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.
Buncombe County Health and Human Services will partner with Buncombe County Schools to host school-based vaccination clinics. All vaccines will be available and are free. Please check www.buncombeready.org for confirmation of these events as the weather forecast in the coming weeks may necessitate rescheduling clinics. This Saturday, the vaccination clinic will be located at TC Roberson High School on February 5, 2022 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Vaccination Clinic at 40 Coxe Avenue is in operation Tuesday – Friday from 9 am – 4 pm. You can also visit www.yourspotyourshot.nc.gov for a vaccine provider near you.
Do you need help preparing your taxes? If so, Buncombe County Pubic Libraries can help. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in cooperation with the IRS, NC Department of Revenue, Buncombe County Library System, and Council on Aging, Inc. will offer free tax preparations for taxpayers of low and moderate-income, with special attention to those age 60 and older from Feb. 1-April 15.
You will need an appointment to speak with a tax help aide. At your appointment, you can drop off your tax documents and you’ll be given another appointment in about two weeks to pick up your paperwork and completed tax form.
How it works
1. Pick up a tax record envelope and instructions at Black Mountain, West Asheville, Weaverville or Pack Library during library hours.
2. Complete the Intake/Interview Booklet in your envelope by answering all questions. Then sign and date the last 3 pages. Place all your tax forms and any information relating to your tax return in your envelope.
3. Make an appointment to drop off your Tax Record Envelope and meet with a Tax-Aide volunteer.
Pack Memorial Library
Saturdays, appointments available between 10:30am and 2pm
To make an appointment for Saturday tax help at Pack Library, email [email protected] with your name and telephone number. A volunteer will contact you to set up your appointment. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents in 1 or 2 weeks. This tax help is provided by UNCA.
Celebrating this pop surrealistic art movement, *Assembly Required is the destination for independent designer, bootleg and art toy artists and collectors. Refining inspiration from a variety of underground and subcultural elements, *Assembly Required is a melting pot of artistic expression. Attendees are not only afforded the opportunity to purchase limited-run works of art directly from the artist, but meet and speak to the da Vinci’s, Botticelli’s, Michelangelo’s and Raphael’s of this true to form, turn of the century art movement.
Every bite counts!
The Girl Scouts will set up on Saturdays to sell Girl Scout Cookies near the entrance of Sportsman’s Warehouse.
Hours of Operation – Please note dates and times are subject to change subject to troop availability and weather conditions.
January 22 – March 19, 2022
Saturdays: 11am-5pm
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Una hora para charlar, practicar el español, y conocerse con nuevos amigos. A time to chat, practice Spanish, and meet new friends |
Join us for the Grand Opening of our newest location in South Slope, Feb. 2nd, 3rd and 5th. Samples, Education, Mocktails, FUN!
Register on Eventbrite & pop on by to receive free goodies, experience yummy samples, learn about all things hemp, sip on teas, mocktails, and more.
Wednesday, 2/2 from 4 to 7 featuring a Ribbon Cutting with the Chamber of Commerce at 4:20 PM.
Thursday, 2/3 from 4:20 to 7 featuring book signing of Courage in Cannabis with Dr. Bridgette Williams and Franny Tacy.
Saturday, 2/5 from 4:20 to 7 including an outdoor educational fire side chat Q&A.
Samples, Food, Mocktails, Raffle and FUN!
231 Biltmore Ave., Across from McCormick Field.
RSVP at https://ffsouthslopegrandopening.eventbrite.com to claim your special gifts and see you there!
We will be Live on Franny’s Farmacy FB & IG account during the celebration for those who would like to join virtually.
The health and wellness of Franny’s Farmacy’s staff, its customers, and community remains the company’s top priority. Franny’s Farmacy dispensaries will continue to follow CDC guidance along with State and County mandates currently requiring that all employees and customers wear face coverings while at the stores.
Thanks for Supporting Asheville Outlets’ Virtual Food Drive for MANNA FoodBank
MANNA FoodBank is grateful to partner with Asheville Outlets for this important virtual food drive!
Since 1983, MANNA has and continues to serve communities across 16 counties of Western North Carolina through a network of hundreds of dedicated partners, providing food with hope and dignity to people experiencing hunger in our 6,434 square mile region. MANNA is an accredited member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization.
To learn more about MANNA’s work and programs, visit mannafoodbank.org.
Buy one of these murals for yourself or to donate to a local organization (make sure you check with them first), and keep the good work going! All proceeds from this auction will be split evenly between The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County’s COPE Program and the Asheville Area Arts Council’s Arts Build Community Grant. Auction ends February 28.
Following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN, on May 25, 2020, protests broke out across the nation. Floyd was killed after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes. In response, hundreds of protestors gathered in downtown Asheville from May 29- June 6, 2020, with cries for justice and change.
During this time, Lowe’s Home Improvement generously donated plywood for downtown business owners to cover their storefronts while Asheville had its own reckoning. Business owners and artists seized this opportunity to lend their support for needed changes by painting murals on the plywood covering downtown businesses. Local muralists Gus Cutty, Kathryn Crawford, and Dustin Spagnola were the driving force behind this initiative.
When it came time for the murals to come down, local artists Evar Hecht and Ben Nelson had the foresight to collect and temporarily store these works, gathering over 150 pieces of plywood. The Asheville Area Arts Council, with the help of Dogwood Health Trust, then stepped in to move the murals to a secure, climate-controlled storage facility and worked with Aisha Adams of Equity Over Everything to determine next steps.
After several COVID setbacks, the arts council is proud to have partnered with the Martin Luther King Jr Association of Asheville and Buncombe County to present this virtual exhibition, auction and speaker series. It is our hope that the proceeds from the auction will support continued change and healing in our community.
Thank you to Dogwood Health Trust for generously providing the funding to make this project possible, and to the artists and business owners for donating their time and energy to capture this moment in our history.
A video about the exhibition is featured as part of the 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration.
In February, we honor and recognize Black Legacy Month at Buncombe County Public Libraries. We will be celebrating throughout February through several online events, staff-curated booklists, and a collection of online resources and exhibits.
Virtual book clubs will discuss On Girlhood by Glory Edim and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. You can register for either book club on the library calendar.
When you visit your library, look for special Black Legacy Month displays and book selections.
Below, you will find our Librarians’ reading list highlighting Black authors that include selections for all ages.
We look forward to seeing you at the library!
Black Legacy Month Reading List
Books for Families to Share
My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist
Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham
This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges
Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes
Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Hubbard
Recognize! An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life Edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson
Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons
My Hair Is Magic by M.L. Marroquin
M is for Melanin by Tiffany Rose
Exquisite: the Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Buckingham Slade
Nina: a Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd
Dream Street by Tricia Elam Walker
Chapter Books For Older Kids
Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Blended by Sharon Draper
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
New Kid by Jerry Craft
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia
Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Books for Teens
The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
March by John Lewis and Andrew Ayden
Revolution in Our Time: the Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Powell
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi
Books for Adults
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet
The Yellow House by Sarah Broom
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
You Are Your Best Thing edited by Tarana Burke
Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Soul City: Race, Equality, and the Lost Dream of an American Utopia by Thomas Healy
All About Love by bell hooks
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
400 Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Disha Philyaw
How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Update Jan. 4, 2022
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has extended the countywide face covering requirement for all indoor public spaces through Feb. 16, 2022. The indoor mask requirement also extends to Asheville, Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Town of Montreat, Weaverville, and Woodfin.
In Buncombe County, COVID-19 case rates continue to be high, and per the CDC definition, the County remains an area of high transmission. The percent positivity remains in the moderate category, and the death rate remains in the substantial category.
While Omicron Surge Shows Signs of Decline; Hospitalizations and Deaths Remain High in Buncombe County
The Omicron surge has been rapid in its climb and intense in the burden of cases. About 12,700 new cases were added to our total number of cases in the last month, averaging out to around 410 cases per day and almost 3,000 cases per week. With this recent surge, Buncombe County has now reached 46,000 total cases of COVID-19 identified since March 2020. However, we are beginning to see a decline in new cases and percent positivity. As of yesterday, we have seen the case rate decrease from 907 new cases to 875 new cases per 100,000. This decline appears to be continuing today. Additionally, the percent positivity has declined for the first time since mid-December. For the last week or so, we have been experiencing percent positivity well over 25% and now, we find the percent positivity at around 24%.
