There's something afoot at the corner of Haywood and College streets, and it's not just the massive renovation under way at the former CVS pharmacy site. After all, there are similar projects scattered around downtown Asheville. A new look: The former CVS location at the corner of Haywood and College streets (above) will get an […]
Woodfin annexation opponents turn out in force
Declaring that they're ready for a fight, about 400 opponents of a massive annexation proposed by the town of Woodfin packed the Woodfin Elementary gym for a July 21 public hearing. The residents of the 3.5-square-mile slice of Erwin Hills and Leicester say they'll see higher taxes but few or no benefits if forced to […]
Facing state cuts, WNCW launches fundraising drive
Proposed state budget cuts will probably slash about $200,000 from WNCW's budget for the coming year, leaving the station facing staff cuts. The popular local public-radio station is launching a major fund drive to try to make up some of the loss. "This is going to be a really painful blow. The station has never […]
Sheriff’s deputy accused in road rage incident
A local woman claims an off-duty Buncombe County sheriff's deputy threatened her during a road-rage incident, sparking an internal-affairs investigation. Clyde resident Julie Brown also sharply criticized the conduct of the Asheville Police Department, which responded to her 911 call. Brown says she was driving home from work July 9 when a jeep cut her […]
Showing Pritchard Park some birthday love
Trina Mullen, an organizer with the volunteer group Friends of Pritchard Park, says the downtown-Asheville park could use a little TLC. "Not a lot of love has come Pritchard's way from the community in the past few years," she says. "We'd like to change that." Proud of Pritchard: The Friends of Pritchard Park group has […]
Council committee to URTV: Right your own ship
In a July 20 letter to URTV Director Pat Garlinghouse and Board Chair Jerry Young, Asheville City Council's Boards and Commissions Committee spelled out a 14-point breakdown of the problems dogging the public-access TV station. The letter cited concerns ranging from transparency issues and "internal turmoil" to the involvement of individuals with criminal backgrounds and […]
The Green Scene
Move over, kudzu: Oriental bittersweet and a grab bag of other non-native, invasive plants may actually pose more of a threat to our Southern forests. Like kudzu, Oriental bittersweet can rapidly overwhelm native plants by covering and choking them. But unlike kudzu, which tends to be limited to sunny, open areas along roadways, Oriental bittersweet […]
Buncombe GOP Chair Tim Johnson will resign, move to Durham
Buncombe County Republican Party Chair Tim Johnson, who was recently elected Vice Chair of the state party, will step down from his local leadership post on July 31, according to an announcement yesterday. County Vice Chair Robert Malt will take over as chair.
Facing state cuts, WNCW launches fund drive
Proposed state budget cuts will likely leave WNCW with about $200,000 less — and facing staff cuts — in the coming year. The popular area radio station is launching a major fund drive next weekend to try and make up some of the loss.
Scenes from a Bele Chere Saturday
Vendors, buskers, street preachers and festivalgoers rubbed shoulders, exchanged cash, chowed down and drank copious amounts of beer during Asheville’s busiest time of the year. A few scenes from a long, hot Saturday (with just a little rain).
Sheriff’s office investigating accusation of deputy road rage; with 911 calls
A local woman’s accusation that an off-duty Buncombe County Sheriff’s deputy threatened her in a case of road rage has sparked an internal affairs investigation. She has also sharply criticized the conduct of the Asheville Police Department, which responded to the call.
County landfill to get $3 million in stimulus funds
Buncombe County will receive $3 million in federal stimulus funds to make improvements that will extend the life of the landfill and set up an energy system that will provide 1,100 homes with electricity, according to an announcement from the county.
Woodfin annexation opponents turn out in force, promise fight
Declaring that they’re ready for a fight, about 400 opponents of a massive annexation proposed by the town of Woodfin packed the Woodfin Elementary gym for Tuesday night’s public hearing. The residents of the 3.5 square mile slice of Erwin Hills and Leicester argued that they’ll see higher taxes but little or no benefits if forced to join the town.
Council committee to URTV: Right your own ship
A letter to URTV heads outlines problems, hints that funding may be on the line
Asheville City Council: Put a lid on it
Council signs check for Civic Center roof Asheville City Council July 14, 2009 City considers endorsing new veterans flag URTV wars come to Council When the sun shines, the roof don't leak; when it's raining, you can't fix it. That simple sentence sums up the Asheville Civic Center's long, painful journey. For more than a […]
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
Move over, Costa Rica: Western North Carolina has its own selection of "zip-line" tree-canopy tours. OK, there's no jungle, but it is a temperate rain forest, and Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours zips visitors along a half-mile route some 80 feet above the ground. Going down? A zip-liner gets ready to fly. Photo courtesy Nantahala Gorge […]
Believe and be heeled
For many people, pets and religion have several things in common: comfort, companionship and unconditional love. And the Mills River Presbyterian Church is giving pet owners a chance to bring the two together, becoming the latest local church to offer a "Blessing of the Pets" service — this one on Saturday, July 25. Not just […]
TEDx Asheville sets date, confirms three speakers
The Asheville version of an annual California-based conference known as TED will be held Aug. 30 at The Orange Peel. Earlier this year, a contingent of TED fans got together and decided to organize a local edition of TED, which stands for technology, entertainment and design. With help from the mother organization, TEDx Asheville was […]
Calendar creator sparks buzz to save bees
Mary Ellen "Mel" Hughes has a simple goal — save the honeybees. The Asheville entrepreneur had heard about the devastating effects of something called colony collapse disorder, a mysterious affliction that's been killing off honeybees at an alarming rate over the past few years. The implications of the trend — the loss of hundreds of […]
Asheville economy sees seismic changes
Two local experts on the economy delivered a restrained assessment of the financial landscape during an annual Asheville forum on July 15, a forecast that left little doubt that the current recession will leave a lasting impact. Economic upheaval: Tom Tveidt, a researcher at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, says the current recession has […]
Asheville FM backers start building studio
Coming on the heels of recent controversy at WPVM, Asheville's low-power FM radio station, more than 60 people have come together to create a new grass-roots station. It's called Asheville Free Media (aka Asheville FM). Tuned on, tune in: At least 50 people are backing a fledgling effort to create a new community radio station […]