Press release from ABCCM: The ongoing COVID-19 crisis is seriously affecting ABCCM’s ongoing efforts to provide food, medicine, healthcare and emergency assistance (rent, gas, and utilities) to the most vulnerable in Buncombe County. While the need for food and assistance has nearly doubled, volunteers have dropped off 70%. ABCCM is calling on the community for […]
News Bulletins
Republican second primary takes place June 23 with safeguards planned
Press release from N.C. State Board of Elections: The Republican second primary in the 11th Congressional District will take place as planned on June 23, with significant safeguards to protect against the spread of COVID-19. All three voting options in North Carolina – absentee by-mail, in-person early voting and in-person voting on Election Day – […]
New portal opens to file claims for COVID-19 testing and treatment of uninsured patients
Press release from N.C. Department of Health and Human Services: Health care providers and hospitals can use a new portal to request reimbursement for claims associated with COVID-19 testing and treatment of uninsured patients retroactive to Feb. 4, 2020. The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal was launched by the federal […]
Warren Wilson College plans virtual commencement ceremony
Press release from Warren Wilson College: Traditionally, when seniors graduate from Warren Wilson College, they receive an Eastern Hemlock sapling. The tree represents a new beginning. Just as each graduate leaves the College to go, lay down roots, and grow, the graduate is encouraged to plant this tree away from campus to represent their mark […]
The North Carolina Arboretum to reopen trails, May 9
Press release from the North Carolina Arboretum: The North Carolina Arboretum, a 434-acres public garden located in Asheville, will be reopening its trails on Saturday, May 9, in conjunction with the North Carolina’s lifting of its Stay at Home orders and phased reopening plan. Similar to Governor Cooper’s reopening plans, the Arboretum will be opening its […]
Biltmore Church to host multiple blood drives
Press release from Biltmore Church: Biltmore Church has partnered with The Blood Connection to host blood drives at three locations in Western North Carolina. Donors can give at Biltmore-Arden, Biltmore-Hendersonville, and Biltmore-Franklin on Monday, May 11 from 10am-6pm. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment to better control social distancing: https://thebloodconnection.org/biltmore-church. Addresses and hours are […]
Asheville Police Department seeks assistance identifying a suspect
Press release from APD: The Asheville Police Department is seeking assistance from the public to identify a suspect involved in an assault at the Rodeway Inn and Suites (9 Wedgefield Drive) on March 13. The suspect, described as a white male, was confronted by an employee of the inn after attempting to go behind the […]
Polk County reports first COVID-19 related death
Press release from Polk County: Polk County is reporting its first COVID-19 related death as of Wednesday, May 6, 2020. The person died Tuesday, May 5, 2020 from complications associated with COVID-19. To protect the family’s privacy, the Polk County Health and Human Services Agency is releasing no other information about the patient, other than […]
Cory Reeves named president and CEO for AdventHealth Hendersonville
Announcement from AdventHealth Hendersonville: May 6, 2020; HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. – AdventHealth has named Cory Reeves president and CEO for AdventHealth Hendersonville. Reeves assumed leadership on May 1. Reeves, who was serving as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the AdventHealth Southeast Region and for AdventHealth Gordon & Murray in Georgia, was selected to […]
WNC teachers named NCSU Kenan Fellows
Announcement from NC State University: Five Western NC Teachers have been named 2020-21 Kenan Fellows. The educators are among a group of 19 K-12 public school teachers from across North Carolina who have been selected to participate in the 2020-21 fellowship year. This summer, and throughout the year, the teachers will partner with local experts in agriculture, […]
Families impacted by COVID-19 encouraged to apply for WIC benefits
Announcement from the Henderson County Department of Public Health: Hendersonville, NC (May 6, 2020). The Henderson County Health Department invites families who have been impacted by COVID-19 to consider applying for benefits through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. WIC is supporting many newly eligible families due to the […]
Tima Williams named Asheville Primary School’s next principal
Announcement from Asheville City Schools: Following the May 4th meeting of the Asheville City Board of Education, Tima Williams has officially been named the new principal of Asheville Primary School. Effective July 1st, Ms. Williams will be returning to lead Western North Carolina’s first public Montessori school, which, as their 2017-2018 Innovation Coordinator, she helped […]
LEAF hosts virtual festival, May 15-17
Press release from LEAF: LEAF prepares to celebrate some of its greatest traditions, highlights, and community artists, as the 25-year festival goes virtual for the first time. Friday, May 15t h to Sunday, May 17t h , 2020 – LEAF welcomes the global community to come together and digitally experience world music, culture, and community […]
Ruafika Cobb named Ira B. Jones Elementary School’s next principal
Press release from the office of Asheville City Schools: Following the May 4th meeting of the Asheville City Board of Education, Ruafika Cobb has officially been named the new principal of Ira B. Jones Elementary School. Effective immediately, Cobb will begin her permanent position with Ira B. Jones where she’s “looking forward to continuing to […]
Blue Horizons Project Management bid opportunity now available
Press release from the City of Asheville: The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County, has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the management of the Blue Horizons Project. The RFP seeks to fund a local organization to oversee the implementation of the Blue Horizons Project. The goal of the project is to […]
WNC COVID Legal Hotline to offer free assistance on May 21
Press release from Buncombe County Bar: Several organizations are joining together to coordinate the WNC COVID Legal Hotline on Thursday, May 21st from 8am to 2pm. Through this hotline attorneys will offer free legal information and advice to Western North Carolinians affected by the pandemic. The Buncombe County Bar, Pisgah Legal Services, Legal Aid of […]
NC Food and Nutrition Services participants can now use EBT cards to purchase groceries online
Press release from North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: Starting today, North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) participants will be able to purchase groceries online using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards at authorized online EBT retailers. North Carolina is the 10th state to implement this flexibility, which will remain permanently in […]
Statewide Developmental Disabilities Council launches virtual road tour to “meet” communities
Press release from the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities: Starting Monday, May 11, the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) will hit the virtual road to gather input from individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities (I/DD), family members, caregivers and other stakeholders. The Conversations with the Council – Virtual Road Tour will help […]
UPDATED: APD has located missing person Janet Darlene Jump
Update from the Asheville Police Department: UPDATE (May 6, 2020): Janet Jump has been safely located. Press release from the Asheville Police Department: The Asheville Police Department (APD) is requesting assistance to locate a missing person, Janet Darlene Jump. Jump was last seen on April 24 in the area of Altamont Apartments in downtown Asheville. […]
Hola Community Arts is fundraising to support Latinx mothers impacted by COVID-19
Press release from Hola Community Arts: As a way to commemorate this Mother’s Day and to let Latinx mothers dealing with COVID-19 know they are remembered, four local groups have coalesced to raise money through Hola Community Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to support the Latinx community (www.holacommunityarts.org). The four groups, Extinction Rebellion WNC, Sunrise Movement […]
Pisgah Film House announces permanent closure
Letter from Pisgah Film House: Hello, you lovely cinephiles, Today, I’m writing to you with some very sad news. Sunday night, the Pisgah Film House board and I had a (virtual) meeting and, after much deliberation, made the difficult decision to close Pisgah Film House permanently. If you read no further, please know that it’s been a joy and […]