News

WEEKEND: Forest Festival, Alzheimer's Walk, student play

By Bill Moss, Published: October 14, 2015

Forest Festival Day

PISGAH FOREST — The Cradle of Forestry will celebrate the heritage of Western North Carolina and the founding of forestry in America during the annual Forest Festival Day on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Cradle’s biggest event of the year, the family event commemorates the traditions of mountain living and craft in a unique and beautiful setting. More than 100 forestry students, traditional craftsmen and exhibitors will be on site during the celebration. During the event, eight colleges will compete for a trophy in the 20th Annual John G. Palmer Intercollegiate Woodsmen’s Meet organized by Haywood Community College and sponsored by Stihl chainsaws.
Competitors are from Haywood Community College, Warren Wilson College, Penn State Mont Alto, Montgomery Community College, North Carolina State University, Dabney Lancaster Community College in Clifton Forge, Virginia, Penn College in Williamsport, Pa., and Western Carolina University.
The Woodmen’s Meet is held in the open field at the Pink Beds Picnic Area. The Pink Beds Picnic Area and Pink Beds trailhead will be closed to non-event use for the day. Traditional crafters and exhibitors will be in place along the trails. These include demonstrations of whittling, woodcarving and turning, horse and mule packing, blacksmithing, primitive skills and making corn husk dolls. Festivalgoers can learn to cut a tree “cookie” with a crosscut saw and take it home.
Accents on Asheville will provide a shuttle between the Forest Discovery Center and the Pink Beds for those unable to walk the trail to the Woodsmen’s Meet. Hob Nob at the Cradle will sell food.
The Forest Festival Day celebrates the Cradle of Forestry as the birthplace of modern forestry in America. Carl Alwin Schenck, forester for George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate from 1895 to 1909, founded America’s first forestry school in 1898 and used the present-day Cradle of Forestry area as its summer campus.
Admission for this event is $6 for ages 16 and older; $3 for youth ages 4-15, and holders of America the Beautiful and Golden Age passes. Children under 4 are admitted free. The Cradle of Forestry is located four miles south of Parkway Milepost 412 on Hwy. 276 in the Pisgah National Forest, six miles north of Looking Glass Falls.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

The Alzheimer’s Association of WNC will hold its Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Hendersonville on Saturday, Oct. 17. The world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research, the one-mile walk locally will begin at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street and circle the downtown. Participants may come early to enjoy the music and festivities prior to the walk. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. To register or get for more information, visit alz.org/walk or call event organizer Denise Young at 828-254-7363.

Homes for Youth presents student play

Homes For Youth is sponsoring a presentation of the musical "There Is No Place Like Home," written and produced by the students of Flat Rock Playhouse’s Studio 52. A performance is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at Saint James Episcopal Church. The event, offered to raise awareness and understanding of youth homelessness, is open to the public and is free of charge. Reservations are not needed. The church is located at 766 N. Main Street.
This encore presentation of The After Oz Challenge was undertaken by 12 students, aged 11­ to 17, who created a show inspired by the Rodgers and Hart musical "Babes in Arms." The play portrays young people dealing with a very real problem. It was written with the utmost respect for our children in the foster care system. The story is fictional, but full of truth.
Representatives from the Department of Social Services (DSS) and Homes For Youth will be on hand to answer questions and to provide information about their programs.
You are invited to this special event to learn more about the issue of homeless youth in Henderson County and the steps underway to help our local teens in need. You are invited to come enjoy the talent of the youth of Studio 52.