Jane Sherman presents workshops for dementia caregivers

Dementia:  Embracing the Moment: A Workshop for Caregiving Improv Tools for Living in the Now Asheville, NC:     Dementia:  Embracing the Moment – Improv Tools for Living in the Now:  A three-part workshop for caregivers of  individuals with dementia is scheduled on Friday afternoon, February 6th, 13th, and 20th from 1  to 3 p.m. at Calvary Episcopal Church in the choir room at 2840 […]

Mission Health signs new contract with The Blood Connection

FROM MISSION HEALTH Mission Health signs new contract with The Blood Connection ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Dec. 29, 2014) – Mission Health and The Blood Connection of Greenville, S.C., have entered into an agreement through which The Blood Connection will be the sole provider of blood to Mission Health, as well as conducting local blood drives in all […]

Sylva Herald: Mission Hospital drops Red Cross contract

FROM THE SYLVA HERALD: “Mission Hospital drops Red Cross blood supply contract; might Harris Regional do the same?” by Quintin Ellison In the high-stakes business of blood, the American Red Cross is hemorrhaging regional market share as area hospitals, in search of lower prices and reliable delivery, sever decades-old relationships with the national charity. This […]

Foothills Conservancy protects natural area near Linville Caverns

FROM FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY MORGANTON, N.C. – Near Linville Caverns and the North Fork Catawba River lies a formation of dolomite rock very unusual for the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains. A recent Foothills Conservancy purchase of 54 acres helps protect and buffer this dolomite-influenced natural area within and adjoining U.S. Forest Service lands of Pisgah National […]

GasBuddy.com: Local, national gas prices still trending down

UPDATE FROM GASBUDDY.COM December 29- Average retail gasoline prices in Asheville have fallen 9.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.45/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 259 gas outlets in Asheville. This compares with the national average that has fallen 9.6 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.28/g, according […]

Mission Health restricts visitors as flu-like illnesses increase

PRESS RELEASE ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Dec. 30, 2014) – Mission Health is restricting visitors to its hospitals due to an increase in reported influenza-like illnesses throughout North Carolina. Only immediate family members over the age of 12 will be permitted in patient care areas. Mission Health is asking friends and family of patients to limit visitations based […]

Contaminat­ed CTS site gets national attention with AP story

It’s a “nightmare scenario” for residents living near or on land associated with the former CTS site south of Asheville on Mills Gap Road, according to a Dec. 29 Associated Press story that ran in the Charlotte Observer (“An Old Plant, tainted Land, and Worried Homeowners”). The story takes particular aim at the developers who purchased the more […]

RiverLink thanks Lighthouse Learning Coop and its preschoolers

FROM RIVERLINK: RiverLink would like to thank the Lighthouse Learning Coop and its 12 preschoolers ages 3-5 for helping plant 20 Hazel Alder trees along the Hominy Creek Greenway.  It was a chilly December morning in Asheville, but the kids were not fazed by that, runny noses and all they were excited to be outside.  Each […]

Rhubarb raises money for local charity Rainbow in My Tummy

PRESS RELEASE ASHEVILLE, N.C. (December 22, 2014) – In November 2014, Rhubarb celebrated its first anniversary by sharing executive chef John Fleer’s new mountain cuisine at an anniversary Sunday Supper as well as offering a commemorative dessert from pastry chef Ashley Capps for the duration of the month. Furthering its dedication to the community, Rhubarb was able to donate more than […]

Drone captures rarely seen images of North Carolina’s pig farms

From the NC News Service: by Stephanie Carson KENANSVILLE, N.C. – A documentary filmmaker calls it alarming – the birds-eye view he recorded of some large North Carolina pig farms. Mark Devries used a drone to capture the images of lagoons of pig waste at a number of facilities, all of which supply pigs to […]

Democracy NC report: Number of unaffiliated voters growing in the state

New data released by the advocacy and research organization Democracy North Carolina found that Democrats, older Americans and African Americans all participated in greater numbers, compared to the 2010 midterm. The biggest share of new voters? Independents, explains Bob Hall, executive director of Democracy North Carolina.

Open (partially) Monday, Dec. 22: Asheville Regional Airport’s new entrance

PRESS RELEASE UPDATE:  Asheville Regional Airport’s new main entrance will partially open Monday, December 22     Asheville Regional Airport’s new main entrance will partially open Monday, December 22.  The relocation of the airport’s entrance is part of a North Carolina Department of Transportation project to change the traffic interchange across the I-26 bridge at Airport […]

SACE: EPA’s new coal ash rules leave ‘critical gaps’

PRESS RELEASE from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Six Years After Kingston, EPA Finally Issues Rules to Regulate Coal Ash Advocates Concerned the Rules Are Too Weak, Leaving Ash Threats in Place  Knoxville, Tenn. – Today, just days before the 6th anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s tragic coal ash disaster on Dec. 22, 2008 […]

EPA announces ‘common sense’ rules for coal ash

PRESS RELEASE from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Common sense, pragmatic rules to protect against structural failure, water and air pollution WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the first national regulations to provide for the safe disposal of coal combustion residuals (coal ash) from coal-fired power plants. The final rule establishes safeguards to […]

Coal ash, energy opportunities top DENR’s list of top 2014 news, accomplishments

  PRESS RELEASE Expanding energy opportunities and cleaning up coal ash are among top 2014 news items for state agency RALEIGH – To help journalists with year-in-review stories, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources has put together its list of the agency’s biggest news items and accomplishments for 2014. Expanding energy opportunities The N.C. Mining […]

Asheville Humane Society reduces adoption fees for the holidays

PRESS RELEASE Miracle on Forever Friend Lane Adoption Promotion They Believe in their Forever Home Asheville, NC—Asheville Humane Society is reducing the adoption fee for all dogs and cats over 6 months on the days leading up to the holidays. “Miracle on Forever Friend Lane” is December 19, 20, 23 from 10AM until 6 PM […]

C-T sues APD for protests videos

The Asheville Citizen-Times has sued the Asheville Police Department:   From the A C-T: “Lawsuit: Police must release protest videos,” by Jon Ostendorff: The Citizen-Times is asking a judge to order police to make public dozens of video recordings of political gatherings and demonstrations, according to a lawsuit filed Monday [Dec. 15]. The newspaper, in […]

First Day Hikes to be offered at every N.C. state park Jan. 1

PRESS RELEASE First Day Hikes to be offered at every North Carolina state park Jan. 1 RALEIGH – A North Carolina tradition continues on New Year’s Day with opportunities to exercise and reconnect with nature on First Day Hikes at every state park and recreation area, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. In […]

Mumpower, Nesbit cancel ‘public safety support’ rally

PRESS RELEASE Public Safety Support Rally Canceled A public rally in support of police and public safety officers scheduled for Thursday, December 11 has been canceled. Organizers noted concerns conflicting with the original intent of the event. Former Buncombe Republican Party Chairman Chad Nesbitt and former Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower have voiced concerns for […]

In photos: Asheville ‘Die In’ keeps focus on Garner, Brown cases

Photographer John Penley covered the Asheville “Die In” held at Vance Monument today, Dec. 6. Protesters marched from the Buncombe County Courthouse, holding signs and chanting. “Die Ins” and various protests have been held across the country this month in the wake of the Dec. 3 grand jury decision not to indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo […]