Riverlink blog, donations by 6-year-old featured on CBS Evening News

What connects RiverLink, a 6-year-old from Southern Pines, N.C., and Katy Couric? An interest in the Gulf oil disaster. CBS Evening Show host Couric contacted RiverLink recently after seeing a RiverLink blog that featured 6-year-od Skylar Fielder-Jones’ efforts to collect cleanup supplies for the oil disaster and donate them to the Asheville-based nonprofit. Here’s the full scoop from RiverLink.

And around we go: Clingman Avenue roundabout under way

Crews have been busy for weeks, re-doing sidewalks and installing bump-out parking areas on Clingman Avenue near the River Arts District. Most recently, lanes have been closed as workers install a new traffic circle for the road, which links West Asheville with downtown. An Asheville resident recently called Xpress to call the new circle outrageous, and at City Council’s May 25 meeting, resident Fred English was critical of the traffic-calming measures. Mayor Terry Bellamy replied that the improvements were a state Department of Transportation project.

photo by Margaret Williams

Flowers for Sunday morning


During a Saturday bike ride in Bent Creek, these starry red flowers caught Xpress’ attention (a little Tweet told me they’re fire pinks, Selene virginica). Another sight for the afternoon outing: teams of tandem bike riders gearing up for rides. Bent Creek’s the site for a three-day AORTA: Appalachian Off-Road Tandem Adventure. Riders from all over the country were converging on Bent Creek Lodge and riding our trails. MTB Tandems.com

Raising awareness: Local group focuses on jobs, community

The Community of the Beloved — a local group of “diverse people, most who live in poverty and many who live on the streets,” says co-organizer Amy Cantrell — held an ice-cream social and a sign-toting event on Tuesday, May 18 at Prtichard Park in downtown Asheville. The goal, says Cantrell, was to raise awareness about the challenges facing Asheville’s poorest residents.
photo by Jerry Nelson

Red Day: Keller Williams hits town with service projects


The morning commute today revealed a host of red shirts: Keller Williams employees and other volunteers were bustling, digging and planting roses, coleus and such at Prtichard Park. It’s one of about a dozen projects being tackled today by local KW agents, employees and volunteers with such organizations as Asheville GreenWorks and Friends of Pritchard Park. photo by Margaret Williams

Take a Stand: YWCA’s anti-racism campaign continues today


After last night’s kickoff presentation by UNCA Prof. Dwight Mullen, the YWCA’s Stand Against Racism continues today, April 30. Events throughout the day include a 1 p.m. panel discussion lead by WLOS TV anchor Darcel Grimes in Black Mountain, a working tour of the Pisgah View Peace Garden from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a Center Diversity Program to help teachers address bullying. See full details below.

Oil spill spreads in Gulf


We focus on local news at Xpress. So last week, when I heard about the explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, I confess that I didn’t pay much attention. But I’m a Gulf coast native. A federal command post — one of several connected to clean-up and monitoring efforts — was set up in my home town, Mobile, Ala. The spill may hit Alabama’s coast line, beaches and barrier islands as early as Sunday. (image from www.skytruth.org