Calendar of Events

Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

May 2020 May 2020
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Thursday, May 21, 2020
Virtual Tai Chi Class with Dr. Adam Potts
May 21 @ 10:00 am – 10:45 am
online

Image may contain: 1 person, standing, possible text that says 'Free Virtual Tai Chi Class with Dr. .Adam Every Thursday at 10 AM Potts'

Enjoy learning Tai Chi from your own home with Dr. Adam Potts. Adam has been teaching the Tai Chi class for Veterans at Pack Memorial Library. Now that the library is closed, Adam will be hosting free online classes for everyone to access.
Adam is a former US Marine who served 2 tours in Iraq. He is now a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Tai Chi Instructor.

– Build Strength, Balance, and Coordination
– Relieve Stress, Anxiety, and Depression for Well Being
– Connect with eachother enjoying a fitness class with others virtually
-Ability to connect with Adam and ask any questions you may have regarding the class

Class will be held through the ZOOM platform, when you register, you will receive a link in your email to access the class. You must register for the class to get the password and link. Class will be every Thursday and each class will require a new registration. Visit our online events calendar at buncombecounty.org/library and select the Thursday dates you’d like to attend, click sign up, and check your email for an automatic message with the Zoom information.

Tai Chi is appropriate for children, but we insist that an adult participate with the child. Class is fit for the entire family!
This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Read more
Categories: Health & Wellness
Friday, May 22, 2020
Buncombe County COVID-19 Testing Information
May 22 all-day
online

COVID-19 Testing

NOTE: Please see attached documents for Community- Based Testing Dates and Locations. 

General COVID-19 Testing Information: 

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.

MAHEC Family Health Center

Call (828) 257-4730

Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Range Urgent Care

Please go online or call before you arrive.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Symptoms Include: 

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
When to Seek Medical Attention

If you have any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.

Testing is available to everyone regardless of their race, income, gender, ethnicity, citizenship status, or religion. COVID-19 testing will not impact your ability to receive future public assistance benefits or public charge status.

 

Community Based Testing Sites:
Community based testing sites are now in rotation throughout the community. Please see attached documents for more information.

Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker: Connect to Testing, Contribute to Data Collection
May 22 all-day
online

Contribute to Data Collection

Please see the below PDFs for Russian and Spanish translations.

Help do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 with Buncombe County’s new COVID-19 Self-Checker. This automated system provides two valuable community assets: Clear guidance for anyone feeling symptomatic and data that will help Buncombe County determine when it’s safe to begin the first phases of reopening. “If you’re experiencing COVID like symptoms, or are concerned about a possible exposure, Self-Checker is the most convenient way for you to get guidance on what your next steps need to be and can connect you to individual level follow-up from healthcare professionals,” explains Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Fletcher Tove. “The information we compile with this tool will also assist Public Health in anticipating surges on our healthcare systems and help coordinate our testing and contact tracing efforts as we work to reopen our community.”

Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker is a quick, confidential, easy-to-use assessment tool you can use online or by phone to help determine if you have COVID-19 and how you can proceed to get medical care. This helps public health experts better understand how the virus is spreading in Buncombe County and allows medical experts and local leaders make the best possible, data-driven decisions to protect everyone.

How Self-Checker* works:

  • Head to buncombecounty.org/covid-19, and click on the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker banner.
  • Share information about your health, any symptoms you are having, and your health history.
  • If your results indicate you need testing, we will connect you with testing and other support to keep you as safe as possible. If you are symptomatic, we will continue to follow up with you every day for 7-10 days after completing the Self-Checker.
  • You can also use Self-Checker by calling the Ready Team at (828) 419-0095, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

“The goal of the Self-Checker is to connect those in need to COVID-19 testing, offer additional support, follow up to ensure people are healthy and safe, and gather information about the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” notes Buncombe County Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore. Public Health urges anyone with questions about whether they have COVID-19 to use Self-Checker. “This also allows us to conserve healthcare resources, protective equipment, and supplies while keeping people at home and away from others if they potentially have COVID-19,” says Dr. Mullendore.

