ASHEVILLE, NC
Tag: environment
Showing 22-42 of 378 results
Letter: We must rekindle the fire of resistance
“To prevent the demise of our democracy, we must participate in it.”
Making the grade: WNC’s college dining programs get high scores for sustainability
Increasingly, U.S. colleges and universities are working to make their institutions as environmentally sustainable as possible. These efforts cover a broad spectrum, from a recycling initiative at Stanford University that diverts 65 percent of the school’s solid waste away from landfills to Cornell’s plan to be carbon-neutral by 2035, as noted in The Princeton Review’s annual ranking […]
Despite environmental concerns, salt still most effective de-icer
To keep cars from slipping and sliding — and crashing and smashing — when weather conditions turn roads icy, the city of Asheville and the N.C. Department of Transportation treat local motorways with salt. While the substance can impact water quality and the health of wildlife, officials say they mostly succeed in balancing environmental and traffic safety concerns.
Letter: Thanks to commissioners for renewable energy vote
“Brownie Newman, Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Al Whitesides and Ellen Frost voted in favor, and the three Republicans made speeches about how they support the environment before voting no.”
Last days to give to Give!Local nonprofits
Those wishing to help Give!Local nonprofits need to do so by midnight Dec. 31. Donors can choose any of 37 local nonprofits and give any amount, from $1 on up, doing so with just one online transaction at givelocalguide.org. The 37 nonprofits are organized according to their areas of focus: community, youth, animals, arts, environment, […]
WNC residents rail against Duke rate hike
A banner drop across from a Sept. 27 public hearing of the N.C. Utilities Commission signaled Asheville’s rejection of Duke Energy Progress’ plan to raise rates almost 15 percent. “Go 100% renewable. No rate hikes for Duke’s dirty energy,” read the banner. A lineup of 44 speakers echoed those sentiments over the course of a nearly four-hour hearing.
White nose syndrome is devastating WNC bat populations
The bad news for bat populations throughout the United States continues, and Western North Carolina is no exception. In one large Haywood County mine that was home to 4,000 bats in 2011, researchers found only 30 this winter.
Letter: Environmental protest deserved coverage
“I know there is an element in our area which hopes to eliminate the voices of the people. Yet I would have thought the news media would acknowledge such a large gathering.”
Organic salons reject toxic beauty products
Because beauty products may contain toxic chemicals linked to health problems, many WNC salons are switching to all organic products to keep customers and workers safe.
Weaverville residents voice concerns about subdivision development
The Buncombe County Planning Board initially approved the plans for the Maple Trace subdivision in November 2014. At that time, the design called for 140 household units to be built in a rural Weaverville community with traffic directed through two exists. However, revisions to the plan have residents concerned that poor visibility and high traffic may result in dangerous driving conditions.
Down the road: The future of Future I-26
Identifying the challenges facing the Future I-26 project is fairly straightforward; implementing the needed improvements is more complicated. So how does an ordinary highway become an interstate? And when might the stretch north of downtown Asheville make the interstate grade?
Letter writer: High rates of student smoking casts cloud over Warren Wilson College’s image
“Needless to say, your news about the high rate of students smoking casts a cloud over the image of Warren Wilson.”
Kids contribution: Learning Community — Preservation
When Xpress asked local educators for ideas about the focus of the annual Kids Issue, two distinct ideas rose to the top: activism and a kid’s view of the world. This week we focused on activism.
Letter writer: Big Ivy’s forests must be protected
When we purchased our Barnardsville-area property years ago, we chose it primarily because it backed up to national forest lands. We felt this ensured that the land would be protected for our family and for future generations. Why are we now considering creating roads to slice through the forest so that logging trucks can cut […]
Asheville students win grant to help environment by replacing Styrofoam lunch trays
A student-generated idea to help the environment by getting rid of Styrofoam lunch trays in the school cafeteria is becoming a reality at Asheville’s Vance Elementary School.
Letter writer: Set a better example, Urban Outfitters
I am writing to express my dismay when I drive or walk by the Urban Outfitters store in downtown Asheville and see their large double doors propped wide open, no matter what the weather. In the summer, you are blasted with cold air from their AC on the sidewalk. In the winter, the heat must be […]
Urban bear study wraps up its first year in Asheville
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and NC State University have wrapped up the first year of urban bear study in Asheville. “While it is too early in the study to make any conclusions, we were impressed by the size and health of the yearling bears we handled,” reads a passage from NC Wildlifer.
The forest for the trees: Debating Forest Service plan at Newsmakers forum
On Thursday, Nov. 13, the Asheville-based investigative news outlet Carolina Public Press hosted its first Newsmakers series — in this case, a lively discussion that dived questions about the U.S. Forest Service’s draft plan for 1 million acres of public lands in Western North Carolina. (photos by Pat Barcas)
Alexandra Guest talks about WNCA’s new Forest Keepers program
Recently, Mountain Xpress sat down with Alexandra Guest, the AmeriCorps Forest Keeper who’s helping lead a new initiative in Western North Carolina.
U.S. Forest Service tracks wildlife responses to fire restoration in Pisgah National Forest
It was my first prescribed burn. After weeks of training, and months of anticipation, I was finally on the ground – drip torch in hand – ready to apply fire to restore the mixed pine-hardwood forests at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest.