Calendar of Events

Join The Watchdog and a Panel of Experts to Discuss Possible Solutions for Restoring Quality Healthcare to Western North Carolina

Mission Health used to be one of the premier hospital systems in America, a magnet for top physicians and nurses, a provider of caring, quality care for patients, and a source of pride for the community.

Five years ago, Mission’s board of directors sold the system to HCA Healthcare of Nashville, promising that the sale to the hospital giant would lead to higher-quality, more accessible, and lower-cost healthcare for the people of western North Carolina.

Now, after five years of HCA management, there’s a broad consensus that the exact opposites have occurred. The question now is:

What can we, the citizens of western North Carolina, do to once again have the best-in-class, accessible, and affordable healthcare we used to expect?

Please join Asheville Watchdog and a panel of experts for a public discussion focused on solutions.

Confirmed panelists (L-R): State Sen. Julie Mayfield; Dr. R. Bruce Kelly, MD; Karen Sanders, MSN, RN; City of Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof. Moderator: Asheville Watchdog Exec. Editor Peter Lewis

Note: Executives of HCA Healthcare, Mission Health, the Dogwood Health Trust, and MAHEC all declined The Watchdog’s invitations to participate in this event.

The event is free, but all attendees are requested to register in advance. Space is limited. There will be no microphones on the floor; submit your question in advance.

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Live Staking Workshop

Do you have a stream on your property that has issues with erosion? Are you losing more and more of your yard every time it storms? Then live staking may be an appropriate, and cost effective, solution to repair your stream bank.

Live staking involves using dormant cuttings of fast rooting woody native plants to revegetate a stream bank, holding it in place and preventing erosion as the plant’s roots grow. A vegetated stream bank is essential for a healthy riparian buffer and to prevent erosion.

In this workshop, we will introduce live staking and stream repair including best practices and species to use, when to install, and where to get live stakes. We’ll then have a hands-on workshop in partnership with Mountain Valley’s RC&D to repair a section of stream bank along the Swannanoa River in Azalea Park.

Date: Friday, January 26th 

Time: 1pm-3pm

Location: Meet at overflow parking lot at Azalea Park (the empty field between the last soccer field and the dog park). — Parking here can be tricky. The best place to park is usually by the last soccer field closest to the overflow lot, here.

For questions, please email [email protected].

Bring your laptops and fully-charged cellphones for this in-person phone bank session! We will be making calls to increase voter participation throughout Buncombe County during these regularly scheduled phone banks on Monday evenings and Tuesday mornings.

If you don’t have a laptop, we have several at HQ, so just be sure to bring your email login information so we can get you started. If you already have an Action ID User ID & password, bring those as well. (If you don’t have one, we’ll help you get set up with one after you arrive.)

After making calls at HQ, you’ll be encouraged to continue making calls from the comfort of your home afterwards.

We will have plenty of refreshments on hand, and we hope you’ll keep coming back, because this phone banking community is growing and having lots of fun!

Who should attend: Democrats and left-leaning unaffiliated voters welcome!

Bring your laptops and fully-charged cellphones for this in-person phone bank session! We will be making calls to increase voter participation throughout Buncombe County during these regularly scheduled phone banks on Monday evenings and Tuesday mornings.

If you don’t have a laptop, we have several at HQ, so just be sure to bring your email login information so we can get you started. If you already have an Action ID User ID & password, bring those as well. (If you don’t have one, we’ll help you get set up with one after you arrive.)

After making calls at HQ, you’ll be encouraged to continue making calls from the comfort of your home afterwards.

We will have plenty of refreshments on hand, and we hope you’ll keep coming back, because this phone banking community is growing and having lots of fun!

Who should attend: Democrats and left-leaning unaffiliated voters welcome!

Volunteers are needed to attend all Buncombe County Board of Elections board meetings. Our presence demonstrates our support for the board, reduces the likelihood of intimidation by election deniers and will insure the board proceedings are documented in a timely manner.

We have a number of members attending these meetings, and they alternate who will be taking notes. Please sign up if you’re willing to attend and take a turn with note-taking.

As the March 5th primary nears, you’ll see that the hours of board meetings are long and we are not expecting anyone to stay beyond 2 hours. We are encouraging our attendees to coordinate shifts with each other. Please sign up for the days you can attend and plan for some flexibility please.

This is such an important contribution to protecting our democracy and honoring Buncombe County’s excellent Board of Elections!

Volunteers are needed to attend all Buncombe County Board of Elections board meetings. Our presence demonstrates our support for the board, reduces the likelihood of intimidation by election deniers and will insure the board proceedings are documented in a timely manner.

We have a number of members attending these meetings, and they alternate who will be taking notes. Please sign up if you’re willing to attend and take a turn with note-taking.

As the March 5th primary nears, you’ll see that the hours of board meetings are long and we are not expecting anyone to stay beyond 2 hours. We are encouraging our attendees to coordinate shifts with each other. Please sign up for the days you can attend and plan for some flexibility please.

This is such an important contribution to protecting our democracy and honoring Buncombe County’s excellent Board of Elections!

As a poll greeter, you are the last source of guidance and information before voters cross the threshold to the ballot box. Your presence matters.

Plan to attend a 1-hour poll greeting training where you learn how to greet, guide, and support our voters with needed information. Your trainer walks you through a step-by-step process and best practices to make the greatest impact on voters. You’ll have the opportunity to sign up for your best day(s) and time(s) with our Mobilize app.

Pruning techniques are essential for promoting the health and productivity of plants. Different techniques can control diseases, stimulate new growth, and maintain aesthetically pleasing landscapes. Join us as horticulture expert John Murphy teaches the basics of pruning.

As a poll greeter, you are the last source of guidance and information before voters cross the threshold to the ballot box. Your presence matters.

Plan to attend a 1-hour poll greeting training where you learn how to greet, guide, and support our voters with needed information. Your trainer walks you through a step-by-step process and best practices to make the greatest impact on voters. You’ll have the opportunity to sign up for your best day(s) and time(s) with our Mobilize app.

Bring your laptops and fully-charged cellphones for this in-person phone bank session! We will be making calls to increase voter participation throughout Buncombe County during these regularly scheduled phone banks on Monday evenings and Tuesday mornings.

If you don’t have a laptop, we have several at HQ, so just be sure to bring your email login information so we can get you started. If you already have an Action ID User ID & password, bring those as well. (If you don’t have one, we’ll help you get set up with one after you arrive.)

After making calls at HQ, you’ll be encouraged to continue making calls from the comfort of your home afterwards.

We will have plenty of refreshments on hand, and we hope you’ll keep coming back, because this phone banking community is growing and having lots of fun!

Who should attend: Democrats and left-leaning unaffiliated voters welcome!

Bring your laptops and fully-charged cellphones for this in-person phone bank session! We will be making calls to increase voter participation throughout Buncombe County during these regularly scheduled phone banks on Monday evenings and Tuesday mornings.

If you don’t have a laptop, we have several at HQ, so just be sure to bring your email login information so we can get you started. If you already have an Action ID User ID & password, bring those as well. (If you don’t have one, we’ll help you get set up with one after you arrive.)

After making calls at HQ, you’ll be encouraged to continue making calls from the comfort of your home afterwards.

We will have plenty of refreshments on hand, and we hope you’ll keep coming back, because this phone banking community is growing and having lots of fun!

Who should attend: Democrats and left-leaning unaffiliated voters welcome!

Volunteers are needed to attend all Buncombe County Board of Elections board meetings. Our presence demonstrates our support for the board, reduces the likelihood of intimidation by election deniers and will insure the board proceedings are documented in a timely manner.

We have a number of members attending these meetings, and they alternate who will be taking notes. Please sign up if you’re willing to attend and take a turn with note-taking.

As the March 5th primary nears, you’ll see that the hours of board meetings are long and we are not expecting anyone to stay beyond 2 hours. We are encouraging our attendees to coordinate shifts with each other. Please sign up for the days you can attend and plan for some flexibility please.

This is such an important contribution to protecting our democracy and honoring Buncombe County’s excellent Board of Elections!

Volunteers are needed to attend all Buncombe County Board of Elections board meetings. Our presence demonstrates our support for the board, reduces the likelihood of intimidation by election deniers and will insure the board proceedings are documented in a timely manner.

We have a number of members attending these meetings, and they alternate who will be taking notes. Please sign up if you’re willing to attend and take a turn with note-taking.

As the March 5th primary nears, you’ll see that the hours of board meetings are long and we are not expecting anyone to stay beyond 2 hours. We are encouraging our attendees to coordinate shifts with each other. Please sign up for the days you can attend and plan for some flexibility please.

This is such an important contribution to protecting our democracy and honoring Buncombe County’s excellent Board of Elections!

As a poll greeter, you are the last source of guidance and information before voters cross the threshold to the ballot box. Your presence matters.

Plan to attend a 1-hour poll greeting training where you learn how to greet, guide, and support our voters with needed information. Your trainer walks you through a step-by-step process and best practices to make the greatest impact on voters. You’ll have the opportunity to sign up for your best day(s) and time(s) with our Mobilize app.