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Asheville offers visitors seasonal views and opportunities all year long. From the white snow of winter to the colorful and beautiful leaves of fall, you can find and enjoy recreation, art, music, dining, plays, comedy, extreme sports, hiking trails, historic art deco architecture, friendly people, and so much more from this beautiful area of North Carolina.
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1Publication of the Asheville Citizen-Times
the all-you-need-to-know 2009
NEWCOMER'S HANdBOOK
hevillehevillehevilleBUNCOMBE COUNTY
� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook �
We’re glad you’re Here
Welcome to Asheville and Western North Carolina,
the Land of the Sky.
Asheville offers visitors seasonal views and opportunities all year long. From the white snow of winter to the colorful and beautiful leaves of fall, you can find and enjoy recreation, art, music, dining, plays, comedy, extreme sports, hiking trails, historic Art deco architecture, friendly people, and so much more from this beautiful area of North Carolina.
during your stay, be sure and visit the Blue Ridge Parkway, the North Carolina Arboretum, the Nature Center and the wonderful museums, from the Health Adventure to the Asheville Art Museum.
For those who want to be pampered, we recommend the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa. The Grove Park Inn is a historic resort that offers a world-class spa and donald Ross golf course that is as challenging as it is beautiful.
If you like houses, then we invite you to visit the largest house in America - none other than the Biltmore House built by George Vanderbilt.
We’re sure you can find enjoyment, fun, entertainment and a sense of American history and adventure in Asheville and throughout Western North Carolina.
We’re glad you’re here.
With Regards,Randy HammerPresident & Publisher
The Asheville-Buncombe County Newcomer’s Guide is published by The Asheville Citizen-Times, P.O. Box 2090, Asheville, NC 28802. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from
the publisher.
Contacts: Retail Advertising Manager, Lisa Field 828-252-3907 or 800-800-4204, ext. 3907.
Graphic design, Melissa Sweeterman.
Telephone numbers are subject to change.
� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
Get to Know Us .................. 6
Rich History ........................ 7
Statistics .............................. 9
Population ........................ 10
Economy ........................... 10
Largest Employers ........... 12
Real Estate and Housing ..................... 14
Learning, Living& Liesure ........................... 15
Education ......................... 15
Highschool Enrollment ........................ 16
Private Schools ................. 18
Colleges ........................... 18
Shopping .......................... 20
Libraries ............................ 22
Government ..................... 24
County Government ........ 28
State Government ........... 29
Taxes ................................. 29
Law Enforcement ............. 30
Legal Organizations ........ 33
Business Organizations ................... 33
A Healthy Place to Live ............................... 34
Life of the Arts .................. 38
Contents
� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook �
Museums & Attractions ... 38
Art & Cultural Organizations ................... 39
Other Attractions ............. 40
Houses of Worship .......... 41
denominations............ 41-42
Transportation .................. 43
Newspaper & Television ...................... 44
Settling In ......................... 45
Enrolling in School ........... 47
Employment ..................... 50
Tags ................................... 50
Voting ............................... 50
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� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
Get to Know Us
If you’ve chosen to live in Asheville, you’ve picked the
right place. Asheville is a city where the quality of life is high, the weather is mild, and the people are friendly.
Rated as #1 of the Top 100 Places to Live by Relocate-America and #6 of the Best Metro Places for Business & Careers by Forbes, Asheville is regularly in the national spotlight as one of the most highly ranked places to live and work.
Surrounded by the majesty and charm of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this vibrant metropolitan area appeals to those seeking the intimacy and enchantment of a small city, as well as those in search of the cultural, educational and economic provisions of a larger one.
Also named Best Southern Town by Outside Magazine, #7 of the top US/Canada Cities to Live by Frommer’s, and one of the Best Southern Cities by Southern Living magazine, Asheville has more than lived up to these designations, striving for the best in education, medical care, housing, transportation, artistic and recreational opportunities.
Not only is the city’s beauty and charm a magnet for people
from throughout the country, it regularly brings in visitors from the 23 counties that comprise Western North Carolina.
Residents of the region routinely travel to Asheville for specialized health care and shopping, as well as the many shows, plays, sporting events, and recreational opportunities that grace the area’s busy and diverse entertainment calendar.
From Baryshnikov and beach music to Itzhak Perlman and Phantom of the Opera, Asheville offers a multitude of entertainment and artistic opportunities.
Among the city’s most prestigious artistic events are the Mountain dance and Folk Festival, the fairs of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, and Bele Chere, the city’s festive street fair that annually attracts thousands of people to the historic and bustling downtown community.
Educational opportunities abound with the University of North Carolina-Asheville, Warren Wilson College, Montreat College, Asheville- Buncombe Technical Community College, Western Carolina University, Brevard College, and Mars Hill College within easy driving distance.
� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook �
Rich History
Nestled in a valley and surrounded by mountains,
Asheville was once a small crossroads town when pioneer planner and real estate broker John Burton founded it in 1793.
Known as Morristown during its early years, the city was also called Buncombe Courthouse until 1797, when it was incorporated and officially named Asheville in honor of North Carolina Governor Samuel Ashe of New Hanover County.
At the time, Battle Square, present site of the Battery Park Hotel, stood more than 100 feet above its present height and was called River Hill.
Buncombe attained county status on January 14, 1792, and was named for Revolutionary War hero Col. Edward Buncombe. Asheville soon became a focal point for speculators and adventurers, but its growth was exceedingly slow until the mid-1800s when the railway system was constructed.
In 1882, the town of Asheville was expanded and officially
made the city of Asheville. during that period, Mission Hospital was opened in a five-room house.
Near the turn of the century, George Vanderbilt began construction on his now-famous mansion, the Biltmore House, to the south of the city. Other famous native sons include writers Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry.
But the greatest boom period in Asheville history came during the 1920s with the development of residential subdivisions. New buildings were under construction throughout the downtown, including the Jackson Building, City Building, Buncombe County Courthouse, Grove Arcade, Battery Park Hotel, Vanderbilt Hotel, Flat Iron Building and the Bon Marche Building. Today, more art deco architecture built in the late 1920s and early 1930s can be found in downtown Asheville than in any other southeastern city except Miami Beach, Florida.
�
� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook �
Statistics
At 2,200 feet in elevation, Asheville is located on a
plateau divided by the French Broad River. It is surrounded by mountains, many with elevations above 5,000 feet, and is 35 miles in area. Asheville is the county seat of Buncombe County, which covers 656 square miles.
As the largest city in Western North Carolina and the 11th largest city in the state, Asheville is a regional center for manufacturing, transportation, health care, banking and professional services, and shopping.
Asheville has always been known for its mild year-round
climate, with moderate winter and summer temperatures tempered by the surrounding mountains. The average annual rainfall is 47.07” and the average annual snowfall is 13.3”.
According to population statistics in 2008, Asheville’s population was 70,962. The population of Buncombe County, including Asheville, was 226,674. The population of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area (which includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties) was estimated at 405,691.
