Our Fitness Center successfully reopened in September and is available along with our indoor pool to all of our members by reservation. With our facility operating at 30% capacity, we are able to provide you with the space needed for a socially distant, indoor workout, swim, or limited personal training. You may make a reservation to use our Fitness Center or pool by either downloading the Daxko App, by visiting our website or by calling us directly and speaking with a Guest Services Associate. YWCA Hours: Mon – Fri: 6 am – 6 pm | Sat: 7 am – 4 pm | Sun: closed  Pool Hours: Mon – Fri: 6 am – 6 pm | Sat: 7 am – 4 pm | Sun: closed

Join us outside at the YWCA Justice Center  from 7:30 – 10 am and 4:30 – 5 pm to provide Prevention Task Force information and resources and to see artwork from our childcare students depicting what they imagine “A World Without Violence” looks like.

Week Without Violence is part of a global movement with YWCAs across the country and around the world to end violence against women and girls. At YWCA, we know that not all violence is acknowledged or responded to equally and that some victims go unrecognized altogether. That’s why, for more than 20 years, YWCA has set aside one week in October as a Week Without Violence. Join us from October 18 – 24, as we hold events nationally and locally, share information and stories, advocate, and more with a common goal in mind: together, we can end gender-based violence. During this week we will be partnering with Our Voice, Helpmate, Youth Outright, Family Justice Center, and Mountain Child Advocacy to increase awareness of the resources available within our community. Join us on social media by using this profile frame all week long.

Since the onset of the pandemic in March, the YWCA of Asheville has been flexible and sensitive to the needs of our families as they arise. We closed our doors to the public from March–June to provide children of medical professionals and other essential workers with no-cost child care; now we continue to adapt. We have opened a school-age classroom and are now enrolling children in grades Kindergarten-5th who are learning virtually. They will have access to a safe, learning environment, with WiFi access, meals (breakfast, lunch, and snack), outdoor activities, and crafts while guardians work. We accept vouchers for this program. Fees are $433 per month, Priority will be given to families that qualify for vouchers and subsidies OR who have no alternative childcare options. We accept Child Care vouchers. *At this time we are only enrolling full-time attendance.

The Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) is a vital resource available to women and transgender individuals between the ages of 40 and 64 who are uninsured and underinsured, meet certain income requirements, and are residents of Buncombe County. The BCCCP program provides chest exams, pap smears, HPV testing, and mammograms, all at no cost. If results indicate that treatment is needed, patients may qualify for BCCCP Medicaid which covers the cost of treatment and our staff will assist in care coordination.

BCHHS also offers WISEWOMAN, a program aimed at helping women improve their health and reduce their chance of developing heart disease. WISEWOMAN offers free cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure screenings, as well as counseling, coaching, and education services that make it possible for women to get achieve their health goals and stay healthy. Our staff are trained to help you determine your personal health goals and support your progress through regular check in’s and encouragement.

While you can’t fully control your risk for developing breast cancer, you can take steps to ensure that you catch it early. Buncombe County offers free support services, screenings, and treatment programs that make healthcare accessible for many women in Buncombe County. To find out if you are eligible for BCCCP and WISEWOMAN, visit our website or call (828) 250-6006.

For the general election, Early Voting will run Oct. 15-31, and you can use same-day registration during those dates. Get a downloadable .pdf of the Early Voting schedule with dates and times. During the early voting period you can choose to vote at any early voting location below.

Early Voting dates and times:

• Oct. 15-30:
  • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Oct. 31 (last day):
  • 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Please note: Nature Connects^®: Art with LEGO^® Bricks has been postponed until July; however, the exhibit will have an extended schedule and will be open until November 1. We look forward to seeing you!

The Arboretum is excited to welcome back the widely popular traveling exhibit, Nature Connects^®: Art with LEGO^® Bricks by Sean Kenney. Featuring 14 larger-than-life-size sculptures place created with nearly 500,000 LEGO Bricks, this family-friendly exhibit draws inspiration from the living world and combines art, play and science to create an inspiring intersection of education, entertainment and the environment. New sculptures include a 5-foot tall colorful peacock, giant dragonfly, bonsai tree and more!

Let’s Dump Trump

When to vote? Early Vote in-person polling places are open October 15th to 31st
• Monday through Friday, 8 am to 7:30 pm
• Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm (last Saturday – Oct 31 – opens at 8 am)
• Sunday, 10 am to 3 pm
• You can also vote on Election Day November 3rd but earlier is safer – to make your vote count!
Where to vote? Any voter can go to any Early Voting site in your home county.
You can register and vote at the same time at an Early Voting location.

Need a ride to vote? Call 828-274-4482

Prefer to use an Absentee Ballot?
– Request Absentee Ballot online (www.ncsbe.gov)
– You will receive your Absentee Ballot in the mail
– Complete your Absentee Ballot immediately, following instructions, and note ballot number for tracking.
– Immediately mail the ballot back to the Board of Elections (BOE) using one stamp. You can also turn the
completed ballot in at the BOE (77 McDowell St.) or any Early Voting site.

Questions or concerns? Call the NC Voter Hotline 888-687-8683 or go to NCVoter.org
Pick whichever Early Voting Site – below – that is most convenient for you.
EAST Asheville Mall Next to Old Navy 3 S. Tunnel Rd
SOUTH Asheville Outlet Mall Next to Levi’s 800 Brevard Rd
EAST Bee Tree Fire Dept 510 Bee Tree Rd
EAST Black Mountain Library 105 N. Dougherty St
CENTRAL Civic Center, Downtown 87 Haywood Rd
CENTRAL Dr Wesley Grant Ctr 285 Livingston St
WEST Enka Candler Library 1404 Sand Hill Rd
EAST Fairview Community Center 1357 Charlotte Hwy
WEST Land of Sky Regional Council 339 New Leicester Hwy
WEST Leicester Community Center 2979 New Leicester Hwy
NORTH Reynolds Village 50 N. Merrimon Ave; #107
SOUTH South Buncombe Library 260 Overlook Rd
SOUTH Turtle Creek Shopping Ctr 23 Turtle Creek Dr
NORTH UNC-Asheville Campus Highsmith Student Union 1 University Heights
WEST West Asheville Community Ctr 970 Haywood Rd
NORTH Weaverville Town Hall

Need a ride to vote? Call 828-274-4482

Prefer to use an Absentee Ballot?
– Request Absentee Ballot online (www.ncsbe.gov)
– You will receive your Absentee Ballot in the mail
– Complete your Absentee Ballot immediately, following instructions, and note ballot number for tracking.
– Immediately mail the ballot back to the Board of Elections (BOE) using one stamp. You can also turn the
completed ballot in at the BOE (77 McDowell St.) or any Early Voting site.
Questions or concerns? Call the NC Voter Hotline 888-687-8683 or go to NCVoter.org

Experience the best views of the Fall colors this Autumn at the SkyLift Park and SkyBridge. Numerous photo opportunities, unique Smoky Mountain experiences, hot seasonal drinks, and perfect fall mountain vistas are all waiting for you after conquering the Gatlinburg SkyBridge this Fall. Live music on the SkyDeck will be scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm-9pm. Whether you are riding the iconic yellow SkyLift chair, relaxing on the SkyDeck, fueling up in the SkyCenter, conquering the SkyBridge, or exploring the SkyTrail, there will no shortages of family-fun memories for you to cherish after your visit is complete. Autumn is the most beautiful time of year in Gatlinburg, so make sure to take it all in while “above it all” at the the SkyLift Park.

Each day, you can pre-purchase tickets during for a specific time slot, allowing us to maintain safety and limit the number of people at the maze at once.

Time slots to choose from:

• 9-11am
• 11:30am-1:30pm
• 2-4pm
• 4:30-6:30pm

• General Safety Guidelines

  • Masks must be worn at all times, except for children under the age of four years old.
  • Maintain social distancing with those outside your family.
  • There will be a maximum number of attendees at the event at a time. Attendees will register and pre-purchase tickets. You will be able to select the 2-hour block of time you want to attend with your family. Time slots will automatically close once the max limit is reached.
  • Please promptly leave the corn maze when your 2 hour time slot is up, so we can do a cleaning before the next group arrives.
  • Minimize time indoors. You may use the indoor restrooms, and check-in indoors. We will give you a map for the maze and offer pumpkins, t-shirts, and other fun merchandise. But we won’t let you linger! Time to get outside, stay safe, and have fun!
  • Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the event.
    

    .

We raise all of our turkeys from baby chicks to adulthood directly on Hickory Nut Gap Farmland in Fairview, NC. They spend their entire lives rotationally grazing on pasture, free from antibiotics and added hormones. We offer a limited supply each year and a deposit must be paid in advance to secure your bird.

Price: $6 / lb
Range: 14 – 25 lbs
Please choose an approximate weight and we will tag a turkey with your name and send an invoice for the remaining balance.

Pick ups will start November 19th and run through November 25th.

Welcome to Sky Top Orchard!

We are asking guests to visit on weekdays whenever possible. We offer the same items you love on those days as we do on weekends plus it helps keep crowds down on weekends. Thank you!

The mountains of western North Carolina are full of pick your own u-pick orchards. We offer more. In addition to a long list of apple varieties, visit Sky Top Orchard and you’ll enjoy panoramic mountain views, orchard ponds with ducks and geese, a barnyard area with sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, peacocks and more, a bamboo forest to explore, lots of picnic areas and, of course, a mountaintop of fragrant apple and fruit trees. View our downloadable map to see all that we have to offer and visit our picking schedule to find out what’s available now.

When you purchase a bushel of apples, a wagon load of pumpkins or a cooler full of apple cider you’ll take home more than the makings for delicious fall recipes, you’ll take home a mountain of memories too. And don’t forget our famous apple cider doughnuts. They’re an autumn tradition. We bet you can’t eat just one.

Ready to join us on top of our mountain? Plan Your Visit Today!

To keep guests and our staff safe, we require face masks (covering both nose and mouth) by employees and guests in any area where social distancing is difficult so plan to wear them in the fruit stand, in line for doughnuts, in any areas that are not out in the orchard where you are picking. You must also maintain a distance of 6 feet in all lines and areas where you encounter others.

During ArtSpace Charter Schools’ period of remote learning, the Kindergarten Team, Ms. Simone and Mr. Ryan, created a twice-weekly “show” for their students. Our Director of Agriculture Operations, Asher Wright, sat down for an interview with Fuzzy to teach kindergarteners all about where our food comes from. “Here at Hickory Nut Gap we believe it’s very important to learn about farming and where food comes from at an early age, and this is especially true for animal agriculture. If from an early age children gain an understanding of high-welfare animal production systems that focus on environmental health and social equity, then they have the potential to demand those products as they grow into consumers. This is why exposing them to these types of systems from an early age is key in driving the change we need to see within our food system,” stated Asher. Check out the short video here