition is working with Buncombe County Schools and the Board of Elections to sponsor National Voter Registration Week at all of our high schools. We will need a lot of trained volunteers to assist with this project. We will need volunteers between 8 AM and 3 PM from Monday 9/26-Friday 9/30. If you have specific questions or would like to sign up to help, you can email them to: Darlene@democracy-nc.org. Please include “HS Registration” in the subject.
09/28/16 LECTURE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH IN SYLVA
Dr. Alan Lockwood will talk about the findings in his current book, Heat Advisory. He will discuss the health effects that we face from climate change, along with a prescription for preventing them. Dr. Lockwood is Emeritus Professor of Neurology and Nuclear Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo and author of “The Silent Epidemic: Coal and the Hidden Threat to Health.” This is at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva in the evening. Contact Dot Sulock at dsulock@unca.edu for more information.
09/28/16 WHAT’S UP WITH WHITENESS?
This is an event by Asheville Standing Up For Racial Justice group. This is an event focused on dismantling white supremacy. This is a monthly discussion group on the book “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander. This group continues on October 26, November 23, December 28, and January 25. Anyone is welcome to jump in anytime. Time is 6:30 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
09/28/16 RIVER CLEAN UP WITH MOUNTAIN TRUE
Come on out to de-tire Cane Creek! We filled all our boats with dozens of tires from Cane Creek last year. We couldn’t get them all, so we want to tackle the rest. We’ll meet at Fletcher Community Park at 10 AM on September 28, 2016, and will provide boats, gloves and gear! Contact Anna Alsobrook at 828-258-8737 or anna@mountaintrue.org for more information and to register.
09/28/16 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS EVENT IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY
We are a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. This will be a nonpartisan Candidate Forum. Time is 6 to 8:30 PM and location is Charles D. Owen High School at 99 Lake Eden Rock Road in Black Mountain. Candidates for North Carolina State Senate, District 49; North Carolina House of Representatives, District 115; Buncombe County Commission Chairman; and Buncombe County Commission, District 2 will be present.
09/28/16 HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AT UNCA
Hispanic Heritage Month: Juntos Education & Access for Latino Students. Time is 6 to 7:30 PM and location is Mountain Suites at Highsmith Union in room 221-222. Join Multicultural Student Programs, the JUNTOS Program, and HOLA as we discuss access, and barriers to education for Latino youth. Learn more about how the JUNTOS program works to mitigate these barriers, and how we can create a community of support. Contact dhylton@unca.edu for more information.
09/29/16 BLACK FACES, WHITE SPACES LECTURE
Carolyn Finney, author of “Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship Between African-Americans to the Great Outdoors,” will be at UNCA to challenge us to think about assumptions made about race and the environment. During her research, as the Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Kentucky, Carolyn learned that African-Americans consider the history of race relations when thinking about the environment. She says, this history, entangled with issues of access and ownership, is a major part of why we do not see African-americans at our nation's parks. “For people like my parents, who worked somebody else’s land, that becomes part of who they are. And when that relationship is damaged... identity is going to be impacted.” Time is 7 PM and location is Carmichael Humanities Lecture Hall at UNCA.
09/29/16 LECTURE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH
Dr. Alan Lockwood will talk about the findings in his current book, Heat Advisory. He will discuss the health effects that we face from climate change, along with a prescription for preventing them. Dr. Lockwood is Emeritus Professor of Neurology and Nuclear Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo and author of “The Silent Epidemic: Coal and the Hidden Threat to Health.” This is at 12 PM at UNCA, RRO 125. Contact Dot Sulock at dsulock@unca.edu for more information.
09/29/16 GREENWORKS ROOT BALL
Asheville Greenworks does a lot of great volunteering and cleanup events for our area, they also contribute to green education in our region through multiple school programs, they plant trees, and participate in a host of other activities. So I think it’s time for them to cut loose and reflect on all the great work they’ve done, and you can join them, for their Root Ball. Time is 6:30 to 10 PM and location is Asheville Outdoor Center at 521 Amboy Road in Asheville. Join Greenworks for a dance party by the river to celebrate, recognize, and enjoy our beautiful community. The best part, all proceeds from the event will benefit their work out cleanup and “greenup” our local urban environment. You’ll enjoy a gourmet cookout provided by Hickory Nut Gap Farms, music by LYRIC, and locally made hand crafted beverages. This is an all ages event, and anyone 18 and under is free to attend with a paying adult. For more information you can also give them a call at 828.254.1776.
09/29/16 LOCAL HERO YARN LAUNCH PARTY
This event is a Celebration of Asheville heroes and the launch party for Purl's Yarn Emporium’s “Local Hero,” a locally sourced, spun, and dyed yarn dedicated to celebrating individuals who serve our local community through their commitment to justice, equality, and creativity. The event will be held down the street from us at our neighbor Jubilee Community Church at 46 Wall Street in downtown Asheville. We hope to make this a festive evening with the sharing of stories from the farmers, mill, yarn dyers, and local heroes the first 4 colorways of the yarn will be named for: Franzi Charen of Asheville Grown, Amy Cantrell of Beloved House, DeWayne Barton of Hood Huggers, and Barbara Vassallo of Mountain Lady Farm Project. Each hero will host a table at the event with more information, ways to get involved, and items for sale. 25% of sales of each colorway of the yarn goes to the community project chosen by each hero. Our hope is that the highlighting of each of these heroes and the work they do will lead to further donations of time, talent, and money to the awesome projects they work on and the unique communities they serve. We will also hear from the farmers and mill that created the yarn. The event is free. Time is 7 to 9 PM. Call Yarn Emporium for more information.
09/30/16 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 3:15 PM at Brooks-Howell Home on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Meet in the media room. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.
09/30/16 ANTI-RACISM ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP AT UUCA
A weekly group focused on Standing Up For Racial Justice core values for people beginning to wake up to the impact of white supremacy on our culture and seeking a safe place to begin to talk about it. Time is 10 AM and location is 23 Edwin Place, next to Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.
10/01/16 PRIDE FESTIVAL
Local LGBTQ activists will host the annual LGBTQ Blue Ridge Pride Festival from 11 AM to 7 PM at Pack Square in downtown Asheville. “Color Our World With Pride And Love” is this year’s theme.
10/04/16 WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL LECTURE
Dr. Donald Mayer, Professor of Business Ethics at Denver University Daniel's School of Business and St. Mary's College in California, will consider the implications and the responses to the release earlier this year of the 'Panama Papers'; and the challenges to the status quo in international finance they present. This is at 7:30 PM and location is room 102, Manheimer Room, at the Reuter Center at UNCA. Lectures are free to WAC members and students, all others $10 at the door. For more details about programs, consult the World Affairs Council website.
10/04/16 VIGIL FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS
eNOugh! Honoring the victims of domestic violence in Buncombe County and paving the way for a violence free future. Buncombe County Government invites the public to stand with us as we move towards a violence free future. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month and during this month we are honoring victims of intimate partner violence and taking action to create safety and awareness for our county through a coordinated community response which includes the creation and recent opening of the Family Justice Center. Join us as we partner with Helpmate in honoring the victims and survivors of abuse by attending the Domestic Violence Awareness Vigil and ceremonial lighting of the Family Justice Center on Tuesday, October 4 from 6:30 to 7:45 PM at 35 Woodfin Street in downtown Asheville. This free event is open to the public. Speakers, survivors, and music are a part of the lineup as well as the display of the Clothesline Project, a testimony to the stories of those impacted by violence. Partners in Buncombe County are saying eNOugh and we mean it.
10/04/16 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS VIGIL AT A B TECH
Helpmate and A-B Tech are working together to hold the annual Domestic Violence Awareness Vigil. Everyone is invited to join us in honoring the victims and survivors of abuse. There will be a special performance by Womansong, Asheville’s oldest and largest women’s community chorus. Time is 6 PM and location is the Mission Health/A-B Tech Conference Center. This information came from the A-B Tech website.
10/04/16 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome. Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
10/05/16 SIERRA CLUB MEETING/GREEN DRINKS
This meeting will present an Environmental Legislative Update, the good the bad and the ugly by Cassie Gavin. It will cover coal ash, water quality, waste management, clean energy and recycling. This event is free and open to the public. Time is 7 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 1 Edwin Place (corner of Charlotte and Edwin) in Asheville. For more information, contact Judy at judymattox@sbcglobal.net or call 828-683-2176.
10/05/16 PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES POVERTY FORUM PRESENTATION
“Ending Child Poverty Now” with Marian Wright Edelman, the President and Founder of the Children's Defense Fund, will be the topic of this Poverty Forum. Each year, Pisgah Legal Services hosts a forum to draw attention to the plight of people living in poverty in Western North Carolina. This year, our focus is on child poverty. The United States has the second highest rate of child poverty among 35 industrialized countries, despite having the largest economy in the world. A child in the United States has a 1 in 5 chance of being poor. In Pisgah Legal’s six-county WNC service region, approximately 25 percent of children live in poverty. On October 5th, we host the Forum’s keynote speaker Marian Wright Edelman, a legendary fighter for social justice in America. She is the founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, a passionate advocate for the rights of children, a lawyer, an author and a civil rights leader. This will be at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at the US Cellular Center in downtown Asheville. Time is 5:30 PM for cocktail reception, with forum starting at 7 PM. Tickets are $15 to $50 and can be obtained from Pisgah Legal. For questions, contact Betsy Ellis at 828-210-3444 or betsy@pisgahlegal.org.
10/05/16 GREEN GRANNIES BOOK CLUB
Founded in 2012, the Green Grannies are a group of women who are willing to make a ruckus about the need for action on climate change. This is their reading group and it is open to all. Time is 12 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
10/06/16 RIVER CLEAN UP WITH MOUNTAIN TRUE
It’s time to act like a pirate and steal all the booty from the French Broad. We’re aiming to create a Litter Flotilla to help clean the river and celebrate the 5 Point Film Festival! Time is 2:45 - 5 PM. Contact Anna Alsobrook at 828-258-8737 or anna@mountaintrue.org for more information and to register.
10/06/16 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE GENERAL MEETING
Join the Creation Care Alliance of WNC for a general meeting as we inspire one another to good work and discuss our work empowering care for creation. We will connect with one another and explore ways to care for creation. Everyone is welcome! The meeting will be held in the First Baptist Church of Asheville at 5 Oak Street in Room MB306, which is upstairs. If you have any questions, please contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at scott@creationcarealliance.org. Time is 5:30 to 7 PM.
10/08/16 RICHMOND HILL INVASIVE REMOVAL WORK DAY
Join us and help restore native plant communities by controlling non-native invasive plants at Richmond Hill Park. This is the City of Asheville’s only forested park and is home to many special native plant and animal species! Volunteers help to stop the spread of harmful non-native invasive species and return native species to the unique park. Time is 9 AM to 1 PM and location is Richmond Hill Park in Asheville. Contact Susan Bean 828.258.8737 x 216 or susan@mountaintrue.org for more information or to register.
10/08/16 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING
Citizens Climate Lobby meets the second Saturday of each month at Kairos West Community Center, 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. We are advocating for a Carbon Fee & Dividend, which would impose a fee on fossil fuels at point entry; this fee will be refunded to individuals and families. There is bipartisan support in Congress as this will create jobs and help grow the economy, boosting renewables. Time is 12:30 to 3 PM. For more information, contact asheville@citizensclimatelobby.org.