Western North Carolina regional hospital data shows continued increase in inpatient beds occupied with COVID-19 and a steady increase in ICU utilization. For the Mission Hospital system, inpatient beds with COVID-19 have experienced a high stabilization. Sadly, 13 new deaths have been reported for the dashboard and this brings our death rate from 4.2 deaths per 100,000 per week to 5 deaths per 100,000 in this last week. There have been a total of 488 COVID-19 related deaths in Buncombe County.
Public health officials are hopeful that these trends will show a more prominent decline. Stacie Saunders, Buncombe County Public Health Director says, “We expect cases to continue to decrease, it is likely that the hospitalizations and deaths may also begin to see a decrease in the next several days to weeks. That being said, we are clearly still a community with high transmission and it’s important to continue to take the basic steps to protect yourself with the tools that we have to fight COVID-19.”
Over the last few weeks, Public Health and Emergency Management have been working to obtain and allocate at-home test kits to the community to create a temporary bridge for the community to access at-home testing while testing demand was high. Through parallel paths of distribution dedicated to equity and general population distribution, 34 unique organizations were allocated about 5,100 test kits and 15,000 masks, and 18 fixed sites distributed over 6,600 test kits and 12,000 masks.
If you are having symptoms consistent with COVID-19, stay home and contact your provider or visit a testing provider to get tested. Many community partners are providing testing, and home kit options are available. These locations and resources are listed at ncdhhs.gov/GetTested.
Our county saw slower uptake of vaccines with holidays and winter breaks from school. At this point, 72% of the eligible population has received at least one dose and 69% of our eligible population has received their full primary series. Over 94,000 individuals have received their 3rd or booster dose, which is about 55% of the of the fully vaccinated eligible population. Vaccination is encouraged for those who still need it and it is not too late. Saunders says, “With the holiday behind us and still high transmission, now is a good time to start your series if you haven’t or to give your new year a boost.”
Buncombe County Health and Human Services will partner with Buncombe County Schools to host school-based vaccination clinics. All vaccines will be available and are free. Please check www.buncombeready.org for confirmation of these events as the weather forecast in the coming weeks may necessitate rescheduling clinics. This Saturday, the vaccination clinic will be located at TC Roberson High School on February 5, 2022 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Vaccination Clinic at 40 Coxe Avenue is in operation Tuesday – Friday from 9 am – 4 pm. You can also visit www.yourspotyourshot.nc.gov for a vaccine provider near you.
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Deep Dive into Archives is a living exhibit shining a light on the individuals who were once enslaved at the Smith-McDowell House through primary documentation.
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Join the team: Hiring a RiverCamp Counselor
We are now hiring for our summer camp counselor position. Come spend the summer on the river with some awesome kids and prepare them to be the next generation of river stewards. Click below to learn more.
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If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s to be ready…
Sign up for BC Alerts, and you’ll get emergency information sent directly to you in real time.
Buncombe County residents have a new, customizable solution for receiving notification and emergency alerts. Buncombe County Government is in the initial phase of migrating to the CodeRED community notification system to send important alerts and time-sensitive messages to staff members and residents. Along with emergency and critical messages, the CodeRED notification system will also enhance community engagement via the release of important but non-emergency information such as vaccine site notifications, inclement weather closures and schedule changes, and other county service information.
Sign up for BC Alerts by texting BCAlert (not case sensitive) to 99411 or visit buncombecounty.org/codered to sign up for the new system.
Notice: If residents have previously signed up for BC Alerts, they will need to re-register in order to continue receiving notifications after June. If you have Spectrum as your wireless provider please select Other from the provider list, and scroll down for more frequently asked questions.
“Upon evaluating our previous notification system and other available options, we chose CodeRED for its innovative features, user-friendly platform, and wide-spread adoption rates across the country,” said Communications and Public Engagement Director Lillian Govus. “Their company-owned redundant data centers help ensure every resident’s data is safe and that messages are delivered quickly and reliably to thousands of individuals within minutes. We’re excited to expand our communication channels with residents to include text, phone, email, and social media platforms, providing the information they need to know to make better informed decisions during an emergency.”
CodeRED Key Benefits
CodeRED will deliver several benefits for residents and enable staff to more efficiently manage and distribute notifications before, during, and after emergency and non-emergency events:
- Registration for this notification service is customized, allowing residents to choose which alerts they’d like to receive, as well as their preferred channel.
- Residents can select several different methods including landline, cell phone, email, text message, TTY, or even a combination. These alerts can be specific to streets, neighborhoods or regions, so individuals within affected areas are sure to receive relevant information.
- Residents and visitors can keep track of alerts in Buncombe County with the CodeRED Mobile App, which notifies smartphone holders of real-time alerts in the area. Similar to the online registration, users choose which notifications they’d like to receive via the app.
- Staff members can also use the system to communicate emergency information with one another. This will help us ensure our emergency response and daily operations are even more efficient.
All residents are encouraged to visit buncombecounty.org/codered or text BCAlert to 99411 to enroll in the CodeRED system. For more information on the CodeRED notification system or registration, please contact [email protected]. or call CodeRED support at 1-866-939-0911.
The survey will remain open until Feb. 20.
Do you own your home or property? Have you ever appealed or considered appealing the value of your house? The Ad Hoc Reappraisal Committee wants to hear from you. Buncombe County has launched a short survey to gather homeowner input. As community members, your feedback on the reappraisal process can provide valuable insight to questions and concerns for the Committee to consider.
In September 2021, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners established an Ad Hoc Reappraisal Committee after hearing resident concerns following the 2021 Reappraisal. The goals of this committee center on three areas:
- Identify homeowner concerns about the reappraisal process
- Provide guidance for future assessments
- Equity concerns
Take the reappraisal survey here.
All feedback will be compiled and shared with the Committee, County staff, the public, and the Board of Commissioners. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with the reappraisal and appeal process. Follow the Committee’s progress at engage.buncombecounty.org/reappraisal.
Public Comment
Stay tuned to the Ad Hoc Reappraisal meetings and share your voice. The committee hears public comment at the beginning of their meetings. The next meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 9 from 5-7 p.m. Register here.
Board of Commissioners’ Regular Meeting – February 1, 2022
The Board of Commissioners’ Regular Meetings take place on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. at 200 College Street in room 326 in downtown Asheville. To view the agenda, previous meeting videos, or to view future meeting agendas – you can visit buncombecounty.org/commissioners. Click on the agenda item below to jump to that section of the meeting. Click “Read More” to connect to a news article about the agenda item.
Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?
Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.
The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that helps communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. Activities of the American Red Cross Western North Carolina Chapter include: Blood Services, Training Services, Disaster Services, and Home Fire Campaign.
Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and one blood donation can save up to three lives. Help support lives in North Carolina by signing up to become a Blood Drive Volunteer today.
Time Commitment:
Blood drives occur M-F and volunteers are expected to attend one blood drive a month to remain an active volunteer. This position is flexible as volunteers can sign up for shifts that work for their schedule and instructions for shift selection will be sent after responding to the opportunity.
Volunteer Roles:
- Warmly greet donors and assist with registration in reception area.
- Assist with initial intake and hand off through blood donation process.
- Ensure donors have relevant information and all questions are answered appropriately.
- Maintain proper sanitizing and cleanliness of reception and hospitality areas.
- Attend canteen area in support of donors.
- Thank donors for their contribution.
- Alert staff immediately if a donor shows signs of feeling unwell.
- Inform donors of current and upcoming donation promotions.
- Make reminder/cancellation calls.
- Reschedule donor appointments.
- Perform follow-up activities as directed.
Volunteer Requirements:
- Modeling excellent customer service behaviors.
- Knowledge of technology needed for position (training provided)
- Donor checkin, donor tablet, rapid pass, donor app.
- Comfortable working with people from diverse communities and backgrounds
- Dependable, punctual, and professional
- Adhere to all Red Cross guidelines
- Ability to remain calm in crisis situations
- Adhere to CDC safety guidelines regarding COVID-19 precautions
- Safety First! Our need for volunteers is constant and our guidelines reflect the latest CDC safety recommendations and follow the national and local government laws. COVID-19 vaccination will be required for in-person volunteer roles beginning January 3, 2022.
Items of need include green tea, low-sodium canned vegetables, canned tuna and chicken, low salt nuts, no sugar added fruits, shelf stable milk, whole grain pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, canola & olive oil, peanut butter, low sodium soups, canned and dried beans, low sugar cereals, granola bars and popcorn. Collection bins will be in the Asheville Outlets food court. Monetary donations can be made at MANNAFoodBank.org.
Celebrating this pop surrealistic art movement, *Assembly Required is the destination for independent designer, bootleg and art toy artists and collectors. Refining inspiration from a variety of underground and subcultural elements, *Assembly Required is a melting pot of artistic expression. Attendees are not only afforded the opportunity to purchase limited-run works of art directly from the artist, but meet and speak to the da Vinci’s, Botticelli’s, Michelangelo’s and Raphael’s of this true to form, turn of the century art movement.
Items of need include green tea, low-sodium canned vegetables, canned tuna and chicken, low salt nuts, no sugar added fruits, shelf stable milk, whole grain pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, canola & olive oil, peanut butter, low sodium soups, canned and dried beans, low sugar cereals, granola bars and popcorn. Collection bins will be in the Asheville Outlets food court. Monetary donations can be made at MANNAFoodBank.org.
Thanks for Supporting Asheville Outlets’ Virtual Food Drive for MANNA FoodBank
MANNA FoodBank is grateful to partner with Asheville Outlets for this important virtual food drive!
Since 1983, MANNA has and continues to serve communities across 16 counties of Western North Carolina through a network of hundreds of dedicated partners, providing food with hope and dignity to people experiencing hunger in our 6,434 square mile region. MANNA is an accredited member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization.
To learn more about MANNA’s work and programs, visit mannafoodbank.org.
Buy one of these murals for yourself or to donate to a local organization (make sure you check with them first), and keep the good work going! All proceeds from this auction will be split evenly between The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County’s COPE Program and the Asheville Area Arts Council’s Arts Build Community Grant. Auction ends February 28.
Following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN, on May 25, 2020, protests broke out across the nation. Floyd was killed after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes. In response, hundreds of protestors gathered in downtown Asheville from May 29- June 6, 2020, with cries for justice and change.
During this time, Lowe’s Home Improvement generously donated plywood for downtown business owners to cover their storefronts while Asheville had its own reckoning. Business owners and artists seized this opportunity to lend their support for needed changes by painting murals on the plywood covering downtown businesses. Local muralists Gus Cutty, Kathryn Crawford, and Dustin Spagnola were the driving force behind this initiative.
When it came time for the murals to come down, local artists Evar Hecht and Ben Nelson had the foresight to collect and temporarily store these works, gathering over 150 pieces of plywood. The Asheville Area Arts Council, with the help of Dogwood Health Trust, then stepped in to move the murals to a secure, climate-controlled storage facility and worked with Aisha Adams of Equity Over Everything to determine next steps.
After several COVID setbacks, the arts council is proud to have partnered with the Martin Luther King Jr Association of Asheville and Buncombe County to present this virtual exhibition, auction and speaker series. It is our hope that the proceeds from the auction will support continued change and healing in our community.
Thank you to Dogwood Health Trust for generously providing the funding to make this project possible, and to the artists and business owners for donating their time and energy to capture this moment in our history.
A video about the exhibition is featured as part of the 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration.
In February, we honor and recognize Black Legacy Month at Buncombe County Public Libraries. We will be celebrating throughout February through several online events, staff-curated booklists, and a collection of online resources and exhibits.
Virtual book clubs will discuss On Girlhood by Glory Edim and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. You can register for either book club on the library calendar.
When you visit your library, look for special Black Legacy Month displays and book selections.
Below, you will find our Librarians’ reading list highlighting Black authors that include selections for all ages.
We look forward to seeing you at the library!
Black Legacy Month Reading List
Books for Families to Share
My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist
Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham
This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges
Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes
Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Hubbard
Recognize! An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life Edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson
Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons
My Hair Is Magic by M.L. Marroquin
M is for Melanin by Tiffany Rose
Exquisite: the Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Buckingham Slade
Nina: a Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd
Dream Street by Tricia Elam Walker
Chapter Books For Older Kids
Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Blended by Sharon Draper
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
New Kid by Jerry Craft
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia
Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Books for Teens
The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
March by John Lewis and Andrew Ayden
Revolution in Our Time: the Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Powell
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi
Books for Adults
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet
The Yellow House by Sarah Broom
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
You Are Your Best Thing edited by Tarana Burke
Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Soul City: Race, Equality, and the Lost Dream of an American Utopia by Thomas Healy
All About Love by bell hooks
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
400 Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Disha Philyaw
How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Update Jan. 4, 2022
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has extended the countywide face covering requirement for all indoor public spaces through Feb. 16, 2022. The indoor mask requirement also extends to Asheville, Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Town of Montreat, Weaverville, and Woodfin.
In Buncombe County, COVID-19 case rates continue to be high, and per the CDC definition, the County remains an area of high transmission. The percent positivity remains in the moderate category, and the death rate remains in the substantial category.
While Omicron Surge Shows Signs of Decline; Hospitalizations and Deaths Remain High in Buncombe County
The Omicron surge has been rapid in its climb and intense in the burden of cases. About 12,700 new cases were added to our total number of cases in the last month, averaging out to around 410 cases per day and almost 3,000 cases per week. With this recent surge, Buncombe County has now reached 46,000 total cases of COVID-19 identified since March 2020. However, we are beginning to see a decline in new cases and percent positivity. As of yesterday, we have seen the case rate decrease from 907 new cases to 875 new cases per 100,000. This decline appears to be continuing today. Additionally, the percent positivity has declined for the first time since mid-December. For the last week or so, we have been experiencing percent positivity well over 25% and now, we find the percent positivity at around 24%.
Western North Carolina regional hospital data shows continued increase in inpatient beds occupied with COVID-19 and a steady increase in ICU utilization. For the Mission Hospital system, inpatient beds with COVID-19 have experienced a high stabilization. Sadly, 13 new deaths have been reported for the dashboard and this brings our death rate from 4.2 deaths per 100,000 per week to 5 deaths per 100,000 in this last week. There have been a total of 488 COVID-19 related deaths in Buncombe County.
Public health officials are hopeful that these trends will show a more prominent decline. Stacie Saunders, Buncombe County Public Health Director says, “We expect cases to continue to decrease, it is likely that the hospitalizations and deaths may also begin to see a decrease in the next several days to weeks. That being said, we are clearly still a community with high transmission and it’s important to continue to take the basic steps to protect yourself with the tools that we have to fight COVID-19.”
Over the last few weeks, Public Health and Emergency Management have been working to obtain and allocate at-home test kits to the community to create a temporary bridge for the community to access at-home testing while testing demand was high. Through parallel paths of distribution dedicated to equity and general population distribution, 34 unique organizations were allocated about 5,100 test kits and 15,000 masks, and 18 fixed sites distributed over 6,600 test kits and 12,000 masks.
If you are having symptoms consistent with COVID-19, stay home and contact your provider or visit a testing provider to get tested. Many community partners are providing testing, and home kit options are available. These locations and resources are listed at ncdhhs.gov/GetTested.
Our county saw slower uptake of vaccines with holidays and winter breaks from school. At this point, 72% of the eligible population has received at least one dose and 69% of our eligible population has received their full primary series. Over 94,000 individuals have received their 3rd or booster dose, which is about 55% of the of the fully vaccinated eligible population. Vaccination is encouraged for those who still need it and it is not too late. Saunders says, “With the holiday behind us and still high transmission, now is a good time to start your series if you haven’t or to give your new year a boost.”
Buncombe County Health and Human Services will partner with Buncombe County Schools to host school-based vaccination clinics. All vaccines will be available and are free. Please check www.buncombeready.org for confirmation of these events as the weather forecast in the coming weeks may necessitate rescheduling clinics. This Saturday, the vaccination clinic will be located at TC Roberson High School on February 5, 2022 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Vaccination Clinic at 40 Coxe Avenue is in operation Tuesday – Friday from 9 am – 4 pm. You can also visit www.yourspotyourshot.nc.gov for a vaccine provider near you.
- Restoration
- Rehabilitation
- Adaptive Re-use
- In-fill Construction in Historic and Traditional Neighborhoods
- Research, Publication and Education
- Stewardship
- Preservation
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Deep Dive into Archives is a living exhibit shining a light on the individuals who were once enslaved at the Smith-McDowell House through primary documentation.
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