The new Haywood Road coffeehouse aims to provide an alcohol-free space for community connection. Also in this week’s food news: a dinner series from Storm Rhum chef Jay Medford, a summer cocktail collaboration at Nine Mile, new wine and cider releases and more.
New Stories
Letter: Long-term shelter cats deserve a second chance
“Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue in Fletcher provides shelter and care to animals in need, and some animals take longer to rehome than others.”
Letter: General Assembly should let cities take action on plastic
“Cities such as Durham and Asheville were exploring bans or fees on plastic bags to address local waste management challenges and reduce environmental impact.”
Letter: It’s time for city and county to approve reparations
“Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church firmly believes it is time for these entities to address the pervasive anti-Black racism by approving these recommendations and providing reparations.”
Why downtown Asheville is dominated by half-empty parking lots
According to Rob Robinson, 57% of buildable surface area in the Central Business District, not including parks or streets, is surface-level parking lots. That doesn’t include parking garages or on-street parking.
Gardening with Xpress: Tips for quashing squash plant pests
A few strategies for combating squash vine borers, coping with zucchini overload and combining cover crops with no-till gardening.
County to consider Asheville Primary School site plans
The former Asheville Primary School site may move one step closer to serving the community in a new way if the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approves plans at its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 6.
June tourism stays steady compared with June 2023
As more hotels get built, more people rent them, report shows. Vacation rentals were also up from June 2023.
Bite Me reimagines the food festival
The inaugural event runs Aug. 14-18.
Coalition launches to replace Mission Hospital’s ownership
Reclaim Healthcare WNC’s goals are to replace HCA with a nonprofit hospital system, “hold HCA accountable for its harmful culture and practices” and “restore best-in-class healthcare throughout the Mission system,” per a press release.
Best Medicine: Comedians offer tips for dodging the summer heat
“I actually fried an egg on my mailbox this past weekend,” notes comedian Cayla Clark in the latest round of Best Medicine. This month, she is joined by fellow local comics Evelyn Pekarek, Corey Day and Larry Griffin.
A look at the candidates running for the Buncombe Soil & Water Conservation District board and why it matters
If you don’t know what a Soil & Water Conservation District supervisor does, you are not alone. Here’s a quick primer on the position, which Buncombe County voters will decide on this fall.
From CPP: Dogwood warns HCA of potential violations of terms of Mission Health deal
If the parties are unable to come to a resolution through dialogue after HCA receives official notice, then Dogwood has the right to move toward resolution through the courts.
New independent monitor finds HCA in potential noncompliance with Mission asset purchase agreement
The 32-page report from Boston-based Affiliated Monitors Inc. detailed three areas where in 2023 HCA potentially did not honor commitments it made five years ago as part of the Asset Purchase Agreement.