This Week in the Swannanoa Valley

Stuff pillows with the local Linus Project

The Linus Project makes quilts and other knit items for children and adults at Mission Hospital and in the community.

Focusing on quilts given to local children in crisis, it also pins quilts, sorts donated fabric, stuffs pillows and does more, all for others who are in need.

Everyone is invited to participate (no experience is necessary, nor is there a charge).

The group will meet next from 1-3 p.m. Friday, April 22 on the lower level of the Lakeview Center at Lake Tomahawk in Black Mountain. It will be cutting and stuffing pillows as well as pinning quilts.

Fabric has been donated, and experienced quilters are available to teach and help out.

A sewing machine is not needed. However, projects can be taken home to be finished. Call Sara Hill at 664-0974 for more.

Ten Thousand Villages to support Earth Day

Ten Thousand Villages in Montreat will donate 15 percent of all sales from noon-6 p.m. Friday, April 22 to Asheville Greenworks in celebration of Earth Day 2016. Established in 1973, Asheville Greenworks is an urban environmental conservation organization working to enhance the community through educational- and volunteer- based environmental programs that include tree plantings, urban agriculture, environmental cleanups and anti-litter and waste reduction education.

Customers will receive a free “green “ gift with purchase on April 22; refreshments will be provided. Ten Thousand Villages is at 303 Lookout Road.

Library book sale is coming up, seeks volunteers

The Friends of Black Mountain Library Books Sale is Friday-Saturday, April 29-30. April 29 is a preview night for Friends of the Library members only; however, if you are not member you can join for $15 at the door from 4-7 p.m.

Sale hours April 30 are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Books will be accepted Saturday, April 23 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Black Mountain Library Education Room in the rear of the library.

For more and to ask about volunteering, call Lori at 357-8476.

Prostate cancer support group reconvenes

Us TOO of WNC: a prostate cancer support forum for men, caregivers and family members will meet Tuesday, May 3 at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St., Asheville. This month Dr. James Hall, a local psychologist, will speak. There is no fee to attend. For more, call 828-273-7698 or wncprostate@gmail.com.

Free yoga on Saturdays held on town square

The Yoga Service Movement, a local nonprofit organization making the practices of yoga and

meditation more accessible, will host an event called “Yoga On The Square” every Saturday

from Saturday, May 7 through Sept. 24 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. This is an all-levels yoga class held on the green next to the splash pad at Town Square in Black Mountain. Class instruction will be by Danielle Rottenberg, Allison McLeod or other local teachers. Mats will be available for this free event. The schedule and rain cancellations will be posted the Yoga Service Movement’s Facebook page. See theyogaservicemovement.org for more.

Marion church to hold youth rally

Zion Hill Baptist Church in Marion is holding its annual youth rally this year on Friday-Saturday, April 29-30 at the church, 1036 Zion Hill Road. Billed as “an old fashioned youth meeting,” the rally begins Friday night, reconvenes Saturday morning and continues Saturday night. For more, contact the church at 828-738-0992 or ZionHillBC.org.

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day recognized locally

Participate in World Tai Chi and Qigong Day from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 30 on the lawn outside Dobra Tea, 120 Broadway Ave., Black Mountain. There will be information about the practices and demonstrations of various forms of these ancient exercises. Learn about classes in the area and connect with local practitioners. For more, contact Dr. Neill Payne at 664-0004 or familychiro@bellsouth.net.

Robin Bullock tickets on sale now

Tickets are available for the third annual Robin Bullock “Homecoming” concert at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Located at 225 W. State Street, the arts center offers wonderful acoustics to hear Bullock who has been called “the Celtic guitar god.” Tickets are $20 plus tax. Advance reservations are recommended. For tickets and more, call 669-0930 or go to BlackMountainArts.org.

Thomas Chapel holds rummage and fish sandwich sale

The Down Home Cooking and Rummage Sale at Thomas Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Black Mountain will be Saturday, April 30. The sale starts at 7 a.m. and the cooking - the church’s hot dogs and famous fish sandwiches, starts at 10 a.m. The church is at 124 W. College St. Call 669-2221 for local delivery.

Montessori school will explain its math experience

“You, Math, Wine & Cheese” is the name of the parent education night exploring Montessori math at Swannanoa Valley Montessori School, 130 Center Ave., Black Mountain. Childcare is available (an RSVP is appreciated) for the 6 p.m. Thursday, April 28 event. Teachers will trace the sequential journey of a child’s exploration of math from the earliest concrete lessons to advanced abstraction in the later years. They will thread together the Montessori math experience from preschool through elementary school to show parents how materials build upon each other and provide layers of concepts as the brain develops.

Poet and creator lead Artist’s Way workshop

Anna Ferguson and James Navé will lead a day-long exploration of creativity with “The Artist’s Way” Creativity Camp at Black Mountain Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuition is $125 with a limit of 30 participants. Register by calling 919-949-2113 or visiting imaginativestorm.com. The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is at 225 W. State Street.

A poet, storyteller and arts entrepreneur, Navé is director of the Taos Storytelling Festival, The LEAF Poetry Slam and an organizing member of TEDx New York Salons. Ferguson has been a creativity facilitator and teacher for more than 20 years.

Sailboat regatta to zip through Lake Tomahawk

The Black Mountain Yacht Club will open the 2016 season at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30 on Lake Tomahawk in Black Mountain. The public is invited to come and experience the sport of radio-controlled sailboat racing. For more, contact David Groce at inkodomday@yahoo.com.

New pairing is victorious at bridge

The Max Woodcock bridge club on April 19 had a another new pairing that exhibited strong play and came in first. George Ackerman and Wookie Payne won in a close match playing a Howell rotation. They had a 56-percent game. Just behind them were Ed Zawaki and Elizabeth Lovejoy at 55 percent. Third place was claimed by longtime members Phyllis Green and Dot Kaylor at 53 percenty. The players in the club are well matched, and many weeks the results turn on just one well-played hand.

Walk/Bike to School Day is May 4

Black Mountain Primary School and Black Mountain Elementary School are participating in Walk/Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 4. Join children and adults around the world to celebrate the benefits of walking and bicycling. Check in at the Black Mountain Baptist Church parking lot, or behind the Flat Creek Trailhead (behind the primary school) between 7:15 and 7:45 a.m. Organizers will have prizes for the student participants. After the walk, join everyone for coffee provided by Dynamite Coffee at the Flat Creek Greenway Trailhead. Interested in volunteering the day of the event? Contact Jill Edwards at 669-2052.

‘Stand Against Racism’ event is May 1

Noted singer and songwriters Kat Williams and David LaMotte headline this year’s Black Mountain Stand Against Racism event. To be held at White Horse Black Mountain from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 1, the event will also feature the Rev. Hilario Cisneros, rector at La Capilla de Santa Maria in Hendersonville, and Buncombe County Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger, who pioneered the online posting of slave ownership records in coordination with the Center for Diversity Education at UNC Asheville.

Williams plans to tell the story of her encounters with racism through both word and song. Tickets are $10 ($8 for students under age 21) and available at whitehorseblack

mountain.com or from any member of the Black Mountain Stand Against Racism group.