Calendar of Events

Come join the amazing Chris Martin on a fun filled improv journey through all of our favorite improv games and some new surprises. Don’t miss the chance for some hilarious and silly rounds of Waiter, Waiter!, Changing Channels, Night at the Museum, and so much more! The class includes fun warm-ups, “Yes And” exercises, and a showcase during the last class.

A limited number of scholarships are available for this class. CLICK HERE TO APPLY. Please do not purchase registration prior to applying. Applications must be received by 2:00pm on Monday, March 8, 2021 for consideration. Please contact Amanda at [email protected] with questions.

• Learn that the so-called ‘monkey mind’ is actually
a healthy mind seeking fulfillment

• Effective meditation doesn’t control the mind but satisfies the mind

• The three major categories of meditation and their brain wave signatures

Dr. Fred Travis is one of the world’s most respected and highly published researchers in the area of meditation and the brain. He is director of the Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition in Fairfield, Iowa. His groundbreaking book, “World-Class Brain: The Edge That Helps Peak Performers Succeed And How You Can Develop It,” describes how greater “brain integration” (increased brain connectivity and coherence) improves focus, memory, creativity, decision making, and behavior, and how meditation can develop a higher state of brain health. In this online talk, he will discuss the three major forms of meditation and how they each affect the brain in different ways, and will present the latest scientific knowledge about meditation, brain health, and higher stages of human development.

To receive Zoom link contact [email protected] (828-254-4350).

Bring stories and songs to life in this wacky virtual theatre class combining children’s literature, creative movement, acting, and music! With fun, on-your-feet activities and games that focus on creative play and improvisation, this high-energy class is perfect for little kids with BIG imaginations.

Instructor: Tania Battista

Registration Begins  March 8

Registration Begins  March 8

Dive into the development of fun characters in this imaginative, four-week acting class where students create their own original characters! Through a series of on-your-feet improv games, activities, and creative prompts, young artists will learn to follow their instincts and celebrate their individuality. 

Elevate your voice through poetry and prose in an all-new virtual writing and performance class led by professional poet, actor, and improvisor TJ Simba-Medel. In a fast-paced class that celebrates individuality and expression, teen artists will explore foundational writing and performance skills through prompts, group sharing, and private coaching. Silence your inner critic and amplify your confidence as you discover the power of sharing your own unique story.

This club will meet virtually via zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic. Please email [email protected] for the link to join!  

Join host and Malaprop’s Bookseller Allison Beatty to dive into the wreck of the wily and wonderful world of sci-fi, weird fiction, speculative fiction, literary horror, and disturbing fiction with a healthy mix of underappreciated classic and contemporary books. The club normally meets at Malaprop’s on the last Monday of every month at 7:00pm.

Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

We are offering you and your friends the opportunity to join us and refresh your musical and associated skills.

We are asking everyone who joins us to contribute $50 to pay for expenses and help raise funds in order to resume auditions and rehearsals in September. Please send a check for $50 to Carolina Concert Choir, P.O. Box 962, Hendersonville, NC 28793 or use the PayPal link below.

Spring Agenda:

​

March 1: Intro to Stephen Paulus’ “Prayers and Remembrances” for the 9/11 Concert**

with Dr. Michael Lancaster

March 8: “The Vocal Mechanism and How to Care for It”

with Dr. Neuenschwander, ENT

March 15: “Lyrics Methodology – Ken Burns Civil War Theme put to Psalm”

with Aloha Smith

March 22: “The World History of Music in 30 Minutes”

with Virginia Erwin

March 22: “The Sacred Harp and the American Shaped Note Tradition”

Alan Bowen

April 5: Intro to René Clausen’s “Memorial” for the 9/11 Concert**

Dr. Michael Lancaster

April 12: “Breathing and Vocal Stretching Exercises”

with Katie Cilluffo

April 19: “Creating Artistic Videos on your Smart Phone”

with Diane Dean, Pres. Henderson Arts League Member

April 26: “Your Instrument as Your Voice”

with the Hendersonville Symphony

May 3: “The Role of Your Arts Council in Promoting the Arts”

with Hannah Duncan, ED Arts Council

**It is very helpful to purchase the CDs to learn and read the lyrics for the “Prayers and Remembrances” concert classes.

CD for René Clausen – “Memorial” – Concordia Recordings

CD for Stephen Paulus – “Far in the Heavens” – True Concord Voices & Orchestra with Eric Holtan, Conductor

Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low

The Blood Connection extends collection hours in response to urgent need

The Blood Connection, the community blood center, is seeing historically low blood donor turnout and has extended its center hours in response to this urgent need. According to the latest TBC data, local hospitals have consumed twice as much blood as the community has donated. If this trend continues, it could cause a blood rationing event or blood shortage for hospitals in this community. Donation centers are now open earlier and later to accommodate more blood donors.

Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low

The Blood Connection extends collection hours in response to urgent need

The Blood Connection, the community blood center, is seeing historically low blood donor turnout and has extended its center hours in response to this urgent need. According to the latest TBC data, local hospitals have consumed twice as much blood as the community has donated. If this trend continues, it could cause a blood rationing event or blood shortage for hospitals in this community. Donation centers are now open earlier and later to accommodate more blood donors.

Convenient hourly childcare. No babysitter needed.

Our trained Empowerment Childcare staff are here to take care of children so busy moms and dads can take care of errands, doctor’s appointments, meetings – or take care of themselves with an afternoon or night out!

Pay-by-the-Hour Childcare

• Short-term care for children ages 6 weeks – 6 years
• Ask about availability for older children
• Up to 4 hours per visit
• All fees help support providing free or reduced-cost childcare for women and families in transition, working towards stability and economic security. Learn more about YWCA’s Empowerment Childcare.

Hours

• Monday – Friday: 8 am – 8 pm
  • Session 1: 8 am-Noon
  • Session 2: 1 pm-5 pm
  • Session 3: 4 pm – 8 pm

Make a Reservation

• Call: (828) 254-7206 x113
• Email:  [email protected]

The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.

The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.

The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.

With the convenience of being open year-round, 7 days a week, the WNC Farmers Market offers a selection of farm-fresh produce at the lowest prices in Western N.C. Our popular retail buildings, providing a selection of non-perishables, fruits, vegetables, crafts and more, are open daily.

Make a Free Appointment Today

Appointments can be made online at www.pisgahlegal.org/aca or by calling (828) 210-3404. For the safety of consumers, staff and volunteers, all appointments are currently being conducted by phone. Depending on where you live in WNC, some of Pisgah Legal’s ACA Partners may be offering in-person appointments.

Last year, more than 90 percent of North Carolinians who enrolled for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace (www.healthcare.gov) received financial assistance to make their plans more affordable. Subsidies are based on household taxable income and may be difficult for consumers to calculate themselves. Pisgah Legal can help with this process and can factor in unemployment benefits if needed. Pisgah Legal can also answer questions about other coverage, such as COBRA, and help people apply for Medicaid and CHIP.

Pisgah Legal and other Enrollment Partners of WNC participating organizations give local residents free, unbiased health insurance information and enrollment assistance in the NC Health Insurance Marketplace. These organizations include: Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Blue Ridge Community Health Services, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Mountain Projects, Inc., Western Carolina Medical Society, and Pisgah Legal Services.

The ACA – also known as “Obamacare” – is the law that ensures access to quality, affordable health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace. With these plans, consumers are protected and:

• Can’t be denied coverage for a pre-existing health condition and can’t be dropped for getting sick;
• Insurers can’t charge higher premiums to women; and
• Insurers can’t sell substandard plans that don’t pay for essential health care benefits.

RiverLink is partnering with the City of Asheville and local volunteers to protect water quality through an Adopt-A-Storm Drain Program. Pollution from stormwater runoff is the biggest threat to clean water in our urban streams. Stormwater is rain that flows across the landscape—rather than soaking into the ground—where it picks up pollutants before flowing into a storm drain and emptying into the nearest stream.

With funding from the Pigeon River Fund, a grant administered by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, this pilot program will pair volunteers with a storm drain in the Central Asheville Watershed.

The goal is to get 100 storm drains adopted in 2021. Volunteers will be awarded with fun prizes for their commitment and enthusiasm, and  if successful, the Adopt A Storm Drain program will expand to include other areas in the City of Asheville.

How does it work?

Select a storm drain in a convenient location of the Central Asheville Watershed. It could be in front of your home, business, or where you exercise regularly. By adopting a storm drain, you commit to checking the drain in between rain events and keeping it clear of litter and debris. All it takes are gloves and a trash bag. Then with a smartphone or computer, you can report debris cleaned/cleared, and conditions such as illegal dumping or flooding. In a matter of minutes, you help protect water quality and prevent street flooding from clogged drains!

Income-qualifying households in Buncombe County are eligible for free energy-saving weatherization upgrades to their homes through the Energy Saver’s Network (ESN). The ESN sends volunteers to local homes to install many types of upgrades depending on the needs of the home. The work can take anywhere between one and three hours, and includes:

• weather stripping
• air register and duct sealant
• water pipe insulation
• low-flow water fixtures
• light bulb replacement
• custom interior storm windows
• repairing minor air leaks
• smoke alarm installation, and more.

In 2019, the ESN completed 200 projects, clocked 1,879 volunteer hours, and installed upgrades to homes resulting in 2,341 less tons of CO2 and over 108,000 total kWh savings per year for all of its clients. ESN’s goal is to provide upgrades to 200 homes per year.

ESN is a nonprofit organization founded on a dual mission: to help people and combat climate change. The organization envisions a sustainable future where communities are free from the worst impacts of fossil fuel history. If you want to know if you qualify, are looking to volunteer, or want more information, you can visit energysaversnetwork.org, send them a message on their Facebook/Instagram page, or call Hannah Egan at 828-585-4492.

The Energy Saver’s Network is made up from a partnership with Asheville’s Green Built Alliance, Sierra Club, Buncombe County Government, and the City of Asheville. This also includes partner organizations that help find people to serve or for volunteers, like the Blue Horizon Project, Mountain Housing Opportunities, and Eblen Charities. Make a phone call today to see if you quality for free upgrades to your home.

Join Asheville OWLS Training for FUN 45-minute outdoor workouts, designed with low-impact exercise. Classes are designed for ACTIVE mature adults, ages 60+, but ALL are welcome to attend.
FREE – Outdoors in the Park – Contactless Registration.
Find More Info at https://www.ashevilleowls.com/fitness-in-the-park.
Email Trainer, Leah Brennan at [email protected] with questions.
See you in the park!

People have a new opportunity to enroll in health insurance for 2021 on HealthCare.gov, but only for a limited time. This new COVID-19 Special Enrollment period starts on February 15, 2021 and ends on May 15, 2021. Pisgah Legal Services (PLS), and its enrollment partners of WNC, are once again offering free assistance helping people in the 18-county mountain region review their options and sign up for ACA health insurance.

With job losses continuing to mount amid the COVID-19 resurgence, and millions of people having lost their job-based health insurance since the start of this public health and economic crisis, the Biden Administration has opened up HealthCare.gov to give people who need health insurance a new opportunity to get covered, but they must act quickly. For free help locally, with trained assisters, make an appointment at pisgahlegal.org/aca or call (828) 210-3404.

“More than 535,000 North Carolinians enrolled in a health insurance plan during the last Open Enrollment period,” said Shannon Cornelius, Pisgah Legal’s Health Justice Program Director. “This is a new chance for people to sign up, and anyone who needs health insurance should visit HealthCare.gov today, or contact Pisgah Legal Services if you need assistance. Don’t delay.”

Health insurance is more affordable than many people think. In North Carolina, 83 percent of current marketplace consumers had plans available for 2021 that cost less than $50 per month, after financial help. Nine out of 10 marketplace enrollees in North Carolina received financial help that lowered their monthly health insurance premiums last year. In addition, 57 percent of enrollees also qualified for lower out-of-pocket costs for health care services.

“With this new Special Enrollment Period, both new and existing marketplace consumers can shop for marketplace pans, compare options, costs and even make changes. It opens up the ability to get health insurance outside of Open Enrollment. Our certified application counselors can help answer questions and get you enrolled in the plan that works best for you and your family,” said Cornelius.

Consumers enrolling in a plan on HealthCare.gov are guaranteed to receive comprehensive coverage, with no pre-existing condition exclusions or markups. All plans cover essential benefits, including doctor and hospital visits, prescription drugs, mental health treatment, and maternity care. In addition, consumers receive free preventive care services, such as immunizations and health screenings. Testing and treatment of COVID-19 are considered essential health benefits and are covered by all HealthCare.gov plans.

Consumers should avoid insurance plans offered outside of HealthCare.gov that seem too good to be true. “Junk insurance” products and short-term limited duration plans pose huge financial risks to consumers. These products can refuse to pay for care for pre-existing conditions, charge consumers more based on their gender, and impose annual coverage limits.

“HealthCare.gov is the only website where North Carolina consumers are guaranteed to get comprehensive coverage,” said Cornelius.

Make a Free Appointment Today

The health insurance landscape can be confusing, but free, local help is available. Appointments can be made online at www.pisgahlegal.org/aca or by calling (828) 210-3404. For the safety of consumers, staff and volunteers, all Pisgah Legal Services appointments are currently being conducted by phone, some community partners may offer in person assistance.

Pack Youth Services introduces Take & Play, a pilot program that offers everyone the opportunity to borrow games, ukuleles, and disc golf sets from the Youth Services department at Pack Library. Take & Play items check out for three weeks, and you need to pick them up and drop them off at Pack Library. Games, ukuleles, and disc golf sets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and you check them out with your library card just like a book. Call 250-4720 for details, or drop by the library anytime we’re open.

All our library hours are listed here.

The Enveloping Landscape: A Contemplative Photographic Journey is a visual celebration of the transformative power of place-based education. In this first-ever collaboration between the Arboretum’s Exhibits and Adult Education programs, images from award-winning documentary photographer Susan Patrice join those of 22 student photographers in a breathtaking exhibit that explores the ways that we are indelibly shaped by place. Through their images, these photographers reveal not only the rich biodiversity of Southern Appalachia, but a renewed sense of kinship with their local landscapes found through photography.

What began as a documentary photography project launched by Patrice in 2016 became a collaborative Arboretum workshop led by the artist in early 2020. The project invited photographers of all levels to return each season to focus their gaze on what called to them in the landscape — deepening a contemplative practice of seeing, knowing and caring for a place. When everything abruptly changed in March of last year, this photographic community wasted no time in moving online. What seemed like an unnatural distance imposed by technology became a path into both familiar and uncharted places. This exhibition chronicles these photographers’ year-long journey, inviting viewers to step into an intimate world where the landscape is alive, waiting to be met, understood and entered.

The Enveloping Landscape: A Contemplative Photographic Journey is on display daily January 16 – May 2, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., inside the Baker Exhibit Center. Face coverings are required for visitors ages 5 years and older.

Exhibit support for The Enveloping Landscape: A Contemplative Photographic Journey is provided in part by The North Carolina Arboretum Society; Asheville Citizen-Times; RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide; Smoky Mountain Living Magazine; The Laurel of Asheville; and Henco North Creative Imaging.

Image: Susan Patrice, Enveloping Landscape #1, archival pigment print, 45 x 45 inches, © Susan Patrice