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Last Updated: 8:03 a.m., Wednesday, August 27
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N.C. Mountain State Fair Gospel Singing Competitions Seeking Soloists and Groups
The N.C. Mountain State Fair is a reflection of the local traditions and heritage arts of the area, and the annual gospel singing competition has grown out of those well-tended roots.
The competition offers groups and soloists an opportunity to showcase their musical talents, and fairgoers who make their way to McGough Arena will be treated to two days of uplifting and spiritual entertainment. More details
YWCA Launches Solar Project
This fall, the YWCA is installing 30 solar thermal panels to provide 80% of the energy needed to heat the water for the YWCA pool, showers, kitchen and laundry.
The William H. and Frances O. Beattie Foundation recognized the YWCA’s first one hundred years of service to the community with a generous centennial gift which will be used to help purchase the solar panels and appropriately prepare us for the next century. More details
Dove Season Set to Open Monday Throughout North Carolina
North Carolina’s dove season opens statewide on Monday, September 1 at noon with a daily bag limit of 15 doves per hunter per day.
Traditionally Labor Day weekend is the opening of dove season in North Carolina and includes both Saturday and Monday – giving most hunters two days off from work to hunt. More details
WCU's Online Project Management Program Ranked No. 1 'Best Buy'
Western Carolina University’s online master’s degree program in project management has been given a No. 1 national ranking in quality and affordability by the distance education information clearinghouse GetEducated.com.
WCU’s program is listed first among a group of top 39 “best buys.” More details
Canoes and Kayaks Not Exempt From Life Vest Law
In North Carolina, having a life vest for everyone onboard a canoe or kayak is smart, potentially lifesaving — and the law.
Wildlife Officers with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will work to inform paddlers about an update to state regulations and begin enforcement on waterways. More details
North Carolina Apple Festival Returns to Hendersonville This Weekend
The 2008 NC Apple Festival will be held on Main Street in downtown Hendersonville, NC over the weekend of August 29– September 1, 2008. The festival not only features a street fair with arts & crafts vendors but it includes continuous live musical entertainment, apple growers and their apples, children’s & youth activities, special exhibits & open houses, food, and, to top it all off, on Labor Day, the King Apple Parade. More details
Registration Opens for the Second Annual Monster Dash 5K
Registration has opened for the 2nd Annual Monster Dash 5K. The event will take place Saturday, October 25th at 9:00 am. More details
Asheville Habitat Thanks Home Store Customers With Sale Saturday
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity will thank its Home Store customers for their support with a Customer Appreciation Sale from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 30. All Home Store merchandise, including furniture, housewares, appliances, building materials and antiques will be 25 percent off. More details
Red Cross Offers Tips Help You Conserve Water This Summer
Many areas in the Carolins are still in a state of extreme drought, and with the summer season in front of us, quite a few folks are trying to conserve. Residents are curtailing their non-essential uses of water, such as watering lawns and washing houses, sidewalks, and automobiles. More details
NC Stage Presents 48 Hours of Non-Stop Shakespeare
September 5 - 7
North Carolina Stage Company, Asheville’s professional theatre, will hold a 48-hour Shakespeare marathon September 5 - 7, 2008. The Bard-a-thon is a fundraiser, in which volunteer readers will ask their family, friends and co-workers to sponsor them, then read Shakespeare from Friday night to Sunday night. More details
Annual Plate Expectations Auction to Benefit Meals on Wheels on September 6
Meals On Wheels invites the general public to join them at the Country Club of Asheville for their annual Plate Expectations live and silent auction. Among items on the auction block are vacation homes at Lake Keowee, Hilton Head, and Silver Thorne Colorado. More details
The Asheville Affiliates Present Tastes of Summer at the Asheville City Market Tomorrow
Come enjoy the Tastes of Summer at the Asheville City Market! On Thursday, August 28 from 6-9pm, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) and the Asheville City Market host the Affiliates – enjoy live music and shop local goods at the special evening market. All proceeds go to ASAP and the City Market’s community healthy-living programs.
