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Concert Calendar 12/18-12/26

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Monday, December 18th

Mashup Mondays @ One World Brewing West

The Chosen Ones Industry Night w/ Devyn Marzuola @ Eulogy 

Jacob Rodruguez Quintet @ Little Jumbo 

 

Tuesday, December 19th

Grateful Family Band Tuesdays @ One World Brewing West

Tuesday Night Funk Jam @ Asheville Music Hall 

Asheville FM Djs @ Fleetwood’s

Gamma Razor, Loony, Wastoid @ Fleetwoods

Rap Is Dead w/ Phantom Pantone @ Eulogy 

 

Wednesday   December 20th

Gabe Dixon, Sahara Moon @ The Grey Eagle 

Dopa-Funk w/ Datrian Johnson & Friends @ Salvage Station

Shake A Leg! George Trouble @ The Odd 

Country X-mas w/ The Silent Knights @ Double Crown 

Jim Gaffigan @ Harrahs Cherokee event center 

Wolves In The Taproom- Black Metal Night @ Eulogy 

 

Thursday December 21st

The Lumpy Heads @ Asheville Music Hall 

Jake Burns @ One World Brewing 

Ovadya @ One World Brewing West 

The Long Distance Relationship W/ Rond @ The Orange Peel 

Ritual of Senses Winter Solstice Celebration ft. Meg Mulhearn @ Eulogy 

 

Friday December 22nd

Free Dead Friday @ Asheville Music Hall 

Shed Bugs @ One World Brewing West

Crystal Fountains Duo @ One World Brewing 

Larry Keel Experience, Red Clay Revival @ Salvage Station

Great Wide Nothing, Impending Joy, Father Figure @ Fleetwoods 

Gold Light, Elijah Raymer, Lawndry @ Static Age 

Lost Torpedo, Boy In Sleep @ The Orange Peel 

The Sternwheelers @ Jack of The Wood 

Christmas Jam @ Different World 

GRRL, Made of Oak @ Eulogy 

 

Saturday, December 23rd

Asheville Vaudeville @ The Grey Eagle 

Clouds of Delusion @ One World Brewing West 

Party Foul Drag @ The Odd

Khandroma, JD Pinkus, Biostatic @ Fleetwoods 

Fertilizer, Bad Make Up, E.Medina @ Static Age 

Free Radio W/ DJ Atreau @ The Orange Peel 

Jesse Harman & The Jugs @ Jack of The Wood 

Miracles Happen @ Different World 

Rap is Dead w/ Phantom Pantone @ Eulogy 

 

Sunday, December 24th 

King Shh Presents:XXX-Mas Party @ The Odd 

Sunday Jazz Jam @ One World Brewing West 

 

Monday, December 25th
Mashup Mondays @ One World Brewing West

Justin Ray  @ Little Jumbo 

 

Tuesday, December 26th

Grateful Family Band Tuesdays @ One World Brewing West

Tuesday Night Funk Jam @ Asheville Music Hall 

Jay Sanders, Will Boyd, Zack Page, Alan Hall @ Little Jumbo 

 

In Theatres: 

Asheville Community Theater : Elf The Musical 1-23 December

Have an event you’d like for us to add? Send an email to [email protected]!

FDA approves two novel treatments for sickle cell disease

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SILVER SPRING, MD – December 8, 2023 – On December 8th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 2 gene therapies for the treatment of sickle cell disease in patients 12 years and older. Each treatment is approved for patients with a history of recurrent episodes of blocked blood vessels from misshapen red blood cells. The gene therapy techniques are Casgevy and Lyfgenia. These are the first approved treatments using a genome editing system in the U.S. The only FDA-approved treatments for sickle cell disease until now include a bone marrow or stem cell transplant from donors, a medicine that can prevent the red blood cells from becoming misshapen, and a medicine that can prevent misshapen cells from adhering to blood vessels.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects about 100 thousand Americans and 20 million people in the world. Most people with sickle cell disease in the U.S. are African Americans. The disease affects red blood cells that become misshapen (resembling a sickle) and block blood flow to specific areas of the body. This can result in severe painful crises, infection, loss of vision, or a stroke. The misshapen red blood cells can die early, resulting in severe anemia with symptoms of feeling tired.

