The benefit screenings for the Community Housing Coalition of Madison County take place on Friday, Oct. 27, at Mars Hill University’s Belk Auditorium.
Wildlife officials and advocates talk trash — and bears
Municipal officials, wildlife experts and WNC residents talk bear-resistant trash cans, bird feeders and educational initiatives designed to protect citizens and wildlife living in close proximity to each other.
Conscious Party: Bids & Blues
The sixth annual concert and auction takes place Monday, Oct. 16 at Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown.
WNC residents, officials gather to discuss railroads’ future
Community and business representatives from across the rail industry gathered in Asheville on Sept. 22 for the Railroads & Regional Economic Development Conference. Organized by the WNC Rail Committee, the conference revealed some hints of how railroads may adapt to changing times.
Family Justice Center sees 50% rise in victim intake, commissioners expand preschool offerings
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners heard about the success of the Family Justice Center helping abuse survivors while also learning those using the resources has seen a 50 percent increase in the last three months.
Conscious Party: Asheville GreenWorks’ Root Ball
The fifth annual Root Ball takes place from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Green building organization announces new name
The Green Built Alliance — the organization previously known as the Western North Carolina Green Building Council — will roll out a new name and logo at its annual member networking and appreciation party on Thursday, Sept. 14, at Highland Brewing Co. The community is invited to join members at the event.
Theater review: ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [Revised]’
It’s no wonder that The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [Revised] is such a popular play in the Asheville area. It’s an automatic crowd-pleasing comedy.
Conscious Party: Bikes For Life
The Bikes For Life bike collection takes place 10-1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, in the parking lot at The Free Clinics.
Nonprofits not making grade still get funding
Buncombe County’s community grant program helps support nonprofits. Based on a nonprofit’s focus and mission, county staff sets specific annual targets for its performance. But are the performance measures succeeding in holding all the funded organizations accountable for achieving their stated goals?
Mission Health and BCBSNC continue to battle over contract
Contract negotiations between Mission Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina remain at an impasse as the renewal deadline looms in less than a month. Meanwhile, Park Ridge Health and Pardee Hospital make preparations to take up the slack.
Explore Asheville CVB celebrates new office, brand & independence
The dreary Wednesday morning weather couldn’t put a damper on a 1 p.m. reception celebrating the new office location of the recently-rebranded Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Hungry for knowledge: WNC edible education programs cultivate relationships between students and food
Food and gardening classes can help children learn life skills, nourish creativity and connect to the natural world. But funding for these programs can be hard to come by.
Conscious Party: The Memory of Fish
Proceeds from The Collider’s catered reception and screening of Dr. Jennifer Galvin’s documentary on Saturday, Sept. 9 benefit the Thomas R. Karl Internship Program.
Call to action: WNC hunger-relief agencies celebrate progress, promote awareness
Hunger Action Month brings a fresh-produce hub for Haywood and Jackson counties, an expansion of the MANNA Packs for Kids program and a new initiative that engages tourists in raising funds to alleviate food-insecurity in Asheville and beyond.
WNCAP shares a preview of its Sept. 23 ‘Raise Your Hand’ benefit auction
The annual event raises money for WNCAP’s operation and programming, including HIV/AIDS education, outreach and advocacy.
Local agencies work to improve water quality in Buncombe & Madison counties
This week, Xpress looks at the network of agencies and organizations working in Buncombe and Madison counties to improve water quality and position the French Broad as the region’s next great tourist attraction.
Communities along Upper French Broad work to restore water quality
In this two-part series, Xpress invites you on a guided a trip down the river as we examine the work of various communities to write the next chapter in the French Broad’s history, beginning with Transylvania and Henderson counties.
Conscious Party: ABSFest Speakeasy Allstars
Proceeds from the ABSFest Speakeasy Allstars’ in-show raffle on Aug. 19 at The Orange Peel benefit the ACLU.
How local fire departments keep residents safe in changing times
As population grows in WNC’s once-rural areas, the model of volunteer-based fire and rescue services is giving way to bigger budgets, more training and significant numbers of paid staff. How are the departments keeping up with the changes, and should they be required to conform to the same requirements for transparency and public oversight as other organizations funded by property taxes?
Chief Presley retires from Skyland FD amid controversy over families in fire service
Chief Dennis Presley will retire from the Skyland Fire and Rescue Department as of Aug. 20. His announcement came on Aug. 2, the morning after Weston Hall of Black Mountain spoke during the public comment period at the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meeting. Hall said that nepotism was creating a hostile work environment at nonprofit fire service departments. He pointed out that Presley’s wife, son, daughter and son-in-law all hold paid positions with the Skyland department.