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Learn About Doo Wop Architecture with Architect Richard Stokes at the Asheville Art Museum Friday
Philadelphia-based architect, Richard Stokes, who has made a career re-designing neglected seaside motels and restaurants originally built in what has been called ‘Doo Wop’ style, will share highlights from his body of work on Friday, August 29, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at the Asheville Art Museum.
Stokes started his own firm in 2000 after working as an associate with the acclaimed architecture firm Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates Inc.
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Suzuki Owners Club Motorcycle Rally Coming to Asheville September 4 -6
The Suzuki Owners Club of North America (SOC of NA) announced recently that its Annual Southeastern Motorcycle Rally will be held in Asheville, NC - in 2008. The event will take place on September 4th, 5th and 6th 2008 located at the Asheville Ramada, as the host facility.
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Hunters Should Purchase Licenses Now
Dove season opens Sept. 1, and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is urging hunters to purchase their licenses now by visiting its Web site, www.ncwildlife.org.
The last week of August is traditionally the busiest week of the year for hunting license sales.
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Make Plans Now to Enjoy Nature’s Most Brilliant Show – The Fall Color Season
Each fall, with a comforting rhythm, the mountains light up with a brilliance that, no matter how many times people see it, is new and refreshing each time, as if it’s the first time. Fall’s crisp, sunny days and invigorating breezes are just as promising now as any year in the past. It is as if Mother Nature, taking this year’s wet summer in stride, leaves her “big show” intact for all to enjoy.
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School Is In! Don't Forget to be Extra Cautious!
It’s August already and that means it’s time for the kids to head back to school. This is a hectic time -- getting out of Summer mode and back to the daily schedules of getting the kids to school and still getting to work on time.
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UNC Asheville Offers Astronomy Class for K-12 Teachers
This fall, UNC Asheville will offer a special online science class for local K-12 teachers. The course, "Stars, Constellations and Deep Sky Objects," will be offered pass/fail September 1-December 12.
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Out on the Town with the Asheville Art Museum on September 4
The Asheville Art Museum is delighted to announce the date for its sixth annual Taste of Art + Wine: Wine Tasting and Silent Auction on Thursday, September 4, 2008 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Pack Place.
Join us in supporting the Asheville Art Museum’s educational and public programming by attending A Taste of Art + Wine.
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Women's Health Day at Stephens-Lee Recreation Center
October 25
Come on, get healthy! Stephens-Lee Recreation Center invites women of all ages to this year's Women's Health Day, set for October 25 from 12-4 p.m. Stephens-Lee is located at 30 George Washington Carver St. in downtown Asheville. Enjoy free health screenings, free massage, free workshops (yoga, belly dance, self defense, breath work), free snacks, door prizes, and more!
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Flat Rock Music Festival Features Songwriter Contest September 26-28; Asheville.com Proud Festival Sponsor
An Emerging Songwriter's Contest and Showcase and a unique and remarkable musical lineup are the hallmarks of the Flat Rock Music Festival, to be held Sept. 26-28 in scenic Flat Rock, N.C.
The Emerging Songwriter's Showcase at Flat Rock is the perfect opportunity for those songwriters that desire exposure at a national festival.
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“Last Comic Standing” Champ Jon Reep Comes to Asheville Community Theatre Tomorrow
Asheville Community Theatre welcomes comic Jon Reep on Wednesday, August 27 at 8:00 pm, winner of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and known to millions as the redheaded hillbilly in the Dodge Ram commercials who leans out of a beat-up car and utters the now famous line: "That thing gotta Hemi?" Jon Reep’s show is supersonic energy filled with non-stop characters, super clever writing, and, of course, the one talent that separates him from all other comedians in the world: he’s the best redneck dancer since Elvis.
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Registration Now Open for College for Seniors Fall Term
Older adults can go back to school this fall at UNC Asheville’s nationally renowned College for Seniors. More than 84 courses are available during the fall term from September 15-November 13. Classes will be held at UNC Asheville's Reuter Center, home of the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement.
