With Veterans Day fast approaching, the customary forms of American celebration will be prominently on display: parades through city streets, moments of silence briefly interrupting broadcast media, solemn ceremonies at landmarks across the country, special discounts at restaurants and shops. Beyond those symbolic gestures, however, stands a large and growing need to support the many […]
Local female business leaders honored at inaugural WomanUP networking event
The capacity crowd joined staff members of the CoC, event sponsors and colleagues to share breakfast and network with fellow women professionals from a diverse array of local industries. After the breakfast, an awards ceremony recognized three local female leaders in business, executive leadership and the nonprofit world.
In the trenches: Research explores WNC’s role in World War I
Though the battles were fought half a world away, WWI had a profound and lasting impact on Western North Carolina. As the state gears up for a big centennial retrospective on North Carolina’s involvement in the Great War, local researchers have worked to bring WNC residents’ stories and experiences to contemporary audiences.
Multifaith peace conference explores connection between conflict and climate change
Attendees from many faiths will gather at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center on Nov. 10-13 to consider the possible effects global climate change could have on humanity’s ability to maintain a peaceful world.
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.
WNC Military History Museum opens “Operation Armed Forces” exhibit in Brevard Oct. 22
Using a vast array of artifacts, period newspapers and personal items from the time, combined with a series of lectures by military veterans and authorities, The WNC Military History Museum in Brevard hopes to educate a new generation on veterans’ contributions in an upcoming exhibit, “Operation Armed Forces,” which will open Saturday, Oct. 22, and run through Friday, Nov. 11, at the historic Aethelwold Hotel in downtown Brevard.
She’s the boss: Female business leaders provide examples for the future
As more women work toward leadership roles in the local workforce, female business leaders and local organizations are working to provide the encouragement and resources necessary to help them attain equity and advancement in the workplace. Sharing their wealth of experiences, these community leaders are hoping they can lay the groundwork for the next generation of successful women professionals.
Minority Enterprise Development Week recognizes outstanding minority-owned businesses
Local minority-owned businesses were recognized at the Minority Enterprise Development Week award ceremony on Sept. 29 at Ferguson Auditorium at A-B Tech.
Culture clash: Facing up to Asheville’s troubled police-community relations
The task of establishing and/or re-establishing trust between vulnerable communities — especially people of color — and the Asheville Police Department will be a challenging one. And especially in the wake of controversial police use of force over the summer, there is vocal criticism of the department. But the way Chief Tammy Hooper sees it, the APD must rise to that challenge.
Living soul: Goombay Festival partners with GO Kitchen Ready culinary training program
Asheville’s annual Goombay Festival offers learning and networking opportunities for culinary trainees.
An interview with Asheville Downtown Development Specialist Dana Frankel
New downtown development specialist and Asheville native Dana Frankel took time from her busy schedule to speak with Xpress about growing up in the city, her role among downtown stakeholders, facilitating equity around the central business district and what makes Asheville special to her.
Asheville Buncombe Community Pharmacy aims to support free clinics with its profits
AB Community Pharmacy celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug.11. The pharmacy’s business model is unique: using profits from a retail community pharmacy, the operation will support the work of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, which operates free health clinics staffed predominantly by volunteers that serve about half the county’s uninsured residents.
Carolina Public Press reports: Jai Lateef Williams had previously faced felony charges, questions mount
By Frank Taylor, Carolina Public Press This story is from Carolina Public Press, a nonprofit online news service focused on in-depth and investigative reporting in Western North Carolina. ASHEVILLE – Contrary to several previous news media reports, Jai Lateef “Jerry” Williams had faced charges of serious criminal activity prior to July 2 when an Asheville Police Officer shot him, […]
Beyond bathrooms: HB2 accelerates changes in attitudes, language
While some of the conversations that began with the General Assembly’s passage of House Bill 2 on March 23 have focused on which bathrooms transgender people should use, others have explored new ideas about gender and identity which could reshape the way we think and talk about ourselves and others.
Scamming, skimming and financial fraud in WNC
Today’s savvy scammers have a whole host of increasingly sophisticated techniques to quickly steal information and drain bank accounts. To combat these crimes, IT professionals, law enforcement personnel and government officials are encouraging consumers and businesses to remain vigilant at transaction points and take other steps to safeguard themselves from the threat of online hackers.
Lakeview breakup drama
Council members defer busking regulations at Public Safety Committee meeting
Asheville city staffers, downtown stakeholders and local buskers turned out in force for the city’s monthly Public Safety Committee meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss a city proposal for a pilot program regulating downtown public space. The meeting, which was preceded by a community forum with downtown stakeholders, came amid tensions over pilot program, which would add regulations to several […]
Solidarity in grief and love: Ashevilleans stand in vigil for the victims of mass shooting at Pulse Bar in Orlando
To honor the victims of the deadliest mass shooting carried out by an individual in our nation’s history, Asheville people gathered for words of encouragement, an urging toward actions of love, a friendly embrace and a moment of silence. On Monday evening, streams of people filed in on foot, on bikes, and in cars to […]
Step one, Hackathon: Asheville network coalesces to grow area B Corp community
What the heck is a hackathon? It may sound like an epic, machete-wielding footrace through the jungle, or a competition to see who can break into computer systems the fastest, but, in fact, it’s both tamer and more noble — it’s about bringing people together to collaborate. The term is borrowed from collaborative computer programming […]
Body and soul: 12 Baskets Cafe offers free meals and fellowship to all
In a town where tourists come for the food, people who live on the margins of society often feel unwelcome in restaurants, even if they have the money to pay for a meal. But at 12 Baskets Café, they are welcome and valued.
Toxic legacy: CTS site breeds heartache for residents
With the EPA set to implement a new remediation strategy at the CTS of Asheville Superfund site this year, some residents and public officials are cautiously hopeful that the long-standing issues might finally be addressed. Others continue to lobby federal authorities to hold the EPA accountable for past missteps and speed up the remediation process.