Join the School of Stage and Screen for a unique radio drama experience of “A Ghost of Christmas Past” where Fan – Scrooge’s often forgotten younger sister – takes center stage as the feminine and ethereal guide to restore balance in the unbalanced world and heart of Ebenezer Scrooge.

The radio drama was written and adapted for the stage by assistant professor Ashlee Wasmund with original music and lyrics by assistant professor Kristen Hedberg.

City of Asheville Transit will begin enforcing face covering requirements for riders and will reduce the maximum passenger capacity per bus to 9 people plus the driver.

Free face coverings are provided on all ART buses and at the Transit Center, both on the platform and at the customer service window. Please ask an ART employee for assistance if a face covering is needed.

Riders who refuse to wear a face covering, or who are improperly wearing a face covering, will not be allowed to board the bus and will be denied service.  Additionally, riders will be required to exit the bus if the face covering is removed or is being worn improperly.  Face coverings are also required to be worn at all times at ART facilities, including the Transit Center and bus stops.  Riders who refuse to wear face coverings will be subject to a 15-day ban from riding transit and may be subject to civil penalties and trespassing charges. Recurring violations may result in additional penalties and a longer ban from riding ART.

Additionally, in accordance with Executive Order 180, the maximum passenger capacity per bus will once again be limited to 9 riders plus the driver. Riders are asked to limit their use of ART to essential travel only and to continue to practice the 3 W’s: Wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth, Wait 6 feet apart and avoid close contact, and Wash your hands or use sanitizer.

Please check the Service Alerts section on the website for any updates.
https://www.ashevillenc.gov/service/transit-service-alerts

Make your holidays merry, bright and a culinary delight with the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association. Before you go out or order in for your special holiday evenings, make sure that your favorite restaurant is open for business! Check the AIR Holiday Hours – a complete list of AIR restaurant’s special holiday hours from Thanksgiving to ringing in the New Year! These will be updated often, so please check in throughout the season! View Holiday Hours here –

The holidays are a precious time of connection: a time to share joy among friends, family, and community. Where the coronavirus pandemic imposes barriers to physical reunion, music allows us to gather in spirit wherever we are. In October 2020, a small subset of musicians from the Blue Ridge Orchestra spaced out their stands, put on their masks, and gathered at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts to record holiday favorites for a concert that can unite loved ones near and far.

Programmed by John Gordon Ross, this unique concert will feature secular and sacred favorites performed by a variety of musical ensembles: a woodwind quintet, a brass octet, a 13-piece string orchestra, a solo soprano with piano, and a string quartet.

The final recording will be available here from December 11-31!

BRO: Beyond the Concert Hall explores the ways the members of the Blue Ridge Orchestra are playing, practicing, and enjoying music during the 2020 pandemic. New videos will be added weekly so check back to see more musicians!

About the Author: Harper Howze is a freshman at Sumner Academy in Kansas City, Kansas, and an aspiring writer. This is his first published work. Lucille Chaveas, his co-author and “Grand” (grandmother), is a Brevard resident and an avid supporter of the Brevard Music Center.

Bucket List: Guide to Art Institutions in WNC Western North Carolina is known as the artist’s enclave of the Southeast—but where should we layfolk go to enjoy the fruits of these labors? Here’s our guide to enjoying art—painted, sculpted, sketched, and otherwise crafted—across the region.

The online Holiday Craft Sale features nature-themed, handcrafted items, including ornaments, jewelry, textiles, quilts and holiday decor. Wreaths and swags enhanced with botanicals gathered on the Bullington Garden grounds and created by volunteers are ready for your home. Our delightful holiday garden gnome, standing 30 inches tall, adds a whimsical touch to your front porch. Locally-grown premium amaryllis, poinsettias, cyclamens and Christmas cactus plants are also available.

Bullington’s “Buzzington” bee products are offered including BeeKind ornaments, bee-themed gift items and beeswax candles.

The Holiday Greenery Sale features premium, freshly-cut Fraser fir trees ranging in height from five to eight feet. These native trees come from the Western North Carolina mountains and are wrapped for protection during transport. Also available are premium garlands in a 25-foot length, plus unadorned 12-inch wreaths. Holiday greenery must be ordered by Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Bullington Gardens is a proud supporter of our veterans, and believes all service members should be honored for their sacrifice. In partnership with local veterans and volunteers, Bullington Gardens offers Veteran’s Wreaths. Your $17 donation to honor a fallen veteran provides a 12-inch wreath, decorated with a hand tied red bow, and placed on a gravesite at the State Veteran’s Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC.

Shop our Bullington Gardens store online at www.bullingtongardens.org and fill your virtual cart with unique gift items and greenery. You can also place your order by phone at 828-698-6104 or in person at Bullington Gardens. Shipping or delivery is not available.

Bullington Gardens is located at 95 Upper Red Oak Trail in Hendersonville. For more information, call Bullington Gardens at 828-698-6104 or visit www.bullingtongardens.org.

Buy a brick or granite paver to honor a friend or family member, and make their name a part of the Swannanoa Valley’s geography and history! The pavers will form a mosaic which will show the north and south ridgelines of the Swannanoa Valley and the locations within the Valley which trace the settlement and the evolution of the Valley to the vibrant community it is today.

The Valley in the Alley exhibit is located, fittingly, in the alley owned by the Museum between the Museum and the Dripolator Coffee House, just off West State Street in Black Mountain.

The exhibit is based on the sale of engraved brick pavers, but with an approach distinct from the usual random placement of pavers. Purchasers of all engraved bricks within the alley will have the same opportunity to honor or memorialize friends and recognize special achievements as in other paver programs. However, through the purchase of a variety of special granite pavers, individuals, families and businesses will be owning “a piece of history” by forming the geographic outline of the Valley and locating major points of special interest in the Valley, such as communities, dwellings, or landscape features.

The result will be a mosaic which will show the north and south ridgelines of the Swannanoa Valley, the major geographic features on, and within, the ridgelines and the locations within the Valley which trace the settlement and the evolution of the Valley to the vibrant community it is today.

When the Valley in the Alley is complete, it will be a primer for children, acquainting them with the geography and history of the Swannanoa Valley; it will quickly orient visitors to what they are seeing around them; it will allow generations of families to recall and tell of their place in the Valley’s history; and it will be an aesthetically pleasing walkway, complimenting both the Museum building and Black Mountain’s Historic Downtown. The Museum will also provide permanent seating in the alleyway for use by the community.

Pricing

Regular 4″x8″ brick pavers holding three lines of text are $100. Engraved granite pavers will form the special features of the mosaic. They start at $200 for one 4″x8″ paver with three lines of text and increase in cost and available text depending on the size of paver chosen. Approximately 4,000 pavers make up the Alley, of which nearly 600 will form the outline of the Valley. Along the outline and within the Valley, over 100 sites are available for special recognitions or dedications.

Once the initial cost for acquiring and placing pavers is recovered, all proceeds from the Valley in the Alley purchases will be devoted to completion of the renovation and the operations of the Swannanoa Valley Museum including exhibits, on-and off-site programming, outreach to schools, preservation, and research.

Participants in the Valley in the Alley program will be contributing their own piece of history to our community.
For more information:

Brick Locations

COVID-19 cases are surging, resources are being stretched to their lowest levels, and provisions from the CARES Act — like unemployment insurance, paid leave, and Paycheck Protection Program support — are set to expire at the end of this month. Despite these concerns, Congress still has failed to act and provide relief for families across the country.

Will you spare two minutes and tell your Members of Congress to support nonprofits like the YWCA on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Blue Ridge Humane Society’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on www.charitynavigator.org.

Blue Ridge Humane Society’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned the 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. The 4-star rating is the highest level awarded by Charity Navigator.

Blue Ridge Humane Society is committed to creating lifelong homes for every pet. BRHS cares for pets awaiting adoption at the Adoption Center and works to ensure the highest quality adoption counseling experience for potential adopters. At our Adoption Center, we assess behavior and treat conditions as necessary with all animals under our care. Prior to adoption, each animal is provided with all the appropriate vaccinations, a microchip, dewormed, and are spayed or neutered. In addition, each pet goes home with a 30-day free health insurance plan.

BRHS also provides owner support for BRHS adopters and community pet owners, including low-cost vaccine clinics, pet training classes, behavior consultations and adoption follow-ups. BRHS takes an active role in community outreach through providing animal and youth education programs and projects; coordinates community pet food assistance, emergency vet assistance, and the Spay Neuter Incentive Program (SNIP), which is a collaboration with Henderson County, the City of Hendersonville, and the Henderson County Animal Services Center.

The Blue Ridge Humane Society, a 501(c)3 animal welfare organization, is dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of life for animals in Henderson County and our neighboring communities.

If you believe in our cause, consider making a donation or learning how to volunteer by visiting the Blue Ridge Humane Society’s website at www.blueridgehumane.org or call (828) 692-2639.

In 2016, the Asheville community approved a $17 million general obligation bond for park projects. The park bond funding has supported major improvements to parks and recreation facilities throughout the city.
We are excited to share our progress and accomplishments with you!

Asheville restaurants are coupling their off-premise order options with a digital fundraising program so local charities like Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods can stay active and funded this year.

Nearby fundraising partners for Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods include Five Guys, MOD Pizza, & Dickeys Barbecue Pit, who will donate 15 – 20% of orders back to Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods when you book a date to fundraise with them.

