Social Security’s future Two upcoming public discussions will explore the downside of the Bush administration’s plan to privatize Social Security. The first — a town hall-style meeting to be held Saturday, June 4, at 3 p.m. at the Unity Center — is sponsored by North Carolinians United to Protect Social Security. The nonprofit organization has […]

The Boathouse Restaurant on Lake Julian wants to help build a boathouse on Lake Julian, but this one won’t be for dining. “The Boathouse for a Boathouse” is a charitable event that will benefit the Asheville Rowing Club. All proceeds will be used to construct a boathouse for storage of the club’s racing shells, equipment […]

Deadlines set for business flood-damage loans Area businesses that suffered economic loss in the hurricane-related September floods have until June 30 to file for an economic injury federal loan, and until July 30 to apply for a state loan, according to the Small Business and Technology Development Center of Western Carolina University’s College of Business. […]

Recess for teachers It’s possible that, after a full week of playing itsy-bitsy spider and singing the ABCs, more than a few Early Childhood teachers find themselves needing (if not a juice box and a nap) a serious dose of grown-up talk. The Western Regional Early Childhood Conference offers just that — in a big […]

Kenilworth resident John Cram will once again open his extensive gardens to the public as a fund-raiser for Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance. The event will offer daylight tours of Cram’s impressive collection of plants and outdoor art; in addition, there will be a market featuring plants by local growers, a garden-art sale, live music, refreshments […]

A monumental task Sometime this summer, the long-awaited face-lift of Asheville’s Pack Square and City/County Plaza will begin — a process that will involve massive recontouring of the green space, rerouting of roads, elimination of parking areas and construction of new amenities. A stage, a small visitors’ center and other structures will grace the city’s […]

Low-power FM radio station WPVM-LP 103.5 FM, “The Progressive Voice of the Mountains,” launched its spring on-air fund drive on Monday, May 2, with a goal of raising $13,000. Station Operations Manager Jason Holland told Xpress that the fund drive will be a critical part of strengthening the broadcast arm of the Mountain Area Information […]

Forest Service seeks Bent Creek volunteers The U.S. Forest Service is seeking volunteers to assist in a year-long survey of recreation use at Bent Creek, an experimental forest adjacent to Asheville. Previous experience is not required for participants; training will be offered. Volunteers will need to commit to three hours per survey session. Survey times […]

Misplaced money There’s about $570 million of unclaimed property (much of it cash) currently being held by the N.C .Department of State Treasurer, according to Kirsten Weeks, a spokeswoman for the department. And there’s a chance — one in eight, actually — that some of it could be yours. Where does the money come from? […]

In 1999, Christy Sloan was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Discovering that no viable long-term treatment existed, she and her parents decided to establish their own nonprofit organization to increase funding for promising new research and treatments. Their group, the ALS Race for Research Foundation, will be hosting Art from the […]

Different ways to celebrate Earth Day It’s a big planet. So, naturally it’s fitting that a celebration of the Earth span more than a day. In fact, here in Western North Carolina, Earth Day is being recognized by a host of events and activities. From the Strive Not to Drive campaign to rump shakin’ with […]

“No frills, no fuss, no tuxedos, no tickets required,” says Harry Brown about the third annual Dining Out For Life fundraiser. Basically, all participants have to do is “go out and eat,” explains Brown, fundraising chair for the Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP). Here’s how it works: Order breakfast, lunch or dinner at any […]

No progress reported at regional water forum At last week’s public forum on regional water issues, Asheville Mayor Charles Worley and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Chairman Nathan Ramsey took pains to downplay the animosity that has characterized the public exchanges between the two entities of late. But those protestations did little to convince those […]

Pause for the Cause: The best of Blue Ridge Dozens of high-quality crafts, products and services from Western North Carolina artisans and entrepreneurs will be up for bid at “The Best of the Blue Ridge” auction on Friday, April 8, starting at 7 p.m. The event will benefit the Mountain Area Information Network and its […]

Access to plentiful sources of clean, safe water and an efficient, cost-effective delivery system are essential to healthy communities. Buncombe and Henderson counties and their incorporated cities and towns are blessed with plentiful water. But local governments are embroiled in conflict over who should control the distribution of this most essential resource. To help residents […]

The Battle(s) of Asheville It was late in the game, but on April 6, 1865, Asheville finally got some Civil War action. The Confederacy would surrender in just a few short weeks, but for one day, the town’s Rebels got a taste of the struggle that was raging across the South. Today the skirmish is […]

Molding new jobs There’s a rumor going around that the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce would like to put rest. “People say that manufacturing in our area is dead. That’s just not true — it’s still a good one-third of our economy,” notes Director of Business and Industry Services Sharon Willen. Underscoring her point, the […]

Road food For the 450 homebound or elderly folks who subscribe to Meals on Wheels, the daily arrival of a warm, balanced lunch can literally be the high point of the day. When this writer volunteered as a delivery driver for a few years, every interaction brightened my days. And right now, MOW is desperately […]

Dating by prayer or kitchen timer Though employing very different methods, two local matchmaking businesses boast pretty impressive success rates — if one uses trips to the altar to measure these kind of things. After opening its doors just a little more than a year ago, The Connectors, a Christian-oriented matchmaking service, has racked up […]

WCU set to grow Western Carolina University recently announced plans for its ambitiously titled Millennial Initiative, a comprehensive regional economic-development strategy that Chancellor John W. Bardo has called “a defining moment in the university’s 115-year history.” In a nutshell, WCU has purchased 344 acres adjacent to its Cullowhee campus; the Millennial Initiative calls for that […]