Dear readers:
Here’s a salute tinged with sadness: In our Oct. 15 issue, Mountain Xpress will publish the results of our annual Best of WNC reader survey. Among the winners will be Rebecca Bowe, a reporter and editor who has covered the environmental beat and much more for Xpress, earning our respect as well as yours. You named her the best reporter in the area.
It’s a fitting recognition: Bowe has also won state and regional journalism awards for her investigative reporting on contamination concerns around the former CTS of Asheville plant on Mills Gap Road. During her three years at Xpress, she’s cast a wide net, coordinating our green-building guides, writing the weekly Green Scene column of local environmental news (see her final column in this issue), reporting on issues that ranged from substandard housing to community gardens, from domestic violence to public transportation, as well as keeping Xpress running week-to-week, as a contributing editor.
But for now, at least, Bowe’s gotta go. She’s moving to San Francisco, where she plans to pursue graduate studies in journalism. With her help, we’ve passed CTS reporting to staff writer David Forbes (dforbes@mountainx.com) and the Green Scene to long-time Xpress writer and editor Margaret Williams (mvwilliams@mountainx.com).
Thank you, Rebecca—and good luck out there.
— The editors
Rebecca’s shoes won’t be easy to fill (especially since mine are so much bigger and not always nimble). Under her guidance and through her hard work, Green Scene has served the community well. WNC’s environmentally conscious and active citizenry also serve our community well, and I look forward to being a part of it. We live in a special place, worthy of our stewardship and commitment to protecting it.
Rebecca, Thank you for your tireless leadership. You have given the region much and we are better because of your gifts. Thank you! All the best to you in your pursuits. Hope your path finds you back here soon. Phillip Gibson