AC-T: Asheville Child Watch tour highlights child poverty

From Asheville Citizen-Times: Sen. Terry Van Duyn and Asheville Transit Committee chair Julie Mayfield struggled as single mothers to get care for their 3-year-old child Tuesday, and probably got fired from their jobs at Walmart. Philanthropist Jennie Eblen was probably fired too, and former Mayor Terry Bellamy was forced to brave a sidewalk-less hill toting […]

HT-N: Henderson commissioners resume pre-meeting prayers

Henderson County commissioners voted 4-0 Monday to return prayer to their meetings inside the Historic Courthouse after a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court last week overturned a prohibition on government-sanctioned invocations, according to the Hendersonville Times-News. Board members, along with county staff, had been praying at a flagpole outside the courthouse since the American […]

HT-N: 2014 Bearfootin’ Bears hit downtown Hendersonville

Hendersonville officials say they are excited to have so much interest this year from people wanting to sponsor the bears, and ended up capping the number of bears at 20 per year, the Hendersonville Times-News reports. Since 2003, The Bearfootin’ Public Art Walk has helped raise money for Historic Downtown Hendersonville and local nonprofits. Funds […]

AC-T: Asheville area food sales boom

Five years ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a Census of Agriculture report painting a grim picture of local farms, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported Saturday. Between 2002-07, the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina lost 679 farms, or 6 percent of the previous total of just over 11,300. But the recently released 2012 Census […]

WCU celebrates first graduates of statewide program to expand nursing education

From press release ASHEVILLE – A statewide initiative to increase the number of nurses with bachelor’s degrees, an effort launched six years ago at Western Carolina University, reached a major milestone Thursday, May 8, as leaders from three Western North Carolina community colleges and several mountain area hospitals celebrated the program’s first graduating class. The […]

AC-T: Asheville area tourists turn into temporary taxpayers

The direct spending of visitors effectively adds hundreds of dollars to area households’ pocketbooks every year, according to new research reported Friday in the Asheville Citizen-Times. Through tourists’ spending, they shoulder a portion of the region’s tax burden that would otherwise be funded from year-round residents, according to the research. Steve Morse, an economist who […]

Asheville premiere of ‘My Toxic Backyard’ set for May 8

From press release: Native Ashevillian and Emmy Award-winning Filmmaker Katie Damien will host the North Carolina premiere of her documentary “My Toxic Backyard” with CTS Corp. v. Waldburger litigant and congressional candidate Tate MacQueen Join Katie Damien and Tate MacQueen this Thursday, May 8th, 7:00pm at the Asheville Fine Arts Theatre, 36 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801. Following the screening, Katie, […]

Local Red Cross deploys more volunteer disaster responders

From press release: Red Cross of the Western Carolinas deployed two volunteer disaster case workers this morning to support storm recovery efforts in Alabama. A local registered nurse volunteer deployed to Arkansas last week, shortly after returning from a two-week deployment near the mudslide recovery site in Oso, Washington. A second registered nurse volunteer is […]

New beer festival celebrates N.C.-sourced ingredients June 14

From press release: MORGANTON, N.C. – Think local, drink local. That’s the motto for the State of Origin Beer Fest, which debuts Saturday, June 14, on the courthouse square in downtown Morganton. The festival requires all 20 participating breweries to be North Carolina based, and each has to use North Carolina-sourced ingredients at some point […]

AC-T: Weekday closure takes effect for popular Smokies trail

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – A popular trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be closed on certain days each week through October to allow crews to begin the next phase of an ongoing rehabilitation of the trail, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times. The Chimney Tops Trail will be closed Monday-Thursday of each week […]

Joseph Urgo Named UNC Asheville’s interim provost

From press release:  Joseph Urgo, a senior fellow at the Association of American Colleges and Universities, has been named UNC Asheville’s interim provost. Chancellor Anne Ponder announced Urgo’s appointment at a meeting of the university’s faculty on May 5. Urgo will fill a vacancy that will be created when Provost Jane Fernandes completes her tenure […]

300 volunteers monitor precincts across NC

From press release: Beginning at 6:30 a.m. over 300 volunteers began monitoring precincts in 36 different counties. This project, led by Democracy NC and Ignite NC’s Vote Defender Project, received overwhelming grassroots interest by North Carolinians concerned about voter confusion in the wake of a slew of new voter laws. Volunteer monitors will direct voters who […]

Garden Jubilee Festival scheduled May 24-25 in Hendersonville

From press release: Garden Jubilee is Historic Hendersonville’s premier lawn & garden show, and one of the largest gardening shows in the Western North Carolina. The Garden Jubilee is a spectacular two day festival, held on Saturday, May 24 & Sunday, May 25 from 9am-5pm both days during the Memorial Day weekend. Gardening is one […]

CCA to host ‘Because You’re Worth It’ forum

From press release: Creative Collective Asheville (CCA) will host an open forum, “Because You’re Worth It,” on May 14, from 7 to 9 pm, for professionals and freelancers in all creative fields. “Because You’re Worth It” will be a facilitated educational event, exploring ways creative professionals can assess their value and set fair rates for […]