We are thrilled to announce our brand new YWCA Fitness App which we have created specifically with you in mind. This new app can be found by searching for “YWCA of Asheville and WNC” in both the Apple app store and the Android google play store. You can use it to connect with other YWCA members, can make class reservations up to 7 days in advance, access a library of workouts and exercises that can be done at home or in the fitness center, join challenges, track your progress towards your goals, and more!

We trust that you will love it as much as we do! We will be hosting an App help desk in our lobby September 14-17 to answer questions and help you get to know the App. Additionally, we’ve added some tools to our website to assist you. You can also contact our Membership Coordinator, Macie Murphy, at [email protected] or 8282547206 x 105.

As our local leaders are assessing the damage to Buncombe County in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Fred, Buncombe County Emergency Services is standing up a call center to connect residents to resources and information. To assist with disaster recovery, Buncombe County has activated a dedicated line for those impacted.

An Emergency Services Call Center is now available at (828) 844-5455.

The number will be answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with an afterhours voicemail option. Our team will collect information and connect residents to resources if possible, including State Emergency Management or FEMA should they make a declaration for Buncombe County.

In addition, affected residents have the following supports:

• For stream damage, contact Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District at 828-250-4785.
• For crop loss please, contact the Farm Service Agency at (828) 649-9099, ext. 2.
• For building/structural damage in Buncombe County, please call the Buncombe County Permits & Inspections Department at (828) 250-5360. Structural damage should also be reported to an individual’s insurance company as soon as possible.
• For a flood assessment to a building or structure, contact the Buncombe County Floodplain Administrator at (828) 250-4830 or email contact information to [email protected].
• For City of Asheville sidewalk repairs or maintained streets, call (828) 259-5852. Residents can upload service requests to the Asheville App, a free app compatible with Android and Apple devices. Or click the “report issues” icon on the City of Asheville website.
• For damage to state maintained roads, call  (828) 298-0390 or call 511.
• Call 211.
• Find a Community Market.
• For building/structural damage in the Asheville City limits, please call the City of Asheville Building Safety Division at (828) 259-5967 or email contact information to [email protected]. Structural damage should also be reported to an individual’s insurance company as soon as possible.
• For a flood assessment to a building or structure within the Asheville City limits, contact the City of Asheville Floodplain Administration, Nancy Watford at (828) 450-8317 or email contact information to [email protected].

Flooding and Public Health

When addressing the impacts of flooding, residents and businesses should be aware of the dangerous health impacts of flooding. Proper assessment of wells and septic systems as well as cleaning and moisture removal remain key to eliminating threats to the public’s health. Please reference What to Do After the Flood by the EPA to learn more about considerations for well and pump safety after a flood event.

Power outages can also create food safety issues for homes and businesses. When the refrigerator goes out and you are concerned about food safety, please reference the Environmental Health Preparedness Manual to learn more about food safety before, during, and after a weather event.

Many thanks go out to our emergency services personnel and first responders, who worked all night to keep our community and neighbors safe during this dangerous storm.

From Planning & Development:

There will be a public hearing to consider the proposed FY2023 Community Transportation Program Application to be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation on September 21 at 5:00 p.m. in Room 326 at 200 College Street in downtown Asheville.

Those interested in participating in the public hearing and needing either auxiliary aids or services under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or a language translator should contact Lamar Joyner, Clerk to the Board, on or before September 17, at 828.250.4101 or via email at [email protected].

The Community Transportation Program provides assistance to coordinate existing transportation programs operating in Buncombe County as well as provides transportation options and services for the communities within this service area. Current services are provided by Mountain Mobility using demand response services and deviated fixed routes

This application may be inspected beginning September 13, 2021 at Land of Sky Regional Council, 339 New Leicester Highway, Suite 140, Asheville, NC 28806, from Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Written comments should be directed to Vicki Jennings, Transit Program Manager, before September 21, 2021.

Visit The Learning Garden! The gardens are in full summer mode with ripening tomatoes, blooming roses, giant sunflowers, and many other perennials and plants of interest.

The Learning Garden is a dedicated, on-site teaching garden at the Buncombe Extension Center located at 49 Mt. Carmel Road, Asheville. It is managed and cared for by the Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteers (EMGVs) of Buncombe County.

Everyone is welcome to visit the gardens Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9 to 12 when temperatures are cool and Master Gardeners are working in the gardens. Or come visit on your own Monday through Friday, 8 to 5.

The Learning Garden (TLG) surrounds the Extension building, includes 8 distinct gardens, and a composting demonstration site. Each garden offers plants that grow well in our region. You will gather new ideas and learn successful horticultural practices that lead to beautiful, healthy gardens.

Look for plant labels in the garden. Find more information and brochures at the kiosk near the building and in the garden mailboxes.

GARDENERS ARE IN THE GARDEN.

The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.

The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.

The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.

With the convenience of being open year-round, 7 days a week, the WNC Farmers Market offers a selection of farm-fresh produce at the lowest prices in Western N.C. Our popular retail buildings, providing a selection of non-perishables, fruits, vegetables, crafts and more, are open daily.

Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, North Carolina, and open to the public this Fall. Host your company dinner or private party at Citizen Vinyl today.

Crises are a fact of life. Regardless of the type of organization, we all are at risk. Manufacturers experience serious accidents and product recalls. Restaurants reel from outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. Educational institutions deal with deadly shootings. Government and business leaders commit crimes and/or act unethically. Etcetera.

The question likely is not IF but WHEN will a crisis occur. Unfortunately, many organizations fail to prepare fully or fail to keep their crisis communication strategies up-to-date. How organizations/individuals communicate before, during and after a crisis can have a profound impact on reputation and brand, community relations, customer loyalty, and the bottom line. If handled well, your organization may emerge stronger than before the crisis. If not handled well…

Is your organization ready to communicate when your worst nightmare becomes a reality?

In this hands-on, participatory workshop, attendees will explore:

• Key principles of effective crisis communication
• The leadership imperative (obligations and opportunities)
• Case study examples of effective and ineffective crisis responses
• Suggestions for monitoring and managing social media during crisis
• The elements of the Crisis Communication Plan (CCP)

Attendees will receive a digital template for a basic CCP, and will have the opportunity to begin drafting elements of the plan during the workshop.

To facilitate collaboration and productivity, multiple members of your organization’s crisis team are encouraged to attend. (See multiple team member registration discount info.)

Attendees are also encouraged to bring laptop computers (at least one per team) to the session.

Attendees who already have a CCP are invited to bring their plans for sharing, refining, updating, etc.

Garden pots are essential to our operations at the tree nursery, and we’re running low! Do you have extra plastic nursery pots lying around your house?   Please drop your pots off at our Sand Hill Nursery in the “Return Pots” section (Buncombe County Sports Park, 24 Apac Circle, Asheville) look for a sign on the fence.

This workshop will help participants improve their grant writing knowledge, skills, and abilities by developing draft materials for each of the common components found in grant proposals. Participants can develop those materials for use in a grant application by their organization. The workshop will cover topics such as designing logic models, evaluations, and Gantt charts as well as providing useful tools, such as group exercises to facilitate idea generation, for participant use in their organizations.

The NC Mountain State Fair is the third-largest fair in North Carolina. The Fair runs from September 10th – 19th, 2021 at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center. It celebrates the heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including agriculture, music, crafts, art, food, entertainment, display of livestock, competitions, & midway amusement rides. Check the website for hours, price of admission, tickets, Special Promotions, Discount Days, and much more! http://www.wncagcenter.org/p/mountainstatefair  For more information call 828-687-1414

Included with admission

Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.

In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.

Included with admission

A unique-to-Biltmore, large-scale outdoor sculpture will be crafted and installed in Antler Hill Village this spring by Patrick Dougherty. Over the last three decades, this internationally-acclaimed artist has combined his carpentry skills and love of nature to build over 300 of these wondrous works, captivating the hearts and imaginations of viewers worldwide.

Image: Close Ties (2006) Scottish Basketmakers Circle, Dingwall, Scotland. Photo: Fin Macrae
NOTE: This is an example of Patrick Dougherty’s work; the artist will create Biltmore’s unique structure in Antler Hill Village this spring.