“Creating a greater variety of housing options would mean that more city residents’ children and friends could afford to stay nearby as their housing needs grow and change.”
Reflections: A man who kept a promise to his younger self
“He told me that he was relentlessly bullied as a child and swore that if he ever had the chance, he would do everything in his power to make sure that no other person had to feel that way.”
My Story: Witnessing the fallen giants of the forest after Helene
“In the distance, I could see the demarcation line of destruction above 3,000 feet where wind shear took down most of the big trees. This was a gut punch.”
Reflections: Sternberg spoke his mind on government and more
“He always wanted what was best for the community, but like me, he felt that local government often overstepped its bounds, and he didn’t mind letting you know how he felt.”
Reflections: A conversation lasting 30 years
Reflections on the life of Asheville native and longtime Xpress columnist Jerry Sternberg.
Sternberg’s ‘Gospel’ told a colorful history of Asheville
“It also seems fitting to remember — in his own words — the man who started writing ‘The Gospel According to Jerry’ for this newspaper three decades ago.”
New beginning post-Helene or business as usual?
“So do we really want to return to maximizing profits and exploiting the beauty of our marvelous mountains and the brilliance of our creative people, while risking ever more floods, landslides and the havoc they wreak?”
My Story: Writing my obituary, a how-to manual and love note
“I’m writing this because I have some thoughts to share on the subject of dying.”
Year in Review: Readers weighed in on development, health care, UNCA and more
The letters to the editor, commentaries and online comments published in Xpress over 2024 yield insights into readers’ concerns that hit close to home.
Should the River Arts District be rebuilt?
“I believe city and county officials, artists, historians, creative builders and thinkers should all join to come up with the best of possibilities.”
Opinion: People living in tents — a real story, or a pretext for political outrage?
By now, this story of locals living in flimsy tents post-Helene has taken on a life of its own. So where does the truth lie? Are we edging into urban myth territory, or are our neighbors toughing out the coldest temperatures of the year in lightweight tents?
My Story: Helene, Howland Road and the Scooby van
Xpress asked readers to share their experiences of Tropical Storm Helene. This is one of those stories.
‘A city of heroes’: Helene showed the collective power of Asheville
Editor’s note: The following is the text of Asheville Fire Chief Michael Cayse’s speech at the Oct. 22 candlelight vigil held at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville to honor those affected by Tropical Storm Helene. Good evening, Asheville. My name is Mike Cayse, I have the pleasure of being the fire chief for this […]
My Story: Getting trees off roofs and feeling community support
“I worked from High Point and kept answering phones and coordinating help — finding out which tree crews with cranes were where and getting that information to anyone with a tree on their house.”
My Story: Neighbors DIY it to source water for East End/Valley Street
“By Sunday, it became clear that our water infrastructure wasn’t going to improve anytime soon, and our neighbors needed a way to flush their toilets. We decided to gather creek water using buckets and bins from a friend’s property and bring it back for our neighbors.”
Handing over the keys: Xpress sponsors supply run
Xpress recently sponsored a supply run to Mecklenburg County. Distribution coordinator Cindy Kunst got the vehicle ready for Xpress managing editor Thomas Calder, who made the trip.
From first cover story, Xpress offered meaningful work
Former Xpress reporter and managing editor Cecil Bothwell reflects on his first cover story for the paper and more.
Community embraced Xpress — and it showed
Former Xpress advertising director Wanda Edney recalls the early years of the newspaper’s growth in WNC.
Road hog: The I-26 Disconnector
“But while small portions of the road do appear to be much-needed transformations, will we now turn away in disgust and denial over what we’re doing to the people, animals and environments that will be most dreadfully affected?”
Home sweet homeless: The Gospel According to Jerry
“I recently sat down with Sheriff Quentin Miller, one of our outstanding public servants and community leaders, who’s proposed a very promising solution to this problem — and it’s sitting right under our noses.”
My Story: You can’t see what lies round the bend
“Realizing that some people might assume I disliked the preacher due to his religious views, I included this sentence in the book’s acknowledgements: ‘I don’t believe in supernatural beings of any stripe, and I happily acknowledge that I could be wrong.’”
