Food Scraps Drop Off

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in two locations for all Buncombe County residents.  This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Register for Food Scraps Drop Off

Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin?  Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.

Locations

Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center

85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander

• • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm

Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

749 Fairview Road, Asheville

• • Dawn – Dusk

Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot

30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville

• • Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.

West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building

942 Haywood Road, Asheville

• • Library open hours

Food Scraps Drop Off

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in

two locations for all Buncombe County residents.  This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Register for Food Scraps Drop Off

Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin?  Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.

Locations

Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot

30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville

• • Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.

Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

749 Fairview Road, Asheville

• • Dawn – Dusk

West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building

942 Haywood Road, Asheville

Library open hours

Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander

• • • • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
      • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm

UNC Asheville will host its biennial Queer Studies Conference from March 24-26 on campus, bringing together scholars, artists and activists for workshops and presentations focusing on the theme “Blooming: Metamorphoses and Seasons of Queerness.” This conference is open to the pubic and free for all attendees, with a suggested donation of $20-60. Registration is required and available here.

The conference, established in 1998, will include keynote speakers Alexis Pauline Gumbs, recipient of the 2022 Whiting Award in Nonfiction, and Andie Morgenlander, co-founder of the Justice Film Collective.

Gumbs will be delivering a keynote address entitled “Breathe Through Your Whole Body: What Seals Can Teach Us About Queer Transformation,” drawing from her 2022 Whiting Award-winning book, “Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals.” She has also won several awards for her poetry, including the Lucille Clifton Poetry Prize, and has had her work published in a number of journals and magazines. She served as a National Endowment of the Arts Creative Writing Fellow in 2022, and currently serves as the creative writing editor for “Feminist Studies.”

Morgenlander, who has acted in, written, produced and directed both short form and feature length narrative films, will screen their award-winning short film, “Whistle Down Wind,” which showcases the lives of queer youth in Appalachia. Their films have received Best Film and Best Narrative Film awards at film festivals throughout the southeast. Morgenlander has also received acting awards for their role in the film “Luke & Jo.”

Morgenlander will also host a workshop on the conscientious filmmaking framework, which they authored in hopes of aiding the creation of more ethical processes on film sets.

Registration is required and available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queer-studies-conference-2023-registration-429340146937.

More information, including an updated conference schedule, can be found at queercon.wp.unca.edu, or by emailing [email protected].

The WNC Farmers Market is the premier destination for buying and selling the region’s best agriculture products directly from farmers & food producers to household & wholesale customers in an environment that celebrates the region’s diverse culture, food & heritage.

House of Operation:

WNC Farmers Market: 24/7, 361 days a year market access for farmers
Office: Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm
Market Shops: 7 days a week, 8 am-5 pm
Wholesale and Truck Sheds: 7 days a week

A brand is more than a name and logo. It is the perception that people have in their mind about a company, product or service that attracts them to you. Marketing a brand is like a 6-cylinder engine. If all 6-cylinders are not working together, one does not get the full power from the engine. Having only a website, business card and social media is like only having 3 cylinders. You do not get the full power from the brand. Can the Market Your Brand Workshop help you market your company, product or service? Take this self-test. You get one point for each that fits your company. ___ Healthy Increases in Annual Sales ___ High Profit Margins  ___ Top of Search – Page 1 on Google My Business with a 4.5-5 Star Rating and High Number of Reviews ___ Branded Mobile-Friendly Website with High Traffic Numbers ___ Top Of Mind  (When people think of your business category your name pops into their mind.) ___ Branded Social Media Platform with High Number of Likes & Followers ___ Branded Content Strategy (know and use key words that attract customers) ___ Branded Collateral Material (all printed materials are current and effective i.e. business card) ___ Use Brand Pivot Point in Making Marketing Decisions ___ Have and use a Customer Database to Market the Brand ___ Market to all 3 Stages in the Customer Cycle (Prospect, 1st Time Customer and Repeat Customer) ___ Use Brand Tagline in all Online and Print Marketing Materials ___ Branded Advertising Specialties (all promotional materials are current and effective i.e. tee-shirts) ___ Branded Company Spaces (promote brand in offices, lobby, store front, hallways, bathroom, etc.) ___ Branded External and Internal Signage (use signage to promote brand and it is current) ___ Total If you have a score of less than 14, the Market Your Brand Workshop can help create a plan to better Market Your Brand.

