Community Corner

🌱 Could your Swannanoa rental qualify for new Helene repair money?

Be sure to catch Produce Market – Beacon on the Swannanoa Patch calendar

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Greetings Swannanoa! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Could your Swannanoa rental qualify for new Helene repair money?
  • What the Beacon Veterinary demolition means for Swannanoa pet owners next year
  • How a fake Helene volunteer stole Swannanoa donations—and what’s next

Also on today's calendar: Christmas in Appalachia: A singin', strummin', family show! and 3 more events.

Find out what's happening in Swannanoafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Swannanoa? Post it to Swannanoa photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Swannanoafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Sunny, with a high of 55 and low of 29 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 55, low: 32.
  • Thursday: Cloudy; breezy in the p.m., with a high of 52 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Small Rental Rehabilitation Program accepts applications to help owners impacted by Helene (wlos.com) — If you own storm-damaged rental units in or near Swannanoa, a new state Small Rental Rehabilitation Program can help repair or rebuild them in exchange for keeping rents affordable for 10 years. Eligible owners in Buncombe and many neighboring counties can now apply online, by phone, or via app, as part of the Renew NC housing recovery effort funded by federal disaster grants.
   

2. Demolition begins on Beacon Veterinary Hospital nearly 15 months after Helene (wlos.com) — Demolition has finally begun on the flood-destroyed Beacon Veterinary Hospital building in Swannanoa, marking a major step forward more than a year after Hurricane Helene. Staff have been operating from a temporary South Asheville site and plan to reopen permanently in Black Mountain this March, just minutes from Beacon Village, with many loyal Swannanoa-area clients expected to return.
   

3. Florida doctor pleads to larceny of $12K in Swannanoa Helene donations (citizen-times.com) — A Florida physician has pleaded guilty after posing as a Helene relief volunteer in Swannanoa and stealing more than $12,000 in donated supplies meant for local storm victims. Buncombe County prosecutors secured five felony convictions, and the doctor now faces strict probation terms and the possibility of years in prison if he violates them, along with reporting his crimes to Florida’s medical board.
   

4. NC officials, activists remain frustrated with slow pace of Helene recovery (wral.com) — Western North Carolina advocates, including the Swannanoa Communities Together recovery group, are pressing federal officials in Washington over what they describe as severe delays in Hurricane Helene aid. State and local leaders say new Trump administration policies at FEMA, Homeland Security, and the DOGE office are slowing reimbursements and blocking mitigation grants, leaving communities waiting for cleanup money and stalling road, bridge, housing, and flood-resilience projects.
   

📸 Around Swannanoa

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • There's a lot going on in Swannanoa these days!
    Read the new edition of the Swannanoa Community Newsletter to be in the know about all the latest happenings, including updates on Owen Park,… (Nextdoor Swannanoa Valley)
  • Just woke up to the propane heaters running out of fuel.
    Headed into Asheville in hopes of finding a tank exchange at a 24 hour fuel store (Nextdoor Swannanoa Valley)
  • PrideStaff posted a job opening for Porter in Asheville. Apply here.
  • Asheville City Schools posted a job opening for Custodian in Asheville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Swannanoa here.

Ok Swannanoa! 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 don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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