Every Wednesday from 12-6pm, Carolina Hemp Company and Ambrose West, alongside their neighbors on West Asheville’s Beachm’s Curve, will host a community aid drive to gather and donate supplies and food to support local emergency relief efforts. Recipients include Homeward Bound, Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, 12 Bones, the YMCA, and more! As Asheville’s Hometown Hemp Company, Carolina Hemp Company values their local community, and believes in supporting each other when in need. In times such as these, we are reminded of the unfortunate imbalance in society’s ability to afford and have access to basic necessities. The Carolina Hemp Company mission is and always has been Bringing Balance Through Hemp and they now have the opportunity to practice this through service to the Asheville community. While being encouraged to separate, it is important we still band together to pool resources, communicate, and take care of each other. Carolina Hemp Company will be collecting non-perishable food items, cooking essentials, health and wellness products, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and general toiletries, and camping gear to load into the Hemp Xpress Trolley and distribute to local organizations who are dedicated to providing shelter, food and health services to those who need it most. Updates and detailed information will be posted to the Beacham’s Curve Aid Supply and Food Drive event page on the Carolina Hemp Company facebook page.

The staff is committed to practicing conscious handling and delivery of all supplies through hand washing, wiping down items, and limited contact between donors, themselves, and the receiving organizations’ representatives

Testing sites are outdoors and will be cancelled in the event of storms based on notification from the National Weather Service. Notice of cancellation will be made by 9am on the day of testing. 

Please bring your insurance card if you have one. Visit web site for details. https://www.buncombecounty.org/countycenter/news-detail.aspx?id=18637#sec-community-based-testing-sites

We hope you are keeping calm and well during these challenging times.

To help keep us calm and in touch, the Prama staff is inviting you to a free live group meditation every Wednesday at 6pm.  The session will last about 30 minutes, including a guided meditation and a short talk on aspects of meditation practice.

We hope you will find these meditations helpful and something that you can continue to practice throughout the week.

The event is free though any contribution is appreciated.

If you are planning to attend just one week or multiple weeks, please sign up and we will email you the Zoom Link!

Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest will reopen to the public effective 9a.m. May 13. To encourage responsible use and to maintain required social distancing, phased reopening will begin with allowing public access only to areas of the forest that promote movement-focused activities such as hiking. All areas and facilities of the forest will not be available during phase one of the reopening but will become available in accordance with Governor Cooper’s phased plan for reopening the state.

What can visitors expect during a visit to Rendezvous Mountain ESF during phase one of the reopening?

• Rendezvous Mountain ESF will be open Monday through Friday, 9a.m. until 5p.m.
• Most of the trail system will be open, and visitors should come prepared to access trails and to keep moving.
• Parking has been adjusted to allow for more spacing and to make it more feasible for visitors to maintain recommended social distance.
• While portable toilets will be available for visitors, restrooms will remain closed.
• Gathering areas of the forest will remain closed to encourage movement and separation. These areas include the following:
• all picnic areas;
• the McGee Forestry Center;
• the Bathhouse;
• the Ranger Station;
• the Logger’s Shack;
• the Office; and,
• the amphitheater.

As we move forward with this phased approach, we urge the public to adjust expectations, to be prepared, to stay local and to continue complying with CDC recommendations and guidelines. Visitors are asked to be responsible for individual best practices and to follow social distancing recommendations. Visitor behavior will be a key factor for providing continued public access and to avoid additional closures to the forest during this period of phased reopening. For phased reopening to be successful for public lands across our state, visitors must be good stewards and good neighbors. If you arrive during a busy time and find limited parking, the right decision is to return home and plan to visit another day at another time. If we are busy, expect other public lands, such as state parks and national forests, to also be busy. For up-to-date information about access to state forests in North Carolina, please stay tuned into https://ncforestservice.gov/COVID19.htm and NCFS social media accounts.

Testing sites are outdoors and will be cancelled in the event of storms based on notification from the National Weather Service. Notice of cancellation will be made by 9am on the day of testing. 

Please bring your insurance card if you have one. Please visit web site for details: https://www.buncombecounty.org/countycenter/news-detail.aspx?id=18637#sec-community-based-testing-sites

Relax and unwind at the Arboretum’s “ArborEvenings” after hours series. Held every Thursday, June – October, from 6 to 9 p.m., visitors will sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s beautiful gardens while enjoying live music amongst flowers and friends. Local beverages, including beer and wine, are available for purchase along with light food options.

Admission to ArborEvenings is free; however, standard parking fees apply to non-members.

