April Verch News

For the stars of traditional folk music, schooling might be a distant luxury. They learn by doing, learn by watching, learn by instinct.

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Step-dancing and music: 1:30 p.m., Harvard Public Library. April Verch, a fiddler, step-dancer, singer and songwriter, will offer a half-hour step-dancing class and concert. via Nashoba Publishing Online

New England Celtic Arts will host the April Verch Band at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16. via Sun-Journal

“They have a wonderful style together, and when they're on the stage together it's a knockout performance.”

Le Vent du Nord, playing traditional music of Quebec, will be among the many main stage acts on Saturday night, June 28, while among the other top performers will be Ottawa Valley fiddler/stepdancer April Verch ... via The Gazette

The South Side Irish Parade took place on the 9th, and the weekend ahead is riddled with green beer drink-offs. Isn't there anything authentic left to celebrate on St. via Chicago Magazine

“We like to go to new places and to return where we're well received”

Canadian fiddler, dancer and singer April Verch performed last Friday in Marshall drawing the largest crowd yet at the Arts Center. via Asheville Citizen-Times

- April Verch Concert Friday, Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. at the Madison County Arts Center 90 South Main Street in downtown Marshall. Rounder Records recording artist April Verch is a Canadian fiddle and stepdancing champion and singer. Her repertoire also features traditional and contemporary tunes ranging in source and inspiration from Quebecois to the Appalachians, from Bluegrass to Brazilian. Tickets are available in advance by phone or at the Arts Center and Zuma Coffee in Marshall. Call 649-1301. - 'Meditation on War' is an exhibit by local artist Skip Rohde that will be on display at the Arts Center in Marshall now through Friday, Feb. 22, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Thursdays, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., and by appointment. The Arts Center is located at 90 S. Main Street in downtown Marshall. Call 649-1301 or email info@madisoncountyarts.com. - Weaverville Music Study Club will present a free program by Vocal Remedy Women's Quartet from Asheville Song O'Sky Chorus on Friday, Jan. l8, 7:30 p.m., at the First Baptist Church Weaverville Fellowship Hall. Members of the a cappella group are Sylvia Easterling, Colleen Johnson, Karen Caldwell and Cheryl Reavis. Call 645-5798. - Old Time Musicians and fans of traditional Appalachian mountain music are invited to an event hosted by Madison Counties' Butter Holler String Band and friends, on the first Friday of every month, from 6 to 9 p.m., at Zuma Coffee in Marshall. - Ignite08 is coming to Moore Auditorium at Mars Hill College on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Featuring special guest Clayton King, Carl Cartee, Leap of Faith and 3D. Free admission. Call 828-689-1276. Meetings & Reunions - Mars Hill Board of Aldermen will continue to meet the first Monday in each month, but the time will be changed from 7:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Waste Reduction Partners, an award-winning volunteer program of the Land-of-Sky Regional Council, will hold its Winter Quarterly Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008. The meeting will take place in the conference room at LOSRC's new location, 339 New Leicester Highway, Suite 140, 10:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Guest speaker for this meeting will be Jerry Mears, Buncombe County Solid Waste Manager, will provide a presentation on Buncombe County's solid waste program. Meeting will also include brief reviews of current WRP activities, as well as information on upcoming events of interest to the group. - Technical Coordinating Committee and Transportation Advisory meeting changed from Jan. 23 to Friday, Jan. 25, 11:00 a.m. This will now be a joint meeting of the Land-of-Sky RPO Technical Coordinating Committee and Transportation Advisory Committee. Meeting will be held at our new office location at 339 New Leicester Highway, Suite 140, Asheville, NC 28806. Our new office is located about a mile past our old office location, on the right hand side of the road in the Leicester Crossing complex by McDonald's. Call 828-251-6622, ext.134. School Stuff - Project house for sale at Madison High School. Open house showings Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 19, 20, 26 and 27. House to be offered at public auction with sealed bids due on or before Thursday, Jan. 31. Interested parties may obtain an information packet by contact at 649-2266 or e-mail ngentry@madison.k12.nc.us. - Exchange students. Have you always thought about hosting a foreign exchange student? It's not too early to apply! Students from around the world are looking for caring host families throughout western NC for the 2008-09 school year. School spots fill up fast, so find out more by calling 828-298-8873 or visit www.ayusa.org. Kids Corner - 4-H of Marshall and Mars Hill invites you to join the club if you're between the ages of 5 and 18; or consider creating a new club in your area. Learn about the environment, beekeeping, theater, clogging, horses, GPS systems and more. Call 649-2411. - Student storytellers wanted. The Storytelling Festival of Carolina is seeking young storytellers to participate in its second annual festival to be held in Laurinburg on April 26-27. Students who audition may be in public, private and home schools in North or South Carolina and must be 17 years old or younger at the time of the festival. Up to eight student tellers will be selected by a panel of judges to perform at the festival. There are two ways to audition - by sending a VHS/DVD of the story being told by the young teller or by auditioning in person on Saturday, March 8. All students who plan to audition must submit an Audition Commitment Form by Saturday, Feb.16. Download form at www.sfoc.info. Call 910-276-7316. Pets & People - Rabies clinic offered by Friends of Madison County Animals will take place Saturday, Jan. 19, 10 a.m. - 1p.m. at the FOMCA Outreach Center, 107 S. Main Street, Marshall. Vaccinations will be given by Dr. Boatwright, DVM. Rabies shots will cost $6, other vaccinations are $15, with feline distemper/leukemia combo vaccine $20. All dogs must be on leashes and cats in carriers. Multiple animals or animals with special needs may be vaccinated in their vehicles. Madison County residents may sign up for low cost spay/neuter. Call 649-9798. - Fostering Animals Saves Lives. ACN places unwanted dogs and cats in loving foster homes while they await adoption. ACN has dozens of dogs and cats looking for permanent homes who will be at Animal Compassion Network's adoption events on Saturdays, Feb. 2 and 16. The adoption fee for ACN dogs and cats includes spaying/neutering, vaccinations, one free month of ShelterCare veterinary health insurance and micro-chipping with life-time registration. Low-cost and no-cost spay/neuter vouchers are available to all pet guardians during adoption events. Animal Compassion Network is the largest no-kill, non-profit animal welfare organization in Western North Carolina. To find out more about how to volunteer as an ACN foster parent, call 828/258-4820 or visit ACN at www.animalcompassionnetwork.org. - Madison County Animal Control Board will meet next on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m., at the court house in Marshall. All are welcome to attend. Other Happenings - Community birthday party will be held Friday, Jan. 18 for Franklin Anderson of Mars Hill. Anderson, a dairy farmer, is being honored. His family and friends are invited to attend and enjoy barbecue. The party will be from 6-8 p.m. at the new Mars Hill Fire Department on Anderson Street, located behind the Chamber of Commerce building. Friends are invited to drop in, mingle and celebrate. Call 206-9658. - Solid country band, will be performing at Sandy Mush Community Center Saturday, Jan. 19 from 7 to 11 p.m. Food and refreshments available, 50/50 tickets, cake walks, great family fun everyone welcome. - Madison County Solid Waste Department will be closing at 2 p.m. on Monday Jan. 21 for the Landfill and Collection centers. Call 649-2311. - Mars Hill Chess Club will meet Fridays, Jan. 18, Feb. 1, 15 and 29. The club is a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to the development of chess in WNC and is open to all ages. Newcomers to chess are always welcome, and there is beginner help available every time they meet. The club meets in the library of the Mars Hill Elementary School. Call 828-776-4010 or email RgrPrice@aol.com. Outside & Active - Volleyball equipment is available for use at the Beech Glenn Community Center gym. Anyone interested in open play should contact the Madison County Parks and Recreation Department at 649-3635. Senior Opportunities - Senior Companion Program at Land of Sky Regional Council is looking for persons to make a positive difference in our communities. The Senior Companion Program is a paid volunteer program under Senior Corps, volunteers must be 60 years of age or older, living on limited income and be willing to volunteer 20 hours per week. Senior Companions help homebound elderly with daily living tasks, offer respite to family caregivers and assist in Adult Day Care Centers. Volunteers receive a tax-free stipend, paid holidays and vacation and sick leave for their volunteerism. Currently we are seeking Senior Companions in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania Counties. Call 828-251-6622 ext 126. - Senior Site offers Meals, Friendship, Every weekday, Monday through Friday, a delicious lunch is served to the senior citizens of the area. At First Baptist Church of Weavarville on Main Street. Meals are free of charge, but donations are welcome. Besides a nice lunch, daily programs are also held. These might consist of theings such as nutrition, exercising, bingo and other games, speakers, etc. Any interested senior just needs to show up at the Church at 11:30 a.m. or call 828-645-5297. - Foster Grandparents are trusted mentors, confidants and friends to children in need. This Land-of-Sky program needs foster grandparents who are 60 years of age or older to volunteer 20 hours a week. Help children with special needs improve their reading, motor skills, temperament and behavior. Volunteers receive mileage and a stipend of $225 monthly, not counted as income. Call 828-251-6622. Community Support - Live Life, Give Life. Everyone who donates blood or platelets with the American Red Cross in January will get a chance to win one of two $500 gift cards. Madison High School is sponsoring a blood drive Wednesday, Jan. 16, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The high school is located at 102 Marshall bypass in Marshall. Call 649-2876 to schedule an appointment. Blood donors must be at least 17 years old, in generally good health and weigh 110 pounds or more. - Christian biker's ministry in Madison County is in need of donated items to distribute to homeless people in Asheville. Toboggan hats, cotton gloves, socks, tooth brushes, tooth paste, flashlights, canned soup, snacks, gum, candy and messages are appreciated. Drop off items at Beacon of Hope Services, Skyway Drive, Marshall. Call 649-3470. - Manna Food Bank is accepting non-perishable food items. Drop off at Southern Life Realty, 139 S. Main Street, Mars Hill, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 680-1048. - Women with breast or gyn cancer living in Madison County are invited to join a support group with other women from the area. Call Hope- A Women's Cancer Center at 828-670-8403. - Free weight loss support group Saturday, Jan. 19, at 9 a.m. at Enon Baptist Church, 174 Ammons Branch Road, Marshall, Monthly weigh-in and discussion of healthy diet and exercise programs in a spiritually and emotionally supportive environment. Call 649-9505 or visit www.enonbc.net.. - Al-Anon open meeting, Fridays, 8 to 9 p.m., Presbyterian Church, 165 S. Main Street, Marshall. An anonymous support program for friends and family of alcoholics: We believe that alcoholism is a family illness and that changed attitudes can aid recovery. via Asheville Citizen-Times

“Thank you for letting your band breathe on stage.”

Claire Lynch was a popular bluegrass star when she stopped performing for six years to spend time with her family. via Asheville Citizen-Times