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Last Updated: 8:26 a.m., Thursday, September 2, 2010

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The Fall LEAF Festival is Just Around the Corner, Get Your Tickets Now! Asheville.com is a Proud Sponsor
Discover the magic of the 31st LEAF with folk icons The Indigo Girls, the global music movement Playing For Change, and featured Caribean Traditions artists from Haiti- Boukman Eksperyman and Bonga & Vodou Drums of Haiti. Be a LEAFer and connect music, art and culture the weekend of October 14th-17th at Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain. More details


Biltmore to Host Job Fair on Wednesday to Hire for 95 New Jobs
Biltmore will hold a job fair on Wednesday, September 8, to interview applicants for approximately 95 seasonal positions for the estate. Opportunities include ticket sales and call center agents, winery associates, parking and transportation hosts, guest relations hosts, and general retail services. More details


Asheville Hosts A Community Yard Sale at Montford Recreation Center on September 11
Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts and the Montford Neighborhood Association will host a Community Yard Sale on Saturday, September 11, from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Montford Recreation Center, 34 Pearson Drive. Find great bargains on an assortment of household items, clothing, and much more. More details


Red Cross Offers Tips Help You Conserve Water
Many areas in the Carolinas are in a drought, and with the summer season still going strong, 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


Register Now for Asheville's Fall Outdoor Inline-Hockey League, Deadline on September 11
The Asheville Hockey League is currently accepting registrations for the outdoor in-line hockey fall league. To register, visit www.ashevillehockey.org. Registration closes on September 11. More details


Asheville Oktoberfest Returns, Tickets Now on Sale!
The Asheville Downtown Association is excited to announce the return of Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 9 from 12-6pm on Wall Street. “We’re excited to bring Oktoberfest back to downtown Asheville. More details


Come and Experience a Little Southern (dis)Comfort
on September 9
Come and experience a little Southern (dis)Comfort on Thursday, September 9, at 7 p.m., at the Carol Belk Theater located at UNC Asheville. Southern (dis)Comfort is a new comedy written by Elisabeth Gray about life and death in the American South, with stops along with way ranging from Cracker Barrels and nursing homes, to beauty pageants and church gymnasiums. More details


How to Integrate Fall Colors in Your Garden - Register by September 8
Autumn will soon be upon us with all the glorious hues and colors of the season. How do we encourage and grow those lovely fall plants in our gardens? More details


American Red Cross Has Urgent Need for Blood Donors
The American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region has issued an urgent call for blood donors. The Red Cross closely monitors national and local blood supplies to ensure donations are keeping pace with hospital need for blood products in order to meet ongoing and emergency patient care. More details


Newly Opened Bicycle Institute in WNC Offers A Variety of Bike Training Classes
Appalachian Bicycle Institute (ABI) opens to provide training on a variety of topics that include bicycle repair, wheel building, and tour preparation. Founded by Jenny Kallista, the Institute was born from the love of bicycles and the love of teaching maintenance classes with 10 years of experience as a professional bicycle mechanic and 6 years experience teaching maintenance classes. More details


Organicfest Returns to Asheville for 10th Year on September 11, Asheville.com is a Proud Sponsor!
Organicfest, one of the nation's largest regional organic festival, will celebrate National Organic Harvest month on Saturday, September 11th in Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Join the celebration of everything organic and green, now in its 10th year, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More details


Brevard College Art Faculty Exhibition Opens September 3
An exhibition of work by Brevard College’s talented art faculty will be held from September 3 to October 1 at the College’s Spiers Gallery. An opening reception will be held Friday, Sept. 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the gallery, which is located in Sims Art Center. More details


Charlotte Street Computers Sponsors Fundraising Effort for Local Non-profits
Charlotte Street Computers is proudly sponsoring - for its second year - a visionary fundraising program which benefits local non-profits. CSC has purchased six private performances of Mainstage shows at Asheville Community Theatre. More details


Applicants Wanted for Paid AdvantageGreen Energy Internship Program
AdvantageWest announces the application process for positions with the 2010-11 AdvantageGreen Energy Internships Program is now open. Nine internships and three fellowships are available under the program. More details


Illnesses Linked to Lake Powhatan
The Centers for Disease Control made the recommendation that Lake Powhatan be temporarily closed to prevent the spread of cryptosporidium (crypto) on August 27. Three cases of Crypto have been reported to the Buncombe County Department of Health and a fourth case is suspected. More details


Come Out for the West Asheville Garden Stroll on September 11
The culture of sustainability is becoming more deeply rooted in West Asheville’s urban landscape with every passing day. The Second Annual West Asheville Garden Stroll, Saturday, September 11, 2010 will showcase many new gardens in the Horney Heights and Malvern Hills sections of the community. More details


UNC Asheville's Great Smokies Writing Program Offers Fall Workshops Starting September 15
Local writers will have the opportunity to hone their skills with UNC Asheville's Great Smokies Writing Program's fall workshops in poetry and prose. These classes, which meet for ten weeks, are open to all interested writers but class size is limited; early registration is suggested. More details


Chris Pappas Performs "The Legend of Eros in Eleven Episodes" on September 10
The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, USPOCO BOOKS and us poetry company are proud to present Chris Pappas—poet, publisher, editor, university lecturer and former electronics technician. He will be performing poetry from his dramatic epic poem, "The Legend of Eros in Eleven Episodes", at 7:00p.m. on Friday, September 10 at the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center in downtown Asheville. More details


Asheville Landlords Get Involved with the Homelessness Conversation
The effort to address homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County relies on as many partnerships and as many voices as possible. After all, the motto for the Asheville-Buncombe Homeless Initiative is, “Ending Homelessness Together.” More details


Study Examines Air Pollution’s Effects on Ecosystems; Finds Widespread, Serious Impacts
No ecosystem type in the eastern United States is free of the effects of air pollution, according to a report released by The Nature Conservancy and the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. From streams and rivers to forests and wetlands, air pollution reduces the benefits these ecosystems provide to society, and damages human health and economies. More details


The North Carolina Apple Festival Returns to Hendersonville September 3 - 6
The apple has been called the loveliest of all fruits. It is also one of the most important agricultural crops grown in Henderson County. More details


Join the Clawhammer Hike For Love of Beer and Mountains on September 4
Join SAHC members and friends from the Highland Brewing Company and US Fish and Wildlife Service to celebrate the release of “Clawhammer”, Highland’s latest seasonal beer. Clawhammer Oktoberfest is a lightly colored, but toasty, rich and full bodied Marzen style lager, brewed with traditional German malt and the finest noble hops. More details


Bravo Kicks Off 79th Season with “Wall to Wall Williams” at Thomas Wolfe on September 10
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (or, in the 1970’s in Hollywood, at any rate), composer John Williams became a household name for his unmistakable themes from Jaws and Star Wars. In the near future, very, very nearby, Asheville Bravo Concerts kicks off its 79th season with Wall to Wall Williams, a celebration of his most beloved film scores on September 10. More details


Check Out These Great Tips for Buying Green
As you walk the aisles of grocery stores and your one-stop-shopping stores, you may see bright green labels saying organic or eco-friendly. While some of these products may truly be sustainable, some may be green-washed. More details


Appalachian State University's Performing Arts Series Announces 2010-11 Season!
Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs announces its 2010-2011 Performing Arts Series schedule. This season offers seven major cultural events representing the arts from all over the world throughout the academic year. More details


The Asheville Symphony Presents "Symphony in the Park" on September 6
Come join members of the Asheville Symphony in the grand new park on Labor Day (September 6th) at 7:00pm for Symphony in the Park. Music Director Daniel Meyer will conduct members of the Asheville Symphony through an evening of popular classics and highlights from the Asheville Symphony's 50th Anniversary Season. More details


