Public Input on Bent Creek Greenway closing April 21

Buncombe Greenways is nearing the end of its public comment period for the section of greenway that could one day connect the Asheville Outlets, the WNC Farmers Market and the current French Broad River Greenway (which spans between Hominy Creek Park and Carrier Park). This section of greenway would generally follow 191/Brevard Road and would be a key point of connectivity between existing greenways and the County’s larger master plan.

Buncombe County Board of Adjustment punts variance request to next month, frustratin­g opponents

Development concerns took center stage during the Buncombe County Board of Adjustment meeting on Wednesday, April 13. At issue is a variance request that would allow construction of homes on parcels smaller than the existing R-2 Residential zoning allows for. The land in question is located at 223 Williams Road, in Fletcher, and is approximately 16.52.

Haywood Regional Medical Center Mother’s Day sale to benefit Haywood Community College

The Haywood Regional Medical Center Gift Shop is hosting a Mother’s Day Sale event on Monday May 2nd, 2016 from 11am – 2:30pm. The event will feature new gift ideas, free prizes for lucky winners, refreshments, and reduced prices on winter merchandise. Proceeds from sales in the gift shop benefit scholarships for students in nursing or medical related fields of study at Haywood Community College.

UNC Asheville Soccer teams up with Buncombe County Special Olympics

Buncombe County Special Olympics and the University of North Carolina at Asheville men’s and women’s soccer athletes partnered on April 3 and April 10, 2016 for a unique sporting experience. The two events were intended to foster an inclusive atmosphere where all athletes involved had an opportunity to learn from one another’s abilities, strengths, and perspective.

Boosterthon Fun Run inspires students at Evergreen Community Charter in Asheville to build character through sports

Evergreen Community Charter in Asheville will host a Boosterthon Fun Run event on April 21. The Boosterthon Fun Run is a nine-day program that increases funds for local schools and inspires students to live healthy, character-filled lives. Students will run for about 30 minutes to themed music at the big event. Boosterthon’s character theme this year is Big World Recess. The theme introduces more than 1 million students in 1,600 schools across the nation to real kid-athletes in other cultures who play a sport with character.

A tribute to Trevor Stuart to benefit Haywood County JAM

At 7:00 p.m. on May 14 at Haywood Arts Regional Theatre, old time music fans and friends of the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program are invited come together for a concert honoring the late Trevor Stuart, founder and instructor in the JAM program in Haywood County. Featured performers include current JAM students and teachers (Travis Stuart, Cary Fridley, and Robby Robertson), Helena Hunt, Jimmy Burnett, Julie Shepherd-Powell and Adrian Powell, Rayna Gellert, and Bruce and Loy Greene. Wayne Martin, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Arts Council, will also attend and play.

Hendersonville Tree Board volunteers to install three pollinator garden demonstration beds

On Saturday, April 23, volunteers with Hendersonville Tree Board will install three 4’x8’ raised-bed plots along Bearcat Loop Parkway and plant them with a variety of pollinator-friendly plants. In addition, the City will install identification placards for the trees that were planted along the roadway last year. From the entrance at U.S. 64 W. the pollinator beds will enhance more than 70 native and pollinator-friendly trees that were planted along the driveway to Hendersonville Elementary School and Hendersonville Middle School.

Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest to host mac and cheese showdown

Invited chefs from Asheville area restaurants will compete for the title of MacDown champion during Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest on April 24, 2016 from 12 – 4 PM at Highland Brewing in Asheville, North Carolina. Chefs Chris Hall of Corner Kitchen Catering, Eden Roorda of Native Social Pub, Greg Campbell of The Barleycorn, Chris Sizemore of The Local Joint and Joe Marple of The Southern will compete. Attendees are able to purchase a Tasting Ticket to be able to taste each chef’s mac and cheese dish and submit their vote.

Food recall: Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods turkey, pork and beef

From USDA: CLASS I RECALL Congressional and Public Affairs HEALTH RISK: HIGH Brittany C. Woodland (202) 720-9113 Press@fsis.usda.gov FSIS-RC-026-2016 WASHINGTON, April 06, 2016 – Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods, a Richmond, Va. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,881 pounds of turkey, pork, and beef products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food […]

Author of Appalachia­n novel signs books at The Mother Earth News Fair

Becky Crabtree describes her debut novel as a mix of romance and mystery with life in a small farming town as a backdrop for the theme of good versus evil. Drunk on Peace and Quiet takes place in West Virginia, but the author says it’s relatable to anyone with knowledge of life in the Appalachian Mountains, “Their truck tags may be different colors, but the church bazaars, the yard sales, the church politics and the power of mountain women are pretty much identical.”

Buncombe County commission­ers spar over perceived transparen­cy issue

Another issue that put the commissioners’ divide on display was a resolution concerning the creation of a Utility Energy Innovation Task Force. The venture is a partnership with Duke Energy and the City of Asheville aimed at, “working to delay or avoid the construction of an additional fossil fuel powered combustion turbine electricity generating facility at the Asheville Plant site in 2023.”

Buncombe County Commission­ers argue about, hear public input on HB2

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners slogged its way through a more than seven hour meeting while trading barbs en route to approving a resolution that reaffirms the county’s commitment to a workplace supportive of diversity, moving ahead with real estate revaluations, approving a Utility Energy Innovation Task Force and approving minutes from a contentious closed session in March, 2015. The Tuesday, April 5th, marathon meeting highlighted the ideological tension between commissioners and the public as the resolution about the county’s Personnel Ordinance became a proxy for the emotionally charged North Carolina House Bill 2 and showcased emotional pleas from both sides of the issue. Meantime, discussion about the joint task force became symbolic of the commissioners’ divisive thoughts on what constitutes transparent government.

APD seeks assistance with credit card fraud suspects

Asheville, NC (Date): The Asheville Police Department is requesting public assistance to identify two suspects involved in credit card fraud. On May 10th, at approximately 2:00 p.m., the victim noticed that her wallet was missing. Fraudulent charges on the victim’s card were placed at Best Buy (83 S. Tunnel Road), Target (115 River Hills Road) and Walmart (125 Bleachery Blvd.) between the hours of 2:43 p.m. and 3:11 p.m.

Upcoming show to highlight mountain ballads, benefit Bobby McMillon

One hundred years ago British folksong collector Cecil Sharp and his assistant Maud Karpeles arrived in the mountains of North Carolina. What they found was a treasure trove of songs and ballads still in active oral tradition, woven into the fabric of the lives of the singers, in versions more complete and compelling than their counterparts in the British Isles.