IN THE BEGINNING: Reputed to be the third oldest river in the world, the French Broad has gone from a polluted industrial dumping ground to a key cog in Western North Carolina’s outdoor and tourism industries. This renaissance is a result of government, nonprofit, and individual efforts to improve water quality throughout the watershed. Photo by Mike Belleme; courtesy of Transylvania Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Development Authority

Communities along Upper French Broad work to restore water quality

Posted on August 17, 2017August 17, 2017 by Max Hunt

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.

BASKET BALL: Arial Vanator and fellow ABSFest performers conduct a festive basket raffle for the ACLU at The Orange Peel in May. The burlesque and sideshow festival's Speakeasy Allstars return to the venue on Aug. 19 for a performance that includes another raffle to benefit the nonprofit.

Conscious Party: ABSFest Speakeasy Allstars

Posted on August 13, 2017August 11, 2017 by Edwin Arnaudin

Proceeds from the ABSFest Speakeasy Allstars’ in-show raffle on Aug. 19 at The Orange Peel benefit the ACLU.

WHO YOU GONNA CALL: Leicester Fire Department medical and fire service, protecting people in parts of three counties around the clock. Chief Chris Brown, in white, commands the growing department and works with a board of directors to manage the finances and policies that govern the part paid, part volunteer department. Photo by Cindy Kunst

How local fire departments keep residents safe in changing times

Posted on August 10, 2017August 8, 2017 by Able Allen

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?

LIKE A ROCK: Skyland Fire & Rescue was one of the first Buncombe County volunteer departments to hire firefighters and medical personnel, but they still are governed by the same rules as small volunteer departments. Photo by Able Allen

Chief Presley retires from Skyland FD amid controversy over families in fire service

Posted on August 10, 2017August 8, 2017 by Able Allen

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.

ALL ABOARD: In an effort to bring fresh produce to low-income rural communities, the YMCA of Western North Carolina has transformed a bus into a mobile market. Throughout the year, the market makes stops in six counties to bring fresh food to children and families.

No vacation from hunger: Addressing summer food insecurity in WNC’s rural communities

Posted on August 2, 2017July 31, 2017 by Molly Horak

Food access can be a huge challenge for families in WNC’s hard-to-reach rural areas — especially during summer break when children are not receiving school lunch assistance.

STRIKE A POSE: The girls of MSTMT strut down the catwalk during last year's fashion show. The upcoming event is completely orchestrated by the girls in the program, says MSTMT founder Leslie Council. Photo courtesy of MSTMT

Conscious Party: My Sistah Taught Me That fashion show

Posted on July 30, 2017July 28, 2017 by Molly Horak

WHAT: The second annual My Sistah Taught Me That fashion show WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 6, 3-5:30 p.m. WHERE: Celine’s on Broadway WHY: From dance performances to marching down the catwalk, the girls of My Sistah Taught Me That have dedicated the last few months preparing for their second annual fashion show fundraiser. “This year, the […]

BUILDING ON SOMETHING: Before a house can be raised or a unit can be repurposed, land use has to be sorted out. A group of affordable housing activists are in the driver’s seat to spend $1 million of Asheville’s general obligation bond money on a community land trust. The fledgling group will grow into a membership organization that will own pieces of land on behalf of the community, to be used to help address the city’s affordable housing problem. Photo courtesy of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity

Community land trust project has bumpy launch

Posted on July 28, 2017July 27, 2017 by Able Allen

If trust is a function of time, an innovative approach to affordable housing may already be in trouble. On July 13, about 30 community stakeholders gathered in an echoey auditorium at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center and took the first meandering steps toward establishing a community land trust. But the two-hour meeting produced […]

SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE: Deputy Register of Deeds Carolina Siliceo Perez, left, talks with Deputy Register of Deeds Chris Beavers. Both are bilingual. Photo courtesy of the Buncombe County Register of Deeds

Multilingual government services grow in fits and starts

Posted on July 27, 2017July 24, 2017 by Rachel Ingram

When activists hired Spanish-language interpreters for the May 23 meeting of Asheville City Council, some community members questioned why local government bodies aren’t already providing interpretation services at all public meetings.

TALKING HEALTH: Representatives from BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina and Mission Health discussed their failed contract negotiations during a Buncombe County Board of Commissioners workshop.

Fix it: Commissioners tell Mission, Blue Cross to end dispute

Posted on July 26, 2017July 26, 2017 by Dan Hesse

As the deadline approaches for a contract between Mission Health and BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina to expire, Buncombe County commissioners are urging the two organizations to get a deal done.

EMPOWERING EDUCATION: Corrie Price, a former teacher and the student empowerment director at i.b.mee, models and coaches teachers the art and science of resiliency and connection in the classroom so students are truly ready to learn, grow and contribute. Photo courtesy of i.b.mee

Conscious Party: Asheville Celebrates Teachers Extravaganza

Posted on July 23, 2017July 21, 2017 by Molly Horak

WHAT: A self-care celebration for Western North Carolina educators WHEN: Wednesday Aug. 2, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. WHERE: Asheville Music Hall WHY: With the start of the school year quickly approaching, the days before teachers are thrust back into a hectic classroom are limited — a problem that i.b.mee, a nonprofit focused on empowerment […]

NETWORK SECURE: With a new, larger location and a host of experts from across the cybersecurity world, the 4th annual Asheville Bsides cybersecurity conference comes to downtown Asheville July 28-29, in hopes of helping local businesses protect their digital networks and growing Asheville's nascent IT industry. Photo by Timothy De Block; Courtesy of Asheville Bsides

Cybersecurity conference boosts Asheville’s IT profile

Posted on July 20, 2017July 21, 2017 by Max Hunt

With a new, larger location and a host of experts from across the cybersecurity world, the 4th annual Asheville Bsides cybersecurity conference comes to downtown July 28-29, in hopes of helping local businesses protect their digital networks and growing Asheville’s nascent IT industry.

BLURRING THE LINES: Mind reader and magician Zeke Powerz will use intuition, coincidence and precognition to read the minds of audience members at Vanishing Wheelchair's upcoming fundraiser. Photo courtesy of Vanishing Wheelchair

Conscious Party: Magic and Mind Reading

Posted on July 16, 2017July 14, 2017 by Molly Horak

WHAT: “Magic and Mind Reading Mysteries” show to benefit Vanishing Wheelchair WHEN: Sunday, July 23, 3 p.m WHERE: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church WHY: Using intuition, clairvoyance and showmanship, esoteric magician Zeke Powerz has three goals for his upcoming benefit performance: to “raise money, raise some eyebrows and raise the dead.” As a professional magician, Powerz’s […]

FOOD FOR ALL: Food Connection Executive Director Flori Pate, back row, is pictured with children from Club 330, an after-school program at a church near Atlanta. Program participants receive food for their families through a partnership with the Asheville-based food rescue organization and Kennesaw State University. Food Connection is currently scaling to serve more cities.

Food Connection receives trademark approval, eyes expansion

Posted on July 12, 2017July 10, 2017 by Edwin Arnaudin

The Asheville food rescue nonprofit looks to replicate its success in new cities while feeding even more people on the local level.

ROCKING FOR A CAUSE: Lead performer Ryan Perry of the Ryan Perry Band performs “rock and roll with a country twang” during a past concert. The band will headline the Community Day event on July 15. Photo by Duncan Chaboudy

Conscious Party: Community Day

Posted on July 9, 2017July 13, 2017 by Molly Horak

WHAT: A community celebration to raise funds for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation WHEN: Saturday, July 15, 2-6 p.m. WHERE: Clarion Inn at the Asheville Regional Airport WHY: For a day of free fun for a great cause, bring the family to the inaugural Community Day extravaganza, a fundraising benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The afternoon event will feature over […]