Speaker(s): Gary Heisey, Executive Director Mission Acceleration and Vision Leadership Program

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Andrea Rich’s intricately designed, carved, and printed woodcuts draw viewers in for an up-close look.

Some of the artist’s earliest memories are of drawing animals. Childhood encounters with pets, livestock, and wildlife, including birds, deer, and toads, created a lasting connection to the natural world. Through encounters with creatures both tame and wild, Rich developed a fascination and a compassion for animals integral to her art.

“My prints are a visual record of the intriguing creatures that have enriched my life. The woodcut process challenges me to focus on the essence of my subjects. At the same time, I am drawn to the smell of the wood, its texture and grain, and the pleasure I experience while carving. I begin working on a block of wood and realize later that hours have passed without notice.”

Rich uses a centuries-old medium that requires one carved wood panel for each color – varying from one to sixteen – necessary to develop the composition. These panels are painstakingly aligned one atop another sequentially and pulled through a printing press to create the final woodcut.

The subjects of Rich’s woodcuts range from the wilderness of the Australian outback and the lush tropical Amazon forests to the roaring rivers of Yellowstone Park. Rich has traveled worldwide to study wildlife habitats and these varied firsthand experiences are reflected in her work.

Among Rich’s many achievements are international recognition for her woodcut prints, including a 2009 Award of Excellence from the Society of Animal Artists and a 2009 Medal of Excellence from the Artists for Conservation Foundation. She was named Master Artist by the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in 2006. In 2010 her work was featured in a solo exhibition at the Mass Audubon Visual Arts Center, Canton, Massachusetts. Rich is a member of the California Society of Printmakers, Artists for Nature Foundation, the Society of Animal Artists, and Society of Wildlife Artists.

In 2000 Rich designated the Woodson Art Museum as the repository for her artistic oeuvre. An Abundance of Riches is drawn from these holdings, which include an example of each of her woodcuts created since the mid-1980s.

Join us on this exclusive historic driving tour of the east side of the Burnett Reservoir to explore part of the once thriving North Fork Valley community. The trip stops at Sunalee Lodge, then to the home place of Champ Burnett. From there, we will drive to Colonel John Connally’s home site which has extensive ruins including two standing chimneys. The caravan will make a stop to include a short 5 -10 minute walk from the vehicles to the home sites of Will and Bart Burnett and a slave cemetery. A final stop will be made at the Right Hand Fork Intake.

Difficulty: Moderate; There will be some walking on rough terrain. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather.

Pack: Please bring your lunch, snacks, and a drink. This is primarily a driving tour, but you may also want to bring a full water bottle, a hat, hiking poles, rain gear, and any personal medications you may need in a small day pack. You may bring a camera to take photographs for personal (non-commercial) use.

TO REGISTER: E-mail [email protected]

Attendees may register per vehicle or per individual. Attendees bringing a vehicle may bring as many people in their vehicle as they wish. Vehicles must get clearance from our trip leader prior to registering as a driver. Please read the vehicle requirements below. We have a limited number of individual spots for individuals who can ride in truck beds and cabs with hike leaders. To register, whether as an individual or with a vehicle, email [email protected]. A registration link will be shared after approval.

Cost and Registration:

• Non-Member Vehicles: $175
• Member Vehicles: $130
• Individual Adult: $75
• Individual Adult Member: $50

Vehicles must meet the following criteria-

• 4×4 
• Transmission with extra low gears
• Proper ground clearance. 

The sign-in for the event will be conducted outdoors, at the parking lot of the Black Mountain Savings Bank.

Please direct any inquiries to [email protected].

Need to unwind after a long, stressful work week? Then join us in the Museum’s atrium on Saturday mornings for Yoga for All Bodies | Yoga for Mental Health, followed by social time with free coffee, tea, and a fresh-baked pastry at the rooftop Perspective Café.

This class features gentle stretching and strengthening aimed to restore the body and mind—focusing on breathing, body awareness, and mindset care. All levels are welcome. Please bring your own mat. Reserve your spot soon; there’s only capacity for 20 per class.

Saturdays, March 4–April 8 (six sessions)
9–10am Yoga for All Bodies | Yoga for Mental Health

10–10:30am Social time in the rooftop Perspective Café

Purchase a six session package and receive a 10 percent discount.

Registration is required.

The beginning of the year is a great time for Ashevillians of all ages to explore, connect, and discover. Asheville Parks & Recreation  (APR)’s new winter-spring program guide is filled with registration dates, information, and listings for hundreds of fitness and active living offerings, sports and clubs, arts and culture programs, out-of-school time activities, outdoor recreation, special events, parks and facilities’ hours of operation, and more.

