Your self-indulgent practice of allowing Xpress writers to swipe back at letter contributors reached a low point in your April 30 edition. A woman wrote a letter taking exception to having been tarred by a broad-brush criticism of those residents who lack “roots” [“Hardly Bewitching”], and the writer of the referenced piece was given response […]
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Craving nature
I recently spent a month at home with my 4-month-old daughter, Eleanor Marie. During this time, I learned many things, some of them totally new to me. She’s my first child, and I’ve found out why every little girl is a daddy’s girl. And like every parent, I know my child is the most beautiful […]
Immigrant song
“Isn’t it irrelevant?” asks DeVotchKa drummer and trumpet player Shawn King, referring to how the Denver quartet’s music no longer comes with the printed message “Unauthorized duplication of this record is encouraged.” By comparison, the back cover of DeVotchKa’s new album, A Mad and Faithful Telling—the band’s first for the Anti label—bears the standard legal […]
After the blues, before the flood
Mark Olson’s latest album, The Salvation Blues (Hacktone Records, 2007), begins much like it ends—with the soft strum of acoustic guitars, the gentle caress of pedal steel, the slow churn of a snare drum and Olson’s nasal but engaging voice. What lies between the beginning and the end is the culmination of a tumultuous few […]
The long view
One of my favorite destinations, regardless of the time of year, is a venerable chestnut oak—at least 200 years old—that sits on a steep slope right on my property line. The fact that it’s a boundary tree on a very steep slope is the only reason it’s still with us today. Had it been almost […]
Medford trial begins
For 12 years, Bobby Medford served as Buncombe County’s sheriff. Last week, he entered Asheville’s federal courthouse on the other side—as a defendant in one of the biggest public-corruption cases in Western North Carolina history. Jury selection, opening statements mark first week Medford is on trial along with former reserve Capt. Guy Penland. The trial […]
Happy campers
As we crest the hump of chilly spring days, the hints of warm sun bring thoughts of summer vacation. As a parent, how can you sift through the hundreds of summer camps available in Western North Carolina and elsewhere and be reasonably confident that your child will have a happy and successful camp experience? Research […]
Are you ready for Free Comic Book Day?
For a certain kind of person, there are few things in this world more exciting than a stack of comic books waiting to be read. But the one thing that isn’t always as welcoming and inviting as cracking open a brand new comic is the experience of shopping for them—until now.
The Bountiful Cities Project
Pearson Drive Garden, BCP’s demonstration garden The Bountiful Cities Project is an urban agriculture and community gardens nonprofit dedicated to increasing food security in Asheville on urban land. Since its inception in 2000, the group’s mission has been to create beautiful community spaces that produce food in abundance while fostering a sense of social justice […]
Candidate: John Carroll
John Carroll John Carroll Political party: Republican Residence: North Buncombe Occupation: Real-estate broker and instructor Education: B.A. University of Kentucky Political experience: Buncombe County Board of Education 8 years; former president, N.C. Association of Realtors; former president, Buncombe County Schools Foundation Endorsements: None 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are […]
Candidate: Keith Thomson
Keith Thomson Keith Thomson Political party: Democrat Residence: Asheville Occupation: Systems engineer/small-business owner Education: B.A. UNCA; M.A., UNC-Chapel Hill Political experience: Former PTO president, Jones Elementary; parent rep, Asheville City Schools Budget Advisory Committee; FX Committee chair, Asheville High Business Alliance; Children First 2004 Volunteer of the Year; Buncombe County Energy Commission, 1982-84; Clean Air […]
Candidate: Spence Campbell
Spence Campbell Spence Campbell Political party: Republican Residence: Hendersonville Occupation: Retired soldier, U.S. Army 1967-92 Education: B.A. University of Tennessee; M.A. Russian-area studies, Georgetown University Political experience: Chairman Henderson County Republican Party Endorsements: Hendersonville Times-News, state Sen. Tom Apodaca, state Rep. Carolyn Justus, former state Rep. Wilma Sherrill, celebrity golfer Tom Fazio 1) How much […]
Candidate: Ron McKee
Ron McKee Ron Mckee Political party: Republican Residence: Arden Occupation: Retired owner/general manager, Asheville Tourists Education: Attended Western Carolina University Political experience: None Endorsements: None 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed? Total: No funds raised, according to campaign. 2) […]
Candidate: Mike Fryar
Michael Fryar Mike Fryar Political party: Republican Residence: Fairview Occupation: Retired engine builder/wholesale auto dealer Education: A.C. Reynolds High School Political experience: None Endorsements: None 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed? Total: $2,550 Top three: James Young $500, Christopher […]
Candidate: Robert Hill
Robert Hill Robert Hill Political party: Democrat Residence: Candler Occupation: Retired, part owner of Cruizers Restaurant in Candler Education: High school; attended N.C. State, Western Carolina University real-estate course, Dale Carnegie Institute, Leland Energy Management Institute, Siecor Technologies Institute, served 4 years in the N.C. apprenticeship program in telecommunications Political experience: Precinct chair (1982) in […]
The space between
To take a page from Cracker’s David Lowery, what the world needs now is an overly earnest rock band like we need a hole in our heads. That being said, before listening to British Sea Power, it’s probably in audiences’ best interests to start fitting themselves for that hole, because the band operates entirely within […]
Internal strife
If the idea of police-state-fueled political manipulation seems out of step with the search for personal identity, Flood Gallery’s current show, Insurgents, seeks the parallel ground between these disparate concepts. The high-energy, postmodern (and at times post-apocalyptic) exhibit, curated by the gallery’s new assistant director, Reneé M. Cagnina (formerly with ArtCenter/South Florida), includes work by […]
Candidate: Vernon Dover
Vernon Dover Vernon Dover Political party: Democrat Residence: Leicester Occupation: Retired Education: Erwin High School, attended Western Carolina University (3 years). Political experience: Buncombe County Board of Education (1982-1990), 5 years as chairman Endorsements: None 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has […]
Candidate: K. Ray Bailey
K. Ray Bailey K. Ray Bailey Political party: Democrat Residence: Fairview Occupation: Retired president, A-B Tech Education: B.S. Middle Tennessee State University; M.A. Western Carolina University Political experience: None Endorsements: None 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed? Total: approximately […]
Candidate: Holly Jones
Holly Jones Holly Jones Political party: Democrat Residence: Asheville Occupation: Executive director, YWCA of Asheville Education: B.A. in public-policy analysis, UNC-Chapel Hill; master’s of divinity, Duke University; master’s of public health, UNC-Chapel Hill Political experience: Asheville City Council 2001 to present; vice mayor 2005-07 Endorsements: Sierra Club, Democracy for America, Progressive Democrats of Buncombe County […]
Candidate: Joe Dunn
Joe Dunn Joe Dunn Political party: Republican Residence: Asheville Occupation: Retired dentist Education: B.A. University of North Carolina; D.M.D. University of Louisville Political experience: Asheville City Council 4 years; Economic Development Commission, Asheville/Buncome Water Authority, Airport Authority, Community Development Block Grant Committee, Police Advisiory Committee Endorsments: None 1) How much money have you raised for […]