10/09/16 CROP HUNGER WALK
For those planning to walk: the walk begins and ends at First Baptist in downtown Asheville. Registration begins at 1 PM and the walk begins at 2 PM. Distance options are 2.5 miles or 5 miles. You can decide how far to walk on Oct. 9. There will be two water/bathroom stations located at Unitarian Universalist Congregation and at Grace Covenant Presbyterian. All walkers will get a Crop-Walk T-Shirt. Our team will carry a large sign showing Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville. This is a fundraiser to help alleviate hunger in our community. There will be much more information about this in our local media. If you have any questions, please contact Martha at: marshall@ret.unca.edu.
10/10/16 to 10/13/16 DISGRACE: SEEKING GOD’S GRACE AMID THE DISGRACE OF RACISM CONFERENCE
The DISGRACE conference will be a faithful response to the embedded and structural racism in church and culture. Grounded in worship, truth-telling, confession, and collaboration, we move from disgrace toward solidarity. Together we tackle the hidden histories, unaddressed discomforts, divisions between people and communities, with a diverse community committed to journeying through these difficult but necessary and potentially life-giving conversations. When this conference ends, our true response to systemic racism begins. This will be at Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, NC. Commuter rate is $178 per person, with a daily rate of $70 per person/per day. Registration is on the Montreat Conference CenterIf you have any questions about the registration process, please email the registrar at SusanA@montreat.org or call 828.419.9829.
10/10/16 KNOW YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS PART ONE
Join the legal professionals from Pisgah Legal Services for an in-depth look at your rights under the law. This workshop will focus on the following: understanding the law and eviction process under NC law, affordable and subsidized housing programs, security deposit laws, stalking and cyberstalking laws, and domestic violence protections available under NC Law. Time is 11 AM and location is Ferguson Auditorium at A-B Tech. This is from A-B Tech website, no information on how to register.
10/11/16 NAACP MEETING
The Branch’s regular monthly meeting is the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM at Hill Street Baptist Church at 135 Hill Street in Asheville. If you have questions, contact Carmen Ramos-Kennedy at (828) 423-6476, or 4ward2getherCall2Action@gmail.com.
10/13/16 MOUNTAIN TRUE FALL GATHERING AND ANNUAL MEETING
Join MountainTrue staff, board members, general body members and other community members in an annual gathering to talk about the organization and meet environmental advocates in Western North Carolina. Stay tuned for more information about the Fall Gathering/Annual Meeting. Time is from 4:30 to 7:30 PM.
10/14/18 VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR 2016 GENERAL ELECTION
10/18/16 TRANSIT COMMITTEE MEETING IN ASHEVILLE
This will happen at 3:30 PM and location is the 4th floor Training Room at the Municipal Building at 100 Court Plaza in Asheville. Call the City of Asheville for more information.
10/19/16 REBUILDING AFFRILACHIA - PEARSON PLAN WORKSHOP
DeWayne Barton will be offering a Pearson Plan Workshop on October 19 and November 16 from 5 to 6 pm at the Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton Street, in Asheville. Learn more about this plan for Rebuilding Affrilachia and how you can be a part of it. There is no charge for the workshop, though contributions to support the Pearson Plan will be accepted. If you'd like to be part of this, please join him; there is no pre-registration necessary. Questions? Email info@hoodhuggers.com.
10/21/16 RIVERLINK ART GALA SHOW AND FUNDRAISER
There will be music, drinks, and food, and various artworks to view and purchase from 20 local artists. Music by renowned cellist, Ron Clearfield. Also there will be historic art and artifacts of the French Broad River. Time is 6 – 9 PM and location is Zealandia, at 1 Vance Gap Road (on Beaucatcher Mountain) in Asheville. This fundraiser is to benefit RiverLink, and you can obtain tickets through their website.
