Community News

Written by Jordan Lenoir

This Friday at Pritchard Park from 12-2 pm, Karen Willie and the rest of Th!rd Act invites those passionate about climate change and the prevention of fossil fuels to a protest gathering to fight for a cleaner climate! 

This week on Newshour with Patryk Battle, Karen Willie, the communications advisor of Th!rd Act, was brought on to speak on the purposes of this protest and what desired reality Th!rd Act is working toward in the Asheville community. 

One of several missions at Th!rd Act is to gain the attention of banks that fund fossil fuels. Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and Chase Bank were highlighted by Th!rd Act as major supporters of fossil fuels by putting a combined 15 billion dollars toward the use of them. To display their disapproval of these banks’ funding, Th!rd Act organized a march through Pritchard park and over to Wells Fargo (which is located across the street). Th!rd Act welcomes people of all ages to march, protest and enjoy the other entertainment aspects of this event which include: street theater, music, special speakers, and special guest Brass Your Heart, an Asheville music group. 

Willie reminded listeners who might be attending this event to bring lots of water and dress appropriately for the weather. Willie added that Pritchard park is shaded with lots of trees, but event goers should still consider bringing umbrellas for shade. 

Willie reveals that Th!rd Act’s goal with this protest is to redirect these banks’ funding toward “wind and solar alternative energies that are clean and do not put carbon dioxide into our atmosphere…” Willie also shares that these alternatives are “actually cheaper [in the long run] than using fossil fuels.” Th!rd Act has hope for smaller community solar energy to come into effect through their work. 

Th!rd Act is a community of elders determined to turn around climate change and push toward more environmentally safe alternatives to fossil fuels. Th!rd Act was started by Bill McKibben  through his spread of climate change awareness. Through his work and passion, citizens joined him in his journey of a better climate by starting Th!rd Act. Th!rd Act conducts several events including protests, campaigns, and volunteering throughout the different communities they are embedded in. 

For more visit Th!rd Act

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ASHEVILLE, NC – July 10, 2024 – Summer is here, and so is the urge to cool off and play in the waters around Asheville. Be aware that Mountain True’s 2023 French Broad River’s water report indicated that more than one-half of the sites tested failed to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recreational standards for swimming. The report found that E. Coli levels were almost 8 times the EPA recreational water standard. However, the water frequently meets the EPA’s standards for secondary recreation like tubing and kayaking which accepts these elevated E. Coli levels. This summer, the river has been safer for water activities because it hasn’t rained very much, according to Hartwell Carson, Mountain True’s French Broad Riverkeeper, as told to the Asheville Citizen-Times. Mountain True is a nonprofit organization based in Asheville that has a vision for healthy forests, clean waters and healthy communities in the Southern Blue Ridge region.

E. coli, a bacterium from animal and human feces, is a reliable indicator of the presence of bacteria and pathogens that are harmful to human health. Contact with or inadvertently swallowing contaminated water can cause gastrointestinal illness and skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. The most frequently reported symptoms are stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and low-grade fever. Each can occur within 4 days of exposure. Children and seniors are at a greater risk of being affected.

Water samples are collected each week from popular recreation spots the French Broad River and western North Carolina by Mountain True’s volunteers and staff from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The samples are processed to determine the E. Coli levels.

In her 1955 book The French Broad, the American writer Wilma Dykeman described how many years of dumping untreated sewage and industrial waste into the waterway had created a dirty, smelly river that she described as “too thick to drink, too thin to plow.” After the Clean Water Act of 1972, the work of many nonprofit organizations and volunteers significantly improved the river’s water quality.

When the river has an unhealthy-appearing brown color, it is a clear sign of sediment and other pollutants running through the waterway. Carson said if the river looks clean, then it probably has fewer pollutants. The French Broad River has elevated levels of harmful bacteria from sewer and septic system leaks, cattle accessing streams, and stormwater runoff from animal agricultural operations and fields. Booming construction and development, more frequent heavy rains due to climate change, and an aging stormwater system result in more runoff from urban areas, more sewer overflows, and increased waterway sediment.

The river has a strong economic presence around Asheville. It is estimated to bring in $3.8 billion annually according to a 2020-21 study by Western Carolina University economics professor Steve Ha and the French Broad River Partnership, a group of more than 50 organizations that want to improve the river’s health for environmental and economic benefits. Carson recommends that policymakers need to encourage better building and farming practices, upgrade aging sewer infrastructure, and increase buffers near the river to reduce the pollution from nearby building and farming sites.

