Jeff Fobes reflects on how his life led him to a 30-year career as a newspaper publisher, first of GreenLine, now the Mountain Xpress.

Jeff Fobes reflects on how his life led him to a 30-year career as a newspaper publisher, first of GreenLine, now the Mountain Xpress.
Last June, Umoja debuted HOPE 4 the Future, a summer camp for children and teens. In its initial season, it served 78 youths.
“When programming is directed by community members, you get to hear about new music, ideas and news that you don’t hear in the mainstream, and that’s invaluable.”
Local-led, volunteer-run radio station WPVM, 103.7 FM has completed an ownership transition, from Mountain Area Information Network to a new group, Friends of WPVM. Making it through the change of leadership hasn’t been smooth sailing, however. Xpress explores the station’s troubled history and how it’s charting a new course.
After nearly two years, the switchboard lights are glowing once again inside MAIN-FM’s studio on Haywood Street. And that’s good news for Western North Carolina, says Wally Bowen, who founded both the community radio station and the nonprofit Mountain Area Information Network, which operates the station. (Photo by Max Cooper)
Local radio is very much alive in the Asheville area. Xpress talks to the folks whose passion keeps it going.
On the radio airwaves, clashes between financial and broadly defined educational interests are common. But local public-affairs broadcasters don’t allow a lack of deep pockets to prevent their messages from getting out. (image by John Zara, photos by Max Cooper)