New WCCA thrift shop to open in Hendersonville Tuesday, Dec. 1

Press release from Western Carolina Community Action: When WCCA’s Bargain Hunt Thrift Shop opens for business on Tuesday, December 1st, it will also mark the start of a new holiday tradition – Countdown to Christmas. In addition to providing a source for inexpensive clothing and household goods, Bargain Hunt will help fund WCCA’s programs including: […]

Dogwood Health Trust awards more than $2.8 million in racial equity grants to WNC organizations

Press release from Dogwood Health Trust: Dogwood Health Trust has awarded more than $2.8 million in Racial Equity Community Grants to a diverse range of 130 nonprofit and government agencies from every county and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina. Dogwood exceeded its original funding goal of $1 million, funding 65% of requests, with the […]

City of Asheville rolls out second round of racial healing grants for nonprofits

Press release from the city of Asheville: The Office of Equity and Inclusion application for racial healing grants for local nonprofits are now available. This is the second year of funding, and like last year, the grant amount up to $4,999 aims to support existing projects  in Asheville that promote racial healing, reconciliation, and/or transformation in Asheville […]

NCDHHS to provide winter heating assistance payments for eligible seniors, people with disabilities

Press release from N.C. Department of Health and Human Services: RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced it will issue an automated payment to thousands of eligible households to help with winter heating expenses via the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program. The automated payment will be issued beginning Dec. 1 […]

APD investigates seven shootings from the long weekend

Press release from Asheville Police Department: The Asheville Police Department (APD) is actively investigating seven shootings that happened over a three-day period beginning on Thanksgiving, November 26. Two people were injured, and one juvenile passed away after being shot multiple times. Detectives with the Asheville Police Department have been working through the weekend to investigate […]

NCBCE to host educators, students in virtual arts and humanities conference Dec. 15-16

Press release from the office of Governor Roy Cooper: RALEIGH: All North Carolina teachers and their classes are invited to attend a free two-day online immersive experience for NC educators and their students focused on arts and the humanities.  The Cultural Arts LIVE (Live, Immersive Virtual Experiences) Conference will take place December 15-16. The conference […]

Hendersonville to host holiday-themed LoveHendo Saturday Dec. 5

Press release from the city of Hendersonville: Merchants of Downtown Hendersonville are feeling the holiday spirit this season, and they aren’t letting any “grinches” steal their cheer! Join for a special holiday themed “LoveHendo Saturday” to close out 2020 on December 5. Main Street will be closed to vehicles all day on December 5 from […]

Foothills Conservancy, City of Morganton to host tree-planting day

Press release from Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina:  Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and the City of Morganton have joined forces again to host a public tree-planting event at Freedom Park on Friday, Dec. 4, from 1-4 p.m. Volunteers will receive a brief training before planting red maple, sycamore, hackberry and other native trees. Light […]

PEAK Academy kicks off fundraising campaign

Press release from Asheville PEAK Academy:  Asheville PEAK Academy is raising funds to help close the achievement gap for underserved populations in Buncombe County through the creation of a tuition-free charter school. PEAK Academy, set to open in 2021, recently received a grant for startup costs and teacher and staff recruitment from Dogwood Health Trust. PEAK is […]

2020 Camping World Maui Invitational begins in Asheville on Monday, Nov. 30

Press release from the 2020 Camping World Maui Invitational:  For decades, the Maui Invitational has brought a three-day preview of the best of college basketball showcasing what’s to come during the season. Over the years, 131 teams that have started the season in the Maui Invitational have finished the year in the NCAA Tournament. One […]

Haywood County reports three COVID-19 outbreaks at congregate living facilities

Press release from the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency:  The Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency has identified COVID-19 outbreaks at Autumn Care of Waynesville, Maggie Valley Nursing & Rehabilitation, and Haywood Nursing & Rehabilitation. There are dozens of cases among residents and staff at Autumn Care and Maggie Valley Nursing & […]

Community Foundation of WNC approves $1.4 million in focus area grants

Press release from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina: The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina recently approved grants totaling $1,487,503 to nonprofits across the region.  The awards were made in CFWNC’s Early Childhood Development and People in Need focus areas. Seventy-four grants totaling $1,337,503 were awarded to nonprofits serving economically-disadvantaged populations across the Foundation’s […]

Local action to enhance executive orders to reduce transmission of COVID-19

Press release from Buncombe County Government: After seeing some stability only a couple of weeks ago, Buncombe County has identified 5,375 total cases of COVID-19. We are consistently adding 60 new cases a day on average. We now have experienced 125 COVID-19 related deaths – each one of these a neighbor of ours, a person […]

Samet Corporation to preserve iconic Enka clock tower

Press release from Samet Corporation: Samet Corporation announces plans to preserve the 92-year-old clock tower on its 32-acre building site in Asheville, North Carolina. “We are working with the owner’s representatives on an initiative to protect Enka Tower,” states Brian Hall, Samet Corporation’s Director of Development. “All parties involved in the development of this area […]

NC Arboretum launches ecoEXPLORE ornithology season for kids and families

Press release from NC Arboretum: ​ecoEXPLORE​, an initiative of The North Carolina Arboretum that encourages kids to connect with the outdoors and engage in citizen science, announces its Ornithology Season running December 1, 2020 ​– ​February 28, 2021. When participating in ecoEXPLORE, a family works to earn a variety of nature-themed badges and earns points […]

Walk of Fame Steering Committee accepting nominations

Press release from Walk of Fame Steering Committee: The Walk of Fame Steering Committee was established in 2016 by the Hendersonville City Council and Henderson County Board of Commissioners to honor those individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the quality of life in Henderson County – who have, indeed, cast a long […]

Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office looking for suspect in stolen mail investigation

Press release from Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office: As a result of an investigation conducted by Detectives in the Property Crimes Division of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, a total of 13 felony and 3 misdemeanor charges have been brought in connection with a series of mail thefts in the Candler community. The Sheriff’s Office is requesting […]

U.S. Forest Service project proposes additional access to Graveyard Fields trail system from Blue Ridge Parkway

Press release from National Park Service: The National Park Service (NPS) announced today it is partnering with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) on a project that includes a proposal for additional access to the Graveyard Fields trail system from John Rock Overlook at Milepost 419.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Currently access to Graveyard Fields is […]

Asheville City Schools to close all buildings through Dec. 11 for post-Thanksgiving quarantine

Press release from Asheville City Schools: As more medical experts predict Thanksgiving will be a superspreader of COVID-19, Dr. Gene has decided that all Asheville City Schools buildings will be closed the two weeks following our Thanksgiving Holiday (Monday, November 30th – Friday, December 11th).  We understand this is a change in our previous communication.  […]