Coven Oldenwilde

Asheville's 11th Annual Public Witch Ritual will be celebrated Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, from 8-10 p.m., at French Broad River Park in West Asheville. Circle with Southeast Pagans, Witches, and our local Hispanic community at Coven Oldenwilde's popular, powerful, family-friendly religious rite! Link

Asheville Fall Color

Asheville's tourist season is in full swing. People from all over the world come to view the changing leaves each fall. Best viewing time is primarily between October 15 - 25, I've decided, after living here all my life. It's still very nice a week before and a week after. Here are a few websites to help with chosing your fall leaves touring route.

The Explore Asheville website is the handbook on Leaf Reports for our area. And you can see more of the beautiful fall report when viewing these
Blue Ridge Parkway photos.

It's actually beautiful everywhere you look; especially during the fall and anytime on the Parkway.

Any Way You Like It

Asheville's old marketing slogan was "Land of Sky," a motto that touted its mountain beauty.

As of Tuesday, the new slogan is "any way you like it," a motto that touts the city's acceptance of the unconventional.

Beginning next winter, TV spots will air in Atlanta, Charlotte and Orlando, showing skinny-dipping seniors in mountain streams and mountain bikers careening down the grand staircase at Biltmore House.

Travel magazines will show traffic signs that urge pedestrians to skip rather than walk or "Stop and Smell the Cappuccino."

The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority spent two years and $200,000 researching Asheville's image before unveiling a new logo and TV spots Tuesday.

"For many years, Asheville positioned itself as a hub destination in the mountains where you go to all these attractions. But as the market became more cluttered and consumers more sophisticated, that message didn't resonate," said Herman Turk, general manager of the Asheville Renaissance Hotel and chairman of the TDA.

Marla Tambellini, director of marketing for the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the city needed to go behind its superficial identity.

"We need to go beyond the physical attractions and find the emotional connection," she said. "What do visitors experience when they visit here?"

The TDA will spend $1.7 million for an ad campaign starting next February to promote Asheville as a unique destination where anyone can find a personal adventure.

"We did think outside the box," said Leslie MacInnis of Cramer-Krasselt, the TDA's new ad agency based in Orlando, Fla. "This campaign will stand out for the community, but hey, this is a standout community, what can I say. This town can deliver on the promise. When you come on an Asheville vacation, anything can happen."

Information from: The Asheville Citizen-Times, http://www.citizen-times.com

Katuah Sudbury School

Katuah Sudbury School will be opening Wednesday, October 5th at the Unity Center in Fletcher. Sudbury schools are completely democratic and believe in the individual's innate wisdom to choose. For children 5 - 17.

To get more info on Asheville's new school go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AshevilleSudbury or visit their website at http://www.katuahsudbury.org/

Located in South Asheville, looks like another great educational option added to the progressive mix.