dancewater: Upcoming events for the week of November 5, 2017

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

11/06/17 ASHEVILLE SURJ MEETING

Asheville SURJ weekly evening meeting: Monday, 6:30-8:30pm at Asheville Unitarian Universalist Congregation (downstairs main building). Accountability group for folks seeking to focus on anti-racism work. Meetings include opportunities such as discussion, educational opportunities, or role-playing difficult conversations, and building connections. Discussion will include a regular Do!scussion style check-in but also space for creative brainstorming around ways to explore issues of racism and white supremacy in Asheville via the arts. For more info email avlsurj@gmail.com.

11/06/17 ART TRANSIT MASTER PLAN WORKSHOP

The City of Asheville invites everyone to participate in two community workshops as part of its recently announced Transit Master Plan update. A survey will also be available for residents who can’t make it to the workshops. Future public engagement activities will include discussion group workshops with various stakeholder groups, meetings with Asheville Redefines Transit (ART) staff and citizen advisory boards, and final public meetings to receive feedback on the Draft Plan. The Transit Master Plan will shape how and where transit service will be provided by ART service. It’s designed to ensure safe, convenient and accessible public transportation for all residents, workers and visitors to the Asheville area. Last developed in 2009 and adopted in 2010, an updated plan will provide measurable goals and detailed strategies for improving transit throughout the City. The plan will: Assess existing transit services; Review ART’s current operating environment; Evaluate current and future mobility needs; and Determine whether and how existing bus transit services can be adjusted to provide improved service levels throughout the City. The plan is expected to be completed by summer 2018. Two community workshops will be held in November. The format will be charrette style, a collaborative discussion between participants, City staff and the consultant team for the project. Here is the workshop schedule: 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Edington Career & Education Center, 133 Livingston Street in Asheville and 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Kairos West Community Center, 604 Haywood Road in west Asheville. According to Transit Planning Manager, Elias Mathes, “Asheville has changed significantly since the last Transit Master Plan was developed in 2009 and that has impacted bus service. An updated plan will allow us to improve the efficiency and reliability of current service, and will give us a roadmap for enhancements and potential expansion of future service. These changes will expand mobility options for our citizens and improve their access to employment and location-efficient affordable housing.” For more information, contact: Elias Mathes, Transit Planning Manager for the City of Asheville at 828-232-4522 or EMathes@Ashevillenc.gov.

11/06/27 DINNER WITH PROGRESSIVES

Next Dinner with Progressives - Monday, November 6, 2017 from 5:30-7pm at Green Sage Cafe, Westgate, next to Earth Fare. I hope you will join fellow progressives at the Green Sage Cafe because now more than ever we need to be together, learn together and work together. All are invited who wish to move forward and embrace all people. There is no membership fee but we ask that attendees purchase dinner, a beverage and/or dessert and RSVP so we can give our gracious friends at Green Sage a headcount. Invite your friends and neighbors to join us! Thank you. Anyone is invited to give an announcement or ask for signatures on a petition. Please give myself & Sam a quick email to let us know how much time you will need. We have a great speaker for tomorrow night, Kris Kramer, she is the President of the Progressive Democrats of Buncombe County. She will speak from 5:45 to 6:15 pm. I am also hoping that we will have someone from Democracy NC as planned for the last gathering. Contact Cheryl at ctorengo@gmail.com or Sam at sgspeciale@yahoo.com for more information and to RSVP.

11/07/17 GENERAL ELECTION FOR ASHEVILLE CITY COUNCIL

Vote at your local precinct. Must be a registered voter.

11/07/17 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CONSTITUTIONAL STUDY COURSE

Join us for "We The People" a six-week study of the history and contemporary role of the Constitution of the United States. Sessions will examine relevant topics such as freedom of speech, the right to assemble, executive power, voting rights, and procedural due process. Organized by the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County the series is being co-sponsored by additional nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations including AAUW - Asheville, NC, YWCA of Asheville, and ACLU of NC - Western NC Chapter. Sessions are FREE and open to the public. They will be held at the YWCA on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 pm on October 3, 10, 17, 24 and November 7, 14. Email we.people.us@gmail.com to reserve your seat.

