Asheville Grown Business Alliance director Franzi Charen asks ‘localists’ to help preserve independent businesses downtown

In a recent newsletter that calls chain businesses out as detrimental to Asheville’s downtown landscape, Asheville Grown Business Alliance director Franzi Charen asks Asheville residents: “Are we ‘planting the seeds of our own decline?’” In her plea, Charen reflects the growing pains other cities have experienced after introducing chains and multiple hotels into their downtown […]

County Chairman David Gantt not seeking re-election

At an emotion-filled press conference Wednesday morning, July 22, long-serving Buncombe County Commissioner and Chairman David Gantt notified the public that he would not seek re-election, leaving office at the end of 2016.  He spoke to the measures of success and what he felt were the top accomplishments during his tenure. Thanking all the fellow commissioners and county […]

Living Web Farms of Mills River to host roundtable on pollinator protection, June 13

Eight local pollinator, conservation and food experts comprise the panel that will be featured at a forthcoming event hosted by Living Webs Farms of Mills River. The roundtable takes place at their educational farm at 176 Kimzey Road on Saturday, June 13, from 1:30 p.m. until 7 p.m., and discussions will “examine the challenges and […]

UNC Asheville, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians sign agreement

UNC Asheville and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Sign Agreement Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) will have new opportunities to attend UNC Asheville as part of an instructional credit agreement that was signed today on the university’s campus in both English and Kituwah Cherokee syllabary. With members of the campus and […]

Transforma­tive journey: Appalachia­n Trail thru-hiker reconsider­s his life path

On February 18, Xpress published “Tales from the Trail,” detailing the experiences of Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Gary Sizer. In the story, we met Henry Wasserman, who was seeking a transformative experience on the A.T. On March 19 Wasserman began his months-long trek north, trudging mile after mile through red Georgia clay.

MountainTrue environmental organization gains official name and nonprofit status

From MountainTrue: At the Nov. 20 Annual Fall Gathering, the boards and members of WNCA, ECO and Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance enthusiastically agreed to move forward as one united organization: MountainTrue. The merger and name change became official on Jan. 1. We are very grateful to the more than 100 people who came to celebrate this […]

WNC Food Policy Council awarded $10,000 for agribusiness and food bank training

From a WNC Food Policy Council press release: WNC Food Policy Council awarded $10,000 for agribusiness and food bank training CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) has awarded $10,000.00 to the Western North Carolina Food Policy Council (WNCFPC). The funding will coordinate multiple local efforts in agribusiness training and food […]

Permit by numbers: City offers public art contractin­g classes

“Putting artists to work” may sound like a WPA-era poster slogan. But it’s also the fundamental basis of a new series of public art contracting courses hosted by RiverLink and organized by Brenda Mills, the city of Asheville’s economic development specialist. The classes offer an introduction and general overview of being a contractor with the city — […]