The Caldwell Arts Council announces a call for sculptors to participate in its 37th Annual Sculpture Celebration scheduled from 9am-4pm on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at the Broyhill Walking Park in Lenoir, North Carolina.

Sculptors are invited to enter up to 3 works in the competition that will be judged by renowned sculptor Kyle Van Lusk of Brevard, NC and offers $11,000 in cash awards. Sales and commissions are allowed with 100% of proceeds going to the sculptors. All sizes of works in all materials are welcome. In addition, large-scale outdoor works can be entered for a second exhibition and sales opportunity at the Western NC Sculpture Center.

Registration includes FREE help in unloading, installation, and removal of work; admission to the Friday night Sculptor’s Reception & Dinner; and a continental breakfast on Saturday. Local lodging options are available, as well as free camping at the Western NC Sculpture Center.

Held rain or shine, this annual family-friendly event attracts sculptors and buyers from all over the eastern United States, with attendance as high as 4,000 people. It is funded in part by generous sponsors, the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resource, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Early registration discounts are available and special rates are provided for students. For complete details, visit www.caldwellarts.com, or contact the Caldwell Arts Council at 828-754-2486 or [email protected].

Down Home NC Seeks Education Deep Canvassers Remote, with some travel required within NC Part-time, Contract, $22/hr Click Here For Weblink Down Home, North Carolina seeks multiple, part-time Deep Canvassers. The Deep Canvassers will work directly with the Deep Canvass Management Team and contribute to a positive, inclusive culture and work environment — to have multiple persuasive deep canvass phone conversations with voters. About the Organization Down Home North Carolina is a growing statewide organization of rural and small-town communities advocating for economic, gender, and racial justice. We will move North Carolina toward the values of dignity, safety, and inclusion through leadership development, strategic campaigning, multiracial movement-building, and civic engagement that advances positive, life-changing reforms for rural communities. We are unique in our focus on building permanent, statewide organizing infrastructure in North Carolina’s rural places. Through our growing network of member-led, county-based chapters, we are engaged in year-round organizing. Our member-leaders, deeply rooted in their communities, are the heart and soul of We Are Down Home’s work. Our organizational mission includes a deep commitment to building multiracial and working-class member leadership, and our chapter culture inspires the deep and necessary commitment required to transform small towns and rural places. Founded in 2017, Down Home has built a solid organizational track record, including: Electing Diamond Staton-Williams in House District 73, the first black woman to represent Cabarrus County in the General Assembly as well as temporarily preventing a Republican Supermajority Led a years-long statewide campaign to Expand Medicaid, which was passed by the General Assembly in 2023 Helping to elect the first Latinx state legislator in NC history Growing a statewide membership base that includes all 100 counties of North Carolina Anchoring the first southern, rural deep canvass and race-class narrative tests Driving statewide coalitions to fight for a just COVID-19 recovery and Medicaid expansion About the Position Down Home North Carolina is creating and instituting a Deep Canvass Academy this year. In 2023 Down Home North Carolina plans to offer large-scale training sessions on the methodology of Deep Canvass and the skills associated with Deep Canvass organizing. In addition, Down Home will anchor large-scale education Deep Canvass in conjunction with partners state and nationwide. Down Home, North Carolina seeks multiple, part-time Deep Canvassers. The Deep Canvassers will work directly with the Deep Canvass Management Team and contribute to a positive, inclusive culture and work environment. The Deep Canvasser will assist with script iteration by having Deep Canvass calls to a select universe of community members. The Deep Sanvass script will change frequently, and the Deep Canvasser have to be flexible. Responsibilities include daily and weekly reporting utilizing spreadsheets and databases. Keys to Success (the must-haves) and Responsibilities: Relationship builder: Comes across as genuine. Ability to build authentic relationships across lines of difference, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, gender identity, citizenship status, or other identities. Able to put people at ease, especially when there are lines of difference. Listens closely to understand needs or concerns and takes steps based on that input. Highly organized, motivated, and detail-oriented: Manages a high volume of work efficiently. Has a system for keeping tasks from slipping through the cracks. Able to juggle competing demands and prioritize while maintaining quality. Strong sense of ownership over goals and metrics, ensuring data integrity is a priority. Paying strict attention to detail regarding Deep Canvass team reports and systems. Proficiency in Google Suites and general knowledge of databases. Knowledge of race equity and inclusion: You recognize how race and other identities intersect in our work, especially in rural, multiracial communities. You are comfortable talking about identities such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, or gender in plain, specific terms. You understand the historical context for racial inequity and its present day implications: Notices and fixes errors others might overlook. Acknowledges mistakes and turns them into learning opportunities. Has a track record of leaving things better than they found them. Excellent communication and listening skills: Can engage deeply with people they have just met. Be able to listen to community members and understand their concerns. Can build rapport quickly and is comfortable having deep empathetic relational conversations and sharing personal experiences. Organizer mindset: Committed to grassroots organizing and is grounded in the importance of building a multiracial movement. Is willing and able to build relationships quickly, have strong follow ups, and move people to action. Is willing to take chances, solve problems creatively, and independently. A determination to succeed and build power. Previous experience as an organizer or a grassroots leader is preferred but not required. Aligned with the mission and values of Down Home NC: Committed to the vision of a powerful, inclusive, rural, multiracial, working-class movement-building as a path towards liberation for all people, aligned with the idea that building power takes both election programs and long-term base building and community investment. Responsibilities: Support Deep Canvass Program Participate in script iterations, deep canvass measurements, maintenance of data, and reporting to meet metric goals and deadlines, ensuring data integrity. Have multiple persuasive deep canvass phone conversations with voters per shift. Track conversations via database, spreadsheets, and CallHub [predictive dialer]. Debrief conversations daily with the canvass team. Participate in ongoing training to learn deep canvassing tactics and methodology. Listen without judgment so voters feel comfortable sharing their views honestly. Listen actively and ask follow-up questions. Be willing to share your own stories to help voters feel more comfortable. Connect around shared values based on common experiences. Participate in a team culture that is inclusive, cooperative, and emotionally supportive of the work. Knowledge of VAN, CallHub, Spoke, and Goggle Suites is a plus MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Excellent listening and communication skills include asking multiple follow-up questions to elicit stories. Empathetic and motivational in conversation. Comfortable sharing stories about your own experiences. Capacity to listen without judgment. Ability to find common ground with people who have different opinions. Candidates must strongly commit to social, racial, and economic justice and are passionate about our issues. Serious about achieving qualitative and quantitative goals. Compensation: The compensation for this contract, part-time position is to $22 per hour, with an expected end date in December 2023. This role is on Zoom. However, it may require some travel within North Carolina. How to Apply Down Home NC is committed to creating a dynamic, multicultural, diverse working environment. Candidates of color and diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Down Home NC is an equal opportunity employer. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, prioritizing applications received by August 15th. We are still accepting applications if this job description is posted on Down Home’s website (www.downhomenc.org). Please send a resume and a short cover letter that includes your experience to: [email protected].

