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DKos Asheville Open Thread [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-07-26
This space appears on most weekends with links to news and opinion from Asheville and Western North Carolina, and the floor is open for comment and discussion. Wishing all a good day from this still beautiful part of the world.
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A heat wave is forecast for North Carolina, with temperatures potentially reaching the upper 90s and heat indexes exceeding 115 degrees in some areas.
While Central N.C. is under heat advisories and warnings, Western N.C. is expected to reach the 90s without active warnings yet.
The NOAA advises residents to limit outdoor activities, stay hydrated, and seek cooling shelters if necessary during periods of extreme heat.
Another heat wave is headed for North Carolina and will raise temperatures even into the mountainous regions of the state.
The National Weather Service issued a short-range forecast at 4:12 a.m. on Friday, July 25, warning of a dangerous heat wave that will develop in the Southeast and Tennessee Valley over the weekend. The alert stated a "high confidence" that the heat will reach levels that would "affect anyone without sufficient cooling and/or adequate hydration, particularly across the Southeast."
Though no heat warning has been issued for Asheville or Western N.C. as of Friday afternoon, temperatures will spike across the entire state, bringing a weekend so hot that meteorologists suggest many N.C. residents should cancel outdoor plans in order to stay cool.
Here's what we know about the heat wave. <More>
CHEROKEE, N.C. – Adjacent to one of the most beautiful vistas in the Great Smoky Mountains, Bessie Queen French, an elder of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) cut a ribbon to officially complete the Soco Falls Trailhead Improvement Project. The event, which was attended by many EBCI children in the Cherokee Youth Center summer program, occurred on the humid morning of Wednesday, July 23 in Wayohi (Wolftown) on the Qualla Boundary (Cherokee, N.C.).
“Our elders before us had the foresight to know that tourism was a driving force for Cherokee,” said Shawn Crowe, an EBCI tribal member who served as emcee for the event. “It still is today and this is just a part of it. It is an attribute to the Tribe…To see what we’ve done here with this today, as a tribe, is just beautiful and needs to be commended.”
Ugvwiyuhi (Principal Chief) Michell Hicks commented, “I’m very thankful of the partnerships that we’ve created with our contractors, especially our internal staff.”
He added “It is a good day. I’m glad to be just a small part of leading these projects. We have a lot to do. Downtown is finished, and obviously this one…so we have a lot of things that we want our visiting public to come in and really take advantage of. Cherokee has a lot to offer, but we haven’t always done a good job of marketing that. That’s changing. There will be more people here. We’re starting to see more restaurant opportunities and more things for people to do – especially the outdoors.” <More>
A lot of big items, like cars and trailers, have been cleaned out from Western North Carolina rivers after Helene — but there is still a lot of smaller trash throughout the region’s creeks and streams. Last week, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality and environmental group MountainTrue announced a new initiative to get smaller waterways cleaned up.
Hartwell Carson said it’s an expansion of an effort that’s been ongoing since April, when the environmental group organized small crews to pick up garbage on the rivers. Many of these crewmembers were outdoor workers MountainTrue French Broad Riverkeepersaid it’s an expansion of an effort that’s been ongoing since April, when the environmental group organized small crews to pick up garbage on the rivers. Many of these crewmembers were outdoor workers left unemployed after Helene “When the storm hit, I was just sort of devastated at what we all saw,” Carson said. “Rivers being trashed, homes washed away and businesses ruined.” They picked up 3 million pounds of trash but thought they could do even more. Carson talked with state legislators about the scope of the problem and lobbied for debris cleanup funding as a part of North Carolina’s Disaster Recovery Act of 2025. He said DEQ was a strong advocate for the funding, and they’ve also been a partner in planning the scope of the work. “We’re committed to helping Western North Carolina recover and rebuild, and this investment will help clean up debris still left in our rivers,” said Reid Wilson, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. “This initiative represents a critical opportunity to restore our waterways, protect our communities, and support local economies dependent on outdoor recreation and tourism.” Around 80 people will be employed for 18 months to clean Helene debris from waterways — mostly the small stuff, like plastic bags and personal items. < More
Kai Lendzion no longer lives in Asheville. But in many ways, he’s never felt closer to his hometown than he does now.
The director, cinematographer and photographer relocated to Atlanta roughly three years ago and was there working a gig when Tropical Storm Helene ripped through Western North Carolina. With numerous family members and friends still in Asheville, he felt powerless being four hours away from their suffering.
“ I kept feeling like I wasn’t doing enough just by being here,” Lendzion says.
A couple of days later, once his work assignment was done, Lendzion headed to Nashville for a supply drive and brought a U-Haul filled with supplies to Asheville. Also in the vehicle was his camera gear, which he packed out of a sense that he could help by documenting what was happening in the flood-ravaged zones and getting personal stories from those in the middle of it all.
The result is Where the Waters Fell, a photography exhibit that opens Friday, Aug. 1, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ’s Oak Street Gallery. And the story behind its creation warrants documentation as well. <More>
Before it merged with Asheville in 1917, it was bustling with businesses, churches, social clubs and its own sense of culture. Click the title for a trip to the past.
Family-friendly events in Asheville and Western North Carolina are highlighted for the week of July 25th.
Activities include animal encounters, baseball games, live music, story time, and outdoor adventures.
Explore, get outside and make memories while summer lasts! Get WNC Parent’s full July calendar, the 2025 birthday guide and much more at wncparent.com.
Animal encounters are at 2:30 p.m. July 25 and 28 at Highlands Nature Center. For details, visit highlandsbiological.org/about/upcoming-events.
The Asheville Tourists play at 6:35 p.m. July 25, 6:05 p.m. July 26 and 1:05 p.m. July 27. Visit milb.com/asheville.
Junior Wild Walk: A Junior Zookeeper Experience is 9:30 – 11 a.m. July 26 at WNC Nature Center. Join a hands-on, behind-the-scenes adventure for ages 5–12. Discover what it takes to care for the amazing animals at the WNC Nature Center. Participants will meet a live animal ambassador and get a glimpse into the daily work of the wildlife care team through interactive activities and educational fun. An adult is required to attend with each group. For tickets and details, visit wildwnc.org/junior-wild-walk.
Shindig On the Green is at 7 p.m. July 26 in Pack Square Park. The event includes music, dancing, storytelling and more. Visit folkheritage.org/asheville-events/shindig-on-the-green.
Monday Imagination Day is 10 a.m. – noon July 28 at Leah Chiles Park. Free. Ages 2 – 5 with an adult. Asheville Rec’s mobile recreation team offers a special day of open play geared for younger children to engage and explore. Giant building blocks, tunnels and fun games await. Visit avlrec.com.
<More>
Thanks for the visit, wishing all a fine weekend.
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