Drawing the line

Congratulations to Wally Bowen. He won! He is back in charge of his baby [WPVM]. He can now move on with his hobby. But what was and will be the price to pay? Bitter nights to remind himself how hurtful he has have been with people who loved and believed in him? He must know! […]

Still looking for answers

A month ago, hundreds of letters from Swannanoa, Fairview and Alpine Mountain convinced the Department of Water Quality in Raleigh to host a public hearing on Nov. 18 in Asheville. One of the biggest developments in our mountains is finally under scrutiny. Despite a nice PR gesture and some goodwill commitments a few weeks ago […]

Speak now on future stream impacts

During the Buncombe County commissioners’ Fairview forum in May, the The Cliffs at High Carolina presented a perfect opportunity for a win-win situation. The Cliffs wants to build a perfect, “green” golf course, using the name and reputation of Tiger Woods to demonstrate it. Commissioner Carol Peterson assured me that she will do everything possible […]

Fairway warning?

Is Fairview sure that a toxic invasion [that would] severely compromise the quality of our wells and drinking water is not about to happen? Golf courses are water-guzzling, chemical-leaching properties. Right now, deforestation for Phase I of the Tiger Woods golf course for The Cliffs [at High Carolina] has begun—to the bare ground—and we have […]

Breathe some fresh air, Dems

I was part of a small group to organize the county Democratic forum in Fairview recently. I had a tough job to keep the “forum” definition viable: from Latin—foris, out of doors. “We don’t want citizen participation,” I was told when I suggested a question oriented on the subject [of] promoting transparency, or adding an […]

Let them eat bread

Years ago, President Bush (Senior) was unable to answer the question: “What is the price of a loaf of bread?” Tomorrow morning, the answer to that same question will be: Unaffordable! The cost of flour/wheat grain has hit a record high, and my regular bill for organic grain and bread flour has gone up on […]

The Devil’s in the tax details

Sara Oram is right [“Tax Change Could Preserve Mountain Land,” Feb. 14]. I would add that we could actually create farm lands if we could get readers and concerned citizens to support an amendment to the actual “present-use-value” offered by the Buncombe County Tax Department. In 1973, the North Carolina General Assembly granted each county […]