Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Asheville is rebuilding smarter after Helene’s devastating floods

Also, don't miss PBS North Carolina's Homegrown History Screening & Discussion on the Asheville Patch calendar

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Friday September 25th Patch AM
Friday September 25th Patch AM (Davidson J.)

Hello Asheville! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Asheville is rebuilding smarter after Helene's devastating floods
  • What Jackie Stepp's promotion means for policing in Asheville
  • Why Asheville's largest Helene-recovery housing project just lost key funding

Also on today's calendar: PBS North Carolina's Homegrown History Screening & Discussion and 9 more events.

And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Davidson J.!

Today's riddle: Who's in favor of bringing back Roman Numerals? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Mostly cloudy and warmer, with a high of 75 and low of 41 degrees.
  • Saturday: Nice with plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 75, low: 40.
  • Sunday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 73 and low of 41 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Asheville, North Carolina, balances redevelopment and flood risk two years after Helene (costar.com) — Two years after Hurricane Helene, Asheville is reshaping zoning, housing, and redevelopment to reduce flood risk while replacing hundreds of lost homes. City and county leaders are pushing affordable projects, revising land-use rules, and working with builders and arts groups from the River Arts District to Biltmore Village and Swannanoa to keep residents and businesses in safer, more resilient locations.
   

2. Interim no more: Jackie Stepp named Asheville's chief of police (wlos.com) — Asheville has officially named Jackie Stepp as the permanent chief of police after she served nearly a year in the interim role. City leaders praise her two decades of service and commitment to community-centered policing, saying her leadership will guide the department's next chapter and shape how officers, city officials, and residents work together on public safety.
   

3. County challenges 'extreme disparities' of Helene-recovery affordable housing funds • Asheville Watchdog (avlwatchdog.org) — Buncombe County leaders are protesting how state disaster-recovery housing funds were distributed after Tropical Storm Helene, saying Asheville projects received far less support than the local damage warrants. A major 203-unit affordable development at 50 Coxe Avenue in downtown Asheville was ruled ineligible under state cost caps, leaving a large funding gap and raising questions about how recovery dollars are prioritized.
   

4. Answer Man: What's the latest on Swannanoa Ingles replacement? Robotic response to water outage complaint? • Asheville Watchdog (avlwatchdog.org) — Swannanoa residents are still waiting for Ingles to start rebuilding their flood-damaged grocery store, even though county permits are approved and the company says construction will begin "soon." Meanwhile, Asheville Water Resources is fixing an after-hours answering service glitch that left some Haw Creek callers talking only to an AI-style voice during Labor Day outages, and promises access to a real person going forward.
   

5. Teachers' union to distribute 30,000 free books to Western NC families (statenews.net) — Asheville families can pick up free books and enjoy food, music, and activities at a large literacy fair this Sunday at Martin L. Nesbitt Jr. Discovery Academy. The American Federation of Teachers and local partners will distribute more than 30,000 books to Western North Carolina students and educators, supporting classroom and home libraries still rebuilding after Hurricane Helene's disruption.
   

📸 Around Asheville

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📸 The "Prickly Lady" Sells Plants In Pack Square —Davidson J. Like

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Just sharing some other floral arrangements and decor , if anyone is looking for a holiday decorator , I was.
    Contract five years at grove park inn to assist in their Christmas decor and design . I have also been in the commercial and home decor business for… (Nextdoor Bull Mountain)
  • Does anyone recognize this Rottweiler or know who he/she belongs to?
    I'm trying to find the owner and believe the dog lives somewhere near Gorman Bridge Road. (Nextdoor Woodfin - West)
  • Republic Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Container Shop Welder in Asheville. Apply here.
  • The Biltmore Company posted a job opening for Destination Revenue Manager in Asheville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Asheville here.

Ok Asheville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I for 1. (Thank you Bill L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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