We’ll get to why our community is so passionate about the members-only chain, but first, the news:
Development plans submitted to the city show a proposed Costco location at Enka Heritage Parkway. The project will go before the city’s technical review committee, planning and zoning commission, and city council before being approved.
Jim Galante is a founding member of the We Want Costco in Western North Carolina Facebook page, which was created nearly a year ago, “mainly to see how much interest there would be in having a Costco in the area,” Galante told AVLtoday.
Coloring Sheet Contest at Vinnie’s | Thursday, March 6-Sunday, March 23 | Times vary | Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian | Artists of all ages are invited to create a brand new, kid-friendly coloring sheet design at the restaurant— submit by March 23.
2025 People of Action Awards Gala | 6-9 p.m. | Renaissance Hotel | $150+ | Celebrate and thank local heroes at this Rotary Club of Asheville event.
Friday, March 7
Kendra Scott Biltmore Park Town Square Grand Opening | Friday, March 7-Sunday, March 9 | Times vary | Kendra Scott | Free | Sip + shop while enjoying sweets at the new store — plus, receive a gift with your purchase this weekend.
School’s Out Arts & Craft Day | 1-3 p.m. | Weaver Park | Free, RSVP | Send your kids ages 5-12 to do seasonal crafts at Weaver Park on teacher work days — advanced registration is required.
Saturday, March 8
Spring Seed Starting Workshop | 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Fifth Season Gardening | $35 | Get a head start on planning your flowers, herbs, and veggies for the spring.
French Broad River Clean-up | 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. | Silverline Park, Woodfin | Free, RSVP | Join the Town of Woodfin, Riverlink, and MountainTrue for a land-based clean-up after Helene — closed-toe shoes, long pants, and long sleeves are recommended.
Mission Health is dedicated to keeping Western North Carolina healthy. | Photo provided by Mission Health
At Mission Health, patients come first. With a focus on compassionate, cutting-edge care, Mission Health ensures that individuals and families across Western North Carolina have access to the care they need most.
From emergency services to specialized treatments, they’re dedicated to keeping the community healthy and thriving. That looks like:
Emergency care, 24/7
The new South Asheville ER is open around the clock, offering fast, expert care for urgent medical needs.
Labor and Delivery excellence
Expecting parents benefit from comprehensive maternity care, including low-intervention births, midwifery support, specialized care for high-risk pregnancies, and a state-of-the-art NICU.
Mission Health offers leading-edge oncology treatments, including specialized head and neck care. Additionally, comprehensive cardiology services ensure expert heart health management.
The NCDOT is working to restore access to Chimney Rock State Park and towns in the Hickory Nut Gorge with proposed reconstruction plans for U.S. 74 Alternative, U.S. 64, and N.C. 9. With temporary structures nearly complete, the park could see visitors as early as Memorial Day. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Civic
Buncombe County announced a new date for its reappraisal process, which was put on hold due to the storm. Property owners in the county will receive a new assessed value on January 1, 2026. Learn more about the program and see important dates.
Community
The Asheville Downtown Association is seeking feedback from community members on the state of downtown for its annual survey. Share your thoughts on future priorities, including insights into business recovery from Helene, by Friday, March 14. Survey results will be shared at the annual State of Downtown event on Tuesday, March 18.
Announced
The NC Writers’ Network Spring Conference will return to Asheville on Friday, May 2. The conference, which was originally scheduled for November 2024, is a three-day celebration of our state’s literary craft with talks, workshops, panels, and resources. See the lineup of visiting authors and register early.
Award
We love local journalism. Congratulations to the staff at the Blue Banner, UNC Asheville’s student news outlet, for taking home seven awards at the annual statewide College Media Association conference last week. Read the award-winning stories.
Drum roll, dear readers... one of the best balance transfer cards is here. Say “see ya” to high-interest debt with 0% intro APR into 2026 (plus no annual fee, and cash back on your buys). Apply.*
Pets
Veterinary clinics are being pushed to focus on profit, resulting in higher bills. Pet insurance could help you offset some of these rising costs — with up to 90% reimbursement. Find plans starting at only $10/month.*
Correction
Oops— looks like someone’s been seeing leprechauns. The Columbia, SC Five Points St. Pat’s Festival is actually happening March 15. So grab your green gear, rally your crew, and get ready for a day packed with live music, a festive parade, and plenty of Irish cheer. Snag tickets.*
Job
Do you have a passion for all things Northern Virginia, a knack for storytelling, and a drive to engage readers? We’re hiring a creative and dynamic Newsletter Editor to join our team at NOVAtoday and craft daily, hyper-local content. We’ve got the perks just for you: competitive salary, 401K with company match of 4%, and so much more. Apply now.
Category
Try This
Cheers to 132 years
Happy 132nd, Black Mountain. | Photo by Steve Shook
On Tuesday, March 4, the town of Black Mountain celebrated its 132nd birthday. While we could easily give you 132 reasons to love Black Mountain, instead, we thought we’d create a 1-3-2 style itinerary for a perfect day.
One activity to try
Check out the gorgeous galleries at the new NC Glass Center location on East State Street.
Three shops to check out
Explore the expertly crafted fine art, pottery, and jewelry of Seven Sisters Gallery. If you feel like creating your own masterpiece, head to Black Mountain Yarn Shop for knitting and crocheting supplies. Then, delight your senses with artisan-made fragrances and soaps from The Enchanted Oak.
Two restaurants to dine at
My Father’s Pizza is a staple, serving up large and fresh pies for 35 years running. A newer option is Foothills’ latest venture, Hell or High Water, an elevated and intimate dining experience focused on farm fresh ingredients.
The Buy
The Buy
A pack of seamless underwear. These no-show thongs for women have a 4.4-star rating, are stretchy and comfortable, and won’t show underneath clothes.
While we’re shouting out Black Mountain businesses, Beradu – Specialty Market, Kitchen + Bar is back open after a short break. Their brunch menu and on-tap prosecco are the perfect refreshments after a morning hike. Check out their Instagram for March events, including Italian Sunday Dinners.
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