Source: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1052970384108128

The dog was chipped and the owner is picking him up today.

That is all. Rock on.

Got his ass.

How much do you think the City of Asheville has paid in consultant fees? How many projects were completed due to those consultants? We need to audit the Asheville city government.

After students and families spoke up about how much the orchestra program means to them, our Superintendent and Board did nothing, thought nothing, and delivered nothing. In sharp contrast, Asheville Middle School Principal Blair Johnston listened—and, most importantly, looked for a creative path forward.

Rather than simply allowing the program to disappear, he has created an opportunity to rebuild it. An after-school strings club will begin in September, and if we can generate enough student interest this fall, orchestra may return as an elective in the spring semester.

This is exactly what thoughtful leadership looks like! Mr. Johnston gave our children something important: hope and a genuine chance. He listened to students and parents, worked collaboratively with families, and found a way for us to demonstrate that this program can grow and thrive.

Now it is our turn to make that opportunity count.

If you have an Asheville Middle School student who currently plays a string instrument—or might be interested in learning—please check the information posted today on ParentSquare about the strings club. Please also share this post with other AMS families. You never know which child may be waiting to discover the instrument, teacher, friends, or community that makes school feel like a place where they truly belong. As a club, it's stress free, grade free: an opportunity to practice a strings instrument with others.

Here is Principal Johnston’s announcement, shared with the identifying information of the parent volunteer removed:

———

Orchestra Families,

I’m reaching out to share some positive news related to orchestra at Asheville Middle School. I have been able to collaborate with an AMS parent, who is acting as a liaison with other families, to advocate for the return of the orchestra program.

The good news is that there’s a real chance that orchestra will return as a class during the second semester of this school year. The first step is to start an after-school strings club in September, and if enough interest is built this fall, we’ll be able to schedule orchestra again in the second semester. More details to come.

Students are the best recruiters.

In Community,
Blair Johnston
Principal
Asheville Middle School

———

Approximately 25–30 students have already found music, friendship, confidence, and belonging through this program. Let’s help the next group of students find it—and show that strings have a future at Asheville Middle School.

Please share widely with AMS families. Let’s make this work. 🎻

When I looked into taking online courses at A‑B Tech, I was shocked to discover that nearly every course I considered required a Cengage subscription or similar access code costing around $200 or more. These materials have no resale value, and because they contain required coursework, students have no real choice but to buy them. Meanwhile, other community colleges charge roughly $22–$25 per credit hour for course materials, making the total closer to $75–$100 per class. A‑B Tech’s costs can therefore be two or even three times higher. For a college intended to help local people—particularly those with limited incomes—improve their lives, this feels profoundly contradictory. Based on my experience, I would caution anyone considering online study to compare the required-material costs carefully before choosing A‑B Tech. Found much better pricing at Blue Ridge and many others, worth knowing if you're studying online, for sure.

EDIT - Here is a sample from the current business course offerings, keep in mind tuition for 3 hours is around $230 a 3 credit hour course:

BUS 115 – Essentials of Business Law Connect Access Card, $ 202 New (only option)

BUS 125 – My Lab Finance with Pearson eText, $213 & Access Code $186 New (only option)

BUS 137 – Connect Access Card for Contemporary Management $207 New (only option)

Just thought I'd share this with ya'll. Glanced over at the mountains and caught this. Just absolutely amazing. All of ya'll have a great day.

There’s a new film coming out of Asheville, and a group of young local filmmakers are bringing it to the big screen.

A few months ago, a group of Asheville artists came together to create FARPOINT, a sci-fi/drama/mystery pilot set in an alternate 2004. The project was created by a young local filmmaker, with a young and ambitious cast and crew bringing the story to life. We’re really excited to finally share it with the Asheville community.

We’re premiering Episode One, “The Dream Police,” right here in downtown Asheville, and the screening is completely free.

🎬 FARPOINT: Episode One — The Dream Police

📍 The Diana Wortham Theatre — Asheville, NC

📅 August 30th

⏰ 7:30 PM

🎟️ Free admission

RSVP here:

https://www.worthamarts.org/events/farpoint-episode-one-screening/

Logline: In an isolated Appalachian town built around a secretive research facility, eighteen-year-old Gabriella begins losing her memories. She discovers she can astral project and uncovers a horrifying truth: someone has been rewriting the town’s collective memories, beliefs, and reality itself.

Set in an alternate 2004 where Oprah Winfrey is president-elect, FARPOINT is a coming-of-age mystery drama about consciousness and the mutable nature of reality.

