UNCA “Writers at Home” series to feature Katherine Min and Beth Keefauver

Press release From UNC Asheville News Services The Writers at Home series, sponsored by UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program, continues in March with readings by writers Beth Keefauver and Katherine Min. The readings will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 17 at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., in downtown Asheville. This event is […]

Times-News: More than 5,000 power outages reported in Henderson County

From the Hendersonville Times-News A winter rain system Tuesday morning caused icy conditions on roads and tree limbs, causing trees to fall onto power lines that blocked Henderson County roadways. … By noon, Duke Energy reported up to 5,200 power outages scattered around the county. That number dropped to about 990 by 10 p.m. Henderson […]

Mentoring teen parents: YWCA MotherLove program helps pregnant and parenting teens, seeks mentors

Success stories: As the executive director of the Asheville YWCA’s MotherLove program for high school parents, Tangela Bowman says the program helps teen moms like A.C. Reynolds junior Svetlana Contreras succeed as parents and students. The program currently has a 100 percent graduation rate. Photo courtesy of the Asheville YWCA When she was 14 years […]

Registration for College for Seniors program starts tomorrow

Press release From UNC Asheville News Services The spring course catalog for the nationally renowned College for Seniors is now available online. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, in person at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center. The College for Seniors courses are offered by OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville. Spring […]

Political journalist based in Raleigh announced as Gov. McCroy’s communications director

Media release From the office of Governor Pat McCroy Raleigh, N.C. – Today, Governor Pat McCrory announced one of the Triangle’s most well-known political journalists, Kim Genardo of NBC 17 News, is joining the administration as Communications Director. “Kim Genardo is a very talented professional who has a wealth of experience in media and covering […]

Duke energy names new district manager for Asheville area

Press release From Duke Energy: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke Energy has named Jason Walls as district manager in the company’s Asheville area. He succeeds Martha Thompson, who has been named director, Corporate Public Affairs, based in Raleigh. In his new role, Walls will oversee and promote Duke Energy’s community relations efforts in Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, […]

Mission Health ToothBus to provide free dental care to Marion Elementary students next week

Press release From Mission Health MARION, N.C. (Feb. 21, 2013) – The ToothBus, a mobile dental clinic staffed with a team of volunteer dentists and dental assistants from Mission Children’s Dental, will be in McDowell County on Tuesday, Feb. 26 to provide free dental sealants to students at Marion Elementary School. Marion Elementary School third- […]

WCMS’ 11th Annual Heartstrings event happens this Saturday

Press release From the Western Carolina Medical Society The 11th Annual HeartStrings event is this Saturday. HeartStrings is a fun, fitness-related fundraiser where participants can register to work-out for a good cause. Individuals, Family, Non-Profit and Business Teams are encouraged to participate FREE childcare Spinning and other 30-minute fitness classes Mission Heart and Mission Sports […]

The Blue Banner: UNCA campus police required to wear body cameras

From The Blue Banner Article by Shanee Simhoni The UNC Asheville campus police department enacted a new policy at the beginning of this month requiring all officers to record investigations and suspicious situations with body worn cameras, resulting in mixed reactions from faculty and students. “We want to be transparent as a police department. We […]

Park Ridge Health’s 21st annual Frostbite race draws more than 700

Press release From Park Ridge Health Hendersonville, N.C. (February 19, 2013) — The Park Ridge Health Foundation hosted the 21st Annual Frostbite on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. This premier race event presented by Southeastern Sports Medicine welcomed 701 runners and walkers who competed in the 10K, 5K and 1-Mile Run Run/Walk. Sponsors and partners that […]

UNCA’s college newspaper wins five awards from N.C. College Media Association

Press release From UNC Asheville News Services The Blue Banner, UNC Asheville’s student newspaper, has earned five awards from the N.C. College Media Association. The Blue Banner earned best of show honors in the small newspaper category along with four other schools with enrollments less than 6,000 students. Several staff members also took home individual […]

River Arts District cleanup planned for this Saturday, Feb. 23

From Asheville GreenWorks From the Asheville GreenWorks website Saturday Feb 23rd, join the 100+ volunteers from Redemption of Asheville, River Link, Asheville GreenWorks for a walking litter cleanup and graffiti paint over in the River Arts District. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb 23rd 2013 Meetup in the Wedge Brewery Parking Lot 150 Lyman […]

Legislation to set up federal health exchange stops in N.C. Senate, will be revised

From the News & Observer Story by the Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. — The rapid advance of legislation preventing North Carolina from expanding Medicaid with federal funds and managing run an online marketplace for private health insurance is hitting a speed bump. The state Senate on Tuesday voted to reject changes made in the House. […]

Teddy bears donated to kids at Mission Children’s Hospital on Valentine’­s Day

With love: Since Madeline "Maddie" Jones died in a car crash in December, her mother Kristie Worley(pictured above) has received hundreds of teddy bears in her 3-year-old daughter's memory. Photo courtesy of Mission Health On Valentine's Day, a host of teddy bears found a good home when Kristie Worley donated them to the pediatric unit […]

With love: YWCA MotherLove program helps pregnant and parenting teens, seeks mentors

At 14 years old, Svetlana Contreras found out her life was about to become more complicated than any homework assignment she could ever receive as a student at A.C. Reynolds high school: She was going to be a mother. But for Contreras, she had help taking on these new responsibilities when she signed up for the Asheville YWCA’s MotherLove program. (Photo of MotherLove director Tangela Bowman, top, and Svetlana Contreras)