RIVERARTS NEWS

Owens-Bell Park Gets A New Garden

The West End/Clingman Avenue neighbors got together to plant the WECAN Sunny Cultural Garden on October 27, 2007, in honor of many of our neighbors.  First, we honor Mr. Owens and Mr. Bell, whose photos reign above the new garden.  Second, we honor all the gardeners who live and have lived in WECAN.  Thirdly, we honor the keepers of the plants whose histories have lived along side us all these years and last but not least, we honor my 50th year.
As a tribute to the enduring nature of all of our neighbors, WECAN chose to set some of our historic granite curbstones as the border of this new garden.  These stones, having been harvested by the City of Asheville when new sidewalks were installed on Park Avenue & Jefferson Drive in 2006 & 2007, came back back home with help from Richard Hawes (Pattiy’s childhood friend), David Sluder of MHO, a crew of 7 volunteers from Warren Wilson College and a few random passsers by.
The garden itself results from the efforts of Byron Ballard, garden designer Nicole LaChance and all of those who gave plants and came to help plant the WECAN SCG.  Some of those include Luella & David Heetderks, Jessie Mae Jones, Jessie Nell Coleman, Evelyn Littlejohn and her two granddaughters as well as members of Pattiy’s immediate family, Lynn Torno-Murphy, Joe Torno-Murphy, Sharon Souders, Harry Torno & Gail Millbank.

Owens-Bell goes to the Birds

Owens-Bell Park has become the new home of a pair of ducks, according to Jeff, a Jefferson Drive neighbor.  He reported that even the twins have not been able to chase them off. He offers late afternoon as a good time to find them at their new home.  I hope to have photos before too long.

OWENS-BELL PARK OPENS IN GRAND STYLE

Labor Day was a labor of love for many West End/Clingman Avenue neighbors.  Owens-Bell Park was honored with the presence of Mayor Terry Bellamy (who cut our ribbon), Mr. Duckett Bell, many neighbors who at one time lived in WECAN as well as many of our newest neighbors.  Gene Hampton bodaciously toiled at his grill to provide some lip smackin’ ribs.  Byron Ballard and Joe Fiacolla graciously presided as our mistress of ceremonies and all around handyman, respectively.  George Inge built by hand the new sign proclaiming the arrival of WECAN’s newest park.  Look forward to the installation of more of Geroge Inge’s artwork in the form of seating in Owens-Bell Park before the park is proclaimed to belong to the City of Asheville in a ceremony later this year.  

Owens-Bell Park Dedication on Labor Day

    Plans are afoot for the Grand Opening of Owens-Bell Park on Monday, September 4, 2006 from 3pm to 7pm.  The Grand Opening Celebration will include the planting of plants, the sitting down upon our new park furniture designed and fabricated by George Inge and friends, as well as the cutting of a ribbon of some sort.  At 4pm, in good WECAN tradition, the eating of a GRAND POTLUCK MOVEABLE FEAST will commence.   We have indeed invited the Mayor to join us, so do dress appropriate to the occassion.  Bring your favorite food and beverage and perhaps any musical instrument that you would like to play.  What a Grand Celebration it will be!!               

Owens-Bell Park Dedication on Labor Day

    Plans are afoot for the Grand Opening of Owens-Bell Park on Monday, September 4, 2006 from 3pm to 7pm.  The Grand Opening Celebration will include the planting of plants, the sitting down upon our new park furniture designed and fabricated by George Inge and friends, as well as the cutting of a ribbon of some sort.  At 4pm, in good WECAN tradition, the eating of a GRAND POTLUCK MOVEABLE FEAST will commence.   We have indeed invited the Mayor to join us, so do dress appropriate to the occassion.  Bring your favorite food and beverage and perhaps any musical instrument that you would like to play.  What a Grand Celebration it will be!!               

Moveable Feast Was All That

 

  Owens-Bell Park was humming on Memorial Day, May 29, 2006.  Over 40 neighbors from the West End/Clingman Avenue Neighborhood congregated to celebrate friendship and food.  Pulled pork from 12 Bones and hot dogs were the main course.  Delicious cupcakes, handmade by Byron Ballard, rounded out the feast.  The biggest surprise was how well Owens-Bell Park worked as a gathering place.  We now have some ideas about where &  how benches might best be placed.  The next MOVEABLE FEAST will be in OWENS-BELL PARK, Saturday, JULY 8, 2006  from 4 to 7pm.  There will be a West End/Clingman Avenue Neighborhood Association General Membership Meeting immediately prior at 3pm in Owens-Bell Park.  Come join us to learn more about the goings on in your community and see where you might fit in.

Ivy Slowly Fades Away

Owens-Bell Park is waking from its winter slumber.  Thanks to the WECAN Garden Club, much of the invasive ivy that has threatened the continued existence of many of our trees, has begun to fade.  With the continued efforts of Joe Fioccolla, Jessie Coleman, Evie Littlejohn and Pattiy Torno, we have reduced our ivy population by more than half.  These efforts, along with Jon Calabria’s planting this past winter make Owens-Bell Park a must visit this spring. Do join us the first Tuesday of each month, as long as you see the red flag up on our WECAN sign at the top of Clingman Avenue.

Beautiful Benches for Owens-Bell Park

On May 4, 2006, artist George Inge presented drawings for furniture & signage for the  Owens-Bell Park to the WECAN board.  He designed a long bench (of which there will be two) and two single seats & a free standing sign to name the park.  In his designs, he employs structural steel, antique aluminum lettering, cedar and some ceramics.  The WECAN board was unanimous in their acceptance of his proposals with room for comments from neighbors as the process continues.  Plans are to have the furniture in place by mid August with the dedication ceremony for the Owens-Bell Park to be around Labor Day 2006.

OWENS-BELL PARK GETS FIXTURED

    In a meeting with Betty Hurst & Tamra Calabria in March 2006, Local sculptor, George Inge agreed to make drawings of seating features & signage for Owens-Bell Park, to be presented to the WECAN Association, at their May 4, 2006 board meeting.  The funding for this project is being provided by a Ford Foundation grant, through Handmade in America.
    George was a member of River District Artists for several years. He worked with John Payne to design and build the steel fence that surrounds the Wedge Building. George also designed and built the brick walkway to the left of the Wedge and the linoleum flooring on the first floor of the Wedge # 129.  Questions? call Betty Hurst at 828-232-0095.

OWENS BELL PARK GETS A HELPING HAND

Come Friday, March 10th, 2006, you will see a mass effort coordinated by Jon Calabria of NC State
University. With the help of a crew of Americorps volunteers, the shrubs & bushes phase of Jon's
work will go into the ground.  Please feel free to come and join in, as all hands are welcome.  There
will be the addition of two cultural gardens created by the WECAN Garden Club. One is planned for
up by the path, in the shade and a second, in full sun, closer to the water.  Neighbor contributions for
the cultural gardens will be solicited later this spring.  In addition, Quality Forward is looking to see
if they have any bulbs to contribute for along side the mulch path that winds through out the park.