Your voice matters about how the 2024 Primary Election’s Early Voting will be shaped. We want your feedback on the proposed times and locations for Early Voting via our six-question survey. The Buncombe County Board of Elections will take feedback into consideration when determining the locations and weekend hours for Early Voting.

For additional information about the proposed Early Voting dates, times, and locations, read below. And please take the survey here. Thank you for your input, we appreciate your feedback. The Board of Elections will meet on Tuesday, Sep. 12 to discuss public input of the Early Voting plan for the primary election and adopt it at the Oct. 17 meeting. After that, Buncombe County will publicize the finalized locations and hours on our website, through media partners, social media, and other platforms.

Proposed Early Voting information

Early Voting Period:
Feb. 15- March 2

Proposed locations
Black Mountain Library – 105 N. Dougherty St, Black Mountain 28711

East Asheville Library – 3 Avon Rd, Asheville 28805

Enka-Candler Library – 1404 Sand Hill Rd, Candler 28715

Fairview Library – 1 Taylor Rd, Fairview 28730

Leicester Community Center – 2979 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester 28748

North Asheville Location – TBD

South Buncombe Library – 260 Overlook Rd, Asheville 28803

2nd South Asheville Location – TBD

Weaverville Community Center – 60 Lakeshore Dr, Weaverville 28787

Wesley Grant Southside Center (in lieu of BOE) – 285 Livingston St, Asheville 28801

West Asheville Library – 942 Haywood Rd, Asheville 28806

Proposed hours
Please note that voting hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, and on the last Saturday (March 2) hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.,as mandated by state law. The Board of Elections can set weekend hours and determine the number of early voting sites.

Proposed weekend hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, February 17

Saturday, February 24

Sunday, February  25

Announcing 8 weeks of Fall Musical Theatre/Theatre Camps for rising K-12th Graders and Adults!

With new content for every program,

returning students will always have the chance to dive into fresh material.

Share what you have learned with a performance at the end of the semester!

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

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
  • 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

Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteers will be staffing the Helpline as indicated in the schedule below. You may send an email or leave a voicemail at any time and an Extension Master Gardener volunteer will respond during Garden Helpline hours. When emailing, please include a photo if it helps describe your garden question. Soil test kits can be picked up at the Extension office, 24/7. The kits are located in a box outside the front door.

