all about Asheville

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First Impressions Welcoming Service
Have you moved into our area or relocated in the past few months?  Then First Impressions Welcoming Service has a FREE gift box for you. This FREE welcome box is chock full of gifts, including:

First Impressions wants to help make your
transition smooth and ensure that this lifestyle change into your new community is a delightful experience.

Auto Registration  and Driver's Licenses
Auto license tags must be purchased within 30 days of relocating to the state. Just bring your car title, proof of insurance and odometer reading to the following license tag agencies:

Innsbruck Mall, 85 Tunnel Road, phone: 828-252-8526
Asheville West Plaza,153 Smoky Park Hwy, phone: 828-667-2104

Helpful Hints: The busiest days at the tag agency offices are typically Mondays, Fridays and the 15th and 30th of the month. Also, cars must be inspected within 10 days of the date of registration.

New residents must apply for a N.C. driver's license within 30 days of relocating to the state. Vision and written tests are required. You can also register to vote at the DMV office. Visit the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles at either of the following locations:

600 Tunnel Road (U.S. 70-East), phone: 828-298-4544
1624 Patton Avenue, phone: 828-251-6065

Helpful Hints: These office usually have a wait, so you may want to bring something to read. The receptionist at the Patton Ave. office tells us that the best times to arrive are 8 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.

Utilities
Gas - Public Service Company of North Carolina (PSNC) 877-776-2427
Electricity - Progress Energy 1-800-452-2777
Telephone - Charter Communications, 1-888-GET CHARTER (1-888-438-2427)
Water - Asheville Department of Water Resources 828-251-1122

Real Estate Firms

Asheville Realty Team
RE/MAX & our Asheville Realty Team are your key to the mountains! Be the first to see new listings that meet your criteria. It’s easy, call or email today and start receiving your listings immediately! 1.866.571.9592 or visit our website, AshevilleRealtyTeam.com. Don’t forget to click on Asheville’s event calendar!

Century 21 Mountain Lifestyles
With eleven CENTURY 21® offices in Buncombe, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison and Transylvania counties, CENTURY 21 Mountain Lifestyles is the number one CENTURY 21® firm in North Carolina. Allow us to be "your choice for real estate in the mountains." Call toll-free 866-813-2100 to reach any of our offices or visit www.c21mountainlifestyles.com.

The Buyer’s Agent of Asheville Is dedicated to providing the highest level of service to our clients. Our agents will show you more, help you more, and save you more. Call us today toll free at: 866-645-8797, or visit us at Ashevillehomebuyer.com, where homebuyers come first.

Banking

Asheville Savings Bank
Welcome to Asheville Savings Bank, where every customer counts. We’re a local bank at heart; but we also pride ourselves on delivering the innovation and performance you need to achieve and exceed your financial goals. So no matter what your personal, business or investment needs are, we can help. Ready to experience the Asheville difference? Call us today.
Asheville 800.222.3230

You are invited to experience banking at its best – friendly service, with products and services to meet your financial needs from a bank that is proud to be your neighbor. Come see why HomeTrust Bank is better than big, right here at home! Asheville: 828-254-8144 ~ Skyland: 684-3156 ~ Weaverville: 645-4277.

Bank of Asheville
It pays to put your money where your heart is with our new eZchecking account that offers a high yield, online banking, free ATMs nationwide and many more benefits. That is just one of our full range of banking products and financial services. Bank of Asheville - local, green, and meeting the needs of our community.
Asheville: 828-252-1735

Connections
There are many ways to get to know folks in the Asheville community. Check out the large number of membership organizations as well as the community calendar. If you're interested in volunteering, there are numerous volunteer opportunities available as well.

 Government

City of Asheville For more information about the Asheville City Government

Voter Registration
To vote in city, county, state and federal elections, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, mentally sound and not under conviction of a felony. You must register 30 days prior to the election you wish to vote in. You may register to vote in Asheville and Buncombe County immediately after establishing residency.

Registration may be done by mail or in person at the Board of Elections office, the Pack Memorial Library and several other locations. Call for the nearest registration site. (Or, if you also need to get a NC driver's license, you may register to vote at the DMV office.)

The Buncombe County Board of Elections is located in the Courthouse Annex at 189 College Street. Phone: 828-255-5123

Housing
If you'd like to find a place to live, you're looking for a roommate, or you need some furnishings for your new home, there are several resources that can be helpful:

For home and apartment rental, call Leslie & Associates at 828-253-1517. OR, check out their web site, which is updated daily.

Welcome Newcomers Welcoming Services can be reached at 828-274-7870.

There are also several bulletin boards in town where people post housing information -- among many other things. Check out Malaprop's Bookstore on Haywood Street, the French Broad Food Coop on Biltmore Avenue, Earth Fare in Westgate Plaza.

Other possibilities: Mountain Express a local independent weekly; and the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Jobs
Check our Employment section.

Libraries
Pack Memorial Library 67 Haywood Street 828-255-5203

Schools
Public Schools
Parents/Guardians need the following documents to register their children in local public schools:

• Birth certificate Immunization records;
• Medical forms from the County Health Department or a personal physician;
• and previous report card if transferring from another school.

Asheville City Schools - phone: 828-255-5064
Buncombe County Schools - phone: 828-255-5921

Higher Education
There are many options if you're interested in college classes:

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, phone: 828-254-1921
South College, phone: 828-252-2486
University of North Carolina at Asheville, phone: 828-251-6600
Montreat College, phone: 828-669-8011
North Carolina State University at UNCA Campus, phone: 828-251-6640
Shaw University, phone: 828-252-7635
Warren Wilson College, phone: 828-298-3325
Western Carolina University at UNCA Campus, phone: 828-251-6642

Transportation
The Asheville Transit Authority provides public transportation to all parts of the City of Asheville and the surrounding areas, including downtown, the hospitals, schools, malls, universities and residential areas. Their service hours are from 5:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; however, you should check your individual route schedule for time variations and Saturday service. Call them at 828-253-5691 for a local bus schedule. They'll be happy to mail you one or visit our Transportation Section.

Asheville Humane Society
Serving all of Buncombe County.
Adoption fees range from $50-100. This includes spaying or neutering, vaccinations and an identification tag. The Humane Society is located at 72 Lees Creek Road. Call 253-6807 for more information.
If you find or lose an animal, contact AHS immediately to file a lost or found animal report by calling the shelter at 828-253-6807.

Landfill
The Buncombe County landfill is located at 85 Panther Branch Road. The Transfer Station, which accepts residential trash only, is at 490 Brevard Road. Both facilities are open from 8am-4:30pm Monday through Friday and from 8m-1pm on Saturdays. Both facilities also handle recycling. Call 645-5311 or 251-4997 for more information.

Organizations
If you want something fun to do, just call one of these local organization and get involved!

Asheville Breakfast Rotary Club If your focus is service, check into the local Rotary Club. Visit this informational site for more on history, philosophy and membership in this club.

Asheville-Buncombe PC User's Group From engineers to homemakers, the A/B PC User's Group join monthly to share ideas. . . and there's a door prize at each meeting!

Asheville Mushroom Club Have some fun with fungus on a fantastic foray!

Asheville Quilt Guild Gather up those fabric scraps and join other area quilters for fellowship and inspiration.

Asheville Area Ultimate Club meets three times weekly to have fun and ultimately throw their discs around. Visit their site for more on scheduling and to view lots of ultimate action shots.

Asheville Lacrosse Claiming to have two game seasons a year, these guys never let up! I should know, my husband plays on the team! If you want great exercise and good friends, come out to throw the ball with the team.

Asheville Track Club For those who like to run around, all ages and abilities welcome. Visit the site for more info on the exciting First Annual Mount Mitchell to Black Mountain Marathon Challenge!

Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Whether you ride the parkway or the trails, this club has numerous planned rides with experienced leaders. Asheville has some great places to ride - come learn some new routes with the BRBC.

British Car Club of Western North Carolina This club began in 1994 and has grown to over 60 members who like to share their enthusiasm and favorite car wax formula for their British sports cars.

Carolina Mountain Club The Carolina Mountain Club was organized to foster the enjoyment of the mountains through hiking and to encourage the conservation of our natural resources. This purpose is achieved primarily through an extensive schedule of hikes and a program of trail building and maintenance. Please choose from the following pages to find out more about the CMC.

Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods If you're interested in starting a neighborhood organization or improving the one you're involved in, contact these folks for info and resources.

NIA Fitness Class Ongoing NIA fitness classes are held at the Opportunity House at 1411 Asheville Highway. Call 692-0575 for reservations and information.

Out There Get out there! This group of local folks encourages you to join them for all types of outdoor activities.

Other Information Sources:

Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce For more information about Asheville and the activities of our local chamber organization, visit this site.