JULY 12, 2024 - A new mural at the historic Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center in Waynesville, North Carolina. The mural was painted by New York City muralist Kristy McCarthy. (Story below)
Welcome to DKos Asheville . This space appears each weekend to share links to news and opinion from Asheville and Western North Carolina. The floor is open for comment and discussion. Wishing all a good day from this beautiful part of the world.
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Below are links to stories I found interesting this week. The heat, Mission/HCA’s continuing quality issues, emergency shelters for women and children, Cherokee Indian Fair, and Black Mountain’s new blues festival are featured.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — There has a been a welcome break from intense summer heat in the Asheville area the last couple of days, but that is soon to change.
Get ready for it to be a bit more on the uncomfortable this weekend and into the first half of next week. High temperatures will return to the low 90s this weekend, with only very slim chances for rain or isolated thunderstorms.
Hot, largely dry weather will start off the new work week, with low to mid-90s on Monday and Tuesday. These will be close to record high temperatures for those days.
- Saturday forecast high: 90 (record 94 in 1977)
- Sunday forecast high: 91 (record 94 in 1954)
- Monday forecast high: 93 (record 95 in 1988)
- Tuesday forecast high: 94 (record 94 in 1988)
- Wednesday forecast high: 92 (record 95 in 1980)
Wednesday will again see highs in the low 90s before a front brings promising chances for more widespread rain and high temperatures back in the 80s.
ARDEN, N.C. (WLOS) — Novant Health administrators have confirmed their plan to open a hospital in Arden on Long Shoals Road focused on cancer treatment to offer patients a choice beyond Mission and AdventHealth.
Dr. CJ Atkinson, Novant's physician market leader, said the group with 16 hospitals across North and South Carolina is determined to expand into Asheville even if AdventHealth or Mission lands this year's state license allowing 26 hospital beds.
"Two years ago, we applied for a Certificate Of Need application to build a hospital," said Atkinson. "At that point, it was not awarded to us. After that happened, we regrouped and we went into the community and we started to listen." Atkinson said the advance work has been done and Novant is determined to expand. "It’s very well documented we attempted to buy Mission when it was for sale, and it was awarded to HCA. We want to focus on cancer and hospital-based cancer services."
Novant has proposed building a $249 million medical complex on Long Shoals Road, specifically around the potential 26-bed hospital license applied for this year.
In Transylvania County, community leaders say HCA’s governance of Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard is causing mounting frustration.
The discovery phase of the City of Brevard’s lawsuit against the massive hospital corporation is ongoing. Pardee Hospital, located in the adjacent Henderson County and operated by UNC Health, continues to build temporary facilities to fill the holes that HCA has poked in Transylvania’s health care options.
A new independent monitor, selected by Dogwood Health Trust to gauge the communities’ opinions of HCA and the company’s ongoing compliance with the terms of its acquisition of the Asheville-based Mission Health chain, is already losing the trust of Brevard’s leadership.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — On July 16, the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry(ABCCM) will be breaking ground on a new 36-bed emergency homeless shelter at the Transformation Village campus in Asheville.
Rev. Scott Rogers, executive director with ABCCM, says that this shelter has been in the works for roughly 11 years and they are thrilled to reveal their new development to the community.
Rogers added that he has seen growth in the amount of women and children that have shown up at one of the safe haven locations compared to recent years.
"Two winters ago, we averaged about six women in our Code Purple emergency shelter. That number went to 16 last year," he said. "We're thrilled that what started as a 25-bedroom emergency shelter is [now] 36. Our goal is to reach what we call 'functional zero,' which is that we have enough beds for any homeless women, or a mother with [a] child, to not have to be on the streets at any time."
A nationwide search produced New York City muralist Kristy McCarthy, who was selected from 16 applicants from all over the country. It took the artist around 130 hours to finish the project from start to finish with the help of the community and its partners.
"The Arts Council had been looking to partner with us for a couple of years for a project," Tausha Forney, the program director of the Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center, said. "In our minds, we thought it was going to be a sculpture, but a lot of the submissions from the nationwide search were murals. So, this is the one that we decided on -- the artist we decided on. The community worked together and there was a listening session with the artist, and together we came up with what is on our building."
As the site of Waynesville's only African-American school, it earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places three years ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed a celebration.
CHEROKEE, N.C. – The 112th Cherokee Indian Fair, a cherished tradition celebrating the rich heritage and culture of the Cherokee people, will be held from Oct. 1-5 at the Qualla Expo Center (old High School Site). This year’s theme, “Adventures of Aniyvwiyah ‘The Principal People,’” aims to bring awareness and knowledge of the numerous adventures our ancestors endured and the triumphs we continue to achieve today. The winner of the theme contest is Shoshoni West, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Special Headliner Performance: On Saturday night, Oct. 5 at 9 p.m., the Cherokee Indian Fair is proud to present a special performance by Double Grammy® nominees, Midland. Hailing from Dripping Springs, Texas, Midland has redefined modern Country music with their unique blend of Western plains nostalgia and Bakersfield juke joint vibes. Known for their twice platinum hit “Drinkin’ Problem” and critically acclaimed albums like “Let It Roll”, Midland has garnered acclaim from Entertainment Weekly, GQ, Rolling Stone Country, NPR, and more.
Midland, consisting of lead singer/guitarist Mark Wystrach, bassist/vocalist Cameron Duddy, and lead guitarist/vocalist Jess Carson, emerged from the storied Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas. Their music resonates with classic country fans and hipsters alike, reviving thick harmonies, sad melodies, tart lyrics, and steel guitar. With sold-out shows at venues like the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show and iconic performances at venues such as Billy Bob’s in Ft. Worth, Midland continues to captivate audiences nationwide.
The inaugural Black Mountain Blues music festival will debut the weekend of Friday, July 12-Sunday, July 14, at several Black Mountain venues.
Downtown Black Mountain will host the festival in collaboration with LEAF Global Arts and White Horse Black Mountain. Headlining artists include Sugaray Rayford, Corey Harris, Bob Margolin, Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues, Pat “Mother Blues” Cohen and many more. Black Mountain Blues will present Piper & the Hard Times, the International Blues Challenge Best Band winner for 2024.
“Blues is the heartbeat of modern music, and this festival is our tribute to true blues,” says Zach Hinkle, director of operations at White Horse Black Mountain.
Stages will be set up at The Railyard, The Bush Farmhouse, Foothills Grange, White Horse Black Mountain, the Monte Vista Hotel, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, Goldfinch and the Town Pump Tavern. A curated Food, Arts & Wellness Market downtown will also be part of the experience.
The festival will kick off with a pre-party at White Horse Black Mountain, where festivalgoers can pick up their wristbands and listen to Tressa’s All Star Blues Band. Then at 2 p.m., the venue will host a VIP event featuring fusion blues musician Corey Harris, followed by Aaron “Woody” Wood at the Town Pump and an electro blues dance party at the White Horse with DJ5.
Thanks for stopping by today. I am a featured entertainer at the festival all weekend. Yesterday’s kickoff was amazing with music throughout town, locals and guests loving the vibe and dozens of vendors offering a wide variety of products and advertising their services. So if you are in town and see me juggling and interacting with audiences, please say hello.
Wishing all a fine weekend. “Be safe out there.” Lamont Cranston
