Plus, Bridge & Tunnel Coffee Co.'s brick-and-mortar is now open.
 
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44º | Partly cloudy | 15% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:39 a.m. | Sunset 5:35 p.m.
 

Education

Q+A with 4 UNC Asheville alumni (who love what they do)
Presented by an AVLtoday Partner
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New York-based Kelly Olshan is one of four featured UNC Asheville alumni doing amazing things in STEAM careers throughout the nation. | Photo provided by Kelly Olshan
Did you know UNC Asheville is renowned for its Arts and Sciences programs? With a Liberal Arts Core that exposes students to a diverse spectrum of subjects and ideas, the university prepares graduates to thrive in their careers.

Another perk: Alumni love what they do.

Here’s what four UNC Asheville alumni have to say about their careers, experiences + doing what they love in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) industries.

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Brennenman engineers primary structures + mechanisms for launch pads — and says one of the most important things his degree taught him was grit (which made the transition to SpaceX less steep).

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Photo provided by Robert Brenneman

Robert Brenneman

Career: Launch Engineer at SpaceX
UNC Asheville degree: BS in Engineering (BSE), concentration in Mechatronics

How are you using your degree?

I use every bit of my degree in my job! I essentially have a mechanical + electrical engineering double major, and, in today’s world, everything mechanical has an electrical system tied into it. Our program did a phenomenal job of pre-exposing us to these interdependencies.

Why do you love what you do?

I love fixing broken things that don’t work right or at all. Whether it’s fixing a preexisting system or retrofitting, I love the process of working out solutions with teammates, designing it, building it, putting it in use, and moving on to the next problem.

How did UNC Asheville prepare you to make an impact in your field?

UNC Asheville gives you the freedom to make what you want of its resources. It helped me build award-winning robots + homebrewed electric race cars from scratch. Did I have to scrounge for parts and funding from the community? Hell yeah. But that’s what I do every day at SpaceX. You’re going to be given hard problems, but it’s up to you to take what you can find and meet your deliverables.

Keep reading to hear from a New York City arts manager, a Radiology systems manager, and someone who gets to work with Nike shoes every day.
NYC arts, radiology, and Nike
Asked

If you could work in any STEAM career, which would you work in?
A. Science
B. Technology
C. Engineering
D. Art
E. Math
Tell us your interest
 
Events
Wednesday, Jan. 10
  • Annual Seconds Sale | Wednesday, Jan. 10-Monday, Jan. 15 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | North Carolina Glass Center, 140 Roberts St., Ste. C, Asheville | Free | Browse the Gardner Gallery to discover art that might have a few minor flaws but is still stunning and fully functional — just remember to bring your reusable bags.
  • Citizen Swing | Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 6 p.m. | Citizen Vinyl, 14 O’Henry Ave., Asheville | Free | Sip on classic cocktails, listen to old jazz vinyl, and see performances from local jazz talents at the first iteration of this twice-monthly series.
  • Healthcare Workers MeetUp Mixer | Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 6-8 p.m. | plēb urban winery, 289 Lyman St., Asheville | Free | Network and build new relationships with other healthcare industry folks — RSVP to attend.
Thursday, Jan. 11
  • Memoir Writing Mini Series: Session One | Thursday, Jan. 11 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Weaverville Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville | Free | Attend the first of three sessions in this mini-series led by writing coach Cornelia Dolian to learn the basics and beginnings of writing your memoir.
  • Justice Matters Tour | Thursday, Jan. 11 | 12-1 p.m. | Pisgah Legal Services, 62 Charlotte St., Asheville | Free | Join Pisgah Legal Services to take a deep dive into its programs and learn about the need for civic legal aid in our region.
Friday, Jan. 12
  • Hot Cocoa Creation Bar | Saturday, Jan. 13-Sunday, Jan. 28 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Sq., Asheville | $9 with admission | Make your way up to the rooftop Perspective Café to dress up a cup of cocoa with all kinds of delectable toppings (plus, the option for 21+ folks to make it boozy).
  • Off with Your Radiohead | Friday, Jan. 12 | 10 p.m. | Asheville Music Hall, 31 Patton Ave., Asheville | $15-$20 | Jeff Thompson will be your Thom Yorke for the evening, playing “The Bends” and a variety of other Radiohead tunes.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Traffic
  • Several road closures went into effect yesterday as a result of flooding. Check this resource from the City of Asheville to stay up to date on closures + reopenings and find out how to report flooding in your area to the Public Works Department.
Announced
  • The Grove Street Community Center reopens today, now continuing its regular programming after being closed for several weeks for HVAC repairs. Take a look at the center’s upcoming events.
Open
  • Bridge & Tunnel Coffee Co. opened its brick-and-mortar location inside the Coman Building on the AB-Tech campus. Right now the shop is serving up coffee, with smoothies and a breakfast + lunch menu to come. Plus, delivery service is on the horizon through the company’s app.
Closing
  • Noble Cider’s downtown taproom, at 49 Rankin Ave., will close this Sunday, Jan. 14 — but this is a “temporary pause” as the company searches for a new downtown location. Through this weekend, visit the taproom for 10% off all products. Noble’s production facility will remain open at 356 New Leicester Hwy.
Open
  • The 188-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown opened at the tail end of 2023 at 192 Haywood St. The hotel’s brick oven pizza restaurant, Soprana Rooftop Cucina, is slated to make its debut in the first weekend of March. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Cause
  • Join the Southside Community Farm for its Free Fridge Volunteer Day this Saturday, Jan. 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn about volunteer roles, get a tour of the free fridges and neighborhood pantries, and make sandwiches to stock the fridges. Find the details on where to meet.
Try This
Fun Fact
 
Civic

Growing the future of green spaces

Growing the future of green spaces with Buncombe County Parks and Recreation’s Systemwide Plan
Lake Julian Park Asheville
Your guidance and recommendations will help shape the plan. | Photo by @chop_sooey
Buncombe County Parks and Recreation announced that it will pen a Systemwide Plan to shape the future of green spaces and recreation opportunities and to identify capital improvement projects.

The tentative 14-to-16-month timeline is broken down into two phases. Phase one establishes community needs, aka where you come in. The first community meeting will be held Thursday, Feb. 1 at the East Asheville Public Library, with a second meeting on Thursday, March 21 at Enka High School. Plus, an online survey is expected to go live in the spring.

Once those seeds are planted, phase two starts in the later half of 2024. The department will share strategies in the first-ever Parks and Recreation Master Plan, an Open Space Plan, and an update to the Greenway and Trails Master Plan.

To stay up to date with the timeline and community input opportunities, you can sign up for alerts about the plan through the County’s engagement hub.
The Buy

The Buy 1.10.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
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The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Grace
From the editor
While we’re on the topic of green spaces, the Black Mountain Community Garden is hosting its first workshop of the season, teaching you all about the best practices of pruning fruit trees and shrubs. Attend the workshop on Friday, Feb. 16 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and get your hands dirty using what you learn to prune blueberry, apple, pear, and paw paw trees + shrubs.
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