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!

The Fairy trail is open Monday thru Saturday, 9am-4pm. We encourage all visitors to be patient as there will be limits to the number of people allowed on the trail at the same time. While the trail is outdoors, there are some small spaces and we want to ensure our guests and fairies are safe. Please practice appropriate social distancing and bring a mask in case. Masks are not required, but are considerate in a close area. Our restrooms are not open to the public at this time. Please make arrangements prior to visiting.

Rules of the trail:

Do not move or rearrange fairy displays. The fairies are very fond of their own decorating.

Do not leave trash on the trail. Fairies do not like litter in their town.

Please ensure children and pets are supervised at all times. Dogs and loud noises can scare the fairies into hiding.

Do not disturb wildlife or vegetation. The fairies depend on the vegetation to build their homes.

The trail is one way only. Please stay on the trail at all times.

The Fairies can’t wait to see you all here!

P.S. the Fairies would like us to remind you that we are a non-profit and donations are greatly appreciated. Help us keep the fairies living in the style with which they’ve become accustomed.

When a friend gave Toland Sand a stained glass studio in 1977, he embarked upon a journey that would lead him to explore the myriad qualities that define glass as a medium. Sand’s 43 years as a sculptor has resulted in works of stained glass, blown glass, and every combination in between. A pioneer in utilizing the unique properties of dichroic glass, Sand begins his current sculpture with optical crystal and dichroic coated glass, hand worked by grinding in ever finer stages until a polish is achieved. Seeking balance, harmony, and symmetry, with an accent on deconstructed form, his work inhabits the symbolic, the cosmic, and the mystery. Sand is inspired by his peers as well as artists such as Isamu Noguchi, David Smith, Henry Moore, and Mark Rothko.
Sand’s work can be found numerous public and private collections including the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass, Neenah, WI, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN, Imagine Museum, Sarasota, FL, and others.

Bender Gallery continues to be open and welcoming visitors into our gallery in limited numbers and with facemasks, of course. We remain dedicated to supporting our artists during these unprecedented times by making ourselves available almost anytime you wish to speak with us to answer questions and sharing their work online and through social media. We and our artists thank you for your support!

This class will be held virtually via a videoconferencing platform and will be structured to optimize community building through online learning. 

Class will meet every Tuesday, August 11 – September 22 from 10am – 12:30pm with no class on September 8th.

Our Foundations business planning class helps guide ideas from concept to reality in a participatory, supportive learning environment. Join a cohort of aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to gain an aerial perspective of your vision and the comprehensive business skills necessary to help bring your visions into reality.

Participants will gain a clear aerial perspective of their business operations, financials, research and development, and marketing strategies. They will leave the course with a comprehensive business plan, a clear vision for their business, and concrete tasks for future work.

• Week 1: Gaining Perspective: We start by viewing our business concepts from a high altitude, in order to define our visions and get a good look at the main topics to be addressed.
• Week 2: Laying the Foundation: Next, we return to the ground level to define our lines of business and analyze financial essentials, from overhead costs to break-even points.
• Week 3: Getting into the Flow: In the third session, we’ll cover the financial bases of cash flow, sales forecasting, and financial documents.
• Week 4: Mission & Markets: Then, we’ll revisit our mission, discuss market research, and identify competitors in order to align with our target markets.
• Week 5: Get the Word Out: Next, we’ll discuss creative marketing strategies and give peer feedback on marketing materials.
• Week 6: Goodbye & Good Luck: Finally, we’ll present our business plans, share final pitches, and plan for next steps.

Throughout the class, emphasis will be placed on developing the social capital of the group. Participants will be encouraged to gather feedback from their peers, creating a strong network of deep support and synergy.

Facilitator

AUDITIONS: August 11, 2020, 10:30 am-2:30 pm

PRODUCTION DATES: August 28-30, 2020

REHEARSALS: August 13, 18, 20, 25, and 27, 2020 from 10:30-2:30

During this 5-week online group class, Ben Brill will cover the fundamentals of ukulele and guitar and teach kids several cool-sounding songs they can play on the instrument right away. The group will even co-create an original song by the end of the class.

*For students interested in guitar, they’ll need to have a simple $10 device called a Capo to play along with the class.

This is a FUN, low-pressure way to have some enjoy music this summer. It’s great if students can attend all 5 classes, but they still can drop in any day and learn.

The event will happen weekly on Tuesday’s at 11 AM, starting July 7th, 2020. If you don’t yet own an instrument, Ben can make some suggestions. The cost of the sessions is $20 per class and can be paid upfront (all classes), OR per session.

If you’re interested in the group, send Ben a message so that you can receive the secure Zoom links to the meetings and farther instructions.

Buncombe County Public Libraries will be opening three additional locations for curbside pickup service, the Fairview, Leicester, and Oakley/South Asheville branches. These locations will operate from 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, in addition to our current curbside pickup service locations at the Black Mountain, North Asheville, South Buncombe, and West Asheville locations. For more information about library curbside pickup service or to place an item on hold for pickup, please call your local library or the Ask-A-Librarian line (828-250-4700) or visit buncombecounty.org/library. We hope to see you soon!

The Steady Collective is dedicated to promoting the wellness of people who use drugs through empowerment and respectful collaboration. This outreach event is open to all and includes comprehensive harm reduction to improve overall community health by reducing the rate of drug overdose and the spread of infectious disease with education, advocacy, and direct services.

Participants receive educational material, naloxone, syringes, and supplies at no cost.

Learn about the state’s new Job Retention Grant and get updates on other funding sources available to support businesses during the COVID-19 disruption.

