Buncombe County Schools name top principal

Marcia Perry, principal of Haw Creek Elementary School and recently voted the new “Principal of the Year” for Buncombe County Schools by her peers. Perry served as assistant principal at Sand Hill-Venable for one year and principal of Woodfin Elementary for two years before coming to Haw Creek three years ago. She also taught for 12 years in Haywood County, and served as an assistant principal there, before joining Buncombe County Schools.

This week at NBHS

Monday
5 pm - Boys' junior varsity soccer vs. Asheville High School
7 pm - Boys' varsity soccer vs. Asheville High School
TBA - Girls' varsity golf @ NCHSAA Regional

Tuesday
TBA - Varsity volleyball @ NCHSAA playoffs - Second round

Wednesday
5 pm - Boys' junior varsity soccer @ A C Reynolds High School
7 pm - Boys' varsity soccer @ A C Reynolds High School

Thursday
7 pm - Junior varsity football vs. Asheville High School

Friday
7:30 pm - Varsity football @ Asheville High School

Saturday
TBA - Coed varsity cross country @ NCHSAA Regional @ Jackson Park

Flu shots at Biltmore Square Mall

Release from Buncombe County...

The Buncombe County Department of Health will have its community Flu Vaccine Clinic this Friday and Saturday.

Biltmore Square Mall
October 22 & 23
9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Flu shots will be available for anyone age 6 months and above. Flu mist will be available for anyone age 2 - 49.

Cost of flu vaccines will be $25 for the shot and $31 for Flu Mist. Vaccines may be paid for by cash, check, MasterCard, VISA or most major insurance companies. Insurance cards must be presented before a vaccine is received. Children who are not covered by health insurance may be eligible for a flu vaccine at no charge.

While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it's especially important that people in the following groups be vaccinated.
* Pregnant women
* Children younger than 5 years
* Those who are 65 years of age and older
* People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
* Those who are morbidly obese
* Anyone who lives in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
* Anyone who lives with or cares for those at high risk for complications from flu
* Household contacts and caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated).

For more information about the flu vaccine for 2010 check www.buncombecounty.org/flu; www.cdc.gov/flu; or www.flu.gov.

BlackHawk Band updates

The North Buncombe BlackHawk Band had another impressive showing at the Tournament of Champions event at Western Carolina University with an overall sixth place finish. Read more about the band's recent achievements as well as upcoming information on the Perko Classic and other events on their Web site.

This week at NBHS

Tuesday
TBA - Coed varsity cross country @ MAC Championship @ Erwin
TBA - Varsity volleyball @ MAC Tournaments @ Enka

Wednesday
5 pm - Boys' junior varsity soccer @ Clyde A Erwin High School
7 pm - Boys' varsity soccer @ Clyde A Erwin High School

Thursday
7 pm - Junior varsity football @ Clyde A Erwin High School

Friday
7:30 pm - Varsity football vs. Clyde A Erwin High School
TBA - Girls' varsity tennis @ NCHSAA Regionals

Saturday
TBA - Girls' varsity tennis @ NCHSAA Regionals
TBA - Varsity volleyball vs. 1st round of state playoffs

Progress of Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

Release from Heath Shuler's office mentions work of Woodfin Police Department...

Congressman Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) and law enforcement officials from throughout Western North Carolina announced the progress of an ongoing effort to identify, arrest, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children online or in person. 

 

In May, the Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force began Operation Western Shield, a cooperative effort by law enforcement agencies in Western North Carolina to identify, apprehend and bring to prosecution individuals who exploit children.    Operation Western Shield has to-date arrested 25 predators in Polk, Macon, Haywood, Buncombe, Transylvania, Swain and Cherokee Counties.  Just this week, law enforcement officials issued ten search warrants and conducted six knock and talks in efforts to protect children and bring those who would hurt them to justice.

 

“As a parent, I am shocked by the statistics about children being sexually solicited and victimized.  As a legislator, I am honored to be able to help our local law enforcement agents get the resources necessary to keep our kids safe and secure,” said Rep. Shuler who fought for and secured $210,000 for this initiative in 2009.  

 

A study conducted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found that one in every five girls will be sexually victimized before they reach age 18.  Only one third of those will tell someone.  One in every seven children who regularly use the internet will receive some sort of sexual solicitation.  One in three are unintentionally exposed to sexual content online. 