New Park Updates Starting June 5

Pisgah Legal Services Launches Campaign to Help Those Recently Unemployed Due to COVID-19 Find Health Insurance through Special Enrollment Process

Pisgah Legal Services (PLS), a nonprofit that provides free, civil legal aid in Western North Carolina, recently launched a targeted campaign to reach people recently unemployed due to COVID-19 who may have also lost their health insurance. Anyone who has experienced a qualifying life event in the past 60 days, including job loss, may qualify for Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance. Pisgah Legal Services offers free assistance and free information to help understand options for affordable health insurance. To find out more or to make an appointment, visit pisgahlegal.org/aca  or call 828-210-3404.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has left many people without jobs and with that, health insurance,” said Jim Barrett, Executive Director for Pisgah Legal Services. “Many of these people may qualify to file for health insurance through Special Enrollment and it’s our goal to help them understand their options.”

As recently as early May, NC had surpassed the one million mark for individual unemployment insurance benefit claims, as noted on the N.C. Division of Employment website. Almost one-quarter, or 20.3 percent of the 4.97 million North Carolinians listed in the state’s workforce as of mid-March have filed an unemployment insurance claim. “The need is great and will likely grow,” notes Barrett. “Pisgah Legal wants to make sure that no one misses health care coverage as a result of recent job loss.”

When qualifying for a special enrollment period, people do not have to wait until November for Open Enrollment; they can take advantage of options now. One Asheville resident, Christina, lost her job in March and with it, her insurance. She suffers from heart disease and without insurance, was unsure how she would afford her medicines. By working with Pisgah Legal Services, she was able to get a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan for less than $17/month.  “Pisgah Legal took care of everything for me,” said Christina. She hopes others take advantage of this valuable, free service.

Pisgah Legal Services works with organizations in WNC to provide these services across the region. These organizations include: Blue Ridge Community Health Services, Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Legal Aid or North Carolina, Mountain Projects, Inc., and, Western Carolina Medical Society.

Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest will reopen to the public effective 9a.m. May 13. To encourage responsible use and to maintain required social distancing, phased reopening will begin with allowing public access only to areas of the forest that promote movement-focused activities such as hiking. All areas and facilities of the forest will not be available during phase one of the reopening but will become available in accordance with Governor Cooper’s phased plan for reopening the state.

What can visitors expect during a visit to Rendezvous Mountain ESF during phase one of the reopening?

• Rendezvous Mountain ESF will be open Monday through Friday, 9a.m. until 5p.m.
• Most of the trail system will be open, and visitors should come prepared to access trails and to keep moving.
• Parking has been adjusted to allow for more spacing and to make it more feasible for visitors to maintain recommended social distance.
• While portable toilets will be available for visitors, restrooms will remain closed.
• Gathering areas of the forest will remain closed to encourage movement and separation. These areas include the following:
• all picnic areas;
• the McGee Forestry Center;
• the Bathhouse;
• the Ranger Station;
• the Logger’s Shack;
• the Office; and,
• the amphitheater.

As we move forward with this phased approach, we urge the public to adjust expectations, to be prepared, to stay local and to continue complying with CDC recommendations and guidelines. Visitors are asked to be responsible for individual best practices and to follow social distancing recommendations. Visitor behavior will be a key factor for providing continued public access and to avoid additional closures to the forest during this period of phased reopening. For phased reopening to be successful for public lands across our state, visitors must be good stewards and good neighbors. If you arrive during a busy time and find limited parking, the right decision is to return home and plan to visit another day at another time. If we are busy, expect other public lands, such as state parks and national forests, to also be busy. For up-to-date information about access to state forests in North Carolina, please stay tuned into https://ncforestservice.gov/COVID19.htm and NCFS social media accounts.

New Park Updates Starting June 5

See where the cougars and otters sleep overnight, meet black bears that are not commonly on display, learn the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round, observe a training session and find out why the animals call Grandfather Mountain home.

Offered on weekends, April – October.

Pisgah Legal Services Launches Campaign to Help Those Recently Unemployed Due to COVID-19 Find Health Insurance through Special Enrollment Process

Pisgah Legal Services (PLS), a nonprofit that provides free, civil legal aid in Western North Carolina, recently launched a targeted campaign to reach people recently unemployed due to COVID-19 who may have also lost their health insurance. Anyone who has experienced a qualifying life event in the past 60 days, including job loss, may qualify for Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance. Pisgah Legal Services offers free assistance and free information to help understand options for affordable health insurance. To find out more or to make an appointment, visit pisgahlegal.org/aca  or call 828-210-3404.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has left many people without jobs and with that, health insurance,” said Jim Barrett, Executive Director for Pisgah Legal Services. “Many of these people may qualify to file for health insurance through Special Enrollment and it’s our goal to help them understand their options.”

As recently as early May, NC had surpassed the one million mark for individual unemployment insurance benefit claims, as noted on the N.C. Division of Employment website. Almost one-quarter, or 20.3 percent of the 4.97 million North Carolinians listed in the state’s workforce as of mid-March have filed an unemployment insurance claim. “The need is great and will likely grow,” notes Barrett. “Pisgah Legal wants to make sure that no one misses health care coverage as a result of recent job loss.”

When qualifying for a special enrollment period, people do not have to wait until November for Open Enrollment; they can take advantage of options now. One Asheville resident, Christina, lost her job in March and with it, her insurance. She suffers from heart disease and without insurance, was unsure how she would afford her medicines. By working with Pisgah Legal Services, she was able to get a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan for less than $17/month.  “Pisgah Legal took care of everything for me,” said Christina. She hopes others take advantage of this valuable, free service.

Pisgah Legal Services works with organizations in WNC to provide these services across the region. These organizations include: Blue Ridge Community Health Services, Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Legal Aid or North Carolina, Mountain Projects, Inc., and, Western Carolina Medical Society.

Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest will reopen to the public effective 9a.m. May 13. To encourage responsible use and to maintain required social distancing, phased reopening will begin with allowing public access only to areas of the forest that promote movement-focused activities such as hiking. All areas and facilities of the forest will not be available during phase one of the reopening but will become available in accordance with Governor Cooper’s phased plan for reopening the state.

What can visitors expect during a visit to Rendezvous Mountain ESF during phase one of the reopening?

• Rendezvous Mountain ESF will be open Monday through Friday, 9a.m. until 5p.m.
• Most of the trail system will be open, and visitors should come prepared to access trails and to keep moving.
• Parking has been adjusted to allow for more spacing and to make it more feasible for visitors to maintain recommended social distance.
• While portable toilets will be available for visitors, restrooms will remain closed.
• Gathering areas of the forest will remain closed to encourage movement and separation. These areas include the following:
• all picnic areas;
• the McGee Forestry Center;
• the Bathhouse;
• the Ranger Station;
• the Logger’s Shack;
• the Office; and,
• the amphitheater.

As we move forward with this phased approach, we urge the public to adjust expectations, to be prepared, to stay local and to continue complying with CDC recommendations and guidelines. Visitors are asked to be responsible for individual best practices and to follow social distancing recommendations. Visitor behavior will be a key factor for providing continued public access and to avoid additional closures to the forest during this period of phased reopening. For phased reopening to be successful for public lands across our state, visitors must be good stewards and good neighbors. If you arrive during a busy time and find limited parking, the right decision is to return home and plan to visit another day at another time. If we are busy, expect other public lands, such as state parks and national forests, to also be busy. For up-to-date information about access to state forests in North Carolina, please stay tuned into https://ncforestservice.gov/COVID19.htm and NCFS social media accounts.

We are unloading all of our unwanted goods. Its probably trash but maybe someone wants it? We will be practicing all the COVID guidelines. This is a parking lot sale so no drinks allowed on premise. Masks required, social distancing enforced, sanitizer provided, etc. We will do our best to disinfect goods sold — they have not been touched in 2.5 months though so they’re probably cool!

An evening of Gypsy Jazz: The Hot Club of Asheville – a gypsy jazz collective- is returning to the Isis Lawn concert series with a different line up and fresh repertoire. The evening will feature the music of Django Reinhardt along with a focus on more modern compositions in the Gypsy Jazz genre. The core band will feature Steve Karla and Phil Alley on guitars with Connor Law on bass and special guests. Come enjoy an evening of live music, food and drinks at the Isis patio and lawn

Here’s the scoop for Saturday’s Concert!!

Things are going to be a little different due to the “new norm” / COVID19 regulations. So we ask that y’all just bear with us!!

Unlike our previous lawn shows there will not be open free lawn seating (ie blankets, bring your own chairs, etc) – We have to follow strict distancing rules right now – When things get back to normal, we promise we’ll also get back to our usual lawn series vibe.

There will be tables throughout the patio and lawn – these tables will be specifically spaced to meet distancing regulations.

These tables will be the ONLY seating.

The tables are available for DINING only – unfortunately with the limited seating we can not offer tables to those that are only enjoying a beverage.

Seating is limited so we recommend calling and making dinner
We will be adding a musicians’ fee per person in order to help support the musicians and sound engineer..

Our same delicious food will be back on the menu in a more limited selection until we can get things up and running steadily again.

We hope that you understand and support these changes as we all are working through how to navigate these times!! We’re so excited to back open for live music and to see some familiar faces!!

Please give a call with any other questions or to reserve a table!! 828-575-2737

Cheers
The Isis Crew

New Park Updates Starting June 5

See where the cougars and otters sleep overnight, meet black bears that are not commonly on display, learn the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round, observe a training session and find out why the animals call Grandfather Mountain home.

Offered on weekends, April – October.