"Community Input, Protest Impacts, and Magical Lights: Asheville Local Frequency for February 4, 2025"

Good morning, this is your Asheville Local Frequency for Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Let's start with some important community updates. The City of Asheville is hosting a series of public meetings throughout February to gather input on how to allocate $225 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funds for Helene recovery efforts. These meetings are crucial for residents to share their unmet disaster-related needs and influence the creation of the Action Plan Draft. The first virtual meeting is scheduled for February 10, and in-person meetings will follow at various locations including the West Asheville Library and the Grant Southside Community Center[5].

In other news, Asheville police are warning of potential congestion due to a 300-person rally against immigration policy. Meanwhile, the North Fork wildfire in McDowell County has reached 80% containment, though the investigation is ongoing[1].

On a lighter note, there's plenty to do in Asheville this week. Tonight, you can bask in the glow of Antler Hill Village Illumination at Biltmore Estate, starting at 5:30 pm. This event is included with admission and promises to be a magical experience[4].

If you're looking for something more interactive, Blind Date Live is back on February 7th at The Orange Peel. This unique event combines a sultry mixer with live first dates onstage, hosted by Donnie Rex Bishop and Cayla Clark. It's a night of unscripted, unfiltered fun that you won't want to miss[4].

For those interested in the arts, Mars Hill University is showcasing Asheville photographer Pete Candler's work in the “A Realism of Absences” exhibition at the Weizenblatt Gallery. The exhibition opens on February 12 and runs through March 9, featuring Candler's black and white film photography that explores the cracks in American history[3].

In sports, the Asheville Marathon & Half is coming up on March 15, celebrating resilience and community. This year’s race honors Asheville’s spirit, running through a story of strength and recovery[2].

Finally, if you're planning ahead, mark your calendars for the Asheville Mardi Gras Parade on March 2, featuring colorful characters and performers in a family-friendly event. And for music lovers, the Omni Grove Park Inn Rock n Roll Weekend is happening from March 13-17, with performances by The Wildflowers and Monsters of Yacht[2].

This has been Asheville Local Frequency. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is your Asheville Local Pulse podcast. Good morning, This
is your Asheville Local Frequency for Tuesday, February fourth, twenty
twenty five. Let's start with some important community updates. The
City of Asheville is hosting a series of public meetings
throughout February to gather input on how to allocate two
hundred twenty five million dollars in Community Development Block Grant

(00:23):
Disaster Recovery funds for Helene recovery efforts. These meetings are
crucial for residents to share their unmet disaster related needs
and influence the creation of the action plan draft. The
first virtual meeting is scheduled for February tenth, and in
person meetings will follow at various locations, including the West

(00:43):
Ashville Library and the Grant Southside Community Center. In other news,
Asheville Police are warning of potential congestion due to a
three hundred person rally against immigration policy. Meanwhile, the North
Fork wildfire in McDowell County has reached eighty percent containment,
though the investigation is ongoing. On a lighter note, there's

(01:06):
plenty to do in Ashville this week. Tonight, you can
bask in the glow of Antler Hill Village Illumination at
Biltmore Estate starting at five thirty pm. This event is
included with admission and promises to be a magical experience.
If you're looking for something more interactive, Blind Date Live
is back on February seventh at the Orange Peel. This

(01:27):
unique event combines a sultry mixer with live first dates
on stage. Hosted by Donnie rex Bishop and Kayla Clark.
It's a night of unscripted, unfiltered fun that you won't
want to miss. For those interested in the arts, Mars
Hill University is showcasing Asheville photographer Pete Candler's work in
the Arealism of Absences exhibition at the Wisenblack Gallery. The

(01:51):
exhibition opens on February twelfth and runs through March ninth,
featuring Candler's black and white film photography that explores the
crack in American history. In sports, the Asheville Marathon in
Half is coming up on March fifteenth, celebrating resilience and community.
This year's race honors Ashville's spirit, running through a story

(02:12):
of strength and recovery. Finally, if you're planning ahead, mark
your calendars for the Asheville Marty Grass Parade on March second,
featuring colorful characters and performers in a family friendly event.
And for music lovers, the Omni Grove Park Inn Rock
and Roll Weekend is happening from March thirteen to seventeenth

(02:33):
with performances by the Wild Flowers and Monsters of Yacht.
This has been Asheville local frequency. We'll see you tomorrow
with more local updates. And that is it for today.
Make sure you hit the subscribe button and never miss
a Asheville update. Thanks for listening. This has been a
quiet Please production. For more check out Quiet Please dot

(02:55):
ai