 

The Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force combines the efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.  State and national agencies participating in Operation Western Shield include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

 

Locally, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Spruce Pine Police Department and the Black Mountain Police Department , Asheville Police Department, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Hendersonville Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Swain County Sheriff’s Office, Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, Waynesville Police Department, Yancey County Sheriff’s Office, Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, and Woodfin Police Department all participate in this important initiative to protect the children of Western North Carolina.

More pics from Cops for Kids Bike Run

This week at NBHS

Tuesday
Noon - Girls' varsity tennis @ MAC @ North Buncombe
5 pm - Junior varsity volleyball @ Clyde A Erwin High School
6 pm - Varsity volleyball @ Clyde A Erwin High School

Wednesday
5 pm - Boys' junior varsity soccer vs. T C Roberson High School
5 pm - Junior varsity volleyball @ East Henderson High School
6 pm - Varsity volleyball @ East Henderson High School
7 pm - Boys' varsity soccer vs. T C Roberson High School
TBA - Coed varsity cross country @ United Way Meet @ Newton

Thursday
3:30 pm - Girls' varsity golf @ Linville Falls
5 pm - Junior varsity volleyball vs. Asheville High School
6 pm - Varsity volleyball vs. Asheville High School

10 year anniversary of Equinox Environmental

Happy Birthday release from Asheville-based Equinox Environmental...

While we could have easily let this achievement come and go with the consistently bad economic news, we thought it was more important than ever to let people know that not all the news is gloom and doom. “This milestone is a testament to the quality of work produced by the people I work with here at Equinox", said Andy Brown President of Equinox Environmental. For our celebration we quantified our accomplishments since we started the firm back in 2000. The results which are mapped on Equinox Environmental’s updated website shows just how far the firm has come over the past 10 years.

We actually started in a recession as company of four with a vision to create a well respected conservation and sustainable development firm that provides high quality environmental design, conservation planning, and ecological services. In the first few years we had tough times and things didn’t seem to be moving in the direction we wanted. We even considered changing our “green” vision of the firm but made a conscious decision to remain true to our passion. It turns out this was the right decision. “We were green before it became trendy, so we’ve had an opportunity to develop our skills and abilities through experience and, with that, our reputation” said Brown. Now we are a staff of twelve and on the verge of busting out and making huge advances as a firm.

We feel we have built an excellent reputation in the mountains of western North Carolina and we have our sights on the rest of the southeast and the even the national scene. We have had some extraordinary projects over the last few years which are getting noticed such as the award winning Muddy Creek Partnership and the award winning conservation based development Drovers Road Preserve. Just this past year, we worked on the high profile Dillsboro Shoreline Restoration which saw the removal of the Dillsboro Dam and the restoration of the banks of the Tuckaseegee River. We just completed an 18 mile greenway feasibility study for Buncombe County that will connect Azalea Park in Asheville with Black Mountain and currently consulting on a 15 mile greenway study from Asheville, through the Town of Woodfin to the Madison County line. We also have some exciting things in the works with the federal government and if they break, it will take us to California.

These are just a few projects that have helped Equinox reach the 10 year mark. “We have accomplished a lot over our past 10 years and we have a lot to be proud, said Brown. “I could think of no better reason to celebrate”. “Keep an eye out for us; we see big things for Equinox over the next 10 years”.

Meeting on Big Ivy future

Release from the Big Ivy Community Center...

The whole community is invited to join a discussion of the future of Big Ivy on October 11 at BICC at 7 pm. This is part of an ongoing process of developing a vision and goals for BI.

History
Two years ago at a community club meeting it was raised that the county was growing and changing rapidly. BI seemed to be one of the last quiet corners of Buncombe County but is not likely to stay that way. Some people thought that we would be wise to look forward and develop a vision and goals so that we might influence the county commissioners and development. Volunteers, about eight of us, met once a month and found common ground in wanting to preserve farmland and local heritage. A year later we formed the Big Ivy Rural Preservation Society and the group became a Steering Committee of 35 representing local churches, businesses, large landowners, and other organizations including the Historical Society, BI Tailgate Market, Sustainable BI, and others. Blue Ridge Blueprints (Julie Mayfield from the Western North Carolina Alliance and Chris Joyell from the Asheville Design Center) volunteered to help us define our vision, goals, assets, and challenges. They have provided experience in this process as well as connections to other agencies that may influence the outcome of our work, for example, Land of Sky Regional Council, U.S. Forest Service, and County Commissioners. Most importantly, their goal is to help us get as many people in our community involved in creating OUR view of the future.

At our June 6 community meeting we spent most of a Saturday getting everyone's detailed ideas out and recorded. The six pages are too much to reproduce here but this is a summary.

