Big Sweep of the French Broad set for this Saturday

As part of its continuing efforts to preserve and protect the French Broad River and her tributaries, RiverLink is participating in Big Sweep 2012 this Saturday, Sept. 29. RiverLink's Adopt-A-Stream teams and other volunteers will fan out across the watershed to collect trash from rivers, streams and roadways. After their labors, a cookout will be held at the RiverLink Performance and Sculpture Plaza (144 Riverside Drive in the River Arts District) from 1 p.m. -- 4 p.m., featuring refreshments from Highland Brewing Company.    

Big Sweep is intended to make a big impact on trash across the French Broad River watershed in one day. Volunteer groups will meet along assigned sections of streams, roads, and rivers early that morning.  The teams will tackle trash, tires and debris, in car, on foot, and in boats at many locations, and conquer designated sections in need of cleaning.   

Many of RiverLink's Adopt-A-Stream teams will be participating in the cleanup. The Adopt-a-Stream program is a hands-on way for local residents and businesses to get actively involved in improving the water quality of the French Broad River Watershed. Groups interested in forming an Adopt-A-Stream team should contact RiverLink's volunteer coordinator at volunteer@riverlink.org or (828) 252-8474 ext. 11 to request information and find out which sections of a stream are available for adoption.

Benefit for Reed Creek Greenway Northern Section

Extending the Broadway Greenway, known as Reed Creek, through the old Health Adventure (now UNCA property) is a priority project for RiverLink, the Montford neighborhood and UNCA. Connecting the neighborhood, the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay, UNCA, and the downtown area will greatly facilitate pedestrian and bike traffic for the entire community. 

A recent ribbon cutting and celebration for the new section of the Reed Creek Greenway was a huge success sponsored by the City of Asheville and the Greenway Commission. During the ceremony, the Montford Neighborhood Association presented RiverLink with a $12,000 contribution to buy 240 one-foot sections of the new greenway at $50 per foot. These funds will be used 100% percent exclusively for the extension of the greenway through the UNCA property. RiverLink has also received a $25,000 grant for stormwater and erosion control for the new greenway section from the Pigeon River Fund and has dedicated  additional funds from the Winter Warmer Beer Festival and other donors towards its $60,000 goal. 

They are excited about the progress, but additional funds need to be raised to implement the greenway.  Long-time Montford residents Kevin & Jo Hogan are opening their home at 273 Pearson Drive for a benefit on Sunday, October 28th just for this purpose. Kevin was one of the pioneer artists in the Asheville River District who was burned out by the April 2, 1995 arson that occurred at the former Chesterfield Mill.   

Festivities at the Hogans' begin at 4:00 pm. Sponsors include RiverLink, The Montford Neighborhood Association, Nine Mile, Modesto, the Wedge Brewery, Clayworks and Hoss Haley. The Hogan's will prepare Spit Roast Turkey as the main course for a wonderful feast. Your ticket will also enter you into a raffle for a Hoss Haley bronze candelabra, a Josh Copus ceramic platter and a silk screen print by Kevin Hogan.  

Tickets are $20 per person and additional raffle tickets may be purchased at $10 each. You do not have to be present to win. Call 254-4055 or e-mail scouser415@aol.com for tickets. Make checks out to the Montford Neighborhood Association and mail to 273 Pearson Dr., Asheville NC 28801. Please do so by October 21st. If you wish to pay by credit card contact RiverLink  at www.riverlink.org or  information@riverlink.org and note that this is for the Hogan House Party Benefit.

WNC Foster/Adopt Fall Festival - November 17th

 

Children need caring, stable adults in their lives in order to become healthy adults.  It doesn’t take a miracle – truly.  Come learn how you can change a child’s life forever. 

This year’s Foster/Adopt Fall Festival will be held at the Asheville-Buncombe DoubleTree – located at 115 Hendersonville Road – on Saturday, November 17^th from 1-4 pm.  The event is hosted by the Buncombe County Department of Social Services and WNC foster care agencies. 

This is the only targeted adoption and foster care event in WNC. However, it will not be limited to finding adoptive and foster parents.  This fun, free event will focus on increasing community awareness of all the ways in which people can help kids – whether it is through foster care, adoption, respite, mentoring, donating, educating, volunteering, or our career choices. 

Popular sections of the Foster/Adopt Fall Festival include:

"General Information" area - where agencies from across WNC will be available and provide information about becoming a foster or adoptive parent.

The "Child-Specific Recruitment" area - where people can learn more about the children who currently need adoptive homes. This area will feature the children's photos, and their profiles. Their social workers may also be in attendance to speak with families directly.

An opportunity to "Talk to a Family Right Here" - a popular section that is staffed by foster and adoptive parents so that people can talk to a family about what the foster and adoptive experience is like.

And, of course, a fun "Kids Area" - complete with arts, crafts, face painting, balloon animals, light snacks, and more.

 

For more information, please contact Buncombe County Department of Social Services Foster Home Licensing Staff at 828-250-5868 or familiesforkids@buncombecounty.org.

Asheville Lyric Opera's "La Traviata" features unique artistic duo

Asheville Lyric Opera's new production of La Traviata features a unique artistic duo.  The highlights of which are scenic designer Julie K. Ross and metropolitan opera soprano Elizabeth Caballero.  Ms. Ross has her hands in everything on stage.  Product designer by day at i play. Baby Wear and scenic painter at night, Julie tirelessly spends every moment in her element.  Julie’s work goes on display in October, but who will be performing on her canvas?  Elizabeth Caballero joins the cast of La Traviata to bring her Metropolitan Opera talents to Julie’s stage.  Ms. Caballero’s credits include playing the role of Frasquita in the Met Opera’s production of Carmen, and recently playing Madame Butterfly in the Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s production of Madame Butterfly.  Two women of greta talent, one local, one on the national scene, find their artistic counterpart in Asheville Lyric Opera’s La Traviata.  This union of creative energy comes to the Diana Wortham Theatre on October 5 and 6 only.  Curtain is at 8:00 pm.

Upcycling Class offered September 30th

Junk Recyclers is partnering with Wine and Design to hose an upcycling class on Sunday, September 30th from 3-6 pm at Wine and Design Studio, 640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville.

Kim Allen with Junk Recyclers and The Regeneration Station will lead a class on how to "upcycle" an old window pane into a beautiful, personalized table tray. All materials for the class will be reclaimed and/or scrap materials.

Cost for the class is $45 (includes all materials).  Participants may bring their own drinks (alcoholic or non) and snacks of choice.

For more information or to register: 

www.wineanddesignus.com/Asheville 

www.junkrecyclers.net/the-regeneration-station

(828) 255-2442

Van Winkle attorneys named 2013 Lawyers of the Year

The Van Winkle Law Firm announces attorneys Roy Davis and Craig D. Justus were named “2013 Asheville Mediation Lawyer of the Year” and “2013 Asheville Land Use & Zoning Law Lawyer of the Year,” respectively, by the Best Lawyers in America.

Only the highest rated attorney in each practice area in each community is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”

First published in 1983, Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive annual peer-review survey on the legal abilities of other lawyers in the same and related specialties.

Tickets on sale for Raise Your Hand Auction

Tickets are on sale for the Western North Carolina Aids Project’s Raise Your Hand Benefit Auction on Saturday, Sept. 29^th at the Doubletree Hotel, Biltmore. 

The auction features artwork from a number of artists including the signature piece by Mitchell Lonas, an incised, painted aluminum work titled “Aflight.”

The Honorary Chairperson for WNCAP’s  2012 Raise Your Hand Auction and Gala is Mark Goldberg, President and CEO of PLI, LLP, which is based in Asheville, NC, the largest manufacturer of hotel key cards in the world.

Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council presents Jason McLennan Sept 28

The Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council presents a special evening with Jason McLennan, founding of the Living Building Challenge and 2012 Buckminster Fuller Challenge winner on September 28, 5:00-8:00 pm, Lipinsky Auditorium, on the campus of UNC Asheville.

McLennan is one of the most influential individuals in the green building and sustainability technology movements today. Whether you're in a clean energy or green building industry, an innovation-driven entrepreneur, or are just interested in hearing from one of the most influential thinkers in sustainability, this will be an evening not to miss. Registration is $25 or $20 for WNCGBC members.  Learn more and register at http://bit.ly/mclennan-talk.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC joins forces with FastMed to expand ER alternatives

Patients across North Carolina often spend more than four hours during an emergency room (ER) visit, at a total average cost of nearly $1,500 per visit. Thousands of these patients visit ERs each year for non-emergency health concerns that can be effectively treated at urgent care clinics, at an average cost of $142. That's why Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is making an investment to enable FastMed Urgent Care to expand its network of physician-owned urgent care clinics across the state, while helping to launch innovative programs and services for BCBSNC customers. This strategic collaboration increases access to convenient, high quality urgent care while reining in medical costs.

"We need solutions that provide the right care, at the right time and in the right setting to build a more efficient health care system," said Brad Wilson, BCBSNC president and CEO. "FastMed's doctors and staff already provide high quality, more affordable care to our customers across the state. Working togehter, we can offer North Carolinians even more choices for convenient, cost-effective care."

UBS Financial Services hosts Successfully Single workshop Oct 19

Making the transition to aloneness after years of being part of a couple can be overwhelming.  There is a double whammy of going through the grieving process while at the same time taking over life management areas that used to be shared with or handled by a partner. UBS Financial Services is hosting "Successfully Single," a two-hour workshop on Friday, October 19, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Rathbun Center, 121 Sherwood Road near Mission Hospital.  This workshop is free of charge. 

The two-hour workshop breaks down the process of dealing with one’s new single status into three sections – Short-Term Critical Steps, Intermediate Steps and Long-Term Steps. Topics will include:

• How to avoid becoming overwhelmed
• Gathering important documents and information
• Understanding cash flow needs
• Necessary legal steps to protect your assets and preserve your autonomy
• Dealing with grief and anger
• Assessing your financial position
• Thriving instead of merely surviving – social aspects of singlehood
• Planning for the future
• And more!

Successfuly Single is conducted by a panel of four experienced professionals representing the personal, legal and financial aspects of managing the realities and necessities of emotional and financial self-sufficiency.
Throughout the session, they offer guidance from their perspectives on how to make the best decisions for moving forward.

To register, or receive more information, call 828-771-5012 or visit our website at successfullysingleasheville.com workshop is complimentary and there will be no solicitations at the workshop.

People who lose a partner to death, divorce, separation or dementia are immediately faced with important and potentially crucial decisions regarding their emotional and financial futures. This comprehensive workshop was developed to address the key challenges surrounding the transition from being part of a couple to becoming “suddenly single.” The course may be most useful for women who are confronting a dramatic reshaping of their lives; however, a newly single person of either gender will benefit from the insights and information presented.

For more information on Successfuly Single,including future workshop dates and times, please call 828-771-5012 or email Angela@successfullysingleasheville.com.

Lenoir-Rhyne hosts An Evening with Nicholas Carr on Sept 28

“Is Google making us stupid?” When Nicholas Carr, author of “The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains,” first posted this question in a celebrated essay published in The Atlantic, he tapped into a well of anxiety about how the Internet is changing us. He also crystallized one of the most important debates of our time. As we enjoy the Net’s bounties, are we sacrificing our ability to read and think deeply? Building on the insights of thinkers from Plato to McLuhan, Carr makes a convincing case that every information technology carries an intellectual ethic – a set of assumptions about the nature of knowledge and intelligence.

Carr will give a reading and talk at A-B Tech Ferguson Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept.  28 with a reception following. The free public event is presented by Lenoir-Rhyne University Visiting Writing Series, Lenoir-Rhyne University Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville, and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. Carr will also appear on the Lenoir-Rhyne campus in Hickory, N.C. at the P.E. Monroe Auditorium on Thursday, Sept.  27 at 7p.m.

“The Shallows” was a finalist for the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction and a finalist for the 2011 PEN Center USA Literary Award. An international best-seller, “The Shallows” has been published in 23 different languages. Carr is also the author of two earlier books, “The Big Switch” (2008) and “Does IT Matter?” (2004). His books have been translated into more than 20 languages. He was a columnist for The Guardian and wrote for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Wired, The Sunday Times (London), The New Republic, The Financial Times, Die Zeit and other periodicals. His essay “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” has been collected in several anthologies, including “The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2009,” “The Best Technology Writing 2009,” and “The Best Spiritual Writing 2010.” He writes a popular blog called “Rough Type” and has been the writer-in-residence at the University of California, Berkley. He holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.A. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University.

To learn more about the event, visit http://asheville.lr.edu. Additional information on Carr can be found at: www.nicholasgcarr.com and www.roughtype.com.