Private business?

Is there an unstated agenda in Raleigh to privatize Asheville’s water system? Recent developments give reason for real concern. Last May, freshman Rep. Tim Moffitt of Asheville stunned many of his newly acquired constituents by abruptly introducing a bill in Raleigh stripping the city of its water system and handing it over to the non-elected, […]

A call to action

MANNA FoodBank aims to involve, educate and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina. In 2012, we’ll focus on building and enhancing existing community partnerships across our 16-county service area to help our 231 partner agencies better serve more than 100,000 people seeking food assistance. Drawing on the region’s spirit […]

“One of our own”

Jimmy Landry believes that strength is found in numbers. This thinking — this unwavering belief that we are stronger when we work together — has rooted Landry in the local acoustic music industry. Landry is widely known as a thoughtful singer-songwriter, boasting four independent albums, including his most recent release, Life Is Good, which was […]

Support the arts that support Asheville

I moved to Asheville in 1996 and saw a city in transition. Many buildings were still boarded up and unused. Since then, I have seen huge growth, to the delight of some (and the chagrin of others). I saw folks coming from all over the country to Asheville, and bringing with them money from other […]

Green Scene

Light pollution is something many of us don’t think much about, but for stargazers, migrating birds and folks passionate about energy conservation, dark skies are a resource worth protecting. Buncombe County will be approving new outdoor-lighting standards in 2012, particularly commercial and industrial lighting, and some local activists see it as an opportunity to strengthen […]

Community economics

In 2012, let’s dedicate ourselves to a “maker” system of economics that’s based on creating new value, not trading old value. Let’s focus on those who develop tools within our community to replace consumption as an end in itself, and create a manifesto that guides city contracts and organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, to […]

Where there’s waste, there’s opportunit­y

I wanted to comment on Karen Hardison’s letter in the Dec. 21 Xpress, “Asheville City Schools Need to Smarten Up on Waste.” I am reminded of a bumper sticker: “critical thinking … the other national deficit.” Our children will tend to emulate adults in thinking and action unless something breaks the thought/action cycle currently in […]

YMCA of Western North Carolina

2012 will be an exciting year for the YMCA of Western North Carolina. We’ll continue our efforts toward a healthier community by focusing on physical activity for youth ages 5 to 15, involving more adults 50 and older, and helping all communities access basic resources. We’re planning at least four key initiatives: • Consolidating services […]

Smart Bets: Nick Stubblefie­ld

Asheville has had its share of prodigies. Like Jack Devereux, who built his own bagpipes at age 17. Or the entire Skinny Legs and All band. And then there's Asheville native Nick Stubblefield who (according to an email he sent to Xpress) started "gigging around town from age 9 through the end of high school […]

All in the family

When considering artists who could start their own record label, Akron/Family might seem an unlikely candidate. The band’s emotive folk rock explodes with no-holds-barred catharsis. There's not much calculated about it. The trio finds and exploits feelings with an ever-evolving sonic palate. There's little sense of focus, just the joy of musical discovery and a […]

The big (fill in the blank) festival idea

I have an idea for a __________(vague-yet-hip word or word cluster) festival that will be the most face-melting, mind-blowing, spleen-shattering thing this town has ever seen.  There will be beer provided by ___________(trending local brewer) and the event will lend awareness to _________(hot topic, global crisis) while raising money for________(local charity) and will feature live […]

When pigs fly

Michael Moore made a quiet splash in Asheville when he began the Blind Pig supper club in 2011. The concept is simple but exciting and long-overdue in this area. Much like other similar events across the country, talented chefs collaborate to present a themed dinner in a secret location that ticketholders don't learn about until […]

Rooted in the past

Cúrate's Katie Button cut her intern teeth at one of the most creatively advanced kitchens of our time, Ferran Adrià’s elBulli, the five-time “best restaurant in the world,” according to Restaurant Magazine. Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark, bumped the now-closed elBulli out of first place in 2010 and still holds the title. Helmed by chef René […]

Raising the bar

Cultural preservation through food and drink fits well with this area's hyper-local focus and reverence for handmade goods, says Cynthia Turner, a recent transplant to Asheville from New Orleans. Turner is impressed by the prevalence of artisan items and the fervor for local beer and food. "You feel it, you see it and people are […]

Green Scene

Amid growing concerns about how stormwater runoff is affecting waterways near large developments and agricultural fields, ECO is launching Rapid Response Teams that will activate during storm events to assess turbidity and sediment flow, so we can better understand how runoff affects stream health. These tests will help establish a base line on how effective […]

Thinking big by doing little

Meet your neighbors, talk to them — they won't bite. Even better, listen to them and their concerns. Pick up some trash (it doesn’t have to be much). Walk more, drive less. Don't be afraid: Together, there’s no problem an organized group of people can’t overcome. See some of Bill’s work at http://billrhodesphoto.com.