Help with winter energy expenses If you don’t make much money and you’re wondering how you’re going to cover the seasonal increase in energy bills this winter, you might want to apply for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. The state program gives qualifying low-income residents a one-time supplement to help cover winter energy expenses. […]

Grove Arcade returns to life A tangible resurrection of Asheville’s 1920s heyday, the Grove Park Arcadewill be officially resurrected on Saturday, Nov. 2. Chasing out the ghosts of the Great Depression and World War II that have haunted the structure for decades, more than 20 businesses inside the Arcade — including local farmers and craft […]

On the side of peace Though both houses of Congress recently voted to give President Bush authority to use military force in dealing with Iraq, many Americans remain strongly opposed to war. Those wishing to join together and speak out for peace will have an opportunity to do so at the national March for Peace! […]

Nashville to Hendersonville II — a celebration for Michael Carlisle Last December, more than a dozen accomplished Nashville musicians journeyed to Hendersonville to play a benefit concert for Henderson County native Michael Carlisle, who’s been a performer and studio musician in Nashville for the last 20 years. Carlisle has been suffering from kidney failure due […]

Seeking friends and acquaintances of Thomas Wolfe Did you ever meet or know acclaimed Asheville author Thomas Wolfe? Do you have a story to share regarding the Wolfe family? Do you remember anything about the scandal surrounding the publication of Wolfe’s Look Homeward, Angel in 1929? If so, the historians at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial […]

Meet the candidates North Carolina’s recent redistricting has altered the local electoral landscape: Former Senate District 28 has become Districts 48 and 49, and former House District 51 is now Districts 114, 115 and 116. To help citizens learn more about how the redistricting has affected their vote — and give them a chance to […]

An organic celebration There’s a whole lot to celebrate about organic food. It won’t expose you to harmful herbicides and pesticides (and thanks to new federal legislation, customers can also be sure it hasn’t been irradiated, genetically modified or fertilized with sewer sludge); numerous studies have found that it contains significantly more vitamins, minerals, enzymes […]

Weighing war With the threat of an American invasion of Iraq looming on the horizon, many citizens are trying to figure out the rhyme and reason of such a decision. Hear one person’s perspective when Retired Brigadier General C. Jerome Jones presents “War Against Iraq? — Who Will Decide? Who Will Fight? Who Will Win?” […]

POP go the readers How does a volunteer job that calls for making funny animal noises, or singing about spaghetti, sound to you? Preschool Outreach Project volunteers can quack and bark and sing the praises of pasta. POP volunteers regularly visit child-care centers all over Buncombe County, armed with a kit of picture books, puppets, […]

Local restaurant grows its own produce “We’re the only restaurant in Buncombe County that grows our own food,” says Gary Mehalick proudly. Mehalick, along with his wife, Suzi, own The Golden Horn Restaurant (48 Biltmore Ave.) in Asheville, a Mediterranean-American style eatery they opened three and one-half years ago. In April of this year, they […]

Wanted: your books Got any extra books hanging around? You know, the ones you planned to read someday but probably never will. Or how about books you’ve read but most likely will never pick up again? Why not let someone else enjoy them — while also helping out our local libraries? The Friends of the […]

Celebrating all that’s Scottish If you feel inclined to don a kilt this month or flip a heavy wooden pole (called a caber in Scotland) as far as you can, you’re not the only one — there’s definitely something Gaelic in the air about now. Last week, it was the 47th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland […]

Writing program at Warren Wilson College presents open readings and lectures Every six months, students from across the country gather at Warren Wilson College for an intensive 10-day residency of workshops, classes and readings, as part of the college’s MFA Program for Writers. These residencies are combined with a nonresidential semester of highly focused study, […]

Ice cream and music under one roof Ice cream is not just food — it’s an experience. Ice cream eaters have loyalties to flavors and brands that go far beyond their feelings for ordinary foods. And for many, the association of ice cream with good times runs deep. Just ask people what their favorite ice […]

William Henry Jackson prints of WNC on display at Pack Library When Peggy Gardner was in graduate school a few years ago, searching on-line for inspiration for a paper she was writing on local history, she decided to visit one of her favorite Web sites — the Library of Congress — and type in “Asheville.” […]

Speak out for high-speed Internet service To help Internet providers build a business case for extending high-speed Internet access to underserved areas of North Carolina, the e-NC Initiative has created a central location where citizens can request service. The group’s Web site includes a page where citizens can register requests for high-speed service. “We’ve simply […]

A resource for runners Tortoise and Hare: Running Outfitters, a new Asheville specialty store located off I-26 in Biltmore Park (exit 6), officially opened last month. Complementing the shop’s extensive inventory (footwear, apparel and accessories) are such items as race information, nutritional supplements and literature. “We represent all forms of runners, from trail to track, […]

Media workshops typically available only to journalists in big metropolitan areas are now being offered locally by the Fund for Investigative Reporting (FIRE), thanks to funding by the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation and the New Leaf Fund. The workshops will teach computer skills that make it easier to investigate, research and report on […]

Down on Main Street Some folks have likened the charming little town of Weaverville to “a small Black Mountain.” A whole lot has been happening there recently, with new shops opening up and others moving to new locations. In conjunction with the upcoming Weaverville Art Safari (April 27-28, see Smart Bets elsewhere in this issue), […]

Crossing the line When Mountain Xpress staffer Steve Rasmussen received a press release last month from the Asheville Parks and Recreation Department, “a potentially very controversial item caught my eye,” he says. The release listed a variety of activities offered by Asheville Parks & Rec for school-age children during spring break, including a field trip […]

A school for local activists A free workshop, “Working Locally for Social Change: Transforming Political Rhetoric into Social Action” aims to help local activists increase their impact. This interactive, skills-based workshop will take place Saturday April 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at A-B Tech’s Simpson Lecture Hall (340 Victoria Road). Sponsored by Democracy South […]