Bring the Family to Grandfather Mountain for Kidsfest on September 11
Grandfather Mountain will celebrate Kidfest, a day designed to get kids excited about the nature and culture of the North Carolina Mountains through fun and entertaining activities on Saturday, September 11. So don't miss your chance to put a smile on some faces. More details


Asheville's Building Safety Department Gears Up for the Arrival of Electric Cars
With auto companies announcing their intention to roll out new electric cars in the next year, the City of Asheville's Building Safety Department is preparing for residential requests for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. While electric cars that charge on existing 120 volt outlets will not require any home modification or inspection, many new electric cars will require the installation of a dedicated 110 volt or a 220 volt charging station. More details


Register Now for the Southeast Women's Herbal Conference, Asheville.com is a Proud Sponsor
Women from across the Southeast will gather at the 6th annual Southeast Women’s Herbal Conference on October 1-3, at Lake Eden in scenic Black Mountain, NC. With over 60 classes by more than 30 teachers, the weekend focuses on herbal education, nourishing foods, wholistic sexuality, and ecology. More details


Meet Ty Wigginton, UNCA Bulldog Turned Orioles All-Star
While each player that played in the recent 81st All-Star Baseball Game has an interesting story of how he got there, it’s doubtful anyone has the tale that the former Bulldog standout Ty Wigginton had in getting to Anaheim. In fact, the Baltimore Orioles’ infielder was almost cut from the UNC Asheville team after his freshman year. More details


Harrah's Cherokee Casino Presents Hank Williams, Jr. on September 3
Join Harrah's and have a blast singing along to some of Hank Williams, Jr.'s greatest hits like "Family Tradition", "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound", "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" and many more! All the fun goes down on September 3rd, at 9pm in Harrah's Event Center. More details


AAAC Announces Regional Artist Project Grant
The Regional Artist Project Grant is an annual grant program that provides financial support to developing arts professionals by funding a project pivotal to the advancement of their careers as artists. The program is conducted by the Asheville Area Arts Council, the Toe River Arts Council, the Madison County Arts Council, and the Avery County Arts Council. More details


Watch Out for the Dreaded Pickleworms!
This time of year, a particularly frustrating insect that can attack the vegetable garden is the pickleworm. This insect can be devastating to most crops in the cucurbit family – cucumbers, squash, melons and even pumpkins. More details


Summer Music in Flat Rock Presents The Swayback Sisters on September 4th
The Swayback Sisters will perform at a free evening music event in Flat Rock on Saturday, September 4th, beginning at 6 p.m. This free outdoor concert is presented by the Flat Rock Merchants Association with sponsorship help from Charleston Garden at Flat Rock and Lita Stum, Keller Williams Realty. More details


Joyful Noise Offers New Classes for Fall, Registration Now Open
Joyful Noise is announcing new class offerings for fall 2010 and a new location in South Asheville! Group classes for children and adults start in September with beginning guitar, beginning songwriting, percussion, Appalachian jamming, Kindermusik, visual arts, drama, and chamber music. More details


Tupelo Honey Café Revamps Kids Menu To Offer More Healthy Choices
Tupelo Honey Café recognizes there is a special need to educate kids about making wise food choices. As a response to a growing concern about childhood obesity, both nationally as well as locally, the restaurant has developed additional kids’ menu offerings that are fun, healthful and most important, tasty. More details


Sign Up for the The Franklin Blue Planet 5K for Clean Water September 4
1.1 billion people -roughly one-sixth of the world's population -do not have access to safe drinking water. In Africa, the average distance women must walk to collect drinkable water is 3.6 miles. More details


Buncombe County is Looking for Special Olympic Cheerleaders, Sign Up by September 7
Buncombe County Special Olympics cheerleaders, coaches and parent/guardians will have their first meeting and practice on Tuesday, September 7 at 6 p.m. at the Zeugner Center in Arden. All subsequent practices will be held on Tuesdays at the same location from 6 – 7:30 p.m. More details


