The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will vote on a new pay plan during its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 20. The body will also consider a set of policies that would increase oversight of county contracts and purchases.
New Stories
Smart Bets: A Renaissance Nativity
Asheville-based artist Gloria Gaffney’s outdoor painting debuts Nov. 22.
Barbara Kingsolver keynotes annual Authors for Literacy Dinner
The author discusses her new novel “Unsheltered,” adapting her work for the screen and her enduring love of Asheville.
Letter: Viceroy butterflies — not actually monarch mimics
“So viceroys aren’t a monarch imitator. Both butterflies co-evolved this feature of being unpalatable to birds.”
Smart Bets: Bannerman Folk Camp
The 49th annual Thanksgiving weekend gathering takes place Nov. 22-25 at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly.
Change of face: Attracting diverse visitors to a mostly white city
Local tourism operators are sensing a shift in the racial makeup of visitors to the Asheville area. Though the data don’t definitively support that conclusion — at least not yet — efforts to make Asheville a more welcoming and inclusive destination continue, as do fledgling initiatives to give minority tourism entrepreneurs a bigger piece of the industry’s pie.
Letter: Advertising is not opinion
“Regardless of what you think about our presidential lapdog representing District 11, and whatever it is you think about our conservative court system, it seems to me that a local publication should not yield its opinion section to prepared advocacy statements from organizations outside of the state.”
Solar farm facade
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
Screen scene: Local film news
Asheville native Kade’sha Barnard lands a recurring role on Showtime’s “Shameless,” The Joseph Initiative opens registration for its youth documentary filmmaking course and more.
Letter: Leadership skills are important for women, too
“The Supreme Court did not ‘trample’ your rights. They simply extended those rights to women.”
Asheville forum explores how we can get more involved in community life
“As we talked with people in community forums, we heard about places and events that are bringing people together, from public libraries to town commons to Friday night football games, and people wondered whether we could do more to build off those gathering places.”
Local nonprofits go online to drive real-world change
While organizations continue to use traditional forms of community engagement such as printed mailing lists and media relations, social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have widened their scope of donors and support.
Letter: Info lacking in North Asheville development plans
” I would ask for plan transparency, some preservation of the environment and safety for pre-existing homeowners. So far we know nothing.”
Local nonprofits recruit and retain volunteers of the future
As families deal with competing demands, organizations that use volunteers have learned that flexibility is key. By smoothing the process of participation, groups such as the YMCA of Western North Carolina, the Junior League of Asheville and Girl Scouts Carolina Peaks to Piedmont are attracting kids to the habit of giving back.
Acoustic Asheville: Rubblebucket
The band is currently on tour to support its new record, Sun Machine, and recently made a stop at The Grey Eagle.
UpCountry Brewing opening a Brevard taproom and brewery
The combination taproom and sour and wild ale fermentation brewery will open in the former Peaks & Creeks Brewing location by the end of November.