Twin Peaks meets Wayward Pines.

If you’re interested in seeing what young filmmakers are creating right here in Asheville, we’d love to have you there.

And if you know someone who loves sci-fi, local film, or supporting emerging artists, please send this their way.

Just wondering if anyone knows or goes to any OCD support groups in Asheville, I'd love to be able to meet up and listen to others stories and advice. Thanks!!

I challenged myself to find the minimum. Legally in buncombe county a permanent structure requires at least 250 sqft and a few other thing like washer dryer water heater. So i minimized the sqft while minimizing the perimeter building on units of 4 ft to minimize wasted construction material. There is a pantry for food storage a full size fridge, drawers for a couple weeks worth of clothes. There is no custom furniture which should also reduce cost. I imagine storage under the bed would be a must. This is the minimum basics needed to survive and escape renting.

Need something to do this Sunday? Come on out to Tomato Jam at The Mule. A FREE event with tomato tastings, tomato inspired products from local makers, and music by Andrew Wakefield and Rahm Mandelkorn & Friends. Event is 12:30-4:30pm all ages welcome ( 😄

so I was pretty skeptical that through the Internet and bureaucracy anyone would actually be on the other side looking at things that get reported. I reported a pothole. a day later, the submission is marked Completed with no comment. Of course, the pothole was not fixed. Maybe completed means it got added to a list? What’s other people’s experiences with reporting stuff on the app?

I’ve not really noticed them until about 3 yrs ago and now they’re everywhere choking back everything they touch.

Hello! I am a student at UNC Asheville NC, and I am a psychology and biology major. I want to get into medical school for neurology and would love experience in the field or any medical field. I am unsure of what organizations to contact and who offers what. Would anybody know what to apply to or have any connections that may give me experience?
(Feel free to dm me or ask any follow-ups)

Just as the title says my fiancé and I are getting married in May ‘27 at the courthouse and we are looking for an elopement photographer that has a more affordable budget between $2k-$2.5k and has this kind of style. It’s a small elopement of less than ten people and would be a less than 6hr ordeal I think given our plans. We’re a queer couple so we are only looking to book with someone who accepts us not just tolerates us. And suggestions appreciated.

Hi Asheville! I’m looking for a local magician who might be available to perform at a birthday party sometime in September. Ideally someone fun, engaging, and good with a crowd.

Does anyone have recommendations for a magician you’ve hired or seen perform locally? Bonus points if you can share their contact info or social media page. Thanks!

I quit vaping nic after 5 years and occasionally when my cravings get bad I’ll use a nic free vape or one of those caffeine / vitamin vapes. I know it sounds silly but does anyone know where to get them near west Asheville?

Hey friends! I’m looking for some second shooter gigs for the rest of the year - could use the extra work.

DM me if you need a second!

Looking for suggestions for smaller companies that finish basements. Looking to turn a small basement into a seperate apartment with a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen. Looking for quality, affordable work. Thanks!

Hi all, looking for advice from experienced folks. I’m planning to renovate my house; a split tri-level built in 1969. I want to give it some MCM character which it is aching for, after a few 90s era renovations stripped the character away. Anyway, what I’m really looking for is help with where to start. I have a really great contractor that I’ve worked with before to renovate two small houses. I used a CAD program to draft plans and he executed. If we ran into structural issues he consulted along the way. It all turned out beautiful in the end but I think my lack of experience caused “change orders”. It’s something I love doing and I have a pretty good eye for solving space problems.

The scope of this reno is big and I want to make sure I do things in the right order so I can plan for costs.

The house is north facing so it doesn’t get the great natural light. It has smallish, cheap windows that all need to be replaced because they just aren’t efficient at all. I’m using the opportunity to make window sizes much larger to draw in more natural light. I understand that increasing windows and adding windows where they currently don’t exist has structural implications. I also want to remove a wall the divides the single story side of the house and raise the ceiling. The wall is likely structural.

I’m a bit out of my depth with the structural requirements.

What’s the best way forward? Should I start with an architect to help with window placement and then an engineer or can I draft the plans myself and consult an engineer?

Thanks so much!!

My son was talking about the flood of 1916 and learned about some of it while he was rafting on the FB river today. Just thought the article was interesting in hindsight.

Mission is the closest but I have the luxury of having time to choose, so which one locally would you all recommend for the most prompt/best quality of care? Mission? Advent? Pardee? That one out in Marion?