Jones Park Playground was a treasured community park used by families from across the city of Asheville. Unfortunately, it was removed without a replacement plan in September of 2021. Members of the community began working immediately to find a solution to get this playground rebuilt with donated funds and labor from the community. In this process the park was renamed Candace Pickens Memorial Park. Candace played in this park and brought her son to play. She was tragically killed here in 2016. October 4-8 hundreds of volunteers from neighborhoods across the city and county will be giving their time to help bring this playground back. Working side by side we are building more than just a playground, we are building community and connections that will last lifetimes.

Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Jones Park Playground was a treasured community park used by families from across the city of Asheville. Unfortunately, it was removed without a replacement plan in September of 2021. Members of the community began working immediately to find a solution to get this playground rebuilt with donated funds and labor from the community. In this process the park was renamed Candace Pickens Memorial Park. Candace played in this park and brought her son to play. She was tragically killed here in 2016. October 4-8 hundreds of volunteers from neighborhoods across the city and county will be giving their time to help bring this playground back. Working side by side we are building more than just a playground, we are building community and connections that will last lifetimes.

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

you’re itching to get out and do some bargain hunting, the Swannanoa Community Yard Sale is here to help! The twice-annual sale returns this Saturday, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., in the Swannanoa Ingles parking lot, 2299 US Hwy. 70. With dozens of sellers and hundreds of shoppers, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this area’s largest yard sale event!

Seller spaces are $15 each if paid in advance ($20 on the day of the sale), with a two space maximum per seller. Please bring your own tables. We’ve had an overwhelming response and are nearing seller capacity, so please check availability and register in advance by sending an email to [email protected] or calling 828-515-1840.

All proceeds from seller spaces help support Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa (FANS) — an all-volunteer nonprofit organization — and the Swannanoa community. Thank you, and see you at the sale!

Buncombe County Democrats are ready to assist our precincts that are not officially recognized as “organized.” In order to be organized, your precinct needs to have at least five members attend a meeting to elect a Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. All Democrats living in the following precincts are encouraged to attend this meeting: 4.1, 9.1, 13.1, 15.1, 19.1, 24.1, 35.1, and 37.1 (if you’re not sure of your precinct number, look it up at https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/).

Some of you may be willing to serve as an officer – we hope so!! Some of you may attend to learn more and to be sure there’s a quorum to elect your officers – we need you! After a large group meeting for brief instructions, each precinct will meet separately to hold their elections.

Being a precinct officer requires no experience – most of our officers serve simply because they want to make a difference during these tumultuous times. If you are undecided about whether or not to serve as an officer, please contact BCDP First Vice Chair Kathie Kline at [email protected] or 828-776-3751 for more information.

Being organized as a precinct has so many benefits, including access to volunteer lists, trainings and events that promise to bring your community together for a meaningful and unified purpose. We hope to see you on September 2nd!

[There will be another meeting to organize remaining precincts in October.]

Since March of 2022, the Community Reparations Commission has been working to establish short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations for consideration by the City of Asheville and Buncombe County Government. On Saturday, Oct. 7, a Community Reparations Summit will be held, providing an opportunity for the public to hear directly from the impact focus areas of criminal justice, economic development, education, housing, and health and wellness and provide feedback on their draft recommendations. The event will also feature keynote speaker George Fatheree, who helped return $20 million to the descendants of the owners of Bruce’s Beach, a popular California waterfront property, after it was wrongly taken from them in the 1920s.

“Our Community Reparations Commission has been hard at work, and we’re excited to be able to take this opportunity to lift up their work while also making sure it’s representative of our community’s wishes,” said Dr. Noreal Armstrong, Buncombe County’s Chief Equity & Human Rights Officer.

The Community Reparations Summit will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the UNC Asheville Sherrill Center, 227 Campus Drive, Asheville. Parking and admission are free, but attendance is limited and registration is required.

The Community Reparations Summit is hosted by the City of Asheville, Buncombe County Government, the UNC Asheville Department of Education, and the UNC Asheville Africana Studies Program.

“We are at a critical juncture in the historic work that’s being undertaken in Asheville and Buncombe County,” said Brenda Mills, the City of Asheville’s Director of Equity and Inclusion. “From our keynote speaker to our impact focus areas, this summit will be a day to celebrate, reflect, and chart our path ahead, and we look forward to our community helping us advance our reparations work.”

Leading up to the Community Reparations Summit, UNC Asheville will host two free movie nights:

• “Black in Asheville” on Monday Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. followed by a discussion with filmmaker Todd Gragg
• “The Big Payback” on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Both movies will be shown at the Mullen & James Humanities Hall, 600 Theatre Lane, Woodfin on the campus of UNC Asheville. Doors will open at 5:45 p.m., and free parking will be available. Food trucks will be available in the parking lot for moviegoers beginning at 5 p.m.

You can begin restoring the urban canopy in Buncombe County from your own back yard by picking up a native tree from our county-wide Fall Tree Adoption on October 29.

The 2023 Fall Tree Adoption registration is now live online. Please review the FAQs, species information, and tree care and planting instructions prior to your registration.

Each tree we give away costs ~ $300 to grow to the point in which you adopt it. Your contribution goes directly towards supporting our urban forestry efforts in Asheville & Buncombe County. We request a minimum donation of $10; if you are able to contribute more, you will support the planting of trees in lower-wealth neighborhoods where disproportionate tree removal exacerbates the effects of extreme heat and other impacts of climate change.

A $10 contribution covers your tree adoption.

A $50 contribution gives FIVE people the opportunity to receive a tree.

A $100 contribution gives TEN people the opportunity to receive a tree.

A $300 contribution covers the full cost of raising your tree to the point when you get to take it home to enjoy!

No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

REMINDER: One tree per Buncombe County residence

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

Buncombe County Democrats are ready to assist our precincts that are not officially recognized as “organized.” In order to be organized, your precinct needs to have at least five members attend a meeting to elect a Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. All Democrats living in the following precincts are encouraged to attend this meeting: 43.2, 46.1, 47.1, 48.1, 49.1, 53.1 and 55.1 (if you’re not sure of your precinct number, look it up at https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/).

Some of you may be willing to serve as an officer – we hope so!! Some of you may attend to learn more and to be sure there’s a quorum to elect your officers – we need you! After a large group meeting for brief instructions, each precinct will meet separately to hold their elections.

Being a precinct officer requires no experience – most of our officers serve simply because they want to make a difference during these tumultuous times. If you are undecided about whether or not to serve as an officer, please contact BCDP Precinct Organizer Jenny Floyd at [email protected] for more information.

Being organized as a precinct has so many benefits, including access to volunteer lists, trainings and events that promise to bring your community together for a meaningful and unified purpose. We hope to see you on October 7th!

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.

Join Congresswoman Alma Adams and special guests for her Annual Mad Hatter’s Celebration.

You can expect celebrity appearances, live entertainment, and – of course – hats!

Be sure to wear your favorite hat and prepare for a hat auction with signed celebrity hats as we celebrate the work Alma is doing to Build Back Better!

Please RSVP by September 15th.

A spin off of the German Oktoberfest, the Asheville Oktoberfest will feature 15+ breweries and craft beverage makers. There will also be a festival games section, hosted by Asheville Sports and Social Club, local food vendors, and music by Lagerhosen!

Presale tickets on sale August 1st, with vendors to be announced in waves.

General Admission tickets to be on sale August 8th.

VIP tickets will include early access to festival (1pm-2pm), VIP tent with food and full pints, and even more!

Our Black Box series continues as we welcome to the stage the magnificent work of William Shakespeare. Surrender to a haunting story of ambition and its dark consequences, as a military hero and his wife conspire to seize political power. A terrifyingly prophetic tale of revenge, murder, and madness, Macbeth lays bare the fallout when the darkest side of humanity cheats its way into a position of power.  One of Shakespeare’s bloodiest, scariest, and yet, most popular tragedies.

As we slip toward fall, it’s time to shake it loose and join the Harvest Masquerade Ball!

We invite folks to grab some garb, bring some grub, and join a community celebration. There will be craft stations set up for mask making and pumpkins painting, festive attire for sharing, a feast supplied by all, and sonic journeys for dancing the night away!

You may come anytime after 6 pm. Bring a dish to share. Wear whatever brings you joy.

A suggested donation will be collected at the event – to enrich the soil of our season’s programs and sustain our work in the community. Please RSVP, as space is limited.

