Beginning today, May 25, Lake Powhatan Recreation Area visitors will pay $2 per person, per day, to enter the park, instead of the $5 per vehicle fee. Registered campers are exempt from day-use fees, and annual passes ($30) are still available. The site’s managing concessionaire, the Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association, will collect […]
Author: Margaret Williams
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U.S. Forest Service: Practice black-bear safety this weekend
PRESS RELEASE: The U.S. Forest Service is encouraging campers and visitors to the national forests in North Carolina to practice black bear safety this Memorial Day weekend. The warning comes on the heels of two bear encounters in the Pisgah Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest, over the past week. The incidents occurred near the Black […]
Slow down: Blue RIdge Parkway officials drop speed limit in Asheville section
FROM BLUERIDGENOW.COM (online Hendersonville Times-News): The speed limit between Highway 74A and Highway 25 (Hendersonville Road) has been reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph, according to a U.S. Forest Service news release. This speed limit change is aimed at improving the safety of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians through the Asheville corridor. In the past […]
Esquire magazine picks Highland Brewing’s “Razor Wit” beer as one of best for 2012
FROM THE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES: … Highland Brewing Co.’s new Razor Wit was named one of the best beers of 2012 by Esquire magazine. The light summer brew was one of two dozen beers given the national attention at Esquire.com. It was the only North Carolina brew on the list, but Esquire also included beers from […]
Fun on the coast: Elizabeth City preps for summer activities
PRESS RELEASE (Elizabeth City Area Convention and Visitor Bureau) Can you feel it? It’s almost here — summer! With long days and breezy nights, it’s the ideal season for families and friends to break away from the work-a-day schedule for a little old-fashioned fun. For a close-in getaway with a relaxed vibe and lots to […]
N.C. News Service reports that phone companies are no longer required to provide rural landlines
FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA NEWS SERVICE Landline phones may seem less of a necessity for city dwellers, but some in rural communities with limited wireless options count on getting a dial tone at their homes. In North Carolina, phone companies no longer are obligated to provide those landlines, as the result of changes made in […]
Learn about our star: June 8 “Evening at PARI” session focuses on the sun
The presentation is part of PARI’s monthly Evening at PARI series and will be conducted by PARI Education Director Christi Whitworth. “The Sun has generated a great deal of interest lately, with a solar eclipse in May and the Transit of Venus in June,” said Whitworth. “The Sun holds the keys to energy and life […]
Pack Square Park Conservancy considers future plans, releases statement
Earlier this week, blogger “Ashvegas” (aka Asheville Citizen-Times staffer Jason Sandford) reported via Twitter, “The Pack Square Conservancy has decided to disband, cease operation.” Later, Ashvegas updated the report, noting on his blog, “The nonprofit created to oversee the redevelopment of Asheville’s crown jewel of a downtown park is considering its options now that the […]
Eugenics compensation bill passes first legislative hurdle
PRESS RELEASE (North Carolina Dept. of Administration): Rep. Larry Womble, a longtime champion of eugenics victims, made an emotional return to the North Carolina General Assembly on May 22 to urge colleagues in the Judicial Committee towards a favorable recommendation on H974, the Eugenics Compensation Program bill. “This has been an 11-year fight for me, […]
Xpress Food Writer Mackensy Lunsford named as finalist for Altweekly awards
Mountain Xpress Food Writer Mackensy Lunsford has been named a finalist in the 2012 Altweekly Awards for publications with a circulation under 50,000. Winners will be announced in the next few weeks, but here are the finalists: Independent Weekly (NC): The man who designed the Oreo cookie and A brief history of pimento cheese by […]
Fletcher-based kayak maker looks to hire twice its initial estimate of workers for new plant
Blueridgenow.com (the Hendersonville Times-News website) reports: Business is so good for Legacy Paddlesports, the kayak manufacturer is hiring twice as many workers as originally anticipated for its new plant in Fletcher. In January, CEO Bill Medlin said the $4.5 million facility would initially employ about 50 workers, but now he’s looking to hire as many […]
Lenoir-Rhyme University, Catawba Valley Astronomy Club hosts public observing night Friday, May 25
PRESS RELEASE Lenoir-Rhyne University in conjunction with the Catawba Valley Astronomy Club is sponsoring a “Public Observing Night.” This event will be held on Friday, May 25, weather permitting, at the Minges Science Building Observatory on the L-R campus. Observing will begin at 8:00 pm and conclude at approximately 10:30 pm. The public is invited […]
News&Observer: North Carolina’s natural-gas reserves may be significantly less than early estimates
The Raleigh News&Observer reports that natural-gas reserves in North Carolina may be a fraction of what’s been estimated recently: Fracking was originally billed as the golden key to unlocking a 40-year supply of natural gas and reversing North Carolina’s dependency on other states for energy. Proponents said it was the state’s ticket to an economic […]
Gov. Perdue issues statement on executive order about fracking
FROM N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue: “North Carolina needs a strong set of standards in place before we allow fracking here. If done safely, fracking can be part of a larger energy solution to create jobs and help lower energy costs. Before we permit anyone to ‘frack’ in North Carolina, however, we must hear from all […]
ECO hosts forum on fracking, Thursday, May 31, in Hendersonville
FROM the ENVIRONMENTAL & CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION (Hendersonville) full press release Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is currently illegal in North Carolina, but that could change in a matter of days. Fracking is a method of horizontal drilling that’s used for the exploration and production of shale gas that involves the high-pressure injection of water and chemicals […]
Mayor’s Leadership Ride route, schedule posted for Monday, May 21, Strive Not To Drive event
Strive Not to Drive events continue in Asheville, with the annual Mayor’s Leadership Ride scheduled for Monday, May 21. The bicycle ride begins at City Hall at 5 p.m. The local group Asheville on Bikes has posted the route on Facebook and GoogleMaps .
Buncombe County Health: Tests confirm salmonella culture has Maryland source
FROM THE BUNCOMBE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT: The Asheville Citizen-Times is reporting that the Asheville salmonella outbreak has been traced to a tempeh culture provided by a Maryland company. Here’s the official release yesterday from the Buncombe County Health Department: Today Buncombe County Department of Health received final test results from the NC Department of Public […]
Grandfather Mountain offers “Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble” tours June 2-17
The showy rose-lavender blooms that decorate Grandfather’s slopes and indicate the beginning of another breathtaking summer on the mountain have arrived early this year. The mild winter that brought an early advent for other floral mountain displays will likely move this year’s spectacular showcase of rhododendron on the Mountain forward as well. The “Remarkable Rhododendron […]
State races: Dalton, McCrory will face off for North Carolina governor this fall
Democrat and current Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton will face Republican Pat McCrory in the race for North Carolina governor this fall. In other state results…
State GOP chair comments on Amendment One vote
PRESS RELEASE (North Carolina GOP): NCGOP Chairman Robin Hayes: “Today citizens across the state of North Carolina voted to define marriage in our constitution. Passing this Amendment required support from Republicans, Democrats, and Independent voters. This is a defining day for traditional values in North Carolina, and I’m proud to have voted for protecting marriage.”
National Democrat Party Chair Debbie Wasserman comments on Amendment One vote
PRESS RELEASE DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement today on the passage of Amendment One in North Carolina: “The passage of Amendment One in North Carolina is very disappointing. It unfairly singles out gay and lesbian Americans and is discriminatory. I’m proud that President Obama opposed Amendment One, as he has long […]