Useful and Beautiful: Silvercraft by William Waldo Dodge features a selection of functional silver works by Dodge drawn from the Museum’s Collection. Organized by the Asheville Art Museum and curated by Whitney Richardson, associate curator, this exhibition will be on view in the Debra McClinton Gallery at the Museum from February 23 through October 17, 2022.

William Waldo Dodge Jr. (Washington, DC 1895–1971 Asheville, NC) moved to Asheville in 1924 as a trained architect and a newly skilled silversmith. When he opened for business promoting his handwrought silver tableware, including plates, candlesticks, flatware (spoons, forks, and knives), and serving dishes, he did so in a true Arts and Crafts tradition. The aesthetics of the style were dictated by its philosophy: an artist’s handmade creation should reflect their hard work and skill, and the resulting artwork should highlight the material from which it was made. Dodge’s silver often displayed his hammer marks and inventive techniques, revealing the beauty of these useful household goods.

The Arts and Crafts style of England became popular in the United States in the early 1900s. Asheville was an early adopter of the movement because of the popularity and abundance of Arts and Crafts architecture in neighborhoods like Biltmore Forest, Biltmore Village, and the area around The Grove Park Inn. The title of this exhibition was taken from the famous quotation by one of the founding members of the English Arts and Crafts Movement, William Morris, who said, “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Not only did Dodge follow this suggestion; he contributed to American Arts and Crafts silver’s relevancy persisting almost halfway into the 20th century.

“It has been over 15 years since the Museum exhibited its collection of William Waldo Dodge silver and I am looking forward to displaying it in the new space with some new acquisitions added,” said Whitney Richardson, associate curator. Learn more at ashevilleart.org.

It’s the Year of the Tree in North Carolina State Parks, and we are encouraging guests to celebrate trees all year long! Start off in the winter months while branches are bare and capture some unique tree shapes or the beauty of frosty evergreens. You may win a prize for your efforts!

GREAT PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO 3 WINNING ENTRIES

1st Prize: The winning photo will be our Facebook cover photo for two weeks, and the photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park, two boat tour tickets from Lake Lure Tours, and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

2nd Prize: After the first place photo, the second place photo will be our Facebook cover photo for one week. The photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

3rd Prize: The third place photographer will receive two adult day passes (or one family pack of day passes) to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

CONTEST RULES:

1. There is no fee to enter the contest. All photographs must be taken of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park only in areas accessible to guests between January 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022.
   The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers.
2. Up to three photos per person can be submitted via any of the following ways to be eligible to win:
   • Facebook: First, like the Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park page. Next, send us a private message including your contact information specified in rule #3.
   • E-mail: If you don’t have access to social media, you may email your digital photo with your contact information specified in rule #3 to [email protected].
3. Every entry should be clearly labeled with the photographer’s name, city & state, a brief photo caption, an email address and the best phone number to reach you.
4. Photos should be available at a minimum resolution of 1200 x 1600 pixels (1 MB minimum) to be eligible to win. Photos taken via smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are welcome if they meet minimum requirements.
5. For entries showing human faces, you must list their name(s) and have written permission from any photographed person(s) to use their image.
6. Entries should reflect the photographer’s interpretation of the theme. Emphasis will be placed on quality, composition and creativity. All entries may be used in promotions of Chimney Rock and park-related activities.
7. Digital images can be optimized but not dramatically altered with photo editing software. Black and white photographs are welcome.
8. Finalists will be chosen by Chimney Rock staff and the winner will be voted on by the public. Decisions regarding winners are final.

Winners will be notified personally and announced on Chimney Rock’s social media. For more information, call 1-828-625-9611, ext. 1812 or email us at [email protected].

Speaker(s): NCDOR

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Webinar info will be emailed after registration

Pre-registration required. FREE for the 2021-2022 school year
August 23, 2021-June 3, 2022 | Monday-Friday | 2:45-6pm
K-6th graders.
Does your child enjoy having fun and making new friends? Offering
arts, crafts, special events, homework assistance and more!
Families currently enrolled in the school system’s reduced or free
meal program, please contact your recreation center for discount
fee information.
Locations: Burton, Grant, Montford, Shiloh, Stephens-Lee

Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?

Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.

Creative Peacemakers is an after-school program sponsored by St.George’s Episcopal Church serving children from the Deaverview Apartment Community. The mission of Creative Peacemakers is to bring peace to communities by helping children practice peacemaking through cooperative play, loving relationships, and creative expression. We provide opportunities for nurture, healing, empowerment, and building resilience.

We are seeking volunteers to assist us in our small after school program for children in West Asheville in low-income housing.  We provide a safe and nourishing environment, healthy snacks, and creative activities.  Our program currently meets during the school year on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm.   You may volunteer for one or two days a week. 

Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Assist with serving snacks
• Interact with children during activity time
• Supervise games and outdoor free time
• For people with background in education, there is also an opportunity to assist with curriculum development and program planning and administration

Requirements:

• Background check
• Orientation booklets will be provided
• Masks are required if unvaccinated

Location:

Deaverview Apartment Community Center
275 Deaverview Rd.
Asheville, NC 28806

Health & Safety:

• Hand washing stations are available
• Hand sanitizer is available

Your blood is going to someone who really needs it. To get it there is a process. It takes a team; our phlebotomists collect the blood, our couriers bring it to our headquarters for processing, our lab techs process it, and our couriers then deliver the products to our hospitals. Once they’re there, lives are saved.

Montford Pre-Teen Afterschool Program
Pre-registration required. FREE for the 2021-2022 school year
August 23, 2021 – June 3, 2022 | Monday-Friday | 3:30-6pm
5th-6th graders.
New program designed to meet the needs of your pre-teen.
Providing time dedicated to school assignments, life skills, arts,
communication, leadership, fitness, nutrition, and loads of fun.
Location: Montford

Teen Leadership Program
Pre-registration required. FREE for the 2021-2022 school year
August 23, 2021-June 3, 2022 | Monday-Friday | 3:30-6pm
6th-9th graders.
Looking for a cool and enriching alternative for your Teen to attend
this school year? We offer creative activities, diverse projects,
field trips, and more.
Locations: Grant, Shiloh, Stephens-Lee

Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?

Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.

Literacy Together (formerly the Literacy Council of Buncombe County) is a nonprofit organization working with children, youth, and adults to increase comprehensive literacy and English language skills through access to literacy resources and specialized instruction by trained volunteer tutors. Literacy Together relies on volunteer tutors to offer students personal instruction and high-quality materials through various programs.

The Youth Literacy Program is seeking tutors to meet with students K-5 twice a week for 50 minutes, between 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm. The Youth Literacy Program works with two after-school programs that primarily serve youth of color.  The two locations are in Asheville.

Youth Literacy tutors work with children from low-income families who read, write, and/or spell below their grade level. Tutors in this program complete an initial orientation and a 16-20 hours training, which includes some pre-course work and/or homework (short articles to read, short videos to watch). They then receive follow-up support and the option to attend in-service training throughout their tutoring commitment. Youth Literacy tutors commit to working with their students for at least one school year.

Time Commitment:

• Twice a week for 50-minute sessions between 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm.
• Youth Literacy tutors commit to working with their students for at least one school year.

Requirements: 

• GED or High School diploma
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to work patiently with various levels of literacy skills
• Access to reliable internet
• Ability to navigate virtual meetings with minimal distractions
• Complete a background check

Training:

• Tutors must complete 16-20 hours of training prior to being assigned a student

$1 off draft beers every Thursday!

Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?

Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.

Getting Back to the Basics/Project Lighten Up is a unique summer and afterschool educational opportunity for low-income and minority youth that supports students’ recreational and educational learning. We provide meaningful educational support and develop self-esteem in a positive environment through mentoring and enriching activities.

Project Lighten Up is seeking in-person volunteers to assist students attending the afterschool program during the school year with spelling and reading 1-2 times a week for 1 hour.  

Time Commitment:

• Commitment to a 5-week session
• Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 1 shift per week
• Volunteers choose from one, 1-hour session per week OR two, 30-minute sessions per week
• Volunteer shifts are Tuesdays & Thursdays between 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to shift start for health screening and transition time

Requirements/Training:

• Respond above to the opportunity
• Answer all health/safety and opportunity related questions prior to submitting your response
• Phone interview with the program director
• Volunteer application
• Complete a background check
• Attend training by program staff
• Adheres to all CDC guidelines and safety protocols

Skillset: 

• Enjoys working with youth in different grade levels
• Enjoys working in a learning environment
• Remains patient and calm with students experiencing technical or learning challenges
• Demonstrates a positive attitude and empathy for students and Lighten Up team
• Non-judgmental, fair, firm, and friendly
• Models excellent verbal and non-verbal communication

Health/Safety:

• Health and safety screening prior to every shift start:
  • List of health and safety questions asked
  • Temperatures taken
• We are asking volunteers to wear/bring their own face covering (masks available upon request)
  • Fabric or disposable face mask
• Asking volunteers to maintain a physical distance of 6 feet or more when possible
  • Note: there are times when the volunteer task requires volunteers to engage with students closer than 6 feet. Please do not sign up if you feel uncomfortable.
• Volunteers will be asked to adhere to proper hand hygiene

Description

Taught by Alexa Hibbert
Ages 9-12
Feb 10-Mar 31, 2022 | Thursdays

And a 5-6-7-8! Have you ever wanted to feel confident in a dance audition or learn awesome choreography to your favorite musical numbers? In this class students will learn basic dance styles used in musical theatre and how to act through their dancing. This course will help dancers prepare to ace an audition and pick up choreography quickly and efficiently. Tuition will be $175.00 – payment plans and scholarships will both be available.

Cook teams of 4-6 individuals are invited to bring ingredients and prepare meals onsite or bring meals that have been prepared elsewhere.  To meet our dietary standards, we ask that each meal provides a meat, vegetable and starch.

Requirements:

• Background Check
• Brief orientation prior to service
• Ability to Multi-Task
• Friendly Demeanor

Health & Safety:

• We are asking volunteers to wear/bring their own face mask if you have not been fully vaccinated
• Temperatures will be checked and a COVID-19 disclosure will be signed at the volunteer entrance

• Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?

  Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.

  ---

  ABCCM Transformation Village provides up to 100 beds of transitional housing and will provide emergency shelter beds, post Covid-19.  Transforming lives is through four developmental phases called Steps to Success including stabilization, life skills, education and reintegration.  We are honored to report that 8 out of 10 leave us with a living wage job and permanent housing.

  Transformation Village gives hope, healing, health and a home to single women, mothers with children, and female Veterans experiencing homelessness.  We provide residents a fresh start and a place to heal surrounded and supported by Christian love, trust, education and companionship.

  We are seeking energetic volunteers to prepare and serve meals for our residents for lunch and dinner. This opportunity provides you with the chance to prepare meals in our commercial kitchen alongside our trained staff while serving the women and children of Transformation Village. 

Speaker(s): Nick Hawks

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Webinar info forthcoming

In the late 19th century, the church became a gathering place for the Black community and impacted the development of what’s now considered soul food. Fried chicken, fried fish, sweet potato pie, red drinks, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and more were served during Emancipation celebrations and church gatherings. Celebrate the legacy of Stephens-Lee High School alumni and the East End/Valley Street neighborhood with down-home cooking that’s been passed down through the generations.

Soul Food Supper

• 

• 6:00pm – 8:00pm

  Open mic comedy every Thursday from 6-8pm at Ginger’s Revenge Tasting Room.

  Rotating hosts each week Clay Jones, James Burks and Katy Hudson

  No cover
  Signup starts at 5:30, and signup order will not necessarily be show order. Each comic gets 5 mins of stage time

Taught by Alexa Hibbert
Ages 13-18
Feb 10-Mar 31, 2022 | Thursdays 

This class is for more advanced movers and dancers and will cover Musical Theatre Dance styles through the years. This course will also help dancers prepare for and feel confident in dance auditions, pick up choreography quickly and efficiently. Come dance with us! Tuition will be $175.00 – payment plans and scholarships will both be available.

Update: Jan. 31, 2022

After canceling in-person meetings due to increased COVID-19 infection rates, additional virtual community vision meetings for the Buncombe 2043 Comprehensive Plan have been scheduled. Members of the public are invited to attend.

Community meeting schedule:

• Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, 6-8 p.m.
• Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, 6-8 p.m. Youth focus
• Monday, March 14, 2022, 4-6 p.m.
• Saturday, March 19, 2022, 10 a.m.-noon

Click here for the latest information, to watch previous meetings, or to register: https://publicinput.com/Y4853.

The Comprehensive Plan meetings will focus on:

• Learning more about changes and issues that impact residents now and will in the future
• Creating a community vision and priorities for Buncombe County

In the next stages of plan development, the information shared during this initial set of meetings will help identify potential solutions and actions, upon which the community will provide feedback.

The Buncombe 2043 Comprehensive Plan provides the framework for growth in unincorporated Buncombe County and addresses other quality of life matters for the County as a whole. The plan will take a regional approach, being mindful of other plans, such as the City of Asheville and the Town of Black Mountain comprehensive plans.

Have you watched it yet?

Buncombe County hosted “Let’s Talk – Buncombe County’s Next 20 Years” with Nathan Pennington, Planning & Development Director for Buncombe County, Rachel Edens, Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer for Buncombe County, and Jessica Trotman, Planning Director for Black Mountain. Click here to view the session.

For more information about the Buncombe 2043 Comprehensive Plan including a short video overview, visit Comprehensive Plan 2043.

Kickoff 2022 with the Western Regional SBCN and EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems as we present a virtual series on enhancing your farming business. Convenient online classes for you to attend and hear from speakers with information, tips, and more. Registration is FREE!

Join us at 6 pm on Thursdays, January through March, to hear from EmPOWERING Mountain Food Systems. We encourage you to take this time to engage with fellow agribusinesses, entrepreneurs and resource providers while learning new skills and the power of collaboration along the way.

Kickoff 2022 with the Western Regional SBCN and EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems as we present a virtual series on enhancing your farming business. Convenient online classes for you to attend and hear from speakers with information, tips, and more. Registration is FREE!

Join us at 6 pm on Thursdays, January through March, to hear from EmPOWERING Mountain Food Systems. We encourage you to take this time to engage with fellow agribusinesses, entrepreneurs and resource providers while learning new skills and the power of collaboration along the way.

January 20- Online Farm Taxes Explained: Property, Equipment and Sales. Dive deeper into farm taxes as they pertain to the many different sides of your farming business. Ask a local farmer about their experience navigating taxes and learn some tips of your own.
January 27- Online Sales Platforms for Direct to Consumer Sales: There are many choices to consider! Hear what works for some regional farmers and determine which platform may be a good fit for your operation.
February 3- Agritourism in Southwestern NC Trends and Storytelling: NCSU researchers spent a year learning from regional providers. What are their findings and recommendations? February 10- Airbnb, HipCamp and Harvest Host: Exploring farm visit options for lodging on your farm. Hear farmer success stories
February 17- Using Social Media to Promote your Farm Business: Facebook, Insta, and Twitter how to get followers and keep them!
February 24- Liability for On Farm Visits: Protect your visitors, your farm and home.
March 10- Making Value Added Products at Home: Regulations for a Home Certified Kitchen & Marketing Options
March 17- Food Safety: Good practices and Regulations for the farm
and market
March 24- Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Management: Services and Cost Share for your Farming Operations

“The Buncombe Community Remembrance Project: Acknowledging, Remembering, and Honoring Lynching Victims” discusses the personal and community trauma inflicted on individuals of color after the Civil War, the Equal Justice Initiative’s research related to lynchings, and the three lynchings “of record” that occurred in Buncombe County, NC. Additional discussions will focus on the process of honoring individuals that were lynched, the partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, specific related projects, and the installation of three historical markers in Buncombe County.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Joseph Fox is the owner of Fox Management Consulting Enterprises, LLC. He possesses an Ed.D. and an M.B.A. from Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, and a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, NC. Dr. Fox also possesses the Professional in Human Resources Management (PHR) National Certification, Global Achieve Leadership Training Certification, and the Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL) Certification.