Pumpkin Fest is a fun, family friendly and fantastic artistic event or great date night with 18 beautiful artist-designed lighted carved pumpkin displays on a newly-paved short walking trail. The event includes talented local musicians, food trucks and coffee house, games, storytelling, face painting, white squirrel scavenger hunt, games, dress ups, and the Silvermont historic mansion and second floor museum open for tours. New exhibits from 2022 (“Syd’s Silvermont Adventure”) and 2021 (the spectacular “White Squirrel Circus”) are returning, as well as 16 other lighted pumpkin displays such as Butterfly Garden, Pirates Cove, Under the Sea, Witches Garden, Ghost Circle, Totem Garden, and more.
A new 2023 exhibit has been developed by Friends of Silvermont’s Pumpkin-teers: “Land of Waterfalls”, featuring the unique places and features that make Transylvania County so beautiful and special for locals and tourists alike. A new social media photo-op site with a Silvermont Pumpkin Fest background will also be set up between the dress up and face painting areas near the tennis courts. There will be lots of activities for young and old alike- with fun for all ages! Silvermont Park has a newly paved 1/3-mile trail that works much better for strollers, walkers and wheelchairs.
Pumpkin Fest is a Fundraiser for Friends of Silvermont to help maintain and improve the Silvermont Park and the 106-year-old historic mansion, which houses the county senior center and a history museum. Friends of Silvermont was in 1981 to help save the mansion and has continued to make significant financial contributions to both the mansion and park each year.
Location- Silvermont Park 364 E. Main St. Brevard, NC 28712.
Admission $7 per person (ages 13 and over), $5 ages 3-12, and under 3 is free. We accept cards, cash or check with ID. Volunteers receive free admission. Contact [email protected] if interested in volunteering for event nights or setup/teardown starting Sept. 23 thru Nov 3.
Onsite parking cost is $5 cash per car. Free parking is available offsite on nearby streets and at churches and the Comporium and church parking lots 1 block away. Handicap sticker- free parking onsite.
Music and Food Schedule:
Date Time Music Schedule Food Trucks plus Cup and Saucer
Oct. 6 Friday 6-9 pm Two Step Too Feta Flav, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 7 Saturday 6-9 pm Big Eyed Rabbit Southern Hawg BarBQue, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 13 Friday 6-9 pm Nikki Talley and Jason Sharpe Feta Flav, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 14 Saturday 6-9 pm Andrew Thelston and Carrie Morrison Haus Heidelberg
Oct. 20 Friday 6-9 pm Nikki Talley and Jason Sharpe Toasted Cuban, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 21 Saturday 6-9 pm Unpaid Bill and the Bad Czechs Feta Flav
Oct. 27 Friday 6-9 pm McIntosh and the Lionhearts BBQ Shed, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 28 Saturday 6-9 pm McIntosh and the Lionhearts Toasted Cuban, Feta Flav
Website: Pumpkin Fest | Friends of Silvermont https://silvermont.org/pumpkinfest/ Facebook: SilvermontPark: https://www.facebook.com/silvermontpark/

This absurd farce asks, “If we had to start the human race over with only four highly flawed individuals, would we be up to the task?”

Karl, the Magnificent!

by William Missouri Downs

THE STORY: Maggie and Raymond have just flunked their hostile workplace training seminar. The only way they can keep their jobs is to put their microaggressions aside and attend the birthday party for the employee they bully the most, Karl, the office nerd. They don’t know that Karl is the only person on earth who can save humanity from destruction. That’s right, the world is ending, and Karl is the savior. Or is Karl just an evil genius who has staged the evening to seek revenge? Karl, The Magnificent is an absurd farce that asks the question, “If we had to start the human race over with only four highly flawed individuals would we be up to the task?” Or are Homo sapiens a lost cause, an evolutionary mistake, a dud?

-summary from New Play Exchange

In keeping with our Mission Statement, BC Theatre Dept. seeks to encourage student and community growth and purposeful interaction with a range of ideas. We mindfully tell this story with the deliberate aim of ensuring both open-mindedness and personal safety.

INFORMATION ABOUT TALKBACKS AND RECEPTIONS!

Thursday, 10/5 7:00p performance: Check back here for more information coming soon!

Friday, 10/6 7:00p performance: Check back here for more information coming soon!

Saturday, 10/7 7:00p performance: Check back here for more information coming soon!

