CIBO discussion­: Property values and the state of the local economy

About 50 local business owners gathered over grilled chicken yesterday for a discussion about property values and the state of Asheville’s economy. The monthly “Power Lunch Meeting” was sponsored by the Council of Independent Business Owners and featured a panel of city, county and business leaders, including County Tax Collector Gary Roberts, County Attorney Michael Frue, Asheville City Manager Gary Jackson and the owner of Spake Real Estate, John Spake.

Wheel done

After years of lobbying Asheville officials to first create and then implement the Comprehensive Bicycle Plan, local cyclists are starting to see results. Bike lanes were recently installed on Lexington, Kimberly and Coxe avenues. And by the end of the summer, they're scheduled to appear on Hilliard, Asheland and Clingman avenues as well on Martin […]

The Beat

Shuler, transit and nuclear waste Rep. Heath Shuler has been keeping his communications director busy lately. The Democratic congressman's office issued several press releases that garnered attention last week. Beating the heat: The hot weather has Ashevillians hitting area rivers, lakes and pools. Here, Rachel Reeser and Steven Slack take a dip in the French […]

A moving picture

Don’t write the Asheville Film Festival's obituary just yet. Photos by Jonathan Welch In the wake of City Council's recent vote to discontinue funding the event, private interests are stepping up to breathe new life into it. After exploring the idea of taking over the city festival, local filmmaker Tom Anton instead decided to launch […]

The Beat

There was good news this week for outdoors lovers. In "Blue Ridge Parkway to be Open End to End for First Time in More Than a Year," the Asheville Citizen-Times reported that a long-closed section of the scenic road near Mount Pisgah opened just in time for the July 4 holiday weekend. All clear: Landslide […]

Hot and hungry

Hot weather continues to hammer Asheville. If it keeps up, the Asheville Citizen-Times reports that the "Heat Wave Could Break WNC Record" for the most consecutive days the temperature has climbed to 84 degrees or higher. According to the article, WNC residents have suffered through the longest stretch of June days topping the mark since […]

Hoop jammin’ in the park

The Asheville Community Hoop Jam is held in Pritchard Park every Tuesday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. through the end of September. The events offer opportunities to hoop it up for fun and exercise as George Pond (Snake Oil Medicine Show) DJs. In this video, we talk to organizer Melanie MacNeil and capture some participants’ sweet moves. Video by Jake Frankel

Goal!!! U.S. beats Algeria 1-0 in today’s World Cup match

Local soccer fans celebrate the U.S. win over Algeria at the Asheville Pizza Company

The U.S. defeated Algeria 1-0 with a goal scored in the final minutes of today’s World Cup match. The dramatic win allows the U.S. team to advance to round two of the Cup for the first time since 2002. Local soccer fans packed downtown Asheville establishments to watch the game and chants of “USA!” could be heard on the streets after the victory. Pictured here:  Fans celebrate the win at the Asheville Pizza Company. Photo by Anne Fitten Glenn.

Not on my street

Grovemont residents' outcry concerning a planned nursing home for veterans seems to be getting results. The 100-bed facility, to be financed mostly by federal stimulus funds, is slated for construction on state property adjacent to Camp Woodson in Swannanoa; the original plan called for the entrance to be built on Woodland Drive. For the past […]