Air quality forecast for Tuesday, Nov. 29: Moderate (YELLOW)

Tuesday, November 29, 2016, is a code yellow air quality forecast day for most of Western North Carolina, including the valleys and ridge tops of Asheville and Buncombe County.  Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor activities. A burning ban is still in effect.  WNC Regional Air Quality Agency 125 South Lexington Avenue, Suite 101 Asheville, NC 28801 […]

Governor McCrory and First Lady celebrate the holidays with open house at the Western Residence

Press release from the governor’s press office: Governor Pat McCrory and First Lady Ann McCrory will celebrate the 2016 Christmas and holiday season by hosting the annual Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Western Residence in Asheville. The Open House will be held from noon to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 and on Sunday, December […]

Party Rock fire update: Crews ready as a change in weather looms

Press release from incident managers: The current weather forecast shows rain is on the way for the Party Rock Fire area and much the region. Crews on the fire have been busy preparing for upcoming rain by continued work to extinguish the remaining hot spots and removing excess firefighting equipment from the fire lines. Firefighters […]

Air Quality Forecast for Monday, Nov. 28: unhealthy for sensitive groups (ORANGE)

Monday, November 28, 2016, is code orange for most of Western North Carolina, including Asheville and Buncombe County. Air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups in this area. Children, active adults, and those with heart or respiratory disease, including asthma, should limit outdoor activity. Code red is forecast for Macon County where air quality will be unhealthy near active fires. […]

Warren Wilson College students attend Emerging Professionals Group Summit at Davidson College, professional skill-building and career exploration featured

Press release from Warren Wilson College: Warren Wilson College sophomores Chris Perry and Juanita Falice and senior Pearl Smith recently spent time at Davidson College exploring pathways to professional success. Among the first Warren Wilson students selected to the Emerging Professionals Group (EPG) Summit, the trio polished their “skills in professional networking and interview savvy, […]

Firefighters make big strides on containing Party Rock fire

Press release from incident management team: The Party Rock Fire is now 70% contained but small flames and smoke are still visible within the fire’s footprint, as lingering hot spots flare up. About 300 fire fighters and support personnel remain on the fire. The crews are working diligently to find and extinguish any trouble spots […]

Air Quality Forecast for Thursday, Nov. 24: unhealthy (RED)

The forecast for Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24, 2016, is code red for most of Western North Carolina, including Asheville and Buncombe County, and most of the foothills.  Air quality will be unhealthy in these areas. Everyone should avoid prolonged outdoor activity. McDowell County is forecast to be a code purple tomorrow. Air quality will be very unhealthy in this area. Everyone […]

Air Quality Forecast for Wednesday, Nov. 23: unhealthy (RED)

The forecast for Wednesday, November 23, 2016, is code red for most of Western North Carolina, including Asheville and Buncombe County. Air quality will be unhealthy in these areas. Everyone should avoid prolonged outdoor activity. Other areas around Western North Carolina are forecast code orange or code yellow. WNC Regional Air Quality Agency 125 South Lexington Avenue, Suite 101 Asheville, […]

Air quality officials continue health notice related to wildfires

Press release from N.C. Department of Environmental Quality: Air quality officials are continuing their advisory for air pollution in North Carolina on Tuesday as smoke from numerous wildfires continues to cover much of the state. Residents in the mountains, foothills and western Piedmont could experience unhealthy air quality, depending on wind directions. Governor Pat McCrory […]

Governor McCrory applauds brave efforts of firefighters to contain Party Rock fire

Press release from the office of the governor: Governor Pat McCrory is applauding the bravery and courageous efforts by firefighters to protect homes and turn the tide of the Party Rock Fire, despite high winds and continued dry conditions. “The more than 900 firefighters from across the country that have assembled in North Carolina to […]

Grant will help nominate nine african-american N.C. sites to National Register of Historic Places, including Mars Hill School

Press release from N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources:  Nine properties of historic significance to the North Carolina African American community will soon be nominated to the National Register of Historic Places thanks to a $70,000 Underrepresented Community (URC) Grant from the U. S. National Park Service that was recently awarded to the N.C. State […]

Air Quality Forecast for Tuesday, Nov. 22: unhealthy (RED)

The forecast for Tuesday, November 22, 2016, is code red for most of Western North Carolina, including Asheville and Buncombe County. Air quality will be unhealthy in these areas. Everyone should avoid prolonged outdoor activity. Other areas around Western North Carolina are forecast code orange or code yellow. WNC Regional Air Quality Agency 125 South Lexington Avenue, […]

Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café Celebrates Customers With Three Days of “Giving Thanks”

Press release from Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café: To thank their customers and to honor the spirit of Thanksgiving, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café is holding three “Giving Thanks” events on Friday, November 25, Saturday, November 26, and Monday, November 28. Friday, 11/25/16: Black Friday Kids’ Books/Games/Toys 20%-Off Sale (and free hot cocoa with purchase!) ** All children’s and young adult books, […]

Transylvania’s Children’s Center to host holiday gala Dec. 1

Press release from event organizers: The Children’s Center of Transylvania County is moving its annual holiday season gala Dec. 1 to the largest venue since its Festival of Trees days and adding a local pop vocalist entertain diners. The event is the non-profit organization’s main fundraiser to support its programs for abused and neglected children. […]

John C. Campbell Folk School director announces retirement

Press release from the John C. Campbell Folk School: After an award-winning 25-year tenure as executive director of the John C. Campbell Folk School, Jan Davidson, Ph.D. has announced that he will retire on March 1, 2017. Since joining the Folk School in 1992, Jan has focused on programming, facility building and renovation, fundraising, historic preservation, […]

Community Foundation of WNC announces over $1 million in grants supporting “People in Need”

Press release from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina: The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina recently approved grants totaling $1,211,583 to nonprofits across the region.  The awards were made in CFWNC’s focus areas with more than $1.1 million in People in Need grants going to nonprofits serving economically-disadvantaged populations across the Foundation’s 18-county service […]

Rumbling Bald Resort area and Chimney Rock Village to open at noon, Lake Lure state of emergency still in effect

Press release from N.C. Forest Service: Because the threat from the Party Rock Fire has diminished, all evacuation and pre-evacuation notices for the Town of Lake Lure and surrounding neighborhoods are cancelled as of noon today. This includes those parts of the Rumbling Bald Resort that have been under a mandatory evacuation notice: Deerfield; Fairfield; […]

Samsel Architects named firm of the year by N.C. chapter of the American Institute of Architects

Press release from Samsel Architects: The Asheville firm, Samsel Architects, received the prestigious Firm Award, as well as two residential design awards, from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA NC) at a recent ceremony in Winston-Salem. The Firm Award is given every year to one North Carolina practice that has […]

Pre-evacuation notices issued for areas east of Party Rock fire

Press release form N.C. Forest Service: County officials and fire managers have issued a pre-evacuation notice for residents living in areas and communities east of the Party Rock Fire. This precautionary action is being taken because of the potential for further fire growth to the northeast, east, and southeast due to predicted high winds. Residents […]

Workshop offered on nonprofit leadership succession planning

Press release from WNC Nonprofit Pathways: Change in leadership is inevitable, and organizations can either be prepared for it or be blind-sided by it. WNC Nonprofit Pathways will help nonprofits prepare for it in an upcoming workshop led by consultant Greg Walker Wilson of Asheville. Called “Leadership Change is Inevitable: Succession Planning for Nonprofits” the […]