Friday, April 5 is the Asheville Tourists’ opening day. In this month’s “Best Medicine,” co-host Cayla Clark speaks with fellow local comedians about the team and if there’s a more appropriate name for the ball club.
New Stories
Asheville’s canines clock in
Not all of Asheville’s pups live a life of leisure. There are several who work hard for the money — OK, the dog treats — in our libraries and schools as well as on our streets.
Council greenlights Ferry Road mixed-income development
Hundreds of units of mixed-income housing are coming to a Ferry Road property, resolving years of uncertainty over the use of the land.
Buncombe considers incentives to convert short-term rentals to affordable housing
At its meeting on Tuesday, April 2, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will consider launching a pilot program that could transition up to 20 units from STRs to affordable long-term rentals for residents in its first year.
Longtime educator and advocate for the deaf recognized by NCRID
“Most deaf kids are born to hearing parents, and there’s usually a lag time of identifying deafness in a baby and often a struggle with accepting that you have a deaf child. There’s a long process in which there can be a lot of language deprivation for children. So for us, that’s a big part of our job, being language role models and teaching,” says Kim Martin, lead interpreter for Buncombe County Schools.
Local poet revisits her father’s cocaine trafficking in latest collection
Poet Nicole Farmer describes her father as a true chameleon. “He went from the mean streets of Chicago to being a golden gloves boxer, studying acting with Lee Strasberg, appearing on Broadway and years being a college history professor before he made his bold criminal move to raise money he needed to open his own honky-tonk.”
Buncombe begins 3-month budget approval process
County staff reported sales tax revenue growth continues to slow from a peak in 2022 and occupancy tax collections are down 3% year-to-date compared with last year. That, along with expiring funding from the American Rescue Plan Act has the county projecting essentially a no-growth budget.
Gardening with Xpress: Replenish the soil so your plants can ‘eat’
Replenishing the soil is first step to a successful growing season.
Business improvement district proposal praised at State of Downtown address
The mayor shared her enthusiasm about a potential business improvement district, or BID, in the city’s downtown.
Around Town: Blue Ridge Mountains inspire debut suspense novel
A Weaverville author launches her debut novel with an event at Blue Mountain Pizza. Also in this issue: Book discussion and activism events highlight Asheville Prison Books, a Yale singing group performs at the Basilica of St. Lawrence, Mountain BizWorks’ spring Craft Your Commerce workshop series and more.
From CPP: Former attendees describe ‘nightmare’ at therapy camp in NC mountains. DHHS suspended admissions after 12-year-old died.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has suspended admissions to Trails Carolina, a residential therapeutic camp in Transylvania County, after a 12 year boy died there Feb. 3, according to a letter DHHS sent the camp.
What’s new in food: Couple trade corporate life for kimchi
An Asheville couple leave their corporate jobs to make kimchi; a new coffee and baked goods purveyor opens in Black Mountain, Guajiro Cuban Comfort Food gets extended hours and location, and more.
Letter: Ask Edwards what fiscal commission would target
“If the Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 makes it into law, it creates a way to cut the federal budget, including Medicare and Social Security, largely behind closed doors.”
Letter: Haw Creek development raises many concerns
“We hope the Council will be committed to balancing new development with improvements to maintain and enhance the Haw Creek community.”
Letter: Repair Malvern Hills pool in time for summer
“I urge the Asheville government to do the right thing and listen to the people’s request to repair the Malvern Hills pool and have it open for swim classes and recreation this coming summer.”
In defense of challenge: How tackling hard things benefits us all
“So here’s my challenge: Let’s find ways to regularly challenge ourselves in good ways and let’s encourage others around us to do the same.”