You can access an up-to-date French Broad River and western North Carolina water quality report for swimming on these websites: mountaintrue.org/swimguide, its smartphone app, and theswimguide.org/find. The frenchbroadwaterquality.com website indicates the safety of swimming and tubing on the French Broad River at Pearson Bridge.

Hartwell Carson, said, “We strongly encourage recreation. I go out all the time, swimming, boating – I just do it in an educated and informed way.”  He recommends that persons should check the swim guide before deciding where to go in the water and whether it safe to swim or kayak.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ASHEVILLE, NC –  July 10, 2024 – The winter surge of respiratory infections, like COVID-19, influenza and RSV, has passed. However, over the past 3 years, COVID-19 infections have also surged in August. Therefore, the weekly update will continue to report on COVID-19 and restart influenza and RSV updates in the fall.

The CDC’s COVID Dashboard for the week ending on June 29^th shows:  

• Fewer than 2% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the 2^nd lowest level of 6 groups.
• Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina, less than 1% of all visits. However, there was a moderate increase since last week of almost 20%.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard for the week ending on June 26^th shows:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is between 40-60%, the 3^rd level of 5 groups.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample is unknown. However, the surrounding counties of Swain and Jackson have increased from the previous week to 100% or greater, the highest level of 3 groups with a positive rate of change. Henderson and McDowell counties did not report data for the week.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

SILVER SPRING, MD – July 3, 2024 – Sunscreen and sunblock products are recommended by doctors to reduce the risk of getting skin cancer. Sunscreen and sunblock can protect people from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, but in different ways. Sunscreen products contain chemicals that can absorb the UV rays (deactivating the rays) before they can affect the skin. While sunblock (which is oftentimes referred to as a sunscreen too) contains the minerals zinc oxide or titanium oxide. These chemicals act as a physical barrier that reflect the sun’s rays before they reach the skin. Sunblock can also protect against sunburn and ‘sun poisoning,’ a more severe form of sunburn.

Here are some differences between sunscreen and sunblock. Sunscreen is easy to rub into your skin and it disappears completely. It should be applied 20 minutes before exposure to the sun to be fully absorbed. Some people with sensitive skin may develop contact dermatitis so people with sensitive skin should use sunblock. Sunblock is slathered onto the skin. It sits on top of the skin and works immediately. Some sunblock products leave a white residue on the skin. However, newer sunblock products, made with mineral nanoparticles, can be rubbed into the skin and do not leave the white residue.

Ultraviolet light can cause skin cancer, cataracts of the eye, damage to the skin called sunburn, and premature aging of the skin. UV light is comprised of A waves and B waves. Both are harmful to your skin. Overexposure to B waves can cause sunburn, while A waves can cause sunburn and skin cancer. UV light can damage DNA in skin cells causing genetic mutations which can initiate cancers to grow. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. Most UV-caused skin cancer occur on sun-exposed areas of the skin. Skin cancer can be prevented by using sunscreen and sunblock and taking other precautions. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the most common skin cancers, are usually curable with early diagnosis and treatment. Melanoma is less frequent and the most-deadly form of skin cancer.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a sunscreen or a sunblock that has a rating of SPF 30 or higher. It should be water resistant. Choose a broad-spectrum product to protect against UVA & UVB waves. Apply sunscreen to exposed skin 20 minutes before going outside throughout the year. Clouds do not adequately block UV rays, so use skin protectants even on cloudy days. An adult should apply about 1 ounce of sunscreen, about the size of a shot glass, especially over the face, chest, and shoulders. Reapply every 2 hours or more frequently after swimming or sweating. Other measures include wearing long-sleeved clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, and sunglasses.

