Official 2021 Raffle Rules

PROCEEDS

This raffle is a fundraising event, and all net proceeds benefit the Brevard Music Center (BMC). Brevard Music Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN# 56-0729350

DRAWING

The drawing will take place on Monday, November 15, 2021 at 3:00pm EDT. All mail, phone, and internet orders must be received by 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, November 14, 2021.

TICKETS

The cost to purchase a single entry (“Ticket”) for the Raffle is $125 (U.S. Funds only) and is not tax deductible.

• a love for North Carolina through mixed media on paper by Sophia Allison;
• well known local landscapes through acrylic on canvas by Carrie Jenson;
• a change in perspective through oil on linen by Joan Lesikin,
• communicative vessels through earthenware sculptures by Robert Milnes,
• vibrant abstract motion through acrylics on paper by Eleanor Palmer;
• and a glimpse of Asheville through oil on canvas by Maureen Scullin.

WORK OF THE WEEK Jeff Koons’s One Ball Total Equilibrium Tank (Spalding Dr. J Silver Series) is currently on view in the Museum’s Artistic Tribute: Representation of the Athlete exhibition. Keira Ezzo, summer 2021 communications – multimedia storytelling intern, shares her take on this work for our Work of the Week. Read more about this work on the blog.

ENGAGE WITH THE MUSEUM FROM HOME

• Explore the Collection and exhibitions virtually on our website.
• Get to know our staff and volunteers, take deeper dives into artwork with our Works of the Week, and more on the Museum blog.
• Catch up on past virtual programs, check out artist interviews, and learn about the history of Pack Square on our YouTube channel.
• Play “I Spy” with your kids using artwork from our Collection.
• Color our Collection (kids and adults) with downloadable coloring sheets and note cards.
• Follow us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Check back often for new content that provides inspiration, calm, comfort, and yes, even some fun during this unprecedented time.

Celebrate the holiday season and the joy of live theater by becoming a sponsor for A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas! Your support sustains the impact of the performing arts on our hearts and minds as well as our local economy.
Act now!

The ideal volunteer tutor is someone seeking to make a one-year commitment of two hours per week to help someone else make the change of a lifetime. For our volunteer tutors, an education background is helpful, but not necessary. The most important qualities are patience, an open mind, and resourcefulness. Tutors also need to be non-judgmental and sensitive to cultural differences. A GED or high school diploma is required. Ideal tutors enjoy seeing concrete outcomes from their efforts and sharing in the life-changing successes of others. See our full tutor position description here.

Learn more about Literacy Together’s volunteer roles!

A wide range of Membership Program packages are available, offering benefits and perks including one-time or unlimited admission to the Moogseum for a year, guest passes, gift membership packages, access to virtual archival galleries and live streamed events, free or discounted admission to in-person and virtual events, and even private Moogseum tours. Membership packages are offered at price points from $25 – $500 per year.

Become a member of the Bob Moog Foundation and the Moogseum, which allows you access to tangible, members-only benefits and allows you to be an advocate in support of Bob’s legacy and contributions that revolutionized music!

Your membership provides invaluable resources and funding to support our mission to innovate, inspire, and ignite creativity.

Review the Membership Packages below and choose the one that best suits you!*

All packages include the Members-only “Synth-Insider” newsletter, sent quarterly,

and a 10% discount on Bob Moog Foundation Merchandise.

Buncombe County is beginning a comprehensive planning process and would like to hear from residents of all ages. The comprehensive plan is used by local governments as a broad, long-range planning tool for the community. Our plan will focus on the next 20-year period and will look at the relationships between land uses, infrastructure, and key community needs. Information regarding the comprehensive planning process will be available online and in all 12 Buncombe County Libraries starting in October.

Also during October, the libraries will provide an opportunity for children in Buncombe County to participate in the Comprehensive Plan Post Card Project.  Come to the library and pick up your craft kits (while supplies last) that include a postcard where kids can draw what they want their neighborhood to look like. This is a chance for young people to vote for their future and say what they want County government to address in the next 20 years. These postcards will give the County valuable input and may be featured in the final comprehensive plan!  If you have any questions, contact your neighborhood librarian or visit the Comprehensive Plan online.

Since July 1, there have been more than 9,500 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Buncombe County and more than 80 COVID-19 related deaths in this same timeframe. While cases have declined slightly, transmission remains high, and 412 Buncombe County residents have died as a result of the virus since the beginning of the pandemic. The percent positivity as of Oct. 18 was 6.1%.

“I wanted to take a moment to highlight vaccination status on COVID-19 outcomes,” said Public Health Director Stacie Saunders in a briefing to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. “As we are moving through this Delta surge, vaccination status has mattered. In particular, those who were unvaccinated had a risk over four times that of the vaccinated to become ill. Additionally, the overwhelming majority of hospitalizations (over 85%) and ICU utilizations (90%) were in the unvaccinated, showing us that the COVID-19 vaccine that is widely available to us right now is reducing our risk of becoming ill, reducing the risk of serious illness should someone become ill and significantly reducing the risk of need for ICU intervention. Lastly, most recent data from NC DHHS indicates that the risk of dying for the unvaccinated is almost 20 times than of an unvaccinated individual.”

In Buncombe County, 73% of adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 71% of the eligible population ages 12 and up has been at least partially vaccinated. To date, Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) has administered 102,483 doses of the vaccine, including 231 to homebound individuals.

Saunders also warned about cold and flu viruses, which are also spreading and can present with some similar symptoms: “If you are having any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, which sometimes are the same as a cold, please get tested. Don’t assume it’s a cold.”  Testing locations can be found at Find My Testing Site NC. StarMed offers testing at Harrah’s Event Center Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and on Sundays at A-B Tech from noon until 4 p.m.

