Environmental, green building and even organic initiatives are likely to get a boost in Buncombe, given the proclivities of Florida-based couple Mike and Lizzie Thrasher who purchased Gerber Village on Hendersonville Road last week.
Author: Jeff Fobes
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Federal trucking safety rules aren’t being enforced, says Jackie Novak
On Oct. 24 last year, an 18-wheeler driven by Rouman Velkov plowed into a line of nine cars on I-26. Jackie Novak lost her son that night, who was in one of those cars. “Jackie Novak’s case is unusual in that it asks the FMCSA to better enforce its own rules and, as an afterthought, [asks it] for money,” writes a trucking-accident attorney.
Area authors launch poetry-of-place chapbook “Every Breath Sings Mountains” (videos)
On hand at the Sept. 23 launch in Sylva: Authors Barbara Duncan, Brent Martin, Thomas Rain Crowe, Charles Frazier, Wayne Caldwell, Keith Flynn, George Ellison and Jon Lane, plus artist Robert Johnson.
Take a video tour of Appalachian State’s Solar Decathlon home
The ASU entry in the 2011 Solar Decathlon competition features a compact, 864-square-foot home. The highly respected biennial competition challenges collegiate teams from around the world to design and build innovative, solar-powered dwellings.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission OK’s Duke/Progress merger, but only with restrictions
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission found that “the Proposed Transaction … will thereby have an adverse effect on competition” and gave the utilities 60 days to remedy the identified problems.
New WNC magazine launches: “Capital at Play” will explore the spirit of enterprise
Capital at Play will examine the passionate faces of capitalism, and “profile those who take the risk, those who share that risk, and those who support them, inspiring others to do likewise, while giving back economically and socially to the communities that support us,” according to the magazine’s mission statement.
Elon University Poll: Majority of N.C. residents oppose constitutional ban on same-sex marriage
Fifty-six percent of North Carolinians oppose a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, according to the latest Elon University poll, and the number of people who would prefer to see no legal recognition for same-sex couples has dropped since pollsters asked the same question two years ago.
ZaPow! is ready to party at its illustrative and narrative art gallery on Battery Park
Attendees can expect music from The Mad Tea Party and Wee Heavy-er Scotch Ale from The French Broad Brewery at the Oct. 14 grand opening of ZaPow!‘s innovative gallery.
Watch the evening skies for swirling chimney swifts
The chimney swifts are swirling again. They’ve been sighted in Raleigh and Columbia. Their arrival in Asheville is imminent.
Asheville and WNC folks helping grow ‘Techno contra’ dancing phenomenon
The folk process is a living tradition, changing with the times, and three WNC residents are clearly stirring the pot. Crossover contras are new and unique, with their blend of pop, celtic fusion and electronica, but their connection to traditional contras is “strong and close,” writes Alex Krogh-Grabbe in a post on Country Dance and Song Society’s website tracing the movement’s history. Techno contra’s “growth over the past several years has been meteoric,” he says.
NC grassroots-arts grants available for Buncombe artists; workshops available to assist applicants
Buncombe County artists may apply for grant support through the N.C. Grassroots Arts Program. The city of Asheville is offering three workshops to help area artists apply for the grants.
Group of N.C. mayors and county commissioners sign letter opposing anti-gay-marriage bills
Mayors, commissioners and one mayor pro tem signed a letter Sept. 11 opposing the “Defense of Marriage” bills currently under consideration by the N.C. legislature that contain language stipulating that marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in North Carolina.
Facebook co-founder and Hickory native urges NC legislators to reject anti-gay-marriage amendment
Chris Hughes, the co-founder of Facebook and a native of Hickory, has urged the N.C. General Assembly to reject a same-sex marriage amendment currently under consideration and has pledged to donate $10 for each person who “likes” Equality NC’s page on Facebook between now and Tuesday.
Why didn’t Xpress publish Brent Brown’s cartoon?
When Mountain Xpress refused to publish one of his weekly cartoons, Brent Brown published it himself, via the Internet. What’s with that? Publisher Jeff Fobes gives some backstory.
Facebook-savvy police surprise Patton Avenue cruisers and call for moderation
When West Asheville cruisers on Patton Avenue used Facebook to organize a Sept. 3 gathering, the Asheville Police Department turned up too. Topping that, one cruiser captured the proceedings on video and self-published it via YouTube.
Advertising Asheville: If you have individualism, natural beauty, great food — they will come
“Where you can dance to the beat of a different drum…” Asheville’s vibe is the focus of this 30-second ad produced for Buncombe County Tourism and Development Authority.
Valdese’s George Shuffler to be inducted into Bluegrass Hall of Fame
A bluegrass legend will be inducted this September into the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame, for his contributions as “an innovative bass player, guitar stylist and featured vocalist and humorist.”
Still grounded in the earth: New documentary tells Warren Wilson College’s history
This 30-minute documentary shows how determination and innovation helped Warren Wilson rise from a hard-scrabble boys school in the late 1800s, to become a nationally recognized four-year college (with MFA program in creative writing) today with a reputation as one of the most earth-friendly schools on the planet.
Asheville City Schools offers a slideshow look at its students, programs, spending
Who are Asheville City Schools students? How are they faring? What is the school system doing to reduce achievement gaps? Here are some answers, via a slideshow presentation by and about Asheville City Schools.
Earthquake felt up and down East Coast
Red square means within the past hour.
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit outside of Richmond, VA, at 1:51 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
We’ll be following the news at #avlquake on Twitter.
LGBTQ film fest trailer: Be a part of history and don’t be a heathen
With Asheville’s first LGBTQ film festival set to take place Sept. 29-Oct 2, it was only natural that its promoters would make a film trailer to tease its potential audience.