Vision
Big Ivy is a self-sufficient, economically diverse, and agriculturally productive community that maintains its rural heritage and character and whose members promote and protect Big Ivy’s pristine natural environment.

Community Goals
1. Preserve farmland by making farming more profitable and productive
2. Increase Economic Diversity & Services
3. Preserve and Enhance Recreation Opportunities
4. Preserve Community & Heritage
5. Promote Self Sufficiency

This week at NBHS

Tuesday
4 pm - Girls' varsity tennis vs. Asheville High School
5 pm - Junior varsity volleyball vs. T C Roberson High School
6 pm - Varsity volleyball vs. T C Roberson High School

Wednesday
4 pm - Girls' varsity tennis @ Erwin
5 pm - Boys' junior varsity soccer vs. Enka High School
7 pm - Boys' varsity soccer vs. Enka High School (a win moves the BlackHawks into first place)

Thursday
3:30 pm - Girls' varsity golf vs. Reems Creek
4 pm - Girls' varsity tennis @ A C Reynolds High School
5 pm - Junior varsity volleyball @ Asheville Christian Acad.-Swannanoa
6 pm - Varsity volleyball @ Asheville Christian Acad.-Swannanoa
7 pm - Junior varsity football vs. T C Roberson High School

Friday
7:30 pm - Varsity football @ T C Roberson High School

Schedule change

Here's a change in schedule from an audition press release for the Montford Park Players that was published in this week's edition of the Tribune

Due to a scheduling conflict, Christmas Carol auditions will be held as follows:

Saturday, Oct. 9, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 1 Jersey St, Asheville NC 28801 (park in the actors' parking lot);
Wednesday, Oct. 13, from 5:30 to 9:00 pm at the Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Drive, Asheville 28801.

Please bring headshot and resume if you have them; if not, that's OK. Actors will read from the script and will have time to prepare.
For more information call 254-5146 or email info@montfordparkplayers.org.

Meeting with Duncan in Big Ivy

Meet Sheriff Van Duncan on Saturday from 9-10 am at the Big Ivy Community Center. This is a meet and greet to have a chance to ask questions and chance for supporters to affirm the good works that his office has done in providing for our community.
Coffee, ham biscuits will be available.
This meeting is sponsored by and paid for by the supporters of Sheriff Van Duncan.

Raffle for swim team at homecoming game

North Buncombe High School Swim Team is drawing four goodie-basket winners at our homecoming football game.

Support the swim team and have a chance to win one of four baskets all valued at over $439 each.

Tickets are $3 each or two tickets for $5. Ask any swim team member for a ticket or contact me and I'll make sure you have your chance at free dinners, manicures, paddling trip, massage, etc...

Alexander resident to host special movie screening

Release from Joshua P. Warren's Haunted Asheville...

For perhaps the first time since 1921, Asheville's first motion picture, Conquest of Canaan, will hit the big screen for one, free showing. The movie will be projected at Pack's Tavern, at 20 South Spruce Street beside City-County Plaza, where much of the silent feature was shot, 7pm on Tuesday, October 12, 2010. The rare film was lost for decades until late Asheville broadcaster Bill Banner tracked it down in Russia. His friend, Haunted Asheville author Joshua P. Warren, will introduce the movie, in person, to explain the strange journey taken by 3 reels of 35mm film. He will be joined by Asheville historian Vance Pollock, who has worked with Warren to compare Asheville then to Asheville now, complete with new information about the legendary tunnels beneath the city. Photos taken by filmmaker C. Eric Scott will also be on display, demonstrating how the town has evolved.

"It's hard to believe Thomas Wolfe was just 21 years old when this was shot," says Warren, who has worked on this project for years. "The Asheville he wrote about in Look Homeward Angel is the Asheville you'll see in this movie. It will be a fun, free time to look back. I also have some other surprises planned, so we'll probably screen about one hour of good stuff that night."

Being the Halloween season, after the showing, Warren also plans to take 20 paid guests into the Old City Jail and Gallows behind Pack's Tavern for a ghost hunt. That'll be first come, first serve, but tickets can be bought in advance at www.HauntedAsheville.com.

The author of a dozen books, Warren has appeared on the National Geographic Channel, Discovery, History Channel, Travel Channel, TLC, SyFy, and Animal Planet. He also frequently hosts, and appears on late-night radio programs like "Speaking of Strange" and "Coast to Coast AM." He's a native of Asheville, and produces the oldest & original ghost tours in town.

For more information, visit www.HauntedAsheville.com and www.PacksTavern.com