Sunscreen and sunblock products may contain ingredients that are harmful to people and the environment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates these products to ensure that they meet safety and effectiveness standards before each product is allowed to be used by Americans. According to a 2020 study by the FDA and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, some of the active ingredients can be absorbed into the skin and enter the body. Recently the FDA has recalled some products that were found to be contaminated with benzene, a known carcinogen. According to Save the Reef, an organization dedicated to saving the world’s ocean and marine life, some popular chemicals found in sunscreen have been found to be toxic to coral reefs as are nanoparticles in some newer sunblock products. A list of these substances can be found at: https://savethereef.org/about-reef-save-sunscreen.html

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ASHEVILLE, NC – July 3, 2024 – The winter surge of respiratory infections, like COVID-19, influenza and RSV, has passed. However, over the past 3 years, COVID-19 infections have also surged in August. Therefore, the weekly update will continue to report on COVID-19 and restart influenza and RSV updates in the fall.

The CDC’s COVID Dashboard for the week ending on June 22^nd shows:  

• Fewer than 10 deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the lowest level of 6 groups.
• Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina, less than 1% of all visits. However, there was a moderate increase of almost 20%.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard for the week ending on June 19^th shows:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is between 40-60%, the 3^rd level of 5 groups.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample has increased from the previous week to between 1% to 9%, the lowest level of 3 groups with a positive rate of change. However, many of the surrounding counties including Swain, Jackson, and Henderson, have increased from the previous week to between 100% or greater, the highest level of 3 groups with a positive rate of change.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC – June 13, 2023 – After 2 plus years of waiting, the arrival of the new and enlarged Buncombe County Mobile Public Health van began with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Carrier Park on June 13^th. Speakers included Public Health Director Ellis Matheson and Sue Hanlon, the Public Health Nurse Supervisor of the Mobile Team. Dr. Matheson spoke about the amazing growth of the Department in Buncombe County spurred on by the COVID pandemic; Nurse Hanlon highlighted the current services offered and the expansion of services with the addition of the van. Both vans will serve the County although the new van has the capacity to see people indoors, up to 2 at a time. This will facilitate a nicer patient experience during inclement weather conditions of precipitation and extreme heat and cold temperatures.

The creation of the Mobile Vaccination Team in 2022 was one of the highlights of Buncombe County Health and Human Services and the Public Health Department during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has quickly become one of the most important new public health interventions to reach underserved rural communities and populations. In the past 2 years, the Mobile Team has administered 4200 vaccinations.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been additional federal funding for public health in Buncombe County. The Department used some of these funds to purchase the customized mobile van and hire a team of nurses and emergency medical technicians. (A standard-sized van was used while the new RV-sized van was on back order for more than two years.) The Team started with mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics and soon expanded to mpox vaccination clinics in the fall 2022 during the mpox epidemic. The Mobile Team even partnered with our station AshevilleFM and the Getaway River Bar to offer vaccinations for mpox and COVID-19 on September 14, 2022.

The BC Public Health Outreach Team is headed by the Director of Nursing Amparo Oviero Acosta. It is still currently funded with COVID appropriations, although additional funding may be needed for its sustainability and expansion.

The Mobile Vaccination Team has evolved into a Mobile Outreach Team. According to Its website, the Team’s mission is “To partner with our community to increase equitable access to public health services, focusing on historically underserved by the healthcare system, low-income areas and rural communities.” Its values are to build access, community trust, and improve health outcomes.

The Mobile Team’s current services include:

• Vaccinations for COVID, hepatitis A/B, flu, shingles, whooping cough and tetanus
• Vaccine record review
• HIV and Hep C testing
• Harm reduction resources, education and opioid overdose reversal with medicine
• Community resource navigation
• Health education

Its expanded services will include:

• Sexual transmitted infection testing
• Treatment for syphilis, a current epidemic in many communities
• Reproductive health, to include family planning and birth control

Its future services will include:

• Pregnancy testing
• Applications for Medicaid, food services, and social work

The BC Mobile Team works in collaboration with Buncombe County groups that serve those who are historically underserved by the healthcare system, low-income areas and rural communities. If your group has an event that serves those populations, you can request the Mobile Team at an event by going to buncombecounty.org/mobileteam, click on the HHS Mobile Team Services Form, and complete the request. For any questions you can contact Lacey Smith at 828-250-5716.

The Mobile Team will be busy over the next few months with a schedule of 3-4 events a week. Here are some of its future events: June 26, 10 am @ Salvation Army Food Pantry at 750 Haywood Rd, AVL; July 1, 1 pm @ MANNA/CIMA Food Distribution at 17 Westside Dr, AVL; and at Bounty & Soul Latino Market @ 216 Whitson Ave, Swannanoa.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour