Civilizati­on 3.0

Social innovation and social entrepreneurship are two terms Asheville and Western North Carolina residents are likely to be hearing more about in 2012. One of the things we might want to thank President Obama for is the White House’s Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation. In 2010 I invited the grants manager in Rep. […]

Photo by Bill Rhodes

Bridge of sighs

If the Buncombe County commissioners get their way, one of Asheville's most-traveled landmarks may get a new name. During their Jan. 3 meeting, the commissioners unanimously approved asking the North Carolina Board of Transportation to dedicate the Smoky Park Bridge in honor of Capt. Jeff Bowen. The bridge crosses the French Broad River just west […]

Revelation­s

Louisiana-based Cajun/swing/roots outfit The Red Stick Ramblers takes its name from the English translation of the place of its inception: Baton Rouge. (Baton Rouge is French for "red stick.") But in the dozen years since it formed, all of the group's members have moved away from Baton Rouge and five of the six Ramblers (excepting […]

Erwin High students feeling the pinch

Recent budget cuts have left North Carolina’s public schools short on cash. According to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, 2,418 public-school educators were laid off this year due to the tight state budget. Buncombe County has been hit especially hard: It ranked eighth in the state for total educator jobs lost last school year, […]

Mumpower confuses liberalism with socialism

Carl Mumpower's lament about our City Council ["Raise a Glass of Kool-Aid for Our Current City Council," Jan. 4 Xpress] is surely misplaced. To say, as he does, that they are all liberal is a compliment, not any sort of criticism. That's because the several definitions of the word “liberal” include favoring political reform, advocating […]

The Profiler

The Suspect: Charley Pride Pride was one of the most successful crossover country artists in the aughts, winning the CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1971 and scoring a Grammy in ’72. His biggest hits include “Help Me Make it Through the Night” and “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’.’” Can Be Found: Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, […]

Catch Orion’s belt

What: If you think that all you need to see the constellations is a clear night sky, think again. Nothing quite compares to viewing the sky through a radio telescope and the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute has a powerful one. The focus of this week’s observations will be Orion, Taurus and the lesser-known Lepus. The […]

Smart Bets: Solstice

Billed as "a volatile black comedy for the darkest night of the year," John Crutchfield's latest play, Solstice, promises (according to the playwright), "Fisticuffs! Bad cell reception! Strange noises! A wooden sword! A Darth Vader mask! The return of the repressed! An attractive girl wearing an apron and little else!" It stars Glenn Reed, Scott […]

Smart Bets: B.B. King

Since it's probably a safe bet that you know who bluesman B.B. King is (his classics include "The Thrill Is Gone" and "Everyday I Have The Blues"), how about introducing his guitar, Lucille? According to a press release, King's current Gibson ax takes its name from a $30 acoustic guitar that, in the 1950s, he […]