Source: Claritas, 2008
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov dec
54°
32°
50°
27°
59°
35°
72°
45°
74°
49°
81°
58°
84°
63°
84°
65°56°
73°
65°59° 58°
43°35° 29°
Average Daily Temperature~56°
10 | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
Manufacturing and tourism, as well as
health care, service and trade businesses, fuel Asheville and Buncombe County’s economy. As a result of this diversity, the city and county have an economy that has provided
increased opportunitiesfor area residents. According to Census Bureau data, the estimated median household income Buncombe County, adjusted for inflation, is $42,588 for 2008.
Buncombe County~Population by Age
Source: Claritas, 2008
Age 65+13.4%
(14,319)
Age 0-46.3%
(6,926)
Age 5-1412.42%
(13,540)
Age 15-2413.06%
(14,273)
Age 25-4427.70%
(30,187)
Age 45-6427.31%
(29,772)
EconomySource: Claritas, 2008
up to$14,999
$15,999- $24,999
$25,000- $49,999
$50,000- $99,999
$100,000- $149,999
$150,000- $249,000
40
30
20
10
0
14.7%
12.8%
31.1%
29.7%
7.8%
2.6%
% o
f pop
ulat
ion,
Ash
evill
e/B
unco
mbe
Co.
$250,000+
1.3%
Buncombe Co. Annual Income by Household
10 | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook 11
Source: Claritas, 2008
Age 15-2413.06%
(14,273)
Source: Claritas, 2008
11
1� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
Source: The Employment Security Commision of NC, 2008
Employment Range
Largest Employers
1. Mission Hospital 1,000 +
2. Buncumbe Co. Board of Education 1,000 +
3. State of North Carolina 1,000 +
4. Ingles Markets 1,000 +
5. County of Buncombe 1,000 +
6. Veterans Administration Hospital 1,000 +
7. City of Asheville 1,000 +
8. The Biltmore Company 500 - 999
9. Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College 500 - 999
10. The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa 500 - 999
One of the fastest growing facets of the economy
is retail, and Buncombe County is home to the region’s two largest malls: the Asheville Mall and the Biltmore Square Mall. Pack Place, a 130,000 square-foot office and retail complex, is part of Asheville’s ongoing downtown revitalization. Among the other downtown retail centers are The Grove Arcade Public Market,
The Shops on Wall Street, the Haywood Park Hotel and Promenade on Haywood Street, Lexington Avenue, and Biltmore Avenue. Historic Biltmore Village features a variety of retail businesses as do several major shopping corridors throughout greater Asheville. See page 20 for detailed retail locations throughout Asheville.
1� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
1� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook 1�
1� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
Real Estate & Housing
For information regarding real estate in the Asheville area contact:
Asheville Board of REALTORS® Inc.37 Montford Avenue | Asheville, NC 28801828-255-8505 | Toll Free 1-800-392-2775 | Fax 828-255-0649
Source: Asheville Board of REALTORS® Inc, 2008
Buncombe Co. home sale stats
Total homes sold 2,462
Average sales price $277,503
Median selling price $220,000
Average list price $290,672
Median list price $229,900
Average days on the market 113
Financial Institutions
Buncombe County is served by 18 commercial banks,
at least four savings institutions and close to 20 credit unions. These financial institutions offer
extensive services including 24-hour automatic teller machines at 88 branches in and around Asheville. Source: :fdic.gov and ffiec.gov
1� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
1� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook 1�
Learning, Living & Liesure
The Asheville area has two school systems, the
Buncombe County School system and the Asheville City School system. The Buncombe County School system is the 11th largest in the state and serves 25,739 students in 41 schools. The Asheville City School system serves approximately 3,850 students in ten schools. The city pre-school program serves approximately 235 students ages birth to four. Both the Buncombe County and Asheville City School systems offer advanced placement courses, honors programs, special education, and classes for the academically gifted. The Buncombe County School system also operates the Community High School, Progressive Education Program, Early College/Middle College and the Career Education Center. Community High School is an alternative program for at-risk students. The Progressive Education Program offers an intensive special education curriculum. Early College /Middle College programs, held on the campus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech), enable students to earn college credits while in high school. The Career Education Center offers career and technical courses unavailable at home high schools, such as computer and network engineering, cosmetology, electronics, graphic arts, welding masonry and digital media. The Asheville City School system also operates the Randolph Learning Center, the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences (SILSA), and a preschool/Family Literacy Center.
The Randolph Learning Center is a school for at-risk students in grades 6-9, in which a low pupil/teacher ratio (10/1) and emphasis on parent involvement encourage students to reach their maximum academic potential. SILSA, on the campus of Asheville High School, integrates a rigorous curriculum through a life-sciences theme. Many schools in each system offer after-school childcare. All elementary schools in the Asheville City School system offer after-school care. The Asheville City School system is directed by a five-member Board of Education appointed by the City Council. The Buncombe County School system is directed by a seven-member Board of Education, with six members elected to represent the districts and the seventh member elected at large. The Asheville City School system elementary program has five schools; each of the schools supports a magnet theme or a specific concentration. Parents can select the magnet school they believe best suits their child, based on available space and racial balance. The schools and their magnet programs are: Claxton Elementary Arts & Humanities Dickson Elementary Experiential Learning Hall-Fletcher Elementary Science, Math and Technology Ira B. Jones Elementary Global Scholars Vance Elementary Human diversity & Ecology
Education
1� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
Highschool EnrollmentSource: Buncombe County and Asheville City Schools, 2007-08
Num
ber
of s
tude
nts
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
Asheville Enka Erwin N. Buncombe Owen Reynolds Roberson
Asheville City Schools85 Mountain St. | Asheville, NC 28801 | 828-350-7000Superintendent: Allen Johnson | 828-350-6145
Buncombe County Schools175 Bingham Rd. | Asheville, NC 28806 | 828-255-5921Superintendent: dr. Tony Baldwin | 828-232-4160
See page 47 for a complete listing of schools in your area and enrollment information.
1� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
1� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook 1�
Source: Buncombe County and Asheville City Schools, 2007-08
Num
ber
of s
tude
nts
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
Asheville Enka Erwin N. Buncombe Owen Reynolds Roberson
1� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
Private Schools
There are many excellent private schools in the Asheville/Buncombe County area, including pre-schools, preparatory schools, and grade schools. For information about private schools, contact:
NC Division of Non-Public Education1309 Mail Service Center | Raleigh, NC 27699-1309919-733-4276 | www.ncdnpe.org
For information on Pre-Schools and day Care: Buncombe County Child Care Services59 Woodfin Place | Asheville, NC 28801 | 828-250-6700
Colleges and Universities
The University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA) offers undergraduate liberal arts degrees and a Master of Liberal Arts degree. It is rated one of the top public liberal arts universities in the nation, earning a national reputation for its programs in the fields of humanities, undergraduate research, atmospheric sciences and environmental studies. Additional graduate programs are available in Asheville though the Asheville Graduate Center on the UNCA campus.The school is located one mile north of downtown Asheville at One University Heights. For more information on UNCA, call 828-251-6600 or visit its Web site at www.unca.edu.
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College offers career and transfer programs in allied health and public service education, business and hospitality education, engineering and applied technology, and arts and sciences. A variety of noncredit classes also are available through the college’s Economic & Workforce development/Continuing Education division. The main campus is located one mile south of downtown Asheville at 340 Victoria Road. A site is also available at the Asheville Mall, offering both credit and non-credit classes. For more information, call 828-254-1921.
Western Carolina University (WCU), a fast-growing campus of the University of North Carolina, stresses student-led, engaged, intentional learning, and provides its more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities for faculty collaboration, service learning and real-world experience.
WCU offers more than 100 academic programs, with classes at its main campus in Cullowhee, NC, in Asheville, and online. Its business, education, entrepreneurship and health programs all recently received national recognition, as has the University’s commitment to community service and undergraduate research. In 2008, U.S. News and World Report named WCU a “great school at a great price.”
1� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook 1�
Meanwhile, campus construction is in step with WCU’s growing enrollment and a new initiative will double the size of the campus to 600 acres.
For more information, go to www.wcu.edu or call WCU at 828-227-7211 or its Asheville programs at 828-251-6642.
Warren Wilson College is a private, liberal arts college that combines a unique “triad” of strong academics, work for the school, and service to the community, for an involving and meaningful education. Students choose from more than 20 undergraduate majors. In addition, the college’s Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing is ranked among the top 20 nationwide by US News & World Report. The campus is located just east of Asheville. For more information on Warren Wilson College call 828-771-2000 or 298-3325, or visit online at www.warren-wilson.edu.
South College has educational programs for students seeking positions in such diverse settings as industry, government, business, law and medicine. The College offers eight associate of science degrees in a wide variety of fields, two bachelor of science degrees in legal studies and radiological sciences and a certificate program in surgical technology, all of which are designed to instill in students a desire for continual learning in a rapidly-changing technological society. Classes are offered in small class settings at 29 Turtle Creek drive in South Asheville. For more information, call 828-252-2486.
�0 | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
Shopping
Asheville offers a wide variety of shopping opportunities,
including major malls, in-town and suburban shopping centers, quaint market districts and outlet parks. Asheville’s downtown is an eclectic mix of specialty shops, apparel stores, arts and crafts galleries, bookstores, antiques and restaurants. The Grove Arcade Public Market located on O. Henry Ave. features stores, restaurants, and fresh produce. Historic Biltmore Village in South Asheville offers a variety of arts, crafts, gifts, antiques, and apparel shops, grouped in quaint, turn-of-the-century buildings. The Biltmore Antiques District, located in Biltmore Village and surrounding areas including Swannanoa River Road and Sweeten Creek Road, features at least a dozen antiques shops and malls. Asheville Mall in East Asheville is a major indoor shopping complex anchored by Sears, Belk, Dillard’s, and J.C. Penney. Biltmore Square Mall on Brevard Road, southwest of Asheville, is also enclosed and features Belks, Dillard’s, Davis Furniture and Cinebarre (a cinema/restaurant venue) as its anchor stores. Overlook Village, which features T.J. Maxx, Books-A-Million, and Ross stores, is located across from the Asheville Mall on South Tunnel Road. The East-South Tunnel Road area is anchored by Ashley Furniture, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Best Buy. River Ridge Market Place at I-240 and Fairview Road in East
Asheville features an outlet park. Westgate Mall at 40 Westgate Plaza, just west of downtown Asheville off Patton Avenue (US 19-23), includes specialty shops as well as an Earth Fare grocery store featuring organic and natural foods. Innsbruck Mall on Tunnel Road is anchored by Big Lots!, Office Depot and Anna’s Linens. Riverbend Marketplace on Swannanoa River Road is anchored by Wal-Mart Superstore, Kohls, PetsMART, and Family Christian Store. Asheville has four shopping centers anchored by Kmart stores on Tunnel Rd., Patton Ave. Brevard Rd., and Hendersonville Rd. Biltmore Parkway Center, located on Hendersonville Road at the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance, is anchored by a Harris-Teeter supermarket and includes specialty shops and restaurants. Locally owned Ingle’s supermarkets anchor additional shopping centers throughout the city. River Hills Shopping Center, at the junction of highways 70 and 81, features Dick’s Sporting Goods, Office Max, Carmike Ten Theaters, Michael’s and Target. Southridge Shopping Center on Airport Road in the Arden community of South Asheville, features Target, Lowe’s, Office Max, Best Buy, Marshalls and World Market stores. Northland Shopping Center, on North Merrimon Avenue near Beaver Lake, features The Fresh Market. Stein Mart is also located nearby.
�0 | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook �1
In West Asheville, a number of eclectic shops, boutiques and galleries can be found along Haywood Road. Biltmore Park Town Square, at I-26 and Long Shoals Road in South Asheville, boasts an interesting assortment of national retailers and local shops, as well as restaurants, and entertainment
venues, including an upscale YMCA and a 15-theater stadium seating movie complex. In addition, Weaverville and Black Mountain, communities adjacent to Asheville within Buncombe County, each offer a variety of local shops in quaint downtown areas.
�� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
Libraries
Whether you want to read the latest bestseller,
hang an art print in your living room, watch a Hollywood classic on video, or search the internet, check out Buncombe County Public Libraries. With more than 529,000 books, 15,500 videos, and 875 newspaper and magazine subscriptions, as well as photographs, telephone books, directories, indexes, electronic resources and audios, Pack Memorial Library and its eleven community branches offer many services free to anyone with a library card. To obtain a card, you must bring valid identification with your correct Buncombe County
address, such as a driver’s license, bank statement or printed check. Students at local colleges and universities get a library card free with a valid student Id. The library also boasts the North Carolina collection, especially helpful for genealogists, and photograph and postcard collections offering a glimpse into Asheville’s past. The Thomas Wolfe collection preserves the works of the city’s most famous son. Want to read yesterday’s headlines? The library keeps back issues of the Asheville Citizen-Times on microfilm dated from 1869, and the New York Times back to 1851.
For information contact:
Pack Memorial Library (Main)67 Haywood St., Asheville, NC 28801 | 828-250-4700www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library/default.aspHours: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday-Friday9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday2-5 p.m. Sundays (Sept.-May)
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�� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook ��
Bumcombe County Libraries
Branch libraries include:
Black Mountain Library105 dougherty Road | 828-250-4756
East Asheville Library902 Tunnel Road | 828-250-4738
Enka-Candler Library1404 Sandhill Road | 828-250-4758
Fairview Library1 Taylor Road | 828-250-6484
Leicester Library1561 Alexander Road | 828-250-6480
North Asheville Library1030 Merrimon Avenue | 828-250-4752
South Asheville Library (Oakley)749 Fairview Road | 828-250-4754
South Buncombe Library (Skyland)260 Overlook Road | 828-250-6488
Swannanoa Library101 Charleston Street | 828-250-6486
Weaverville Library41 Main Street | 828-250-6482
West Asheville Library970 Haywood Road | 828-250-4750
Law Library County Courthouse | 60 Court Plaza, 10th floor | 828-250-4734
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Government
The City of Asheville is governed by the Asheville
City Council, which consists of a mayor and six council members chosen in non-partisan elections. City Council sets policy, adopts ordinances and sets the tax rate. The council-appointed city manager is the administrative
head of the city, directly responsible for its day-to-day operations and its 1000-plus employees. Formal Council meetings are at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month in City Council Chamber on the second floor of City Hall.
