Starting Saturday, August 1, 2020, the Hominy Valley Wildlife Club will begin hosting a weekly flea market. Spaces will be $15.00 each, maximum of two spaces per seller. Grounds will open at 6 am for seller setup.

For more information contact Lane Brown at 828-231-5408, Bruce Whitt at 828-665-2114, Rachel Godwin at 828-273-6911 or email at [email protected]

Please note: Nature Connects^®: Art with LEGO^® Bricks has been postponed until July; however, the exhibit will have an extended schedule and will be open until November 1. We look forward to seeing you!

The Arboretum is excited to welcome back the widely popular traveling exhibit, Nature Connects^®: Art with LEGO^® Bricks by Sean Kenney. Featuring 14 larger-than-life-size sculptures place created with nearly 500,000 LEGO Bricks, this family-friendly exhibit draws inspiration from the living world and combines art, play and science to create an inspiring intersection of education, entertainment and the environment. New sculptures include a 5-foot tall colorful peacock, giant dragonfly, bonsai tree and more!

IMPORTANT: COVID-19 Rules and Safety Procedures

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See where the cougars and otters sleep overnight, meet black bears that are not commonly on display, learn the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round, observe a training session and find out why the animals call Grandfather Mountain home.

Offered on weekends, April – October.

Experience the best views of the Fall colors this Autumn at the SkyLift Park and SkyBridge. Numerous photo opportunities, unique Smoky Mountain experiences, hot seasonal drinks, and perfect fall mountain vistas are all waiting for you after conquering the Gatlinburg SkyBridge this Fall. Live music on the SkyDeck will be scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm-9pm. Whether you are riding the iconic yellow SkyLift chair, relaxing on the SkyDeck, fueling up in the SkyCenter, conquering the SkyBridge, or exploring the SkyTrail, there will no shortages of family-fun memories for you to cherish after your visit is complete. Autumn is the most beautiful time of year in Gatlinburg, so make sure to take it all in while “above it all” at the the SkyLift Park.

Each day, you can pre-purchase tickets during for a specific time slot, allowing us to maintain safety and limit the number of people at the maze at once.

Time slots to choose from:

• 9-11am
• 11:30am-1:30pm
• 2-4pm
• 4:30-6:30pm

• General Safety Guidelines

  • Masks must be worn at all times, except for children under the age of four years old.
  • Maintain social distancing with those outside your family.
  • There will be a maximum number of attendees at the event at a time. Attendees will register and pre-purchase tickets. You will be able to select the 2-hour block of time you want to attend with your family. Time slots will automatically close once the max limit is reached.
  • Please promptly leave the corn maze when your 2 hour time slot is up, so we can do a cleaning before the next group arrives.
  • Minimize time indoors. You may use the indoor restrooms, and check-in indoors. We will give you a map for the maze and offer pumpkins, t-shirts, and other fun merchandise. But we won’t let you linger! Time to get outside, stay safe, and have fun!
  • Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the event.
    

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We raise all of our turkeys from baby chicks to adulthood directly on Hickory Nut Gap Farmland in Fairview, NC. They spend their entire lives rotationally grazing on pasture, free from antibiotics and added hormones. We offer a limited supply each year and a deposit must be paid in advance to secure your bird.

Price: $6 / lb
Range: 14 – 25 lbs
Please choose an approximate weight and we will tag a turkey with your name and send an invoice for the remaining balance.

Pick ups will start November 19th and run through November 25th.

Welcome to Sky Top Orchard!

We are asking guests to visit on weekdays whenever possible. We offer the same items you love on those days as we do on weekends plus it helps keep crowds down on weekends. Thank you!

The mountains of western North Carolina are full of pick your own u-pick orchards. We offer more. In addition to a long list of apple varieties, visit Sky Top Orchard and you’ll enjoy panoramic mountain views, orchard ponds with ducks and geese, a barnyard area with sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, peacocks and more, a bamboo forest to explore, lots of picnic areas and, of course, a mountaintop of fragrant apple and fruit trees. View our downloadable map to see all that we have to offer and visit our picking schedule to find out what’s available now.

When you purchase a bushel of apples, a wagon load of pumpkins or a cooler full of apple cider you’ll take home more than the makings for delicious fall recipes, you’ll take home a mountain of memories too. And don’t forget our famous apple cider doughnuts. They’re an autumn tradition. We bet you can’t eat just one.

Ready to join us on top of our mountain? Plan Your Visit Today!

To keep guests and our staff safe, we require face masks (covering both nose and mouth) by employees and guests in any area where social distancing is difficult so plan to wear them in the fruit stand, in line for doughnuts, in any areas that are not out in the orchard where you are picking. You must also maintain a distance of 6 feet in all lines and areas where you encounter others.

During ArtSpace Charter Schools’ period of remote learning, the Kindergarten Team, Ms. Simone and Mr. Ryan, created a twice-weekly “show” for their students. Our Director of Agriculture Operations, Asher Wright, sat down for an interview with Fuzzy to teach kindergarteners all about where our food comes from. “Here at Hickory Nut Gap we believe it’s very important to learn about farming and where food comes from at an early age, and this is especially true for animal agriculture. If from an early age children gain an understanding of high-welfare animal production systems that focus on environmental health and social equity, then they have the potential to demand those products as they grow into consumers. This is why exposing them to these types of systems from an early age is key in driving the change we need to see within our food system,” stated Asher. Check out the short video here

Join us and history professor Dr. Dan Pierce on a guided, autumn hike of an area in the Smokies frequently traversed by Horace Kephart. We will learn about the area’s natural diversity and cultural history before examining the life and legacy of Horace Kephart as it intersected with the people and environment around Deep Creek.

Everyone is invited to downtown Black Mountain for our 23rd Annual Juried Art and Master Craft Show: Art by the Tracks, along Sutton Ave. near the Old Depot, in Black Mountain, NC on Saturday, October 24th, 2020. Sadly our June Show had to be canceled due to Covid-19. Over fifty artists will be selling their wares – meet the artist and buy their gorgeous work! Well behaved dogs are welcome as long as they are on leash. Free parking is available in every town lot. More information and artist applications are available online at www.olddepot.org.

Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 13, most Buncombe County Public Library branches will reopen to the public with limited hours and services.

The safety of our patrons and staff is our highest priority, and our General Services staff has been working diligently to finish precautions to allow metered access in accordance with the Governor’s orders for 50 percent capacity. We look forward to welcoming you back in person.

The library schedule will be:

• Tuesday, 2-7 p.m.
• Wednesday, 1-6 p.m.
• Thursday, 1-6 p.m.
• Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Sunday & Monday, Closed

Note: The East Asheville Library remains closed for construction and Pack Library will reopen for service at a later date.

During these hours, the libraries will provide in-person check out and browsing. As we comply with reduced occupancy limits, we are encouraging brief “grab and go” visits to allow us to serve a larger number of patrons. Computer use is available, and seating will be provided for computer users only. The meeting rooms and study spaces will not be available for public use.

In-person library programs, including storytime, will not be offered, however, virtual programs will continue to be available. Learn more here. Curbside hold pickups will stop on Oct. 8. Late fees will resume on Oct. 27.

Our local history room is currently undergoing renovations, but the NC Room staff will continue to provide phone and email research assistance at (828) 250-4740 or [email protected].

Per the Governor’s mandate, all persons over the age of five will be asked to wear a face covering for the duration of their visit in the library. If you don’t have a face covering, we can provide one for you.

Buncombe County Recreation Services celebrates the kaleidoscope of fall color that define the region as leaves change with two local day hikes. Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, space is limited to 15 hikers and advance registration is required. Everyone is also required to wear a face covering that completely covers their mouth and nose and remain at least six feet apart from others who do not live in their household.

• Distance: 2 miles
• Difficulty: Some Obstacles
• Steepness: Very Steep
• Tread Condition: Moderately Rough
• Enjoy a plethora of wildlife, breezes, and views of the summits of Bearwallow Mountain, Little Pisgah Mountain, and the upper end of Hickory Nut Gorge.
• Dogs and other pets are not allowed on this group hike. However, please be aware others using this trail may have four-legged friends with them.