Three ways to contact the Garden Helpline

Call 828-255-5522
Email questions and photos to [email protected]
Visit the Extension Office at 49 Mt. Carmel Road during Helpline hours, listed below.

Garden Helpline Hours

March – (starts March 6)
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

April through September:
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Wednesday 12:00 Noon – 2:00 p.m.
Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

October – (ends October 26th) 
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

We are here to help and support you! Please contact us. We look forward to answering your gardening questions.

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Buncombe County is excited to announce the inquiry process for the 2023 Homeowner Grant Program opens Aug. 1. This program is officially in its third year, and qualified homeowners will have an opportunity to receive financial assistance for housing-related costs. The website buncombecounty.org/homeownergrant will start accepting inquiries Aug. 1-Sept. 30, or homeowners can call (828) 250-5500. You must call or submit an inquiry to determine eligibility.

You may qualify for up to $300 in unincorporated Buncombe County, and up to $500 in City of Asheville. Please note that applicants who received grants last year will need to re-apply.

Through this program, residents who own residential property in Buncombe County that they have lived in as their primary residence for at least five years and who earn at or less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) as a household may be eligible to participate.

If eligible, grantees may choose to have grant funds applied to their property tax bill and/or paid and applied to other housing-related obligations such as housing costs, mortgage, or homeowner’s insurance. Payments are made directly to the source of the approved bill. Payments will not be made directly to individuals. There are several new aspects to this year’s program including new eligibility requirements, and now mobile-home owners may receive the grants.

• You must have owned and lived in your home for 5 years or more
• Your home must by your primary and only residence
• Your household income is at or below 80% of area median income (AMI)
• Your household cannot already be receiving tax deferment assistance like elderly/disabled, or Veterans exemptions.
• You must not have more than $60,000 in liquid resources (for example: your cash on hand, checking & savings accounts combined, or other investments available to you within 7 days)

The inquiry process will be open through Sept. 30. Eligible homeowners can submit an inquiry at buncombecounty.org/homeownergrant after Aug. 1 or call (828) 250-5500 to start the application process. Phone support is available in any language. Please note that we anticipate a high volume of calls and inquiries at the onset, and it may take a few weeks for a case manager to get back with you.

“If you think you may qualify, but you aren’t sure, please give our team a call,” says Economic Services Director Phillip Hardin. “We know there are a number of unique circumstances, and our staff will work with homeowners to help find solutions.”

If you’re behind on your water bill or afraid your water might get cut off, a new resource might be able to help you. On Jan. 4, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved more than $450,000 in federal funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The initiative is aimed at preventing water disconnections and helping reconnect drinking and wastewater services.

The LIHWAP will be administered by Buncombe County-based Eblen Charities. The nonprofit will make payments directly to utilities on behalf of qualifying households. The program is slated to run through Sept. 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.

Eligibility requirements

Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services, or those that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services from Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021, are automatically eligible to receive this benefit if their water services have been cut off or are in danger of being cut off.

For additional eligibility information or to apply, please contact Eblen Charities at (828) 255-3066.

Discover Blind Tiger Asheville

The local ReStore ReUse Contest is officially open for
submissions. Now through September 30, residents can show off their creativity and talent for
a chance to win in the 12 th annual contest. Fabulous furniture make-overs, remarkable
renovations, or unique yard art…if you recently took on a DIY project using predominantly
reused building materials, the Asheville Habitat ReStore wants to know. There are five
categories this year plus Best in Show, and all entries must be submitted electronically. For
guidelines and entry form, visit ashevillehabitat.org/restore .

The creativity of this community never ceases to amaze. Past projects have included a fence
fashioned from doors, a potting bench built from pallets, a wine bar made from a vintage
console radio, a chair constructed from an oil drum, and so much more. To see photos from
2022, click here.
A panel of five judges will select winners in the following categories: Furniture, Homesteading,
Live/Work Space, Home Décor, Art + Best in Show. Winners will be announced in mid-
October.

Special Olympics Fall sports registration is now OPEN!

Choose your sport and join the fun! Athletes can pick from soccer, bocce, basketball, and tennis. For any questions, please email [email protected]!

Register here!    

Special Olympics Fall Sports Interest Form (office.com)

In partnership with Riding In Color WNC, who create intersectional affinity spaces for BIPOC of all genders, body sizes, and abilities to build skills and community within cycling in WNC, we’re co-hosting a BIPOC Affinity Summer Cycle experience as well as our traditional event in an effort to create a more inclusive space for people to enjoy riding in their community. Preview the schedule below because there are many moving parts to Summer Cycle ‘23.

Support the Summer Cycle experience by volunteering to support the AoB kiosk, host the bike park, pedal patrol the routes, and/or breakdown or set up.