For the first time in its history, AdventHealth Hendersonville has been named a Top Hospital by The Leapfrog Group a national nonprofit empowering patients to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive. The Top Hospital designation is bestowed by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers recognized as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality. AdventHealth Hendersonville is the only hospital in Western North Carolina to earn this distinction for 2021. Learn more here.
Announcement:
The Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) has announced Blake Fagan, MD, will chair MAHEC’s Department of Family Medicine beginning January 1, 2022, building on the tenure of Steve Hulkower, MD, who has guided the department’s growth for 13 years in addition to treating patients for more than 30. In his new role, Dr. Fagan will provide strategic leadership for the rapidly growing department affiliated with the UNC Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Fagan will ensure the quality and success of clinical care; guide the department’s research and scholarly activities; and provide support for MAHEC’s numerous residency and fellowship programs including family medicine residencies in Asheville, Hendersonville, and Boone and addiction medicine and sports medicine fellowships. He will also work closely with leadership at UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC to advance rural health initiatives across Western North Carolina while maintaining his own patient panel. Read more here.
Happenings:
The Western Women’s Business Center (WWBC) announced its inaugural Holiday Pop-Up Shop, a festive holiday shopping experience featuring more than 18 vendors from across Western NC. The Holiday Pop-Up will take place on Saturday, December 11 from 11am to 6pm, at the Asheville Mall, Store #180. “For the first time ever, the Western Women’s Business Center is hosting a holiday shop featuring new and current WWBC clients,” said Laura Ford, Senior Program Associate. “We’re excited to connect the community with these great, local small businesses and entrepreneurs.” For more information about the WWBC and how to support women-owned businesses year-round, visitwww.wwbcnc.org.
After the last year of socially distanced and live-streamed events, A Swannanoa Solstice is back in-person in 2021, with two opportunities to experience the spirited event: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19. A beloved local holiday tradition, the event 19 years of delighting audiences with a world-class display of folk music and dance, featuring renowned artists Robin Bullock, David Holt, Josh Goforth, E.J. Jones and the Piper Jones Band, Phil Jamison, Zoe & Cloyd, and host Doug Orr. Presented in partnership with The Swannanoa Gathering at Warren Wilson College. At the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets: $58. Box office: 828-257-4530 or worthamarts.org.
In the spirit of community, WNCW is bringing together a myriad of artists in support of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing programs. Happening at the Orange Peel on Friday, December 10th, the benefit show Holidaze for Habitat will feature Acoustic Syndicate, The Freeway Jubilee, Abby Bryant & The Echoes, The Darren Nicholson Band, Jeff Sipe’s Electric Buddha, Travers Brothers and Friends, and Webb Wilder. Enjoy a great night of live music from 7 amazing bands– for a good cause! Doors open at 4 pm and the show begins at 5 pm. Tickets are $30 and are availablehere.
North Carolina Stage Company continues their 20th season with Art & Anvil Entertainment’s production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: A Play with Music at 15 Stage Lane from December 7th-19th. Jeffries Thaiss and Eric Scott Anthony’s innovative adaptation of the classic tale uses one actor and one musician to create every character from Scrooge to Tiny Tim and every sound effect in the story! Drawing from more of the original Dickens’ text than most, this script will provide a fresh, funny, and heartfelt experience for theatregoers this holiday season. NC Stage is currently offering a limited number of socially distanced, in-person tickets to each performance, as well as a secure virtual streaming option. Both of these ticketing options and more information can be found at www.ncstage.org.
Mars Hill University will recognize about 60 summer and winter graduates during its commencement ceremony on December 17, 2021. The event is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Moore Auditorium. Student speakers will be Angie Borbon, a theatre arts major from Greenville, South Carolina, and Brett Smythe, a graduate student in criminal justice from Boca Raton, Florida. This will be Mars Hill’s first indoor commencement since December 2019. All attendees must wear masks, under the university’s policy of requiring masks in all campus buildings.