TROUBLED HISTORY: The Vance Monument has been a backdrop to Asheville’s history: the scene of protests, rallies, victory parades, festivals, and the subject endless debate over whose history it symbolizes. With cities across the South removing Confederate landmarks from public spaces, the Vance monument and other local Confederate memorials have come under scrutiny once more. Photo by Max Hunt

Debate over Asheville’s Confederate memorials continues

Posted on July 6, 2017July 14, 2017 by Max Hunt

With the recent removal of Confederate monuments in New Orleans and other Southern cities capturing national headlines, local residents, historians and scholars once again turns their eyes to Asheville’s Confederate landmarks and what they symbolize to our community.

Brighter pastures in Leicester? Brother Wolf’s move triggers controversy

Posted on June 28, 2017June 29, 2017 by Nicki Glasser

The president of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, Denise Bitz, yesterday accused a former member of the nonprofit’s board and one-time foster parent of the year of fomenting “a local cesspool on a social media.” The comment was one of many contentious exchanges taking place this week on Facebook following Brother Wolf’s announcement it will be closing […]

BREWS FOR A CAUSE: Hi-Wire Brewing is just one of the many area breweries participating in the Hops for Hunger initiative, which runs July 1-9.

MANNA taps into local beer scene with Hops for Hunger initiative

Posted on June 28, 2017June 26, 2017 by Molly Horak

Partnerships with local breweries will help raise much-needed summer funding for MANNA FoodBank.

SWEAT AND SMILES: Runners decked out in their craziest costumes celebrate their completion of the Highland Night Flight race at the post-race glow-in-the-dark dance party. Photo courtesy of Glory Dog Events

Conscious Party: Highland Night Flight

Posted on June 25, 2017June 23, 2017 by Molly Horak

WHAT: A 4.5-mile race through East Asheville WHEN: Saturday, July 8, 8 p.m. WHERE: Highland Brewing WHY: Glow-in-the-dark necklaces, crazy costumes and beer — the perfect combination for a running experience like no other. For the fourth year, Highland Brewing Co. is hosting the Night Flight, a 4.5-mile run through the neighborhoods of East Asheville. […]

BUDGET FINALIZED: The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved a budget during its meeting June 21. The spending plan includes a property tax hike of 2.6 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

Property tax rate up, nonprofit funding down as Buncombe commissioners close out budget

Posted on June 21, 2017June 22, 2017 by Dan Hesse

Taxes are going up as the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners signed off on a budget that includes a 2.6-cent property tax hike while lowering funding for some area nonprofits.

OLD-TIME TRADITION: Local filmmaker David Weintraub's new documentary, 'A Great American Tapestry,' delves into the multicultural roots of old-time music and dance, from early African and indigenous influences to present-day performers like Rhiannon Giddens, pictured.

New film explores the multicultural roots of traditional music and dance

Posted on June 19, 2017June 29, 2017 by Max Hunt

The film’s world premiere is set for Thursday, June 22, at Blue Ridge Community College. Subsequent screenings will take place at the Fine Arts Theatre on Thursday, June 29, and at White Horse Black Mountain on Friday, June 30.

HEALING HUGS: A veteran works with a rehabilitated horse through the Heart of Horse Sense foundation, which provides equine therapy to veterans and at-risk kids. Many of the horses have never been touched by a human before working with veterans, says Executive Director Shannon Knapp. Photo courtesy of Heart of Horse Sense

Conscious Party: The Mane Event

Posted on June 18, 2017June 19, 2017 by Molly Horak

WHAT: A celebration and fundraiser for Heart of Horse Sense WHEN: Saturday, June 24, 1-6 p.m. WHERE: Horse Sense of the Carolinas Farm, Marshall WHY: Saddle up for a day of “good, clean, farm-friendly family fun” at the inaugural Mane Event, a celebratory fundraiser for Heart of Horse Sense. The nonprofit organization provides equine therapy services […]

Nonprofits