10/21/16 TO 10/23/16 CHRONIC CONFERENCE IN ARDEN
This is the Carolina Human Rights OrgaNizing Conference (CHRONIC). The conference is about understanding human rights. The conference focus is to bring together activists and organizers from a diverse range of movements to provide a holistic understanding of human rights issues in the Carolinas. Civil Rights/Political Rights/Economic Rights/Social Rights/Cultural Rights/Environmental Rights/Developmental Rights/Sexual Rights. This will happen at the Lutheridge Camp & Conference Center at 2511 Hendersonville Road in Arden. Tickets are between $105 and $255. No further information at this time.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chronic-2016-carolina-human-rights-organizing-conference-tickets-25577436802
10/22/16 STOP POLICE BRUTALITY PROTEST
In the USA, October 22nd is a day when people have mobilized every year since 1996 for a National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation. It is crucial that we bring forward a powerful National Day of Protest in cities and towns across the USA to challenge the ongoing violence against the people. This October 22nd, stand with thousands across the country to express our collective outrage, creativity, and resistance in response to the crimes of this system.
10/24/16 THIRD MOUNTAIN MORAL MONDAY IN ASHEVILLE
Keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. William Barber, President NC-NAACP. If you would like to volunteer for this inspiring event, contact Melissa Murphy at mcoxmurphy@gmail.com. Location is Pack Square Park, Roger McGuire Green. Time is 4 to 6 PM. In coalition with the Mountain People’s Assembly, the local Branch of NAACP and other regional branches of NAACP, will host Asheville’s third Mountain Moral Monday at 4 PM on Monday, Oct 24 in Pack Square. Rev. Dr. William Barber will be the keynote speaker. If you have questions, contact Carmen Ramos-Kennedy at (828) 423-6476, or 4ward2getherCall2Action@gmail.com. Democracy NC is also helping to organize this event.
10/28/16 AUTHOR EVENT AT MALAPROPS
Activist author Medea Benjamin joins us once more to celebrate her new book, “Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection.” Medea’s book tackles the issue of foreign policy and the controversial relationship between the United State and Saudi Arabia. Medea is the cofounder of the peace group CODEPINK and Global Exchange, an international human rights organization. She has published articles on The Huffington Post, AlterNet, and more. In 2014, she was the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Award. Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprop’s at 55 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. For more informatin, contact Melanie at (828) 254-6734 or melanie@malaprops.com.
11/10/16 INTERFAITH PEACE CONFERENCE AT LAKE JUNALUSKA
Affirming the community of Abrahamic faiths, the Peace Conference seeks to work in partnership with Christians, Jews, Muslims, and members of other religious traditions to advance the work of reconciliation and peace. The theme for this year's conference is “The Climate Crisis and Peace” and Dr. Norman Wirzba, Professor of Theology, Ecology, and Agrarian Studies at Duke Divinity School will be among the speakers. This runs from November 10 to November 13, 2016. For program questions contact Tammy McDowell at 828.454.6681 or tmcdowell@lakejunaluska.com. For registration contact 800.222.4930 or reservations@lakejunaluska.com.
11/16/16 REBUILDING AFFRILACHIA - PEARSON PLAN WORKSHOP
DeWayne Barton will be offering a Pearson Plan Workshop on November 16 from 5 to 6 pm at the Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton Street, in Asheville. Learn more about this plan for Rebuilding Affrilachia and how you can be a part of it. There is no charge for the workshop, though contributions to support the Pearson Plan will be accepted. If you'd like to be part of this, please join him; there is no pre-registration necessary. Questions? Email info@hoodhuggers.com.
11/19/16 HARD TO RECYCLE COLLECTION IN ARDEN
This will be from 10 AM to 2 PM at 2310 Hendersonville Road in Arden. And a word from Greenworks: never put hard-to-recycle items or any kind of plastic bag or plastic film in with your curbside recyclables (other than blue recycling bags). The blue bags are emptied and removed early in the sorting process at the recycling facility as plastic bags and film clog recycling equipment forcing operations to shut down for workers to cut that material off by hand with boxcutters! Note: Be sure to pull out the plastic liner bags out of your cereal boxes before you throw them into your recycling bin. Check that no chip and snack bags or regular and resealable (zipper) bags, snuck into your bin, too!
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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
Showing Up for Racial Justice at Firestorm Cafe and Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10 AM. Educating and organizing white people for racial justice. Free.
Orientation session for Asheville Timebank. 4 PM at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Email help@ashevilletimebank.org for information and to register.
WEDNESDAY
Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.
THURSDAY
Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 6 PM on first Thursday of the month. Materials provided.
FRIDAY
Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville.
SATURDAY
Transylvanians for Peace and WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility have a weekly vigil at noon in front of the courthouse in Brevard. Call 884-3435 to confirm.
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.
SUNDAY
Peace Vigil at All Souls Cathedral in Biltmore Village. This is from 5 to 5:30 PM. This vigil will last until election day 2016.
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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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Hood Tour Tickets
An interactive tour focusing on Asheville’s African American resilient history and future in the arts, environmentalism and entrepreneurship. The tour visits neighborhoods with existing and active green spaces, art, and grassroots initiatives. Tours run most Thursdays at 1 PM and Saturdays at 3 PM, and by appointment for groups by emailing info@hoodhuggers.com. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours. Cost is $25 per person. Tours begin at the Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Avenue.
Hood Huggers International, LLC offers sustainable strategies for building support pillars for resilient historically African American neighborhoods, providing a framework for community capacity building while increasing the effectiveness of existing service programs. These strategies incorporate the arts, environmental education and social enterprise.
DeWayne Barton is the founder/CEO of Hood Huggers. A sculptor and poet, Barton has been involved in community improvement and youth development for over 20 years. He serves on the African American Heritage Commission, CoThinkk, and the City of Asheville Neighborhood Advisory Board.
Please call (828) 275-5305 or email blove@hoodhuggers.com for more information including how to register for these tours.
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Forest Service to Hold Open Houses at District Offices
The U.S. Forest Service will hold open houses at district offices on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in September and October to provide the public with opportunities to talk with forest staff about local issues, district projects, and forest plan revision. The open houses will have a flexible format allowing the public to come at any time during the specified hours and talk directly with Forest staff one-on-one. District rangers and members of the forest plan revision team will be present from 3 to 6 pm on each of the following days and locations:
• September 22, Cheoah Ranger District Office, 1070 Massey Branch Rd, Robbinsville
• September 27, Tusquitee Ranger District Office, 123 Woodland Dr, Murphy
• October 6, Grandfather Ranger District, 109 Lawing Dr, Nebo
• October 12, Pisgah Ranger District Office, 1600 Pisgah Hwy, Brevard
• October 13, Appalachian Ranger District Office, 632 Manor Rd, Mars Hill
The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests have been revising their forest plan, a required document that provides a general framework to guide management of the forest. As part of the process, 24 public meetings have been held in communities throughout western North Carolina.
"A successful forest plan depends on the engagement of local residents, organizations, and local governments," explains James Melonas, Deputy Forest Supervisor for National Forests in North Carolina. "We will continue to engage the public in a transparent and thoughtful manner."
Throughout the spring and summer, the Forest Service has been releasing draft plan materials on the National Forests in North Carolina website, www.fs.usda.gov/goto/nfsnc/nprevision. Additional materials will be available this fall and posted to the Plan Revision Under Construction page as they become available.
"Like all parts of our forest plan, we are accepting public feedback on these initial building blocks and we expect to make changes before we complete the draft plan," said Michelle Aldridge, planning team lead. "Feedback will also help us shape our analysis. Specific feedback about desired changes, as well as information gaps is very useful at this stage.”
By fall 2016, the public will have had an opportunity for early review and input on nearly all aspects of the developing plan, and will again have an opportunity to review the plan during the formal comment period once a complete draft plan and alternative analysis are released. While there is no formal NEPA or legal comment period at this time, the Forest Service is accepting input on the building blocks at NCplanrevision@fs.fed.us with the subject line "Summer building blocks" or by mail at this address: Attn: Plan Revision Team Leader; National Forests in North Carolina; 160 Zillicoa St. Suite A; Asheville, NC 28801.
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