The information collected from Self-Checker will give public health officials daily and weekly reports that will be key to customizing how we respond locally. It will also provide crucial data to government officials as they continue to inform the public about the next steps for reopening Buncombe County.

The Self-Checker is a partnership between Buncombe County and North Carolina State University. Additionally, partners in our community have helped to develop and test the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker and their efforts ensure language accessibility and ease of use. The Self-Checker is available online in Spanish and Russian and can be taken over the phone in multiple languages via 211.

 

Read more
Categories: Health & Wellness
CDC Reopening Guidance: Cleaning + Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, + Homes
May 22 all-day
online
The CDC has published guidance intended to assist businesses in preparing to reopen while enacting procedures that will continue to maintain social distancing and cleaning to limit the exposure to Coronavirus.
This guidance is part of the broader government plan to reopen businesses and offers guidance on cleanliness practices for public spaces. This guidance provides a general framework for cleaning and disinfection practices. The framework is based on doing the following:
  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.
Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
The Blood Connection FREE COVID-19 Antibody Testing for Blood Donors
May 22 all-day
varies
The Blood Connection will now be offering FREE COVID-19 Antibody Testing. The COVID-19 Antibody Test will test a sample of each donor’s blood to see if it contains COVID-19 antibodies. This will be offered to TBC blood donors at all blood donation centers and mobiles across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, at no cost. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment first, to maintain adequate social distancing.
Some important things to note:

· This is NOT a test to determine if the donor is infected with COVID-19. Positive test results do not confirm COVID-19 infection or immunity. A positive antibody result is indicative of the body’s immune response to COVID-19.

· This test is only available to those who complete a whole blood, platelet, or plasma donation where samples are successfully collected.

· The results of a COVID-19 Antibody Test will be posted on the donor’s TBC online portal in seven business days of their donation.

· More information about this testing: https://thebloodconnection.org/antibody-testing/

· Appointments can be made at thebloodconnection.org, click DONATE NOW.

Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Updated Covid-19 Buncombe County Testing Sites
May 22 all-day
Buncombe County

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Testing guidance for COVID-19 has expanded to encourage the following individuals to get tested for COVID-19 at one of the locations listed below or at a community testing site.

The new guidance recommends that clinicians test any patient in whom COVID-19 is suspected.

  • Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
  • Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms
  • Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
  • Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
  • Persons who come from historically marginalized populations
  • Health care workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
  • Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

  • Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.
  • MAHEC Family Health Center
  • Call (828) 257-4730
  • Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

  • Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Mission My Care Now

  • Mission Health’s Virtual Clinic at www.missionhealth.org/virtualclinic can direct you to COVID-19 testing
  • Most insurance plans will reimburse the costs
  • $25 virtual visit fee
  • Additional lab fee (if tested)

Range Urgent Care

Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
White House Launches Opening America Website
May 22 all-day
website
The White House has unveiled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts. Employers are encouraged to adhere to the following at all phases:
  • Develop and implement appropriate policies, in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations and guidance, and informed by industry best practices, regarding:
  • Social distancing and protective equipment
  • Temperature checks
  • Sanitation
  • Use and disinfection of common and high-traffic areas
  • Business travel
  • Monitor workforce for indicative symptoms. Do not allow symptomatic people to physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for workforce contact tracing following employee COVID+ test.
The full guidelines can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica.
Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
YMCA Opens indoor + outdoor pools, outdoor group exercise + summer day camp June 1
May 22 all-day
YMCA various locations
While the doors of our wellness centers remain closed, other doors are opening even wider. Beginning June 1:
  • We are excited to welcome you back to pool season. Indoor pools will reopen at the Asheville YMCA, Black Mountain YMCA, Corpening Memorial YMCA, Hendersonville Family YMCA, and the Reuter Family YMCA. We will also open Patton Pool in Hendersonville.
  • We are excited to kick off a series of outdoor group exercise classes while continuing to provide virtual classes you can enjoy at home.
  • Summer day camp will return to give children ages 5-12 fun and adventure.
Please check ymcawnc.org, the YMCA of WNC mobile app, and social media for updates on hours, schedules, and safety measures.
We know that for a while longer, visits to restaurants, stores, and even our Y will feel a bit different. We’ve worked with health experts and our local health department to prepare our facilities for your safe return. We’re grateful for your understanding and for the concern you’ve shared for our staff who are stepping up during this pandemic to feed our community, provide emergency child care, make wellness calls to seniors feeling isolated, help people stay healthy at home, and organize blood and supply drives. We remain grateful to our members and donors for continuing to #StayWithUs as we continue to serve our neighbors when they need us most.
Read more
Categories: Community Sports
Adventure Center of Asheville Kolo Bike Park has reopened
May 22 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Adventure Center of Asheville

