Events this week around the Swannanoa Valley

Who dat? Louisiana lovers to meet in Swannanoa

Attention, all Louisianians living in the Swannanoa Valley. It’s time for your third annual Spring Get Together.

This year it will be held at the Swannanoa Valley Friends Meeting House, 137 Center Ave., Black Mountain (just one block south of State Street). The date is May 30; the time is 1 p.m. Organizers have lined up this lovely indoor-outdoor setting and invited people to bring lawn chairs to enjoy sitting outside.

Once again this year, a Louisiana seafood dish will be served, along with Barq’s root beer and café au lait. The cost is $12 per person, and checks may be sent by May 21 to Kathryn Hilliard, 118 Brookside Ave., Black Mountain, 28711. Attendees are asked to bring a Louisiana side dish or dessert to share. No alcohol is permitted.

Docents needed at the Swannanoa Valley Museum

Volunteering as a museum docent at the Swannanoa Valley Museum is a great way to learn about local history, meet people and give back to the community. Volunteers enjoy all the benefits of museum membership and earn rewards redeemable for programs and gift shop merchandise.

Docents greet visitors, introduce the history of the Valley to visitors, track attendance, interpret exhibits, sell gift shop merchandise and open and close the museum daily. Docent shifts run from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 1:30-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Each new docent receives on-the-job training their first day of service. For more or to sign up, email volunteer@swannanoavalley

museum.org or call 669-9566.

Celebrate Recovery celebrates its 10th year of 12-step work

May is a very special month at Celebrate Recovery. Come celebrate its 10th anniversary at 6:15 p.m. May 19 with worship, praise, a supper and small groups starting at 6:15 p.m. Celebrate Recovery meets 6:15-9 p.m. every Tuesday at Mountain View Church, 2221 North Fork, Right Fork Road, Black Mountain. Dinner and childcare are free, and there is worship, music, open share and 12-step study groups. For more, call Connie at 669-1981.

New show to open at Red House by Monte Vista Hotel

“Americana,” the new show by the Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League, opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. June 5. SVFAL shows at the Red House next to the Monte Vista Hotel rotate every two months, and artists exhibit as well in the hotel. Founded in 1967, SVFAL is one of the oldest art organizations in the area. Red House Studios and Gallery opened in late 2012. The show runs through the beginning of August. Red House hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.

“Steel Magnolias” tix are available at BM Center for the Arts

Tickets are still available for the Black Mountain Center for the Arts’ production of “Steel Magnolias” by Robert Harling, directed by Stuart Williams. The performances will be in the center’s Front Porch Theater.

“Steel Magnolias” performances will be at 7:30 p.m. May 15 and 16 and 3 p.m. May 17. Tickets are $15 plus tax and can be purchased by calling the arts center at 669-0930. The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is at 225 W. State St.

Gospel singing held at Hand in Hand to help students

Hand in Hand will sponsor a gospel singing Saturday May 30 at Grovestone Baptist Church, starting at 6:30 p.m. Participants include the Bud Lewis Family, Buckeye Singers, Olivia Long, Tony Lominac Family and others. There is no admission fee, but an offering will be taken to assist Hand in Hand in our efforts to help meet the needs of students in the Owen District.

Calling all knitters, part 1

The local chapter of Project Linus, a national non-profit organization which donates handmade blankets to children in crisis, is seeking volunteers to create blankets. The new “blanketeers” can contribute knitted, crocheted, quilted, no-sew fleece or flannel blankets. The chapter has distributed 50,000 blankets during the past 14 years, and there is still a need for additional blankets. If interested contact, Ellen Knoefel, chapter coordinator, at 645-8800.

Calling all knitters, part 2

The WNC Knitters & Crocheters for Others will be meeting from 1-3 p.m. May 21 (and the third Thursday of every month, except December) at Givens Highland Farms, Building G-H on Brookside Avenue in the Birch Room, (formerly the Upper Core Room 1), upstairs.

All knitters and crocheters are welcome. The group makes items for single mothers; homeless shelters; ill, abused or traumatized children; victims of domestic violence; and newborns at Mission Hospital. It welcomes acrylic yarn or new Teddy Bear donations. For more, call Betsy Stobbs at 669-0680.

Red Cross holds blood drive

The American Red Cross asks eligible donors to help ensure blood is available for patients in need by giving blood in May before the busy summer season kicks in.

Blood and platelet donations often decrease when regular donors are vacationing and school is out of session, but the need for blood is constant. Donors of all blood types – especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative – are needed to help ensure blood is available for patients this spring.

The next blood drive in Black Mountain will be 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. May 28 at Black Mountain Fire Department, 106 Montreat Road.

Swannanoa church holds annual pancake supper

The United Methodist Women of Swannanoa United Methodist Church will hold their annual Pancake Supper from 5-7 p.m. May 17. The cost is $5 for all you can eat. Other menu items will be provided. Proceeds will finance several mission projects in the Swannanoa Valley. The red brick church is at 216 Whitson Ave., two blocks south of Tunnel Road. Parking is available behind the church.

