News

Major Makeover Planned for Grovemont Park Playground

The playground at Grovemont Park, adjacent to the Swannanoa Library, was constructed in 1999-2000 through a major fundraising and volunteer labor effort involving scores of Swannanoa residents. The project was coordinated by two local non-profits, the Friends of the Swannanoa Library, and the Swannanoa Community Council.

The playground and surrounding park have been enjoyed by literally thousands of families in the community for the past 16+
years. But after all those years of service, the playground is showing its age and is in need of an overhaul. An effort to completely replace the protective mulch and make other
repairs and improvements is in the planning stages. A generous grant from Buncombe County Parks & Recreation will help with some of the expenses, but more funding, materials,
planning, and labor are needed.

The bulk of the community workdays will occur in early
March (stay tuned for updates as dates and details are finalized), and will require lots of volunteer labor for removing and spreading mulch, construction of timber planting beds, building and restoring walking paths, graffiti removal, and much more. Additional funding
and in-kind donations are also needed, along with ready-to-eat food for hungry volunteers.

If you're interested in volunteering time, or making an in-kind contribution of materials, food, etc., please contact George Scott at 828-779-7455 or sgss108@gmail.com.

If you're interested in making a financial contribution, please send a check to Swannanoa Community Council, PO Box 1008, Swannanoa, NC, and write "Playground Project" in the memo line.

Thank you for your support in restoring this community gem!

The Community Works When We Work Together

2017 Groovin' Concert Series

The 15th annual Groovin’ on Grovemont summer concert series returns to Grovemont Square (adjacent to the Swannanoa Library) on July 11, July 25 and August 8, at 6:00 p.m.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and come enjoy these family-friendly evenings of great music, brought to you entirely by local sponsors and community volunteers! The concert series is free and open to the public. Concessions, including pizza, hot dogs and home-baked goods, are available for purchase. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Swannanoa Library and the Swannanoa Community Council.

Here’s the entertainment schedule:

July 11: LYRIC – With an enlightened mixture of pop, soul and funk, LYRIC awakens an undiscovered spirit within their audiences, and consistently delights crowds across the region. Led by the poetic and soulful voice of lyricist and lead singer Leeda Jones, this group of multi-talented musicians has been described by many as the best band in Asheville.

July 25: Bayou Diesel – This local Black Mountain band has been traveling the gig-highways of Western North Carolina since 2005. The band focuses on performing the powerful Cajun, Zydeco and Mardi Gras-style dance music of Louisiana. Featuring the accordion, rubboard, rhythm section and occasional French lyrics, Bayou Diesel cooks up some tasty jam-balaya. Put on your dancing shoes! (Note: “Tap and Shake” with Sonya Brooks – a rhythmic concert event for the whole family -begins at 5PM on July 25. Come early with the kids to catch this show.)

August 8: The Paper Crowns – The Paper Crowns are the multi-instrument, genre-crossing power-duo of Spiro and Nicole Nicolopoulos. Earning their reputation as the genuine article and as a band on the cutting edge of modern roots music, the Paper Crowns have a musical chemistry that is a gumbo of Appalachian folk and bluegrass, Dixieland melodies, delta blues, acid rock, murder ballads, outlaw country and Southern Gospel that they cook up into a sound all their own.

Bonus feature: GIANT HALF-PRICE BOOK SALE during each Groovin’, 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Swannanoa Library, 101 West Charleston Avenue. Thousands of great books at unbelievably low prices!

Individual and business sponsorship opportunities for Groovin’ on Grovemont are still available, and there are lots of volunteer opportunities, too. To inquire, call the library at 828-250-6486.

Swannanoa Community CouncilJune 25, 2017