There may be no presidential candidates on the ballot, but Western North Carolina voters this fall will get to weigh in on a long list of local and state races that could help shape the region's course for years to come. In this week's issue, look for stories on some of the key races as well as as an election guide from the non-partisan local nonprofit, Children First/Communities in Schools.
arts
Sharon Van Etten returns to The Grey Eagle on Tuesday, Oct. 21
Sharon Van Etten first appeared on the national music scene in 2009, with her debut album Because I Was In Love. Her debut was in a fairly conventional singer-songwriter fashion.…Smart bets: Jabali Acrobats
Visiting from Mombasa, Kenya, for their LEAF performance, the agile Jabali Acrobats aptly demonstrate the “link between athletics and arts,” transitioning from dance to human pyramids, chair balancing, complex footwork…Smart bets: WNC Video Music Awards
Asheville is poised to one-up MTV with the launch of the WNC Video Music Awards. Bioflyer Productions, the Arden-based event organizers, aim to provide a new way for Asheville creatives…Asheville Chamber Music Series attracts international talent
This may come as a surprise, but the story behind the unassuming-sounding Asheville Chamber Music Series has the makings of a Hollywood movie. The classical music organization was founded in…Smart bets: V.O.V. triple-CD release party
Led by local music maven Lenny Pettinelli, Vibration of Versatility (V.O.V.) is a collaborative Asheville-based recording project that has already drawn from the talents of 70 instrumentalists. V.O.V. aims to…Paul Taylor Dance Company performs at Diana Wortham Theatre
Laura Halzack likens performing with the Paul Taylor Dance Company to playing for the New York Yankees: It’s the biggest of the big leagues. “There are very few dance jobs…Traveling tunes: The Rough & Tumble’s post-Asheville adventures
“We loved Asheville, but it’s too pretty,” says Mallory Graham, half of indie-folk duo The Rough & Tumble. “All we wanted to do was take hikes and drink delicious beer.”…Smart bets: Kuzdu Swamp Spectactular
Local roots-rocker Reed Turchi earned the title “kudzu boogie” for the gritty and snarling brand of Americana that he and his band, Turchi, perform. Meanwhile, North Florida-based guitarist Daryl Hance…food
Coffee journey
Great coffee is no different from any other art form: The quality of the final product depends both on material and process. “We can make really great green coffee taste…Book of love: New cookbook by Farmer & Chef South
Living in a self-proclaimed Foodtopia like Asheville, one can often go one of two directions. You can go broke eating out every night or you ignore the restaurants and just…Small bites: HardLox Jewish Food & Heritage Festival
The HardLox Jewish Food & Heritage Festival will schlep its annual “challahbaloo” of klezmer and knishes to Pack Square on Sunday, Oct. 19. Challahbaloo! is the theme for this year’s…Beer Scout: Beer at the library
As a kid, the public library was a magical place. It had endless shelves of colorful adventures, and it was a place to go for story time. As an adult,…living
Building community starts with each of us, say Asheville’s meditation leaders
In Asheville, most meditation groups incorporate community building through open public sittings, group discussions, potlucks, hikes, book shares and, in some cases, volunteer projects.Haywood County hosts Apple Harvest Festival Oct. 18 in Waynesville
Haywood County boast a long tradition of growing apples and will celebrate both the fruit and the season with the 26th annual Haywood Apple Festival on Saturday, Oct. 18.news
Buncombe commissioner candidates fight for control
Four candidates are battling for two seats on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. In each case, these contenders hold vastly different views on a range of issues, from taxes…‘Everybody’s Environment’ discusses diversity in conservation movements
The Center for Diversity Education at UNC Asheville hosted the day-long conference “Everybody’s Environment” on Friday, Oct. 10. The event invited staff from local environmental and conversation groups, community organizers…Permit pileup: Following the paper trail for Asheville’s growing food economy
Nicknames like “Beer City USA,” “Foodtopia” and “Paris of the South” all acknowledge Asheville’s increasing significance as a food and drink haven. But for city development officials, keeping pace with…Battle of the Fairview farmers: Ramsey and Ager debate
Republican N.C. House Rep. Nathan Ramsey and Democratic challenger John Ager have a lot in common. They’ve both been longtime residents of Fairview, where they own and operate neighboring farms.…Within the Lines panelists call attention to continued wilderness preservation
“Our perspective of wilderness begins inside,” says composer Stephen Wood. “The wilderness of the mind affects our connection with nature.” (photo by Lori Kincaid)opinion
Citation Needed
North Carolina’s Next
Who is my state representative?
I am confused. I am told that I live in the 115th District, and I am represented by Nathan Ramsey, but looking at his record since being sent to Raleigh,…Presnell polishes her wood sense
Unlike some other people I could name, I would like to congratulate State Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, on her “Friend of Forestry” award from the North Carolina Forestry Association, which…Be consistent in enforcement of panhandling
This letter is about the equal and consistent enforcement of the panhandling ordinance by the police department. A recent online article from a local newspaper dated July 23, 2014, indicated that…Terry Van Duyn diligent, dedicated, passionate and selfless
There’s a terrific, all-volunteer local charity called Children’s Welfare League that promotes the education and welfare of disadvantaged students in the high schools of Asheville and Buncombe County. As a…Ayurveda most definitely works
Recently, you had a story about how well Ayurveda works (“Ayurveda Rising: New Program Highlights Local Practice, Art and Training,” Sept. 24, Xpress). It most definitely does. Earlier this year, I ran…What about the animals on the Cherokee reservation?
In your article of Sept. 17 (“Simple Solutions: Cherokee’s Garden Kit Program Spurs Community Wellness”), Chief Michell Hicks discussed how the community garden kits benefit the Eastern Band of the Cherokee…Win Some, Lose Some
Thanks to a couple of Supreme Court rulings earlier in the week, October 10, 2014, was a historic date after which, a same-sex couple could register to get married, but…Asheville becoming an elitist city
For some years, my husband and I have been fortunate to own homes in both Sarasota, Fla., where we worked, and a vacation home here in Asheville. After we both retired…Asheville or ashtray?
Asheville is a wonderful city. It’s no wonder so many tourists are lured to this beautiful environment. The Blue Ridge Mountains provide us with a plethora of hiking trails, waterfalls…Designated driver could use a cold (nonalcoholic) beer
I love our beer. I love our water. Sometimes, I’m the “dd” (designated driver) and would love to enjoy a cold local Asheville beer (nonalcoholic) instead of grabbing a European option.…Take Voter Guide with you to the polls
Thanks to the Voter Guide by the Blue Ridge Republican Women’s Club. Being that there is no straight party voting this election, this publication makes it very easy to see…Tate MacQueen is the best choice for the 10th Congressional District
Who will be the best representative for North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District? Someone like Patrick McHenry, who has taken thousands from the fracking and fossil fuel industries and the banking sectors,…The hottest stars burn up the fastest
The death of Rick Maas has been a shock to many people. It’s always a shock when vital people die, and Rick’s was the fourth such death to touch my…Letters to the editor
Clearing the air for democracy Steve Rasmussen’s article, “Who’s In Charge?” [Dec. 7, 2005], regarding the presumed influence CIBO has on air board appointments is Fourth Estate journalistic responsibility at…