Hey y'all, 

Do you hear that? Maybe you can smell it? Over here in the hot sunshine of Candler, I can taste it: Summertime. 😎

I have every intention of plopping myself on some river rocks or in a cool mountain lake this weekend, and in making plans I've been revisiting some of my favorite seasonal content from issues past. I  still love this piece on local lakes (written by yours truly as a lil' freelancer back in '17); last year's look at rentals like Polaris Slingshots, SUP boards, and, of course, tubes; and our recent look at hikes off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Check out our Leisure & Libation archive for more ideas on how to make the most of sunny days ahead. ☀️

Until next week,

MANNA FoodBank is the foundation of much of our local hunger relief efforts, distributing to more than 200 community based food assistance agencies across the region, even in the best of times. As the needs of our community increased with COVID, so did MANNA’s response, delivering 1.7 million meals-worth of food since mid-March.
 
Read Open for Takeout Nonprofit Edition: MANNA FoodBank
sponsored by darby communications 

• Micro Grant Winners | Announcing Venture Asheville's 2020 Asheville Impact Micro Grant winners: Cardstalk, a custom greeting and gift card kiosk-based tech; Helios Sanitizer Company, a plant-based hand sanitizer using solar-powered mobile distribution stations (HCA Healthcare Mission Fund winner); Hire Powered Staffing, employment placement services for recovering and re-entering citizens; Monstera Brewing, a machine that replicates water profiles from anywhere in the world; MosaicMath, online math tutoring and training; and StoryVault, a video platform for remembrance of deceased family members targeted for minorities. 👏🏾 They'll split the $25K pot to launch their startups. Learn more. 

• Insured, Ensured | Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) recently launched a targeted campaign to reach people recently unemployed due to COVID-19 who also lost their health insurance. Anyone who has experienced a qualifying life event in the past 60 days, including job loss, may qualify for Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance. 💊 PLS offers free assistance and free information to help understand options for affordable health insurance. 

• History Revisited | The Black Asheville History Project is a campaign spearheaded by the North Carolina Room at Pack Memorial Library; begun in early 2019, the project will continue through 2025 or until it reaches its goal that at least 25% of the North Carolina Room’s collections catalogue pertains to the history of African Americans in our region. 🧑🏾‍💼 The project aims to increase capacity by actively engaging community members in the collections process, inviting them to training sessions on best practices for collecting oral history interviews and archival digital preservation techniques. 

JOBS

• Eagle's Nest Foundation and The Outdoor Academy  🦅  is looking for a Dean of Academics. 

• The Literacy Council of Buncombe County is looking for an Outreach & Communications Director.  📕

• United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County is looking for a  👨🏽‍🏫  Community School Coordinator.

• Eliada Homes is looking for an Accounting Specialist.  🧮

• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is looking for a Sr. Program Manager - New Product Development.

• Cannon Family Health. 👩🏻‍⚕️  is looking for a Practice Manager.  
• Blue Ridge Health is looking for an RN Case Manager. 
• Wicked Weed Brewing is looking for a Brewer.  🍺
• Autism Society of NC is looking for an Autism Services Coordinator.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• North Carolina's first alpine coaster, Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, has opened in Banner Elk. 🎢  The six-acre attraction also includes a clubhouse, observation deck, and gift shop.

• INTO LIGHT, a nonprofit dedicated to remembering through art those who have lost their lives to drug addiction, is requesting submissions for its fall exhibit, which will will feature 41 graphite portraits of those “loved and lost.”   🖼  Find the details here.

• IRI Worldwide recognized Avadim Health, Inc.'s Theraworx Relief, OTC foam for muscle cramps and spasms, as a Pace Setter Brand, which recognizes the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry’s most powerful brand launches. Learn more. 

• Launched in April as a fundraising and outdoor fitness challenge benefitting Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Alum Cave At-Home Adventure, along with support from sponsors, raised $80K.  🥾  Learn more. 

• Toe River Arts will host BIG INK Oct. 23-24 for a large-scale woodblock printmaking workshop and invites artists, high school students, and recent grads to apply to participate.

🎸 A New Concert Series | NC-based booking agency Midwood Entertainment and event production co. Codex Sound's new No Contact Concert Series continues Saturday at 8 p.m. with a broadcast by Darin & Brooke Aldridge.

🎨 Open for Art | Toe River Arts will reopen both its Spruce Pine and Burnsville locations today for guests to peruse and purchase handmade wares from the local artist community.

🍷 Wine Night | Young Professionals of Asheville will host a Virtual Wine Night for members to connect tonight at 5:30 p.m. 

🎧 Come Together | Tonight's COME TOGETHER Asheville concert, 7:30–9:30 p.m., will benefit the Asheville Music School and local musicians.