The Cathedral of All Souls maps its future after Tropical Storm Helene left destruction in its wake.
Aromatherapy company to convert former church into a wellness sanctuary
ADORAtherapy, a mood-boosting aromatherapy company, plans to convert a former church in Woodfin into the brand’s production center, co-working space and community hub for wellness workshops.
Smart Bets: Merry Main Street
Burnsville’s annual holiday celebration happens Dec. 13.
Smart Bets: PERSPECTIVES with Chloe Moore
The manager of Southside Community Farm will discuss modern food justice initiatives in a Dec. 11 virtual conversation hosted by Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center.
Smart Bets: Asheville Nativity Exhibition
The exhibit runs Dec. 6-15 at First Baptist Church of Asheville, featuring nativity scenes from more than 70 countries.
Unstoppable: Self-care is important
“Seeing our clinicians regularly at comfort sites, in our bright teal T-shirts, helps foster a sense of trust and creates a safe space to chat or cry,” Mary Waller, development director of All Souls Counseling Center,
Unstoppable: Talk to friends and family about mental health
“There is an emotional life cycle of a disaster and many of us in our community are still in the ‘disillusionment’ stage,” says Cammy Sky Holt, communications director of Black Mountain Counseling Center.
Amid retirement, community health remains top of mind for former MAHEC member
“Helping others is simply who I am,” says Jaquelyn Hallum, former director of Health Careers and Diversity Education at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC). “Retirement hasn’t changed that — it’s just given me the freedom to focus on what matters most.”
Food distribution nonprofits provide post-Helene safety nets for WNC farms
Nonprofits dedicated to providing food to the community have relied on COVID-era programs and knowledge to help WNC’s farms survive the impact of Tropical Storm Helene.
Mission Health permanently shutters Asheville Specialty Hospital
The 34-bed Asheville Specialty included a comprehensive stroke center, dialysis services, physical and speech therapy, and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, among other services, according to Mission’s website.
From CPP: ‘Worst’ year ever for farms in North Carolina
Farms tend to be located in the region’s fertile river bottoms, and when those rivers swelled and roared, they took crops, barns, bails of hay, miles of fencing, farm roads, cattle, farm equipment and acres of topsoil.
Unstoppable: ‘We want to spread joy’
“For us personally, it was so heartening to hear from so many families who were worried about the safety of the Nature Center animals post-Helene,” says Kate Frost, executive director of Friends of the WNC Nature Center,
Couple finds a new life purpose in disaster aid
“There is so much destruction and so much need that it is very easy to get overwhelmed,” says Courtney Crouse , co-founder of Hell or High Water. “Making a difference to one person or family at a time is how we are operating.”
From CPP: Why legal challenge to NC medical provider regulation matters
A recent lawsuit brought forth by a New Bern ophthalmologist challenges the constitutionality of the law, bringing the issue to the forefront of statewide debate.
Lead detected in seven schools after Asheville water didn’t undergo mitigation process for several weeks
Chandler and Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, medical director for Buncombe County’s Department of Health & Human Services, repeatedly stressed that students were not exposed to lead in drinking water.
Buncombe air quality post-Helene has not been affected greatly by dust, but smoke risk rises, agency says
“What we’re particularly concerned about is the fine particles from open burning that we expect we’re going to see more of,” AB Air Quality Agency Director Ashley Featherstone said.
Women in Business: Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart
“Owning a business is a spiritual experience that’ll challenge all of your beliefs and sense of self,” says Jesse Rosenblum, owner of Liminal Sōma.
Women in Business: Message of shamelessness, expression and hope
“Before launching a business every entrepreneur should know that your business will have seasons. Seasons of preparation, tending, harvest and fallowness. It’s normal to experience all of them,” says Faith Laux, a somatic sex and relationship coach.
Women in Business: On the way to achieving your big-picture goal
“Entrepreneurship, especially for a small farm business at its start, is a major balancing act between the manual labor involved and the hustle of developing social media content and promotional materials and all the daily logistics of running a business,” says Salley Williamson, owner of Piney Mountain Farm.
Aftermath of Helene making Western NC survivors sick
All Western North Carolina residents will have to look out for additional public health issues as the region continues to recover from Helene.
Women in Business: Magic in the making
“It is incredible the amount of diversity Magic players have from bartenders, lawyers, teachers, baristas, kids — really it is a game that spans not just age but professions,” says Charla Schlueter, owner of Gamers’ Haunt