Summer air travel numbers at Asheville Regional Airport set all-time record

Press release from Asheville Regional Airport: Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) served more passengers in June through September 2016 than in any other summer in its history. June, July and August numbers were up year/year by 2.2%, 4.8% and 6.7% respectively. And in what is normally a “shoulder season” month with dips in passenger numbers compared to […]

Equality NC, Human Rights Campaign and Roy Cooper hold early voting rally Oct. 27

Press release from the Human Rights Campaign: RALEIGH — Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin and Equality North Carolina Executive Director Chris Sgro will host an early vote rally with Roy Cooper at 7:30 P.M. TODAY, THURSDAY OCT. 27 at Hi-Wire Brewing in Asheville. The event is a part of a series of GOTV events […]

Asheville City Council proclaims Oct. 28 Hispanic Restaurateur Day

Press release: ASHEVILLE (October 25, 2016) – The Asheville City Council and Mayor Esther Manheimer recognized the contributions Hispanic people have made to Asheville’s restaurant industry and proclaimed October 28 Hispanic Restaurateur Day in Asheville at the City Council meeting Tuesday. Karla Castillo, a Mexican immigrant and aspiring chef, was there to accept the proclamation […]

Activists to demonstrate outside national law enforcement retreat at Billy Graham Center

Press release from Southerners On New Ground: “As people of conscience in the South, we have a moral and spiritual mandate to defend Black community members who are being rounded up, harassed, and killed at the hands of police.”  Asheville, NC– On Thursday members of Southerners On New Ground, the largest grassroots LGBTQ organization in […]

Communicat­ion breakdown: city staff called to account for edible park miscues

City staff were called to account for a communication failure that led to the removal of mature fruit trees at George Washington Carver Edible Park last month. City Council approved a land use incentive grant for affordable housing on Simpson Street, amended the process for requesting a variance from the city’s signage ordinance and approved modest changes to the rules that govern downtown street performances.

Duke Energy shows off excavated ash basin at Lake Julian plant

Duke Energy operating personnel and communications representatives proudly showed off the newly excavated 82 basin at the company’s Lake Julian power plant to local media on Tuesday, Oct. 25. The former coal ash pond is now being readied for its next act: the site of the utility’s new natural gas-fired plant, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2020.

Highlands’ Old Edwards Inn and Spa awarded highest N.C. award for green travel

Press release from Old Edwards Inn and Spa: OCTOBER 24, 2016 (Highlands, NC) Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands, NC is one of only two hospitality providers in North Carolina to be awarded the cardinal designation from NC Green Travel Award. The NC Green Travel Award is designated by Dogwood Flower and Cardinal symbols. To […]

Author Leigh Ann Henion to read Nov. 10 at UNCA

Press release from UNC Asheville: Leigh Ann Henion, the New York Times best-selling author of Phenomenal: A Hesitant Adventurer’s Search for Wonder in the Natural World, will be the next to read and discuss her works as part of UNC Asheville’s 2016-17 Visiting Writer Series hosted by Wiley Cash. This event, free and open to everyone, will take place […]

New busker regulation­s up for Council’s considerat­ion at Oct. 25 meeting

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Asheville City Council will consider new rules that would limit acoustic performances in two of the city’s most popular busking areas, the sidewalk on Haywood Street in front of Woolworth Walk and the Flat Iron at Battery Park Avenue and Wall Street. Also: a grant to support affordable housing development on Simpson Street and a change to the city’s signage ordinance.

Writer Lucy Corin to offer reading and discussion at UNC Asheville Nov. 8

Press release from UNC Asheville: Lucy Corin, the award-winning novelist and short-story writer, will read from and discuss her works at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 8 in UNC Asheville’s Karpen Hall, in the Laurel Forum. This event is free and open to everyone. Corin, who won a Rome Prize in literature from the American Academy of […]

Immigration rights attorney to speak at UNCA Oct. 27

Press release from UNC Asheville: Refugees in Crisis: From Texas to Turkey – Talk by Immigration Rights Attorney Martin Rosenbluth at UNC Asheville Oct. 27 Martin Rosenbluth, a North Carolina-based immigration rights attorney will give a talk, Refugees in Crisis: From Texas to Turkey, at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27, at UNC Asheville’s Karpen Hall, in the […]

UNC Asheville presents a Fall Dance Happening on Nov. 3

Press release from UNC Asheville: The Fall Dance Happening, a studio showing of faculty and student in-progress works, will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3 in UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center Dance Studio 351. This event is free and open to everyone. In the tradition of experimental dance, the Fall Dance Happening is a low-tech, […]

‘Toasty’ blanket and winter wearables drive to benefit ABCCM Nov. 17

Press release from Insurance Service of Asheville: WHO: Insurance Service of Asheville and ABCCM with support from 98.1FM The River WHAT: TOASTY, Blanket & Winter Wearables Drive WHERE: Corner of College and Charlotte streets, Executive Park parking lot WHEN: Thursday, November 17, 2016 • 7am – 1pm BRING: New or clean, gently used blankets, coats, hats, scarves and […]

Duckworth at the Wedge pop-up offers gallery walk and performance Oct. 21

Press release from event organizer: WHAT: Gallery Walk & Video/Performance with Artist John Duckworth WHO: Duckworth at the Wedge Pop-Up Gallery WHERE: 37 Paynes Way #009, Asheville, NC, 28801 WHEN: Gallery walk, Saturday, October 21st at 4 p.m. Performance, Saturday, October 21st at 5 p.m. INFO: Duckworth at the Wedge is a pop-up gallery in […]

Lake Louise advocates convince Weaverville to stop proposed development

Press release from the Lake Louise Preservation Association: Monday night a local group — the Lake Louise Preservation Association (LLPA) — won an unusual victory. They achieved a last-minute stop to a high-density development being built on the shores of small Lake Louise in Weaverville, immediately opposite the lake’s historic park, at the corner of Quarry […]

Three western North Carolina counties experiencing extreme drought 

Press release from North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources: RALEIGH– While eastern North Carolina is still reeling from the flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew, three counties in western North Carolina have been designated as experiencing extreme drought conditions. The extreme drought in Cherokee, Clay and Macon counties was caused by below normal rainfall and […]

Beary Scary Halloween festival returns to Grandfather Mountain Oct. 29

Press release from Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation: Looking for mountains of Halloween fun? Grandfather Mountain has plenty of tricks and treats in store for its annual Beary Scary Halloween festival, returning Saturday, Oct. 29. The special day features a spooky selection of nature programs, Halloween-themed crafts, a costume contest, animal enrichments and, of course, trick-or-treating. All […]

Student interns explore career options through Project SEARCH

Press release from Mission Health: ASHEVILLE, N.C. (October 20, 2016) –  A group of 11 student interns recently began a unique opportunity to explore a variety of career paths as participants in Project SEARCH, a national nonprofit program that creates business-based internships for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Project SEARCH Asheville is a collaboration […]

Asheville leaders and organizati­ons weigh in on bond choice

City-sponsored early polling indicated that a solid majority of Asheville voters say they will vote for the proposed $74 million city bond referendum on this year’s general election ballots, and far more local groups and organizations have lined up to support the bond than to criticize it. As with any issue, however, opinion is mixed.

League of Women Voters cancels remaining candidate forum Oct. 13

Press release from League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County: Asheville, North Carolina, October 13, 2016– The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County has canceled its remaining forums for the election year. The forums were previously set for October 3rd and October 13th. The decision to cancel was carefully considered and regretfully made. The League […]