Print to Web: What local papers say Xpress surveyed Buncombe County newspapers about their online offerings. Some declined to take part or did not respond. The information below was derived from those surveys and other research by Xpress. Our questions were: How much of your print content is available online? Is online content archived? Is […]
Year: 2008
Showing 106-126 of 3274 results
Pack Square Conservancy considers putting pavilion on hold
The board charged with overseeing the construction of the new $20 million Pack Square Park in the heart of downtown Asheville discussed scratching a planned $2.46 million pavilion during its regular meeting Wednesday. One step at a time: Construction crews pouring concrete for the steps in front of the Buncombe County Courthouse, part of the […]
Hayes & Hopson demolition clears another hurdle
Asheville’s Downtown Commission approved the demolition of the Hayes & Hopson Building by developer Stewart Coleman in a 7-2 vote on Dec. 12. The commission also recommended that any work at the site be postponed until an appeal resolves the legal status of an adjacent piece of parkland, which Coleman agreed to. Coleman’s controversial Parkside […]
Bent Creek property focus of water talks
Asheville and Henderson County are once again looking to draft a new water agreement, wherein Henderson will transfer ownership of a Bent Creek property to Asheville in exchange for cash. An alternate proposal is to sell the property to a third party and share the proceeds. That was the upshot of preliminary discussions on water […]
Taking it Downtown
The Downtown Master Plan currently being drawn up by consulting firm Goody-Clancy with the help of a committee of Asheville residents may seek to shift the approval of development details away from City Council and to the Downtown Commission. In a Dec. 12 meeting, members of the Master Plan Advisory Committee said the change would […]
Asheville police detail graffiti arrests, surveillance
You’ve probably seen their vivid, uniquely styled works on many a surface in Asheville. They use signature “tags” to mark their work, including ETCHR, LIFE, MOMS and WISDOM. They are the city’s graffiti artists, and if they didn’t know it before, they know now: The Asheville Police Department is on their case. Painting the town: […]
Google puts Asheville on the Street View map
Google Inc.‘s effort to put 360-degree, street-level views of Asheville on the Web appears to be complete. The views of the city now appear on Google Street View, the California company’s effort to provide computer users with up-close views of city streets and neighborhoods. On the virtual road: Panoramic street-level views of Asheville are now […]
Bad times for the local news business
Whether it’s merely a reflection of the ailing economy, the rise of the Internet or the death knell of daily print journalism, newspapers nationwide are in a severe tailspin. Asheville’s local daily, the Asheville Citizen-Times, is among those feeling the heat. Paper losses: The Asheville Citizen-Times recently announced that it’s laying off 16 people as […]
Welcome to A&E
Remember the Flaming Lips’ Zaireeka? That was the album designed to be played on four CDs simultaneously—creating the full harmonic experience of the music. It helps to have quick-draw friends who know when to push play, else it throws things off. But what a startling effect. Now imagine dozens of boom boxes and stereos playing […]
Learning how to dance with the world
Parents: Do your kids drag their feet in the morning? Kids: Do you have trouble getting going? Local percussionist/songwriter Billy Jonas may have the solution to both your problems. Jonas and the Happy Accidents band: Hoping to help heal the world and have some fun at the same time. His new CD features “The Wake […]
A hybrid-powered party
They come bearing gifts of a musical sort, three bands determined to put a little more bottom end in your stocking and restore a note of celebration to this holiday season. Soul Train: The trio of bands will keep audiences moving as long as they can stand. Shake off the winter blues with a full […]
Long dream, come true
There was a time, not all that long ago, when Tyler Ramsey was one of Asheville’s best-kept musical secrets. Despite his 6-foot 8-inch frame, the genial and mellow musician kept a low profile. In fact, he was mostly known for his work as a sideman, adding layers to other people’s CDs or sitting in for […]
The Green Scene
Government agencies—not to mention Congress—are great at saying a task will take one month and then having it take six, U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler observed during a Dec. 8. congressional hearing on the former CTS of Asheville site. On hand at the Skyland Fire Department were representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency, the N.C. Division […]
The Biz: Risqué business
As downtown shops go, it’s a bit of an anomaly. But owner Lisa Ziemer sees her new Battery Park Avenue business, Va Va Vooom, filling an important need for Asheville women. Bringing sexy back: Lisa Ziemer and Brian Kirk want their new downtown intimate-apparel store, Va Va Vooom, to be a fun, sexy and comfortable […]
Flattened
Maggie Everett—physical therapist, kayaker, runner—woke up in the middle of the night last year and couldn’t figure out how to get out of bed. Her partner, Dwight Shuler, was away on a business trip, so she was alone. But when she missed a morning run and didn’t show up for work, friends and co-workers knew […]
Not just for nog anymore
Nog is still considered the quintessential Christmas quaff, but the egg causes many would-be drinkers to shirk the concoction. Egging you on: Bartender Alli Wainwright serves up an eggnog martini at the Rankin Vault. Photo by Jonathan Welch The egg was once an essential element of the barkeep’s arsenal, used to add body and fizz […]
Not safe now and never will be
After sitting through the Nov. 25 City Council meeting and hearing the word “safety” at least six times during a very long city-lighting presentation—in which all Council members were so eagerly nodding yes—it was very frustrating to hear Council say no to an ordinance or resolution that would make our city safe from the possibility […]
Nuclear waste needs another route
I am part of a group of students who have been researching the effectiveness of nuclear power and are deeply concerned about the plans to [locate] nuclear reprocessing facilities in South Carolina and Tennessee. Not only are these plants proven to be inefficient and to add to nuclear waste, but also all the shipments of […]
Making Asheville a waste land?
I am with a group of home-schooled students who have been studying the effects of nuclear power and nuclear waste. We are deeply concerned with what will happen to our future and our children’s future with the proposed building of nuclear reactors in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and many more in the Southeast. High-level […]
Tough choices
The migrant-worker problem is not a simple matter—but then, in this economic time, what is simple? Do you pay a U.S. citizen $15 an hour to hang your drywall, or do you hire an unfortunate lower-class member of society for $8 an hour who is also not paying taxes on his income? As this problem […]
Motion denied
As a follow up to Hope Taylor’s “Up in Steam” article published in the Dec. 3 Xpress, there is not-so-exciting news on NC SAVE$—a proposal for an independent, statewide approach to energy-efficient programs that focuses on making homes more efficient, keeping savings in consumers’ pockets and creating locally based green-collar jobs. The Utilities Commission has […]