African children to sing at Swannanoa church

Mwangaza Children’s Choir from Uganda, Africa will be at First Baptist Church Swannanoa, at 503 Park St., at the 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. worship services on May 31. This will be a Sunday morning of exciting dances, great voices and moving testimonies. These talented children will bring a message of hope and salvation by presenting a program centered around the message of “breaking free from sin.” For more call 686-5123. A love offering will be received for the African children.

New clay classes at BMCA

A new six-week clay class is about to begin at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts Clay Studio. Participants will have ample supervised open studio time to work on their pottery at their own paces. Classes are available for all levels, from beginner to advanced. Gift certificates are available.

Two-hour adult clay classes are offered in six-week sessions starting May 25-June 29. Beginner’s are welcome Monday and Tuesday. The fee is $135 for six weeks, which includes open studio practice times; an additional $50 lab fee that covers 25 pounds of clay, glazing and firing. Spring session teachers are Charles Freeland and Mathilda Tanner. Geoff Bird teaches on Thursdays.

The Clay Studio is located in the renovated City Garage adjacent to the rear of the arts center and easily reached from its back parking lot where handicapped spaces are available. For more, call 669-0930 or visit www.BlackMountainArts.org.

Tina Barr to present at BMCA

Poet Tina Barr will present “The Watercolor on the Wall” at a free Brown Bag and Books Lunchtime event at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts from noon-1 p.m. May 22. Bring a lunch and learn how a chance encounter in the BMCA Upper Gallery led Tina to the cover of her latest book, “Kaleidoscope.” Barr will talk about the process of developing the book’s cover, read poems that reflect its themes, and sign books. The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is at 225 W. State St and 669-0930.

Why does the Caged Bird sing?

The Community Book Club, sponsored by the Montreat College Friends of the Library, will meet at 3 p.m. May 26 in the Montreat College Library on Lookout Road in Montreat. The book to be discussed is “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”by Maya Angelou. Margo Smith will lead the book discussion.All interested readers are welcome to attend. For more, call 357-5171.

Recycle those used plant containers at garden show

Rainbow Recycling is hosting its free plastic flower pot recycling-reuse collection at the Black Mountain Garden Show from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. May 16 at the Monte Vista Hotel. Accepting plastic pots, trays, markers (intact or broken), but no clay, wood or metal items. Shake, tap or rinse to remove most dirt and please bag the containers. Donations will be accepted for fuel expense in this community service effort. Items available for reuse, “as is”, on first-come, first-serve basis. Rainbow Recycling can be reached at 669-5459, info@rainbowrecycling.org.

Bridge players finish in place

The Max Woodcock Bridge match on May 5 was played with five tables and 20 players, resulting in strong wins in both the North South and East West directions. Coming in first NW was Helen Kraus and John Gilbert, with Elizabeth Lovejoy and Barbara Lilenfeld in second place. EW saw Roger Fenna and David Hirch in first; with Eleanor Landers and Ed Zawaki in second. The group plays every Tuesday starting at 6:30 p.m. Contact contact Walt Tolley at 669-4563 to join in.

Inn supports Black Mountain volunteer firefighters

During the month of May, the Red Rocker Inn is offering its popular Hummingbird Cake as its dessert of the month. The inn will donate half the cost of each serving sold to the Black Mountain Volunteer Firefighters Association. Hummingbird Cake is a traditional Southern favorite laden with pineapple, bananas, cinnamon, and pecans and spread with cream cheese icing. The Red Rocker Inn is at 136 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain, 669-5991.

Givens Highland Farms and Givens Estates looking to hire

Givens Highland Farms and Givens Estates will be holding a mini-job fair from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 21 at Swannanoa First Baptist Church, 503 Park St., Swannanoa. Managers will be on site to meet applicants, interview and hire. Immediate vacancies that need filling include assistant maintenance director, grounds, housekeeping, dining wait staff and dietary aide, cooks, nursing positions include RN, CNAs, CNA/Med-tech for home care.

Photographer John Smith sets gallery ablaze May 15

Photographer John Smith and his work will be featured at Seven Sisters Gallery in Black Mountain during his exhibition’s opening reception 5-7 p.m. May 15. Smith, from Hendersonville, patiently waits for the right moment to capture local nature shots that he develops on a large scale at his in-home studio. The exhibit runs through Aug. 2. Wine and cheese will be provided at the opening reception.

The event, part of the Home’s Hope & A Future Campaign, will pay tribute to area veterans, including several who grew up at the children’s home.To learn more about the ministry, visit BlackMountainHome.org or call 686-3451.

Stream cleanup you can take to the bank

The Town of Black Mountain is teaming up with RiverLink and volunteers from the community at 9 a.m. May 16 for a stream cleanup. The event will focus on two specific areas of the Swannanoa River. Volunteers will pick up debris behind the baseball fields at Rec Park as well as behind the BiLo on N.C. 9.

Show up at 9 a.m. May 16 at the park to participate.