Wortham Center in collaboration with Hola Community Arts presents
Día de los Muertos Art Installation: Catrinas by Margarita Figueroa
Self-Guided, Physically Distanced Tours

In celebration of Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead, Hola Community Arts presents the work of renowned Mexican artist Margarita Figueroa at the Wortham Center for Performing Arts October 21 – November 2.

Margarita Figueroa sculpts whimsical, life-size Catrinas in the Alambroide technique, which consists of wire-structured figures covered with papier-mâché and painted with acrylic colors.

Catrina, an elegant, skeletal woman made famous by printmaker José Guadalupe Posada in the early 1900s, is one of the most recognizable figures in the Day of the Dead holiday and still permeates and influences Mexican Folk Art today.

The Día de los Muertos holiday has expanded beyond its roots in Mexico to provide comfort and community to those who have lost loved ones in cultures around the world.

“Día de los Muertos is distinctly different from Halloween in origin, celebration and culture. Día de los Muertos is truly a joyous celebration of life and the beauty of remembering those who have come before us,” says Adriana Chavela, executive director of Hola Community Arts. “During this celebration, the dead sort of become a part of the living world, as families tell stories and reflect on memories of them.”

The Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead holiday is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd throughout Latin America, but is more closely associated with Mexico, where it originated.

About Hola Community Arts 
Hola Community Arts is building bridges between cultures, embracing diversity and creating more economically vibrant communities. We recognize the power of the arts to challenge and shift perceptions, spark creativity and connect people across cultures. HOLA Community Arts is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3). Donations are welcome. Learn more at www.holacommunityarts.org.

Down Dog Yoga Studio will lead a 50 minute all-levels yoga class, alternating between their Sculpt and Power Flow formats at the new outdoor space at Rabbit Rabbit! Classes take place outside at 10am. Rabbit Rabbit opens on Saturdays immediately after class finishes up, so feel free to stick around for a drink or to grab a taco after you work out! Rabbit Rabbit follows strict COVID safety protocols, implements social distancing at all times, including spacing around yoga mats, and requires masks to be worn when not in your personal mat space. Shoes are also required when not at your mat actively practicing during the class. Please remember to bring your mask for the time between entry and the beginning of class, and to put it back on when class ends. Thanks for your cooperation!

What to bring: A mask, your yoga mat. Sorry, no dogs at this event!

10/3 – Sculpt
10/10 – Power Flow
10/17 – Sculpt
10/24 – Power Flow
10/31 – Sculpt

– Sculpt is a low impact, high intensity beat-based class rooted in yoga. Foundational poses are met with strength training moves like jumping jacks and squats to create a full body workout.
– Power Flow offers students a well-rounded mix of vinyasa and power yoga with deepened postures at a faster pace. This class will strengthen, challenge, and cleanse the body and mind.

Note: This particular class is not a dog-friendly event series

About Down Dog Yoga:
Combining two of Asheville’s most popular pastimes, Down Dog is a new yoga studio opening later in 2020 in Asheville. As we plan for our opening, we are offering pop-up collaborations such as this around the community! Once we open, we will offer a hot yoga studio with unique classes open to all levels, and a bar allowing dogs to play and roam off leash while their owners grab a drink. Starting later this fall, Down Dog hopes to give dog owners and yogis alike the opportunity to bring their best friends along to enjoy the activities they love most.

For the general election, Early Voting will run Oct. 15-31, and you can use same-day registration during those dates. Get a downloadable .pdf of the Early Voting schedule with dates and times. During the early voting period you can choose to vote at any early voting location below.

Early Voting dates and times:

• Oct. 15-30:
  • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Oct. 31 (last day):
  • 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

During the month of October, the Subaru Loves Pets initiative showcases their commitment to pets by donating $100 for every pet adopted this month to local partner shelters across the country (up to 31 adoptions per shelter). Blue Ridge Humane Society has partnered with Hunter Subaru this year for the program. Hunter Subaru is additionally highlighting animals available for adoption at Blue Ridge Humane through their social media channels to raise awareness for local animals looking for their next home.