Asheville City Hall70 Court Plaza | Asheville, NC 28801For general information call 828-251-1122 or 828-259-5955.
department Heads
Mayor’s Office 828-259-5600
City Manager 828-259-5604 or 5602
City Attorney 828-259-5610
City Clerk 828-259-5601
Civic Center 828-259-5736
Budget and Research director 828-259-5629
Civic Center director 828-259-5736
Community development director 828-259-5723
Economic development director 828-259-5433
Engineering & Transportation director 828-259-5690
Finance director 828-259-5615
Historic Resources Commission 828-259-5836
Human Resources 828-259-5690
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts 828-259-5800
Planning & development director 828-259-5840
Public Works director 828-259-5935
Water Resources director 828-259-5959
�� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook ��
department Heads
Mayor’s Office 828-259-5600
City Manager 828-259-5604 or 5602
City Attorney 828-259-5610
City Clerk 828-259-5601
Civic Center 828-259-5736
Budget and Research director 828-259-5629
Civic Center director 828-259-5736
Community development director 828-259-5723
Economic development director 828-259-5433
Engineering & Transportation director 828-259-5690
Finance director 828-259-5615
Historic Resources Commission 828-259-5836
Human Resources 828-259-5690
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts 828-259-5800
Planning & development director 828-259-5840
Public Works director 828-259-5935
Water Resources director 828-259-5959
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�� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
LET OUR PAST LEAD TO YOUR FUTURE...
TIMELY VALUES:• Financing Incentives• Additional Options• Cash Savings
Through our 112 year tradition we have found that trust, quality, relationships and innovation are the strongest attributes. These commitments have led our company to provide award winning customer service with a 2-year comprehensive warranty and a 10-year structural warranty. We build every home as if it were our own, we build to last.
That’s a difference worth discovering.Visit biltmorehomevaluescom to view homes worth owning with a company you can trust.
Biltmore FarmsSM Homes at Biltmore Lake®, Southcliff® and Holly Springs are marketed exclusively by Beverly Hanks &Associates, Asheville, NC. Biltmore Farms Homes is a trademark of Biltmore Farms, LLC. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate by residents of CT, HI, ID, IL, NY, NJ, OR, PA and SC or in any jurisdiction where prohibited by law.
No offering can be made to residents of New York until an offering plan is � led with the Department of Law of the State of New York. This offer is void where prohibited. ©2009 Biltmore Farms, LLC
�� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook ��
LET OUR PAST LEAD TO YOUR FUTURE...
TIMELY VALUES:• Financing Incentives• Additional Options• Cash Savings
Through our 112 year tradition we have found that trust, quality, relationships and innovation are the strongest attributes. These commitments have led our company to provide award winning customer service with a 2-year comprehensive warranty and a 10-year structural warranty. We build every home as if it were our own, we build to last.
That’s a difference worth discovering.Visit biltmorehomevaluescom to view homes worth owning with a company you can trust.
Biltmore FarmsSM Homes at Biltmore Lake®, Southcliff® and Holly Springs are marketed exclusively by Beverly Hanks &Associates, Asheville, NC. Biltmore Farms Homes is a trademark of Biltmore Farms, LLC. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate by residents of CT, HI, ID, IL, NY, NJ, OR, PA and SC or in any jurisdiction where prohibited by law.
No offering can be made to residents of New York until an offering plan is � led with the Department of Law of the State of New York. This offer is void where prohibited. ©2009 Biltmore Farms, LLC
214208-210
�� | 2009 Newcomer’s Handbook
County Government
Buncombe County is governed by a five-member
board of county commissioners, chosen every four years in partisan elections. Commissioners set policy, determine budgets for several agencies and set a property tax rate that applies countywide. The county manager is the chief administrative officer who prepares and recommends the
yearly budget to commissioners and is responsible for program development and personnel management. Board meetings are conducted every first and third Tuesday of the month at 4 p.m. in Commission Chambers at 30 Valley Street. Meeting minutes are available for public inspection on the County’s Web page at www.buncombecounty.org.
Buncombe County Commissioners 205 College Street, Suite 200 | Asheville, NC 28801 | 828-250-4001For general information call 828-250-4000
Other Numbers Include
Chairman david Gantt 828-250-4006
Commissioner K. Ray Bailey 828-250-4008
Commissioner Holly Jones 828-250-4004
Commissioner Carol Weir Peterson 828-250-4005
Commissioner Bill Stanley 828-250-4007
County Manager, Wanda Greene 828-250-4100
County Attorney, Joe Connolly 828-254-6315
Board of Elections 828-250-4200
Cooperative Extension Service director 828-255-5522
County Clerk 828-250-4105
County Planner 828-250-4102
Election Services 828-250-4200
Emergency Services 828-250-6600
Health Center 828-250-5000
Parks, Greenways and Recreation 828-250-4260
Permits & Inspections 828-250-5360
Register of deeds 828-250-4300
Social Services department 828-250-5500
Tax Collections Manager 828-250-4910
WNC Regional Air Quality Agency director 828-250-6777
State Government
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County Government
Chairman david Gantt 828-250-4006
Commissioner K. Ray Bailey 828-250-4008
Commissioner Holly Jones 828-250-4004
Commissioner Carol Weir Peterson 828-250-4005
Commissioner Bill Stanley 828-250-4007
County Manager, Wanda Greene 828-250-4100
County Attorney, Joe Connolly 828-254-6315
Board of Elections 828-250-4200
Cooperative Extension Service director 828-255-5522
County Clerk 828-250-4105
County Planner 828-250-4102
Election Services 828-250-4200
Emergency Services 828-250-6600
Health Center 828-250-5000
Parks, Greenways and Recreation 828-250-4260
Permits & Inspections 828-250-5360
Register of deeds 828-250-4300
Social Services department 828-250-5500
Tax Collections Manager 828-250-4910
WNC Regional Air Quality Agency director 828-250-6777
State Government
The two senators and three representatives from
Buncombe County are among 170 members of the North Carolina General Assembly who meet in Raleigh biannually in regular session to adopt a state budget and enact various other laws. The General Assembly is composed of 50 senators and 120 members of the House.
State elections are held every two years on a partisan basis, with democratic and Republican parties selecting nominees in May primaries to run against each other in November general elections. Other political parties may also nominate candidates, although none have ever won in North Carolina.
Senators and Representatives are:
Sen. Tom ApodacaRep. Susan FisherRep. D. Bruce Goforth
Sen. Martin NesbittRep. Jane Whilden
Taxes
The sales tax in Asheville and Buncombe County is 6.75%.
There are several exemptions in the areas of industrial, agricultural and consumer purchases such as medicines sold on prescription. Sales of motor vehicles are taxable at three percent.
Asheville residents pay both City and County taxes. Property tax rates as of July 1, 2008, were 42 cents per $100 valuation in the city, and 53 cents per $100 valuation in the county. The City also has a 20-cent supplemental school tax.
For City and County tax information contact:
Buncombe County Tax Assessor’s Office828-250-4920
Residents of North Carolina must pay state income tax. Filing date is April 15. For state income tax information contact:
North Carolina Department of Revenue2800 Heart drive | Asheville, NC 28806 | 828-667-5087
Automated Tax Refund Hotline877-252-4052
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Law Enforcement
The Asheville Police department, the Buncombe
County Sheriff’s department and the North Carolina Highway Patrol all operate within Buncombe County, which has one of the lowest crime rates in North Carolina. Asheville’s Class Three-rated City Fire department has 11
fire stations, more than 200 firefighters and 15 pieces of motorized equipment operating within the city limits. In addition, Buncombe County has 21 volunteer fire departments as well as Emergency Medical Services and Civil Preparedness units with stations throughout the county.