Dr. Joseph Fox is a life-long educator, mentor, and community advocate. He has advocated for students of a darker hue for more than 30 years in his role as a community college instructor, as well as his role as a former Department Chair of Business Administration at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. While still employed at A-B Tech, he founded the Minority Male Mentoring Program, that later became the Minority Students Leadership Academy, and now the Multicultural Student Leadership Academy. Upon retiring from the NC Community College System, Dr. Fox established, in memory of his mother, the Hazel Fox Minority Student Entrepreneurship Scholarship in which several scholarships were awarded to nonmajority Entrepreneurship students. The Scholarship was established to encourage individuals of a darker hue to view entrepreneurship as a viable option for wealth creation. Individuals that had been negatively impacted by the Criminal Justice System were encouraged to become “job creators” when they faced difficulty seeking employment. Upon the phasing out of the Entrepreneurship Degree by A-B Tech, Dr. Fox established the Hazel Fox Minority Business Plan Competition in which $11,000 was awarded recently to several local start-ups and existing businesses owned by nonmajority entrepreneurs. Dr. Fox is the recent recipient of several awards including the Summit Award given by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Western North Carolina Chapter, during the 2021 National Philanthropy Awards Ceremony, the Black Business Trailblazer Award, presented to him during the 2021 Grindfest, and both the 2022 Community Humanitarian Award and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Community Service Award, given by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County. Previous awards received include a Thermal Belt Friendship Council Service Award for his work pertaining to race relations, and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 7th Episcopal District Bishop’s “Empowering Us to Help Us” Award for outstanding service and contributions to the church and community.

Dr. Fox is the outgoing Vice President of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, a Wilma Dykeman Board Member, and a Carolina Small Business Development Fund Board Member. He currently serves on the Food-Security Reparations Coalition, and he is a recent appointee to the Advisory Committee for the African American Heritage Trail Project. In his hometown of Tryon, NC, Dr. Fox serves on the Eastside Citizens’ Advisory Committee, and is Vice President of the Roseland Community Center Board of Directors. Dr. Fox is also a former President of the Thermal Belt Friendship Council. He has been the Chair of the Asheville Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace March and Rally Committee for a number of years, and he Chairs the Buncombe Community Remembrance Project in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, to recognize, honor, and celebrate the three individuals “of record” that were lynched in Buncombe County.

Tickets: This event is free, though a $10 donation is suggested. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise. Donations for this event are also shared with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County.

Viewing: Registrants will receive a Zoom link with which to view the program. It will also be recorded and later available on our website.

An unforgettable night of encouraged food & beer pairings and incredible company!

WORTHAM CENTER PRESENTS

The Peking Acrobats

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Join Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic at Asheville Pizza’s Game Room for some adult-friendly comedy entertainment featuring Asheville’s hottest comics.
Hosted by the lovable Jason Scholder, Featuring Becca Steinhoff, Morgan Bost & John Hawley
Sign up to perform at the comedy open at door. Comics get 3-5m. Feature spots are paid professional comics.
Show is Thursday Feb 24, 2022 at 7:30 pm
Ticket price is $12. Purchase them at Asheville Pizza & Brewing on Merrimon or online at: https://www.ashevillebrewing.com/movies/
Laugh the night away while enjoying cocktails, beer and the full food menu during the show.
COVID VACCINATION REQUIRED… Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. requires proof of Covid-19 vaccination policy to enter their Merrimon location is in effect only for adults 18+ years old.
Also, guests must wear a MASK anytime they are NOT in their seat.
For vax proof they accept either of these…
1 – Photo (on a phone or printed paper) of the FRONT & BACK of your Covid-19 vaccination card PLUS a matching valid PHOTO ID.
2 – Show your actual Covid-19 vax card, but be careful not to lose or damage it.
For more information, contact michele at sliceoflifecomedy.com

High society playboy Bertie Wooster and his school chum, Eustace, hatch a plan to save Bertie from an unwanted marriage and Eustace from an undesirable job as a respected businessman. Will the ever-faithful manservant Jeeves be able to rescue these bumbling fools from themselves? A delicious romp full of deception and disguise.