UNC Asheville Ranked Among Nation’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report
UNC Asheville received high marks in the 2011 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings. UNC Asheville ranked fifth among National Liberal Arts Colleges in “The 2011 Up-and-Comers” list, which highlights schools with “the most promising and innovative changes.” More details


The NC Stage Company Introduces Acting Intensives for Adults and Youth
North Carolina Stage Company is excited to announce their new Acting Intensive classes beginning in September 2010. Designed for actors interested in pursuing an serious study of acting, classes will run on a semester schedule and provide Asheville actors with conservatory-style workshops and professional training. More details


Brevard College Receives Leon Levine Foundation Scholarship for Appalachian Women
Brevard College recently received a gift from the Leon Levine Foundation to provide scholarship opportunities for Appalachian women with financial need. The $5,000 gift will be used to help qualified women from Appalachia attend and graduate from Brevard College. More details


The Grove Park Inn Presents Labor Day Beach Music Weekend 2010, September 3 - 6
The beach comes to the mountains on Labor Day Weekend as the resort presents two nights and days of Beach Music dances and summer fun! Activities include shag dance lessons, a grilling demo, pool games, crafts, a guided culinary tour, fun with the balloon fairy and face painters, live music throughout the resort, a Coastal Seafood Buffet, and much more! More details


The Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival Offers Fun for the Whole Family on September 5
Join in for the annual FREE end-of-summer celebration of Asheville's artistic and musical communities. LAAFF is entering its 9th year of filling three blocks of N. Lexington Ave in downtown with all local art, food, beer, music, street performers, and random acts of creativity. More details


The North Carolina Stage Company Announces their 2010-2011 Mainstage Season
NCSC's 9th season is more ambitious than ever, and features several plays they’ve wanted to produce for a long time. Plus, to keep pace with demand, they are adding performances and beginning a Theatre Renovation Campaign to upgrade and expand the seating. More details


The WNC Nature Center is Now Taking Reservations for the "September Overnight Delight"
Join the WNC Nature Center’s education department for an evening of fun, food, and folly as you camp all night under the stars. Arrive at 6:00 p.m. to set up your tent by the log cabin and get settled in. More details


Asheville Humane Society Launches New Logo
Asheville Humane Society introduces its new logo, providing a contemporary look and a fresh start to accompany the much anticipated opening of the new Animal Care Campus scheduled for early fall. The American Advertising Federation (AAF) Asheville, a trade association of more than 70 experienced marketing, public relations, and design professionals, developed the Asheville Humane Society’s new logo as their first community outreach project. 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


Asheville Police Department's Computer Crimes Unit Cracks Cyber Cases
To keep kids safe, police are doing more than community policing and patrolling streets. Detectives in the Asheville Police Department also patrol the high-tech corridors of online communication. More details


Bus Route 52 Serving UNCA Now Has Extended Hours
Asheville Transit’s evening routes serving UNC-Asheville will be consolidated beginning Thursday, August 19. Until further notice, Route 52 will provide evening Transit Service to UNC-Asheville as listed in the attached schedule. More details


Flat Rock Playhouse Presents "The 39 Steps" Through September 12
Broadway’s longest-running comedy thriller! Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python, and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! More details


Watch for Children at Bus Stops!
Buncombe County and Asheville City school buses are back on the road. Motorists need to be extra cautious about children standing at bus stops in the mornings. More details


Tickets Now on Sale for the 5th Annual TROT!
Join your friends and neighbors for the fifth annual benefit in aid of TROT, our therapeutic horseback riding program for special needs adults and children. You'll enjoy an entertaining program of equestrian skill under our covered Ring C at the Equestrian Center, including a spectacular Parade Of The Breeds with horses in all sizes, from minis to drafts. More details