CAST

Karl / Karl the Magnificent: Sierethene Chepes

Punk Waitress: Lyric Contarino

Maggie: Mickey Lasco

Raymond: Taylor Sparrow

CREATIVE TEAM

Director: Grace Dempsey

Faculty Mentor / Intimacy Director: Abbey Toot

Lighting Designer: Andrea Boccanfuso

Sound Designer / Fight Consultant: Dan Toot

Scenic Designer: Emily Rich

Costume Designer: Sarah Haga

Hair and Makeup Designer: Naomi Firebaugh

Production Stage Manager: Roxxane Petryshak

Assistant Stage Manager 1 / Dramaturg / Community Engagement: Oliver Morgan

Assistant Stage Manager 2 / Dramaturg / Community Engagement: Roz Xenakis

Light Board Op: Ava Bonner

Sound Board Op: Eli Hughes

Props Supervisor: Lacey Treese

Props Assistant: Graycie Barnett

Costume Shop Manager: Gwyn Jennings

Wardrobe Supervisor / Dresser 1: Evy Higdon

Dresser 2: Marina Mullin

Hair and Makeup Applicator: Camille Bonnin

Scenic Charge: Anna Ervin

Scenic Paint: Nell O’Brien

House Manager: Jodi Wyse

Box Office Manager: Abby Reeves

Video Manager: Scott Douglas

Usher / Video Crew: Sidi Podolan, Erick Meglii, Jaylen Dickerson

 

 

The Sublime Theater presents the world premiere of David Brendan Hopes’ “Ben & Angela,” starring Scott Fisher & Kirby Gibson, directed by Steven Samuels. “No matter how long people have been doing it, marriage remains a mystery. In “Ben & Angela,” a young couple follow the twisty, sometimes hilarious, road from first infatuation through the kinks and perils of living life together for the long haul. They each know the other’s weakness. They each know each other’s strength. They know what it will look like when it is perfect.”

Our Black Box series continues as we welcome to the stage the magnificent work of William Shakespeare. Surrender to a haunting story of ambition and its dark consequences, as a military hero and his wife conspire to seize political power. A terrifyingly prophetic tale of revenge, murder, and madness, Macbeth lays bare the fallout when the darkest side of humanity cheats its way into a position of power.  One of Shakespeare’s bloodiest, scariest, and yet, most popular tragedies.

Written by Will Storrs
Directed by Deanna Braine Smith
Just in time for Halloween, local playwright Will Storrs brings us this World Premiere reimagining Alice and the characters of Lewis Carroll’s story in a seasonally-appropriate way. Sure to be a horribly good time!
 
All shows will run Fridays through Sundays and all will be presented at 7:30pm and prime seats can be reserved.

Montford Park Players has been bringing some of theater’s greatest works to Western North Carolina for over 50 years. Montford Park Players continues its mission of bring free theater to the community. The summer season allows everyone to come spend an evening under the stars, seeing some of the best live performances presented in Asheville.

Step into a world of magic, mystery, and self-discovery with the Tony Award-winning musical, Pippin. This Broadway classic, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson, tells the captivating story of a young prince on a daring quest for the ultimate meaning of life and fulfillment. From spectacular circus-inspired performances to stirring, emotionally-charged songs, “Pippin” unfolds as an exploration of the highs and lows of glory, love, and ambition. It’s a compelling narrative that continually asks one poignant question: is it more rewarding to live a simple life or to persist in relentlessly pursuing extraordinary feats? With its rich, allegorical storyline and memorable melodies, Pippin promises to enchant audiences, leaving them musing long after the final curtain call.

A talkback with the cast & crew of Pippin will be held following the performances on September 17th & 24th.

THE SPLATTER PLAY
By Abby Auman
Directed by Jessica Johnson

It’s the day of the open house for Tina’s childhood home, which also happens to be her deceased mother’s evil laboratory. Determined to turn the terrors of the lab into selling points, Tina and her optimistic realtor parade a cast of unsavory potential buyers through the home, tormented all the while by the resident creepies and crawlies who aren’t quite as ready to move on as Tina would hope. *Note: there will be blood, so much blood.

By Abby Auman
Directed by Jessica Johnson

It’s the day of the open house for Tina’s childhood home, which also happens to be her deceased mother’s evil laboratory. Determined to turn the terrors of the lab into selling points, Tina and her optimistic realtor parade a cast of unsavory potential buyers through the home, tormented all the while by the resident creepies and crawlies who aren’t quite as ready to move on as Tina would hope. *Note: this is an immersive experience and there will be blood, so much blood.

**Content notification: language; violence; blood; gore; strobe light effects; audience-immersive scenes that may include audience members being splattered with stage blood and gore.