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Get your goat: Farms innovate fresh model for COVID-19 agritourism
Volume
26
/ Issue 52
Cover Design Credit:
Scott SouthwickCover Photography Credit:
Zachariah Russell
Local farmers who depend on agritourism — such as farm tours and U-pick adventures — to help support their operations have been some of the hardest hit in the pandemic. But Mount Gilead Farm and other resilient small farms in WNC are looking for ways to bounce back.
arts
Smart Bets: Academy for the Arts’ Summer Concert Series
The weekly series concludes July 26 with a program spotlighting work by African American composer Adolphus Hailstork.Valerie Smith-Jackson amplifies people of color and allies on ‘Enchanting Asheville’ podcast
The weekly podcast features Valerie "Priestess Supervixen" Smith-Jackson discussing the lives of local people of color and those who love them.Smart Bets: Anything That Floats
RiverLink's annual event pivots to a semi-virtual event for 2020.food
Restaurants institute operation standards to ensure safety of guests and staff
"Restaurant people are resilient, determined and creative," says Anthony Coggiola, owner of The Cantina at Historic Biltmore Village. "I believe we can do this.”Carolina Beer Guy: Local breweries enact strict protocols to protect employees from COVID-19
Wicked Weed Brewing responds to positive COVID-19 tests for employees at the Funkatorium and brewpub. Meanwhile, other local breweries screen workers daily and feel that the virus will inevitably strike…The BLOCK Off Biltmore has closed, but its free CommUNITY Meals initiative continues
Although The Block is closed for business, owner Cam MacQueen intends to keep the CommUNITY Meals initiative going.news
Deaf educator teaches, learns remotely during pandemic
Desiree Delbert, who works as an American Sign Language teacher at Asheville’s Franklin School of Innovation, normally runs her classroom with lots of student-to-student conversation and feedback — an experience…The role white supremacy played in compulsory education, 1906
In 1906, illiteracy among white North Carolina children totaled 45,000. This, combined with a growing fear of an educated Black population, led local residents to push for compulsory education laws.Farms innovate fresh models for COVID-19 agritourism
A late June report from the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association found that 77% of growers reliant on agritourism had seen reduced income since the start of COVID-19. But as the…Teen spreads joy, awareness with free bouquets
Mary Wells Letson has been giving away free flower bouquets from a stand on Kimberly Avenue since June 1. The arrangements also include a flyer that highlights the work of…County jails use medical quarantine to protect people in custody
A statewide mandate has prompted COVID-19 testing for all incarcerated individuals in state prisons, but local jails — Buncombe’s included — aren’t obligated to test everyone in custody. Instead, facilities…Local domestic, sexual violence rise during pandemic
For many, Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order was a protective measure to keep the community safe from COVID-19. But for others, home isn’t safe: If someone is trapped in close…Council grapples with systemic racism in pair of votes
Asheville City Council unanimously adopted a resolution supporting reparations for Asheville's Black community at its July 14 meeting. Members also moved to table a $83,000 contract with risk-management firm Hillard…opinion
Letter: ‘COVID Police’ don’t really care about community
"You couldn’t care less about the community, just your own little dream world."Letter: We can be superheroes defeating COVID-19
"The more we wear masks, the more lives we save."Letter: My father died alone
"Shame on everyone who doesn’t wear a mask."Ad-Vance
Letter: Rethink ‘stigma’ of mental health problems
"Promoting stigma and stereotypes may prevent people from seeking help for fear of being considered 'crazy.'"Bearing responsibility
Local money matters: A look inside Xpress’ books
As local advertisers cope with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, we’re projecting a $700,000 revenue decrease this year, compared with last year. In response, we’ve been developing new sources of…