🌱 Patch AM: Why a promised Weaverville hospital near Asheville is still just dirt

Good morning to you Asheville! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why a promised Weaverville hospital near Asheville is still just dirt
• Which Asheville teams pulled off big wins on Friday night?
• How an Asheville church is helping neighbors rebuild after Helene

Also on today's calendar: Josh Goforth and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 57 and low of 29 degrees.
• Sunday: Colder; breezy in the morning, temps: high: 33, low: 12. ⛄️ Brr!
• Monday: Not as cold with sunshine, with a high of 41 and low of 20 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• A North Carolina hospital was slated to open in 2025. Mired in bureaucracy, it's still a dirt field. • Asheville Watchdog (avlwatchdog.org) — Ambulances from nearby Madison County are making long, costly trips to Mission Hospital in Asheville because a promised new hospital in Weaverville remains an empty dirt field. A legal fight over North Carolina’s certificate of need law has stalled construction, pitting Mission’s owner HCA against AdventHealth and leaving rural residents waiting longer for critical care. Local officials say every delay has real consequences for patients.
   

• High School Round Up: December 12, 2025 (wlos.com) — High school hoops fans in Asheville saw tight games Friday, with Asheville School’s girls winning while Asheville High’s girls and boys both fell in close contests to Mountain Heritage. The roundup also highlights strong showings from A.C. Reynolds, Enka, North Henderson, and several wrestling programs across the region.
   

• Preparing a way forward in the wake of disaster (pcusa.org) — A Fairview pastor describes how Hurricane Helene shattered her sense of safety in the Blue Ridge Mountains and left her home facing six‑figure repair costs. She credits grants funded by the Presbyterian Church’s Christmas Joy Offering and support from regional partners, including Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville, with helping her and her neighbors begin to rebuild.
   

📸 Around Asheville

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Asheville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday December 14

• Served Player One
  The Mule at Devil's Foot Beverage, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville
  12:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday December 13

• Josh Goforth
  White Horse Black Mountain , 105c Montreat Rd , Black Mountain
  7:30 pm

Sunday December 14

• Trolls: A Field Study
  The North Carolina Arboretum , 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way , Asheville
  8:00 am
• Winter Lights
  The North Carolina Arboretum , 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way , Asheville
  6:00 pm

Monday December 15

• Trolls: A Field Study
  The North Carolina Arboretum , 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way , Asheville
  8:00 am
• Winter Lights
  The North Carolina Arboretum , 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way , Asheville
  6:00 pm
• Enka MS Chorus Concert
  Enka Middle School , 390 Asbury Rd , Candler
  6:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• Drop In Simply Charmed and Copper Ornament Making
  Ignite Jewelry Studios , 84 W Walnut St , Asheville
  11:00 am

Friday December 19

• Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons
  Asheville Masonic Temple , 80 Broadway St , Asheville
  6:30 pm
• Candlelight: Christmas Special Featuring "The Nutcracker" and More
  Asheville Masonic Temple , 80 Broadway St , Asheville
  8:45 pm

Saturday December 20

• Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
  Asheville Masonic Temple , 80 Broadway St , Asheville
  8:45 pm

Friday December 26

• Unwrap the Funk w/ Anne Combs & Company Funk
  White Horse Black Mountain , 105c Montreat Rd , Black Mountain
  7:30 pm

📣 Asheville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Please share & repost to help reunite this stray cat!
  FOUND on December 10, 2025 in Asheville, NC 28806 near Destination Drive and Ben Lippen Rd Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to… (Nextdoor Carmel Ridge)
• THE BEAUCATCHER TUNNEL - ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
  The Beaucatcher Tunnel in Asheville, North Carolina, is a significant landmark that reflects the city's growth and development over the past century… (Nextdoor Oakley)

• Earth Fare, Inc. posted a job opening for Customer Service Lead in Asheville. Apply here.
• Domino's Pizza, Inc. posted a job opening for Assistant Manager(08850) - 1863 Hendersonville Rd in Asheville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Asheville here.

🗞 Nearby News

Weaverville

• Weaverville hosts 20th Annual Candlelight Stroll (wspa.com)

Swannanoa

• WellCare NC donates $2M to BeLoved Asheville for affordable housing project in Swannanoa (wlos.com)
• When will the Swannanoa post office reopen? USPS looking for new spot (blackmountainnews.com)
• Employers join forces at career fair to boost local business hires post-Helene (wlos.com)

Fletcher

Ok Asheville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook