A-B Tech Drama Club Announces Auditions For First Show
A-B Tech and the A-B Tech Drama Club announce open auditions for the The Boys Next Door, Tom Griffin's funny yet touching play that follows the lives of four retarded men who live in a communal residence under the watchful eye of an earnest, but increasingly "burned out" social worker.
Auditions are open to students and the community. Roles are available for seven men and two women of all age ranges. Auditions will be held Sept. 20 and 21 at 6 p.m. in Ferguson Auditorium. Auditioners are asked to prepare a 90-second monologue, however, cold readings are also available. Callbacks will be held as needed Sept. 22 at 6 p.m., also in Ferguson Auditorium. Scripts are available for perusal with a $5 deposit at the switchboard desk inside the Simpson Building from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A-B Tech adjunct instructor Peter Carver directs, and adjunct Laura Chaney designs.
The Boys Next Door is the inaugural production of the A-B Tech Drama Club, a student group founded last year. Rehearsal begins Oct. 4, and the show will be performed Dec. 2-5 in the Asheville High School Studio Theatre. For more information, contact Carver at thestagepicture@aol.com.
Welcome Back
Anita Metcalf, Vice President of College Relations and Executive Director of the A-B Tech Foundation, discusses the Foundation's mission, goals, and growth in recent years at a luncheon for A-B Tech retirees Aug. 17 at the Enka Site. About 40 people attended the event, which also included an update about the college by President Bailey and a campus tour.
Tool Time
Paxton Gilliam of Snap-On Tools shows his wares to applied technologies students at a Tool Fair hosted by the Heavy Equipment department in August. Gilliam was joined by vendors from Wesco (Craftsman Tools), NAPA Auto Parts, Grainger, and Columbia Fuel Injection, Inc., all of whom offered students discounts ranging from 20 to 50 percent off retail pricing. "This approach of using a tool fair was new this year and proved to be a real success," Automotive and Heavy Equipment Department Chair Rick Wolfe said. "We hope to make this an annual event at the beginning of the fall semester."
A "Mighty" Empty Feeling
A-B Tech is saddened by the loss of Custodian Arnold "Mighty" Gaines, who died Aug. 24.
Arnold began working at the College part-time in July 1998 and became full time the following September. A graduate of Stephens-Lee High School, he worked at Wilsonart for 17 years before coming to A-B Tech.
Arnold earned his nickname, "Mighty," at birth, according to one of his daughters. "When my daddy was born, he was so tiny, they called him "Mighty Mouse," she told Coordinator of Custodial Services Don Kent. "As he got older, he got bigger and bigger and they had to drop the 'mouse' part."
Arnold worked the 9-5 shift - 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. - every day except Friday, when he was here from 2 to 10 p.m. The first floor of Elm Building was his domain, and he prided himself on doing a good job. "His area, I never worried about it," Kent said. "He kept it neat and clean and was conscientious, always wanting to do extra stuff to make his area better."
Dedicated to the College, he even donned a Santa suit twice for the Children's Holiday Party, his daughter told Kent.
Mighty's colleagues remember him with fondness and send condolences to his family.
Tabletop Training
Herb Thomas (center), a fire instructor with the state of North Carolina, prepares students to participate in a mock emergency in "Tiny Town" during a bioterrorism training class at A-B Tech in August. Developed by Law Enforcement Academy Director Scott Bissinger and EMS Chair Keith Owens, the course brought about 25 people from local agencies together to learn how to coordinate their response in the event of a bioterrorism incident. A-B Tech is one of six community colleges in North Carolina awarded a Homeland Security grant to develop training that can be shared with other colleges.