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#AvlQuaranclean   1) AGW Office @ 2 Sulphur Spring Road 2) AGW Office @ 318 Riverside Drive 3) The HOP @ 640 Merrimon Ave #103 4) Sutton / Dezio Law @ 70 Mt Pisgah Hwy (on their back porch) 5) Buncombe County Sports Park Entrance @ 58 Apac Drive Our cleanup events may have been canceled, but there’s still trash to collect as part of Avl Quaranclean! Our Cleanup Supply Stations have been filled and supplies are ready for pick up if you find yourself wanting to get out of the house & motivated to improve our community. Each station has been filled with supply packs— in one roll you will find: 2 trash bags, 1 safety vest and 1 pair of gloves. There are further instructions at each station. Make sure to post videos and pictures and tag #AvlQuaranclean so that we can all see the incredible job you’re doing. And, as always, please stay safe and healthy.

Jay Medford, Owner and Executive Chef at Storm Rhum Bar and Bistro
and The Underground Cafe with DoughP Doughnuts tells us how his restaurants have adapted to the crisis.

While we’ve all had to adjust to the “new normal” (whatever that is) our local business owners and managers each have their own story to tell about how they’ve been affected and what they are doing during these unprecedented times. Dig Local is proud to partner with our friend, Ann Smith, at Leap Frog Tours to interview some of the awesome folks who make Asheville, Asheville. Check out the video above and be on the watch for our next interview featuring Anthony Cerrato, owner of Strada and The Social Lounge. Stay strong, Asheville and keep digging local!

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A series on how local businesses are reacting to the COVID-19 crisis

Kick off spring in the mountains at the 23rd annual French Broad River Festival.  It’s part outdoor adventure, part music festival with whitewater rafting, biking, hiking, kid’s village, camping, great music, and much more.  Painter John, a popular FBRF musician, compares the atmosphere to “a big potluck at your best friend’s house”.  If you’ve been you know . . . what better way to enjoy spring in these mountains?

While staying at home and practicing safe social distancing are the best courses of action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, it doesn’t mean we have to miss out on cultural landmarks around the world. Thanks to the Google Arts & Culture Project, from New York City’s Museum of Modern Art, to Rijks Museum in Amsterdam, here are 6 museums you can tour right now from home.

MoMA, New York

The first museum founded to showcase modern art, The Museum of Modern Art in New York has been doing just that for more than 90 years. From Picasso to Van Gogh, the MoMA is home to incredible pieces of history from the world of contemporary art.

Museo Frida Kahlo, Mexico City

Tour La Casa Azul, the former home of world-renowned artist Frida Kahlo – and current home to the museum honoring her life and legacy. Visible here are not only works from Kahlo, but also numerous personal belongings including her clothing and a body cast she famously painted while ill.

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

On display at the Musée d’Orsay, you’ll discover famous works from French artists who lived and worked between 1848 and 1914. Paintings by Monet, Gauguin, and Cézanne – among others – are featured on this Parisienne art tour.

La Galleria Nazionale, Rome

With just about 500 of its approximately 20,000 artworks digitized for this virtual tour, La Galleria Nazionale in Rome features everything from antiquities to seminal pieces representing the Futurist and Surrealist art movements.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe

Honoring one of America’s preeminent artists, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum settled in the same New Mexican desert she once called home. It is dedicated to enriching visitors in the incredible legacy left by the late artist with its collection of her paintings; of which 30 can be viewed online.

Rijks Museum, Amsterdam

One of the more thoroughly digitized experiences is Rijks Museum in Amsterdam. With over 145,000 works available to view virtually, enjoy incredible works from artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Verspronck, to name a few.

Additional Funding on the Horizon for the Paycheck Protection Program A second stimulus package has passed the Senate. This package is expected to pass the House on Thursday (today) and be signed by President Trump. This bill would provide an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program with $60 billion of that money reserved for smaller businesses without existing banking relationships. Also an additional $60 billion ($50 billion in loans and $10 billion in grants) would be designated for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) fund, administered by the Small Business Administration. Small Businesses can review guidelines for the two programs and prepare information to apply when the bill is passed View Information on the PPP Provided by the NC Chamber of Commerce Information from the SBA on EIDLs

Grants will help farmers quickly respond to added costs caused by COVID-19

ASAP has established a new grant program for farmers experiencing lost income and added expenses due to COVID-19. Farmers are facing unexpected costs in reaching new sales outlets with the closure of restaurants and reduction or cancellation of farmers markets. In response, ASAP has raised funds and initiated the Appalachian Grown Farmer Immediate Needs Grants, which will provide quick and much-needed support. Farmers who sell locally may apply at asapconnections.org for grants of up to $500.

“For many farmers, this is a critical time,” said ASAP’s Executive Director Charlie Jackson. “Farms have crops in the ground and no place to sell. This is make or break time for many of them.”

Restrictions implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19 have caused major disruptions for farmers. ASAP estimates that $16 million in restaurant and farmers market sales is impacted by the public health restrictions in WNC alone. Farms in the Appalachian Grown region served by ASAP are rapidly pivoting business plans and processes to adapt to the new market environment. Moving quickly is paramount, as farms have perishable products and limited alternatives for sales. Many farms have immediate needs where modest investments, such as updating technology to allow for online sales or purchasing essential packaging materials, will allow them to meet new market requirements.

“Farmers are resilient and creative and with some help they will figure out how to get what they grow to the people who want to eat it,” said Jackson. “We all depend on farms and they need us too. An investment in our farmers is an investment in our community.”

Priority will be given to farmers who 1) face a significant loss or disruption of market outlets due to COVID-19, 2) depend on the farm business for more than fifty percent of their household income, and 3) plan to use funds to help shift their farm business to new models or adjust to new market requirements. Nonprofits are not eligible to apply at this time.

Support for the Appalachian Grown Farmer Immediate Needs Grants comes from the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund. Donations to the fund may be made at asapconnections.org.

ASAP has launched the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund to
strategically address the emergency needs of farms during COVID-19 disruptions. Funds will be used for public health preparedness grants to farmers markets, to subsidize essential farm product packaging, and to purchase unsold food for donation to hunger programs. Donations to the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund can be made online at asapconnections.org or by mail or phone.

http://www.classicalpublicradio.org/series/openair-brevard-2019?utm_source=Brevard+Music+Center&utm_campaign=87c60ff5e2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_1_31_2018_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b154873bc5-87c60ff5e2-131688489

Open Air Brevard Radio

If you are reading this, you are most likely a landowner in western North Carolina who is concerned about the future of your land along the French Broad River or one of its tributaries. Perhaps you have a farm or cattle ranch that has been in your family for generations, or maybe you recently purchased your second home in an idyllic rural area. Whatever your situation, many North Carolina landowners face the same dilemma: how do you ensure that the land you love looks the way that it does forever?

Conserving Land

Protected Properties

Parks, Greenways & Blueways

Enjoy original local Asheville music anywhere.

We recently put out a “call for musicians” to create a compilation that is Asheville. We were blown away by the response and the talent in this town! And with COVID-19 putting a temporary halt to live music, now is the perfect time to begin sharing this playlist for you to enjoy from the safety of your own couch. While you’ll likely recognize some of these artists, there are many new ones that you’ll love to discover.

We’ll be adding new local music to our Spotify playlist every week for your enjoyment.

Yep, that means fresh local music. Free access all the time! Coming soon additional songs by The Styrofoam Turtles, Hope Griffin, Bombassic, Via and more!

 Check out the first 10 songs on our playlist on Spotify, and tell us which local artist you dig the most!  Stay tuned…

Join us for #GivingTuesdayNow this May 5, 2020, an international day of charitable giving designed to offset the impacts of COVID-19 on nonprofits. Thanks to a generous donor who will match your gift, you can DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT by (1) joining the team as a first time donor, (2) increasing your annual donation by 25%, or (3) making a gift of any amount if your last gift was made more than one year ago. Watch for more details to come but mark your calendar for Tuesday, May 5 – #GivingTuesdayNow.

Our Vagabond Videos series continued this week featuring Merrill Peiffer, Dennis C. Maulden and Stewart Gregory, Ryah Nixon and Ryan Guerra, Preston Dyar, and former apprentice, Brian Wittenberg. Click the image above to view Ryah and Ryan’s duet of “Somewhere That’s Green.”

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts is closed, but as it notes on its homepage, it’s “digitally open.”

That includes livestreaming performances and an expanded lineup of digital learning activities and workshops, which are all available for free online.

https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/center-for-puppetry-arts-livestream-performances-for-free/KuBGQBiqLKxYs2l0WORhWO/?fbclid=IwAR17Ds6ftqLlyHEMda-rNXz3a9PHlERNkHuILTYJON58mQ005dZtC-DkUSc

Find your zen during this stressful time. Miranda Peterson of Asheville yoga hike company Namaste in Nature has developed a series of free, online videos to help you relax. From a 10-minute sensory meditation to a gentle, immune boosting yoga asana practice, these videos are designed to “calm and support your immune system.”

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-xlv6hOjSADsdrMgIDWVRQ

Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence at Home

Around the world, people of all ages have joined Mo Willems in his studio for weekday LUNCH DOODLES. The three-week run, all 15 episodes and their downloadable activities, are archived below. Let the doodling continue! Please tag your artwork on social media with #MoLunchDoodles so that we can all see it!

We applaud the many other authors and illustrators who are sharing stories and leading activities online. For a short list of people to visit, click here. [Please note that this list is just a small number of the many wonderful artists who are sharing their talent and insights at this time. So, grab a favorite grown-up and look around the internet to discover authors/illustrators who are new to you!]

You can always visit Kennedy Center @ Home to enjoy free videos of extraordinary live and on-demand performances. Our KC Ed Now site also has fun educational activities to do at home.

Mo Willems and the Kennedy Center thank YOU for sharing your creativity with us! This pandemic is going to require some time to get better.  It is also going to require lots of kindness, lots of empathy, and lots and lots of doodles. Doodle on, fellow ART MAKERS!

This movement, promoting the
elimination of the shame associated with society’s standards of beauty and respect for all
body shapes and sizes, will take place on Wednesday, May 6th.
The NEDA Network is a partnership between NEDA and other mission-aligned
organizations dedicated to advancing the field of eating disorders and building a
community of support. With nearly 20 member organizations, this network provides a
unified voice of strength and advocacy. May 6th will mark the NEDA Network’s second
national #NoDietDay social media campaign, encouraging the rejection of diet culture.
We invite you to join us in promoting healthy relationships with food, movement, and
body image!
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO ON MAY 6TH TO PARTICIPATE IN #NODIETDAY:
1. Share the NEDA Network’s social media posts about No Diet Day (don’t forget to
use the hashtags #NoDietDay and #NEDANetwork), any time leading up to and on
No Diet Day.
2. Complete the pledge to reject diet culture any time leading up to or on May 6th.
Pledge: myneda.org/nodietdaypledge
3. Participate in a FREE virtual workshop in support of a more balanced relationship
with food and body image presented by Becca Clegg, LPC, CEDS-S, author of
Ending the Diet Mindset on May 6th from 1:30-3pm EST. Registration:
http://myneda.org/NDD-event
4. Log onto Twitter on No Diet Day and participate in the 2020 Twitter Chat from
6-7:30pm EST.
More about the virtual workshop:
This session is appropriate for professionals and the general public. Becca will walk
attendees through identifying diet culture and diet mindset. She will explore the
neurobiological effects of restrictive dieting and we will leave with an understanding of
the psychological, emotional, and physical impact of dieting and how it often leads to
damaging disordered eating patterns. Attendees will take away cognitive, experiential,

and behavioral interventions they can use to reclaim a more balanced relationship with
food and body image. “This is an important and timely workshop that will address dieting
and its potential for unhealthy behaviors and health outcomes,” says Simone Seitz,
Executive Director of CRC for ED and Chair of the NEDA Network.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS ASSOCIATION
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the largest nonprofit organization
dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. NEDA
supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders and serves as a catalyst for
prevention, cures, and access to quality care. Through our programs and services, NEDA
raises awareness, builds communities of support and recovery, funds research and puts
life-saving resources into the hands of those in need. For more information, visit
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.
ABOUT CAROLINA RESOURCE CENTER FOR EATING DISORDERS
CRC for ED is the only nonprofit in North Carolina supporting individuals, families, and
professionals concerned with disordered eating and recovery from eating disorders. To
learn more about CRC for ED, please visit https://www.crcfored.com/

Paycheck Protection Program The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. This program is for any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorship, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by COVID-19. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020.

The deadline for current season ticket holders to renew their seats is May 9.

New season ticket orders will be processed in the order they are received.

To purchase season tickets, click the “Renew Your Subscription” or “Become A Subscriber” buttons above or contact us by calling 864.467.3000 or mailing your form to Peace Center Box Office at 101 W Broad 101 W Broad St., Greenville SC 29601.

There’s an incredible Broadway season on the horizon that includes Tony Award®-winners, fan favorites, reimagined revivals, and the hottest Broadway shows straight from New York City. Season ticket holders and Peacekeepers make it possible to bring these exhilarating and fresh productions to Greenville. THANK YOU for your ongoing support of the Peace Center!

As the growing season ramps up and social isolation continues to define our days, gardening is the perfect way to get outside, ease your mind, and support our local ecosystem – all while maintaining appropriate social distance. Whether you’re nurturing a decade old garden or are using your quarantine time to put plants in the ground for the first time ever, our new program has the tools and certifications for all levels of expertise. Certified gardens receive an official certificate and have the option to purchase one of our Certified Pollinator Habitat signs!   Find more information about this program along with tons of resources about pollinators and plants that they love!

Healthy Rivers equal Healthy Communities. RiverLink’s Watershed Resources program works to improve water quality in the French Broad River and its tributaries. These waterways support critical wildlife habitat for many species, such as the hellbender salamander and rainbow trout. Our local economies thrive on water-based recreational tourism. The French Broad River watershed also provides drinking water for many communities. These things are true only if the water is clean. Our Watershed Resources program uses a combination of initiatives, including on the ground projects and community outreach to improve and protect water quality.

Stream Restorations

Stormwater Control

WaterRICH, Water Conservation Program

Watershed Planning

Name That Creek

The South Bank’s Globe Theatre has closed its doors for now, but it also has an online catalogue of filmed performances to feast on.

Globe Player has paid-for recordings of many of the theatre’s Shakespeare adaptations spanning more than 10 years, including Mark Rylance and Stephen Fry in Twelfth Night; Jonathan Pryce as the Merchant of Venice; Emma Rice’s naughty telling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Adetomiwa Edun and Ellie Kendrick in the 2009 production of Romeo and Juliet; and Lucy Bailey’s bloodthirsty Titus Andronicus.

Watching one of these for your sofa is probably more comfortable than being a groundling at the theatre itself, although you’ll pay roughly the same to rent, as you usually would for the cheapest tickets in the house.

If you’re particularly barmy about the Bard, bundles of nine different seasons at the Globe are also available to buy.

Free content on Globe Player is admittedly limited, although there’s some interesting behind-the-scenes content to check out.

Alum Cave At-Home Adventure is a Virtual Fundraising Hike on one of Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most iconic trails. Although the trail will look different for everyone, we’re all going the distance together – 4.6 miles for a roundtrip hike to Alum Cave or 10 miles up to the top of Mount Le Conte and down via Alum Cave Trail. Find your own trail. It could be your yard, your neighborhood or a treadmill in your basement. If a hike isn’t your thing, just choose the Park Bench option! Anyone can join us in solidarity to raise funds for Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the comfort and safety of your own home. Here’s how it works: 1. Register to virtually hike at AlumCaveAtHome.org, and personalize your fundraising page. 2. Ask your family, friends, and coworkers to support you by making a tax-deductible donation to Friends of the Smokies through your personal fundraising page. 3. You have until June 6, 2020 to fundraise and complete your virtual hike, then you will receive your hike swag, including a t-shirt and finishers medal, in the mail! Over the last few weeks, we’ve become pros at staying home and practicing social distancing. As we take care of ourselves and each other, we hope you’ll also help us take care of the Smokies. The park is closed for the safety of visitors and staff, but critical conservation projects still need funding. It’s up to us to preserve the park for generations to come so we hope you’ll join us.