The free guide is available at all APR community centers and online as a PDF or enhanced digital flipbook. Community members may also download the APR app for iPhone or search programs on avlREC.com.

Winter-Spring 2023 Guide Highlights

• Exercise at fitness centers with a free membership (through June 30, 2023).

• Walk, roll, or run your way to 50 miles in February and March during the Fit 50 Challenge for a free T-shirt.

• Celebrate Black Legacy Month with food, art, and festivals throughout the city in February.

• Meet neighbors over cards, board games, bingo, trivia contests, and community meals.

• Get an up-close look at big trucks, small trucks, transit buses, construction rigs, rescue vehicles, and public works equipment during Truck City AVL on April 15.

• Experience the fun, fellowship, fitness, arts, and competition of Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts Classic for local adults over 50..

• Flex creativity at art, painting, writing, scrapbooking, and crafting classes.

• Connect with neighbors over sports such as basketball, flag football, volleyball, pickleball, tennis, and archery for kids, teens, and adults.

• Enjoy the honor of dirty hands with community garden workdays and Green Thumbs Garden Club at Grove Street Community Center’s greenhouse.

• Witness the power of gravity at the Montford Pinewood Derby in May.

• Refine square, tap, line, and West African dance skills at multiple locations.

• And so much more!

Join us for a regular monthly meeting of the Buncombe Dems!

Come to hear updates from our officers and some elected officials, get more information about the county convention on April 22, and learn more about our plans for the early part of 2023.

New and gently used dresses, shoes, and accessories will be available for free to anyone planning to attend a prom, military ball or other formal event. We’ll be entering every shopper into a drawing for fun giveaways like a makeover, dinner out, a manicure and more! Clean, gently used formal clothing and accessories are accepted at to our office at 50 Westgate Parkway, Asheville.

Food Scraps Drop Off

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in

two locations for all Buncombe County residents.  This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Register for Food Scraps Drop Off

Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin?  Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.

Locations

West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building

942 Haywood Road, Asheville

Library open hours

Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot

30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville

• • Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.

Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

749 Fairview Road, Asheville

• • Dawn – Dusk

Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander

• • • • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
      • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

• Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
• Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
• Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
• Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
• COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
• At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.

Explore Biltmore House with an Audio Guide that introduces you to the Vanderbilt family and their magnificent home’s history, architecture, and collections of fine art and furnishings.

PLUS: Immersive, multi-sensory Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition created by Grande Experiences

PLUS: FREE next-day access to Biltmore’s Gardens and Grounds

This visit includes access to:

• Italian Renaissance Alive at Amherst at Deerpark®
• 8,000 Acres of Gardens and Grounds for two consecutive days
• Antler Hill Village & Winery
• Complimentary Wine Tastings at the Winery
• Tastings require a Day-of-Visit Reservation, which can be made by:
  • Scanning the QR Code found in your Estate Guide
  • Visiting any Guest Services location
• Complimentary parking

Art Exhibition: Italian Renaissance Alive

This fascinating experience takes you on a spellbinding tour of Italy, fully immersing you in the beauty and brilliance of iconic masterworks from the greatest artistic period in history

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

• Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
• 90-Minutes – tours run daily
• 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
• $39 per person (ages 13+ only)

We collect new and gently used formal dresses, shoes, and accessories so that anyone who wants to attend a prom or formal event can do so regardless of their financial situation.

You can donate your new/gently used formal dresses, suits and accessories – or donate services like limo rides, dinners and other items to help a young person have a magical evening.

Contact Kathy to learn more about how you can receive a dress or donate items!

Come watch as teams from across the Carolinas compete in a double-elimination bracket to pull two fire trucks in a race for the best time. Then stick around for a live concert. A portion of proceeds will go to the N.C. Firefighters’ Burned Children Fund.

Admission: $15.00 pre-event, $20.00 on-site

For more information, please visit: www.wnccharityfiretruckpull.com.
Contact: 828-606-6467 or [email protected]

TFAC invites all artists: painters, sculptors, writers, performers & more — to a casual weekly drop-in gathering on Saturday mornings at 9 AM to share your works in progress, alert others, and chat about art and what’s happening in your community. The first weekly Coffee is Saturday, August 20 at 9 am. No RSVP needed, just drop by! Free parking available on Melrose Avenue, behind and alongside TFAC.

Asheville Gallery of Art’s March show, “Awakenings” features work by three new Gallery members: Jon Sebastian, Sara Bell, Andrea Stutesman. The show runs daily March 1 through March 31st, 2023 during gallery hours, 11am-6pm. An opening reception will be held March 3, 5-8pm; everyone is welcome.

The three artists will showcase their passion through three mediums, respectively. Not unlike the delicate and elusive trillium of the North Carolina mountain beds, these artists spring forward in the presentation of “Awakenings.” As featured artists of the month, Andrea Stutesman, Sara Bell, and Jon Sebastian join forces in presenting this amazing show by rendering their art using pastels, watercolors, and oil paints. Mesmerizing spring colors will grace the windows and walls of the gallery, rendering imagery of flowers, exotic and endangered animals, and vibrant landscapes. “Awakenings” is the second of three group shows featuring new artists to the gallery.

Andrea Stutesman
Andrea’s early art explorations began with pastels under the guidance of her mother, an accomplished painter. Her work is from the heart, inspired by her interactions with people and places or by the stories brought to her with requests for commissions. She strives to transform a sense of calm and connection that she experiences when painting that will invite viewers to slow down and enjoy the beauty of life.

Jon Sebastian
Art and painting in particular is, for artist Jon Sebastian, the selective recreation of reality according to his own principles and what he deems interesting and just in this world we share. Jon cannot remember a time when he did not paint. At Asheville Gallery of Art, Jon is now moving forward with confidence that others will find his works a compelling addition to their own collections. Jon paints immersive works filled with color, light and shadow. His subjects are of nature and of the peace and spirituality in which they envelope us.

Sara Bell
Sara Bell has always loved drawing. It’s a form of meditation for her and has now become a way for her to find peace and sanity when her world gets too overwhelming, which, as a single mom with a neuro-divergent teen, happens quite often. When it does, Sara follows John Muir’s quote, “Off into the woods I go to lose my mind and find my soul.” The results of these adventures are delightful sketches and photography of the forests. Sara then works from her photos to create her watercolors and intaglio prints.
Come visit this engaging and thoughtful exhibition at 82 Patton Avenue in downtown Asheville. For further information about this show, contact the Asheville Gallery of Art at (828) 251-5796, visit the Gallery’s website at ashevillegallery-of-art.com, or go to the Gallery’s Facebook page.

COUNTRY TWO-STEP: LEVEL- ONE  BEGINNER 1½ – Hour Class 

Saturday, March 25th 11 to 12:30pm at The Grey Eagle Music Hall, 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville. Learn this popular, fun dance. We start with the basic step and progress to foundational steps and a few cool moves. Taught by UCWDC World Champions Richard & Sue Cicchetti. Richard is a DVIDA Certified Dance Instructor. With Richard’s clear instructions and progressive method, you will learn correctly, how to remember steps and how to transition seamlessly from one step to the next. Singles are welcome. No partner is needed, bring one if you can. Treat yourself to a delicious taco at the in-house Taqueria. Early bird online discount by March 19th for $20/pp. After March 19th online and at the door $25/pp. Save your space, pre-register now at: https://tinyurl.com/3pua384k

An enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Luzene Hill advocates for Indigenous sovereignty—linguistically, culturally, and individually. Revelate builds upon Hill’s investigation of pre-contact cultures. This has led Hill to incorporate the idea of Ollin, the Nahuatl word for the natural rhythms of the universe, in Aztec cosmology in her work. Before Europeans arrived in North America, Indigenous societies were predominantly matrilineal. Women were considered sacred, involved in the decision-making process, and thrived within communities holding a worldview based on equilibrium.

Ollin emphasizes that we are in constant state of motion and discovery. Adopted as an educational framework, particularly in social justice and ethnic studies, Ollin guides individuals through a process of reflection, action, reconciliation, and transformation. This exhibition combines Hill’s use of mylar safety blankets alongside recent drawings. Capes constructed of mylar burst with energy and rustle with subtle sound, the shining material a signifier of care, awareness, displacement, and presence. Though Hill works primarily in sculpture, drawing has increasingly become an essential part of her practice as she seeks to communicate themes of feminine and Indigenous power across her entire body of work. The energy within her drawings extends to the bursts of light reflecting from her capes or the accumulation of materials in other installation works.

Luzene Hill was born in Atlanta, GA, in 1946. She received her bachelor of fine art and master of fine art from Western Carolina University. She lives and works on the Qualla Boundary, Cherokee, NC.