On heels of a 2021 study that showed the power of the French Broad River as an economic driver, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce convened a panel to discuss the importance of keeping that engine clean.
Tag: Karen Cragnolin
Showing 1-14 of 14 results
Can Asheville draw on the past to build its future?
“Today, Asheville’s a tourist destination fueled by wealth-take-all capitalism beset with growing urban issues such as parking, pollution, land use, development, affordable housing, crime and allocation of tax revenues. Yet are all these intractable problems with only temporary solutions? Not really.”
How citizen resistance derailed plan to dam the French Broad
“The more than a thousand citizen activists who came together as the Upper French Broad Defense Association, bolstered by staunch support from state Rep. Charles Taylor, forced TVA to abandon its plans in 1972.”
Is the French Broad River safe for swimming?
Nothing sparks an online debate among Asheville-based social media groups faster than a question concerning the cleanliness of the French Broad River.
Wilma’s disciples: Three generations of female environmental leaders
“Wilma Dykeman’s shadow covered all of us and inspired us to speak out and support citizens who were becoming more and more concerned about water quality, air quality, land use, land conservation, forest management, etc., in our mountain area.”
Ode to the River Queen: The Gospel According to Jerry
“She rode into town on her white steed. And immediately found this silver serpent slithering slowly through the valley, passing the city and sorely in need.”
Community reflects on Cragnolin and her legacy
Community members reflect on the life and legacy of Karen Cragnolin, a dedicated champion of the French Broad River and its possibilities.
Asheville Independent Restaurant Association fights to help members stay aloft
The organization has been forced to cancel it’s two biggest annual fundraisers, but it continues to support the city’s local restaurant industry.
Let’s not let WNC become the next flavor of the month
“We need city and county managers who, together with our elected officials, can tackle key issues and help us navigate this new reality called the greater Asheville area.”
RiverLink transforms junkyard into park through phytoremediation
Located on Amboy Road between Carrier Park and the French Broad River Park, the new Karen Cragnolin Park — named for RiverLink founder Karen Cragnolin — will connect the parkway system along the river’s western bank. But before the property can fulfill that role, it must overcome its past as a junkyard.
Facing the future: What happens when a nonprofit leader steps down?
Thirty years is a long time to devote to any pursuit, and Karen Cragnolin, the oft-honored founding mother of RiverLink, can attest to that. During that time, she says she held every job in the organization and was planning to finally move on this year when, during surgery, she suffered an aneurysm that robbed her […]
Zoning to be focus of Sept. 6 hearings before Asheville City Council
It’s been nearly four weeks since City Council last met. Five zoning requests dominate the agenda for Council’s Sept. 6 meeting. Notably absent from the proceedings will be a public hearing on proposed standards for screening electrical substations, a zoning ordinance amendment that has already been postponed many times. Council has been asked to advance the hearing date on that matter to Jan. 10.
RiverLink’s Karen Cragnolin stepping down as executive director
RiverLink founder Karen Cragnolin has been the driving force behind the organization for the past 30 years. Now Cragnolin is transitioning to a new strategic role, and the river advocacy nonprofit has begun a search for new leadership
Provocative alchemy: Harnessing art and the environment to inspire local teachers
What do you get when you cast a world-class artist, a devoted environmentalist, and a poet laureate together on one stage? Answer: a very fine alchemy, where art, science, and education merge, and — if the featured guests have their way — the results may provoke social transformation.