ASAP’s Appalachian Farms Feeding Families program gets fresh, healthy food to people who need it—while also fairly compensating farmers. Through this new initiative, ASAP is facilitating direct connections between farms and relief efforts that might not otherwise be logistically feasible and helping to offset costs. The first phase of the project will focus on rural communities, which are further away from centralized food resources, and the intent of the project is to reach every county in Western North Carolina.

Farms and relief agencies who would like to participate should start by filling out interest forms on asapconnections.org. Support for the Appalachian Farms Feeding Families comes from the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund. Donations may be made at asapconnections.org.

We are trying to see if there is enough interest in a Zoom class for Adult Improv, taught by Tom Chalmers. If you would be interested in this, please fill out the interest form. Thank you!

As coronavirus restrictions are loosened, sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway will reopen to drivers as soon as “seasonal mowing and road preparations” are complete, according to a release from parkway spokeswoman Leesa Brandon.

On May 9, the southernmost 14 miles of the Parkway, from Milepost 454-469, will reopen in coordination with the Qualla Boundary and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Gates to longer stretches of the Parkway will be opened May 15 — as long as maintenance projects in that area are completed:

• Milepost 292-296.5 near Blowing Rock, including Moses Cone Parking Area and Hwy 221 Bass Lake Parking Lot.
• Milepost 298.6-308 through Grandfather Mountain area, including Rough Ridge and Linn Cove Viaduct.
• Milepost 316.4 Linville Falls Spur Road, including parking at Linville Falls trailheads.
• Milepost 334-342 including Crabtree Falls Area, near Little Switzerland.
• Milepost 355-375.6 from Mt. Mitchell to Ox Creek, including Craggy Gardens.
• Milepost 377.4 Parking areas at Craven Gap (Town Mountain Rd) for MST Trail access.
• Milepost 384.7 Roadside parking at MST Trailheads at US 74A Parkway access ramps.
• Milepost 393-454 from French Broad River Overlook and south to Soco Gap.

BMC favorite Gil Shaham shares a special at-home performance of the first movement of the Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043. Adele Anthony performs the violin 1 solo, Shaham performs the violin 2 solo, and colleagues Colin Jacobsen (violin, viola) and Eric Jacobsen (cello) supply the orchestral accompaniment.

COVID-19 has led to local youth sports leagues canceling spring and summer schedules due to physical distancing and mass gathering limitations. Buncombe County’s Independence Day celebration at Lake Julian Park has also been scrapped this year under the same guidance. All other local municipalities have also canceled or rescheduled their annual Independence Day festivals.

1. Normal routine cleaning with soap and water will decrease how much of the virus is on surfaces and objects, which reduces the risk of exposure.
2. Disinfection using EPA-approved disinfectants against COVID-19 external icon can also help reduce the risk. Frequent disinfection of surfaces and objects touched by multiple people is important.
3. When EPA-approved disinfectants external icon are not available, alternative disinfectants can be used (for example, 1/3 cup of bleach added to 1 gallon of water, or 70% alcohol solutions). Do not mix bleach or other cleaning and disinfection products together. This can cause fumes that may be very dangerous to breathe in. Keep all disinfectants out of the reach of children.

Coronavirus in North Carolina: Daily status updates

As we ease into the Stay Home, Stay Safe Phase 2, Buncombe County Public Health has provided public health messaging and guidance for industry and local businesses to use in their operations. Please click the links below to download printable files.

For more information, Buncombe County and the City of Asheville are operating the Ready Team call center. The Ready Team can assist with business and general questions about COVID-19 and Buncombe County’s Stay Safe, Stay Home Order. To ensure that there are options for Spanish, Russian, and multiple other languages, the Ready Team is working with United Way’s call center. The Ready Team call center operates Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Call (828) 419-0095 or email [email protected].

The Asheville Downtown Association, Asheville Grown Business Alliance and Asheville Independent Restaurant Association have teamed up to release a COVID-19 Downtown Business Census. The results from the survey will be instrumental in helping us prioritize business needs as we move into Phase Two of reopening.   The survey only takes about 10 minutes to complete and we need your responses quickly so that we can address needs immediately. We’re asking that you complete the survey by Friday, May 29. We understand that answers may change with time. Please answer to the best of your capabilities and for your present situation.   Please click here to access the survey.

With over 30 members, Downtown Asheville Arts District (DAAD) is comprised of cultural centers, festivals, galleries, museums, retail shops, theatres, and tours — all located within a mile radius of historic downtown Asheville. Our mission is to promote visual and performing arts in all its forms.

We welcome you to our first virtual festival! Please enjoy a holiday weekend full of music, art, and theatre, and get to know the various arts businesses and organizations who bring inspiration to every corner of Asheville.

For more information about DAAD and its members, please visit https://www.downtownavlarts.com/

“We are heartbroken to have to make this decision,” said producing artistic director Lisa K. Bryant. “With state-mandated limitations on gathering sizes for the foreseeable future, as well as recent information that union rules for actors returning to work may not even be issued until summer, it is now clear we cannot reopen in mid-July as we had hoped. The right decision for the long-term health of the Playhouse and for our patrons is to move the entire 2020 season to 2021.” This decision was ratified unanimously by the Playhouse Board of Trustees.

The Craft Futures Fund will fund up to $30,000 each month from May 2020 – October 2020 to support craft-based education projects. These one-time, unrestricted grants of $5,000 will be disbursed to craft-based education projects that envision and build new futures for craft.

How to Work from Home Efficiently with Kids
http://wfmdepot.com/how-to-work-from-home-efficiently-with-kids/

• Parks and Recreation Indoor Facilities are Closed until further notice.
• Park Playgrounds are Closed until further notice.
• Park Restrooms will reopen on Friday May 8th at 5:00pm.
• Outdoor Tennis and Pickleball Courts will reopen on Friday May 8th at 5:00pm.
  • If you are waiting to use a court please wait outside of the fence or in your vehicle.
  • If others are waiting to use a court please keep your playing time to 60 minutes.
• Outdoor Parks remain Open.
• Fields and shelters are Open, however groups must kept to 25 people or less.  If you are waiting to use a field or shelter please do not wait in the immediate area; please wait outside of the field or shelter in an open area or in your vehicle.

If you choose to utilize Henderson County Parks please be respectful of other users, keep your group to 25 or less and provide others with appropriate social distancing.  PLEASE NOTE that the trails at Hickory Nut Gorge are controlled by Conserving Carolina and they have closed them until further notice.

It’s May 1st, and you know what that means! That’s right, a whole month of mindfulness aimed at reducing plastic usage in our lives. For years, Asheville GreenWorks has worked at #goingplasticfree, and this year will be no different. Starting Monday, May 4th, we’ll be releasing daily blog posts from our staff, members of the Plastic Reduction Task Force, and other zero waste advocates in Buncombe County. There will be repurposing and upcycling challenges, a special screening of The Story of Plastic, and a Trivia Night testing your knowledge of the topics we cover throughout the month. Daily posts can be found on our website, as well as on our Going Plastic Free Facebook Page. And, in case you miss a post, we will send out a weekly digest to keep you up to date on the week’s happenings. And we’re including a calendar in today’s newsletter to give you a sneak preview of the month’s events. Now, more than ever, we are challenged to find the fine balance between safety, cleanliness, and waste reduction. Thank you for your commitment to Asheville GreenWorks; we can’t wait to share another amazing Mind Your Plastic May with you.

Moogmentum in Place is an upcoming series of fundraising live stream events, from May 9th- May 31st, celebrating Bob Moog’s 86th birthday and the one year anniversary of the Moogseum.

Moogmentum In Place will feature performances, musical and technical insights, and question and answer sessions with a prodigious and varied group of legendary musicians, composers, and music technologists. All events will be streamed from the Foundation’s Facebook page where attendees from around the world will have the opportunity to donate in any amount.

Moogmentum In Place will feature film composers and synthesists Alex Wurman (May 9th) and Michael Whalen (May 17th), renowned keyboardist and musical director Greg Phillinganes (May 15th), former Earth, Wind & Fire keyboardist Larry Dunn interviewed by Jerry Kovarsky (May 21st), theremin virtuoso and music technologist Randy George (May 23rd), and electro-acoustic violist/composer Martha Mooke (May 28th). A virtual tour of the Moogseum and other events are also planned. Further information about each event will be released the week prior to it occurring.