Press release Forget the Doomsday prophets and end of the Mayan Calendar: One local group is coordinating an event tied into a Global 24-hour Celebration called “Birth 2012: A New Beginning,” with activities now planned in 26 countries — and that number is growing! Local organizers suggest that as many as 100 million people will […]
News Bulletins
Moffitt to head new committee on regulatory reform
Here’s an excerpt from the article published in the Raleigh News & Observer: House Speaker Thom Tillis on Wednesday announced his choices to lead key committees, elevating several second-term representatives to prominent positions. A new committee on regulatory reform will be chaired by Rep. Tim Moffitt, a Republican from Asheville, who is also beginning his […]
Riverlink touts 2012 accomplishments in holiday greeting
Full announcement from RiverLink: Santa takes to the waters of the French Broad to visit good little boys and girls across the watershed. Will he land near your house? Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at RiverLink — our staff, our board and our wonderful volunteers. Thanks for making 2012 a […]
Partners complete new shelter on the Appalachian Trail
Full announcement from the U.S. Forest Service: FRANKLIN, N.C., Dec. 18, 2012 – Hikers of the Appalachian Trail (AT) have a new shelter where they can rest their bones. The U.S. Forest Service today announced the completion of the Long Branch Shelter, located in the Standing Indian Basin in the Nantahala National Forest. “Thanks to […]
Emergency road closure: Orchard Street from Charlotte Street to Central Avenue
From the city of Asheville: EMERGENCY ROAD CLOSURE The City of Asheville has scheduled the following road closure for water valve and hydrant replacements, general system maintenance, or connection of a new water line by a contractor into the city’s water system. December 19, 2012 On Orchard Street from Charlotte Street to Central Avenue Road […]
Penland school announces retirement of longtime program director
From Penland School of Crafts: Dear Penland instructors and former resident artists, I am writing to share with you the news of an important transition taking place at Penland. Dana Moore, who has been Penland’s director of programs for 19 remarkable years, will be leaving this position on January 15. We salute her for unwavering […]
AdvantageWest secures clean energy grant for WNC
From AdvantageWest: A $130,000 grant from The Biofuels Center of North Carolina to a group of public and private partners led by AdvantageWest is providing “seed money” aimed at developing the clean energy industry in Western North Carolina. The Field to Fryer to Fuel (F3) project will pilot a new business model for the production […]
N.C. Gov. Perdue sets aside $1 million to help keep group-home residents in their homes
Press release from Gov. Perdue’s office Gov. Bev Perdue today announced her proposed solution for the consequences of a change in the way residents in group homes qualify for Medicaid-funded personal care services (PCS). The change is a result of the General Assembly’s budget and will lead to a significant number of group home residents […]
Heart attack protocol at Mission boosts survival rate, will be implemented at member hospitals
Press release From Mission Health ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Dec. 18, 2012) – As a 78-year-old woman sat with her husband in the parking lot of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital debating whether the “indigestion” she was experiencing warranted emergency care, she was moments away from an abrupt heart attack. Upon entering the emergency room, the woman suffered a heart […]
‘First Day Hikes’ to be offered at every North Carolina state park Jan. 1
Here’s the press releases from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources: RALEIGH – First Day Hikes will be offered in every North Carolina state park and state recreation area Jan. 1, giving everyone an opportunity to exercise and celebrate nature as a New Year’s Day tradition, according to the N.C. Division of Parks […]
Buncombe County recognized for food & nutrition pilot program
Here’s the info via the Buncombe County website: The first phase of the new NC FAST (Families Accessing Services through Technology) system was piloted in the spring and Buncombe County Health and Photo of BC HHS Food & Nutrition Supervisors Kelli Buckner & Karen Hart.Human Services has been recognized for their participation. NC FAST is […]
Golden LEAF announces grants to area community colleges
Press release from Golden LEAF Foundation The Golden LEAF Board of Directors recently awarded 9 grants totaling $5,723,130 through its Mid-Skills Workforce Training Initiative to help 14 community colleges deliver hands-on training in skill areas that are in demand by North Carolina companies. These projects will serve 25 counties across the state and target more […]
Let’s Talk Quilts: WNC Historical Association hosts Saturday, Jan. 12 interactive presentation
Press release from the WNC Historical Association The Western North Carolina Historical Association will host a presentation and open forum entitled “Let’s Talk Quilts,” presented by Connie Brown, an American Quilter’s Society Certified Appraiser. The program will be held at the Smith McDowell House Museum on Saturday, January 12, 2013, at 2:00 pm. Participants are […]
UNCA’s Great Smokies Writing Program Announces Spring Workshops
Press release from UNC Asheville News Service UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program (GSWP) announces its spring lineup of workshops for local writers in poetry and prose. Classes will be held in Asheville, Black Mountain, Burnsville and Hendersonville. 10-week courses for all writers: Prose Poetry – Poet Vievee Francis will lead a prose poem workshop […]
NC electors meet to vote for Republican Romney
From the Associated Press: Election Day was six weeks ago, but North Carolina is now officially making its choices for president and vice president. Fifteen Republicans were slated to gather at noon Monday in the old Capitol building in Raleigh as the state’s presidential electors. The electors are poised to cast the state’s official ballots […]
Hendersonville landmark ‘Drink Coke’ sign gets new paint job
From the Hendersonville Times-News The faded wall sign of a by-gone era that encouraged passersby to “Drink Coca-Cola” and “Meet me at the soda fountain” is coming back… with vigor. Its painter is too. “The people that do this like me, there ain’t many of them left, you see,” said veteran wall painter Andy Thompson, […]
Henderson County courts to hold 11 murder trials over next few months
According to the Hendersonville Times-News: Eleven murder cases stemming from crimes committed as far back as 2009 are currently making their way through the criminal justice system. Six of the killings were committed in 2012.
Local author publishes book about thru-hike of Appalachian Trail
Here’s the press release from Amy Allen: With the release of “Summoning the Mountains: Pilgrimage into Forty” Amy Allen may be the first to tell the story of hiking the Appalachian Trail from the perspective of a divorced, single mother hiking with her children. Amy’s hike was defined by limitations from the beginning. Returning to […]
Health-care prices soar as doctors move away from private practice, join hospitals (News&Observer)
from the Raleigh News&Observer “Doctors Join Hospitals, and Prices Soar,” Dec. 16, 2012, by BY JOSEPH NEFF, AMES ALEXANDER, KAREN GARLOCH AND DAVID RAYNOR In April, The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer published a five-part investigation showing how nonprofit hospitals in N.C. cities have become hugely profitable. Here’s the latest article in the […]
ACT: Nearly 2,000 Buncombe residents set to lose unemployment benefits if Congress doesn’t act
From the Asheville Citizen-Times “Thousands to Lose Unemployment Locally,” by Jon Ostendorff Nearly 2,000 people in Buncombe County will be without unemployment checks at the end of the month unless Congress moves to extend the program again. … Senate Democrats have said they would support another extension, though the push will probably be wrapped up […]
Asheville woman to buy a home with $150,000 lottery prize
Here’s the press release from the North Carolina Education Lottery: RALEIGH – Asheville resident Felicia Gordon plans to use the $150,000 she won playing the 10X the Payout game to purchase a new home. Gordon, a customer service phone representative, was sitting in her car on her lunch break when she scratched off the winning […]