Call to Action Against Mercury Polution

Submitted by  Donna Lisenby Director of Water Programs, Appalachian Voices

There is an urgent matter that could determine whether the fish from our streams are fit to eat and whether thousands of newborns will be born with neurological disorders. The problem? Mercury emitted by dirty and outdated coal-fired power plants.

Take action- tell the EPA to protect our streams and children from mercury pollution.

Mercury, a toxic heavy metal, contaminates our air and water, and works it way up through the food chain from small fish to large fish, then to people. Seven out of ten women of child-bearing age have enough mercury in their blood to cause damage to their fetus should they become pregnant.

The EPA is currently accepting comments on a proposal to make utilities clean up their act and reduce mercury pollution by 91%. The deadline to submit comments is midnight, Thursday, August 4.

Coal-fired power plants are the biggest source of mercury pollution and almost every state in the country has a fish mercury advisory. The Clean Air Act requires utilities to use what's called "Maximum Available Control Technology" to stop mercury pollution before it reaches our air and water.  Forty percent of power plants already use this technology.

Furthermore, a study by CERES and Political Economy Research Institute of the University of Massachusetts shows that this proposal and the Clean Air Transport Rule, which was just finalized, will create a combined total of over 290,000 jobs.

Utilities are fighting to weaken this standard, and while they have their high-powered lobbyists and a lot of money, we have thousands of citizens who care deeply about air and water.

Please take action to protect all Americans from mercury pollution.

For clean streams and healthy babies,

Donna Lisenby

Director of Water Programs

Mountain Spirits: Wine and Beer this week, AUGUST 3

Aug 4, Table Wine, 1550 Hendersonville Road in Asheville NC - Ridge Vineyards and Ribs (Smoky Bones) - only 6 seats left. $50/person...$40 for Grape Nuts, We have room for 36 - RSVP and pre-payment please. Call us at 828.505.8588 to save your spot.  South Asheville's Best Free Wine Tastings This Friday (4 to 7 p.m.) and Saturday (2 to 5 p.m.), we give you the chance to try before you great wines at great prices.  August 12 - Friday Wine Down - Goin' down South, 4 - 7 PM. August 19 - Table Wine's first year anniversary from 6 - 9 PM,
Taste 30 wines, eat food and the rest takes care of itself.

August 5 Heinzelmannchen Brewery, 545 Mill Street since 2004 in Downtown Sylva NC -  Food & Beer Pairing.  5-8 PM AT the Brewery to enjoy food samples from Fatz Cafe Franklin , paired with the Braumeiseter's selection of Heinzelmannchen Beers. 

August 6 - 7 Roundpeak Vineyards, 765 Round Peak Church Rd in Mt Airy NC - 3rd Annual Dog Days of Summer Weekend. On Saturday Aug 6th attend the Dog Days of Summer in Downtown Mt. Airy from 11-3 pm. Then come on out with your pup and hang out at Round Peak for the rest of the day and do grillfest...we are open until sunset.  On Sunday Aug 7th 12-5 pm at Round Peak bring your favorite canine and support our local animal rescue organizations. They will have dogs for adoption, and we'll have a number of other pet related vendors. Bring your dog, a picnic, walk the vineyards, taste some wines, relax, play some lawn games, and have a great time!
Aujust 5   Classic Wine Seller, 20 Church Street in Waynesville NC - Friday Night LIVE! form 7PM - 10 PM under the new Bandstand, Waynesville's new outdoor venue. Live music, food wine and beer. Enjoy the musical stylings of Michael Pilgrim with his country fiddle and his jazz mandolin.

August 5th 4-7pm  Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC  -  Olde Hickory Pro-Am Winners-  Come taste two years of Best in Show Pro-Am winners from Olde Hickory Brewing this Friday. We'll be tasting my 2010 winner "Death by Hops" and 2011 winner Jason McCammon's "Monkey Dunkel", a German style Dunkel (dark) lager made with 90% Munich malt. Both will be on tap, samples are free for everyone. Free wine tasting this Saturday  July 30th, 3-6pm  Nugan Estate Wines from Australia

Riverlink Volunteer Information Sessions, August 10, 2011

Asheville, NC -- RiverLink is an exciting place with an abundance of opportunities for volunteers to get involved. From office work to helping us host special events to cleaning litter from local waterways, RiverLink can match most everyone with a way to help out.

  

Western North Carolinians (and others) who would like to be involved in restoring the French Broad Watershed as a place to live, work and play are invited to join the team by attending one of two volunteer information sessions on Wednesday, August 10, 2011. There's a morning session at 10 a.m. and an afternoon session at 5 p.m. at the RiverLink office, 170 Lyman Street in the River Arts District of Asheville.

The information session will detail RiverLink's volunteer positions in a Powerpoint presentation. Volunteers will have a chance to fill out a volunteer application, and Volunteer Coordinator Dave Russell will be available to answer questions and help everyone find their best fit at RiverLink.

Please RSVP to Dave by calling (828) 252-8474, ext. 11 or via e-mail at volunteer@riverlink.org.  

Asheville Tourists Baseball Buy one Get One Kraft Night

KRAFT Singles Tuesday -  For the third consecutive year, the Asheville Tourists and KRAFT Singles have teamed up to make coming to McCormick Field even more affordable. Tuesday nights of the 2011 season will be KRAFT Singles Tuesday's. Simply bring in a proof of purchase wrapper of KRAFT Singles cheese and receive a free general admission ticket for each one purchased. With two KRAFT Singles wrappers, a family of four can come to the game for just $14**! Take advantage of these savings now as there are only two more Tuesday home games this season! Wrappers must be presented at the McCormick Field box office, offer not available for online purchases. Call the McCormick Field box office at (828)258-0428 for more information.

Fireworks Night at the Diamond 2011 - Tuesday, August 2nd will give you the opportunity to take in a 2011 Asheville Tourists game with your best friend. Bring your favorite four legged canine out to McCormick Field! Banfield Pet Hospital will be on site with goodies for your furry friends as well as information about the services they offer. Stop by their table with your pooch to say hello and thank them for making this night possible!