View Asheville Partners For Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods

Because these events can include off-premise orders like take-out, delivery, drive thru or pick up, it’s easy for friends and Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods supporters to safely participate via their preferred method.

1. Dickey´s Barbecue Pit

2002 N Main St Ste 125, Asheville, NC 28803

Average Price $15

 Dine-In Restricted

 Take-Out or Delivery

Donating Back

15%

2. Five Guys

182 Merimon Road, Asheville, NC 28801

Average Price $10

 Dine-In

 Take-Out or Delivery

Donating Back

20%

3. MOD Pizza

873 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, NC 28804

Average Price $10

 Dine-In

 Take-Out or Delivery

Donating Back

20%

4. Five Guys

1838 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803

Average Price $10

 Dine-In

 Take-Out or Delivery

Donating Back

20%

5. Cinnabon

377 Long Shoal Road, Arden, NC 28704

Average Price $5

 Dine-In Restricted

 Take-Out or Delivery

Donating Back

15%

Intellectual stimulation and skills development are not just for full-time students. UNC Asheville courses for community writers of all levels of experience, and for seniors looking to continue a lifetime of learning, are now open for registration. These courses will all be online this winter and spring.

College for Seniors at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

OLLI’s College for Seniors, now in its fourth decade and offering an impressive variety of courses developed for Zoom to help prevent spread of COVID-19, draws from the experiences and professional expertise of its members as well as from UNC Asheville and other area institutions and people. Courses range from Being Chronically Well, to Asheville and Pandemics: TB, Flu and COVID-19; and also include What’s Up with Genesis; Welcome to Our City: Thomas Wolfe’s Asheville; Ecology of Southern Appalachia; and French Opera: A Reintroduction.

There are no tests, credits or grades. OLLI members collaborate with staff to teach, learn, and design curricula, and also arrange special events. In addition to the annual OLLI membership fee, a tuition fee for each term is paid by College For Seniors participants, with some partial scholarships available.

The College for Seniors winter term begins on Jan. 11, 2021, and registration is now open. To see course descriptions, cost information and more, visit olliasheville.com/college-seniors.

Time is Running Out for 2021 Health Insurance Through ACA

Affordable Care Act “Obamacare” Open Enrollment Ends Dec. 15th

 Pisgah Legal Services (PLS), and its Enrollment Partners of WNC, are offering free assistance to people in the 18-county mountain region, helping them review their options and sign up for plans. The COVID-19 outbreak is making health care coverage even more important in these difficult times.

“This is the most critical open enrollment period of my career, and I’ve been at Pisgah Legal Services for all of them,” says Jackie Kiger, Chief Operations Officer. “With high unemployment and the fact that North Carolina hasn’t expanded Medicaid, there are many more uninsured people. We are seeing people who have lost jobs, income, and insurance and who are struggling with the unemployment benefit system.”

Appointments Still Available with PLS or Go Directly to Healthcare.Gov

Appointments can be made online at www.pisgahlegal.org/aca or by calling (828) 210-3404. For the safety of consumers, staff and volunteers, all appointments are currently being conducted by phone. Depending on where you live in WNC, some of Pisgah Legal’s ACA Partners may be offering in-person appointments.

Shannon Cornelius, Pisgah Legal’s Health Justice Program Director, says, “We are seeing very strong interest this year in sign-ups, but we still have some openings for safe and contact-free help with our trained assisters. There is still time to make an appointment if you act quickly.”

Cornelius also says that people can also go directly to the Health Insurance Marketplace, www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596, if they ready to sign up on their own.

Financial assistance is still available to those who qualify. Last year, more than 90 percent of North Carolinians who enrolled for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace received financial assistance to make their plans more affordable. Subsidies are based on household taxable income and may be difficult for consumers to calculate themselves. Pisgah Legal can help with this process and can factor in unemployment benefits if needed. Pisgah Legal can also answer questions about other coverage, such as COBRA, and help people apply for Medicaid and CHIP.

Pisgah Legal and other Enrollment Partners of WNC participating organizations give local residents free, unbiased health insurance information and enrollment assistance in the NC Health Insurance Marketplace. These organizations include: Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Blue Ridge Community Health Services, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Mountain Projects, Inc., Western Carolina Medical Society, and Pisgah Legal Services.

The ACA – also known as “Obamacare” – is the law that ensures access to quality, affordable health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace. With these plans, consumers are protected and:

• Can’t be denied coverage for a pre-existing health condition and can’t be dropped for getting sick;
• Insurers can’t charge higher premiums to women; and
• Insurers can’t sell substandard plans that don’t pay for essential health care benefits.

Since 1978, nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services has provided free civil legal aid to help people with low incomes seek justice and meet their basic needs including preventing homelessness, stopping domestic violence and securing health care. Pisgah Legal Services provides a broad array of free, civil legal services in 11 WNC counties, and offers immigration law services in 18 counties. Last year PLS served more than 18,000 people across the mountain region.

PLS has offices in Asheville, Burnsville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Marshall, and Rutherfordton and is now opening a new Highlands/Cashiers office to serve people in Macon and Jackson counties. Pisgah Legal has 32 attorneys on staff and relies heavily on the pro bono legal services of more than 300 volunteer attorneys.

Pisgah Legal Services continues to serve clients during the COVID-19 outbreak. For more information, visit www.pisgahlegal.org to apply for help online or make a gift in support of this important work.

Through our efforts of informing Buncombe County about Reappraisal 2021 so far, we have received many questions from community members. So, we decided to compile them into this FAQ. Do you have more questions that aren’t covered here? You can email them to [email protected]. Otherwise, visit buncombecounty.org/MyValue2021 for everything you need to know about the reappraisal process.

WHY IS BUNCOMBE COUNTY REAPPRAISING PROPERTY?

North Carolina law requires counties to reappraise all real property once every eight years but also allows Counties to advance the reappraisal to less than eight years. Buncombe County Commissioners voted to conduct reappraisals every four years. The county must assess 127,000 parcels. The effective date of the reappraisal is Jan. 1, 2021.

This holiday season, we are profoundly grateful to the community members who have worked tirelessly during this challenging year to keep their families, friends, and neighbors safe, fed, and cared for. That’s why Flat Rock Playhouse is spreading some extra holiday cheer with a Community Champion Giveaway!

Nominate an exceptional individual who has gone above and beyond to help others this year.  Once completed, your nominee will be entered to win one complimentary link to A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas: A Virtual Production running Nov. 30 – Dec. 20. Contest runs for one month: 11/13 through 12/13.

SHOP THE ROCK!

Our online gift shop is now open, and just in time for your holiday shopping. T-shirts are available in a variety of colors with Adult and Youth sizing, and we have additional apparel items like sweatshirts, hats, polos, and totes. We have unique gift options like our 50th-anniversary book with a detailed history of Flat Rock Playhouse and prints designed by some of your favorite Vagabonds.

Spread some mountain magic and holiday cheer with these unique gifts from Asheville’s artisans and makers. Shop from over 50 local vendors or share your love of Asheville by giving the gift of travel this holiday season.

Update: Funding must be accessed by Dec. 30, 2020.

Attention Buncombe County residents: If you are struggling to pay your rent, mortgage, or utilities, Buncombe County’s COVID Housing Assistance Program may be able to help. The funds must be accessed prior to Dec. 30.

“If you think you may possibly qualify, please call our office at 250-5500 to learn more,” said Economic Services Director Phillip Hardin. “Financial assistance is available immediately to support our community members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who need help with rent, mortgage, or utilities, but we have to use these dollars by Dec. 30.”

To qualify to receive relief funds earmarked for the Housing Assistance Program, households must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• The applicant/household lost income due to COVID-19.
• There is a sustainability plan to pay shelter expenses going forward after the County assists with past due bills.
• Income limit of 200% of the federal poverty level ($52,400) for a family of four.

Buncombe County is now accepting inquiries and applications. Please fill out the attached form and return to Buncombe County Health and Human Services or call (828) 250-5500 to be connected with a caseworker to start the application process.

The recommendation will now go to the Buncombe County Commissioners and Asheville City Council, who will vote in December to consider the recommendation and determine next steps for removal logistics and funding sources.

While public comment is now closed, public can access the archive of agendas, minutes, public comments and recorded meetings here: https://publicinput.com/VanceMonumentTaskForce.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally-funded program that provides for a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills.

Households including a person aged 60 or older or disabled persons receiving services through the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services are eligible to sign up for assistance from Dec. 1 – 31. All other households may apply from Jan. 1 – March 31 or until funds are exhausted.

Households that meet the following criteria may be eligible:

• Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria.
• Meet an income test.
• Have reserves at or below $2,250.
• Be responsible for its heating costs.

The Museum was closed for nearly six full months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing severe losses in revenue. Though we are now open, uncertainty still looms, and it will take a dedicated effort to recover to a position of strength and stability. Thanks to a generous grant from a longtime foundation supporter, the Museum has established the Asheville Art Museum COVID-19 Relief Fund and matching challenge to encourage additional operational support during this difficult year. We invite you to participate in the challenge and help secure the Museum’s future as we work to serve our community through engagement with the arts.

Through December 31, 2020, all Annual Fund donations and upgraded memberships will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $75,000. Give any amount to the Annual Fund, and boost your impact at this critical time with the one-to-one match. You may also join the Masterpiece Society or renew at another upgraded membership level. Any gift in addition to your current renewal will be matched by this fund and will count toward your membership