Buncombe County has opened the application cycle of the Community Recreation Grants program for projects taking place from July 2021-June 2022. The grants are part of other countywide initiatives that help make Buncombe County a place everyone from infants to retirees has the opportunity to be strong, healthy, and successful. The program is intended to help community nonprofits make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress that align with the Buncombe 2025 plan. Grants range in amounts from $500-$6,000, depending on the number of qualifying applicants.

Eligibility

Eligible entities include Buncombe County nonprofits focused on providing equitable access to recreational, fitness, cultural, and wellness activities to the public at no- or low-cost. These funds are intended to be a leveraging tool that promote partnerships between the County and area nonprofits and are not a donation, funding stream, or sponsorship opportunity. Programs applying for funding should align with the Buncombe 2025 plan’s focus areas, as well as embody the spirt of Buncombe County Recreation Services’ mission: Connect Communities. Preserve Culture. Change Lives.

Projects funded in the past have included creative placemaking, increasing safe connections to a wider range of play and wellness activities for underserved residents, supporting access to experiences that preserve regional and international cultures, improvements to public athletic fields and fitness courses, expanding environmental education, building food security through community gardens, and establishing multigenerational outdoor spaces for neighbors to connect with each other and foster community pride.

Want to apply?

Application, guidelines, and a list of 2020 recipients are available online. Questions should be directed to [email protected].

The grant application deadline is 5 p.m. on Fri., Mar. 26, 2021. Late applications will not be accepted.

Flat Rock Playhouse has launched its capital campaign, Rock Solid, in response to the effects of COVID-19. The campaign aims to preserve the legacy of the Playhouse, ignite the passion for theatre in the community, and revitalize the arts in Henderson County and beyond. The campaign kicks off with a generous match from David Leiman, meaning donors’ contributions will be matched dollar for dollar up to $118,000.

With the pandemic and government mandates still impacting live event venues, the Playhouse remains dark for the safety of patrons and artists. With performances on hold, the Playhouse has announced a capital campaign, Rock Solid, to preserve the viability of the State Theatre of North Carolina. Donations to this campaign will help to sustain the Playhouse through the following:

• Maintain and build back the staff as the Playhouse carefully returns to producing;

• Upgrades to technology;

• Management of the historic facilities and grounds;

• Ongoing operational needs; and

• A “rock solid” infrastructure for long-term sustainability.

• The Rock Solid campaign will be led not only by Playhouse leadership but also by a committee of community members committed to preserving professional performing arts, theatre arts education, and the history of the Playhouse. Dr. Pete and Jan Richards are co-chairing the Campaign Committee. These community members will be sharing their stories about the importance of the arts and their connection to the Playhouse throughout the duration of the campaign.

Supporting Local Schools Half of your purchase price of the 2021 Go Local Card will go to a public school to enhance programming, purchase much-needed teacher supplies and support local kids. Buy yours TODAY! Each year, as we add more businesses and cardholders to the program, the local movement grows stronger.

• Restoration
• Rehabilitation
• Adaptive Re-use
• In-fill Construction in Historic and Traditional Neighborhoods
• Research, Publication and Education
• Stewardship
• Preservation

No matter how thorough and fair a reappraisal may be, there are still instances when only the property owner has all the information necessary for an accurate appraisal. Informal appeals for the tax year 2021 can be filed anytime between Jan. 1-April 28, 2021. Additionally, anyone receiving a change of value notice after April 1, 2021 has thirty days from that notice date to file an appeal.

Open Auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream! The Montford Park Players announces open auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Hannah Williams. Rehearsal will begin in mid-April, and the show will run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from May 28 to June 19. Roles are NOT paid positions. Seeking a diverse group of performers. Please submit a reading or monologue (two minutes or less in length) that allows you to express yourself authentically. Perfection not required. Submit for the role you most want to play and/or feel most aligns with your identity. Looking for actors of every gender, size, race, type, ability, and experience. Prospective actors and technicians should review the COVID-19 protocols which can be found at https://www.montfordparkplayers.org/…/MPP-ACTOR-SAFETY…. Actors and technicians recruited for this production will be required to abide by all safety protocols as contained in the document. To audition: 1) fill out and submit this audition form: https://forms.gle/36VBKUfD1vEfvF5w6 2) Record an audition video (you can do so on your phone) of no longer than 2 minutes (Shakespearean monologue preferred), and upload it here: https://driveuploader.com/upload/6XaW3rROQN/ 3) Audition materials MUST be submitted by midnight, March 31, 2021. Callbacks will be held at the director’s discretion at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre. Callbacks will be appropriately socially-distanced. For more information email [email protected]

This annual conference brings together student EcoReps, sustainability interns, and faculty and staff advisers from around the region for a weekend of peer leadership training and collaboration. This conference is a great opportunity to learn from your peers, share your successes (and get constructive feedback), and get inspiration you can bring back to your own campus.

Key topics in 2021 will include:

• Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in our work
• Effective Student Leadership/ Peer 2 Peer education
• Zero Waste initiatives
• Educational initiatives & events
• Adapting to COVID-19
• Translating student visions into institutional action

This conference will be held VIRTUALLY due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.

Register
There is no fee to attend, however, you must register to participate in the virtual sessions. The registration deadline is Friday, March 19 at midnight.

Show your love for wildlife and support life-saving wildlife rehabilitation efforts! Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is a registered non-profit rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing orphaned and injured wildlife. Brighten your world with guaranteed to bloom bulbs and seeds while saving wild lives at the same time! Learn more about our mission at www.AppalachianWild.org.

Buncombe County will be using our emergency notification system to let people know when COVID vaccine appointments are available.

BCAlerts

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s to be ready… Buncombe Ready. But what’s the best way to stay up to date about available vaccines, natural disasters, public health emergencies, and more? Sign up for BC Alerts, and you’ll get that information sent directly to you in real time.

Text BCAlert  to 99411 or click here to sign up and pick the types of alerts you’d like to receive. You’ll also be able to choose from preferred languages. Need TTY? No problem, that option is also available.

If you’ve already signed up for BC Alerts in the past, you’ll need to re-register due to a change in emergency alert providers.

Stay Buncombe Ready and sign up for BC Alerts today.

Follow the County on our social media pages  at facebook.com/buncombegov or facebook.com/bchhs, on Twitter at twitter.com/buncombeGov and on Instagram at instagram.com/buncombecounty.

You may also sign up for Buncombe County’s COVID-19 newsletter at buncombeready.org and click the sign up button.