11/07/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

Every Tuesday, Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 holds a vigil at Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. Time is 4:30 PM. This has been happening since 2002. No matter the weather, no matter if it falls on a holiday, they are out there standing for peace. Last year, our former president dropped 26,000 bombs on seven different countries. The current president seems to be trying to match or beat that horrible record. Meanwhile we are banning refugees from those countries we have destroyed. Show you are publicly against our country's endless wars and occupations by standing with Veterans for Peace. From Veterans for Peace newsletter: “The president’s speech at its core is more of the same disastrous policies that we have seen for sixteen years, except this administration wants to completely abandon pursuit of a political solution and shroud the war in a cloak of secrecy. Veterans For Peace, once again, calls for a different direction other than war. We call for U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan and a robust pursuit of a political solution to end the war.”

11/07/17 TO 11/19/17 AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH EXHIBIT

This runs from September 30th to November 19th. Don’t miss it! It is a great exhibit. This exhibit is at the YMI at 39 South Market Street in downtown Asheville. Activate Your Moral Imagination ... Never underestimate the power of art and story to change the world. Three powerful exhibits to encourage bold civic action: Robert Shetterly's Americans Who Tell the Truth Models of Courageous Citizenship/portrait prints; Regional Youth as Citizen Artists/ portraits; Unstoppable Courage in Our Midst/posters of local activists. The exhibits will be on display at the YMI Cultural Center, 39 South Market Street in Asheville through November 19th. Gallery Hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Come and be inspired. The exhibit features portraits of citizens who address issues of social, environmental, and economic fairness and will be on display through November 19, 2017. Contact Ellie at elliebhope@gmail.com for more information. There is a need for docents, contact Melody at meljshank@gmail.com. This exhibit is well worth seeing.

11/07/17 ASURJ EVENT

Tuesday ASURJ Do-Session, 10 am in Firestorm's back room. We hold this space so that we can check in with each other about our experiences this past week attempting to do good work in Asheville. There are things we have seen that encourage us to believe that white people are waking up to the impact of racism on everyone, and there are things that knock us flat and make us think racism will forever haunt this mountain town. Bring it all, and we will leave with something concrete we can each do this week to support multi-racial coalition work. All are welcome. Do-Session, 11:30-1pm to follow.

11/08/17 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY CLIMATE BILL OF RIGHTS

Public comment on Asheville’s Community Climate Bill of Rights is open. Be part of crafting Asheville’s renewable future, join us to learn more about North Carolina’s first Community Bill of Rights and influence what it says. A Community Bill of Rights is a city ordinance that allows the people to make decisions about what happens where we live, not letting the state or corporations decide. This Bill of Rights focuses on our right to a healthy climate and a sustainable energy future. To truly reflect the wishes of our entire community, this Bill needs input from all residents of Asheville. Community Climate Bill of Rights forums will be held in several venues throughout the city. Come learn about how we as citizens can take back our rights over our land, air, and water. Upcoming public comment session: Wednesday, Nov. 8,@ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Edington Center Community Room, 133 Livingston Street in Asheville. Contact Cathy Holt at cathyfholt@gmail.com for more information.

11/08/17 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING

This meeting will be at 9:30 AM at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church at 117 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Contact Beth at elizakeiser@aol.com or 828 707 4271 for more information.

11/09/17 HENDERSONVILLE GREEN DRINKS

Nov 9, 5:30 PM: Hendersonville Green Drinks Citizen’s Climate Lobby presentation and social, location to be determined. Citizens Climate Lobby - Asheville Chapter

11/09/17 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY TALK IN SYLVA

Nov 9, 6:00 PM: Sylva CCL talk @ City Lights Bookstore. Citizens Climate Lobby - Asheville Chapter

11/10/17 DOCUMENTARY FILM AT UU CONGREGATION IN ASHEVILLE

On Friday, November 10th, we are screening the important documentary “Home is a Human Right”, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. These three short films—Pursuing the Dream, Nowhere to Go: Shutting Out Syrians, and The Call to Sanctuary—examine issues related to immigration in the U.S. that impact undocumented and refugee communities. Pursuing the Dream looks at the protections provided to undocumented immigrants through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the threats they face from intensified deportation actions. Nowhere to Go: Shutting Out Syrians tells the stories of everyday Syrians living amidst a violent civil war and what has driven millions to flee their homeland. The Call to Sanctuary breaks down the ways that communities and individuals can support their undocumented neighbors through a how-to video guide. By exploring the growing complexities of immigration in the United States, this series seeks to highlight the human story of immigrants pursuing better lives in the middle of conflict. A flyer describing the film is attached, including a link to the film’s website. The film screening is at 7 PM, and is open to the public. There is no charge for viewing the film. Donations are welcome. Contact Charlie at 612-860-6628 or mnpopi@icloud.com for more information.

11/11/17 A WORLD WITHOUT POLICE

Start:11/11/2017 - 12:00:00 PM. End:11/11/2017 - 2:30:00 PM. A World Without Police is a collective of organizers from across the U.S. and internationally with the goal of connecting people struggling against everyday violence of the police, and to provide practical, organizational and theoretical tools for use in our movement. Join us for a presentation and community discussion about police abolition in 2017. We'll talk about: - What role do the police play to uphold capitalism and white supremacy in society? -What are the limits of police reform and why must we work towards abolishing the police? - What are strategies and ideas to build community power & disempower, disarm, and disband the police? West Asheville Library at 942 Haywood Road in west Asheville. No contact information.

11/11/18 ARMISTICE DAY EVENT IN ASHEVILLE

NC Peace Action is responding to calls from National Peace groups (such as Veterans for Peace) to mark Armistice Day with attention paid to North Korea and all Peace & Justice issues, on November 11th at The Block starting at 2 PM. Invited panelists will explore peace and justice issues, the current moment, and how to maintain resistance, resilience, & faith in the face of rising White Supremacy & disintegrating human rights. We hope to hear from local activists and leaders about best ways to build power to challenge local militarization of law enforcement, international aggression and manifestations of empire. And we walk away with ideas for supporting peace and justice within and across all communities in ways that acknowledge oppression and privilege while building community and power. Location is The Block off biltmore at the corner of Eagle and Market Street in downtown Asheville. Are we in a time when peace and justice are no longer possible? Can we build power to demand rights for all people? Come share your vision, voice and energy for justice! From your neighborhood, to our state, country and the planet - share your voice. Call 828-254-9277 for more information.

11/11/17 FREE ACA ENROLLMENT EVENT

Saturday, Nov. 11: Free ACA. Community-Wide Enrollment Event. Need health insurance through the ACA or know someone who does? Please join Pisgah Legal Services, in partnership with Mission Health and other ACA Partners of WNC, at this all-day sign-up event. Free navigator assistance will be available to anyone who needs it. Walk-ins are welcome, and light refreshments will be available. 9am-4pm at the US Cellular Center in Asheville. Other free events on Nov. 11 will take place in Black Mountain, Brevard, and Rutherfordton. To make an appointment for any of these events, or to schedule another time that works best for you, call 1-855-733-3711 or schedule online. Special thanks to Mission Health for partnering with Pisgah Legal to help get the word out about this year's Open Enrollment Period - now through Dec. 15, 2017. If you have questions about the ACA or need help signing up, please don't wait! December 15 will be here before you know it.

11/12/17 CONNECTION PRACTICE

Sunday, Nov. 12, 1:30-4:30pm: Discover the synergistic power of empathy and insight! The Connection Practice is an experiential course taught by Cathy Holt, where you'll gain skills in calming emotions, giving empathy to ourselves and others, and attaining insight - the wisdom of our own hearts. Drawn from Non-Violent Communication and HeartMath, these scientifically-based skills help people to have more inner peace and harmonious relationships. Sponsor: Wellness Team. Suggested Donation: $15. All welcome. To reserve your space, please RSVP to Cathy Holt, cathyfholt@gmail.com.

11/12/17 EXISTING WHILE BLACK

Existing While Black: Spoken Word event at The Mothlight on Sunday, Nov. 12, 7:30-9:30pm. Check with Facebook for more information.

