Newsletter – Brasstown Community Civic Center

Hello Friends and Welcome to April

Apologies for missing the March Bell – March came in like a lamb for me but quickly started to roar and scratch and was quite frazzled as it went out like a lion or lioness. So ya’ll are going to get a lot packed into this little piece. Again, we would like to welcome everyone back and encourage everyone to take part in the many events and activities planned for the upcoming year. In this addition of the Brasstown Bell, you will find information pertaining to several upcoming events sponsored by the Brasstown Community Center as well as other items of interest. We want you to continue to feel safe so please feel free to wear a mask if you choose to any event as well as practice social distancing as much as possible at the event. Also, please be kind and respectful of the decisions and opinions of others.

Painting Socials

We have been having so much FUN with these events. If you check out the Face Book Page, you can find pictures of us joining together having fun and being creative!

There are 3 Painting Socials remaining to be held scheduled with a fee of $15 per person to include painting supplies and refreshment with a limit of 12 people per session.

April 7th Session 3 “Cross” – 6:30pm-8:30pm
May 12th Session 4 “Sunflower” – 6:30pm-8:30pm
June 9th Session 5 “Fireworks Over A Lake” – 6:30pm-8:30pm

Brasstown Fire Department Spotlight

Those who have felt the warmth of a fire and enjoyed its friendly glow understand that fire is not always a devastating blaze. Our ancestors considered fire to be a basic element, the same as air, water, and earth. Long ago, they learned to use fire and to control it. Fire was, perhaps, their first tool.

Most of us are careful with fire. We build fires in the right places, at the right time. We keep a fire at the proper size and put it out before leaving it. Some of us don’t, which can result in catastrophic wildfires. Wildfires can do terrible damage. With North Carolina’s growing population and wildland urban interface, wildfire risk also grows. You are the best defense against wildfire.

SUMMER CONCERTS ARE BACK! 6pm – May 7th – JUST US

NC Homeowners Assistance Fund (NCHAF)

Established through the American Rescue Plan of 2021, the NC Homeowner Assistance Fund (NCHAF) was created for homeowners in North Carolina to help prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, displacements, and foreclosures for eligible homeowners experiencing financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic. If financial hardships related to the pandemic have made paying your mortgage difficult, it is important to know your options to protect your home. Please go to their web site for more information and to see if you are eligible or to register. https://nchaf.gov/ You can also watch the video at https://youtu.be/Ze_MnQBR0RY for more information.

Brasstown Community Center Potluck’s Are Back!

Our first Potluck will begin at 6pm on Tuesday April 19th
Bring your favorite covered dish and join us.
The Community center will provide drinks and tableware.
The April BCCC Board meeting will be held immediately following at 7pm.

“Active April” from WNC Nonprofit Pathways

Brasstown Community Center, which is a 501 (c) (3) corporation operated and maintained by donations and proceeds from concerts and other fundraisers, utilizes various resources to bring the best to our citizens.

One such agency is WNC Nonprofit Pathways. Nonprofit organizations form the backbone of communities across the mountains of Western North Carolina.

WNCNP assists organization become stronger and sustainable so that they can fulfill their mission.

WNCNP’s mission is “Strengthening the organizations that help our Western North Carolina communities succeed.”

So, to help strengthen our Brasstown Community I encourage you to check out the Action for Happiness April Calendar! It’s a great way to get back in motion!

A Look Forward at 2022

May 1 Poor Man’s Dinner, 11-3pm
May 7 Summer Concert – Just Us, 6pm
May 12 Painting Social – Sunflowers, 6:30pm
May 24 Community Potluck, 6pm
June 9 Painting Social – Fireworks, 6:30pm
June 17 Movie on the Lawn, 8:30pm
June 21 Community Potluck, 6pm
June 25 Concert – Carolina Express, 6pm
July 9 Concert – Grizzly & Grizzel & Co, 6pm
July 15 Movie on the Lawn, 8:30pm
July 19 Community Potluck, 6pm
July 23 Concert – Lone Mountain Band, 6pm
Aug 16 Community Potluck, 6pm
Aug 19 Movie on the Lawn and Back to School Bash, 8:30pm
Sep 4 Labor Day Picnic
Sep 20 Community Potluck. 6pm
Oct 18 Community Potluck, 6pm
Nov 15 Thanksgiving Potluck, 6pm
Dec 10 Christmas Craft Fair 9am – 7pm
Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Ball

Don’t Forget Your Raffle Tickets

$1 each or 6 for $5

Tickets are always on sale at Clay’s Corner in Brasstown and Carolina Crafting at 49 Peachtree St. in Murphy.

Tickets will also be available at events where the quilt makes an appearance, including the evening of the drawing which will be during the Thanksgiving Community Potluck Dinner to be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.

How Can You Help Support the Brasstown Community Center?

The Brasstown Community Center is a 501C3 charitable organization. All proceeds from donations and fundraisers go towards the Community Center for upkeep, maintenance, and improvements to the facility. Here are several ways that you can help support us so we can keep providing a clean and safe facility for the community.

1) Come to any of our fundraising events throughout the year. Come to a summer bluegrass concert, take a chance on the quilt raffle, participate in any fundraising event throughout the year.

2) Mail a check directly to Brasstown Community Civic Center, PO Box 111, Brasstown, North Carolina 28902.

3) Donate through programs like AmazonSmile. You shop. Amazon Gives! Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. Every item available for purchase on www.amazon.com is also available on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com) at the same price. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages.

4) VOLUNTEER – The Brasstown Community Center is always looking for new faces to help with the many projects and events we have going as well as share expertise and knowledge. We are also hoping to start a Volunteer Teen Leadership Team. So, if you have any interest, please let us know we would love to have you.

A local event that may interest you as well

The Brasstown Community Center which is a 501 (c) (3) corporation operated and maintained by donations and proceeds from reservations, fundraisers, concerts, and other events. To Reserve the Brasstown Community Center please follow the instruction on the website at www.brasstowncommunitycenter.org or call 828-361-3040. You can also go to our Facebook page.

Until Next Month,
Stay Safe, Live, Laugh, Love
and Let’s Get Active!!

Angie Jaco,
BCCC Board President

Hello Friends of the Brasstown Community and Happy February

As we begin this new year, we would like to welcome everyone back and encourage everyone to take part in the many events and activities planned for the upcoming year. In this addition of the Brasstown Bell, you will find information pertaining to several upcoming events sponsored by the Brasstown Community Center. As you know it is Flu Season and COVID-19 is still an ongoing issue. We want you to feel safe so please feel free to wear a mask if you choose to any event as well as practice social distancing as much as possible at the event. Also, please be kind and respectful of the decisions and opinions of others.

Painting Socials:

These socials are for fun and laughter, meeting new people or reconnecting with those we already know and being Creative! You don’t need Picasso-like art abilities to have a blast, create something unique, and make memories. Angie, a member of the BCCC Board will be leading this event. She is rekindling her creative side for 2022 and is eager to share her learning experience with her community. She wants everyone to know, ”I am by no means a professional artist or art instructor, but I love to learn and share and create!”

”Let’s join together have fun and be creative!”

There are 5 Painting Socials scheduled with a fee of $15 per person to include painting supplies and refreshment with a limit of 12 people per session. Proceeds Support the Upkeep of the Brasstown Community Center which is a 501 (c) (3) corporation operated and maintained by donations and proceeds from concerts and other Fundraisers.

February 10th Session 1 “Love Birds” – 6:30pm-8:30pm
March 10th Session 2 “Whimsical Clovers” – 6:30pm-8:30pm
April 7th Session 3 “Cross” – 6:30pm-8:30pm
May 12th Session 4 “Sunflower” – 6:30pm-8:30pm
June 9th Session 5 “Fireworks Over A Lake” – 6:30pm-8:30pm

Brasstown Fire Department Spotlight

The new station is becoming a reality: they have the deed to the new property near the racetrack, and the necessary septic, building and DOT permits are secured. When you drive by, you’ll notice flags marking utilities and the building. They are now seeking bids for the various jobs. Hopefully they can get contractors lined up soon.

They recently received two generous donations that are pushing us nearer their goal. Due to Covid issues, they still cannot have large fund-raisers, but are still in need. If you can help them with a donation, it would be very much appreciated! Please send checks made out to Clay County Fire and Rescue (with Brasstown Building Fund on the memo line) to PO Box 325, Hayesville NC 28904. The more they can raise, the less they must mortgage! There are very few communities so committed to their citizens and organizations as ours. They are thankful and fortunate to be a part of Brasstown and Clay and Cherokee Counties. Please like and follow their Facebook Page for updates.

Cell Phones 2022 (original Public Post by Ann Lukens)

“OK friends who have older cellphones? The cellphone carriers are starting to drop 3G service and some older 4G. This means many older phones will no longer be able to make calls, send texts or, most importantly, call 911. AT&T drops 3G at the end of February. Some carriers are later. They need to make bandwidth room for newer phones. If you do not know if your phone is affected, you can check the website of your carrier or call the customer service department for help in understanding if you are affected. Please get on top of this! You do not want to find out that your phone no longer works when you cannot call 911.”

What else might be affected?

Older medical devices, home security systems with a cellphone backup, smart watches, vehicle SOS systems (like Onstar), internet enabled tablets and more devices may also be affected. Please see the following link for more information: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/ plan-ahead-phase-out-3g-cellular-networks-and-service

Community Resource Fair

Friday, March 11, 2022 – Community Resource Fair 3:00pm-6:00pm at Brasstown Community Center

This event will be held in conjunction with Four Square Community Action, Inc’s (FSCA) Clay and Cherokee County Outreach Offices. Staff will be available to begin the application / referral process to various programs and services available to qualifying low income families for Home Improvement Programs: Weatherization (WAP), Urgent Repair (URP), and Essential Family Rehabilitation (ESFR) as well as Head Start, HUD Section 8 Housing, NC CARES and Direct Services through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). CSBD Director, Angela Jaco, will also be handing out Customer COVID Care Packages including hygiene, cleaning, and personal protection items to those who qualify. Please Check the March Brasstown Bell for additional Agencies who will be attending.

Grants & Fundraising:

The Brasstown Community Civic Center has been awarded a Human Services grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. The grant amount for $20,000 will be utilized to build an outdoor gazebo ($15K) at the Brasstown Community Center for our concert series as well as purchasing supplies and fresh food ($5K) for distribution in cooperation with Clay County partners. Construction will be gin soon on the outdoor stage so stay tuned for updates and pictures.

WNC Communities has also Awarded the BCCC $550. This along with the Freebee Grant of $8000 and D&M Martin grant of $9500 will be used for the School House and BCCC Generators. We would like to thank everyone involved with these awards and grants for their support of the BCCC. Additionally thank you to each and every community member who has in any way supported the BCCC through rentals, fundraising events such as the quilt raffle, or volunteering their time to help. We wholeheartedly thank you!

2022 Quilt Raffle

This gorgeous queen size quilt can be seen most days at Carolina Crafting located next to the courthouse in downtown Murphy NC. You will also see this quilt show up at numerous events to be held at the community center this year including the summer concert series, summer family movie nights, painting socials, crafters fairs, and Labor Day picnic just to name a few.

Raffle Tickets are $1 each of 6 for $5

Tickets are always on sale at Clay’s Corner in Brasstown and Carolina Crafting at 49 Peachtree St. in Murphy. Tickets will also be available at events where the quilt makes an appearance; including the evening of the drawing which will be during the Thanksgiving Community Potluck to be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.

Brasstown Community Center would like to thank Deanna Skubal for donating this beautiful quilt. Deanna is a tireless supporter of the Brasstown Community Center and has donated a quilt each of the last 7 years. We truly appreciate her quality craftsmanship, artistry, and her giving heart when it comes to the Quilt Raffle and support of the Brasstown Community Center.

Proceeds support the Brasstown Community Center which is a 501 (c) (3) corporation operated and maintained by donations and proceeds from concerts and other fundraisers.

Brasstown Bell How Can You Help Support the Brasstown Community Center?

1) Come to any of our fundraising events throughout the year. Come to a summer bluegrass concert, take a chance on the quilt raffle, participate in any fundraising event throughout the year.

2) Mail a check directly to Brasstown Community Civic Center, PO Box 111, Brasstown, NC 28902.

3) Donate through programs like AmazonSmile. You shop. Amazon Gives!

Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. Every item available for purchase on www.amazon.com is also available on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com) at the same price. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages.

A Look Forward

April 2nd – Easter Egg Hunt – 2pm-4pm
April 29th – Spring Crafters Event- 5:00pm – 9:00pm
April 30th – Spring Crafters Event – 9:00am – 7:00pm

To Reserve the Brasstown Community Center Please follow the instruction on the website at www.brasstowncommunitycenter.org or call 828-361-3040. You can also go to our Facebook page.

Until Next Month, Stay Safe, Live, Laugh and Love!

Angie Jaco, BCCC Board President

PDF link to original Brasstown Bell Feb 2022