With each technique, the patient’s blood stem cells are removed and modified by the CRISPR gene editing technique (which has been derived from naturally occurring gene editing systems found in bacteria). Once the stem cells are collected, the remainder of the bone marrow cells are removed with high-dose chemotherapy. Then the modified stem cells are transfused back to the patient. They attach and multiply within the bone marrow. The genetically modified stem cells produce red blood cells that keep their normal shape.

The FDA reported a study of 31 patients with at least 2 episodes of severe blood flow crises a year for 2 consecutive years prior to entering Casgeny treatment. After 24 months of follow-up, over 90% of the patients had at least 12 consecutive months without a severe blood flow crisis.

The FDA reported a study of 32 patients, ages 12 to 50, with a history of severe blood flow crises prior to entering Lyfgenia treatment. After 24 months of follow-up, almost 90% of the patients had no severe blood flow crisis between 6 and 18 months after treatment.

As quoted in the December 8th FDA news release, Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research said, “These approvals represent an important medical advance with the use of innovative cell-based gene therapies to target potentially devastating diseases and improve public health. Today’s actions follow rigorous evaluations of the scientific and clinical data needed to support approval, reflecting the FDA’s commitment to facilitating development of safe and effective treatments for conditions with severe impacts on human health.”

Each of the gene therapy treatments enable patients to use their own blood stem cells rather than have a transfusion of donor cells, in theory, reducing the risk of complications and failure.

 

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

The Buncombe County Mobile Team brings public health to vulnerable communities

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BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC – December 13, 2023 – 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.

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 a customized mobile van and hire a team of nurses and emergency medical technicians. (The van has been on back order for more than one year.) 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, and tetanus
  • Vaccine record review
  • Testing for HIV, Hep C, and sexual transmitted infection (STI)
  • Treatment of STI
  • Harm reduction resources, education and treatment for opioid use disorder with Naloxone
  • Community resource navigation
  • Health education

Its future services will include:

  • Pregnancy testing
  • Reproductive health
  • Syringe exchange
  • Applications for Medicaid, food services, and social work
  • STI education

The BC Mobile Team can partner with a community or organization that is hosting an event. Requests to host an event can be submitted online at buncombecounty.org Under the county services tab, click on Departments & Agencies, then on public health, and then mobile team or contact Sarah Smith at 828-250-5716. The mobile van currently delivers services at the same location and during the same hours of many food pantries throughout Buncombe County.

Here are some of its future events: December 15 @ ABCCM West Food Distribution; December 18 @ Deaverview Community Engagement Market; and December 19 @ Big Ivy Community Center for food distribution

 

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

The Buncombe County COVID-19 weekly update: Hospital admissions are low & virus in the wastewater is decreasing

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ASHEVILLE, NC –  December 13, 2023 – The COVID-19 metrics are on the CDC’s COVID Dashboard. For the week ending on December 2nd

  • Hospital admission levels are low in 97 of 100 counties in North Carolina, including Buncombe County, and about 75% of the counties in the U.S. However, they have increased in North Carolina and increased in Buncombe County from the previous week.
  • Between 2.0 to 4.0% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the 3rd lowest level of 6 groups and increased from last week.
  • Emergency room visits for COVID-19 are low in North Carolina. This represents about 2.0% of all ER visits, the 2nd lowest of 5 levels and stable from the previous week.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data for the week ending on November 29th and updated on December 6th is on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard.

  • The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at a red level representing the highest level of 5 groups, currently between the 80th and 100th percentile relative to the past level measured at the same site.
  • The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample has decreased from the previous week, at -99% to -10%, the lowest level of 2 groups for a negative 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

Concert Calendar 12/11-12/19

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Monday, December 11

Mashup Mondays @ One World Brewing west

Big Foot Hot Dog Holiday Extravaganza @ Fleetwood’s

Bouncing Souls, 7 Seconds, Catbite and Blind Adam & The Federal League @ The Orange Peel

The CORE @ Little Jumbo

Music Movie Mondays: A Hard Days’ Night and Beatles cartoons @ Grail Moviehouse

Tuesday, December 12

Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holiday Show @ The Grey Eagle

Grateful Family Band Tuesdays @ One World Brewing west

Jay Sanders, Will Boyd, Zack Page & Alan Hall @ Little Jumbo

 

Wednesday, December 13

Latin Night Wednesday @ One World Brewing West

10 Years @ The Orange Peel

Bam-A-Lam @ 5 Walnut

Safety Coffin, Yesterday’s Clothes, Lucky Flip @ The Odditorium

Jared Petteys Band // Slow Poison // Chancey 77 @ Fleetwoods

 

Thursday, December 14

103.3 ASHEVILLE FM RECORD RELEASE & LISTENING PARTY @ Citizen Vinyl

THE MOTH PRESENTS: ASHEVILLE STORYSLAM – “HOME” @ Grey Eagle

Pyletribe Family Holiday Show @ One World Brewing West

CodaPen, On the Block, The Discs, Blistering Dissonance @ The Odditorium

Nuclear Tourism // Carnival Barker //Powder Horns @ Fleetwoods

SUGAR NOVA & FUTURE JOY @ Salvage Station

Firecracker Jazz Band @ Crow & Quill

 

Friday, December 15

AMANDA ANNE PLATT & THE HONEYCUTTERS HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR IV @ Grey Eagle

Winter Magic Holiday Show @ Wortham Arts Center

TRIPP ST. @ Asheville Music Hall

AWEN FAMILY BAND W/ FUNKLESTILTSKIN @ The One Stop

DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND @ Salvage Station

Small Doses//The Welcoming// John Kirby and the New Seniors @ Fleetwoods

Bold Burlesque Presents: Debut at The Odd @ The Odditorium

The Jackson Grimm Band @ Jack of the Wood

Color Music Machine @ Ginger’s Revenge

 

Saturday, December 16

ODIE LEIGH @ Grey Eagle

EGGY @ Asheville Music Hall

Meschiya Lake & The Moodswingers @ Crow & Quill

JOE MAY (OF PLUTO GANG)’S MONTH OF MONDAYS @ The One Stop

Asheville Winter Bluegrass @ One World Brewing West

TOUBAB KREWE @ Salvage Station

OLD GODS OF APPALACHIA PRESENTS FAMILY TRADITIONS: A LIVE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE @ The Orange Peel

Tiny TVs // Hans Condor // Bad Sleepers @ Fleetwoods

THE WELL DRINKERS @ Jack of the Wood

Drag Show @ O’Henry’s

Saturday Night Dance Party with DJ Lil Meow Meow @ Little Jumbo

Serrate/Zombie Queen/Bask @ Eulogy

 

Sunday, December 17

A Swannanoa Solstice @ Wortham Arts Center

WTF Holiday Show-BeLoved Asheville Benefit @ One World Brewing West

OLD GODS OF APPALACHIA PRESENTS FAMILY TRADITIONS: A LIVE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE @ The Orange Peel

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet @ Harrah’s Cherokee Center

Mood Ring @ Little Jumbo

ARCHER OH @ Different Wrld

 

Monday, December 18

Mashup Mondays @ One World Brewing west

Jacob Rodriguez Quartet @ Little Jumbo

 

Tuesday, December 19

Grateful Family Band Tuesdays @ One World Brewing west

Jay Sanders, Will Boyd, Zack Page & Alan Hall @ Little Jumbo

Gamma Razor // Loony //Wastoid @ Fleetwoods

The John Henry’s @ 5 Walnut

 

In Theaters: 

Asheville Community Theater : Elf The Musical 1-23 December 

The Magnetic Theater presents: New Queer’s Eve, December 1-16th

 

Community Calendar: December

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If your community group would like to add your community-focused event or volunteer opportunity to our monthly listing for January, email [email protected] with the date and time and a link to more information. For concerts and other cultural events, email [email protected].

