Buncombe County is set to receive $51M in federal Covid relief funding. While there are some restrictions on how funding can be spent, it must address Covid relief and the subsequent economic fallout.

The County is now accepting proposals from the community on projects or programs. Examples of eligible categories include: small business support, household assistance, mental health programs, addressing public health disparities and more. Proposals are due Thursday, July 15. Read the full RFP and FAQs here.

The Caldwell Arts Council announces its 35th Annual Sculpture Celebration in Lenoir, NC on Saturday September 11, 2021 at the Broyhill Walking Park in Lenoir, North Carolina.

Sculptors are invited to bring up to 3 sculptures for this one-day event to compete for $11,000 in cash awards, along with potential sales and commissions. Registration includes free camping, a Friday Night Sculptors’ Dinner, breakfast, and a meal voucher for the day of the event.

This annual family-friendly event attracts sculptors and buyers from the eastern United States to Lenoir, North Carolina and in past years, has attracted over 4,000 people. It is funded in part by generous sponsors and by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Governor Roy Cooper announced the $4 Million Summer Cash and College Tuition drawings to incentivize individuals to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations and to thank those who have already done so. This announcement means that four vaccinated North Carolinians 18 and older will win $1 million each and four North Carolinians ages 12 to 17 will win tuition for post-secondary education. Executive Order 219, which has concurrence from the North Carolina Council of State, authorizes the drawings. North Carolinians 18 and over who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will be automatically entered into four drawings for a chance to win a $1 million cash prize. Youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be automatically entered into four drawings to win $125,000 towards post-secondary education. The $125,000 can be used at any post-secondary institution and is awarded in the form of a NC 529 account. North Carolina joins other states that announced million-dollar drawings to promote vaccinations. Ohio, the first state to launch such a program, reported a 28 percent increase in vaccinations among those 16 and older in the first two weeks following the announcement. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 44% of the total population has received at least one dose of the vaccine and 41% of the population is fully vaccinated.

A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE

2021 THOMAS WOLFE MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

The Western North Carolina Historical Association is now accepting nominations for the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. Originated by the Louis Lipinsky family and now supported by Michael Sartisky, PhD, the Award is a partnership between WNCHA and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Advisory Committee. It has been presented by WNCHA since 1955. The award comes with a $2,500 cash prize.

The deadline for submission of nominated works is July 31, 2021. Anyone with knowledge of an author who meets the qualification criteria may nominate the author for the award. To be considered, an entry must be a published work of fiction, nonfiction, drama or poetry and meet the following criteria:

1. It must be a first edition work; revised editions of published works will not be considered for the Award.
2. The publication date must be between July 1, 2020 and July 1, 2021.
3. The author must be a native of western North Carolina or a resident of western North Carolina for at least twelve months prior to the closing date for the Award.
4. An author may also qualify if the work submitted has a focus on or setting in western North Carolina.

Western North Carolina includes the Qualla Boundary and the following 25 counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey.

The Award Panel this year consists of: Catherine Frank, Chair, Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville; Dee James, retired Director of the First-Year Writing Program at UNC Asheville; Tom Muir, Historic Site Manager, Thomas Wolfe Memorial; Gordon McKinney, PhD, former president, Appalachian Studies Association; Terry Roberts, PhD, Director, National Paideia Center; Jim Stokely, President, Wilma Dykeman Legacy.

Nomination letters must specify the following eligibility criteria:

1. date of publication
2. birthplace or residence of author
3. setting of work

Nominators should submit a cover letter along with three copies of the work postmarked no later than July 31, 2021 to:

Wolfe Award Committee

℅ Anne Chesky Smith

WNC Historical Association

283 Victoria Road

Asheville, NC  28801

An awards ceremony and reception, in honor of the finalists and 2021 Award recipient, will be held in early December 2021.

The Association presented the first Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award to Wilma Dykeman in 1955 for The French Broad. The Award has continued to be funded, in part, by Mrs. E. Frank Edwin, a member of the Lipinsky family and for the last three years by WNCHA, and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Advisory Board, both with support from Michael Sartisky, PhD. Other recipients of this prestigious Award include Robert Morgan, Gail Godwin, John Ehle, Robert Brunk, Michael McFee, Lee Smith, Ron Rash, Wayne Caldwell, and Terry Roberts. Sandra Muse Isaacs was the recipient of the 2020 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award for her book: Eastern Cherokee Stories: A Living Oral Tradition and Its Cultural Continuance.

Unique outdoor sculptural works by environmental artist Patrick Dougherty, known as “Stick Man,” will reside in Antler Hill Village. Renowned worldwide for his monumental creations, Dougherty weaves saplings and branches into intricate artworks, fashioning whimsical forms ranging from gigantic snares and cocoons to sculptural interpretations of notable buildings. The visual appeal of these large-scale artworks may be appreciated up close as guests are encouraged to walk through and around the creations, affording the opportunity to admire the artistry and technical skills required to make the sculptures.

The Summer in the City Raffle benefiting Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders (CRC for ED) is your chance to fit in one last summer fling and get into the Asheville groove! Whether you’re Asheville born and bred or new to the 828, you’re sure to enjoy this fun-filled, uniquely Asheville, August weekend!

The raffle winner will receive a quintessential Asheville summer getaway package, valued at $1,550, including:

• 2 nights in Banjoe Vacations’ Downtown Asheville Condo – This beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo is located right in downtown Asheville, walking distance to all downtown activities, and just a 10-minute drive to the River Arts District or Biltmore Village. (Downtown condo dates are August 27 and August 28, 2021. Alternate dates may be selected based on condo availability and must be arranged directly thru Banjoe Vacations. Alternate condo dates must be booked no later than August 15, 2021. See Terms and Conditions for full details.)

• 2 tickets for the Eating Asheville “High Roller Tour” – Sit down at some of the most elegant, trendy, and acclaimed tables in our beloved foodie city, and sample an array of flavors, cuisines, and local produce. This tour features 6 restaurants, at least 3 drink pairings, and 2.5 hours of deliciousness.

• 2 tickets to Zen Tubing (including cooler carrier) – Cool off with one of Asheville’s favorite summer activities – a day of lazy tubing down the river from one of two great locations.

• 2 tickets for the LaZoom “Hey Asheville! City Comedy Tour” – Learn Asheville’s  history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure on this 90-minute guided comedy tour of historical Asheville.

• $25 Gift Card to Taco Billy – There’s no better way to round out a day of tubing on the river than with tacos featuring local ingredients from one of Asheville’s favorite taco restaurants.

• $25 Gift Card to Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar – Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, this combination used book store and wine bar is a beloved and uniquely Asheville experience.

• $25 Gift Card to French Broad Chocolate Lounge or French Broad Chocolate Factory & Cafe – From delicious desserts to creative confections, you can add some extra sweetness to this sweet weekend trip at Asheville’s favorite chocolatier.

A limited number of raffle tickets will be available for purchase from July 2, 2021 through July 30, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. EDT on our specially created event website at https://rafflecreator.com/pages/40142/crc-for-eds-summer-in-the-city-raffle. The winner will be selected at random, announced on all CRC for ED social media platforms on July 30th at approximately 7:00 p.m. EDT, and will be notified directly by telephone, mail, and/or email. Please see full Terms & Conditions here: https://crcfored.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CRCforED-Summer-in-the-City-Raffle-Terms-Conditions.pdf.

Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders is the only nonprofit in NC providing education, resources, and support to individuals, families, and professionals concerned with disordered eating and recovery from eating disorders.

Your participation in the Summer in the City Raffle allows us to continue offering accessible eating disorder support services and education at a time when the need is greater than ever, while also  giving you the chance to win a last minute getaway!