It looks like you're using ad blocking technology. We are a local company, and our advertisers are local as well. Please consider allow listing our website in the future.
Please join us for a blood drive at Mills River Town Hall on Friday May 31 & July 26th 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Visit RedCrossBlood.org to schedule an appointment.
Webinar: Building Professional Confidence
May 31 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
online
In partnership with Salisbury Rowan Community Action Agency.
Join us to discuss tips on how to build your confidence in the workplace.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Free Books for Children ages 0-5
Jun 1 all-day
online w/ Literacy Together
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Literacy Together became a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate in November 2015 with support from the BuncombePartnership for Children. Through this program, registered children in Buncombe County receive a free book in the mail each month. Their parents also have the opportunity to attend workshops to learn how to build their children’s early literacy skills. Parents in need of literacy assistance are encouraged to receive tutoring through Literacy Together’s adult programming.
The program served 200 children during the 2015/16 fiscal year. The program expanded to serve 400 children in July 2016, and 600 in August 2017. In July 2018, capacity increased to 1,900 thanks to a special allocation in the North Carolina state budget. We’re now serving 4,600 kids in Buncombe County.
Land Trust Day/National Trails Day
Jun 1 all-day
online
On Land Trust Day – this year Saturday, June 1 – local businesses pledge to donate a portion of sales to support Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s ongoing land and water conservation efforts.
Land Trust Day coincides with National Trails Day and is celebrated each year on the first Saturday of June to recognize the accomplishments of land trusts in our region. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy works with partners in the U.S. Forest Service and national park system to protect land for public enjoyment along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, trails accessible off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and many more. We preserve large viewsheds enjoyed by visitors to public lands and trails in the mountains of NC and TN, as well as local farms that support the farm-to-table sector of our regional economy. Land Trust Day is an opportunity for local businesses to recognize the impact of land trusts like SAHC on our state and local economies, and to ‘give back’ by supporting ongoing conservation of natural resources – a major economic engine for WNC and East TN.
Each business that participates in Land Trust Day pledges to donate a percentage of sales from this day, or a lump sum donation, in support and recognition of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s efforts.
“Each year as we approach Land Trust Day, it is our hope that by working together we can help people understand that we must preserve our environment – its beauty, its water, its open spaces, its inhabitants. It is what gives us life, both literally and figuratively,” says Lisa Cooper at Mast General Store.
Please mark your calendars and plan to shop and dine to support conservation! Thank you to our 2024 Land Trust Day Sponsors:
Eblen Charities: Fan Donations
Jun 1 @ 7:00 am
Eblen Charities
Help us keep more families comfortable in the heat of the summer. It’s Fan-tastic!
Nerd Pride Fest
Jun 1 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Nerd Dungeon
Are YOU READY for NERD PRIDE FEST 2024!!
Saturday, June 1st 2024 : 10am – 4pm
Asheville’s local artist convention every first Saturday in June in honor of Pride month! This is a fun, free way to celebrate pride month by supporting local artists and nonprofits who do incredible things for the queer LGBT+ community in western North Carolina.
Nerd Pride Fest was our first ever event in our current location. So it had to be to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and reopening with food, games, live music, and more.
As a shop owned and operated by queer-identifying folks, The Nerd Dungeon is committed to being a safe and welcoming environment for people of all ages to express themselves any time of year, not just during Pride Month. We will always be a 3rd Place.
It is nice to have an excuse to go all-out and party, though! Pride Cosplay encouraged!
New Story Time Series: MENtors Reading Program
Jun 1 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Enka-Candler Library
Did you know that data shows having active male role models in the life of children can breakdown stereotypical gender biases and lead to higher gender equality and empowerment? With that in mind, Buncombe County public libraries is excited to introduce our new Saturday morning story time series, Reading MENtors. This reading initiative encourages men from our local community to celebrate that men love to read. “According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than 3% of early childhood educators, including preschool teachers and librarians, are men,” says Enka-Candler Library Branch Manager Erin Parcels. “That means that we have entire generations of children who grew up without a clear idea of what positive male educators are. To see strong literacy practices in children, adults need to model such behavior, which is why we are inviting men with different professions from the local community to share good reading habits to children.”
To help bolster the number of male reading role models, the Enka-Candler Library is inviting men with different professions from all over Buncombe County to share their joy of reading with young patrons. Data shows that having active male role models in children’s lives can break down stereotypical gender biases and lead to higher gender equality and empowerment. Additionally, teaching and modeling reading at an early age vitally important for brain development. “In the first few years of life, more than one million new neural connections are formed every second. Ninety percent of the brain develops by the age of five,” exclaims Librarian Kate Sprate, “Reading plays a pivotal role in setting children up for future social, emotional, and educational success because literacy helps build language, phonological awareness, and comprehension skills.”
This program is open to children of all ages and gender identities. We believe that positive literacy role models are for everyone! Story time will be every other Saturday beginning May 4 at 10:30 a.m., please join us for a story time followed by fun activities! See below for more MENtor story times.
Interested in being a MENtor?
If you know of someone in our community who would be a great Reading MENtor, let us know! Volunteers will read a book and be accompanied by Youth Services Librarian Kate Spratt, who will host a follow-up activity in line with the theme of the story or the person’s career. We love to collaborate, so ideas from volunteers and full participation are welcome. We are looking for volunteers who enjoy reading and sharing the love of reading, are patient, positive, and joyful. To submit a reading MENtor nomination, email [email protected].
Upcoming MENtor story time and acitivity schedule – all story times are at 10:30 a.m.
May 4: Read & Play!
Jason Hyatt, Director of Buncombe County Public Libraries
Play-Doh Club preview
Free book prize
May 18: Music & Movement
Mike Martinez, LEAF Global Arts #SparktheArtsNC Artist-in-residence, Announcer at Blue Ridge Public Radio, Artist Mentor for StoryCraft
Musical instrument petting zoo, Build your own instrument, songwriting station
June 1: GOAL!
Gregg Munn, Director and Head Coach of Mars Hill University Men’s Soccer Team & players
Soccer obstacle course/warm-up stations
June 15: TBD
June 29: TBD
July 20: Building communities
David McNair, Rector at St. James Episcopal Church
LEGO free-build and giant foam block building
Aug. 3: Fun and games
Mac Stanley and Matt Dixon, Buncombe County Parks & Recreation
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Free Books for Children ages 0-5
Jun 2 all-day
online w/ Literacy Together
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Literacy Together became a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate in November 2015 with support from the BuncombePartnership for Children. Through this program, registered children in Buncombe County receive a free book in the mail each month. Their parents also have the opportunity to attend workshops to learn how to build their children’s early literacy skills. Parents in need of literacy assistance are encouraged to receive tutoring through Literacy Together’s adult programming.
The program served 200 children during the 2015/16 fiscal year. The program expanded to serve 400 children in July 2016, and 600 in August 2017. In July 2018, capacity increased to 1,900 thanks to a special allocation in the North Carolina state budget. We’re now serving 4,600 kids in Buncombe County.
Tools to Support Liberation
Jun 2 all-day
online w/Bountiful Cities
Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.
Finalists must use their social media platforms to garner votes from the public. The WNC minority-owned business or non-profit organization with the most votes by June 14th will win a full branding package, including brand story development, logo design, and marketing collateral creation.
The contest timeline, rules, details, and updates are on Kudzu’s website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The link to vote can be found on the agency’s website and all social platforms.
Kudzu Brands has extensive experience helping businesses and non-profit organizations grow into memorable, profitable, and sustainable brands. Our full suite of brand and marketing services uses a proven and effective process that makes supporting you easy and impactful.
Eblen Charities: Fan Donations
Jun 3 @ 7:00 am
Eblen Charities
Help us keep more families comfortable in the heat of the summer. It’s Fan-tastic!
Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.
Finalists must use their social media platforms to garner votes from the public. The WNC minority-owned business or non-profit organization with the most votes by June 14th will win a full branding package, including brand story development, logo design, and marketing collateral creation.
The contest timeline, rules, details, and updates are on Kudzu’s website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The link to vote can be found on the agency’s website and all social platforms.
Kudzu Brands has extensive experience helping businesses and non-profit organizations grow into memorable, profitable, and sustainable brands. Our full suite of brand and marketing services uses a proven and effective process that makes supporting you easy and impactful.
Eblen Charities: Fan Donations
Jun 4 @ 7:00 am
Eblen Charities
Help us keep more families comfortable in the heat of the summer. It’s Fan-tastic!
Lunch + Learn: Health Insurance Options
Jun 4 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Explore Asheville/AIR Offices
Businesses with 25 or more full-time employees are invited to an informative session on enhancing your health plan. Speakers include Dr. Ben Aiken, founder of Lantern Health; Evan Bruder, Director of SONA Pharmacy Benefits; and Patrick Long, founder of Hero Health.
This Lunch & Learn opportunity is Tuesday, June 4 from 12-1:30pm at Explore Asheville/AIR Offices (27 College Place). Enjoy a complimentary lunch as you learn how eligible employers are offering $0 deductibles to their staff while saving money on their plan.
Finalists must use their social media platforms to garner votes from the public. The WNC minority-owned business or non-profit organization with the most votes by June 14th will win a full branding package, including brand story development, logo design, and marketing collateral creation.
The contest timeline, rules, details, and updates are on Kudzu’s website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The link to vote can be found on the agency’s website and all social platforms.
Kudzu Brands has extensive experience helping businesses and non-profit organizations grow into memorable, profitable, and sustainable brands. Our full suite of brand and marketing services uses a proven and effective process that makes supporting you easy and impactful.
Eblen Charities: Fan Donations
Jun 5 @ 7:00 am
Eblen Charities
Help us keep more families comfortable in the heat of the summer. It’s Fan-tastic!
Chamber Golf Classic
Jun 5 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Hendersonville Country Club
Come out for a round of golf with the Chamber!
Each year, our annual Golf Classic raises funds for our Chamber of Commerce Foundation and its workforce development efforts. Programs under the Foundation include, Teacher of the Year Reception, Junior Leaders Program, Apprenticeships programs and more!
Please reach out to Amy at [email protected] to register for a team, to sponsor a hole, or both! All registration forms are below.
Smart Series: Visual Storytelling with Photos and Videos
Jun 5 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Boardroom
Ever wanted to make fun, entertaining, and informative videos for your business, but didn’t have the budget to hire a video production crew? Learn how to create professional business videos using just your cell phone! This course covers essential video production skills tailored for business, including camera techniques, lighting, sound, and editing on mobile devices. Explore different types of business videos and discover strategies for effective video marketing and distribution. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to create compelling videos that enhance your brand presence and engage with your target audience. Elevate your business with the power of mobile video production!
Our speaker for this event is Andre Daugherty. Andre is the owner and lead videographer for Pro 16 Productions, a digital media creation company based in Asheville. Since 2011 he has created and produced video for many businesses, both small and large, with the unified goal of telling their unique stories to their clients.
Andre is a graduate of East Carolina University with a B.S in Communications and two-time graduate of AB Tech for digital media and general studies. He is also a landscape photographer with years of experience exploring and capturing the beautiful mountains of WNC and the surrounding areas.
Registration is required so we may plan accordingly.
This event is offered as a benefit for Chamber membership. We also believe these are important topics for everyone, so we are opening this event to non-members for $15. We welcome you to come and check us out! Please contact Jessica Kanupp, our Member Development Specialist, at [email protected]if you’re considering a Chamber membership.
Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.
Finalists must use their social media platforms to garner votes from the public. The WNC minority-owned business or non-profit organization with the most votes by June 14th will win a full branding package, including brand story development, logo design, and marketing collateral creation.
The contest timeline, rules, details, and updates are on Kudzu’s website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The link to vote can be found on the agency’s website and all social platforms.
Kudzu Brands has extensive experience helping businesses and non-profit organizations grow into memorable, profitable, and sustainable brands. Our full suite of brand and marketing services uses a proven and effective process that makes supporting you easy and impactful.
Eblen Charities: Fan Donations
Jun 6 @ 7:00 am
Eblen Charities
Help us keep more families comfortable in the heat of the summer. It’s Fan-tastic!
Summer Reading Program: Books + Free Ice Cream
Jun 6 @ 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Hop Ice Cream
Buncombe County Public Library is thrilled to announce The Hop Ice Cream as a proud supporting partner of this year’s Summer Reading Program to encourage youth literacy in our community. The Hop will provide free ice cream at the Summer Library Fest on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m.-noon at East Asheville Library. For added fun, The Hop owner Greg Garrison will collaborate with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo to provide a special dance performance to families in attendance.
Any kid or teen who visits a Buncombe County library to pick up their summer reading activity sheet will also receive a 10 percent off coupon redeemable at any Hop location or at Pop Bubble Tea. Return your completed activity sheet to any branch and receive a bookmark for a free kiddie scoop of ice cream at any Hop location. You must complete 10 or more activities on your sheet to be eligible for ice cream – and you can also select a free book of your choice!
Malaprop’s Bookstore / Café presents: David LaMotte in conversation with Bruce Reyes-Chow + book signings on Thursday, June 6. Doors at 6:30 p.m. and event at 7:30 p.m. Free; RSVP required.
Bruce Reyes-Chow is a sought-after speaker and writer on faith, culture, politics, race, technology, and pop-culture. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), has led churches in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly three decades, and is a former moderator of the PC(USA). Reyes-Chow hosts the podcast BRC & Friends and has authored five books, most recently Everything Good about God is True: Choosing Faith. A senior consultant and coach with Convergence, Reyes-Chow and his spouse have three adult children and live in San Jose, California.
Finalists must use their social media platforms to garner votes from the public. The WNC minority-owned business or non-profit organization with the most votes by June 14th will win a full branding package, including brand story development, logo design, and marketing collateral creation.
The contest timeline, rules, details, and updates are on Kudzu’s website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The link to vote can be found on the agency’s website and all social platforms.
Kudzu Brands has extensive experience helping businesses and non-profit organizations grow into memorable, profitable, and sustainable brands. Our full suite of brand and marketing services uses a proven and effective process that makes supporting you easy and impactful.
Eblen Charities: Fan Donations
Jun 7 @ 7:00 am
Eblen Charities
Help us keep more families comfortable in the heat of the summer. It’s Fan-tastic!
Young Professionals Community Tour
Jun 7 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
City Hall
Join our Young Professionals group, for fun industry tours each quarter. These tours are created to gain insights into diverse businesses and organizations from our community. a chance to see their impact on our county, and offer the chance to expand your network with other YP’s as well as some seasoned Pros. This is more than a tour – it’s an opportunity to connect, learn and fuel your professional journey.
During our 2nd quarter of 2024, connect with local officials from our city and county as we discuss about community initiatives, policies and opportunities for citizen involvement. You’ll have a chance to see City Hall, gain valuable insights into how our local government operates and how decisions are made.
Buncombe County Public Library is thrilled to announce The Hop Ice Cream as a proud supporting partner of this year’s Summer Reading Program to encourage youth literacy in our community. The Hop will provide free ice cream at the Summer Library Fest on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m.-noon at East Asheville Library. For added fun, The Hop owner Greg Garrison will collaborate with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo to provide a special dance performance to families in attendance.
Any kid or teen who visits a Buncombe County library to pick up their summer reading activity sheet will also receive a 10 percent off coupon redeemable at any Hop location or at Pop Bubble Tea. Return your completed activity sheet to any branch and receive a bookmark for a free kiddie scoop of ice cream at any Hop location. You must complete 10 or more activities on your sheet to be eligible for ice cream – and you can also select a free book of your choice!
Nerd Pride Fest
New Story Time Series: MENtors Reading Program
