“The drop in tourism should not alarm anyone.”
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Letter: Asheville doesn’t understand tourism’s value
“Many local Ashevilleans complain about tourists because they don’t understand that the revenue they bring affects their daily lives in a positive way.”
In photos: International Day of Peace
“We are marching for humanity and the planet, and to get out the message that through unity, trust, and justice, peace is possible,” says Laura Mayes, one of the organizers.
Council to vote on Pack Square Vision Plan
After months of planning and community engagement forums, Asheville City Council is set to vote on the renovation plans for Pack Square Plaza at its Tuesday, Sept. 26 meeting. The plan has 10 main areas of focus, including creating new spaces for civic engagement and expression, repositioning the elevated lawn and redesigning South Market Street as an active cultural corridor to The Block.
Recent and well-established roller-skating groups discuss WNC’s coasting community
“Part of our mission, our desire, is to really expose people to each other,” says Ashanti Ternoir, co-founder of AVLsk8. “And then to create a space that’s fun, that’s enjoyable through movement and skating and also through music.”
Messino Cancer Centers to stop providing acute leukemia chemotherapy at Mission
Messino’s decision not to provide acute hematology chemotherapy at Mission comes five months after a National Nurses United union nurse flagged concerns about potential cancer patient harm to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Green Roundup: Karen Cragnolin Park officially opens after 17 years of restoration work
After 17 long years of removing toxic soil and replanting native grasses and flora, the greenway phase of Karen Cragnolin Park officially opened with a dedication ceremony Aug. 25. The park was dedicated to and named after Karen Cragnolin, the founder and former executive director of RiverLink who died in 2022.
Forging new paths: After delays, Buncombe pushing greenway projects forward
Buncombe County drafted a plan to build 100 miles of greenways 10 years ago. Since then, it’s built a quarter mile of trails. But a newly passed bond is expected to refuel greenway construction.
Ron Rash on his latest (and possibly last) novel
On Tuesday, Sept. 26, author Ron Rash will celebrate the release of his 20th publication. His latest novel, The Caretaker, is set in Blowing Rock in 1951. “To me, this is a book about love,” Rash says. “Not in a sentimental way. It’s about the destructiveness of it. How we misuse the word — exploit it.”
Sunrise co-founder Kevin Mahoney on burnout, mental health and substance use
This summer, Kevin Mahoney decided to return to Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness, which he co-founded and where he will focus on educating the younger generation of peer support specialists.
Coalition urges county to push for plastic bag ban despite pending state restrictions
“It’s a cynical and shameful ploy to deny you the ability to serve your constituents. It’s anti-democratic, and I look forward to working together with you to reject this encroachment on our rights to protect our health and the health of our mountains, rivers and streams,” Karim Olaechea, deputy director of strategy and communications for MountainTrue told commissioners during public comment.
Groups scramble to help residents meet new voter ID requirement
The N.C. Supreme Court ruled recently that Senate Bill 824, a voter ID law originally passed in 2018 by the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly, is constitutional, meaning photo identification will be required for the upcoming municipal elections in Woodfin and Weaverville
BCTDA annual meeting hosts speaker on economy’s future
Despite a 30-minute evacuation due to smoke from caterers, the annual meeting of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority Sept. 19 was deemed a huge success, with more than 350 business owners, entrepreneurs and community leaders in attendance.
The Fritz, Nina Gi and Nerd Alert release new albums
Funk, soul, R&B and electronic sounds are represented across this month’s featured collections.
Business, nonprofit roundup: Cherokee votes to approve recreational marijuana
The measure would make the Qualla Boundary, which is about 46 miles west of Asheville, the only place in North Carolina where marijuana can legally be purchased for recreational use.