The remarkable showing of Democratic Party candidates in local and Buncombe County elections, in stark contrast to state and national contests, was surely due in part to greater-than-average voter turnout, but equally important is that local Republicans, led by the likes of Tim Moffitt and Lisa Baldwin, overplayed their hand, their arrogance and posturing turning […]

I  would like to congratulate Judge Ed Clontz on his election to the District Court bench (N.C. District 28).  He ran a very robust campaign. We wish him all the best as he begins his first full, four-year term. Also, I would like to thank the thousands of citizens who voted for me in the […]

Regardless of the entire issue of global warming described in a Nov. 5 letter by Michael Ivey [“Cartoonist Randy Molton Has Been Brainwashed,” Xpress], pollution (man-made, natural or nonexistent), is real, and it is disgusting. And it is OUR problem.   Ashley Rochester Asheville

Congratulations on the valuable issue of Nov. 5-11 [“Who’s Helping Whom? The Animal Issue,” Xpress], which calls attention to the many good sources of help for animals in our area. We would like to add a word of support for a facility not mentioned in the issue, namely the Goat Mountain Animal Sanctuary in Leicester,  […]

As author of the letter “Asheville Becoming an Elitist City,” [Oct. 15, Xpress], I was surprised at the many reactions it elicited. This letter is in response to the majority of people who labeled me an “outsider” intruding on their territory.  So let me explain something to them. My family, going back many generations, is […]

I was disturbed by a couple of things published in your “Asheville’s Food Pioneers” coverage in the Oct. 22 issue of Xpress.  You give very nice publicity to Blue Ridge Food Ventures (a local sacred cow) in “From Palates to Pallets,” with special attention given to UliMana, the largest Food Ventures client. All well and good — how […]

We all celebrated the news a couple of weeks ago regarding the $14.6 million Tiger Grant given to Asheville by Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. Let’s take this opportunity to thank all of those whose determination and dedication made this possible. We first want to thank former Mayor Terry Bellamy for creating the River Arts […]

We love to spend time in downtown Asheville because we really enjoy the vibrant street scene, musicians, festivals, characters and local restaurants, shops and bars. When my wife got pregnant, we sought to rid our lives of toxins. We removed chemicals from our home, purchased only organic and non-GMO foods (those without genetically modified organisms) […]

Seeing the Randy Molton cartoon in the latest Mountain Xpress [Oct. 22] reminded me of how thoroughly brainwashed most people still are regarding the subject of man-made global warming. Of course, people who are brainwashed don’t recognize their pet beliefs as brainwashing: They think their beliefs are well-considered positions. Even after 19 years of no warming […]

I would like to thank Mountain Xpress Food Editor Gina Smith for taking time to review my book Farm Fresh Nutrition and write a quote for its back cover. It was great to see her staff share stories about many of the local food heroes featured in my book. Thank you also to Leah McGrath […]

I am confounded by the lack of stewardship that derives from Asheville’s collectively environmentally driven consciousness, specifically in regard to litter. Since moving here, I have walked down my road on several occasions to retrieve the detritus left by others only to find it fully replenished within several days. The Interstate 26 corridor stays perpetually […]

Is Al Gore actually living in Henderson County and [did he do] the Randy Molton cartoon in the Oct. 22 issue of Mountain Xpress under a pseudonym? Gore, back on Dec. 14, 2009, said declaratively that the polar ice caps would be gone in five years. We are approaching the five-year anniversary of that proclamation, and yet […]

I would like to add to the conversation about Asheville’s food pioneers [“Blazing the Trail: Asheville’s Food Pioneers,” Oct. 22, Xpress]. My husband, John Rowland, has been farming organically in Weaverville since 1980. He was one of the first in the area to sell organically grown products, and he continues to do so, providing products […]

Many in the political landscape are like tumbleweeds, blown by the prevailing winds of current opinion. I want to endorse a candidate for Buncombe County school board who is solid as an oak — Max Queen. He is rooted in conservative convictions. His roots are in these mountains. He grew up here, went to school […]

In the six short months that Terry Van Duyn has served in the North Carolina Senate, she has clearly demonstrated her focus and priorities. She supports the following: strengthening the educational system, protecting the environment, bolstering the economy, increasing accessibility to health care and housing for the most vulnerable populations and holding the Legislature accountable for […]

Some readers of the Mountain Xpress may be reluctant to vote for Tom Hill for the U.S. House of Representatives because he has not been an outspoken supporter of LGBT rights. So I would remind all Asheville area voters that the job of a congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives is primarily to vote […]

  Asheville’s lobbyist in Raleigh makes $100,000, part of how they work against Buncombe County residents. If it weren’t for Rep. Tim Moffitt, Asheville would have taken over Biltmore Lake, doubling their taxes with no vote on it, and would still be mismanaging our regional airport and water system (30 percent of water is leaking). What else […]

I wish everyone in the 10th Congressional District would have the opportunity to know Tate MacQueen as I do. I’ve known him his entire life, and I’m very proud that this year he is running for the U. S. House of Representatives. Let me tell you why I, as a lifelong Republican, want to see […]

I live in Swannanoa and was tickled to see the recent mention of Black Mountain and Swannanoa as small places you might not know about but might want to check out [“Spotlight on Small Towns,” Oct. 8, Xpress]. Then, I was not surprised to see the ONLY place in Swannanoa that appeared was Native Kitchen. […]

When it comes to east Buncombe County issues, I’ve seen John Ager and Ellen Frost show up at the Swannanoa Community Advisory Group meetings I helped organize. This group deals with efforts to learn more about the future of 180 Old Bee Tree Road, otherwise known as the other major Buncombe County Superfund site. It’s the […]

In the recent issue of Mountain Xpress, they detail a timeline of “Asheville’s Food Scene Evolution” that includes many who work with food vendors and in food-related programs (ASAP, BR Food Ventures, Asheville Wine & Food Fest, Asheville City Market etc)  but misses some key players involved in our vibrant and dynamic food scene like: MILKCO, […]