After being cancer-free for six years, Penny Stollery recently hiked from the edge of Gatlinburg to Mount LeConte with friends to mark the end of five years of hormonal therapy. But as she stood on the mountain, the oncology nurse practitioner says she recognized that life after cancer is its own battle — and one that is seldom discussed. (photo courtesy of Penny Stollery)
With an oven, microwave, refrigerator and stove, the training kitchen inside of Mission Health’s recently opened Low Vision Center at Asheville’s Industries for the Blind looks no different from any other kitchen. However, for Tony West, he sees the kitchen differently — primarily through smell and touch. (Above, Tony West works at Industries for the Blind in Asheville. Photo by Caitlin Byrd)
Michael Johnson and his wife Stephanie of Clearlight Yoga invite Asheville to practice on and off the mat to heal the self and benefit the community. This is the 10th post in the yoga series, Asana Xpress.
When you’re taking care of someone with dementia, there’s no such thing as just getting away for a few days, says Asheville resident Thomas Stern, who’s had extensive caregiving experience. To help address such challenges, Stern is launching AV.E Health and, beginning in January, the company will offer assisted vacations at the Grove Park Inn for people with dementia and their family caregivers.
After Mission Health announced its two most recent affiliations with Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Rutherford Regional Medical System, Xpress looked into what defines these hospital agreements and how the story of hospital mergers, affiliations and consolidations has become a common tale across the state and the country.
Founded in 2005, the Asheville-Buncombe Drug Commission completed its first annual report. The report, which attempts to give a current look at substance abuse in Buncombe County and provide a plan to address it, was released yesterday, Oct. 15. A link to the report can be found in this post. (Image shown is a screenshot taken of the report itself)
Sadie Ranen, 21, and sister Maggie Ranen, 18, love to play with acrobatics and yoga through the practice of AcroYoga outside of Asheville Yoga Donation Studio. Here, they demonstrate Urdvha Dhanurasana, or Wheel Pose. This is the ninth post in the yoga series by freelance writer Kate Lundquist. (Photos by Kate Lundquist.)
Local physician Sesalie Smathers writes about what it means to treat breast cancer on a day-to-day basis, and gives the community facts about this disease during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Rich Risbridger, 38, circus performer and yoga instructor, inspires a playful attitude in his yoga classes. Here, he demonstrates full Hanumanasana in downtown Asheville. This is the eighth post in the yoga series by freelance writer Kate Lundquist.
Homeless, stressed and dealing with a family crisis, the woman hardly seemed a goddess when she entered the Neil Dobbins Center in Asheville. But for drug-and-alcohol counselor Lori Greenberg, this woman would become her muse. This May, Greenberg founded the Aurora Studio & Gallery for artists struggling with mental illness, addiction and homelessness. She hopes to open the studio sometime next year in the River Arts District. (Photo by Caitlin Byrd)
Whether you’re overweight or underweight, young or old, active or a couch potato, neither family history nor genetics necessarily predict whether someone will have Type 1 diabetes. Asheville’s SuzinBean Sweeney talks about her experience with the disease — and a children’s book she’s written about it.
Local resident Katie Souris shares her journey in learning to deal with Type 1 diabetes: “Weaving together … different parts of myself comes up repeatedly as I continue my journey from rejection to resentment to acceptance to embracing diabetes in my life.”
Editor’s note: Five years after Xpress broke the news of severe contamination at the former CTS plant in south Asheville (see “Fail-Safe?” July 11, 2007, Xpress) the story is far from over. The property was officially designated a Superfund site this year, and tests last month showed high levels of toxic chemicals still leaching from […]
Julia Lehr, yoga instructor and yoga lead for wellness crew at Warren Wilson College, offers free yoga classes and inspiration for students. Here, she demonstrates low lunge. This is the seventh in the yoga series by freelance writer Kate Lundquist.
Released today, audits from the past 5 years show Mission Health has complied fully with regulations outlined in the state-issued Certificate of Public Advantage. Issued by the state in 1995, the COPA allowed Mission to merge with St. Josephs Hospital — if Mission agreed to state regulation. Voluntarily, Mission agreed and has been in the agreement ever since. However, earlier this year, Mission Health urged the House Select Committee on the Certificate of Need Process and Hospital Issues to reconsider.
The commissioners will cast the final vote on a plan to reevaluate property values and consider a report on the county’s “Know Your Numbers Incentive” program, which aims to improve employee health.
Ryan Kelly, a natural products researcher and yoga instructor, reminds her students to slow down the pace to observe the effects. Here, she demonstrates downward facing dog, the sixth in a yoga series by freelance writer Kate Lundquist.
It’s rehearsal time at the Open Hearts Art Center in West Asheville, the nonprofit, community-based art program, which serves adults with disabilities. The center is the only one of its kind in the area, and will hold its annual talent show/fundraiser on Wednesday, Sept. 19. (Photo by Caitlin Byrd)
Whether it was talk about the tax revaluation facing Buncombe County or the new tax rates coming from the Affordable Care Act, presentations at the Sept. 7 Council of Independent Business Owners breakfast focused on how these changes could impact the wallets of local business owners. These are the highlights. (Photo of Scott Huges, above, and Gary Roberts by Caitlin Byrd)
Asheville participates, for the third year, in a campaign to raise awareness about ovarian cancer symptoms and risks.
Heidi Vaught, 27, yoga instructor, demonstrates upward facing dog in Pack Square. This is the fifth post in the yoga series by freelance writer, Kate Lundquist. (Photos by Kate Lundquist)