With fall events and celebrations approaching, BCHHS recommends the following attending outdoor or virtual events where the risk for spread of COVID-19 is lower. If you are planning to attend in-person, indoor events with groups of people:

• Get your COVID-19 vaccine if you haven’t already and encourage others attending your gathering to do so. Pfizer boosters are available via a drive-through at Biltmore Church – Arden between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. until Oct. 22
• Have guests wear a face covering and maintain physical distance from others when they are indoors
• Move events and activities outdoors to reduce the risk of spread

The FDA is scheduled to meet on Oct. 26 about vaccines for children ages 5-11, and it’s anticipated that vaccine eligibility to begin for that age group in early November.

Stay up-to-date about vaccine opportunities using the Buncombe County emergency alert program. To enroll, text “BCAlert” to 99411 or go to www.buncombecounty.org/codered.

Currently, locally funding $100 incentive cards are available while supplies last for eligible individuals (18 years and up) receiving their first dose of vaccine at the Buncombe County Vaccination Clinic or at any BCHHS pop-up clinic. Individuals can visit the Buncombe County Health Department at 40 Coxe Ave., Asheville Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. to receive a vaccination. Individuals can also visit www.yourspotyourshot.nc.gov to find a vaccination site near you.

As a part of this year’s budget process, City of Asheville staff heard from our community that new City investments in neighborhoods were very important.  To respond to that need the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget includes $200,000 to launch a Neighborhood Grant Program.

This program is designed specifically for neighborhood-based organizations:

• Neighborhood associations;
• Homeowners associations;
• Neighborhood coalitions; and
• Resident organizations in tax credit-funded communities.

These organizations must represent a specific geographic location within Asheville city limits and have completed or are in the process of completing their Neighborhood Registration Form.

What kinds of projects can be funded?

Neighborhoods are encouraged to submit creative project ideas such as landscaping, murals, festivals, community art and cultural festivals. Traffic calming, public safety, marking and branding and organizational development can also be considered.

The Neighborhood Grant Program’s goal is to build neighborhood capacity and increase civic participation. Projects must be achievable within 12 months of contract execution, and there must be a dollar-for-dollar match through cash, volunteer hours, or in-kind donation of goods or services.

Neighborhoods can submit applications from October 1 – 31.

Click here to go to the application.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library puts books into the hands and hearts of children across the world. The Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. DPIL is now mailing a free book each month to over 4,400 registered children in Buncombe County.  Here is the online registration form.

Help reach our matching gift challenge. We are halfway to our goal.

County Commissioners unanimously approved using $300,000 for a new initiative aimed at helping qualified homeowners. During their meeting on July 13, commissioners voted to move forward with the Homeowner Grant Program that could provide $300 for eligible residents.

“This is a new idea for our community, and I’m glad we are thoroughly evaluating it,” said Chairman Brownie Newman. “We are trying to provide some financial relief for folks seeing cost of living go up for a variety of reasons. We’ll make adjustments based on what works well,” said Newman noting the County might increase the program’s investment in the future.

Homeowners Grant Details

Grant amount: Up to $300
Frequency: Annual
Eligible payments types: Tax bill and other homeowner housing costs
Eligible area: Buncombe County
Length of primary residence: Five years
Income: 80% of annual median income
Application: Income documentation required, unless already enrolled in HHS means-tested programs
Other programs: Best fitting programs; no duplication of benefits

Applications will be available starting Aug. 1, and the deadline to apply will be Nov. 15. Buncombe County will work with the local media and add updates to the Homeowner Grant program on its website as more information and applications are available.

Need to get something off your chest about Buncombe County? Are you concerned about issues and areas where we could be providing better service? There’s a survey for that. Your voice can help change the future of Buncombe County. All we need is 10-15 minutes of your time.

Buncombe County is continually striving to make its strategic priorities a reality. To that end, we are launching the Buncombe County Community Survey to help us gather valuable input that will guide us in future decisions concerning everything from economic development, to County park facilities.  A randomly selected sample of County residents will receive the survey, and your anonymous answers will help drive key initiatives, programs, and identify other opportunities and challenges. “It is vitally important for residents to have the opportunity to share their opinions with us, and we hope the Community Survey provides one more avenue for that feedback,” says County Manager Avril Pinder.

The ETC Institute in partnership with Buncombe County’s Strategy & Innovation Department will administer the survey. Households will receive a questionnaire by mail, and staff asks that anyone 18 years or older complete and return it using the enclosed paid postage. The community survey is available in multiple languages, should take about 10-15 minutes of your time, and instructions are included to complete online or over the phone if needed. The survey will not ask residents to share any personal identifying information.

We thank you for your time and valuable insights as we continually evaluate our existing programs and resources while searching for new opportunities to better serve our community. Your voice is important and Buncombe County Government is committed to offering a broad range of opportunities for public input. If your household does not receive a survey we encourage residents to sign up for our e-newsletter at buncombecounty.org, or text bcalert to 99411 to stay informed about community meetings and engagement opportunities. To share your concerns anonymously please email [email protected].

A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

In this 1-hour program, Dr. David Moore, an archaeologist at Warren Wilson University, discusses the Joara Native American Village and Native resistance to the Spanish invasion of WNC in the 1500s. Dr. Moore has been involved with the archaeology of this site near modern Morganton, NC for nearly three decades. He describes the findings of ongoing excavations and places them in context with the culture of the Native peoples who eventually thwarted Spanish colonization attempts in the Appalachian Mountains.