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Education is Big this Fall at the Asheville Art Museum; Register Now for Classes
The Asheville Art Museum, celebrating its 60th anniversary, is pleased to announce that registration is now open for its After-School and Home-School Art Classes.
To register for any of these programs or to receive program reminders via e-mail, please call the Education Department at 828.253.3227, ext. 121 or 122.
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Great Smokies Writing Program Offers Fall Workshops
Local writers will have the opportunity to hone their skills with the Great Smokies Writing Program's fall workshop series of eight courses in poetry and prose. The classes, held at varying locations in Asheville, are open to writers of varying levels.
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Online Registration Open for 3rd Annual WNC Run/Walk for Autism; Asheville.com a Proud Sponsor
The 3rd annual WNC Run/Walk for Autism will be here soon. Asheville.com is proud to be a sponsor of this event, and will be fielding a team for the 5K.
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Tourists Announce 2009 Baseball Schedule
The Asheville Tourists have announced their 2009 South Atlantic League baseball schedule, a slate that features 71 home games, including a dozen Thirsty Thursdays and a Friday Fourth of July contest that could be the biggest date of the year.
Asheville will open the 2009 campaign on the road for a four-game series at Greensboro, on April 9-12.
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Straight from the Artist’s Mouth: A Gallery Talk with Artist Sigmund Abeles Tomorrow
Explore the work of artist Sigmund Abeles with the artist himself during a gallery talk at the Asheville Art Museum starting at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 as part of the exhibition Uncommon Expressions: The Drawings of Sigmund Abeles and Jerome Witkin.
“Sigmund Abeles is one of the finest figurative artists living today. His lines convey an intensity of meaning that can be read on numerous levels,” said Sandy Rupp, director of Hampton 3 Galleries in Taylors, SC.
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UNC Asheville Hosts Course on Radon, Lead and Mold Safety September 3
UNC Asheville's Lead Poisoning Prevention Program will host a course covering proper testing and mitigation systems for radon, ways to identify and remove mold, and ways to check for lead paint and determine what constitutes a lead hazard. The course will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, at UNC Asheville's Owen Conference Center.
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Smith-McDowell House Seeks Volunteers
Smith-McDowell House Museum is seeking volunteers. Interested community members of all ages and backgrounds who are interested in history, marketing, and working with the public should contact the museum.
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Red Cross is Hounding the Public on Pet Safety During the Dog Days of Summer
The American Red Cross is launching a new campaign for canines that will help pet owners keep their furry friends safe during the hottest days of summer. The Dog Days of Summer campaign promotes Red Cross pet safety trainings and programs, which are especially important as we enter the peak summer months.
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Buttermilk Creek Adopted by USGS as Official Name for West Asheville Creek
Several dozen West Asheville residents met at Malvern Hills Park park to choose a name for the nameless creek that ran through their neighborhood on Earth Day 2007. The event was part of RiverLink's Name That Creek project, a community effort to name unnamed tributaries in the French Braod River watershed.
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The North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement Offers Free Leadership Training
The North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement will offer a free, seven-week course entitled "Leadership Training for Older Persons." The class will meet on the UNC Asheville Campus on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from September 12-October 24.
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Registration Now Open for Blue Ridge Naturalist Program's Fall Classes
What do hawks, medicinal herbs and biofuels have in common? All are among the topics covered in the Blue Ridge Naturalist Program's fall classes.
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Rockies, Tourists Extend Agreement for Four More Years
The Colorado Rockies announced recently that the reigning National League champions have agreed to a new four-year Player Development Contract with the Asheville Tourists, of the South Atlantic League. The new working agreement will begin at the start of the 2009 season and will continue through the 2012 campaign.
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Flat Rock Playhouse Presents Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" Through September 7
Flat Rock Playhouse presents Agatha Christie’s "And Then There Were None", onstage Wednesday, August 20, through September 7. There is no mystery as to why Agatha Christie’s works continue to be held in high regard.
