Recommended for high school sophomores, juniors, and parents

Presentation will include:

· Learning College Admissions Basics
· Creating a College List
· Determining what you want from a college
· Getting Organized
· Finding the Right Resources

Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Location: MAHEC – 501 Biltmore Avenue, Classroom 1

Cost: FREE

Presenter: Jessica Browning, Full Potential College Planning

Click here for the registration form.

Fax registration form to (828)257-4768 or email to registration@mahec.net

For Questions: email: healthcareers@mahec.net or 828.257.4461

Registration will be accepted on first come – first served basis

What could that start?

We can start something Big!

On Thursday, August 26th, we kicked off an effort to begin the adventure of a lifetime for 60 young people in Buncombe County.  That night, 15 adults stepped up to become Bigs.  They have already put us 1/4 of the way to our goal!  If you have ever thought about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, now is the time.  Visit our Volunteer page to learn more.

There are lots of events on the horizon, and we want you to be a part of them all.  Save these dates for Big fun!

September 21: Big Brothers Big Sisters day at The Hop Ice Cream Cafe. 20% of all sales benefit us!

September 26: “It’s Big Time!” A Circus to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters at the JCC of Asheville

October 17: The Little Big Ride comes to town.

December 4: Buncombe County Holiday Party

For several weeks folks have been asking if I’m expecting a BIG Christmas.  I tell them all the same thing, “No, I’m not. I’m just hoping for a happy one.” Somehow I’m satisfied at Christmas time if the folks are all well and we can spend it together.

You see, along about this time every year I can’t help but remember one particular Christmas that I had many, many years ago.  That one came when I was twelve and it completely changed my outlook on every one since that date.

Those were the years of the Great Depression, and the hardships we knew during those years made an indelible impression on many a youngster, including me.  We were fortunate in that we lived on a big farm where we were able to raise an abundance of good substantial food.  This did get kinda coarse, now and then, but we never went hungry.  I guess our biggest problem back then was keeping clothes fit to wear amongst folks.

I reckon every youngan generally has one certain, particular thing which he’d most like to find under the tree on Christmas morning.  This particular Christmas I had my heart set on a pair of waterproof boots with a little pocket on the side for a knife.  I had even torn out of the catalog the page on which was shown a picture of a pair like I wanted.

And every afternoon on my way home from school I would pass a store that had a pair exactly like my dream boots in the window.  I am sure I wanted those boots more than anything I had ever heard of before.  And I never overlooked an opportunity to hand that tattered page from the catalog out of my pocket to discuss with Mama and Papa the wonderful merits of a pair of boots like they were.  When I’d ask them if they thought, maybe, I would get them, they would invariably say, “I hope so,” or “We’ll see.” I thought that I could never get their enthusiasm   to equal mine.  And it just seemed to me that I wanted those boots so badly that it would be criminal, almost, if I didn’t get them. Finally the great day arrived, and I’m sure I heard the first rooster crow that morning.  I made a beeline for the Christmas tree.  It took just a split second to realize there were no boots under the tree.

Mama and Papa had met me in there, and Mama had big tears rolling down her cheeks.  And Papa looked as if he, too, could have shed a tear without half trying.  My disappointment was enormous, but I’m sure it was nothing to compare with theirs.

Mama put her arms around me and cried so hard and Papa came over and patted me on the shoulder and said, “Son, we sure wanted to get you those boots, but we just couldn’t do it.” Then Mama tarried to explain about Evelyn not having any shoes, and about my having a pretty good pair of brogans.  Then she went on to tell me, trying to cheer me up, about Papa getting a sack of flour and some chocolate and she said, “I’m going to bake us one of the biggest and best chocolate cakes for dinner today that you ever saw, and we’re gonna have biscuits, too.”

But I really wasn’t interested in anything to eat and I didn’t hang around to see my little sister open the box that had her brand new shoes inside.  Nor was I interested in the new top or the little bitty sack of marbles with my name on them.  As soon as I milked the cows and fed the other stock, I called my dog and we headed for the woods.  Mama called and said, “Son, don’t be late for dinner.”

When I got back home, Mama told me to hurry and wash up so we could eat.  She also told me that Buddy Larkin was gonna eat Christmas dinner with us.  Buddy was the son of a neighbor who lived down the road a  piece.

We all got to our places, sat down, and bowed our heads and Papa prayed, “Lord I feel mighty humble today, and I want to thank you for all you have done for me.” Then Papa began listing many things that the Lord had done for us all.  Finally, he said, “And Lord I want to thank you for Mama here, and these children,  and ask you for one more favor – Will you please, Lord, help me find some way to get a pair of boots?”

Papa had a little more to talk to the Lord about, but I didn’t hear what it was.  I was sobbing.

