Asheville will celebrate Arbor Day a little early this year (March 28). Think about it: If we put as much energy into Arbor Day as we do Earth Day, the latter would have a lot more to celebrate. When planted consciously and for the long term, trees can be a silver bullet for so many […]
Year: 2009
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A candidate who listens
I’m writing to second Ann Craig’s endorsement of Cecil Bothwell for Asheville City Council [“It’s Never Too Early,” March 11]. Bothwell understands the issues we will be seeing in the near future—issues relating to peak oil and global climate change and what will be required in order to create a sustainable economy in the coming […]
Mr. Potter goes to Tanzania
For most of us, updating computers and setting up a network would be plenty daunting, but it becomes doubly complex when the power goes out several times a day, sometimes for hours at a stretch. Reconnected to the world: IMA World Health staffer Suzanne Chimaliro in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where Dean Potter of Potter […]
King Cecil’s serf city
The Asheville City Council recently spent $15,000 on a survey to determine residents’ priorities for the city’s future. According to a Nov. 23, 2008, Asheville Citizen-Times article, two of the top three priorities stated were: “Get a handle on development” and “Don’t move here.” Go to the city’s Web site, search for “Asheville Citizen Survey” […]
Take water seriously—now!
Water, water everywhere—but not necessarily in the right place at the right time. Clean drinking water is already a serious problem in many countries of the world. In the future, it will be a number-one tragedy as people fight over water for drinking, crops and health. Really. I’m not making this up. And while “big” […]
Sweating out a solution
We need creative ambitions after the rich man cries broke, [instead of] all this talk about the worsening economy by a media and economic system that promoted the death-to-debt mentality at the expense of the environment. Well-funded wars appear to be our only solutions. How we treat each other is how we treat the Earth. […]
Water on tap
According to my research in Food & Water Watch’s publication, “Take Back the Tap” (www.fwwatch.org), Clean Water for North Carolina’s information, and the Web site www.thinkoutsidethebottle.org, you may want to consider the following before you buy that next plastic bottle of water: • On average, bottled water costs 900 times the amount of tap water. […]
Bar Beat: The Thirsty Monk
It’s an interesting night to be at downtown beer den the Thirsty Monk: It’s Pint and Cask night, a team-up with Highland Brewing while debuting parts of the Monk’s new food menu. There’s a chef dishing out Salmon Sliders and goblets with roasted cashews. A cask of Highland’s new Black Mountain Bitter pale ale sits […]
Functional art for the world
Well-crafted art that you can eat with might just be recession-proof. That’s what metalsmith Alex Austin hopes, anyway, as she peddles her handmade stainless and silver flatware to companies around the globe. In demand: Alex Austin of Austin Creations displays some of her silver pieces. Companies in Italy and Australia have picked up her new […]
SoundTrack: Appalachian-inspired releases
Each has its own unique voice and none could be classified as bluegrass or old time, yet all use mountain music as a jumping-off place—and arrive at very different destinations. Trunk Songs by Greg Humphreys These dozen tracks by Durham songwriter Greg Humphreys comprise a teasingly lovely collection that comes on like a gentle breeze […]
Asheville Arts Center gets new executive director
The former education director for Raleigh Little Theatre will be the Asheville Arts Center’s new executive director.
Sunshine spotlight hits Blue Cross Blue Shield campaign contributions
Honoring Sunshine Week and its focus on freedom of information, Democracy North Carolina has released an analysis of the campaign-finance activity of Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.C., which insures some 3 million state residents and administers the flagging state employee’s health insurance plan.
WNC Nature Center slated for federal help with red wolf breeding program
An $870,000 sliver of the $410 billion federal spending package passed last week will support the Red Wolf Recovery Project operated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services. Some of that money is slated to trickle down to the WNC Nature Center, which is one of 32 breeding sites for the endangered species.
Camp time at the Arboretum
With spring in the air, now’s the time to sign up for the North Carolina Arboretum’s 2009 Discover camps for kids. Led by expert environmental educators, the camps provide youth the chance to explore the natural world in a variety of ways.
PUSH Asheville Fashion
This shoot, a promo for PUSH Asheville Fashion (to be held Saturday, March 27, 10 p.m. at The Garage at Biltmore) was done at Hip Replacements. The clothing is from Hip Replacements, with various pieces by local designers. Photos by Scott Lessing Photography.
Moonshiner “Popcorn” Sutton dead at 61
Moonshine legend Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton was found dead Monday in Cocke County, Tenn. An autopsy is expected to be performed today, and authorities are investigating the possibility of suicide.
Where to wear the green
St. Patrick’s Day is on a Tuesday this year, but that’s no reason to tone down the celebration. In fact, many local venues are opening early. Here’s where to go if you’re sporting a “Kiss me, I’m Irish” t-shirt.
City looking to fill vacant URTV board seat
The city of Asheville is asking for applications to fill a vacant seat formerly occupied by Mark Wilson on the board of public-access channel URTV.
From Mt. Everest to REI Asheville
Retiree Ron Sanga doesn’t do easy chairs: He climbs the world’s highest peaks. On March 21 and 22, he’ll talk at REI Asheville about scaling Mount Everest.
Flat Iron sculpture removed for repair, restoration
Passersby in downtown Asheville got another surprise today as the iconic Flat Iron sculpture — knocked off its base in a Feb. 28 car accident — was gone. The sculpture was removed for “complete restoration,” according to a release from the city’s Parks and Recreation department.
Xpress-rated: Video sneak peek of the March 18 issue
Here’s your (ultra-fashionable) video sneak preview of this week’s edition of the Mountain Xpress.