As part of Subaru Loves Pets month, Subaru is celebrating the 2nd annual National Make A Dog’s Day and inviting all dog lovers to do something extra special for their favorite canine on October 22nd. Locally, you can consider adopting! Mr. Baggins, Kody, and Eve are all currently waiting to find their new home at Blue Ridge Humane Society. If you can’t adopt, share adaptable pet info with your friends or social groups. You can also donate supplies, make enrichment toys, and of course, volunteer! To learn more about opportunities with BRHS visit https://www.blueridgehumane.org/get-involved/. So mark the calendar, treat your dog, treat an adoptable dog, and share #MakeADogsDay!

Subaru believes in being More Than a Car Company and one way that they demonstrate this is through their commitment to the health and welfare of pets, as shown by our amazing partnership with Hunter Subaru at the local level!

2020 A YEAR OF COVID, TURMOIL, UNCERTAINTIES, HEROES & HOPE

The year 2020 for better or worse will go down in American history as a pivotal moment. It has been often said that history is written for and by the victors.

But nowadays in a world overwhelmed with 2-second tweets, forgettable social media, conspiracy theories and online rages; modern history seems to be written by the distracted, the delusional and the destructive.

Mountain Made, a local arts & crafts boutique in Grove Arcade, is taking a different approach. We are creating a public history journal of poetry, personal musing, thoughtful insights and yes, rants on “The Year 2020”. They could be funny or serious.

We have setup two interactive art stations inside the gallery:

* The first one is where you can quickly put down your thoughts on some blank paper (the original “i-pad”) and leave it with us.

* The other is a shared, public painting series where you can lay brush to canvas if you are more a visual person.

When to vote? Early Vote in-person polling places are open October 15th to 31st
• Monday through Friday, 8 am to 7:30 pm
• Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm (last Saturday – Oct 31 – opens at 8 am)
• Sunday, 10 am to 3 pm
• You can also vote on Election Day November 3rd but earlier is safer – to make your vote count!
Where to vote? Any voter can go to any Early Voting site in your home county.
You can register and vote at the same time at an Early Voting location.

Need a ride to vote? Call 828-274-4482

Prefer to use an Absentee Ballot?
– Request Absentee Ballot online (www.ncsbe.gov)
– You will receive your Absentee Ballot in the mail
– Complete your Absentee Ballot immediately, following instructions, and note ballot number for tracking.
– Immediately mail the ballot back to the Board of Elections (BOE) using one stamp. You can also turn the
completed ballot in at the BOE (77 McDowell St.) or any Early Voting site.

Questions or concerns? Call the NC Voter Hotline 888-687-8683 or go to NCVoter.org
Pick whichever Early Voting Site – below – that is most convenient for you.
EAST Asheville Mall Next to Old Navy 3 S. Tunnel Rd
SOUTH Asheville Outlet Mall Next to Levi’s 800 Brevard Rd
EAST Bee Tree Fire Dept 510 Bee Tree Rd
EAST Black Mountain Library 105 N. Dougherty St
CENTRAL Civic Center, Downtown 87 Haywood Rd
CENTRAL Dr Wesley Grant Ctr 285 Livingston St
WEST Enka Candler Library 1404 Sand Hill Rd
EAST Fairview Community Center 1357 Charlotte Hwy
WEST Land of Sky Regional Council 339 New Leicester Hwy
WEST Leicester Community Center 2979 New Leicester Hwy
NORTH Reynolds Village 50 N. Merrimon Ave; #107
SOUTH South Buncombe Library 260 Overlook Rd
SOUTH Turtle Creek Shopping Ctr 23 Turtle Creek Dr
NORTH UNC-Asheville Campus Highsmith Student Union 1 University Heights
WEST West Asheville Community Ctr 970 Haywood Rd
NORTH Weaverville Town Hall

Need a ride to vote? Call 828-274-4482

Prefer to use an Absentee Ballot?
– Request Absentee Ballot online (www.ncsbe.gov)
– You will receive your Absentee Ballot in the mail
– Complete your Absentee Ballot immediately, following instructions, and note ballot number for tracking.
– Immediately mail the ballot back to the Board of Elections (BOE) using one stamp. You can also turn the
completed ballot in at the BOE (77 McDowell St.) or any Early Voting site.
Questions or concerns? Call the NC Voter Hotline 888-687-8683 or go to NCVoter.org