Last Call for the West AVL Raffle to Benefit OpenDoors

Feb 14 @ 12:30 pm

The Hop Ice Cream

Last Call for the West AVL Raffle to Benefit @opendoorsasheville! Click the link in the comments to enter! One lucky winner will receive…

$150 gift certificate for @wrongwaycampground (applicable towards any cabin rental)

$50 gift certificate for @hopicecreamnc (can be redeemed at either HOP or @popbubbleteanc)

$50 gift certificate for @botiwallaasheville

Here’s how it works…

1) Click on the link in the comments.

2) Make a Donation to OpenDoors. Entries are one for $5, five for $20, or thirty for $100! No limit for entries.

3) Cross your fingers!

Entries open through February 14th. Winner will be announced on February 15th.

Good luck and Much Love!

#Asheville #avledu #avl #828isgreat #ashevillenc

Categories: Benefit Family Fun Food & Drink

Downtown Asheville Valentine’s Day Treasure Hunt – Walking Scavenger Hunt!

Feb 14 @ 6:00 pm

Dssolvr

Asheville Treasure Hunts

Categories: Family Fun Games Holiday Outdoors Tours

Thursday, February 15, 2024

2024 West Asheville Garden Stroll Seed Money Grant

Feb 15 all-day

online

Are you involved in a community-oriented gardening project in West Asheville that needs some extra resources? Or have you been dreaming of a great project that just needs some cash to become a reality? Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, WAGS has awarded Seed Grants annually since 2014. We support projects that deepen horticultural & environmental awareness and education, encourage creative landscaping, &/or contribute to the beautification of West Asheville’s public spaces, such as boulevard strips, traffic islands, storefronts, community gardens, schools, etc.

Seed Money Grants

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, WAGS offers annual grants for gardening projects, between $100 and $1000 per grant.

The grants are intended to deepen horticultural & environmental awareness and education, encourage creative landscaping, & contribute to the beautification of West Asheville’s public spaces, including boulevard strips, traffic islands, storefronts, community gardens, schools, etc. To be eligible, the following stipulations apply:

· Proposed projects must be submitted by an individual living in West Asheville or by a community group such as a non-profit working in West Asheville, a neighbor collaboration, a faith community, a school, a business, a youth group, etc.

· Proposed projects must be community-oriented (not for individual home projects) & accessible to the public.

· Proposed projects must take place in the area bounded by Patton Avenue/Smokey Park Highway, I-40, & the French Broad River.

We encourage native plantings that support pollinators. (Bee City USA-Asheville has helpful information at https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/native-pollinator…)

Grant applications are due on February 18. Applicants will be notified by March 18 and a simple report about the project (with in-process and final outcome photos) is due August 15. Grantees must be willing to allow use of photos and project descriptions in WAGS publicity materials.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for a Seed Grant, go to https://form.jotform.com/223385924338059, fill out the form and submit it. Note that the form allows you to attach documents such as a project description, budget, and letters of support.

Please email us at [email protected] if you have difficulty with the application or need assistance in completing it.

Categories: Garden Grants

School Garden Grants

Feb 15 all-day

online

Extension Master Gardener^SM Volunteers of Buncombe County are happy to announce for the seventeenth year we are offering School Garden Grants to Asheville City and Buncombe County public schools, including state charter schools.

We provide a notice of the application period along with instructions to all school principals, elementary through senior high. Additional information is available on our website, buncombemastergardener.org where you can learn more about the guidelines for receiving a grant and get access to the online 2024 School Garden Grants Application.

All applications must be completed online. Completed applications will be accepted beginning January 12, 2024, and must be submitted no later than 9 p.m. on February 15, 2024. If you have any questions, please call the Extension Office at 828-255-5522.

We are proud of our partnership with Asheville City and Buncombe County public schools. Since 2007, we have awarded 60 School Garden Grants totaling over $47,000. These grants have involved more than 17,500 students and hundreds of teachers, parents, and community volunteers.

School gardens grow more than plants. They grow imagination and creativity. They make math and science come alive, and they build community. We hope your school will join us in 2024.

Click on the link below to review the guidelines for school garden grants:
Guidelines for 2024 School Garden Grants

Categories: Community Education Garden Grants

Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant

Feb 15 @ 6:30 am

online

ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.

Applications due by:

November 30, 2023
January 30, 2024
March 30, 2024

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!

Categories: Community Education Garden Grants

NC Arboretum Hiking Trails

Feb 15 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors

Friday, February 16, 2024

2024 West Asheville Garden Stroll Seed Money Grant

Feb 16 all-day

online

Are you involved in a community-oriented gardening project in West Asheville that needs some extra resources? Or have you been dreaming of a great project that just needs some cash to become a reality? Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, WAGS has awarded Seed Grants annually since 2014. We support projects that deepen horticultural & environmental awareness and education, encourage creative landscaping, &/or contribute to the beautification of West Asheville’s public spaces, such as boulevard strips, traffic islands, storefronts, community gardens, schools, etc.

Seed Money Grants

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, WAGS offers annual grants for gardening projects, between $100 and $1000 per grant.

The grants are intended to deepen horticultural & environmental awareness and education, encourage creative landscaping, & contribute to the beautification of West Asheville’s public spaces, including boulevard strips, traffic islands, storefronts, community gardens, schools, etc. To be eligible, the following stipulations apply:

· Proposed projects must be submitted by an individual living in West Asheville or by a community group such as a non-profit working in West Asheville, a neighbor collaboration, a faith community, a school, a business, a youth group, etc.

· Proposed projects must be community-oriented (not for individual home projects) & accessible to the public.

· Proposed projects must take place in the area bounded by Patton Avenue/Smokey Park Highway, I-40, & the French Broad River.

We encourage native plantings that support pollinators. (Bee City USA-Asheville has helpful information at https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/native-pollinator…)

Grant applications are due on February 18. Applicants will be notified by March 18 and a simple report about the project (with in-process and final outcome photos) is due August 15. Grantees must be willing to allow use of photos and project descriptions in WAGS publicity materials.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for a Seed Grant, go to https://form.jotform.com/223385924338059, fill out the form and submit it. Note that the form allows you to attach documents such as a project description, budget, and letters of support.

Please email us at [email protected] if you have difficulty with the application or need assistance in completing it.

Categories: Garden Grants

Neighborhood Matching Grants

Feb 16 all-day

The City’s Neighborhood Matching Grant program is now accepting applications for the 2024 calendar year. Neighborhood organizations can apply for up to $5,000 in funds to be matched with volunteer time, fundraising and in-kind donations.

The biggest change to the program in 2024 is a transition to rolling applications. Previously, neighborhoods had to meet a hard application deadline. Now, applications will be accepted throughout the calendar year or until a maximum of 14 projects are awarded.

What kinds of projects can the Neighborhood Matching Grant program fund?

The program supports a wide range of imaginative projects, giving neighborhood organizations an opportunity to improve the quality of life in their community in ways that are most important to them. Projects that address a neighborhood issue or need in one of the following categories are eligible. This list is not exhaustive.

Physical improvement
Neighborhood identity
Community building events
Public safety
Marketing and branding
Organizational development and capacity building
Programming (cannot be programming that is currently ongoing)
Kickstart funding for new neighborhood organizations

A snapshot of past projects is available in the Spotlight Projects Guide.

“The grant-funded improvements to our park have really improved our neighborhood’s sense of community,” says Rob Patete of Kenilworth Forest.

Want to learn more?

The City will host a drop-in workshop:

February 19, 2024
4-6 p.m.
Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center.

Background

Established in 2021 by City Council, the Neighborhood Matching Grant program is designed to strengthen relationships between neighbors, cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, and help communities accomplish self-determined goals. The program has so far awarded 36 projects, resulting in $159,110 in City funds and an estimated 2,500 volunteer hours invested in Asheville’s neighborhoods.

The City’s Neighborhood Services Specialist, Meredith Friedheim, hopes to continue this impact with a few minor improvements in 2024. “We’ve had three years to see the potential that can be reached with this program as well as to understand how best to manage it on the back-end. Our neighborhoods have shown us that they are ready and willing to invest their time and resources in projects that are important to them. For me, there is exciting momentum going into this fourth year.”

The Neighborhood Matching Grant program is administered by the Community Engagement Division of the Communication and Public Engagement Department. To find out more about the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program and to apply, visit the program webpage.

Categories: Community Grants

Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant

Feb 16 @ 6:30 am

online

ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.

Applications due by:

November 30, 2023
January 30, 2024
March 30, 2024

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!

Categories: Community Education Garden Grants

NC Arboretum Hiking Trails

Feb 16 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors

Saturday, February 17, 2024

2024 West Asheville Garden Stroll Seed Money Grant

Feb 17 all-day

online

Are you involved in a community-oriented gardening project in West Asheville that needs some extra resources? Or have you been dreaming of a great project that just needs some cash to become a reality? Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, WAGS has awarded Seed Grants annually since 2014. We support projects that deepen horticultural & environmental awareness and education, encourage creative landscaping, &/or contribute to the beautification of West Asheville’s public spaces, such as boulevard strips, traffic islands, storefronts, community gardens, schools, etc.

Seed Money Grants

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, WAGS offers annual grants for gardening projects, between $100 and $1000 per grant.

The grants are intended to deepen horticultural & environmental awareness and education, encourage creative landscaping, & contribute to the beautification of West Asheville’s public spaces, including boulevard strips, traffic islands, storefronts, community gardens, schools, etc. To be eligible, the following stipulations apply:

· Proposed projects must be submitted by an individual living in West Asheville or by a community group such as a non-profit working in West Asheville, a neighbor collaboration, a faith community, a school, a business, a youth group, etc.

· Proposed projects must be community-oriented (not for individual home projects) & accessible to the public.

· Proposed projects must take place in the area bounded by Patton Avenue/Smokey Park Highway, I-40, & the French Broad River.

We encourage native plantings that support pollinators. (Bee City USA-Asheville has helpful information at https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/native-pollinator…)

Grant applications are due on February 18. Applicants will be notified by March 18 and a simple report about the project (with in-process and final outcome photos) is due August 15. Grantees must be willing to allow use of photos and project descriptions in WAGS publicity materials.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for a Seed Grant, go to https://form.jotform.com/223385924338059, fill out the form and submit it. Note that the form allows you to attach documents such as a project description, budget, and letters of support.

Please email us at [email protected] if you have difficulty with the application or need assistance in completing it.

Categories: Garden Grants

NC Arboretum Hiking Trails

Feb 17 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors

Swannanoa Anime Club

Feb 17 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Swannanoa Library

Come join the Swannanoa Library Anime Club! We’ll meet the 3rd Saturday of every month to watch anime, discuss manga, create crafts, and even try some fun snacks!

For ages 13 to 18.

Questions? Please contact Olivia at [email protected]

Categories: Family Fun Games

Dungeons + Dragons at the Weaverville Library

Feb 17 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Weaverville Public Library

Calling adventurous tweens/teens! Join us for Dungeons & Dragons at the Weaverville Library! This program is open to tweens and teens ages 12+.

All skill levels are welcome.

Space for this program is limited. Registration is required. Please stop by the Weaverville Library or call 828-250-6482 to reserve your space!

Categories: Family Fun Games

Sunday, February 18, 2024

2024 West Asheville Garden Stroll Seed Money Grant

Feb 18 all-day

online

Are you involved in a community-oriented gardening project in West Asheville that needs some extra resources? Or have you been dreaming of a great project that just needs some cash to become a reality? Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, WAGS has awarded Seed Grants annually since 2014. We support projects that deepen horticultural & environmental awareness and education, encourage creative landscaping, &/or contribute to the beautification of West Asheville’s public spaces, such as boulevard strips, traffic islands, storefronts, community gardens, schools, etc.

Seed Money Grants

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, WAGS offers annual grants for gardening projects, between $100 and $1000 per grant.

The grants are intended to deepen horticultural & environmental awareness and education, encourage creative landscaping, & contribute to the beautification of West Asheville’s public spaces, including boulevard strips, traffic islands, storefronts, community gardens, schools, etc. To be eligible, the following stipulations apply:

· Proposed projects must be submitted by an individual living in West Asheville or by a community group such as a non-profit working in West Asheville, a neighbor collaboration, a faith community, a school, a business, a youth group, etc.