When I had sat down and began listening to Papa’s prayer, I thought about little Buddy Larkin sitting beside me.  His mama had died just a few weeks before, and I remember that his papa stayed away from home from several days at the time.  And long before Papa said a word to the Lord about the boots I hadn’t gotten for Christmas, I was breaking to pieces inside.

As soon as Papa said, “Amen,” I got up and hugged his neck and wept.  Then I went to Mama and did the same thing.  And I tried to tell them both how much they meant to me and just how UNIMPORTANT those boots really were.

I’ve never eaten a better Christmas dinner than Mama fixed that day, and I’ve never seen as many tears shed as we all did.  

Last spring, you helped Big Brothers Big Sisters raise over $200,000 in three days, just by shopping!  Don’t be stingy either; send this coupon to your friends, family, coworkers and anyone who would like to save some money.  All your Facebook friends will love you for posting this on your page. Thanks for helping us make the best of this great offer!

…Aug. 16^th, Landrum Schools open.

…Aug 19^th-Sep 12^th, The 39 Steps @ Flat Rock Playhouse, Hitchcock meets Monty Python in this fast-paced whodunit.  Polk matches call 859-9230 for free passes.

…Aug 20^th, Sol Driven Train at Rogers Park, Tryon. Their kids’ concert kicks off the night at 7:PM. Free admission, donations welcome at gate. Concessions available: pizza, ice cream, soft drinks, water.

…Aug 21^st, Life Without, Voices of Children with Incarcerated Parents, documentary film, free. 7:PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville (1 Edwin Pl. corner of Charlotte St & Edwin Pl)

…Aug. 25^th, Polk Schools open.

Remember to shop local!  Area farmers’ markets are open through Sept. Green Creek Family Life Ctr on Tuesdays, 5-7:30PM; downtown Tryon -, Thursdays 4-6:PM; Saluda – Fridays 4:30-6:30PM on Main St; Columbus – Beginning April 10, Saturdays 8-11:30AM in front of the Polk County Historic Courthouse

Coming up in September: Town of Tryon’s 125th Birthday on Labor Day weekend! Visit nc-mountains.org for more info.

…Fri, Sept 3^rd, Fire Cracker Jazz Band, grand finale of Summer Tracks in Rogers Park, Tryon, 7:PM.  Free admission, donations welcome at gate. Concessions available: pizza, ice cream, soft drinks, water.

• 7 pm Bingo at The American Legion Hall, 828-859-6296
• Feature movie at Tryon Theatre 828-859-6811
• Shops, pubs, galleries, open late

…Sat, Sept 4^th, food, music, kids’ activities on Melrose, parade at 11:AM, exhibits, Tryon Toy Makers’ House and Museum grand opening, and Poetry Workshop by North Carolina Poet Laureate–learn the secrets of good poetry from Tryon resident and Big Sister Cathy Smith Bowers.

She and several of the children, who made short films of their lives that together make up the documentary, will be in Asheville to screen the film and lead a discussion on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 7 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville (1 Edwin Pl. corner of Charlotte St & Edwin Pl)

Sponsored by Western Carolinians for Criminal Justice, the church’s Human Rights Task Force, and the Social Action Committee of the UU Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley, the film is free is open to the public.

Wednesdays at 10:30AM – Tai Chi

All Classes are Free and open to the public.

Questions and information at astonparkfit@gmail.com

Also, free balls and equipment to use…

Just ask what is available to check out at the desk; leave a personal item at the desk (keys, hat, etc.) and you get it back when you return the equipment.

Could you picture yourself nestled in your own getaway Log Cabin above Deep Creek, relaxing on your front porch in a rocking chair just moments from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park?

For just $100 you can have the chance to win this hilltop Log Cabin and support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina. Visit the contest website, LogCabinRaffle.org, to learn more and purchase a ticket.

• Enter today to win your very own Smoky Mountain Log Cabin
• Located just minutes from Bryson City and Cherokee North Carolina.
• One lucky Grand Prize winner will walk away with this truly amazing Log Cabin.

You can rent it out to vacationers for a great second income or keep this private retreat all to yourself
Either way, owning your very own Smoky Mountain Log Cabin will be a life changing experience. Your raffle ticket purchase will also help change the lives of boys and girls who are part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

This is so much more then just an ordinary house raffle. This is your chance to win a vacation home that your entire family can enjoy for years to come. You also get the chance to make a winning difference in the life of a child.
Enter today to qualify for the Early Bird drawings!

Purchase a ticket at the contest website, LogCabinRaffle.org

or use

this form to enter the raffle by mailing a check.

Become a Raffle fan on Facebook.

Follow the Raffle on Twitter!