Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved $1.5 million for rental assistance and expanded emergency housing within the county in response to Tropical Storm Helene.
Many local nonprofits are facing challenges as money and volunteer hours pour into groups with a more direct role in storm recovery efforts. These groups are trying to address the issue in creative ways, including reaching out to donors and volunteers outside WNC for help.
The delegation of regional officials traveling to Washington is believed to be unprecedented, but “we have literally never seen a disaster like Hurricane Helene,” Amanda Edwards, chair-elect of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, told The Watchdog.
“In the aftermath of Helene, Homeward Bound of WNC shifted to immediately address the safety of all our staff and the clients we serve through our homeless and housing services programs,” says Jessie Figueroa, the communications specialist of Homeward Bound of WNC
Musical comedy duo Jess McKenna and Zach Reino will turn their popular podcast into a live, improvised musical production at The Orange Peel.
“With the storm’s impact, we anticipate a significant rise in food insecurity as more families and individuals turn to us and other community resources in the coming months,” says Micah Chrisman, director of marketing and communications of MANNA FoodBank.
Skillet will open in late November with an affordable comfort food menu from former Cultura and Funkatorium chef Eric Morris. Also in this week’s food news: a farewell part for Bottle Riot, a Thanksgiving dinner fundraiser for Eblen Charities, Sippin’ Santa at the Tiki Easy Bar, holiday pies and much more.
With its original venue destroyed by flooding, the band reimagined the immersive multimedia experience for a new location.
The first post-Helene production from Asheville Symphony and the Asheville Symphony Chorus offers a pay-what-you-can performance.
Candidates elected to council seats in Hendersonville and Black Mountain Nov. 5 know that Helene recovery will be a priority during their terms.
“The majority of local students, no matter their race, background and socioeconomic status, were not reading on grade level prior to the storm, and they just lost another month-plus of critical instruction,” says Jessica McLean, co-executive director of Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe
“Asheville water customers can safely consume tap water again,” Asheville City Council member Sage Turner posted on Instagram and Facebook.
“We received quite a bit of damage, but nothing like people east of Cherokee,” Anthony Sequoyah, the Eastern Band’s secretary of travel operations, told Carolina Public Press.
“If we want to continue and give our youths the best lives possible, why are we torturing them with this idea of standardized tests defining their lives?”
“But since reading the concerned words of Joan and Joy, I shall aspire to be a better and kinder citizen as we all work to rebuild and reinvent our gritty, chicken-loving town.”
“The locations should have been multiple, the phone lines should have been accessible, and the deadline should have been longer than seven days.”
