Aug. 29 This Week in the Swannanoa Valley

Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry needs 

A current list of needs at the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry: Fitted sheets (king, queen, and twin in particular), towels, pillows, toilet paper, jelly, pancake syrup, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shampoo. Monetary donations designated to food are also welcome (send to P.O.  Box 235).

Drop off items at 101 North Ridgeway Avenue, Black Mountain.

Celebrate Recovery meetings

Are you or someone you know struggling with anger, codependency, eating disorder, love & relationship addiction, abuse, alcohol, drug of other forms of addiction? Celebrate Recovery, which meets every Tuesday evening at Mountain View Church on 2221 North Fork-Right Fork, features inspiring teaching and testimonies of God’s healing power by our family in recovery.

Meetings begin at 6:15 p.m. with a free meal, before worship, testimony, or lessons begin at 7 p.m. Small groups take place at 8:00 p.m. for open share and 12-Step studies,before dessert is served at 9 p.m. Free child care is available. For more information contact Connie at 669-1981 or Jeanie at 669-4146.

Poker night at the VFW

VFW Post 9157 is hosting Wednesday night poker night. The weekly tournaments are open to the public, with the first one beginning at 7 p.m., followed by a 9 p.m. tournament. 

Dinner plates are available for $5. A $5 credit will be awarded to the winner of each tournament.

Free seminar for caregivers of people with dementia 

The Lakeview Center for Active Aging has partnered with the Western Carolina Chapter Alzheimer’s Association to conduct a series of free Caregiver Dementia Educational Seminars for those affected by Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. 

These seminars, which will be held from 11 - 11:45 a.m. on the first Monday of the month through November, are for caregivers or anyone wanting more information and resources. 

The Lakeview Center is located at 401 Laurel Circle Drive in Black Mountain.

For more information contact Melinda Polites  at melinda.polites@townofblackmountain.org or call 669-8610.

Last chance to see photo exhibit 

There is only one more week to see the wonderful exhibit featuring The Red House Photographers in the Upper Gallery at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts. The final day of the show is Friday, Aug. 30.

Seven talented photographers with diverse styles are represented. The work of Herb Way, David Hearne, Nancy Hoopes, Rhanna Nyman, Blair Waldick, Bruce Nelson and Dick Yarmy is featured.

The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is located at 225 West State Street. The Upper Gallery is free to the public and open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information call 669-0930 or visit blackmountainarts.org.

And coming up...

Registration open for Junior Appalachian Musicians 

The first of the Junior Appalachain Musicians (JAM) sessions begins at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4 with a parent meeting.

The JAM program offers group lessons for students in the third through ninth grades (or ages 8-14) teaching traditional mountain tunes on fiddle, banjo and guitar. Professional musicians guide the classes every Wednesday through demonstration, repetition and verbal instructions, and then divide students into smaller instrument groups.

The classes meet at the Arts Center every Wednesday from 3:30 - 5 p.m. and last for 15 weeks. Tuition is $150 and can be paid for in two installments. The Arts Center has some instruments available for rent. Homeschoolers are welcome and bus drop-off may be available.

JAM is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

BMCA hosts the Buncombe County JAM program which has sister programs in neighboring counties and offers musical activities and opportunity for additional growth throughout the year.

To register or for more information go to blackmountainarts.org or call 669-0930.

Adult tennis set to begin 

Lessons for beginning adult tennis players, and those wishing to return to the sport, will be offered by Black Mountain Tennis Association from Sept. 4 through Oct. 9 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, at the upper courts at Lake Tomahawk. 

To register go to trytennis.net. The $40 registration includes a new Head racket, t-shirt, and six lessons.

Composting workshop at the Community Garden

Join long-time composter and Master Gardener Intern, John Bowen, for a hands-on composting workshop, rain or shine, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7. The free presentation, which is sponsored by the Black Mountain Blooms Seed Lending Library and Buncombe County Extension Master Gardn Volunteers, will be held at the Dr. John Wilson Community Garden at 99 White Pine Drive. 

Participants will learn about cold- and hot-composting, ratios of green to brown, what can and cannot be composted, how to build a proper compost pile, trouble-shooting composting problems and so much more. This hour-long workshop will get you energized to start your own composting system at home.   

We welcome you to be part of our growing community. For any questions, contact Black Mountain Library 828-250-4756.

Black Mountain Library hosts Make Your Mark Mondays

The Black Mountain Library and The Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League will be hosting Make Your Mark Mondays. The series will be held on select Mondays this fall.

Join SVFAL artists in the Black Mountain Library Education Room as they demonstrate their medium. Participants will try their hand at the technique, and with the artist’s help, create a bookmark to take home.

The first program, set for 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, is Fiber Fun with Ruth Duckworth and Tina Kannapel. Participants will make a wet felted bookmark. Duckworth and Kannapel, both spinners and felters, are obsessed with anything fiber related. 

Space is limited and all supplies are provided. Register online on the Library Events calendar at buncombecounty.org/libraries, by calling the library at (828) 250-4756 or email blackmountain.library@buncombecounty.org.

Calling on crafters and yard sale managers

The Auxiliary of the Broad River Volunteer Fire Department will host a Fall Flea Market & Fair from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 44 Broad River VFD Rd., 28711. 

This will be a craft, yard and bake sale with a hot dog lunch, plus games and raffles for all ages. 

Tables may be reserved for $10 by calling Jeannette Stender at 828-329-3531.