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RiverLink Launch Pollution Tracking Website and Muddy Water Watch Training
Have you ever seen mud running off a construction site or the French Broad River chocolate brown?
RiverLink’s Muddy Water Watch program is bringing a lot more attention to these sites.
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Smith McDowell House Hosts History Theme Parties
The Smith-McDowell House Museum is continuing its series of Historic Parties for boys and girls 7 and up. This series is a hands on program bringing American history to life.
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2008 BMW Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament Raises More Than $900,000 for Local Charities
The eighth-annual BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament raised $906,308 for 72 Upstate and Western North Carolina charities, it was announced recently. Checks were presented to representatives from 22 of the participating charities by officials from South Carolina Charities, Inc., at an event held at the Embassy Suites hotel.
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Asheville’s Four Corners Home Featured in Southern Living Magazine
Furnishings and decorative items from Four Corners Home in Asheville are featured in the current issue of Southern Living. The multi-page story in the magazine’s August issue highlights its 2008 “green” Idea House at Whisper Mountain north of Asheville; items from Four Corners Home are included in every room of the Idea House.
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Students Can Be Assistants at the Polls, Too!
North Carolina elections laws allow for many opportunities to increase voter awareness and civic participation among young citizens of our state. Our student program, for example, will help foster lifelong habits of democratic involvement in the election process and promote some of the goals recently mandated in the state social studies curriculum.
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BMW Hydrogen 7 Hits the Road with the 2008 Hydrogen Road Tour
The BMW Hydrogen 7 -- the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan -- joins an unprecedented cross-country journey featuring hydrogen-powered cars by the world's leading automakers in the 2008 Hydrogen Road Tour.
The hydrogen powered convoy will travel through August 23 from Portland, Maine to Santa Monica, California with one goal: to call on congressional leaders to support the creation of a nationwide hydrogen fueling station infrastructure.
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Back to School: Pack a Zero-waste Lunch
Make zero-waste lunches this year: you could prevent 67 pounds of waste and save tons of money!
Most parents pack lunch items in single-use plastic bags, aluminum foil, or wax paper, or they purchase single-serving items that come in their own disposable package.
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RiverLink and Sweetwater Beer Partner to Save the French Broad
As far back as the Cherokee Indians, the French Broad Watershed has attracted people with its stunning natural beauty and clean water. For the first time in over three decades, the river is declining and threatened as never before.
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Mountain State Fair Tickets on Sale Now!
Tickets are on sale now for this year's Mountain State Fair! Visit www.mountainfair.org for more info, or to purchase tickets online.
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Pisgah Brewing Company Finds Big Success in Thinking Small
What a great concept. Nurture a big idea for a small business that revolves around a line of organic beers that deftly walks the fine line between art and science.
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Hot Cars and Kids are a Deadly Combination
Warm weather is here, and with that comes more hours outdoors, lots of opportunity for exercise and health benefits…and increased risks for children that unfortunately go hand-in-hand with the best of the season. With these risks in mind, area public health officials are urging parents and other caregivers to not leave children in cars.
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Cadets Graduate from APD Academy
The Asheville Police Department recently marked the graduation of 14 cadets who have successfully completed the department’s police academy in a ceremony in Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College’s Ferguson Auditorium.
A reception followed the ceremony.
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Buncombe County Schools' Foundation Announces Receipt of Progress Energy Grant
The Buncombe County Schools’ Foundation is elated to announce the receipt of a Progress Energy Grant from the Progress Energy Foundation for $20,000. These funds will be designated for classroom mini grants dealing with energy related activities.
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United Way's 2-1-1 Now Accessible by Cell Phone
2-1-1 now accessible from cell phones ASHEVILLE – As of July 31, 2008, United Way’s 2-1-1 of WNC is available from cell phones. United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County President David Bailey announced that people can now access 2-1-1 community information and referral services on cell phones from any of the six major providers in North Carolina.
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Learn About Designing and Maintaining A Healthy Landscape & Fall Vegetable Gardening This Month
Join us at Pack Library in August for another popular gardening series with NC Cooperative Extension Agent Linda Blue. The series will cover the basics of both vegetable and lawn gardening.
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Montreat College Goes Tobacco Free
Montreat College has received a grant from the Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission (HWTFC) of North Carolina for the purpose of supporting the college's efforts to make all of Montreat College's campuses tobacco free.
For many years the college has been committed to providing a healthy environment, and the move towards becoming tobacco free began in 1990, when all buildings became tobacco free.
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BMW Group USA Reports July Sales; Spartanburg Plant at Full Tilt
The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported July sales of 28,977 vehicles, an increase of 2.2 percent over the 28,364 vehicles sold in July 2007. The BMW Group also reported its year-to-date sales volume of 186,890 vehicles, down 3.0 percent compared to 192,702 vehicles in the same period of 2007.
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OrganicFest Celebrates Everything Organic on September 6; Asheville.com a Proud Sponsor
Organicfest, one of the nation's largest regional organic festival (www.organicfest.org), will celebrate National Organic Harvest month on September 6th in Asheville, North Carolina, on Battery Park and Otis Streets by the historic Grove Arcade. Everyone is invited to attend this annual event, now in its 7th year, open from 10 AM to 6 PM.
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SART Presents "Evita" Through Sunday
The Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre in Montreat, better known as SART, is pleased to present "Evita", onstage through August 24. Experience one of the world’s greatest musicals, bringing to life the dynamic, larger-than-life persona of Eva Peron.
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Annual Plate Expectations Auction to Benefit Meals on Wheels on September 6
Meals On Wheels invites the general public to join them at the Country Club of Asheville for their annual Plate Expectations live and silent auction on September 6. Among items on the auction block are vacation homes at Lake Keowee, Hilton Head, Silver Thorne Colorado and other destinations; US Masters tickets; fine jewelry; antiques; catered parties from local chefs; kitchen appliances; household goods; sports memorabilia and so much more!
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Aspiring Gardeners at Eliada Seek Donations
Nine teenage girls at Eliada are on a mission to transform their backyard into a lush, organic garden, and they need your help. They have the support of a local landscaper, who has donated her time and expertise to help the students design the space.
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Mission Named a "Most Wired" Hospital
Mission Hospital has been named one of the “Most Wired” and “Most Wireless” hospitals in the United States according to results of the “2008 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study” released in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. Of the 100 health systems named, the Carolinas HealthCare System, Duke University Health System, University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center also made the list.
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Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center Movie Wins International Award
“The Blue Ridge Parkway: America’s Favorite Journey”, a film created by Aperture Films of Hollywood, CA, for the Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center’s theater, has received a prestigious international award of excellence, the “Platinum Best of Show” Aurora Award.
The film depicts the history and scenic beauty of the Parkway, as well as the unique biodiversity and cultural heritage of the North Carolina mountains, a region designated by Congress as the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.
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Hear a Story on the Library's Storyline!
Children wishing to hear a story read to them can call 251-KIDS (251-5437). It is accessible 24 hours a day, everyday.
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Western Carolina Professor Rick Boyer Pens New Sherlock Holmes Tales
Some 30 years after developing his writing skills through a series of literary exercises imitating a storyteller he calls the greatest of the past century, award-winning novelist Rick Boyer of the English department faculty at Western Carolina University has seen his career come full-circle.
A resident of Waynesville, Boyer (pictured) is author of the newly published “The Quintessential Sherlock Holmes,” a collection of five full-length stories based upon the legendary detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
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Free Family Days Uncover the Inner Life of Toys at The Health Adventure
From motors to Martian hats, two upcoming programs at The Health Adventure will explore the science behind toys, and families can enjoy the fun for free.
Held in conjunction with the museum’s traveling exhibit, "Toys: The Inside Story", the Family Day events will offer children and adults a fun introduction to the simple mechanisms commonly found in toys.
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UNC Asheville Earns Top Spot in "Fiske Guide to Colleges"; University Named Best Buy for 15 Consecutive Years
UNC Asheville continues to stand with some of the nation's finest colleges in popular college rankings. The annual "Fiske Guide to Colleges" released its 2009 list of Best Buys of American and Canadian colleges earlier this month.
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YWCA Black & White Gala Set for October 2
Save the date! The YWCA of Asheville invites you to dance the night away at the Black & White Gala, Thursday, October 2 at The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Avenue.
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Bookends at Pack Library Hosts Bag Sale
Bookends used book store at Pack Library is having a bag sale! Buy a library tote bag for $10 and fill it with all the books, movies and music you can stuff in for free.
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Researchers Work to Keep Rare Fish Off Endangered Species List
On the bank of the Little Tennessee River, downstream from the town of Franklin, biologists squeeze tiny yellow eggs from a fish into a plastic bag. Unlike caviar, these eggs won’t be eaten, but rather trucked to a high-tech aquatic lab in Knoxville, Tenn., to join an effort to keep a rare fish off the endangered species list.
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Butterflies Return to the Nature Center
Butterflies have returned to the WNC Nature Center! Discover the secret lives of butterflies. "The Beauty of Butterflies", an enclosed, walk-through exhibit will continue through September 5.
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6th Annual Short Course for Private Landowners Offered
Over the past 15 years, and in direct relation to a growing population, WNC has seen an increase in wildland-urban interface issues, including fire danger and invasive plant and animal species.
Approximately three-fourths of all forestland in NC is owned by nonindustrial private woodlot owners and this course is designed to offer educational opportunities on diverse land management goals to these landowners, especially those owning 20 acres or less.
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29 Working WNC Farms Open to the Public for 2008 Mountain Farm and Garden Tour
More and more people want to eat local, but how much do you really know about agriculture in your own community? Find out, first-hand, during the 2008 Mountain Farm and Garden Tour.
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2008 Local Food Guide Available Now, Features 240 Mountain Farms
The 2008 Local Food Guide is now available throughout Western North Carolina. In its seventh year of publication, the Guide is one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind published anywhere in the United States. Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), the Asheville-based non-profit organization that produces the Guide, has been asked to advise dozens of groups throughout the country who are attempting similar projects.
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Asheville.com Helps to Make Asheville Greener
Asheville has always been green. Late winter and spring rains in the mountains that embrace Asheville inevitably reawaken for another season the countless species of flowers, shrubs, and trees that have called Asheville “home” for centuries.
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Asheville Ranked #1 on Relocate America's Top 100 List
Asheville has recently been named Relocate America's number one spot to live in the country. 2007 marks the tenth year compiling this list of the best places to live in the United States.
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Regional and National Blood Supply Low, Donations Urgently Needed
The nation’s blood banks, represented by the American Red Cross, American Association of Blood Banks, and America’s Blood Centers, are asking for immediate blood donations to boost already critically low blood supplies.
The need for blood always increases during the winter months, when weather, sickness, and the holiday bustle keep some donors away.
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Asheville Among Frommer's Top Worldwide Destinations for 2007
The votes are in! This year, the editors at Frommer's Travel Guides and Frommers.com scoured the globe and polled their stable of authors and experts to identify twelve surprising, thriving, or emerging travel destinations, and Asheville is among those chosen. After careful thought and consideration, Frommer's announced the following picks of the places not to be missed in 2007.
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ECO Seniors Club Looking for Energetic Retirees Interested in Environmental Issues
Are you an energetic retiree interested in environmental issues? Would you like to meet with likeminded folks to discuss ideas and do projects?
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Chimney Rock Park's Unique Birding Sites and "Big Boy" Trees Officially Recognized
Everyone in WNC knows that Chimney Rock Park's beautiful 1,000 acres of forests and hundreds of gorgeous and rare birds are special, but recently, the Park has been honored for both.
With the help of NC State University, the NC Division of Forest Resources recently updated the state's Register of Big Trees.
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Enjoy a Walk through Asheville History on Urban Trail
Asheville’s Urban Trail, an entertaining, informative, and artistic walk through Asheville history, is 1.7-miles of architecture and memories from earlier times in this engaging mountain city.Started in 1991 by a group of dedicated volunteers who were determined to put downtown Asheville’s best foot forward, the Urban Trail has evolved into a fairly complete walking tour of Asheville’s historic and present day world. More details
Legends and Geologic Facts Equally Intriguing at The Blowing Rock
Legend has it that after a Chickasaw maiden’s warrior love had leapt from the Blowing Rock, she prayed daily to the Great Spirit to return her warrior beloved to her and was granted her wish when the brave was blown back up by the winds surrounding the rock. Geologists with the US Geologic Survey estimate the metamorphic igneous rock to be about 1,055 million years old and have determined the wind comes from a flume formed by the rocky walls which sweeps the wind up, along with any objects in its current . More details
River Access Guide Offers Helpful Info about Using the French Broad River
Have you ever wondered where to put your boat in the French Broad River, or where you might find the best fishing holes? Do you want to know where to camp along the river, or stop to see an historic site? More details
The Horticultural Legacy At Biltmore Estate Having Lasting Impact on Forestry
In the the shadow of Biltmore House, America’s largest private residence, are some of America’s finest formal and informal gardens. Here, too, is the birthplace of the first scientific school of forestry in the United States. More details
Explore the Great Outdoors at Chimney Rock Park
Chimney Rock Park, located just north of Lake Lure, NC, in the stunningly beautiful Chimney Rock Gorge, is an ideal place to explore some of North Carolina’s most scenic mountain tracts – yet all within easy reach of the comforts of restaurants, cozy inns, and easy chairs. Chimney Rock Park has several outdoors activities in February and March that encourage visitors to get outside, breathe the fresh air, and stretch their legs. More details
Grandfather Mountain, a Globally Recognized Nature Preserve
Most visitors to Western North Carolina probably recognize Grandfather Mountain’s famous swinging bridge, and more than likely enjoy visiting its restaurant and souvenir shop. Many thousands of travelers stop by Grandfather Mountain during the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, one of the largest gatherings of Scottish clans anywhere in the country. What some visitors might not know, however, is that Grandfather Mountain has been a globally recognized nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary for over 100 years.More details
New Walking Trail Guide for Asheville and Buncombe County Now Available Online
Quality Forward, Mission Hospitals Foundation, and Tortoise & Hare Running Outfitters have collaborated on a new walking trail guide for Asheville and Buncombe County, and the guide is now available both in print and online. The new guide, which contains information on 17 different walks, offers suggestions all over the city and county.More details
Treasured Waterfalls, Mountain Scenery the Reward of Scenic Drive through Gorge
As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, many visitors to Western North Carolina find themselves drawn to any number of the region’s pristine waterfalls for the visual entertainment and cooling respite that they offer from the day’s heat. But some of these popular spots require a bit more hiking, climbing, and crawling over rocks, boulders, and trails than some folks are willing or able to do.More details
Asheville’s Newly Restored Thomas Wolfe Memorial Welcomes Visitors Home Once Again
The boardinghouse that inspired the works of one of America’s classic literary figures, Asheville-native Thomas Wolfe, has once again open its doors to visitors, six years after an arson blaze ravaged parts of the home. Born in the mountains of Asheville, Thomas Wolfe grew up in his mother’s rambling boardinghouse, known as “Dixieland” made famous in the novel, “Look Homeward, Angel.” More details
Folk Art Center Programs Share Simplicity of Traditional Crafts
The Southern Highland Craft Guild, located in the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway just east of Asheville, is a membership guild of some of the finest craftspeople in the country. Some of these guild members generously share their knowledge of crafts and Appalachian culture with the public through a series of free educational events that take place year-round at the Folk Art Center. More details
A Tour of the Winery is a Great Addition to Biltmore Estate Visit
The most visited winery in the United States isn’t located in the Napa Valley. Perhaps a surprise to some, it is at the Biltmore Estate, quietly nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, where fine food and wine, paired with elegant entertaining, have been traditions since the end of the 19th century.More details
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