11/13/17 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL

Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00pm. Place: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 337 N. Charlotte St, Asheville (enter on north side). Presentation Topic: Carolyn Anderson and WNC Renewables Coalition. Frustrated by the lack of coordination and communication across the various environmental groups in Asheville, Anderson organized the WNC Renewable Coalition this past July. It is now comprised of 18 diverse groups and committed to helping the city and region become carbon neutral. This equates to the Transition idea of an Energy Descent Action Plan. She recently orchestrated a showing of the award-winning film "Tomorrow" that inspired many and brought forth a number of action ideas. In addition to founding WNC Renewable Coalition, Carolyn Anderson is a well-respected interior designer from Asheville. She is the leader of the Indivisible Environment Action Team as well as being a member of Divest Fossil Fuels and Community Roots. Contact: Rebecca Mahan (812-334-0176) or palmtree747@gmail.com.

11/13/17 ASHEVILLE SURJ MEETING

11/13/17 FAIR VOTE TOWN HALL IN HENDERSONVILLE

The NC Coalition for Lobbying & Government Reform presents Fair Maps Town Hall with Rep. Chuck McGrady (R-Hendersonville). A town hall discussion with Rep. McGrady on gerrymandering & how to build a better way of drawing our voting maps. Free & open to the public. Location is Southern Appalachian Brewery at 822 Locust Street in Hendersonville. Monday, Nov. 13th. Doors open 6:30pm • Program starts 7pm. This information came from the League of Women Voters of Asheville - Buncombe County.

11/13/17 ART TRANSIT MASTER PLAN WORKSHOP

11/14/17 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CONSTITUTIONAL STUDY COURSE

11/14/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

11/14/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING

On the third (or second, in this case) Tuesday of each month, Western North Carolina Veterans for Peace meets to coordinate group activities and programs.Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars. Time is 6:30 PM and location is the Center for Art and Spirit at Saint George, address is One School Road in west Asheville. For more information, contact Gerry at gwerhan@gmail.com.

11/14/17 OCCUPY WNC

Occupy WNC's next meeting is Tuesday November 14th in the Community Room at the Sneak E Squirrel at 7:00 PM. The group gathers at 6:00 pm for supper. Typically the non-partisan group meets on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. Visitors and new members are always welcomed. Contact Lucy at lucy.christopher42@gmail.com for more information.

11/14/17 TO 11/19/17 AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH EXHIBIT

11/14/17 ASURJ EVENT

11/15/17 INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL AT UNCA

Nov. 15 – Rhymes for Young Ghouls – at 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at Humanities Lecture Hall. Set in 1976 on a Canadian Indian reserve, this film’s teenage protagonist is forced into a residential school and plots revenge. This is the fourth of four films in UNC Asheville's 2017 Indigenous Film Festival. Set in 1976 on a Canadian Indian reserve, this film’s teenage protagonist is forced into a residential school and plots revenge. Through cinema, the series will present the experiences and perspectives of indigenous peoples around the world, not often reflected on American movie screens. The screenings are free and open to everyone and a short Q&A will follow the film. The Indigenous Film Festival is curated and will be hosted by UNC Asheville faculty members Trey Adcock, assistant professor of education and director of American Indian Outreach; Agya Boakye-Boaten, associate professor of Africana studies and director of Interdisciplinary, International and Africana Studies Programs; Juan G. Sánchez Martinez, assistant professor of Spanish; and Jeremias Zunguze, assistant professor of Africana and Lusophone studies. For more information about the Indigenous Film Festival, contact Juan G. Sánchez Martinez at jsanche1@unca.edu or 828.251.6277.

11/15/17 WORKSHOP AT FIRESTORM IN ASHEVILLE

Nov 15- Accounting for Ourselves- Practicing self accountability in an Age of Blame. (led by James and Kat). Workshop runs from 5 to 7pm at Firestorm Coop at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Free. For more information, contact: callistocollective@protonmail.com.

11/15/17 STORY MEDICINE FOR RACIAL HEALING

Story Medicine for Racial Healing A Five-Week Class. Presented by Meta Commerse, MFA, CWP. Meta is a certified wellness practitioner, an author, seasoned teacher and healer focused deeply on issues of oppression since the early 1990s. In that timeframe, she worked with groups and individuals using story medicine in numerous formats. She’s a proud graduate of Goddard College in Vermont where she earned her MFA in fiction writing. Seven Learning Tools: 1. An indigenous frame of reference, 2. The power of words, 3. The value and sacredness of story, 4. Memory as raw material and community resource, 5. Heart-centered language for what has happened to us, 6. Creating community study, dialogue, and healing, 7. New self-care skills necessary for working with this subject. When: Wednesdays, November 15 thru December 13, 2017, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cost: $175.00 Where: Heart House, Flatiron Writers Room, 5 Covington Street, Asheville. Space is limited. To register, email us at Storymedicineworldwide@gmail.com or call 828-407-3367. Class Tuition is $175.00, payable in full by October 30, 2017. Refunds for cancellation will be issued on a pro-rata basis up to the second meeting only. We are trying to close registration for the November class (starting 11/15) by the end of this month (October).

11/15/17 COMMON CAUSE EVENT IN ASHEVILLE

Join Common Cause NC in honoring Barbara and Tom Coulson, two legendary champions of democracy, and support our work to end gerrymandering! Honorary co-hosts are Sen. Terry Van Duyn, Rep. Susan Fisher, Rep. Brian Turner. Rep. John Ager and Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. Sponsors are Mack Pearsall, Bill Sederburg, Louise Glickman and Daryl Slaton. When: November 15th, 5:30—7:30pm Where: The home of Carolyn and Tom Fehsenfeld, 208 Cumberland Avenue, Asheville. $25 minimum donation (includes wine/beer and appetizers). Plus, a major donor is matching all gifts up to $5,000! Sponsorships available: Please email Bob Phillips at bphillips@commoncause.org for more info. To RSVP, please email blaurenz@commoncause.org with the number attending. Thanks,The team at Common Cause NC. (This event has been reviewed by the State Ethics Commission and is in compliance with State Ethics laws.)

11/16/17 ASHEVILLE CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING

Nov 16, 6:30 PM: November CCL Asheville Monthly Meeting @ Kairos West Community Center. Citizens Climate Lobby - Asheville Chapter

11/17/17 FUNDRAISER FOR MUDDY SNEAKERS IN ASHEVILLE

Muddy Sneakers is thrilled to host Mountainfilm on Tour in Asheville for its debut appearance in Western North Carolina! Come join us at 7:00pm on November 17th at the event center at Highland Brewing Company in Asheville for what is sure to be a spectacular night of community and film as we celebrate our shared passion for the outdoors. The featured films are a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and incredibly inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival held annually in Telluride, Colorado, and are themed around using the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. Our Mountainfilm presenter will guide you through the program, providing insight on the films, filmmakers, and subjects. All proceeds from the event will benefit Muddy Sneakers’ school programming in WNC and its efforts to introduce a growing number of public elementary students to the joy of learning outside. Muddy Sneakers is an education non-profit that partners with public schools to supplement classroom science instruction with experiential, inquiry-based outdoor learning. Tickets for the event are available for online purchase below through Brown Paper Tickets. Admission is $15 in advance and $20 day-of-show with limited VIP options available. Contact Muddy Sneakers at ruby@muddysneakers.org for more information including how to get tickets.

11/18/17 HARD TO RECYCLE COLLECTION

Time is 10 AM to 2 PM. Location is 2310 Hendersonville Road in Arden. Quick List of accepted items: Books, cardboard, batteries, cartridges, electronics (TV's & CRT monitors - $10 recycling fee), all metals, appliances/white goods (NO refrigerators), packing Styrofoam, select EMPTY personal care & beauty containers, building supplies, hardware, cabinets, furniture, plumbing, sporting goods, animal sanctuary items, used cooking oil.

11/20/17 ASHEVILLE SURJ MEETING

Asheville SURJ weekly evening meeting: Monday, 6:30-8:30pm at Asheville Unitarian Universalist Congregation (downstairs main building). Accountability group for folks seeking to focus on anti-racism work. Meetings include opportunities such as discussion, educational opportunities, or role-playing difficult conversations, and building connections. Mic Collins to lead a conversation about interactions we expect, hope, and/or dread having over Thanksgiving with family and friends regarding racial justice and confronting and naming White Supremacy. For more info email avlsurj@gmail.com.

11/21/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

11/21/17 ASURJ EVENT

11/26/17 WNC SOLIDARITY CONCERT SERIES

The final Sunday of each month in 2017, two groups of WNC-based musicians and their ensembles will each perform a benefit concert to raise funding for WNC nonprofits. The music performed each week will fluctuate between jazz, rhythm & blues, soul, jazz funk, jazz fusion, and swing. Each event will host two groups, playing, consecutively between 3 and 5 PM with a brief intermission. All of proceeds go to the nonprofit organization. The nonprofit for today is Quutopia. Act I is Ruth Cooney Quintet (Joni Mitchell Tribute) and Act II is Alina Quu and Friends. Location is The Block Off Biltmore at Eagle and South Market Streets in downtown Asheville. Suggested donation is $10, and are available the day of the event. Please call The Block Off Biltmore for more information.

11/27/17 ASHEVILLE SURJ MEETING

Asheville SURJ weekly evening meeting: Monday, 6:30-8:30pm at Asheville Unitarian Universalist Congregation (downstairs main building). Accountability group for folks seeking to focus on anti-racism work. Meetings include opportunities such as discussion, educational opportunities, or role-playing difficult conversations, and building connections. David Greenson to lead post Thanksgiving Calling In session about the conversations we had, didn't have, regretted having, wished went differently, etc. Come and process, prepare, and practice for your next encounter! For more info email avlsurj@gmail.com.

11/28/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

11/28/17 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MOVIE NIGHT

Nov 28, 6:30 PM: Collider MOVIE NIGHT Before the Flood, Film 7pm at The Collider w. CCL. Citizens Climate Lobby - Asheville Chapter. asheville@citizensclimatelobby.org.

11/28/17 ASURJ EVENT

11/29/17 WORKSHOP AT FIRESTORM IN ASHEVILLE

Nov 29- Sustainable Call Ins- an introduction to the trifold method on addressing abuse and assault in subcultural communities (led by Kat). Workshop runs from 5 to 7pm at Firestorm Coop at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Free. For more information, contact: callistocollective@protonmail.com.

11/29/17 WORKSHOP AT FIRESTORM IN ASHEVILLE

12/02/17 DEMOCRACY NC EVENT

December 2 | We Are Democracy Workshop | Asheville. Join us at at this upcoming We Are Democracy workshop in Asheville on December 2. Democracy North Carolina will equip you and your fellow activists from surrounding counties with the latest updates, tools, and training for building a multi-racial movement to mobilize for redistricting reform, fight back against voter suppression, and set the stage for our collective work in 2018. You’ll also learn some movement history, hear success stories from the field, and get timely training on core organizing skills. Any contribution that you are able to make will help Democracy NC bring this workshop to more participants statewide. When: Saturday, December 2, from 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM (sign-in begins at 9:15 AM). Where: Jubilee! (01 Patton Ave, Asheville, 28801). Please RSVP. Contact Darlene Azarmi at 828-216-3430 or darlene@democracy-nc.org with any questions and to RSVP or make a donation.

12/05/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

12/06/17 CITIZENS-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

This meeting is organized by the City of Asheville. This meeting is free and open to the public. This meeting will be at the Recreation Division Offices at 72 Gashes Creek Road in east Asheville. Time is 5 PM. Call 251-1122 for more information.

12/06/17 SIERRA CLUB HOLIDAY PARTY AND RECOGNITION AWARDS

Sierra Club Dec. 6: Holiday Party & Recognition Awards. This annual Holiday Party is a potluck: Please bring a dish to share, as well as your own dishes and silverware. The club will also be recognizing outstanding companies and organizations who have made a difference for the environment in the past year. Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2017. Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place (corner of Charlotte and Edwin). Contact: Judy Mattox, judymattox@sbcglobal.net, 828-683-2176

12/12/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

*******************************************

ONGOING EVENTS

*******************************************

MONDAY

Asheville SURJ weekly meeting at 6:30 pm at UU Congregation in Asheville, downstairs

TUESDAY

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

SURJ Discussion at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10 AM-11:30 AM. Followed by Do!sessions from 11:30-1:30 PM.

Rally at historic Courthouse in Hendersonville at 5 PM on the first Tuesday of the month. Organized by the Progressive Organized Women.

Gathering of people who like to stitch and otherwise puncture the status quo at 68 Haywood Street Outdoor Space at 9 AM.

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.

Green Drinks meets at 6 PM at The Block Off Biltmore on the third Wednesday of the month.

Sierra Club meets at 7 PM at Unitarian Universalist in Asheville on the first Wednesday of the month.

Indivisible Asheville does political letter writing at 5:30 every Wednesday at The Block Off Biltmore.

THURSDAY

Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 6 PM on first Thursday of the month. Materials provided.

Welcome Home Tour by Homeward Bound on the third Thursday of the month at 11 AM. Call 258-1695 for more information.

Asheville Prison Books Program is held at Downtown Books & News from 4 to 7 PM.

FRIDAY

Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville.

SATURDAY

French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.

Mountain True holds urban forest workdays on the second Saturday of the month at Richmond Hill Park from 9 AM to 1 PM. Call 258-8737 for more information.

Citizen’s Climate Lobby meeting at 12:30 PM at Kairos West Community Center on second Saturday of the month.

Food Not Bombs serves free vegan/vegetarian food every Saturday at noon at Pritchard Park.

Dances of Universal Peace on the third Saturdays at 7:30 at 1 School Road in Asheville.

SUNDAY

Asheville National Organization for Women meeting at 2:30 PM at YWCA of Asheville on second Sunday of the month.

*******************************************

ACTIONS AND READINGS

*******************************************

To friends and allies:

You probably know that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is doing a heroic job of asking tough questions of Duke and Dominion regarding their plans for construction of the ACP. DEQ has refused the permits based on water quality concerns 3 times now!

Also, Dominion has 'let slip' that the ACP may continue on into South Carolina, making it likely the fracked gas it carries may be shipped overseas from Savannah as Liquid Natural Gas.. We want DEQ to take a stance on that possibility!

Attached to this email are two letters (they are copied below) of support for DEQ's rigor, plus we are asking for more public hearings. Public hearings are opportunities for press coverage, and for networking--letting people know they are not alone in the fight.

We want more names on these letters! Even from allies in other states. Can you give us permission to add your name, and your community, so the DEQ realizes people from all over the state are concerned and are watching?

Please respond to this email before 5PM on Monday, November 6th giving us permission to use your name. Include your name, any titles you want added (Dr., Reverend, etc.) and your city or state.

Thanks! The spirit of the Walk for the People and the Places We Live continues!

Please send your support information to Cathy Scott

LETTER NUMBER ONE

Dear Secretary Michael Regan,

We would like to thank you for your staff’s close attention to the responses of ACP, received by DEQ on October 26, 2017; just for clarity’s sake, let us note these are the responses given to the requests made by DEQ staff at the September 29, 2017 meeting.

Those of us who are concerned about the pipeline and who have been following these exchanges had some of the very same questions about ACP’s responses that your staff has again raised, and we are gratified that answers will be required.

We feel it is incumbent on DEQ to provide opportunities for affected citizens to be able to voice the concerns that continue to arise as the permit process proceeds. Therefore, we also are calling on you to open additional public hearings for the 401 Water Quality permits and to direct us in submitting written comments on the latest round of developments between DEQ and ACP.

We ask that you do this immediately, since we know there are strict deadlines involved. Below is our understanding of current deadlines for DEQ, from your website. Please correct any errors in our understanding.

Division of Water Resources; deadline for ACP to respond to DEQ: November 26th; deadline for DEQ to complete review and make a decision: 60 days after receipt of ACP plans; Please open additional public hearings for comments and questions; please post on your website who written comments should be directed to.

Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources; deadline for DEQ to issue a decision on ACP’s erosion and sediment control plans: Tuesday November 7th, 2017.

Please post on your website who written comments should be directed to.

Division of Air Quality: public comments being taken until Nov. 20, 2017.DEQ will hold a public hearing on the draft permit at 6 p.m. Nov. 15 at Garysburg Town Hall, 504 Old Highway Road, Garysburg, N.C., 27831. Speaker registration will begin at 5 p.m.

Thank you for the work you are doing to protect the people and the places we live, here in North Carolina. We appreciate you and your staff.

Sincerely,

Kay Reibold, Raleigh, NC Steve Norris Ph.D., Fairview.NC

Rev. Mac Legerton, Pembroke, NC Marvin Winstead, Nashville, NC

Kendall Hale, Fairview, NC Greg Yost, Mars Hill, NC

Cathy Scott, Asheville, NC M.A. Maple Osterbrink, Durham NC

LETTER NUMBER TWO

Dear Secretary Regan,

In late September, it was reported by the Associated Press that Dan Weekly, Dominion Energy’s vice president and general manager of Southern pipeline operations, announced at an energy conference that the ACP will extend into South Carolina.

“We could bring in almost a billion cubic feet (28 million cubic meters) a day into South Carolina,” Weekley said, according to an audio recording The Associated Press obtained from a conference attendee. The attendee requested anonymity out of concern for not wanting to harm business or personal relationships.

The remarks appear to be the Richmond, Virginia-based company’s most direct public signal to date that it intends to expand the pipeline, though industry analysts said the potential has been discussed for years.

Although a Dominion spokesperson subsequently and hurriedly denied that this extension into SC is a part of their ACP proposal at the present time, it is very clear that as a senior vice president, Dan Weekly was not simply speculating but was articulating Dominion policy, and even though the extension into SC is not part of the present ACP proposal, the extension is planned for the near future.

There are numerous other examples of projects like this one, in which a proposal to build infrastructure (pipelines, compressor stations, LNG export terminals, etc) has been immediately expanded or extended once a permit has been granted for the original proposal. Dominion itself has done this. A court in Delaware actually ruled against a project because of a process like this. We can provide DEQ with documentation about these experiences if you want.

Attached to this email is a map showing the ACP’s terminus in NC, and a map of pipelines in SC, many of which have recently been purchased by Dominion. It is obvious from the map that a connection to Dominion’s SC pipelines would be a simple matter, involving maybe 20 miles of additional pipeline across the border. In his speech Dan Weekly said exactly this. It is likely that much of the ACP gas would likely end up at Elba Island in Savannah, for export as Liquid Natural Gas to other parts of the world.

If NCDEQ’s mandate is to ensure that any disruption to the air, water, and soil quality which may be affected by the construction and operation of a pipeline in North Carolina is justified by the public good achieved by those same pipelines, what is the ‘good’ to the people of North Carolina if the pipeline, and the gas it carries, is just ‘passing through’ to South Carolina or to foreign countries?

This becomes an even more pressing question if eminent domain is employed to take property for the construction of a pipeline that brings little or no value to the people and communities within any part of the state.

While Dominion’s specific plans and timetable have not been made public, it seems to us that at a minimum NC DEQ can and should demand that Dominion provide for public inspection and comment whatever documents, emails, and other plans Dominion and ACP have regarding this extension, so that these issues could be clarified prior to the granting of NC’s 401 water quality permit. This logic also extends to an air quality permit for the Northhampton County compressor station, since in his comments Weekly said that to extend ACP into SC additional pressure for the gas would need to be created, meaning the expansion of the Northhampton compressor station or the construction of another compressor station in NC.

Many of us are following the events regarding permitting of the ACP, and have been very grateful for the rigor that you and your staff are applying to the permitting process; we would like to hear what the DEQ stance is on the possible extension of the ACP into another state, as far as the impact that would have on further permitting.

Thank you for the work you are doing on behalf of the people and the places we live, here in North Carolina.

Sincerely,

Kay Reibold, Raleigh, NC Steve Norris Ph.D., Fairview.NC

Rev. Mac Legerton, Pembroke, NC Marvin Winstead, Nashville, NC

Kendall Hale, Fairview, NC Greg Yost, Mars Hill, NC

Cathy Scott, Asheville, NC M.A. Maple Osterbrink, Durham NC

************************

dancewater

Sunday, November 05, 2017

Upcoming events for the week of November 5, 2017

No comments: