For Maurice Frank, retirement revolves around three key pursuits: playing, socializing and giving back.
New Stories
Candidates for Buncombe school board weigh in on local issues
In was a chaotic year for Western North Carolina’s largest school district in 2023-24. This November, ten candidates are vying for four seats to lead Buncombe County Schools into a future full of question marks for public education in North Carolina.
Asheville’s alt-weekly has both captured and contributed to WNC’s evolution
Since moving here in 2002, I have seen Xpress transform from an edgy, quirky publication to the strong, serious news and cultural resource it is today — without sacrificing its trademark uniqueness.
Around town: Punch Bucket Lit launches literary festival in Asheville
Punch Bucket Lit will host its first literary festival, featuring more than 100 writers. Plus, a Black Mountain poet releases a book of interviews, The Asheville Ballet debuts its 2024-25 season and the City of Asheville hosts the Festival of Neighborhoods.
What’s new in food: Two Asheville chefs bring the heat to the NCRLA Chef Showdown
Chefs Jill Heaton and Terri Terrell represented Asheville in the N.C. Restaurant & Lodging Association Chef Showdown grand finale. Plus: Utopian Seed Project’s Trial to Table, expanded food options at the N.C. Mountain State Fair, and more!
Playbill picks: September local theater highlights
Three musicals and a period drama are among this month’s stage offerings.
Letter: When zoning and politics collide
“I was very disappointed to read reports that the Trump-appointee blueprint, Project 2025, explicitly supports single-family zoning, which would push me back toward the Democrats from whom I departed.”
Community embraced Xpress — and it showed
Former Xpress advertising director Wanda Edney recalls the early years of the newspaper’s growth in WNC.
Letter: Let’s head off a kudzu monolith
“There is no doubt that people will be economically affected when every road and scenic area in WNC is kudzu-covered, and that time is fast approaching.”
Letter: Where does the money go?
“I think it would be nice to have a full disclosure of how the $3 billion is spent and who gets it. It just doesn’t sit well with me.”
Letter: Fundamentals of education haven’t changed
“It escapes me how this could impact overworked, underpaid and probably unappreciated teachers interacting with students in classrooms.”
Council to review Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report
The presentation highlights achievements, including progress on Council’s six key strategic priorities.
BCS grapples with fallout from federal litigation around sex discrimination regulations
At its meeting Sept. 5, the Buncombe County Board of Education unanimously (7-0) passed interim policies that broaden the school district’s interpretation of what constitutes a complaint as defined by Title IX, a federal law passed in 1972 that bars sex discrimination in education.
Decades at Xpress opened doors to community
Between an office downtown and tickets to local festivals and performances, long-time Xpress office manager enjoyed the best Asheville had to offer.