A 25th anniversary concert celebrating the Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus. Plus, the 26th annual Bluff Mountain Festival; The Big Secret returns; and more.
New Stories
Wellness roundup: Buncombe County reveals next steps for opioid settlements
According to the Opioid Settlement Strategic Planning Report, goals for fiscal years 2024-26 include reductions in overdose-related visits to area ERs, the jail population incarcerated for substance use-related charges and the number of behavioral health-related EMS dispatches.
What’s new in food: Mother expands to South Slope
Mother, after establishing its first bread and wine retail shop in February 2022, has just opened its second location: a community market and café concept on the South Slope at 244 Short Coxe Ave.
Letter: A pitch for prudent tax policies
“Higher taxes spent on nonproductive programs continue to drive taxpaying residents out of the city.”
Letter: What really caused the mill’s dank odor
“The infamous dank odor referred to is typically due to mercaptans, which are also sulfur compounds with a rotten eggs, boiled cabbage odor.”
Letter: Does tourism bureau have blinders on?
“I only read about one more hotel being built, but nothing to help the tourists and locals find parking. This is a tourist area, so make it tourist-friendly.”
Buncombe school board opposes proposed change in district lines
Since 1975, Buncombe has elected one school board member to represent each of the county’s six attendance zones — Enka, Erwin, Owen, North Buncombe, Reynolds and Roberson — and one at-large member. Candidates must live in the district they represent and residents can vote for all school board representatives, who run on a nonpartisan basis, regardless of their address, according to the resolution passed by the board.
Four of a Kind: Jude Stuecker shares insights on the local fiber arts scene
The fiber artist talks new projects and the city’s textile scene.
High school seniors reflect on their pandemic experiences
When this year’s high school seniors were freshmen, their worlds change suddenly as schools shut down in response to the global pandemic. As graduation day approaches, Xpress sat down with eight local members of the class of ’23 to look back on their experiences of attending four years of school in the era of COVID.
Service industry workers petition for affordable housing funding from BCTDA
Representatives presented a petition signed by 2,000 workers and supporters asking the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority to consider using the Legacy Investment From Tourism fund to increase subsidized housing for tourism industry workers.
Community fridges face hurdles in Asheville
This fiscal year, Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council received a $5,000 grant from Buncombe County to help bring more community fridges on line. But ABFPC says it has run into some challenges from the city about the implementation of the initiative.
Commissioners to hear from public on budget June 6
The meeting represents the public’s last opportunity to speak directly to commissioners about the $423.6 million general fund budget proposed for fiscal year 2023-24.
Gardening with Xpress: Composting: the hotter, the better
The trick to composting is keeping the temperature high to kill unwanted seeds.
Four of a Kind: Kisha Blount on the local visual arts scene
The oil painter and graphic designer talks new projects and the city’s visual arts scene.