Buncombe County: Commissioners have adopted the County’s 2030 Strategic Plan. The plan sets out goals and objectives across key focus areas, including Growth and Development, Community Health, Education, Energy and Environment, and Public Safety. The County also approved a contract with a design and engineering firm for phase one of the Owen Park rebuild which will include community input, environmental assessment and resilience engineering. Meeting Recap • Strategic Plan
AdventHealth: Dr. Micah DeBenedetto, DO, has joined AdventHealth’s South Asheville location, emphasizing a holistic, patient-centered approach to care. Registered Nurse Sarah Parvin has also been honored with the DAISY Award for exceptional compassion and service. AdventHealth News
DMJPS PLLC: The accounting and advisory firm has celebrated the retirement of longtime partner Art Winstead, whose 40+ years of leadership and service have shaped the firm. DMJPS will host a workshop on “Professional Ethics & North Carolina Laws and Rules + Year-End Tax Planning” providing insights into ethics, standards and more. Available in-person in Greensboro or via Zoom. Workshop info & Registration
UNC Asheville: Seven new URCAP grants totaling $11,000 have been awarded to support student and faculty research projects focused on post-Helene recovery, biodiversity and sustainability. Read More
Blue Ridge Public Radio: BPR has launched its Driven by Gratitude raffle, offering supporters a chance to win a 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid. Only 1,500 tickets will be sold, with proceeds benefiting independent public media. Enter Here
Eblen Charities + Ingles Markets: Eblen and Ingles will hold their annual Turkey Giveaway on November 21, providing Thanksgiving meals for hundreds of local families in need. Families must register early to receive a meal. Eblen Charities
Asheville Regional Airport: Phase 2 of AVL Forward started last week, marking a major milestone in transforming the terminal. During this time, Terminal Drive will be reduced to two lanes between ticketing and baggage claim to accommodate construction. Additional traffic control officers will be on duty during peak arrival times. Demolition has begun on most of the legacy terminal to make way for the new facilities. Refer to the Airport’s Journey Maps for visuals.
Asheville Downtown Association: Volunteers are needed for the annual Holiday Parade, set to bring festive energy to downtown on November 22. Sign Up
City of Asheville: The City seeks partners to provide small business grants for Post-Helene recovery. A Notice of Funding Opportunity opened on Oct. 31 and will allow for the award of up to $15.5 million in federal CDBG-DR funds within the $17 million Small Business Support Program. Funds will be distributed to qualified subrecipients, who will provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses that were directly or indirectly impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. The Program is designed to restore and revitalize Asheville’s small business sector, which serves as a foundational pillar of the economy. Access the full NOFO and Small Business Support Program Manual at the Small Business Support Program web page.
Explore Asheville: Celebrate a century of Americana with The Asheville Sessions on November 7-9. The weekend festival will feature River Whyless, Tyler Ramsey, Toubab Krewe, Floating Action, and more across iconic local venues. Event Details
Hemingway’s Cuba: The rooftop restaurant will host a Thanksgiving Buffet on November 27 featuring a refined mix of Cuban and traditional holiday dishes. $85 for adults and $30 for children. Reserve
Buncombe County Veterans Services: The County will honor Veterans Day with Operation Green Light, the premiere of We Lift Each Other, and a ceremony at the Charles George VA Medical Center. More Info
Grand Bohemian Lodge: On November 11, the Grand Bohemian Lodge will host Always Asheville: A Maker’s Mark Dinner – an exclusive culinary experience celebrating community, craftsmanship, and creativity.
UNC Asheville Athletics: The Bulldogs opened basketball season this week with the women’s team facing Mercer at Kimmel Arena. Follow the action all season long at UNCA Bulldogs.
Grove Arcade: The Grove Arcade’s will host Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Block Party on Saturday, November 29 from 12-9 p.m. featuring DJ and live music, photos with Santa, ballet performances, caroling and family-friendly “Letters to Santa” crafting station.
WFU Center for Private Business: The Center’s next workshop is Nov. 18 on “Driving Value in Your Business.” Tommy Battle, Founder of Battle Business & Leadership Coaching, helps business owners and leadership teams implement proven frameworks for growth, decision-making and long-term value creation. More Info
Association of Fundraising Professionals of WNC: The Philanthropy Summit on Nov. 12th offers learning, inspiration, and connection, featuring dynamic speakers, engaging sessions, and plenty of opportunities to share ideas with for our region’s fundraising and nonprofit professionals. Keynotes by Jonathan Pritchard (Business Strategist + Mentalist: The Mind Reader’s Guide to Captivating Audiences and Making Your Message Stick) and Tracey Greene-Washington (Founder, Indigo Innovation Group: Leading Boldly Through Change: A Calling Forward for Game Changers). Register
Honors for Asheville Restaurants: Asheville restaurants are making headlines in the inaugural MICHELIN Guide for the American South. Luminosa (Italian American restaurant inside the Flat Iron Hotel) earned a Green Star for sustainability – one of three restaurants in the south to receive the distinction. Luminosa, Little Chango and Mother received Bib Gourmand honors which recognizes eateries for great food at a great value. The guide also highlighted 12 Asheville restaurants among its Recommended list: Addissae Ethiopian Restaurant, All Day Darling, Cúrate Bar de Tapas, Golden Hour, Good Hot Fish, Leo’s House of Thirst, Soprana, Sunny Point Café, Table, Tall John’s, The Admiral and Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse.