Caring for Our Common Home: Responding to the Pope’s Call for Action

On September 24, Pope Francis will make an historic address to the United States Congress, and in his message, he is expected to reiterate his vigorous call for swift action to address climate change and care for the natural environment as an integral component of social justice.

You are invited to join an interfaith gathering hosted by the Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina and to embrace Pope Francis’ call for action at a special event on September 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Eugene’s Catholic Church, 72 Culvern St., Asheville.

Be inspired by the words of Pope Francis’ Encyclical with words, music, and visuals. Enjoy food and fellowship, watch Pope Francis’ address to Congress, and discuss what his message means to the world as well as how we  can make a commitment to behavioral change that will better care for God’s Creation.

Sign up here for the evening’s event.

Come out and support MountainTrue at the

RADICAL REELS FILM TOUR

Epic big mountain ski and snowboard descents, jaw dropping bike jumps, stomach turning kayaking drops – and you haven’t even seen the steepest and gnarliest lines yet! Experience more than a half dozen wild adrenaline-pumping action sports films as seen through the eyes of some of today’s top athletes. Proceeds from the Asheville event will go to MountainTrue.

Tickets on sale at REI Asheville and at the event.

Date: Monday, September 14, 7:00 PM

Location: Regal Cinemas in Biltmore Park Town Square.

Tickets: Before September 7: $15.00 / VIP $30.00 After September 7: $17/$30.

8/5: Waterfalls and Wildflower talk

The Sierra Club, Green Drinks, and Mountain True will present Timothy Spira, emeritus professor of botany at Clemson University on “Exploring Waterfalls & Wildflowers in the Southern Appalachian Mountains” on Wednesday, August 5, 7 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, (corner of Charlotte & Edwin).

Please be aware the church is under remodeling. There will be signs posted as to where to enter!

For more info, contact Judy Mattox at judymattox@sbcglobal.net or 828-683-2176.

8/2: Broad River Alliance Paddle and Picnic

The Broad River Alliance, an affiliate of the Waterkeeper Alliance, will host a group river float Sunday August 2 to kick off “Swimmable Water Weekend.” This is an easy paddle trip from Lake Hauser to the Broad River Greenway. Meet up at Lake Hauser (1342 Lake Hauser Rd, Mooresboro, 28114) at 10:30 am to drop off boats and then the group will take most of the vehicles down to the Greenway take-out point (126 Broad River Drive, Shelby, 28152), then carpool back up to Lake Hauser to start the float.

Depending on the water levels, the trip will take an estimated 3.5 to 4 hours, so bring a lunch, drinks, and sunscreen. Let the BRA know if you are planning to join on the trip and if you have extra boats others could use.

Come swim, paddle and picnic in celebration of our beautiful rivers!

To join, contact David at broadriveralliance@gmail.com or send a message on the Broad River Alliance facebook page here.

The Environmnetal Quality Institute (EQI) is in search of volunteers to help collect monthly water samples at three sites in Fairview and one site in South Buncombe for the Volunteer Water Information Network (VWIN). VWIN is a stream monitoring program where volunteers collect stream water samples that are later analyzed at the EQI laboratory in Asheville.

Buncombe County stream samples are collected at established sites on the first Saturday of each month. After collection, the volunteers take the samples to a designated drop point (usually a gas station cooler) where the samples are refrigerated. The volunteer coordinator picks up the samples from the drop point and delivers them to the EQI laboratory Monday morning. EQI tests the samples for pH, alkalinity, conductivity, orthophosphate, ammonia-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, turbidity, and total suspended solids each month.

Volunteers are currently needed for the following sites:
Fairview – Cane and Ashworth Creeks at Hwy 74 and Cane Creek at Mills Gap Road (3 sites)
South Buncombe – French Broad River at Corcoran Park (1 site, even months only)

If interested, please contact Nicole Parrish at staff@eqilab.orgor 828.333.0392.