Throughout Western North Carolina, local governments, senior centers and recreation leagues are creating opportunities for the area’s aging population to exercise, make social connections, compete and keep their minds sharp. And experts say all of that is crucial for people entering their golden years.
Baileigh Sinaman-Daniel was born without a right arm. But that hasn’t stopped her from earning a spot on Warren Wilson’s women’s basketball team.
Small municipalities throughout Western North Carolina see electric vehicles as the future of transportation in their communities, but the specific approach varies from town to town.
In 2021, the world of college athletics changed forever when the NCAA began allowing players to benefit off their name, image and likeness. Today, some UNC Asheville and Western Carolina University athletes are exploring the world of paid endorsements by promoting products and services on social media, making personal appearances and more.
Citizen Swing brings live jazz to Citizen Vinyl twice a month. Plus, Asheville inspires award-winning author, Canton’s library earns national designation and Wedge Brewing Co.’s Grove Arcade location hosts a Cabin Fever Party.
A local improv veteran will present a one-man show at Asheville Masonic Theater. Plus, an Asheville author releases a poetry collection, a local group honors MLK and The Orange Peel highlights local bands.
From Canton to Hendersonville and Woodfin to Brevard, it was a newsworthy year in cities and towns throughout Western North Carolina.
A Cherokee potter will teach art students at UNCA. Plus, Jim Lauderdale headlines a benefit concert for the Junior Appalachian Music Kids of Henderson County, the Museum of the Cherokee People looks back to the 1990s and Arts AVL announces local grants.
While Kwanzaa has been celebrated in WNC for decades, it has never been as popular as in some other places. Some local activists are looking to change that.
When Hendersonville officials began developing the city’s new comprehensive plan, they set their sights far into the future. “We toyed around with the idea of a 100-year plan and trying to get people to really think long term,” says Matthew Manley, the city’s strategic projects manager. “This is a long-term vision, and the decisions that […]
It’s time for local kids and teens to share their writing and art for Xpress’ 2024 Kids Issues.
When three Asheville women started AVL Hoppers last year, they wanted the organization to have an impact beyond the volleyball courts. So each season, the group’s championship teams receive a prize in the form of a donation to a local nonprofit of their choice. In all, the Hoppers have helped distribute more than $2,000 to worthy causes.
With just two full-time employees, United Way of Haywood County has met some big community needs in recent years. In 2021, the Waynesville-based nonprofit received more than $1 million in donations to help those affected by devastating flooding in the wake of Tropical Storm Fred. United Way funneled money to groups like WNC Communities for […]
For many nondrinkers, finding a social life in a region centered around breweries can be difficult. Here are some of the ways people do it.
WNC residents who work for ride-share services like Uber and Lyft say it’s possible to make money in tourist-oriented Asheville, but it takes some time to learn the ropes. We take a look at the benefits of perils of making a living driving other people around.
Anna Levesque, Lindsey Barr and Ruby Compton are leaders in Western North Carolina’s outdoor recreation industry. They want to make kayaking, hiking and other outdoor activities more inclusive. Despite improvements in recent years, they say challenges — and outdated attitudes — still exist.
“We are marching for humanity and the planet, and to get out the message that through unity, trust, and justice, peace is possible,” says Laura Mayes, one of the organizers.
When you spend as much time on a Onewheel as Finn Holcomb does, you crash a lot. “I crashed last night,” says Holcomb, an Asheville High School senior and a nationally ranked competitor in the burgeoning sport of off-road Onewheel racing. “I’ve got a bandage on my left hand, and my right hand’s bleeding. You […]
A few weeks after Paul Heaton retired to West Asheville in May, he saw a sign at Banks Ave. Bar that grabbed his attention. “It was for an event they described as ‘inclusive country-western dancing,’” says Heaton, who moved to the area after working in Washington, D.C., for 12 years. “I was looking for activities […]
Haywood County home-schooler Celeste Riddle has a few reasons to be excited about her decision to take two classes at Pisgah High School this year. For one thing, she’s never attended a public school and is looking forward to experiencing a new learning environment. And she figures she will make some new friends. But mostly, […]
When Steve Line and his wife were looking for a new house in Henderson County a few years ago, one thing was certain: It had to be within walking distance of the future Ecusta Trail, the 19.4-mile greenway that will connect Brevard and Hendersonville via an abandoned rail line. “It was very important to us, […]
