Have social time meet our staff and current fosters and get to know more about our Foster Program. Games, snacks, and other goodies will be provided for attendees and donations of much-needed kitten items are encouraged. Items requested include vital supplies like kitten formula and food, kitten warmers, bottles, and supplements that give foster kittens the needed boost to grow into healthy adult cats.

The full kitten supply list is available on the Blue Ridge Humane Society website at https://www.blueridgehumane.org/donate/wish-list/. There are also options available for items to be purchased online and shipped directly to Blue Ridge Humane.

As the weather warms up, the birds, bees, and cats get busy. Soon, kittens start to appear in local animal shelters, “rescued” by well-meaning animal lovers. “We are coming on that time of year when animal lovers begin finding kittens outside,” says Angela Prodrick, Blue Ridge Humane’s Executive Director. “It is important to remember that the amount of community or feral cats in our county far outnumbers the number of people living in our community. If all the kittens were brought to a local shelter, the shelter would quickly become overwhelmed.”

If you find a kitten, here are a few simple things you can do to help save lives:

Instead of immediately springing into action once kittens are found, wait and watch. If the kittens aren’t visibly sick or injured, move away from the nest and wait to see if the mother returns. If the mother returns, you can help her by providing food and shelter while she raises the kittens.

If you discover that mom isn’t returning, or if it appears that she is not coming back, then you should remove the kittens. This is crucial to the kittens’ survival. The best place for kittens to grow is with a dedicated foster. Blue Ridge Humane provides kitten kits to help kitten rescuers turn into kitten fosters.

Once kittens are about 6-8 weeks old, a finder can look to get them spayed or neutered and adopted into new homes. If you find kittens that need care and you need supplies or advice, contact the BRHS Foster and Community Outreach Team at [email protected] or (828) 393-5832. Animal lovers can also view additional resources about what to do when kittens are found at https://www.blueridgehumane.org/resources/lost-found/kittens/.

Blue Ridge Humane offers kitten care support for volunteers, as well as comprehensive training and support for fosters in the BRHS foster program. To learn more about fostering, visit https://www.blueridgehumane.org/get-involved/foster/ or contact Michaela Okuda, Foster Program Coordinator at [email protected].

The Blue Ridge Humane Society, Inc., is a 501(c)3 animal welfare organization started in 1950 and dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of life for animals in Henderson County and our neighboring communities. BRHS cares for pets awaiting adoption at the Adoption Center; offers low-cost vaccine clinics, animal education programs, pet training classes, and youth education and projects; coordinates community pet food assistance, emergency vet assistance, and the Spay Neuter Incentive Program (SNIP), which is a collaboration with Henderson County, the City of Hendersonville, and the Henderson County Animal Services Center.

If you believe in our cause, consider donating or learning how to volunteer by visiting the Blue Ridge Humane Society’s website at www.blueridgehumane.org or call (828) 692-2639.

Bark your calendars for the last Doggie-Date-Night of the season! Thanks to our friends at Noble Dog Hotel, Saturday, April 1st you can bring your four legged pooch to the Swamp Rabbits Game for a fun night of hockey!

The Holy Week schedule begins April 2. Here is a list of all services:
Palm Sunday, April 2
8:45 and 11:00 a.m. Rite I Eucharists
Maundy Thursday, April 6
7:00 p.m. Service with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar
Good Friday, April 7
11:00 a.m. Stations of the Cross – meet in the parking lot of the Parish Hall
12:00 p.m. Good Friday Service (No Eucharist)
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Veneration of the Cross in the church
5:30 p.m. Good Friday Service (No Eucharist)
Easter Sunday, April 8
8:45 a.m. Easter Service – Rite II Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt in the Rector's Garden and Parish Hall Lawn
11:00 a.m. Easter Service – Rite II Eucharist

The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness welcomes children of all ages to participate in an
Easter Egg Hunt at 10am on Easter Sunday, April 9th. The annual event is hosted by St. John's Young
Family Ministry.
Participants are encouraged to join the fun in the Rector’s Garden and Parish Hall lawn next to the Parish
Hall across Rutledge Drive from the church. Parking is available.
“We invite neighbors, friends, and visitors to join us for Easter at St. John in the Wilderness this year,”
said Fr. Josh Stephens, Rector. “We are excited to offer the Easter Egg Hunt for the community, as well
as the beautiful worship with a warm welcome as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection.”

Our very own Keri Ann has connected with the African Christian Fellowship to embark on a Mission trip this July to Malawi, Africa.

$10 cover charge, a raffle and an opportunity to donate!

To support this wonderful cause, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyard and Appalachian Ridge will kick off Spring with a 4 week Friday Night Jam’s Fundraiser at Appalachian Ridge from 6-9pm. �We will have live Music each Friday from 6-8:30pm. There will be a $10 cover charge, a raffle and an opportunity to donate. All of these proceeds go straight to the ACFUSA to provide and support primary health care needs to 6 villages in Malawi.

Friday Night Jam’s Malawi Fundraiser will take place every other Friday; Friday, April 14th- Live Music with Collin Cheek Friday, April 28th- Live Music with Hunnilicious Friday, May 12th- TBD Friday, May 26th- TBD

Kate Steinbeck
Music for solo flute – A program of surprises

This concert is a fundraiser for a mission trip to Armenia to play concerts for UN Refugee communities and others

Advanced reservations are encouraged.

Read more about Adventure Armenia here: https://panharmonia.org/2023/01/02/adventure-armenia/

The Asheville Only One Earth Coalition is throwing a party for Earth Day!
Enjoy an evening of music, food, and drink with some local activists and other beautiful earthlings.
This event will be a benefit for Southside Community Garden.
Admission at the door will be on a sliding scale of $10 – $25, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
They will also have a raffle, which will include art, gift certificates, and various fun stuff.

Activists from some of the Coalition organizations will have tables to share information about what they are doing to make this world a better place.  Come join us as we celebrate Earth Day and our hopes for a better world!

We’re doing it AGAIN y’all!!
Join us for the third annual Spring Fling, taking place at:
91 Holbrook Road, Candler, NC, 28571
April 29, 2023
11:00 AM to 4PM
Our beautiful greenhouses are over-flowing with spring vibes and are full of unique plants, live music, a mechanical bull, h-e-m-p goodies, and fantastic vendors, ready to launch us into the warm season.

Come experience one heck of a unique venue as we have bluegrass jams, a set with HUG – Hendersonville Ukulele Group, the Substandards, almost madi, and a SURPRISE band! We’ll also have all the Farm Fam favs like Lauren Daviss of @fiddyshadesofgreen, Amy and Jesse Ross, and MS. SUSIE (#protectmssusieatallcosts).

Almost Madi will be joining us to play gentle tunes as you peruse our wonderful line-up of craft vendors, which will include artisan food vendors like App Wyld, as well as beautiful jewelry, amazing art, glass blowers, ceramics, and of course a wide selection (and maybe even a few special drops) of green goodness from Appalachian Standard!

The Spring Fling is *FREE* to the public. Parking is available on site but can be limited so it is recommended that groups carpool. This is an outdoor event. The first 100 people to join us will receive a goodie bag!

Please join us in Hendersonville, NC, April 29th, 2PM. Live Music From Johhny Blackwell and Joe Roads, as well as Raffle Prizes! Fundraiser benefits Jennifer’s cancer treatment and search for a cure. Thank you!!! Other ways to help: https://givesendgo.com/G9QUV?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=G9QUV https://gofund.me/57aec302

The Second Annual Block Party will be held on Saturday, April 29th from 2:00 – 7:00 PM on South Liberty Street at the crossroads of East Chestnut and Merrimon Place in Asheville, North Carolina.

The event is free to enter, but a recommended donation at the door is encouraged, with all donations going directly to benefit The Pisgah Conservancy, an organization that leads sustainable projects to improve and preserve Pisgah National Forest.

The event will feature live music from several performers, including Red Clay Revival, The Larry Keel Experience, DJ Logic, and an interactive drum performance by Billy Zanski.

There will also be over 15 local craft vendors and fun activities for the whole family, such as yard games, a board breaking station from Premier Martial Arts Studio and more.

Food sold on-site by Pulp & Sprout, Smashville Food Truck, and sweet treats by Sunshine Sammies.

Craft beverages will be sold by One World Brewing, The Whale and N/A beverages by Headspace Elixirs. Complementary water provided by Blue Moon Water.

Pisgah National Forest is one of the most visited National Forests in the nation, with millions of visitors each year. The Pisgah Conservancy has successfully led projects focused on improving the forest’s trail systems and access points in a sustainable way, developing a close relationship with the National Forest Service in the process. The Block Party aims to create awareness and financial support for The Pisgah Conservancy’s work, which is crucial in the face of unprecedented growth in the outdoor recreation economy and the region as a whole.

The Block Party committee consists of seven individuals from Looking Glass Realty’s Asheville office, who donate their time and talents to organize the event. This year, event coordinator Jessica Grion of Pisgah Brewing has joined the team, and the committee is excited to work with The Pisgah Conservancy once again to make the event a success.

Please click the link below to learn more about our Sponsorship Opportunities for this year’s event: Block Party Sponsorship Opportunities.

Want to volunteer? Contact Jessica at [email protected].

This is a rain or shine event! Donations at the door can be made by Cash, Venmo and Paypal.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional event information and updates.

Thank you kindly for your support! Happy trails and see you on the Block!

~ Looking Glass Realty

Charles Davidson, minister and author of Foster’s Pie Pan: Stories of Grace Abounding in a Fallen World, will read from his new book and sign copies for purchase at Calvary Presbyterian Church. Profits from the event benefit Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina. Jim Lowder will speak briefly about the work of Homeward Bound.

Support your firefighters and paramedics of North Carolina by coming to see the Hottest new artist out of Nashville TN. George Birge with “Give me that drink” song is sweeping the radio stations. Get your tickets now!

You’re invited to an evening of food, fun, and fundraising in honor of the UNC Asheville STEAM Studio’s SkillSet Program!

Join us on Thursday, May 18, from 5 – 7 p.m. to tour the studio, take part in a silent auction, and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

Tickets for the event are $30 through Eventbrite

Proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund for SkillSet, an outreach program of UNC Asheville’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Studio.
SkillSet provides access to life-changing skills through maker-based education. Through SkillSet, community members of all ages can participate in summer camps and day classes, learning everything from making custom electric guitars to programming robotics and building furniture. Students of all skill levels become familiar with tools and develop the technical skills and resilience to create these objects.

SkillSet primarily serves under-resourced communities, female-identified, and gender-expansive students to ensure visibility of diverse identities in STEAM fields and inspire students to consider new interests and career paths.

Over 50% of our families receive financial assistance in the form of pay-what-you-can tuition. Monies raised from this event will help send a kid to summer camp! Help us meet our goal of raising $8000 for the summer 2023 scholarship fund.

Learn more about the STEAM Studio SkillSet Program at www.skillset.tools

This recital, which is free and open to the public, will feature a young promising singer and it has the added
purpose of raising funds for his brother’s Memorial Fund.

David Weigel has been hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as “heroic” and “stentorian” possessing an
“imposing mahogany voice” (Opera News). He is a recent graduate of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric
Opera of Chicago. On May 21, Mr. Weigel will perform art songs in several languages, opera arias and some
well-known music theatre selections.
A native of Asheville, Mr.Weigel holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Furman University. He pursued
graduate studies at UNC-Greensboro, A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute at the UNC School of the Arts, and
Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Michigan.
“We are thrilled to present Mr. Weigel in concert and recognize that he is destined for a significant career,”
said Dewitt Tipton, Organist, Director of Music for St. John in the Wilderness and creator of Friends of
Music. “We are also pleased to be able to offer this event as a way to contribute to his brother’s Memorial
Fund through the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.”
We cannot adequately express how much we appreciate this effort.  It touches our hearts deeply, and we are
so grateful to you all,” said Larry Weigel, Eric’s and David’s father.
Donations are encouraged. Checks should be made out to St. John in the Wilderness with Eric Weigel
Memorial Fund in the memo line.

The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina will host an American Kennel Club (AKC) agility trial during the Memorial Day weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 26 – 29, 2023.  The event will be held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center McGough Arena in Fletcher from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm Friday-Sunday and 8:00 am-1:00 pm on Monday. Spectators are welcome to attend and admission is free. Please leave your dog comfortably at home.

Over 300 purebred dogs, from throughout the southeast, will compete at various levels of difficulty, against each other and the clock. There will be approximately 70 AKC-registered breeds competing.

Agility is a competitive team sport that involves a handler and his or her dog.  The object of agility is for the handler to navigate the dog through a timed obstacle course without the dog making a mistake. The agility course is comprised of jumps; weave poles, tunnels and climbing apparatuses. Agility rules focus on safety for the dog. The sport of agility combines control, training and drive into a challenging game for both the handler and the dog. Agility training heightens the bond between dog and handler and provides fun exercise for both. Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the USA.

The FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) class will be offered Friday through Sunday. The FAST class is an additional test of strategy, accuracy, speed, timing and distance handling, to demonstrate a dog’s athletic ability. The distance challenge must be completed correctly for a qualifying run; it can be attempted anytime during the run.

Time 2 Beat (T2B) will be offered each day. Each dog has the chance to set the “Time to Beat” for each jump height. This class is the most interactive class with the most accurate and fastest dog setting the pace.  Dogs from the novice, open and excellent classes compete against each other on the same course.

AKC’s exciting Premier classes will be offered all four days. Premier courses are designed to challenge dogs and their handlers at an increased skill and speed level. The courses are set above the Master class with varied approach angles, spacing and discrimination obstacles.

The American Kennel Club was founded in 1884 and is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization devoted to the study, breeding, exhibiting and advancement of purebred dogs.

The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina will host an American Kennel Club (AKC) agility trial during the Memorial Day weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 26 – 29, 2023.  The event will be held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center McGough Arena in Fletcher from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm Friday-Sunday and 8:00 am-1:00 pm on Monday. Spectators are welcome to attend and admission is free. Please leave your dog comfortably at home.

Over 300 purebred dogs, from throughout the southeast, will compete at various levels of difficulty, against each other and the clock. There will be approximately 70 AKC-registered breeds competing.

Agility is a competitive team sport that involves a handler and his or her dog.  The object of agility is for the handler to navigate the dog through a timed obstacle course without the dog making a mistake. The agility course is comprised of jumps; weave poles, tunnels and climbing apparatuses. Agility rules focus on safety for the dog. The sport of agility combines control, training and drive into a challenging game for both the handler and the dog. Agility training heightens the bond between dog and handler and provides fun exercise for both. Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the USA.

The FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) class will be offered Friday through Sunday. The FAST class is an additional test of strategy, accuracy, speed, timing and distance handling, to demonstrate a dog’s athletic ability. The distance challenge must be completed correctly for a qualifying run; it can be attempted anytime during the run.

Time 2 Beat (T2B) will be offered each day. Each dog has the chance to set the “Time to Beat” for each jump height. This class is the most interactive class with the most accurate and fastest dog setting the pace.  Dogs from the novice, open and excellent classes compete against each other on the same course.

AKC’s exciting Premier classes will be offered all four days. Premier courses are designed to challenge dogs and their handlers at an increased skill and speed level. The courses are set above the Master class with varied approach angles, spacing and discrimination obstacles.

The American Kennel Club was founded in 1884 and is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization devoted to the study, breeding, exhibiting and advancement of purebred dogs.

Womansong, Asheville’s longest-running women’s community chorus, invites you to join us in our spring concert, “Love Your Mother (Earth)” a tribute to the beauty of our world. Under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Allison Thorp, along with Assistant Director Claire Lemke and former Director Althea Gonzalez, this concert will focus on songs celebrating, caring for, and advocating for Mother Earth. The first half of our program will highlight music that expresses love for the earth – appreciation, reflection, connection and joy. The second half will feature music that expresses love for the earth in action – doing, moving, and making change. Among the many inspiring songs are Carrie Newcomer’s If Not Now, Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi, Elise Witt’s My Salsa Garden, and the world premiere of Lytingale’s call-to-action composition, Together We Can Change the World.

The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina will host an American Kennel Club (AKC) agility trial during the Memorial Day weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 26 – 29, 2023.  The event will be held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center McGough Arena in Fletcher from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm Friday-Sunday and 8:00 am-1:00 pm on Monday. Spectators are welcome to attend and admission is free. Please leave your dog comfortably at home.

Over 300 purebred dogs, from throughout the southeast, will compete at various levels of difficulty, against each other and the clock. There will be approximately 70 AKC-registered breeds competing.

Agility is a competitive team sport that involves a handler and his or her dog.  The object of agility is for the handler to navigate the dog through a timed obstacle course without the dog making a mistake. The agility course is comprised of jumps; weave poles, tunnels and climbing apparatuses. Agility rules focus on safety for the dog. The sport of agility combines control, training and drive into a challenging game for both the handler and the dog. Agility training heightens the bond between dog and handler and provides fun exercise for both. Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the USA.

The FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) class will be offered Friday through Sunday. The FAST class is an additional test of strategy, accuracy, speed, timing and distance handling, to demonstrate a dog’s athletic ability. The distance challenge must be completed correctly for a qualifying run; it can be attempted anytime during the run.

Time 2 Beat (T2B) will be offered each day. Each dog has the chance to set the “Time to Beat” for each jump height. This class is the most interactive class with the most accurate and fastest dog setting the pace.  Dogs from the novice, open and excellent classes compete against each other on the same course.

AKC’s exciting Premier classes will be offered all four days. Premier courses are designed to challenge dogs and their handlers at an increased skill and speed level. The courses are set above the Master class with varied approach angles, spacing and discrimination obstacles.

The American Kennel Club was founded in 1884 and is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization devoted to the study, breeding, exhibiting and advancement of purebred dogs.

The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina will host an American Kennel Club (AKC) agility trial during the Memorial Day weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 26 – 29, 2023.  The event will be held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center McGough Arena in Fletcher from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm Friday-Sunday and 8:00 am-1:00 pm on Monday. Spectators are welcome to attend and admission is free. Please leave your dog comfortably at home.

Over 300 purebred dogs, from throughout the southeast, will compete at various levels of difficulty, against each other and the clock. There will be approximately 70 AKC-registered breeds competing.

Agility is a competitive team sport that involves a handler and his or her dog.  The object of agility is for the handler to navigate the dog through a timed obstacle course without the dog making a mistake. The agility course is comprised of jumps; weave poles, tunnels and climbing apparatuses. Agility rules focus on safety for the dog. The sport of agility combines control, training and drive into a challenging game for both the handler and the dog. Agility training heightens the bond between dog and handler and provides fun exercise for both. Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the USA.

The FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) class will be offered Friday through Sunday. The FAST class is an additional test of strategy, accuracy, speed, timing and distance handling, to demonstrate a dog’s athletic ability. The distance challenge must be completed correctly for a qualifying run; it can be attempted anytime during the run.

Time 2 Beat (T2B) will be offered each day. Each dog has the chance to set the “Time to Beat” for each jump height. This class is the most interactive class with the most accurate and fastest dog setting the pace.  Dogs from the novice, open and excellent classes compete against each other on the same course.

AKC’s exciting Premier classes will be offered all four days. Premier courses are designed to challenge dogs and their handlers at an increased skill and speed level. The courses are set above the Master class with varied approach angles, spacing and discrimination obstacles.

The American Kennel Club was founded in 1884 and is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization devoted to the study, breeding, exhibiting and advancement of purebred dogs.

Join us for this 5K Run for Life event hosted by Open Arms Pregnancy Center to help support women and teens facing unplanned pregnancies. This will be a run/walk-timed event to be held at The Park at Flat Rock located at 55 Highland Golf Drive, Flat Rock, NC US 28731 June 3,2023 with a start time of 8:30 AM.
Runners should register by May 14 to secure a T-shirt for the race.
Sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/FlatRock/Run4for5k
Those interested in sponsoring the event should contact Open Arms Pregnancy Center by May 15th to learn more. (Marlies Zerressen at [email protected] or Lydia Bright at 864-921-5770)
Open Arms’ ministry is love, our aim: to support and guide, our purpose: to serve God and preserve life. We provide a safe and supportive place for pregnancy related needs with ultrasounds, material and emotional support for those facing difficult circumstances or perhaps the loss of a child.
All are services are Free and Confidential.

Just Brew It is a homebrew competition and tasting in Asheville benefiting the work of Just Economics. The festival features 75+ different beers and 30+ amazing homebrewers. The competing homebrewers are some of the finest specialty homebrewers in the region with classic brews from traditional IPAs, lagers, sours, and stouts to unique beers brewed with specialty items like coffee, chocolate, spices, and fruit.

To attend, you must be a current member of Just Economics. This event is not ticketed, so you must purchase a membership prior to the event. Then, all Just Economics members can sample the homebrews and vote for their favorites!

Purchase your membership here: https://www.justeconomicswnc.org/donate/

Memberships are $30, which grants you entry to the event.
Memberships with a VIP package are $50, which grant you entry to the event an hour early (1:00pm) plus a souvenir glass, gourmet pretzel, and more.

This is a local festival you won’t want to miss and your membership supports the work of Just Economics to advance living wages, affordable housing and better transit! Hope to see you there!

Looking for a buzz-worthy event? Look no further than Asheville’s 2nd Annual Honey Festival! Join the Center for Honeybee Research and Shanti Elixirs on Sunday, June 4th, from 12-6pm for a day of celebration, education, and community-building.
At the festival, you’ll enjoy live music, food trucks, and vendors showcasing the unique flavors of honey and other artisanal goods. But that’s not all: you’ll also be supporting a great cause, as proceeds from the festival will go towards saving pollinators and our planet.
The Center for Honeybee Research will be offering local and international honey for guests to sample and purchase, and you can even participate in the People’s Choice award for local honey vendors. Plus, we will be featuring the live finals of the 12th Annual International Black Jar Honey competition. Festival goers can watch as local celebrities determine the world’s best tasting honey.
And don’t forget to come dressed in your best pollinator-themed costume! It’s all part of the fun at Asheville’s 2nd Annual Honey Festival.
Personal water bottles are recommended, and families are encouraged to attend. So mark your calendars for June 4th, and come out to celebrate the wonderful world of beekeeping, honey, and all things pollinators. Together, we can help save the bees!