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🌳 Plant the seeds of this new city plan
Get a say in the future of our local green spaces. | Photo by AVLtoday
Make like the Lorax and speak for the trees as city leaders create the first Urban Forest Master Plan. Through community collaboration, the plan will serve as a 20-year roadmap guiding the management of our urban tree canopy, which is essential in reducing heat, improving water + air quality, and stabilizing slopes.
Branch out and offer your voice at the Urban Forest Master Plan NC Arbor Day Workshop on Saturday, March 21. Expect a crash course in all things canopy and a chance to share how urban forestry has impacted your life. You’ll even get free bare root seedlings to take home for spring planting. Register to claim your spot and score free parking at the Arboretum.
Continue your foray into forestry and welcome the season during Spring Into The Arb — see the full schedule of flower festivals, plant sales, and environmental education opportunities as blooms begin.
Asheville’s Costco dreams may not be over. After the wholesale retailer withdrew plans for a highly anticipated Enka site due to costly traffic improvements near I-40 Exit 44, local officials are now pursuing state funding to cover infrastructure upgrades, hoping the project can move forward. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Drink
The inaugural WNC Whiskey Festival will take over the A-B Tech Conference Center on Saturday, May 30, bringing regional distillers and whiskey lovers together for an afternoon of tastings, spirited seminars, live music, and food. We bet this fest will get even better with age.
Civic
On March 27, Buncombe County’s Coxe Avenue Helene Resource Center will close, beginning appointment-only service in the following days. In-person support can be scheduled through the One Buncombe Call Center. Since opening last spring, the Helene Resource Center has served more than 1,400 residents.
Outdoors
The Blue Ridge Parkway is expected to be fully reopened by the end of 2026, completing $1.7 billion in Helene-related damages. Staff is making headway on repairing about 45 landslides between Mileposts 318 and 323 and Mileposts 336 and 351, with the stretches slated for completion by fall and late 2026, respectively. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Announced
Next week, Bill Hart will become Asheville’s Water Resources Director after serving as Interim Director since last August. A 16-year department veteran, Hart helped lead the response to Helene and will now focus on restoring the city’s water system and improving its resilience for the future.
History
Progress is being made in preserving downtown’s Basilica of Saint Lawrence, replacing the copper dome, restoring the cornice, and stabilizing the west chapel, among other renovations. More than half the cost of the $8 million, multi-phased renovation was garnered through fundraising. Phase one will conclude in September. (WLOS)
Number
$5.3 million. That’s how much funding United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County has administered to local organizations supporting Helene recovery. Most recently, the nonprofit awarded $800,000 to nine groups for home repair, debris removal, private road reconstruction, and financial assistance for housing. Keep the goodwill going by volunteering.
Play
Are you looking for our Games page? You can find it here. Thanks to all of our readers who let us know you’re enjoying this page — our team is continuing to work on even more ways to play in the future.
Skip the regret, bloating, and hangovers when you shop this clean, women-owned cannabis brand, which offers bestsellers like THC pineapple gummies + mini THCA pre-rolls. This March, get 20% off sitewide and a free sample pack of Buzzed Gummies with code POTOFGREEN.†*
Tech
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The Freeze will get back to slingin’ soft serve this Thursday, March 12, which means we can unofficially usher out winter — and I can reunite with my beloved swirl cone with rainbow sprinkles.
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The season premiere of “Top Chef” aired last night, kicking off the season all about the Carolinas. Start watching so you can root for your favorites during a challenge judged by Asheville chefs airing later this season.
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