Kolo Bike Park has reopened with amended attendance and safety precautions. The current operating days and hours will be Thursday to Sunday weekly with 2 riding sessions daily at 10:00-2:00 and 2:00-6:00. We have received notification from the Buncombe County Health & Human Services Department that our bike trails can operate with certain conditions.

Currently, the aerial activities are closed. May 13, we are planning to open the Asheville Treetops Adventure Park. Then we plan to open the Ziplines soon after that.

If you are interested in riding at Kolo Bike Park, please check out our current safety rules and regulations. We highly recommend reservations, payment and waivers to be completed prior to arrival.

Looking Forward or #ashevillelookingforward, we are building new Bike Trails, starting a Kolo Bike Program for younger kids, and have added a new intermediate trail on the Treetops Park. And we have a fun Halloween surprise in store for our younger guests.

As a locally owned family business, we look to the future…….

1. Keep your plans and reservations in place. We are only planning to be closed as long as we have to keep our Guests and employees safe. If your activity date happens at a time when we are closed, we will contact you.

2. If we need to cancel your upcoming activity, consider a credit vs. refund. That allows us to keep the facility and team ready to go when we do reopen. We continue to have expenses even while we are closed including preparing the gear/facility for the season and paying our leadership team. Your support will help us keep this great family facility alive and strong for the next 10 years.

3. Book reservations for May 13 or later for the Treetops Park or May 20 or later for the Zipline.

4. Buy gift certificates today for you, friends, or family. They don’t expire and they are great gifts all year long. That continuance of cashflow will help us all keep the economy going.

5. Keep planning for summer camps. We are planning a great summer with four different day camp options. We have returning camp counselors, new trails for bikes and a new aerial trail in the Treetops Park. And announcing our 2 new Kolo Advanced Shred Summer Sessions for ages 13-17 to develop their fundamental skills by advanced pro level riders. Call our office or book online (fees apply when booking online.) 828.225.2921

6. Group sales is still taking reservations for the future at [email protected]. A group adventure in the Trees (Zipping or Climbing the Treetops Park) or on the ground (team building or mountain bike riding) will be a great way to reconnect with co-workers, students, families and youth groups.

7. Check out our Blog with updated ACA information

We greatly appreciate the thousands of families, groups of friends, couples, young adults, schools, businesses, churches, camps and so many more that are part of our adventure family. We are where we were yesterday and where we will be a month from now because of you. Your support allows our team to do what we love to do while helping you do the same. We look forward to getting back to normal again. Stay safe and well!

Jeff Greiner
Adventure Center of Asheville
www.advavl.com

Read more
Categories: Family Fun Outdoors Sports
SoCon Baseball Tournament
May 22 @ 10:00 am
Fluor Field

Image

Read more
Categories: Sports
Free Mixed Level Pilates Mat Class Online
May 22 @ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
online

Join Alexis from Cisco Pilates Asheville for free online Pilates mat classes! The class is beginner friendly.

To sign up for the class, visit https://ciscopilates.as.me/free-pilates-mat-class

Pilates is for every BODY…no matter your age, gender, or physical ability, give it a try in the comfort of your own home.

These classes are offered to the public free of charge thanks to the support of the Friends of the Library.

Read more
Categories: Health & Wellness
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Buncombe County COVID-19 Testing Information
May 23 all-day
online

COVID-19 Testing

NOTE: Please see attached documents for Community- Based Testing Dates and Locations. 

General COVID-19 Testing Information: 

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.

MAHEC Family Health Center

Call (828) 257-4730

Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Range Urgent Care

Please go online or call before you arrive.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Symptoms Include: 

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
When to Seek Medical Attention

If you have any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.

Testing is available to everyone regardless of their race, income, gender, ethnicity, citizenship status, or religion. COVID-19 testing will not impact your ability to receive future public assistance benefits or public charge status.

 

Community Based Testing Sites:
Community based testing sites are now in rotation throughout the community. Please see attached documents for more information.

Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker: Connect to Testing, Contribute to Data Collection
May 23 all-day
online

Contribute to Data Collection

Please see the below PDFs for Russian and Spanish translations.

Help do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 with Buncombe County’s new COVID-19 Self-Checker. This automated system provides two valuable community assets: Clear guidance for anyone feeling symptomatic and data that will help Buncombe County determine when it’s safe to begin the first phases of reopening. “If you’re experiencing COVID like symptoms, or are concerned about a possible exposure, Self-Checker is the most convenient way for you to get guidance on what your next steps need to be and can connect you to individual level follow-up from healthcare professionals,” explains Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Fletcher Tove. “The information we compile with this tool will also assist Public Health in anticipating surges on our healthcare systems and help coordinate our testing and contact tracing efforts as we work to reopen our community.”

Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker is a quick, confidential, easy-to-use assessment tool you can use online or by phone to help determine if you have COVID-19 and how you can proceed to get medical care. This helps public health experts better understand how the virus is spreading in Buncombe County and allows medical experts and local leaders make the best possible, data-driven decisions to protect everyone.

How Self-Checker* works:

  • Head to buncombecounty.org/covid-19, and click on the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker banner.
  • Share information about your health, any symptoms you are having, and your health history.
  • If your results indicate you need testing, we will connect you with testing and other support to keep you as safe as possible. If you are symptomatic, we will continue to follow up with you every day for 7-10 days after completing the Self-Checker.
  • You can also use Self-Checker by calling the Ready Team at (828) 419-0095, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

“The goal of the Self-Checker is to connect those in need to COVID-19 testing, offer additional support, follow up to ensure people are healthy and safe, and gather information about the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” notes Buncombe County Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore. Public Health urges anyone with questions about whether they have COVID-19 to use Self-Checker. “This also allows us to conserve healthcare resources, protective equipment, and supplies while keeping people at home and away from others if they potentially have COVID-19,” says Dr. Mullendore.

The information collected from Self-Checker will give public health officials daily and weekly reports that will be key to customizing how we respond locally. It will also provide crucial data to government officials as they continue to inform the public about the next steps for reopening Buncombe County.

The Self-Checker is a partnership between Buncombe County and North Carolina State University. Additionally, partners in our community have helped to develop and test the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker and their efforts ensure language accessibility and ease of use. The Self-Checker is available online in Spanish and Russian and can be taken over the phone in multiple languages via 211.

 

Read more
Categories: Health & Wellness
CDC Reopening Guidance: Cleaning + Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, + Homes
May 23 all-day
online
The CDC has published guidance intended to assist businesses in preparing to reopen while enacting procedures that will continue to maintain social distancing and cleaning to limit the exposure to Coronavirus.
This guidance is part of the broader government plan to reopen businesses and offers guidance on cleanliness practices for public spaces. This guidance provides a general framework for cleaning and disinfection practices. The framework is based on doing the following:
  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.
Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
The Blood Connection FREE COVID-19 Antibody Testing for Blood Donors
May 23 all-day
varies
The Blood Connection will now be offering FREE COVID-19 Antibody Testing. The COVID-19 Antibody Test will test a sample of each donor’s blood to see if it contains COVID-19 antibodies. This will be offered to TBC blood donors at all blood donation centers and mobiles across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, at no cost. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment first, to maintain adequate social distancing.
Some important things to note:

· This is NOT a test to determine if the donor is infected with COVID-19. Positive test results do not confirm COVID-19 infection or immunity. A positive antibody result is indicative of the body’s immune response to COVID-19.

· This test is only available to those who complete a whole blood, platelet, or plasma donation where samples are successfully collected.

· The results of a COVID-19 Antibody Test will be posted on the donor’s TBC online portal in seven business days of their donation.

· More information about this testing: https://thebloodconnection.org/antibody-testing/

· Appointments can be made at thebloodconnection.org, click DONATE NOW.

Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Updated Covid-19 Buncombe County Testing Sites
May 23 all-day
Buncombe County

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Testing guidance for COVID-19 has expanded to encourage the following individuals to get tested for COVID-19 at one of the locations listed below or at a community testing site.

The new guidance recommends that clinicians test any patient in whom COVID-19 is suspected.

  • Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
  • Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms
  • Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
  • Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
  • Persons who come from historically marginalized populations
  • Health care workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
  • Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

  • Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.
  • MAHEC Family Health Center
  • Call (828) 257-4730
  • Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

  • Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Mission My Care Now

  • Mission Health’s Virtual Clinic at www.missionhealth.org/virtualclinic can direct you to COVID-19 testing
  • Most insurance plans will reimburse the costs
  • $25 virtual visit fee
  • Additional lab fee (if tested)

Range Urgent Care

Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
VIRTUAL The Collier Lily Ride for The NC Outward Bound School
May 23 all-day
NEW Wedge Brewing Company
RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Due to the uncertainty of group gatherings because of COVID-19, North Carolina Outward Bound School and iDaph Events have decided to make the 2020 Collier Lilly Ride a virtual ride.

We hope you will still join us on May 23 for a bike ride around your area. If you don’t bike, go for a run or walk. There is no registration fee and no required number of miles. This event is for everyone to get outside, enjoy fresh air and support NCOBS, while safely social distancing. You do not need any special equipment or applications.

If you can, please consider a donation in an amount equal to the number of miles that you complete on May 23.

Please tag us in your photos and use the hashtag #CollierLillyRide on social media.

We look forward to being back together with all our amazing riders in 2021!

North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) is hosting a half century bike ride in honor of Collier Lilly. The ride offers a beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain route, the 50 mile half century with 3,600 feet of climbing, that will start and end at the NEW Wedge Brewing Company location in Asheville. In keeping with Outward Bound’s bedrock principles of “challenge and discovery,” the Collier Lilly Ride for NCOBS will take riders over challenging mountain passes and allow them to discover scenic roads for the first time. This exciting event is being held on Memorial Day Weekend. Since 2003 thousands of riders have participated in the Collier Lilly Ride, an annual recreational bike ride honoring the memory of Collier Cobb Lilly, a graduate of the North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS). In 2015 the ride moved from the “flat country” surrounding Davidson, NC to the rugged mountains around Asheville, where NCOBS is based. For the first time, proceeds from this year’s event will fund scholarships for Western North Carolina youth to attend a life-changing NCOBS wilderness course. North Carolina Outward Bound School is the leading provider of experiential and outdoor education programs for youth and adults. Outward Bound has helped people discover strength of character, an ability to lead, and desire to serve.
Read more
Categories: Fundraisers Sports
White House Launches Opening America Website
May 23 all-day
website
The White House has unveiled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts. Employers are encouraged to adhere to the following at all phases:
  • Develop and implement appropriate policies, in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations and guidance, and informed by industry best practices, regarding:
  • Social distancing and protective equipment
  • Temperature checks
  • Sanitation
  • Use and disinfection of common and high-traffic areas
  • Business travel
  • Monitor workforce for indicative symptoms. Do not allow symptomatic people to physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for workforce contact tracing following employee COVID+ test.
The full guidelines can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica.
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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
YMCA Opens indoor + outdoor pools, outdoor group exercise + summer day camp June 1
May 23 all-day
YMCA various locations
While the doors of our wellness centers remain closed, other doors are opening even wider. Beginning June 1:
  • We are excited to welcome you back to pool season. Indoor pools will reopen at the Asheville YMCA, Black Mountain YMCA, Corpening Memorial YMCA, Hendersonville Family YMCA, and the Reuter Family YMCA. We will also open Patton Pool in Hendersonville.
  • We are excited to kick off a series of outdoor group exercise classes while continuing to provide virtual classes you can enjoy at home.
  • Summer day camp will return to give children ages 5-12 fun and adventure.
Please check ymcawnc.org, the YMCA of WNC mobile app, and social media for updates on hours, schedules, and safety measures.
We know that for a while longer, visits to restaurants, stores, and even our Y will feel a bit different. We’ve worked with health experts and our local health department to prepare our facilities for your safe return. We’re grateful for your understanding and for the concern you’ve shared for our staff who are stepping up during this pandemic to feed our community, provide emergency child care, make wellness calls to seniors feeling isolated, help people stay healthy at home, and organize blood and supply drives. We remain grateful to our members and donors for continuing to #StayWithUs as we continue to serve our neighbors when they need us most.
Read more
Categories: Community Sports
Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon
May 23 @ 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Waynesville, North Carolina

Gateway To The Smokies Half Marathon

Welcome to the return of the Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon in beautiful Waynesville, North Carolina.  We are excited to bring this race back with the original course and start/finish lines.  This race will be run in conjunction with the inaugural Mighty 4 Miler to Benefit the Riley Howell Foundation Fund.

Welcome to the return of the Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon, Presented by The Swag, in beautiful Waynesville, North Carolina.  We are excited to bring this race back with the original course and start/finish lines.  This race will be run in conjunction with the inaugural Mighty 4 Miler to Benefit the Riley Howell Foundation Fund.

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Categories: Benefit Sports
Adventure Center of Asheville Kolo Bike Park has reopened
May 23 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Adventure Center of Asheville

Kolo Bike Park has reopened with amended attendance and safety precautions. The current operating days and hours will be Thursday to Sunday weekly with 2 riding sessions daily at 10:00-2:00 and 2:00-6:00. We have received notification from the Buncombe County Health & Human Services Department that our bike trails can operate with certain conditions.

Currently, the aerial activities are closed. May 13, we are planning to open the Asheville Treetops Adventure Park. Then we plan to open the Ziplines soon after that.

If you are interested in riding at Kolo Bike Park, please check out our current safety rules and regulations. We highly recommend reservations, payment and waivers to be completed prior to arrival.

Looking Forward or #ashevillelookingforward, we are building new Bike Trails, starting a Kolo Bike Program for younger kids, and have added a new intermediate trail on the Treetops Park. And we have a fun Halloween surprise in store for our younger guests.

As a locally owned family business, we look to the future…….

1. Keep your plans and reservations in place. We are only planning to be closed as long as we have to keep our Guests and employees safe. If your activity date happens at a time when we are closed, we will contact you.

2. If we need to cancel your upcoming activity, consider a credit vs. refund. That allows us to keep the facility and team ready to go when we do reopen. We continue to have expenses even while we are closed including preparing the gear/facility for the season and paying our leadership team. Your support will help us keep this great family facility alive and strong for the next 10 years.

3. Book reservations for May 13 or later for the Treetops Park or May 20 or later for the Zipline.

4. Buy gift certificates today for you, friends, or family. They don’t expire and they are great gifts all year long. That continuance of cashflow will help us all keep the economy going.

5. Keep planning for summer camps. We are planning a great summer with four different day camp options. We have returning camp counselors, new trails for bikes and a new aerial trail in the Treetops Park. And announcing our 2 new Kolo Advanced Shred Summer Sessions for ages 13-17 to develop their fundamental skills by advanced pro level riders. Call our office or book online (fees apply when booking online.) 828.225.2921

6. Group sales is still taking reservations for the future at [email protected]. A group adventure in the Trees (Zipping or Climbing the Treetops Park) or on the ground (team building or mountain bike riding) will be a great way to reconnect with co-workers, students, families and youth groups.

7. Check out our Blog with updated ACA information

We greatly appreciate the thousands of families, groups of friends, couples, young adults, schools, businesses, churches, camps and so many more that are part of our adventure family. We are where we were yesterday and where we will be a month from now because of you. Your support allows our team to do what we love to do while helping you do the same. We look forward to getting back to normal again. Stay safe and well!

Jeff Greiner
Adventure Center of Asheville
www.advavl.com

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Categories: Family Fun Outdoors Sports
SoCon Baseball Tournament
May 23 @ 10:00 am
Fluor Field

Image

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Categories: Sports
The Merrell Adventure Dash CANCELLED
May 23 @ 4:00 pm
Nantahala Outdoor Center

Age: All Ages

 

The Merrell Adventure Dash is all about getting outside and challenging yourself to work hard for your good time. Suitable for families as well as adults, participants will negotiate a series of natural and man-made obstacles along the 5K course, including balance components, climbs and nets, a river-run, and raft crossing. This holiday weekend, enjoy a fun, family-friendly adventure run in the beautiful Nantahala Gorge. Merrell Adventure Dash participants can choose between the 5K dash or a 1K fun run. Kids aged 12 and under race free with a participating adult.

Registraion opens March 1, 2020. Check back for more details.
Onsite Registration is available from 1pm – 3:30pm day of. The race starts promptly at 4PM on 5/23/2020.

Remember to wear anything you don’t mind getting dirty!

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Categories: Family Fun Outdoors Sports
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Buncombe County COVID-19 Testing Information
May 24 all-day
online

COVID-19 Testing

NOTE: Please see attached documents for Community- Based Testing Dates and Locations. 

General COVID-19 Testing Information: 

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.

MAHEC Family Health Center

Call (828) 257-4730

Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Range Urgent Care

Please go online or call before you arrive.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Symptoms Include: 

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
When to Seek Medical Attention

If you have any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.

Testing is available to everyone regardless of their race, income, gender, ethnicity, citizenship status, or religion. COVID-19 testing will not impact your ability to receive future public assistance benefits or public charge status.

 

Community Based Testing Sites:
Community based testing sites are now in rotation throughout the community. Please see attached documents for more information.

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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker: Connect to Testing, Contribute to Data Collection
May 24 all-day
online

Contribute to Data Collection

Please see the below PDFs for Russian and Spanish translations.

Help do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 with Buncombe County’s new COVID-19 Self-Checker. This automated system provides two valuable community assets: Clear guidance for anyone feeling symptomatic and data that will help Buncombe County determine when it’s safe to begin the first phases of reopening. “If you’re experiencing COVID like symptoms, or are concerned about a possible exposure, Self-Checker is the most convenient way for you to get guidance on what your next steps need to be and can connect you to individual level follow-up from healthcare professionals,” explains Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Fletcher Tove. “The information we compile with this tool will also assist Public Health in anticipating surges on our healthcare systems and help coordinate our testing and contact tracing efforts as we work to reopen our community.”

Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker is a quick, confidential, easy-to-use assessment tool you can use online or by phone to help determine if you have COVID-19 and how you can proceed to get medical care. This helps public health experts better understand how the virus is spreading in Buncombe County and allows medical experts and local leaders make the best possible, data-driven decisions to protect everyone.

How Self-Checker* works:

  • Head to buncombecounty.org/covid-19, and click on the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker banner.
  • Share information about your health, any symptoms you are having, and your health history.
  • If your results indicate you need testing, we will connect you with testing and other support to keep you as safe as possible. If you are symptomatic, we will continue to follow up with you every day for 7-10 days after completing the Self-Checker.
  • You can also use Self-Checker by calling the Ready Team at (828) 419-0095, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

“The goal of the Self-Checker is to connect those in need to COVID-19 testing, offer additional support, follow up to ensure people are healthy and safe, and gather information about the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” notes Buncombe County Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore. Public Health urges anyone with questions about whether they have COVID-19 to use Self-Checker. “This also allows us to conserve healthcare resources, protective equipment, and supplies while keeping people at home and away from others if they potentially have COVID-19,” says Dr. Mullendore.

The information collected from Self-Checker will give public health officials daily and weekly reports that will be key to customizing how we respond locally. It will also provide crucial data to government officials as they continue to inform the public about the next steps for reopening Buncombe County.

The Self-Checker is a partnership between Buncombe County and North Carolina State University. Additionally, partners in our community have helped to develop and test the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker and their efforts ensure language accessibility and ease of use. The Self-Checker is available online in Spanish and Russian and can be taken over the phone in multiple languages via 211.

 

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Categories: Health & Wellness
CDC Reopening Guidance: Cleaning + Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, + Homes
May 24 all-day
online
The CDC has published guidance intended to assist businesses in preparing to reopen while enacting procedures that will continue to maintain social distancing and cleaning to limit the exposure to Coronavirus.
This guidance is part of the broader government plan to reopen businesses and offers guidance on cleanliness practices for public spaces. This guidance provides a general framework for cleaning and disinfection practices. The framework is based on doing the following:
  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.
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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
The Blood Connection FREE COVID-19 Antibody Testing for Blood Donors
May 24 all-day
varies
The Blood Connection will now be offering FREE COVID-19 Antibody Testing. The COVID-19 Antibody Test will test a sample of each donor’s blood to see if it contains COVID-19 antibodies. This will be offered to TBC blood donors at all blood donation centers and mobiles across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, at no cost. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment first, to maintain adequate social distancing.
Some important things to note:

· This is NOT a test to determine if the donor is infected with COVID-19. Positive test results do not confirm COVID-19 infection or immunity. A positive antibody result is indicative of the body’s immune response to COVID-19.

· This test is only available to those who complete a whole blood, platelet, or plasma donation where samples are successfully collected.

· The results of a COVID-19 Antibody Test will be posted on the donor’s TBC online portal in seven business days of their donation.

· More information about this testing: https://thebloodconnection.org/antibody-testing/

· Appointments can be made at thebloodconnection.org, click DONATE NOW.

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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Updated Covid-19 Buncombe County Testing Sites
May 24 all-day
Buncombe County

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Testing guidance for COVID-19 has expanded to encourage the following individuals to get tested for COVID-19 at one of the locations listed below or at a community testing site.

The new guidance recommends that clinicians test any patient in whom COVID-19 is suspected.

  • Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
  • Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms
  • Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
  • Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
  • Persons who come from historically marginalized populations
  • Health care workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
  • Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

  • Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.
  • MAHEC Family Health Center
  • Call (828) 257-4730
  • Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

  • Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Mission My Care Now

  • Mission Health’s Virtual Clinic at www.missionhealth.org/virtualclinic can direct you to COVID-19 testing
  • Most insurance plans will reimburse the costs
  • $25 virtual visit fee
  • Additional lab fee (if tested)

Range Urgent Care

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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
White House Launches Opening America Website
May 24 all-day
website
The White House has unveiled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts. Employers are encouraged to adhere to the following at all phases:
  • Develop and implement appropriate policies, in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations and guidance, and informed by industry best practices, regarding:
  • Social distancing and protective equipment
  • Temperature checks
  • Sanitation
  • Use and disinfection of common and high-traffic areas
  • Business travel
  • Monitor workforce for indicative symptoms. Do not allow symptomatic people to physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for workforce contact tracing following employee COVID+ test.
The full guidelines can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica.
Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
YMCA Opens indoor + outdoor pools, outdoor group exercise + summer day camp June 1
May 24 all-day
YMCA various locations
While the doors of our wellness centers remain closed, other doors are opening even wider. Beginning June 1:
  • We are excited to welcome you back to pool season. Indoor pools will reopen at the Asheville YMCA, Black Mountain YMCA, Corpening Memorial YMCA, Hendersonville Family YMCA, and the Reuter Family YMCA. We will also open Patton Pool in Hendersonville.
  • We are excited to kick off a series of outdoor group exercise classes while continuing to provide virtual classes you can enjoy at home.
  • Summer day camp will return to give children ages 5-12 fun and adventure.
Please check ymcawnc.org, the YMCA of WNC mobile app, and social media for updates on hours, schedules, and safety measures.
We know that for a while longer, visits to restaurants, stores, and even our Y will feel a bit different. We’ve worked with health experts and our local health department to prepare our facilities for your safe return. We’re grateful for your understanding and for the concern you’ve shared for our staff who are stepping up during this pandemic to feed our community, provide emergency child care, make wellness calls to seniors feeling isolated, help people stay healthy at home, and organize blood and supply drives. We remain grateful to our members and donors for continuing to #StayWithUs as we continue to serve our neighbors when they need us most.
Read more
Categories: Community Sports