We have been working hard to establish Emergency Safety Guidelines in order to safely operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.  It’s important for all to remember that we are able to be open because we are an open-air grocery store, not a social gathering.

Participating faith communities meet monthly to coordinate solidarity action and ongoing education about immigration justice.

June 9, July 14, and August 11, 5:00-6:30pm

Sing-a-Longs feature music from Sandburg’s “The American Songbag.” Musicians will lead the audience in singing along, and song sheets will be available. The event is free and will be held at the amphitheater.

Join us for Chamber Challenge training designed for ALL fitness levels. Live training sessions with YMCA Personal Trainer Jesse Hyder will be held on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm, for six weeks, beginning August 4. Everyone participating will be asked to adhere to all health & safety restrictions. Masks required to enter building for restrooms. The training sessions are free and open to the public. Y membership not required.

The Chamber Challenge 5K is virtual this year. Run or walk on the day of your choice, at your preferred time, between Sept. 14-25. To learn more about the challenge and to register, visit. https://www.chamberchallenge.org

Free self-defense workshop facilitated by Sam Etheredge weekly in the Community Room at Steps to HOPE located on Wall Street, Columbus. Classes are open to all women 18 or older. Hand wraps are required and are available to borrow or purchase for $6.75. Sam teaches participants how to take control of a dangerous situation and how not to become a victim. High energy and full body movement is a great workout and will help you be more vibrant, confident, and toned. No registration necessary. Please call 828-894-2340 if you have questions or would like more information.

Tickets to the Pre-Event Virtual Reception are $25/person and will include a poetry reading by Clint Smith and a musical performance by local musician Kat Williams.

The Forum is free.

Advance registration is required.

Registration and ticket sales begin August 10^th 

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact Ally Wilson: 210-3444.

WHERE: For the first time, the event will be held online via Zoom. Details will be shared with registered guests closer to the event.

WHO:  Clint Smith, Ph.D. is this year’s keynote speaker. Smith uses his experience as an award-winning poet and teacher to share personal stories of justice, community, and education. He illuminates how we can all find the courage to create change, overcome challenges, and unite ourselves through the power of the collective voice.

His two TED Talks, The Danger of Silence and How to Raise a Black Son in America have been viewed more than seven million times. He was named to the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 list as well as Ebony Magazine’s 2017 Power 100 list.

Smith is a 2014 National Poetry Slam champion, an Individual World Poetry Slam Finalist, a Cave Canem Fellow, a Callaloo Fellow, and has served as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. Department of State.

His first full-length collection of poetry, Counting Descent, won the 2017 Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, and was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. His other writing has been published in The New Yorker, The Guardian, Boston Review, American Poetry Review, Harvard Educational Review, and he has just joined The Atlantic as a staff writer.

Smith earned his Ph.D. in Education at Harvard University, a B.A. in English from Davidson College and is an alumnus of the New Orleans Public School System.

This workshop will help folks just getting started with home gardening and container gardening. The class will include tips on planning, materials, what to plant and when, pest management , and so much more!  Join us for a great beginners workshop and make sure to bring all your questions! Join us on Zoom

Whether you have already decided on us as your hospital choice, or if you are still in the decision making process, our orientation classes can help. They are designed to help you plan for your upcoming delivery. We will cover things like finding your way around the hospital, what to expect during your stay and even go over tips for preparing to bring your baby home, your first days with baby and caring for mom after delivery.

This class is free. Please register for mom only, each mom is allowed to bring one support person with them.

What if you truly had to sustain yourself without a lot of purchased food? In this workshop, Patryk Battle will share tips and tricks for eating rather well year-round from food you grow yourself, weeds you might find in your yard, and foraged items from wild spaces near you. Recipes included.

This event is free but registration is required. Please click here to register. Registrants will receive an email on the day of the event with the link and password required to attend.

THE LIVES OF A DOCTOR, HIS WIFE, AND HIS PATIENT COLLIDE, LAYING BARE THE POLITICAL AND PERSONAL NARRATIVES THEY HAVE CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED FOR THEMSELVES.

A doctor recruits volunteers for the trial of a new recreational drug that exclusively affects women. Among them is “number 4,” who becomes emotionally involved with first the scientist, then his wife, a well-known visual artist in the midst of a creative crisis. The scientist is oblivious to the atrocities his new drug will bring to the city; his wife is oblivious to the superfluousness of the objects she has committed her life to exhibiting in galleries and museums. Number 4’s presence pierces the couple’s complacency, gradually undoing the many certainties they’ve accumulated in their lives of ease.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZkpLB0XWbemqMDne_th5Wnjfw80XZ32q2EtNSxUjNtDwnxg/viewform

e Living Beyond Breast
Cancer, a survivorship series for young women affected by breast cancer, to a virtual platform. The
series will take place throughout the month of August and will provide answers and resources on
some of the most common concerns for young women diagnosed with breast cancer before the age
of 45. Topics include sex and intimacy, early menopause, the long-term effects of treatment and selfcare after breast cancer.
The sessions are free and will be offered Aug. 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. via a
live webinar. For more information and to RSVP, visit https://www.pardeehospital.org/classesevents/.
Pardee UNC Health Care is a not-for-profit community hospital founded in 1953 and is
managed by UNC Health Care. The hospital is licensed for 222 acute care beds. Pardee has several
locations separate from the main campus including a comprehensive physician practice network, a
cancer center, three urgent care locations and five orthopedic clinics. For more information or to
find a physician, visit www.pardeehospital.org