Town Mountain loves Asheville. So much so, in fact, that they named their band after one of the city's most recognizable natural landmarks. And, says bassist Barrett Smith, they can't stop talking about it. Criss-crossing the nation, spreading their adrenaline-filled blend of aggressive bluegrass and traditional country, it's obvious to the band that people are […]
Year: 2009
Showing 715-735 of 2958 results
Krautrock? Nein!
Ever since a British music journalist cheekily coined the term "Krautrock" in the early '70s to reference a burgeoning cluster of exciting German rock bands, groups such as Can, Neu and Kraftwerk have had an ambivalent relationship with the word. While they benefitted from the attention that comes with any new pop-music phenomenon, they also […]
Gospel untruths
Editor's note: On September 9, Xpress published "Traffic Calming: The Gospel According to Jerry." In it Jerry Sternberg decries the city's "inept, ineffective and dangerous attempt at traffic calming in north Asheville, on Charlotte Street and on Macon and Kimberly avenues." Here, Grove Park resident Glenda Burgin issues a point-by-point rebuttal. Jerry's "gospel": Jerry has […]
A restaurant retrospective
On the "-est" lists of Asheville restaurants, there are plenty of venues that surpass The Market Place, which isn't the oldest, ritziest, boldest, biggest or hippest place in town. Indeed, the restaurant is so staunchly understated that Frommer's once described it as "somehow undervalued and underappreciated." But Mark Rosenstein can take solace in knowing he […]
The Dirt: The chef in the blueberry patch
When I met Brian Sonofkus at his Burnsville farm, the tune from a popular TV show stuck in my head: "Green acres is the place for me …" The nine-acre farm rests on creek-side bottomland that's been farmed for decades. It's dead flat, which always merits special mention for Western North Carolina property. There were […]
Outdoors: Let the healing begin
I usually try to pay my debts, and I had a big one. In August, I biked Bent Creek trails during a storm, an adventure that got me a good story but may have marred the routes some folks work hard to maintain (see "All Wet: A Cyclist (Almost) Outruns the Tempest," (Aug. 12 Xpress). […]
Vote for Council candidates who’ll work in your interest, not those of development/real estate
Let me see if I have this right. City Council recently accepted nearly a half-million dollars in federal-grant money to remedy flooding and watershed problems on Dingle Creek. Those problems were caused by development along the stream and its tributaries. Does this mean that our tax money is being used to remedy problems caused by […]
Why some Montford residents oppose their neighborhood’s position on the I-26 Connector
Not all of Montford shares the "no acceptable alternatives" that the Montford Neighborhood Association has adopted in regard to choosing among the alternate routes of the I-26 Connector. Many Montford residents who have followed the I-26 Connector saga through the last decade are distressed that Alternate 4B, designed by the Asheville community and adopted by […]
César A. Romero
Occupation: owner, Cesar's Family Services LLC owner (David's Transportation) Party affiliation: none Political experience: "I might not have political experience but I am a successful business owner." Endorsements: none listed César A. Romero 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed? […]
Kelly M. Miller
Occupation: Asheville City Council member and executive vice president, Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: appointed to City Council in 2008; numerous lobbying trips to Raleigh and D.C.; successfully lobbied to increase county's occupancy tax by one cent in 2001 to help fund nearly […]
J. Neal Jackson
Occupation: owner, Eagle's Market convenience store Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: current member of the Transit Commission and Board of Adjustment; volunteered on political campaigns for Charles Carter, Steve Metcalf, Ralph Campbell, Judge Jim Wynn, Judge Wanda Bryant and Dan Blue, assisted in November elections, 2000 to present Endorsements: None listed J. Neal Jackson 1) […]
Ryan D. Croft
Occupation: Engineering consultant and graphic artist Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: WNC 912 Project Coordinator Endorsements: "I did not pursue any. I spent my time meeting the fine folks of Asheville and refining my positions." Ryan D. Croft 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and […]
Larry D. Chastain
Occupation: supervisor, ABCCM Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: none Endorsements: Just regular people Larry D. Chastain 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed? I am not about raising money. City Council should represent real people, it should not be bought […]
Terry Bellamy
Occupation: small-business owner Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: six years as a councilwoman and four years as mayor Endorsements: Sierra Club and Asheville Firefighters Association Terry Bellamy 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed? Total: $25,072 Top three: Antonio Fraga, […]
Robert W. Edwards
Occupation: night auditor at hotel Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: none Endorsements: none listed Robert W. Edwards 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed? I have not collected much financial support because I have not asked for it; I will […]
Esther E. Manheimer
Occupation: land-use and real-estate litigation attorney Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: none Endorsements: Asheville Fire Fighters Association, Sierra Club, Asheville City Council members Jan Davis and Brownie Newman Esther E. Manheimer 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed? Total: $18,599 […]
Carl Mumpower
Occupation: psychologist Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: eight years on Asheville City Council, two years as vice mayor Endorsements: "I have worked extra hard to alienate every special/selfish interest group in WNC — including my own party. So far I have been successful." Carl Mumpower 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? […]
Cecil Bothwell
Occupation: builder, writer and publisher Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: Asheville Precinct 3 Chair; treasurer PARCPAC (federal PAC); candidate for Buncombe Board of Commissioners, 2008; co-founder the Asheville Coalition-2005; co-chair Dean for America (Asheville), 2004; founding member The Progressive Project (now nationwide), 2004; founder Rolling Thunder (Asheville), 2003; co-founder SpareChange? (Asheville), 2003 ; WNC coordinator, […]
Shad Marsh
Occupation: page, Buncombe County Library; father Party affiliation: zero, zip, nada Political experience: loads Endorsements: Zen Sutherland, George "The" Bastard, W. B. Keckler, Devin Walsh, Asheville Area Anti-Communist League, The Human Fund, Citizens for a Snarkier America, George Vanderbilt Shad Marsh 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top […]
Gordon D. Smith
Occupation: child and family therapist Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: Advocated for clean energy in the Woodfin diesel-power-plant controversy; led a coalition to return our public land on Pack Square last summer; lobbied in Raleigh as mental-health advocate; created voter guides in '06, '07, and '08; volunteer coordinator for Holly Jones. Endorsements: Holly Jones, Leni […]
Hurrah for the traffic calming features of Macon Avenue
As a resident of Longchamps (the adopter of the street program for Macon Avenue), I want to go on record as a big fan of the traffic-calming measures that have been installed on my street. In fact, we need one more hump closer to the Grove Park Inn, so that last stretch doesn't get the […]