National Parks Honor Veterans with FREE Admission

Veterans Day is a fee-free day in our national parks. If you live close enough, consider visiting sites like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, or the

World War II Memorial DC

World War II Memorial, all of which commemorate the service and sacrifice of our veterans. 

Or visit national parks like Independence National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park, and the Statue of Liberty that serve as living reminders of the freedoms our veterans protected. 

In the Mountains the National Parks include:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

• The Blue Ridge Parkway 
• The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• The Appalachian Trail
• The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
• Carol Sandburg Home
• Trail of Tears 

November 11, the public is invited to visit a national park near you and reflect on the men and women who have answered the call of duty to protect and defend our great nation.

Christmas at Biltmore - an Inspiring Traditional Centuries Old Holiday Experience

photo courtesy The Biltmore Company

November 6, 2015 - January 10, 2016    Christmas at Biltmore   The celebration that began on Christmas Eve in 1895 when George Vanderbilt introduced his family and friends to the newly completed Biltmore home, continues to this day.  

This wonderful celebration allows all visitors to enjoy America's largest home beautifully decorated with dozens of Christmas trees, hundreds of wreaths, bows, and poinsettias, miles of evergreen garland, and thousands of ornaments. 

photo courtesy The Biltmore Company

Special events and displays include:

The Conservatory - Special holiday displays featuring poinsettias and tropical plants

A Gardener's Place Gift Shop - Located beneath the historic Conservatory, enjoy free holiday demonstrations every day.

• 12:00 p.m.: Decorating Christmas Wreaths
• 1:00 p.m.: Creating Holiday Tablescapes

photo courtesy The Biltmore Company

Antler Hill Village -

• Visits with Santa:
  Saturdays and Sundays from November 7 - December 20, and Friday, November 27
  From 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Carolers:
  Saturdays and Sundays from November 7 - January 10, and Friday, November 27
  Five 30-minute sets starting at 3:00 p.m.

Get tickets in advance online and save 
shop now for Discounted tickets to Biltmore.
Save up to $20.00 off gate price

Partnership between WCU, hospitals could boost health care

Submitted by Carolina Press, Written by Whitney L.J. Howell on November 9, 2015 in Education, Graham, Healthcare, Jackson, Macon, Region, Swain, Top News 

Expanded, consistent health-care access could be around the corner for Western North Carolina if a formalized partnership between Western Carolina University and Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital succeeds.

Announced in mid-October, and known as the Ascent Partnership, the initiative is designed to train additional nurse practitioners and create opportunities to engage the surrounding communities about wellness.

According to Doug Keskula, dean of the WCU College of Health and Human Sciences, the overall goal is to ensure North Carolina’s westernmost countries receive quality health care. “We want to provide an exceptional educational experience for our students and future health-care professionals,” Keskula said. “We can’t do that without our partners."

Based on Mountain Area Health Education Center data, roughly 20 percent of North Carolinians — nearly 2.2 million people — live in rural counties with limited health-care access. Statewide, 42 counties have physician shortages, meaning they have too few providers to meet patient needs. The shortfall includes all of Western North Carolina’s counties.

To address this need through the Ascent Partnership, Harris Regional and Swain Community Hospitals, which are part of Duke LifePoint Healthcare, will pay the roughly $26,000 cost for three students each to complete WCU’s two-year family nurse practitioner (FNP) program.

The Ascent Partnership furthers a decades-long relationship, said Steve Heatherly, Harris Regional and Swain Community Hospitals’ chief executive officer. During that time, the WCU-hospital connection has spawned two university-based clinics that provide rehabilitation and primary-care services to area communities, as well as clinical training sites for WCU students.

Currently, Heatherly said, the counties immediately surrounding WCU — Jackson, Swain, Graham, and Macon — need six to eight primary-care practitioners. WCU’s nurse practitioner program graduates could fill those roles.

Read the Entire Article HERE 

Carolina Public Press is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit online news organization committed to unbiased, in-depth and investigative reporting as well as educational opportunities for journalists, students and others in the 18 westernmost counties of North Carolina. Our vision is to promote an informed, engaged electorate to ensure government accountability by building the region's most reliable public interest news source.  Help raise $30,000 by the end of the year - Support CPP with a tax-deductible contribution today. 

Whitewater Rafting on the Cheoah River a Challenge for Experienced Paddlers

November 7, 2015   Cheoah River High Flow Weekends    This event is recommended for experienced paddlers only. Some of the best whitewater rafting and kayaking east of the Mississippi is located in Western NC. 

The Cheoah isn’t for the faint of heart and the river has many Class IV/IV+ rapids and lots of residual vegetation that require a high skill level to negotiate. River pass bracelets can be purchased at O’Henry’s, Outland Expeditions 800-827-1442 or Cheoah Ranger Station 828-479-6431. Admission is $5.

Get more local details and information on the Robbinsville NC Visitor Guide.