Throughout the month

12 Baskets Cafe
Share in the bounty of rescued food. Open to everyone.
Tuesdays & Fridays 11-1 pm, to-go meals & groceries
Mondays & Thursdays 11-1 pm, sit-down meals
More info: ashevillepovertyinitiative.org

Steady Collective Mobile Needle Exchange
Tuesdays 2:45-4 pm East AVL: 381 Swannanoa River Rd
Wednesdays 10 am-12:30 pm Downtown: 271 Haywood St
Thursdays 2-5 p.m. West AVL: 265 State St
More info: thesteadycollective.org

Youth Outright Galaxy Meetups on Discord
Galaxy Meetups are drop-in spaces for young queer & trans folks to be in community with one another. Prior to joining weekly programming, youth must complete an intake form.
Middle/High School (Ages 11-18), Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5-7 p.m.
Young Adults (Ages 18-24), Wednesdays 5-7 p.m.
Email [email protected] to receive the intake form and get connected to the Discord server.

Black Wall Street Sunday Brunch
All are welcome!
Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Black Wall Street Building, 8 River Arts Place
More info & tickets: blackwallstreetavl.godaddysites.com

Black Wall Street AVL is also seeking nominations of Outstanding Elders for the Black Wall Street Legacy Award. The nomination period ends December 15. 

BeLoved Asheville Toy Drive
Bring unwrapped toys to the donation center Tues-Sat between 11-1. Local organizations are invited to organize a toy drive, BeLoved will design flyers and provide collection boxes.
BeLoved Donation Center, 32 Old Charlotte Hwy
More info: @belovedasheville on Instagram

City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA) Applications Open

Sophomores & juniors in high school are invited to apply for this paid internship program. The program takes place over the summer months and places the students in paid internships in the field of their choice. Upon completion of the program, students are awarded a $2,000 scholarship to go towards their college education. Applications are open until January 15, 2024.

For more information: ashevillenc.gov or contact Promise Boseman at [email protected]

Asheville Greenworks Weekly Nursery Workdays
First through third Tuesdays of each month, 10-12 p.m.
Prune, pot, water, label and otherwise care for the next generation of Asheville’s neighborhood trees.
Sand Hill Tree Nursery, 24 Apac Dr.
More information and register at ashevillegreenworks.org

This Month’s Events

Thurs, Dec 7, 5-7 p.m.
The Beacon Network Town Square
Beacon is a nonprofit social network mainly focused on local direct action and mutual aid efforts, especially those concerning social and environmental justice. Beacon offers regular publications and virtual communication tools to amplify community actions.
Great Wild Nowhere Bar, 122 Riverside Drive
More info: thebeaconnetwork.org

Thurs, Dec 7, 5:30 p.m.
Youth OUTright Public Comment on SB 49 AKA “Don’t Say Gay”
Youth OUTright invites the public to join them in making public comment on SB 49 at the Buncombe County School District Meeting.
175 Bingham Road
More info: @youth.outright on Instagram

Thurs, Dec 7, 10-11 a.m.
Understanding Homelessness-Causes & Local Landscape
The City of AVL’s Community & Economic Development Dept invites you to attend an upcoming 3-part community education series on understanding homelessness. This is part 1.
Stephens-Lee Community Center, 30 George Washington Carver Avenue
More info & register: https://publicinput.com/r0686
Questions? Email: [email protected] or call 828-203-0892

Thurs, Dec 7, 6-9 p.m.
Just Economics Annual Celebration
An evening to celebrate the work of Just Economics and the community that supports it. Open to all, with drinks, dinner, games, prizes and live music.
Habitat for Humanity Event Space, 33 Meadow Rd
More info: justeconomicswnc.org

Sat, Dec 9, 1-5 p.m.
P.E.A.C.E. Team Family Day of Action & Remembrance
No Questions Asked Gun Buy Back, 1-3 p.m.
Family fun, food, and community healing.
3 Hunt Hill Place
More info: Contact Jacquelyn Lake at [email protected] or 828-318-7714

Sun, Dec 10, 12-2 p.m.
Ceasefire Postcard Writing
This postcard writing pop-up invites community members to connect and write to their congressional representatives to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.
Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd.
More info: firestorm.coop

Sun, Dec 10, 2-3 p.m.
Asheville Community Bail Fund Volunteer Orientation
This is an interest meeting for people who want to plug into the Asheville Community Bail Fund. The Fund helps post bail for people who are incarcerated in the Buncombe County Jail. We will explain how cash bail works, how the bail fund operates, and how you can get involved.
Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd.
More info: https://avlcommunitybail.carrd.co/

Mon, Dec 11, 10-11 a.m.
Understanding Solutions to Homelessness-Community Response, Present & Future
The City of AVL’s Community & Economic Development Dept invites you to attend an upcoming 3-part community education series on understanding homelessness. This is part 2.
Stephens-Lee Community Center, 30 George Washington Carver Avenue
Pre-registration encouraged.
More info & register: https://publicinput.com/r0686
Questions? Email: [email protected] or call 828-203-0892

Tues, Dec 12, 1-3 p.m.
Asheville Poverty Initiative Technology Tuesday
Jensen from Asheville Digital Lifestyle will be providing tech support & teaching for computers, smartphones, tablets, etc.
12 Baskets Cafe, 610 Haywood Rd
More info: ashevillepovertyinitiative.org

Weds, Dec 13, 6-7 p.m.
Flames of Antifascist Resistance
An amulet making and candle lighting event for the seventh night of Hanukkah 5784 based on diasporic Jewish traditions. All welcome!
Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd.
More info: firestorm.coop

Weds, Dec 13, 4-6 p.m.
Youth OUTright HoliGAY Party
Queer & trans youth 11-18 are invited for games and food.
The Nerd Dungeon, 505 New Leicester Hwy
More info: @youth.outright on Instagram
RSVP: givebutter.com/holigay2023 

Thurs, Dec 14, 6-8 p.m.
Asheville Tool Library Volunteer Training Night
If you can commit to at least 2 shifts per month for a few months, you are invited to the monthly volunteer meeting. Fill out an application ahead of time to get the handbook, and read the handbook before training night.
16 Smith Mill Rd
More info: ashevilletoollibrary.org 

Sun, Dec 17, 1-3 p.m.
Asheville Prison Books Packaging Party
Asheville Prison Books (APB) is a volunteer-run collective which has distributed free reading material to people incarcerated in North and South Carolina since 1999. The group meets monthly on the 3rd Sundays of the month to package books and welcome new members.
Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd., confirm @avlprisonbooks on Instagram
More info: avlpb.org

Mon, Dec 18, 10-11 a.m.
Personal Response to Homelessness-How to partner with local agencies and take action
The City of AVL’s Community & Economic Development Dept invites you to attend an upcoming 3-part community education series on understanding homelessness. This is part 3.
Stephens-Lee Community Center, 30 George Washington Carver Avenue
More info & register: https://publicinput.com/r0686
Questions? Email: [email protected] or call 828-203-0892

Weds Dec 20, 5:30-10 p.m.
Black Wall Street Holiday Jam
Music, soul food, and networking event.
Black Wall Street Building, 8 River Arts Place
More info: @blackwallstreetavl on Instagram

Thurs, Dec 21, 1-2 p.m.
Just Economics Affordable Housing Working Group Meeting
The Affordable Housing Strategy Team is a monthly meeting of advocates for affordable housing in WNC meeting on zoom every 3rd Thursday of the month. To be added to the call, email [email protected]
More info: justeconomicswnc.org

Thurs, Dec 21, 2-3 p.m.
Blue Christmas Celebration at Trinity United Methodist Church
A longest night service addressing the difficulties of the holiday season. Join neighbors at noon for a sit down meal at 12 Baskets Cafe before the service.
587 Haywood Rd


More Posts for Show: Open Air