Asheville Aerial Arts performer and the 96.5 House Band at last week’s Cirque du MPAC at the Orange Peel. The event was a benefit concert for the Multi-Purpose Athletic Complex (MPAC) local organizers are hoping to bring to Weaverville. Executive Director Randy Bassham says they will hold another Cirque du MPAC event in November.

There will be a Benefit Concert for MPAC (Multi Purpose Athletic Complex) 8 p.m.-Midnight on Friday, May 23 at The Orange Peel. The concert features 6 bands, food, drinks and a silent auction. Tickets are $25 and are available to purchase online at www.theorangepeel.net. More information about MPAC is available at www.ncmaysa.com.

Here’s a short video “fly-by” of the indoor section of the Multi-Purpose Athletic Center (MPAC) initiative:

If you haven’t heard of MPAC before now, it’s a non-profit initiative of the North Carolina Mountain Youth Soccer Association, but it’s not just about soccer. The plans being proposed could bring to Weaverville indoor and outdoor multi-use atheltic fields, tennis courts, a walking/running track, playground, basketball and racquetball courts, therapetutic and olympic pools, and a fitness center, all in one complex. You can read the Weaverville Tribune article (it’s on pages 12-13) or the recent opinion piece in the Mountain Xpress for more information. You can also contact Executive Director Randy Bassham at 645-2030 or executivedirector@ncmaysa.com for information, to join the mailing list to stay updated on MPAC’s progress, or to find out how you can help make this athletic complex a reality in Weaverville.

The latest edition of the Mountain Xpress (Vol 14, Issue 25) contained an interesting commentary from Weaverville resident Randy Bassham. Bassham has announced an initiative to “bring to Weaverville and north Buncombe a multipurpose athletic complex/community center”. Plans are already in place and a location has been chosen (the property at Murphy Hill Road, instead of the proposed concrete plant). Now it’s time to gather more community support. You can read the entire commentary here, http://www.mountainx.com/opinion/2008/011608bassham. For more information or to get on board, e-mail executivedirector@ncmaysa.com or call 645-2030.