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Moogfest 2010 Announces Full Lineup, Schedule, and Ticket Info!
Moogfest, the annual event honoring the remarkable vision of Robert Moog and his amazing musical inventions that changed the course of music, is reinventing itself. This year, moogfest 2010 will move from New York City to Asheville, NC – the place Bob Moog called home for the last 30 years of his life, and will expand to a 3-day, multi-venue event during the weekend of October 29 -31, 2010. More details


Biltmore's Flower Carpet Event Continues Through September 12
Jewel-tone colors of stained glass are the inspiration for this year’s Flower Carpet event at Biltmore now on display through September 12, on the South Terrace of Biltmore House. Biltmore’s third annual Flower Carpet – made up of more than 100,000 plants – takes its shape and color from a set of 1880s stained glass windows created by innovative artist and interior designer John La Farge. More details


The Fall Celebration of Arts is Now Accepting Applications, Deadline on Friday
The Fall Celebration of Arts is a juried competition/invitational exhibit showcasing the fine arts and crafts of this region. The competition is open to all artists, including traditional and contemporary craftsmen living in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, McDowell, Yancey, Madison, Burke, Caldwell, and Buncombe Counties in North Carolina and Washington and Carter County, Tennessee. More details


City of Asheville Accepting Bids for Installation of New and Retrofit Lighting
In an effort to reduce energy consumption and associated costs, the city of Asheville will replace and retrofit lighting throughout City Hall. The city is now accepting sealed bids for installation only of lighting and controls for the project. More details


Sandburg Home Friends Announce Hobo Ball, Tickets on Sale Now!
The Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara will host their third Hobo Ball featuring dinner, entertainment and an auction to benefit Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site on Saturday, September 11, 2010, at the Kenmure Country Club in Flat Rock, NC. The Hobo Ball, the Friends biggest fundraiser, is a festive and casual evening of the early autumn season. More details


It's Still Hurricane Season - Make Sure You're Prepared
The start of hurricane season has been relatively calm so far. However, the American Red Cross reminds you that the need to be prepared remains. 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


The City of Asheville Takes Stock of Water Supplies in Dry Weather Despite the recent spell of dry, hot weather throughout the state, the City of Asheville’s water supply remains in good shape and is able to meet the demands of water customers, reports Water Services Director Steve Shoaf. The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council has issued a drought advisory for the state of North Carolina, and classified Asheville and its surrounding region as “abnormally dry.” 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


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


Cleaning the Streets Means Cleaner Rivers
The roving fleet of street sweepers that operates on a daily basis in the City of Asheville does more than just make for nicer looking roadways. The sweepers also pick up and collect dirt, particles and leaves that could otherwise clog the city’s storm water drains or flow into local waterways. More details


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


Help Out by Donating Paper Towels to the Asheville Humane Society
The Asheville Humane Society needs paper towels! No - they're not using them just to clean up after messy lunches, they're using them to keep the environment at the shelter clean and safe for the animals. 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


The Brew-Hoppers Guide to Asheville
Most people aren't aware that Asheville is the brewing capital of the Southeast. In fact, on just about any day of the year, one can select from about 50 locally brewed craft beers. More details


Biltmore Announces 14th Annual Concert Series
A mix of Grammy-winning artists, “American Idol” favorites and contemporary Christian artists highlight Biltmore’s annual concert series, which grows from a summertime event to one stretching from June to October this year. Grammy Award winners include Mary Chapin Carpenter and Kathy Mattea, who return to Biltmore, and well-known artists Steve Miller Band and The Legendary Temptations. More details

The Legacy Continues: SHCG New Members Exhibition at the Folk Art Center Main Gallery
Becoming a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild is no easy task. The first criteria for membership is living in one of the mountain counties of the Southern Appalachians.More details

Feeding Bodies and Warming Hearts: Providing Safe, Nutritious Meals to Home-bound Seniors
Meals on Wheels of Asheville and Buncombe County, Inc. delivers hot and cold nutritious meals to 550 homebound seniors five days a week throughout the area. Each weekday, volunteers load up picnic coolers and deliver food and drink to clients on each of the 38 routes. 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

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

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

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