Asheville Police DepartmentThe Asheville Police departmentis located at 100 Court Plaza.William Hogan is police chief, 828-259-5880
Emergency: 911Non-emergency, 24-hour hotline: 828-252-1110Information: (8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.) 828-259-5870
Sheriff’s DepartmentThe Buncombe County Sheriff’s department is located at 202 Haywood Street. Van Duncan is the Sheriff, 828-250-4474.
Emergency: 911Non-emergency: 828-255-5555Information: 828-255-5000
Animal ControlCity: 828-252-1110County: 828-253-1195
Asheville Fire & Rescue DepartmentThe main fire station is located at 100 Court Plaza. Greg Grayson is fire chief, 828-259-5636.
Emergency: 911Non-emergency, Asheville: 828-259-5636Fire Education & Prevention: 828-251-4011
Station #1 100 Court Plaza 828-259-5527
Station #2 315 Livingston St. 828-259-5460
Station #3 50 Oregon Ave. 828-259-5464
Station #4 9 Miller Rd. 828-259-5770
Station #5 1074 Hendersonville Rd. 828-259-5466
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Station #6 970 Haywood Rd. 828-259-5462
Station #7 37 East Larchmont 828-259-5783
Station #8 904 Tunnel Rd. 828-259-5488
Station # 9 749 Fairview Rd. 828-259-5487
Station #10 1903 Old Haywood 828-271-6120
Station #11 7 Rocky Ridge Rd. 828-271-6122
Other Important Numbers
ARC of Buncombe County:(advocacy/support for the intellectually & developmentally disabled)828-253-1255
Buncombe County Criminal Magistrate’s Office:828-250-4690
Buncombe County Emergency Operations Center: (non-emergency assistance)828-250-6650
Carolinas Poison Center: (Charlotte, NC)800-848-6946 or 800-222-1222
Civil Air Patrol:828-687-2875
Crimestoppers:828-255-5050
Forest Service:828-257-4832
Helpmate: (for victims of family violence)828-254-0516
Pisgah Legal Services:828-253-0406
Rape Crisis Center: (“Our Voice”)828-252-0562
State Highway Patrol:828-298-4252 Emergency828-298-4256 Non-Emergency
Suicide Prevention:800-273-8255
Quick Access to Community Services, Volunteer Opportunities & Crisis Line: (United Way)dial 211 or 828-252-HELP (4357)
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Legal Organizations
American Civil Liberties Union of North CarolinaLegal Assistance: 1-919-834-3390
North Carolina State Bar Lawyer Referral Service800-662-7660, www.ncbar.org or www.ncfindalawyer.com
North Carolina Bar Association, Buncombe County ChapterComplaints against attorneys in Buncombe County828-252-5733
Pisgah Legal Services828-253-0406 or 800-489-6144
Business Organizations
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce828-258-6101
Asheville Board of REALTORS®
828-255-8505
Asheville Downtown Association828-251-9973
Asheville Home Builders Association 828-299-7001
Asheville SCORE828-271-4786
Better Business Bureau of Asheville-Western NC828-253-2392
North Carolina Department of InsuranceWestern office: 828-251-6483
Mountain BizWorks828-253-2834
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A Healthy Place to Live
A variety of hospitals and physicians in nearly every
specialty make Asheville and Buncombe County the medical referral center for the state’s western counties. There are close to 1,000 or more physicians and 200+ dentists in the Buncombe
County area. Virtually all specialties and subspecialties are represented in our community, from neonatology to gerontology. Newcomers to Western North Carolina appreciate the sophistication of the region’s medical community.
Mission Hospital is the regional referral center for Western North Carolina. It is the founding hospital in the not-for-profit Mission Health System, Inc., which also includes Mcdowell Hospital in Marion, NC, and Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, NC. Mission Hospital in Asheville is located on two adjoining campuses – St. Joseph at 428 Biltmore Ave. and Memorial at 509 Biltmore Ave., 828-213-1111, www.missionhospitals.org.
Mission Hospital’s specialized services include:
Heart Center: Named a national Thomson Reuters Top 100 Heart Hospital seven times since 2000 for surgery and cardiology care.
Mission Children’s Hospital: Subspecialty services for newborns through adolescents with complex medical conditions, offering pediatric surgery, oncology, pulmonology, gastroenterology and endocrinology.
Fullerton Genetics Center: Advanced testing, including chromosomal microarray analysis, with personal genetic counseling.
Stroke Center: The second hospital in the Carolinas and Virginia to earn the gold-level “Get with the Guidelines” designation.
Cancer Care: Comprehensive adult and childhood programs for diagnosis and treatment, with new cancer center in planning.
Vascular Center: Advanced, often minimally invasive, surgical treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms and other serious vascular disorders.
WNC Region’s Designated Trauma Center: Trauma surgeons and orthopedic traumatologists available 24/7 for treatment of serious trauma. Two “MAMA” medical helicopters provide fast transport.
The Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, 100 Edgewood Road, Asheville, 828-258-3888, www.redcrosswnc.org. Houses a blood donor collection and distribution center which serves the needs of 20
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hospitals in the region. disaster services and military assistance are also available and health and safety classes are taught on a weekly basis.
CarePartners Rehabilitation Hospital & Outpatient Services, 68 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, 828-274-2400, www.carepartners.org. Provides a licensed 80-bed hospital offering services to individuals with physical, cognitive, and developmental impairments, including brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, amputation, industrial injury, chronic pain, and orthopedic disabilities. Both the rehabilitation hospital and outpatient center are located on the main campus. There are four additional outpatient therapy clinics throughout Buncombe County. CarePartners also provides hospice and palliative care, home health services, adult day services and private duty services.
Charles George VA Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 828-298-7911. Provides health care services for veterans throughout Western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina and northern Georgia. The Center consists of a 116-bed acute care hospital facility and a separate 120-bed Community Living Center, or nursing home. It also operates a Home-Based Primary Care Program, a Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Treatment Program, and a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Franklin, NC and Rutherford County, NC. As a tertiary care facility, the Center provides services in all areas except hemodialysis, neurosurgery and radiation therapy and is classified as a Clinical Referral Level II facility. It is also a teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology
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and programs in education and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through the spectrum of primary care, tertiary care and long-term care in the areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics and extended care.
Park Ridge Hospital, on Naples Road in North Hendersonville, is off US 25, just south of Highway I-26, 828-684-8501. Since 1910, Park Ridge Hospital has provided the community with superior medical care in a compassionate, Christian environment. An acute care facility located in North Henderson County, the hospital offers state-of-the-art care as one of the 37 hospitals in the U.S. belonging to the renowned Adventist Health System. Park Ridge Hospital is the third largest employer in Henderson County with more than 1,000 associates and over 200 physicians on staff.
Conveniently located between Hendersonville and Asheville, the hospital is known for bringing some of the most advanced medical technology and procedures available to the area and is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO.)
Specialized services include cancer services, women’s health, sports medicine and rehabilitation, wound care and sleep disorders, among others. Full-range OB/GYN care includes traditional and alternative birthing and midwifery services. An expansion includes an 18,000-square-foot Women’s Center with Henderson County’s only dedicated C-section room. The Baby Place (obstetrics) encourages women to create an empowering birthing experience. For more information about The Baby Place, please visit www.parkridgebabies.com.
Park Ridge Hospital’s HOPE Behavioral Health Services offers three distinct psychiatric units: The Women’s Unit is for women 18 and older. The two Geriatric Psychiatry Units (Medical Psychiatry and Geropsychiatry) specialize in addressing the mental health needs of persons 65 and older and also sponsors a free monthly support group for caregivers.
For additional information about Park Ridge Hospital or to request an updated medical staff directory, call 828-687-3947 or visit online at www.parkridgehospital.org.
Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care Centers are neighborhood medical centers designed for people who need immediate medical attention but whose illness or injury is not life threatening. Healthcare services are also provided for area businesses and industries.
South Asheville1812 Hendersonville Rd.828-274-1462
West Asheville1201 Patton Avenue828-252-4878
Weaverville155 Weaverville Blvd.828-645-5088
Arden77 Airport Road828-651-0098
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Bayada Nurses, 200 Ridgefield St, #214, Asheville, 828-681-5100. Since 1975, Bayada Nurses have been helping people have a safe home life with comfort, independence and dignity, despite illness or disability.
The Asheville office offers both personal care and skilled nursing services to people of all ages, servicing the counties of Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, Mcdowell, and Yancey. Its field staff is comprised of experienced CNAs, LPNs and RNs who have been screened, bonded and insured. An experienced RN provides clinical supervision. Bayada Nurses is CHAP-accredited and offers free insurance processing.
Buncombe County Health Center35 Woodfin Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Important Numbers
Main Line 828-250-5000
Administration 828-250-5203
Breast & Cervical Cancer Control 828-250-6119
Community Health 828-250-5055
dental Services 828-285-0622
disease Control 828-250-5109
Environmental Health 828- 250-5016
Health Education 828-250-5040
Immunization 828-250-5096
Nutrition/WIC 828-250-5168 or 828-250-5170
Personnel Office 828-250-5206
Pharmacy 828-250-5233
Primary Care 828-250-5246
Restaurant/Lodging/day Care Inspection 828-250-5016
Septic Permits 828-250-5016
Social Work 828-250-5299
Water Testing 828-250-5016
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Life of the Arts
It’s no wonder that Asheville was ranked #2 as one
of the nation’s Top 25 Arts destinations by AmericanStyle Magazine in 2008 and 2009. The city’s cultural opportunities are abundant and varied, ranging from the Asheville Symphony, Asheville Lyric Opera, traditional mountain music and dancing, arts and crafts, professional theater productions, first-run feature films, foreign film series, several locations for live music, and more. The Asheville Art Museum, Folk Art Center, Pack Place,
and others provide a showcase for native and contemporary folk and artistic talent. The Health Adventure and WNC Nature Center provide educational opportunities, and the world-famous Brevard Music Center offers a full summer program. Community celebrations throughout the year, such as Bele Chere, Light Up Your Holidays, Goombay, Rockin’ Riverfest, Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, and Shindig on the Green, are popular among residents and visitors alike.
Museums and AttractionsBiltmore Estate – The renowned 250-room French Renaissance chateau built by George Vanderbilt in 1895, is the largest private residence in America. It contains Vanderbilt’s original collection of 70,000 pieces of art, antiques and furnishings. Visitors may tour the world-famous house, gardens, farm and winery. Recreational activities include horseback riding, mountain biking, float trips, carriage rides, fly-fishing, and Segway tours, among others. The estate is located on US 25, just north of Exit 50 or 50B on I-40 in Asheville. Call 828-225-1333 or 1-800-624-1575 or go to www.biltmore.com.
Pack Place – The place for everyone! The vibrant centerpiece of downtown Asheville, this bustling complex includes the Asheville Art Museum, Colburn Earth Science Museum, diana Wortham Theatre, and The Health Adventure museum. In addition, tickets for other area attractions may be purchased here, including the Biltmore Estate, the YMI Cultural Center and city trolley tours, among others.
An Asheville landmark, Pack Place also offers meeting rooms and creative spaces for hosting special events. “Here is the Square” traces the history of downtown Asheville’s Pack Square, and is the starting point for numerous walking tours. Pack Place offers unique museum shops and is located in the midst of the galleries and restaurants of downtown Asheville. Call 828-257-4500 or visit the Web site at www.packplace.org.
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Smith-McDowell House Museum – Step back in time at Asheville’s oldest house now restored as a museum. Included in the National Register of Historic Places, this house was built in the 1840s by the wealthiest man in Buncombe County and was later home to other important citizens, including a mayor and Civil War major. The museum, with its Olmstead-designed grounds, is located at 283 Victoria Road on the campus of A-B Technical Community College. Call 828-253-9231.
Arts, Cultural, Event and Entertainment Organizations
Asheville Area Arts Council 828-258-0710
Asheville Art Museum 828-253-3227
Asheville Bravo Concerts 828-225-5887
Asheville Civic Center 828-259-5736
Asheville Community Theater 828-253-4931 or 828-254-1320
Asheville downtown Association 828-251-9973
Asheville Lyric Opera 828-236-0670
Asheville Symphony 828-254-7046
Brevard Music Center 828-884-2011
Colburn Earth Science Museum 828-254-7162
diana Wortham Theatre 828-257-4530
Fine Arts League of Asheville 828-252-5050
Fine Arts Theatre 828-232-1536
Flat Rock Playhouse 828-693-0731
Folk Art Center/Southern Highland Craft Guild 828-298-7928
Folkmoot USA, International
Folk Music and dance Festival 828-452-2997
HandMade in America 828-252-0121
Haywood Arts Repertory Theater(HART) Waynesville 828-456-6322
Haywood County Arts Council 828-452-0593
Hendersonville County Arts Council 828-693-8504
The Health Adventure 828-254-6373
Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) 828-686-8742
Montford Park Players 828-254-5146
Mountain dance and Folk Festival
and Shindig on the Green 828-258-6101, ext. 345
Pack Place Education, Arts and Science Center 828-257-4500
Southern Appalachian Repertory Theater 828-689-1384
Toe River Arts Council, Burnsville 828-682-7215
Transylvania Community Arts Council, Brevard 828-884-2787
Walker Arts Center, Asheville School 828-254-6345
YMI Cultural Center 828-252-4614
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North Carolina ArboretumJust south of Asheville, this 434-acre property is positioned in one of North America’s most interesting and diverse botanical regions. Cultivated gardens reflect the unique culture, craft, and beauty of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Miles of nature trails offer leisurely walking as well as challenging hiking and biking.
Located at mile marker 393 off the Blue Ridge Parkway and two miles south of I-26/Exit 33, the gardens and grounds are open to the public 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., seven days a week except Christmas (8 a.m.-7 p.m., November to March.)
The Baker Exhibit Center, Education Center and Bonsai Center are open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s day. The Exhibit Center houses an arts and crafts gallery featuring works for sale by local and regional artists, and the Education Center has a café (call for hours) and gift shop. The greenhouse is open 8 a.m.–2 p.m. weekdays.
Call 828-665-2492 for information or go to www.ncarboretum.org for a listing of educational programs and special events.
Western North Carolina Nature Center – A leading environmental educational resource, the Nature Center offers regional animal and plant life in a natural environment. The Center also features a nature trail, indoor and outdoor exhibits and a gift shop.
Located on Gashes Creek Road just off Swannanoa River Road and adjacent to Recreation Park, the Nature Center is open daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. year-round, except winter holidays.
Call 828-298-5600 or visit the Web site at www.wildwnc.org for more information or to find out about educational programs and special events.
Other Attractions
Antique Car Museum/Grovewood Gallery 828-253-7651
Asheville Tourists Baseball 828-258-0428
Blue Ridge Parkway 828-298-0398
Botanical Gardens 828-252-5190
Farmers Market 828-253-1691
Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa 828-252-2711
Lake Julian Park 828-684-0376
Riverside Cemetery 828-350-2066
Thomas Wolfe Memorial 828-253-8304
Vance Birthplace 828-645-6706
WNC Agricultural Center 828-687-1414
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Houses of Worship
Newcomers searching for a place of worship will
find a welcome sign on the doors of hundreds of religious institutions of diverse beliefs in Asheville. The Baptist church heads a long list of Christian denominations with more than a hundred churches under the Buncombe Baptist Association, and many more independent Baptist churches in the area.
The second-largest Christian denomination in the Asheville area is the United Methodist Church. Below is a sampling of area religious institutions in the Buncombe County area. Check the Asheville phone directory for a complete listing of denominations with their respective churches or synagogues.
denominations in the Asheville Area
African Methodist Episcopal 828-253-5191
Anglican 828-686-8505
Assembly of God 828-254-5519
Baha’i Center 828-251-1051
Baptist (First Baptist Church) 828-252-4781
Baptist (Independent) 828-254-2187
Baptist (Free Will) 828-253-5487
Baptist (General) 828 254-2187
Baptist (Southern) 828-667-9818
Catholic 828-252-6042
Catholic St. Barnabas Roman Catholic 828-684-6098
Christian & Missionary Alliance 828 253-2784
Christian Church – disciples of Christ 828-252-1503
Christian Science 828-252-1787
Church of Christ 828-274-2829
Church of God 828 254-2222
Church of God in Christ 828 254-4951
Church of God of Prophecy 828-252-3303
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints 828-687-2756
Church of the Nazarene 828-253-2095
Eckankar, Religion of the Light
& Sound of God 828-254-6775
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Episcopal Church 828-274-2681
Full Gospel 828-254-2059
Greek Orthodox 828-254-7424
Jehovah’s Witnesses 828-254-8401
Jubilee Community 828-252-5335
Lutheran, ELCA 828-253-0043
Lutheran, LCMS 828-252-1795
Mennonite 828-298-4487
Methodist 828-298-3211
Methodist-United 828-253-3316
Non-denominational Christian 828-281-3777
Pentecostal Holiness 828-684-2158
Presbyterian 828-252-8872,
828-298-4745
Presbyterian Church, PCA 828-253-6578
Presbyterian Church, USA 828-253-1431
Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) 828-258-0974
Seventh-day Adventist 828-274-2014
Unitarian Universalist Church 828-254-6001
United Church of Christ 828-252-8729
Unity Center of Christianity 828-684-3798
Unity Church of Asheville 828-252-5010
Wesleyan 828-253-3980
Word of Faith 828-254-2059
Jewish Synagogues:
Beth HaTephila Congregation (Reform) 828-253-4911
Beth Israel Congregation (Conservative) 828-252-8431
Chabad Lubavitch 828-505-0746
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Transportation/Communications
AirlinesAsheville Regional Airport Authority 828-684-2226
AirTran 1-800-247-8726
Continental 1-800-523-3273
Delta 1-800-221-1212
US Airways 1-800-428-4322
BusesAsheville Transit System 828-253-5691
Greyhound Asheville at 2 Tunnel Rd., provides passenger service and package express, 828-253-5353 or 1-800-231-2222 (schedules/fare info.)
Young Transportation at 943 Riverside dr., provides passenger service, charters, service for conventions and tour services, 828-258-0084
Asheville is located at the junction of Interstates 26
and 40, with an I-240 connector that passes through downtown. Ten US and state highways also serve the Asheville area. The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway has four access points within the Asheville area, with an additional entrance in nearby Weaverville. Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), located just 10 miles south of Asheville off I-26, offers connecting flights to any destination in the world and non-stop service to seven hub cities on commercial airlines AirTran, Continental, delta and US Airways. AVL features a business center, wireless Internet access, Guest Services
Center, full-service restaurant and bar, kids’ play area, art gallery and rocking chairs in waiting areas. AVL is served by six car-rental agencies, and ground transportation is available. Short- and long-term parking is located directly across from the terminal. Call the Asheville Regional Airport Authority at 828-684-2226 or visit www.flyavl.com for more information. The Asheville Transit System operates bus routes throughout greater Asheville. Private bus carriers serve limited rural and suburban areas. In addition, dozens of freight carriers, many with terminals in Asheville, provide transport service to the area.
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Limousines/Shuttle Service
Airport Ground Transportation 828-681-0051
All American Limousine 828-667-9935
Blue Ridge Limousine 828-232-4046
Carolina Limousine & Transport 828-665-2055
Taxi Service
A-Red Cab Company 828-232-1112
Beaver Lake Cab 828-252-1913
New Blue Bird Taxi 828-258-8331
Yellow Cab Company 828-253-3311
Your Cab II 828-259-9904
Newspaper & Television
Asheville Citizen Times 14 O. Henry Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 828-252-5611 or 1-800-800-4204 | www.CITIZEN-TIMES.com
Asheville and Western North Carolina are served by the Asheville Citizen-Times, which publishes daily and on Sunday. Founded in 1870 as a weekly newspaper, the Asheville Citizen became a daily in 1885. Association with writers like Thomas Wolfe and the poet O. Henry, both buried in Asheville, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, a familiar visitor, made for colorful newsroom stories in the earliest days.
The Citizen-Times serves an area that is rural and mountainous from its headquarters in Buncombe County, the region’s only urban county. The newspaper’s independent carriers travel more than 3 million miles annually, sometimes on treacherous terrain, to deliver news and advertising messages throughout the 18-county region.
In April 1997, the Citizen-Times launched its Web site, becoming the first daily newspaper in Western North Carolina to have a presence on the Internet. CITIZEN-TIMES.com is the region’s most-visited Web site. Both the Web site and the newspaper have expanded the Asheville Citizen-Times audience footprint. In 2008, newspaper readership grew 10.1%, well ahead of the 1.2% population growth the area logged during the same period.
WLOS-TV 110 Technology drive, Asheville, NC 28803 828-684-1340, 800-288-8813 | www.WLOS.com
WLOS serves Western North Carolina as well as upstate South Carolina. Located in Asheville, WLOS is an affiliate station of ABC and offers six daily news broadcasts.
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Settling In
getting settled in a new community can be
confusing. This handy guide will help you get connected and on your way to enjoying your new home. Utilities Progress Energy provides electric service to the Asheville-Buncombe County area. A deposit is required unless the customer has a positive credit history or a guaranteed contract signed by a current Progress Energy customer in good standing. 1-800-452-2777 PSNC Energy provides gas service. 1-877-776-2427 The local water supplier is the Asheville Water Resources
Department, 70 Court Plaza, 828-251-1122. A $25 non-refundable service fee plus a $100 deposit is required. The water authority offers next-working day installation. For sewer connections, contact the Metropolitan Sewerage District, 2028 Riverside dr., Asheville, 828-254-9646. Garbage Collection & Recycling The City of Asheville collects trash once per week and contracts with Curbside Management 828-252-2532 for recycling collection service every other week. All garbage must be placed in a maximum of six bags, cans, or roll-out containers. Bags or cans must
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be at the curb between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. on your collection day. Call 828-251-1122 to learn more about trash collection, recycling or to arrange for pick-up of large items or leaves/brush. Commercial dumpster service is available through private contractors. Those living outside city limits can contract with Garbage Disposal Service, a private hauler, for trash collection, 828-253-3929. Buncombe County’s Solid Waste Department operates the area’s landfill, transfer station and recycling centers for drop-off of trash, recyclables and hazardous waste, 828-250-5460. Adopt-A-Street Help to reduce litter in the City of Asheville by participating in the Adopt-A-Street program. Participants agree to pick up litter from their adopted street at least six times a year. Trash bags, gloves, safety vests and other supplies are provided. For more information about adopting a street or other litter clean-ups, call Asheville GreenWorks (formerly called Quality Forward), 828-254-1776.
Telephone Most Asheville-Buncombe area telephone service is operated by AT&T, 1-888-757-6500 or 1-866-620-6000. Applications may be handled by telephone. A credit check may be required. Parts of Weaverville and other areas are served by Verizon, 1-800-483-4000 (for residential customers) and 1-800-483-5300 (for businesses). Barnardsville and some Weaverville area residents should check with TDS Telecom, 1599 Barnardsville Hwy., 828-626-2981. Cable Television Charter Communications serves the Asheville area, offering 223 channels including 78 analog/digital video channels, 34 premium channels, 7 high-definition channels, 52 digital music express channels, 52 pay-per-view channels, and cable Internet service. The number of basic cable channels varies from location to location, as do installation fees and monthly cable rates, 1-800-955-7766 or 1-888-438-2427.
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Enrolling In School
To enroll children in Asheville City or Buncombe
County public schools, parents must first call or visit the neighborhood school. To register a student entering school for the first time, parents need the birth certificate, immunization record, social security number, previous report card (if applicable), and medical release from the Buncombe County Health Center or a personal physician.
To confirm which system (city or county) manages the nearest neighborhood school, call 828-232-4240. Transfers within and between the systems may be allowed for special circumstances, but processing and transfer fees are usually required. Both systems are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the State of North Carolina.
Asheville City SchoolsClaxton Elementary828-350-6500
Hall Fletcher Elementary828-350-6400
Ira B. Jones Elementary828-350-6700
Isaac Dickson Elementary828-350-6800
Vance Elementary828-350-6600
Asheville Middle School828-350-6200
Asheville High School828-350-2500
Specialized ProgramsAsheville City Schools Preschool & Family Literacy Program828-255-5423
Randolph Learning Center grades 6–9828-350-6900
The School of Inquiry and Life Sciences (SILSA)(on the campus of Asheville High School)
828-350-2700
Buncombe County Schools-North Buncombe DistrictWeaverville Primary828-645-4275
Weaverville Elementary828-645-3127
North Buncombe Elementary828-645-6054
Barnardsville Elementary828-626-2290
North Windy Ridge (5th/6th grades)828-658-1892
North Buncombe Middle828-645-7944
North Buncombe High828-645-4221
Erwin District Emma Elementary828-232-4272
Johnston Elementary828-232-4291
Leicester Elementary828-683-2341
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West Buncombe Elementary828-232-4282
Woodfin Elementary828-232-4287
Clyde A. Erwin Middle School828-232-4264
Clyde A. Erwin High School828-232-4251
Enka District Hominy Valley Elementary School828-665-0619
Sand Hill-Venable Elementary828-670-5028
Candler Elementary828-670-5018
Pisgah Elementary828-670-5023
Enka Middle School828-670-5010
Enka High School828-670-5000
Roberson District William W. Estes Elementary828-654-1795
Glen Arden Elementary828-654-1800
Avery’s Creek Elementary828-654-1810
Cane Creek Middle School828-628-0824
Valley Springs Middle828-654-1785
TC Roberson High School828-654-1765
Reynolds District Charles C. Bell Elementary828-298-3789
Haw Creek Elementary828-298-4022
Oakley Elementary828-274-7515
Fairview Elementary828-628-2732
AC Reynolds Middle School828-298-7484
Cane Creek Middle School (shared with Roberson district)828-628-0824
AC Reynolds High School828-298-2500
Owen DistrictBlack Mountain Primary828-669-2645
Black Mountain Elementary828-669-5217
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WD Williams Elementary828-686-3856
Charles D. Owen Middle828-686-7739
Charles D. Owen High School828-686-3852
Specialized ProgramsCareer Education Center 828-251-0499
Community High School 828-686-7734
Early College/ Middle College 828-232-4123
Progressive Education ProgramT.C. Roberson High 828-654-1780
Valley Springs Middle 828-654-1792
William W. Estes Elementary 828-654-1794
Charter Schools AshevilleArtspace Charter School828-298-2787
Evergreen Community Charter School828-298-2173
Francine Delaney New School for Children828-236-9441
Others NearbyBrevard Academy828-885-2665
The Mountain Community School (Hendersonville)828-696-8480
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Employment
For information about employment in the Asheville area contact:
NC Employment Security Commission Job Service Division48 Grove St., Asheville, NC 28801 | 828-251-6200 | www.ncesc.com
There are a number of private employment services in the Asheville area. For information, check the Asheville telephone directory or the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce membership directory.
Driver’s Licenses & Tags
New residents must apply for a North Carolina driver’s license within 60 days of relocating in the state. Vision and knowledge tests are required, and road tests are given at the discretion of the examiner. Several documents are also necessary and are listed online at www.ncdot.org/dmv. You can also call or visit one of the two offices below for this information. North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles Highway Patrol Building600 Tunnel Road (US 70 East), Asheville | 828-298-4544 or 1624 Patton Avenue, Asheville | 828-251-6065)
A North Carolina license plate must be purchased within 30 days of residency. An automobile title, driver’s license, and proof of insurance must be presented to the License Tag Agency in Innsbruck Mall 85 Tunnel Road | 828-252-8526 or 153 Smokey Park Highway, Suite #8 | 828-667-2104
Automobiles must be inspected within 10 days of receiving a North Carolina license plate. Call or go to www.ncdot.org/dmv for registration requirements and fees.
Voting
You may register to vote in Asheville and Buncombe County 30 days after establishing residency, but you must register more than 25 days prior to the election. You may register online, by mail or in person at the Board of Elections office (189 College St., Asheville) or any Buncombe County library.
For information contact:Board of Elections, Courthouse AnnexPO Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802 | 828-250-4200
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