Ivan the Terribles is actually not terrible at all. It's actually a good-time, raucous band of maniacs who take the stage with bravado and give a fun, funny and highly entertaining show. If it's been a while since you've been to a good, loud, "God, I drank-too-much," stage-diving, "You-slept-with-who?" take-your-shirt-off-and-dance live show — Ivan the […]
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A labor of love
I started work at the USDA Forest Service's Southern Research Station in Asheville last June. Soon after I arrived, I was intrigued to find one of my new co-workers, Libby Bagwell, bringing a dog to work. And the more I learned about how this dedicated woman is helping the visually impaired, the more curious I […]
Mayor’s vote on domestic-partner benefits respected community’s conservatives
I read John Yelton's letter to Mountain Xpress regarding Mayor Terry Bellamy's vote on same-sex domestic-partner benefits and became quite intrigued by the logic behind his comments. I have to agree that in 100, 50 or even 20 years, this will be a non-issue, but that doesn't necessarily bode well for society as a whole. […]
Outdoors: Extreme goddesses
Whether you're navigating Pisgah's technical single track or plunging over the Green River Narrows' notorious rapids, don't be surprised if there's a ponytail waving out the back of the helmet that passes you. Leaving others in the dust: With just three years' experience, Alexis Decosimo has been blasting the competition, moving rapidly up in the […]
Same-gender and same-sex are not interchangeable terms
In his March 10 Xpress commentary, Jerry Sternberg may confuse some readers with his substitution of the term "same-gender" for "same-sex." With rather doltish sarcasm, he wrote, "I don't agree with labeling them 'same-sex partners,' because we can't assume that they have sex," and so he substituted the term same-gender. I'd like to clarify, because […]
Probation officers should teach respect by giving it
On Dec. 31, 2008, I received my first DWI. I have done my best to go through all the necessary legal steps, but from the beginning of this process, I was misrepresented by my court-appointed lawyer and mistreated by officials at the probation offices. The lawyer showed a lack of concern in my case and […]
Skateboard transit is a plus for Asheville
I am writing in response to the recent Xpress cover story [March 10] about skateboarding as a "crime" in Asheville. There is a lot to be said here about how ridiculous this is. But one thing I think everyone can agree on is that anyone not in a car downtown — such as a biker, […]
A vote for Patsy Keever is a vote for gender parity in state government
March is Women's History Month. One of the most monumental events in U.S. history was the passage of the 19th Amendment after a 70-year battle for women's suffrage. Despite women representing 54 percent of the voters in 2008, only 17 percent of the U.S. Congress is made up of women. North Carolina is slightly better: […]
Tell Shuler: Health-care reform will reduce abortions
While Rep. Heath Shuler's reelection campaign pays for a polling agency to call voters in the 11th District, asking if they would support him if he votes with other supporters of health-care reform, other principled leaders across the nation are leading the way in forming a health-care bill that is pro-life, pro-seniors and pro-family. Where […]
Weekly Asheville Disclaimer Page: 03/24/10
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Trekking with the wee ones
Western North Carolina's wild byways offer unsurpassed opportunities for family treks — a chance to expand relationships with one another and the environment, with no admission fee required. Follow the trail: Riley Parker, 4, of Weaverville, at Mile Marker 384 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, guiding a family hike using his hide-and-seek brochure. The brochures […]
Sole patch
1. Keen Newport H2 Sandal in Moonlight Mauve The budding naturalist and the blossoming fashionista need not part ways when it comes to these hiking sandals, available in a rich bouquet of spring hues. Or maybe she's a tomboy and would rather be skipping rocks than selecting shoes. In any case, parents are sure to […]
Where to send the kids this summer?
Western North Carolina's abundant summer camps are keeping up with the techie times. Some offer up-to-the-minute instruction in rocketry, robotics, Web design and music production, among other lucrative subjects. But an even stronger trend cresting the ranks of day and overnight programs is the summer adventure camp that emphasizes fresh-air fitness — and takes natural […]
Brews news: From festivals to staying thin
The Beer City Festival will arrive on Saturday, June 5; Greenville, S.C., will get its own craft-beer festival — Top of the Hops — off the keg on Saturday, April 10; and there’s a study that says women might stay slim if they drink a few beers or glasses of wine each day.
Protecting Parkway views
Introduced in honor of the scenic highway’s 75th anniversary this year, the Blue Ridge Parkway Protection Act would authorize $75 million to purchase properties and easements along the route. Conservation Trust for North Carolina’s Executive Director Reid Wilson testified March 18 in support of the bill, speaking before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the importance of saving viewsheds on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
City Hall fraud investigation update ***5:20 p.m.***
A city spokesperson confirms that Asheville City Council members and the mayor were eligible for a flexible spending program that’s now the target of a fraud investigation, but refuses to reveal which elected officials actually participated. The Asheville Police Department has also issued a statement, and says the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office and SBI are assisting in the ongoing probe.
The power of the paper trail
March 14 to 20 is this year's Sunshine Week — an annual, nationwide celebration of the critical importance of government openness and freedom of information. Discovering and reporting the inner workings of government is part of Xpress' mission, so it's a week we take special note of. Trying to change a channel: Davyne Dial, who […]
The Green Scene: Let it Bee
At a February beekeeping conference at Warren Wilson College, I heard repeated but vague mentions of "natural beekeeping." I came away curious to know more about what sounded like a buzzword in local beekeeping, so I got in touch with some local bee enthusiasts, Calvin Robinson and Carl Chesick. Honey-bee swirl: "There's been a 50-percent […]
Open here Perdue fulfills promises of transparent state government
Editor's note: March 15 to 20 marks this year's Sunshine Week, an annual celebration of freedom of public information. In this commentary, N.C. Press Association President David Woronoff gives an assessment of our governor's stances on official openness. The last time the North Carolina Press Association saw Gov. Beverly Perdue in person, she was a […]
Counting on Council to do the right thing with appointments
The citizens of Asheville count on City Council, and the people they appoint to boards and commissions, to serve the public interest with fairness and objectivity. While Council members are vetted through the grueling electoral process, members of commissions like Planning and Zoning go through a relatively light screening and merely need four votes to […]
Spring has (almost) sprung
We're excited to introduce a new Xpress column — Eatin' in Season. Every other week, we'll highlight local produce and the folks who labor to bring it to us. In the months ahead, you'll discover what can be found at our local farmers markets and what to do with the bounty. You'll hear about the […]