· Proposed projects must be community-oriented (not for individual home projects) & accessible to the public.

· Proposed projects must take place in the area bounded by Patton Avenue/Smokey Park Highway, I-40, & the French Broad River.

We encourage native plantings that support pollinators. (Bee City USA-Asheville has helpful information at https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/native-pollinator…)

Grant applications are due on February 18. Applicants will be notified by March 18 and a simple report about the project (with in-process and final outcome photos) is due August 15. Grantees must be willing to allow use of photos and project descriptions in WAGS publicity materials.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for a Seed Grant, go to https://form.jotform.com/223385924338059, fill out the form and submit it. Note that the form allows you to attach documents such as a project description, budget, and letters of support.

Please email us at [email protected] if you have difficulty with the application or need assistance in completing it.

Categories: Garden Grants

NC Arboretum Hiking Trails

Feb 18 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors

Monday, February 19, 2024

Neighborhood Matching Grants

Feb 19 all-day

The City’s Neighborhood Matching Grant program is now accepting applications for the 2024 calendar year. Neighborhood organizations can apply for up to $5,000 in funds to be matched with volunteer time, fundraising and in-kind donations.

The biggest change to the program in 2024 is a transition to rolling applications. Previously, neighborhoods had to meet a hard application deadline. Now, applications will be accepted throughout the calendar year or until a maximum of 14 projects are awarded.

What kinds of projects can the Neighborhood Matching Grant program fund?

The program supports a wide range of imaginative projects, giving neighborhood organizations an opportunity to improve the quality of life in their community in ways that are most important to them. Projects that address a neighborhood issue or need in one of the following categories are eligible. This list is not exhaustive.

Physical improvement
Neighborhood identity
Community building events
Public safety
Marketing and branding
Organizational development and capacity building
Programming (cannot be programming that is currently ongoing)
Kickstart funding for new neighborhood organizations

A snapshot of past projects is available in the Spotlight Projects Guide.

“The grant-funded improvements to our park have really improved our neighborhood’s sense of community,” says Rob Patete of Kenilworth Forest.

Want to learn more?

The City will host a drop-in workshop:

February 19, 2024
4-6 p.m.
Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center.

Background

Established in 2021 by City Council, the Neighborhood Matching Grant program is designed to strengthen relationships between neighbors, cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, and help communities accomplish self-determined goals. The program has so far awarded 36 projects, resulting in $159,110 in City funds and an estimated 2,500 volunteer hours invested in Asheville’s neighborhoods.

The City’s Neighborhood Services Specialist, Meredith Friedheim, hopes to continue this impact with a few minor improvements in 2024. “We’ve had three years to see the potential that can be reached with this program as well as to understand how best to manage it on the back-end. Our neighborhoods have shown us that they are ready and willing to invest their time and resources in projects that are important to them. For me, there is exciting momentum going into this fourth year.”

The Neighborhood Matching Grant program is administered by the Community Engagement Division of the Communication and Public Engagement Department. To find out more about the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program and to apply, visit the program webpage.

Categories: Community Grants

NC Arboretum Hiking Trails

Feb 19 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant

Feb 20 @ 6:30 am

online

ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.

Applications due by:

November 30, 2023
January 30, 2024
March 30, 2024

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!

Categories: Community Education Garden Grants

NC Arboretum Hiking Trails

Feb 20 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Neighborhood Matching Grants

Feb 21 all-day

The City’s Neighborhood Matching Grant program is now accepting applications for the 2024 calendar year. Neighborhood organizations can apply for up to $5,000 in funds to be matched with volunteer time, fundraising and in-kind donations.

The biggest change to the program in 2024 is a transition to rolling applications. Previously, neighborhoods had to meet a hard application deadline. Now, applications will be accepted throughout the calendar year or until a maximum of 14 projects are awarded.

What kinds of projects can the Neighborhood Matching Grant program fund?

The program supports a wide range of imaginative projects, giving neighborhood organizations an opportunity to improve the quality of life in their community in ways that are most important to them. Projects that address a neighborhood issue or need in one of the following categories are eligible. This list is not exhaustive.

