Just in time for the busy spring tourist season, the Blue Ridge Parkway will reopen a stretch of roadway connecting the popular Craggy Gardens and Mt. Mitchell State Park areas.
Tag: environment
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Blossoms, buds and a frost warning?
It seems like it took forever to get spring going this year. The wet and cool conditions we’ve experienced during the late winter and early spring in Western North Carolina made it feel like winter just refused to leave our region. (But — even now — there’s a possibility of frost Thursday night, April 25.) They say that good things come to those who wait, and it must be true, because many locations are enjoying gorgeous blooming trees.
Meet Transition Asheville
According to Transition Trainer and Organizer Dylan Ryals-Hamilton, “there are 458 official Transition Initiatives worldwide, and 137 of those are here in the U.S. We live in a world of volatile gas prices, extreme and unpredictable weather and an unstable global economy. To some the future may look bleak. We’re looking for the positive angle, designing and creating the future we want to see here in Asheville.”
Sustainability: Looking forward
Earth Day means more than a one-day-a-year celebration. And it’s bigger than environmental issues. In our April 17 edition, we delve into the many issues under the sustainability umbrella.
A thinking man’s approach to green building: Robin Woodward
A few months ago, a conversation with longtime downtown Asheville advocate Karen Tessier led to talk about one of her marketing client — Robin Woodward of Blue Ridge Energy Systems. A profile on Woodward languished in the Xpress inbox, until we stirred the pot for ideas about sustainability — what it means and where we’re going. Asheville has been at the heart of green-building initiatives in the past few decades. Here’s a close look at one of its self-starters.
Anticipation: waiting on the trees and the storms
It’s amazing how different each year can be as the ever-changing seasons unfold before our eyes. You may remember that the spring of 2012 was warm — very warm, with average temperatures last March that were over 9 degrees above normal in Western North Carolina. This year has been significantly different.
Citizens organize to fight power-plant proposal in Transylvania County
“Transylvania County could become home to a bio/renewable diesel fuel plant, the first of its kind in Western North Carolina,” the Hendersonville Times-News reported on April 3. Local residents have organized a campaign to fight the proposal, noting that a facility that generates power by burning MSW (municipal solid waste) could turn mar an otherwise pristine valley near Brevard, possibly diminish air and water quality and bring unwanted industrial traffic to the valley.
On a clear day: Visibility has improved, but you can’t (yet) see forever in WNC
On a clear day, you can’t see forever in Shining Rock, and pollution is the cause.
Eyes on ozone: Land-of-Sky launches annual ozone season
With today’s sunshine and warmer weather, ozone season — and local forecasts — begin in Western North Carolina.
Happy spring? Yeah, right!
A small, fast-moving and dynamic system brought snowfall to many places in the region Wednesday night, March 20. And, of course, it happened on the first day of spring!
WNC Alliance hosts 2013 Wild & Scenic Film Festival
The Western North Carolina Alliance is hosting the traveling 2013 Wild & Scenic Film Festival, stopping in Asheville and Cullowhee in April.
Comet watch and coats
No doubt about it: March is off to a chilly start so far. Today’s sunny skies are almost enough to fool you into thinking that spring has arrived … until you step foot outside and the brisk breeze and cold air reminds you that it’s still late winter. If the clouds cooperate, I encourage you to bundle up and take the opportunity to spot the comet PanSTARRS low on the western horizon after sunset for the next week.
Opposing lines: Owner, groups, utility disagree about placing power lines through Box Creek
Months of debate, studies and discussion about where Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation should build 2.5 miles of power lines have come to a halt: In January, REMC asked for an easement that would let the utility build power lines through Box Creek Wilderness, a 5,100-acre tract east of Asheville that straddles the county line between Rutherford and McDowell. But recently, local groups and the property owner launched a campaign against the request, including a petition, Facebook page and video.
A real snow job
Were you part of the “haves” or the “have not-so-muchers” this week? Those who live in the higher elevations received a big dose of snow while the Asheville Regional Airport saw just a trace.
Crowd shows up to object to Progress rate hike
At a five-hour hearing conducted by the North Carolina Utilities Commission last night, every speaker except those representing the Council of Independent Business Owners and Biltmore Farms objected to rate hikes proposed by Progress Energy. The speakers’ reasons for opposition ranged from the impact of the rate increases on the working poor to projected environmental damage. Photo by Max Cooper
Rutherford Electric files to build power lines through Box Creek Wilderness
Months of debate, studies and discussion about where Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation should build 2.5 miles of power lines have come to a halt: In January, REMC filed a 25-page request for an easement that would let the utility build power lines through Box Creek Wilderness, a 5,100-acre forest tract that straddles the county line between Rutherford and McDowell. Local groups and the property owner have launched a campaign against it, including a petition, Facebook page and video. (Image courtesy of Unique Places to Save)
The snow moon: Will it be right?
Did you know that each full moon has a name? Most of us have heard of the Harvest Moon, the full moon that occurs in October. In North America, the full moon in February is known as the Snow Moon (or the Storm Moon). February’s full moon occurred on Monday of this week, and it made a beautiful entrance over the eastern horizon.
Building knowledge: Asheville pushes for new schools
Education officials, teachers and even some students are pushing to build cutting-edge new homes for Isaac Dickson Elementary and Asheville Middle School. The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will consider the proposals soon, some of them questioning the need for high-tech designs when budgets are already stretched thin. Even supporters don’t know where the estimated $60 million cost might come from.
A Tale of Two Schools
In their push for new state-of-the-art homes for Issac Dickson Elementary and Asheville Middle School, officials say the existing facilities suffer from leaky roofs and windows, unwieldy corridors, mold, insufficient storage, inadequate lighting and antiquated heating and cooling systems.
Western Carolina University’s trail system now open
Nearly 7 miles of Western Carolina University trails are now open for bikers, hikers and runners. About 100 people celebrated on Feb. 23. (photo courtesy of WCU)
Local public hearing on Progress Energy rate hikes set for March 5
The North Carolina Utilities Commission wants to hear from you: On Tuesday, March 5, the commission will hold a local public hearing on Progress Energy Carolinas’ request to raise residential, commercial and industrial electricity rates by an average of 12 percent.