Physical improvement
Neighborhood identity
Community building events
Public safety
Marketing and branding
Organizational development and capacity building
Programming (cannot be programming that is currently ongoing)
Kickstart funding for new neighborhood organizations

A snapshot of past projects is available in the Spotlight Projects Guide.

“The grant-funded improvements to our park have really improved our neighborhood’s sense of community,” says Rob Patete of Kenilworth Forest.

Want to learn more?

The City will host a drop-in workshop:

February 19, 2024
4-6 p.m.
Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center.

Background

Established in 2021 by City Council, the Neighborhood Matching Grant program is designed to strengthen relationships between neighbors, cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, and help communities accomplish self-determined goals. The program has so far awarded 36 projects, resulting in $159,110 in City funds and an estimated 2,500 volunteer hours invested in Asheville’s neighborhoods.

The City’s Neighborhood Services Specialist, Meredith Friedheim, hopes to continue this impact with a few minor improvements in 2024. “We’ve had three years to see the potential that can be reached with this program as well as to understand how best to manage it on the back-end. Our neighborhoods have shown us that they are ready and willing to invest their time and resources in projects that are important to them. For me, there is exciting momentum going into this fourth year.”

The Neighborhood Matching Grant program is administered by the Community Engagement Division of the Communication and Public Engagement Department. To find out more about the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program and to apply, visit the program webpage.

Categories: Community Grants

Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant

Feb 21 @ 6:30 am

online

ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.

Applications due by:

November 30, 2023
January 30, 2024
March 30, 2024

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!

Categories: Community Education Garden Grants

NC Arboretum Hiking Trails

Feb 21 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant

Feb 22 @ 6:30 am

online

ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.

Applications due by:

November 30, 2023
January 30, 2024
March 30, 2024

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!

Categories: Community Education Garden Grants

NC Arboretum Hiking Trails

Feb 22 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors

AVL Food Series: Pop-Up with Chef Michelle Bailey

Feb 22 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

The Mule at Devil's Foot Beverage

Join Friends and Family as we welcome Chef Michelle Bailey to do her first Pop Up Dinner with us here at The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage on Thursday, February 22, 2024, with cocktails for purchase & snacks by Chef Bailey, starting at 5:30 pm and Dinner at 6:00 pm.

That is right folks we will have Chef Bailey and Jolene present to kick off the AVL Food Series here at The Mule, so get your tickets today before they sell out only 75 tickets are available.

The Evening will start at 5:30 pm with Cocktails for purchase at The Mule and Snacks by Chef Bailey for the guests to enjoy, mingle, and visit. Then at 6:00 pm you will be invited to a plated and served 4 course Dinner by Chef Bailey, with the option to purchase a drink ticket pairing or an NA Pairing if you so select.

Chef Bailey has selected Our Voice to be the Non-Profit for the event and a portion of your ticket sales will go to this non-profit whose mission is : Guiding Principles for Buncombe County’s Anti-Sexual Violence and Anti-Human Trafficking Agency. We are very fortunate to have this non-profit as part of our community here in Asheville with Values we can all believe in.

Chef Michelle Bailey crafts refined wood-fired fare using traditional southern techniques, fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers, makers, and foragers, and live fire.

Bailey has over 20 years of culinary industry experience leading both kitchens and catering companies. She has served as Executive Chef of Smoky Park Supper Club, Highland Lake Inn, The Venue, and The Marketplace. She also cooks at events including the annual Le Pied Du Mont Boucherie Festival at Comfort Farms, Pig Island NYC, and Salt Fire Smoke.

Now leading her own culinary venture, Bailey focuses on tailoring menus for special occasions, from intimate dinners to company retreats, weddings, and other celebrations. She also offers in-home cooking classes for small groups.

Her pride and joy, and often the star of Bailey’s pop-ups and events, is Jolene, her custom-built Santa Maria fire table handbuilt by John Haney of Alveron Barbecue.

Our VOICE takes an intersectional, person-centered approach to support survivors and prevent future acts of sexual violence. We hold ourselves accountable to these core values:

Believe All Survivors

We advocate for the health, safety, and happiness of everyone impacted by sexual violence. Our programs are open to people of all genders, sexual orientations, racial identities, socioeconomic statuses, and abilities. All reports are taken seriously.

Promote Dignity

We honor the inherent dignity and worth of all people and believe that everyone has a right to healing, wholeness, and a life free of sexual violence.

Support Individual Agency

Survivors choose their own path to healing. We provide them with information in a compassionate way without reservation or judgment.

Shift Paradigms

Sexual violence is a societal problem linked to many forms of oppression. Working alongside community partners who align with our values, we will remain at the forefront of advocating for societal change.

Create a Culture of Care and Honesty

Compassion and respect guide our relationships with each other and with community members. We foster a culture of open, direct, and caring communication.

Please come and support Chef Bailey and Our Voice at this lovely dinner on February 22, 2024, at The Mule.

Produced by Shay & Company in Partnership with Devil’s Foot Beverage Company

Stay Tuned for Menu Details

Categories: Benefit Food & Drink

Friday, February 23, 2024

Neighborhood Matching Grants

Feb 23 all-day

The City’s Neighborhood Matching Grant program is now accepting applications for the 2024 calendar year. Neighborhood organizations can apply for up to $5,000 in funds to be matched with volunteer time, fundraising and in-kind donations.

The biggest change to the program in 2024 is a transition to rolling applications. Previously, neighborhoods had to meet a hard application deadline. Now, applications will be accepted throughout the calendar year or until a maximum of 14 projects are awarded.

What kinds of projects can the Neighborhood Matching Grant program fund?

The program supports a wide range of imaginative projects, giving neighborhood organizations an opportunity to improve the quality of life in their community in ways that are most important to them. Projects that address a neighborhood issue or need in one of the following categories are eligible. This list is not exhaustive.

Physical improvement
Neighborhood identity
Community building events
Public safety
Marketing and branding
Organizational development and capacity building
Programming (cannot be programming that is currently ongoing)
Kickstart funding for new neighborhood organizations

A snapshot of past projects is available in the Spotlight Projects Guide.

“The grant-funded improvements to our park have really improved our neighborhood’s sense of community,” says Rob Patete of Kenilworth Forest.

Want to learn more?

The City will host a drop-in workshop:

February 19, 2024
4-6 p.m.
Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center.

Background

Established in 2021 by City Council, the Neighborhood Matching Grant program is designed to strengthen relationships between neighbors, cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, and help communities accomplish self-determined goals. The program has so far awarded 36 projects, resulting in $159,110 in City funds and an estimated 2,500 volunteer hours invested in Asheville’s neighborhoods.

The City’s Neighborhood Services Specialist, Meredith Friedheim, hopes to continue this impact with a few minor improvements in 2024. “We’ve had three years to see the potential that can be reached with this program as well as to understand how best to manage it on the back-end. Our neighborhoods have shown us that they are ready and willing to invest their time and resources in projects that are important to them. For me, there is exciting momentum going into this fourth year.”

The Neighborhood Matching Grant program is administered by the Community Engagement Division of the Communication and Public Engagement Department. To find out more about the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program and to apply, visit the program webpage.

Categories: Community Grants

Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant

Feb 23 @ 6:30 am

online

ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.

Applications due by:

November 30, 2023
January 30, 2024
March 30, 2024

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!

Categories: Community Education Garden Grants

NC Arboretum Hiking Trails

Feb 23 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors

Pardee Hospital Foundation Casino Night

Feb 23 @ 6:00 pm

Burntshirt Vineyards

Pardee Hospital Foundation’s Casino Night will feature casino games with live dealers, musical entertainment, exciting raffle opportunities, delicious food and locally sourced beer and wine. Proceeds from this year’s event will support Pardee’s growing cardiology program. Casino Games will include: Double Roulette Blackjack Full Size Craps Texas Hold’em Don’t miss out on the action, bring your friends, family or office colleagues to enjoy a unique night of fun all for a good cause! By attending or sponsoring this event you are ensuring access to quality and timely Cardiac care here in Western North Carolina.

Categories: Community Fundraisers Games Health & Wellness

Calendar of Events

HOW TO APPLY

HOW TO APPLY

HOW TO APPLY

HOW TO APPLY

Believe All Survivors

Promote Dignity

Support Individual Agency

Shift Paradigms

Create a Culture of Care and Honesty