News - Articles, Content and Blogs
Buncombe County Democratic Party to Host Health Care Political Strategy Session
The Buncombe County Democratic Party will host a political strategy session and discussion on health care reform. The event will be held Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at the YMI Cultural Center. Read more...
Dancing Makes You Smarter
Most people agree that dancing is a good form of exercise, but research shows other health benefits like stress reduction, increased serotonin levels, and improved well being. Read more...
Next assignment for dynamic duo of Mumpower and Boyle: Diving into Asheville's escort services
Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower calls attention to Asheville sex escort services. Read more...
Shoot A Cyclist For Safety
A few days ago outside of Asheville, NC a motorist became so enraged at a cyclist for legally riding on a public road - that he shot him in the head... with the victim's 3-year old son in the bike seat behind him. According to the police, the bullet came within an inch of killing the cyclist. Read more...
Coming soon... The Lexington Avenue Brewery (The LAB) & Sweet Peas Hostel
With each passing week, we grow closer to the much anticipated opening of the Lexington Avenue Brewery (the LAB) and Sweet Peas Hostel. Located in the TS Morrison Building on North Lexington Avenue, these two businesses, covering a total of 12,000 sq ft of space, stand to reshape the flow of nightlife and travelers in downtown Asheville. Read more...
'Beer City Bash' @ The Orange Peel
We're having a party, Asheville! Come one, come all (over 21 only) to the 'Beer City Bash' at The Orange Peel on Friday, June 26. Doors @ 7:30pm; Starts at 8pm. Yours truly will be the MC! We're celebrating Asheville's tie with Portland, OR in the 'Beer City USA' poll. $10/pp includes two beer vouchers, giveaways, and live music. Don't miss it! Read more...
23 Skidoo DVD Release Event
Local kid-hop act, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has shown again and again that he knows how to throw a party. Last Saturday's DVD release party at the Grey Eagle was no exception. 23 has an energy and stage presence that keeps your feet movin' weather you have diapers or dentures. Read more...
Bellamy Bringing the Broadband?
Hunter Goosmann, the mastermind behind the ERC's regional broadband service, twittered a link to stimulus money dedicated to expanding broadband access: Read more...
DTMP: Section Two - Parking and Moving
I've got three favorite parking places downtown. One of them remains unmetered. Each requires an extra block of walking to city center. You all have your favorite spots as well, even the cyclists and the scooterati. Anecdotes suggest that some folks have a terrible time finding a place to park whenever they come downtown. Downtown business owners want it to be easy for people to get out of their cars and move all over the city. Read more...
DTMP: Section One - Arts, Culture, History
Section One of the DTMP is focused on arts, culture, and history in downtown Asheville. Folks all have their favorite and least favorite things about going downtown. I love hearing music in the streets, seeing art wherever I look, running into friends, and the abounding culture of creativity. A combination of low property values a generation ago, relentless entrepreneurship, city planning, and a most excellent populace has created a downtown full of life, where it feels like anything could happen. Read more...
NC Legislation: 'Contraversial, Statewide Smoking Ban Passed'
I personally think that last week's passing of the statewide smoking ban is a big deal. I know that for smokers this new legislation is annoying, but personally I welcome the change. Read more...
No High-Rise in front of the Basilica!
One of the most beautiful buildings in Asheville celebrates its 100th birthday this year. The historic Basilica of St. Lawrence was built in 1909, and sits at the entrance to downtown. The City of Asheville is now negotiating with the McKibbon Hotel Group to sell them the land in front of the Basilica. Read more...
Downtown Master Plan - An Overview
The Final Draft of the Downtown Master Plan is a creation of consensus and compromise. Dedicated people from every cranny of our community devoted 5,000 hours of their time to hammer this thing out. Public input sessions were frequent and very well attended. So no matter where you land in assessing the DTMP, you can respect the process that went into creating it. Read more...
Parkway Opens at Craggy Gardens May 15th
Parkway Opens One-Lane Traffic on May 15, 2009, Through Craggy Gardens Area. Blue Ridge Parkway officials are pleased to announce the opening of the Craggy Gardens Area to alternating one-lane traffic beginning on May 15, 2009. The Parkway detour between US 70 at Milepost 382.5 and NC Route 226 at Milepost 330.9/Gillespie Gap will be discontinued. However, retaining wall reconstruction will continue until the estimated completion in mid-June when this section of Parkway will be fully opened for two-lane visitor traffic. Read more...
Asheville City Chickens Meetup
Now that Asheville's Animal Control Ordinance has been changed to be more permissive of urban chickens, it's time to shift Asheville City Chickens from a grassroots political group to a group of engaged urban chickeners interested in raising chickens in a city setting and dedicated to helping others in their endeavors. In order to facilitate that, Cathy has set up a MeetUp.com account to allow us to arrange get togethers among those interested in urban chickens in the Asheville area. Read more...
Asheville's Downtown Master Plan
Tomorrow the Goody Clancy team, who paid $170,000 to collect, synthesize, and present the work of the Advisory Team, will present it's Final Draft Downtown Master Plan (DTMP) to City Council. The plan is a result of 5,000 hours of volunteers' time and an enormous amount of input from every corner of downtown. Two weeks from tomorrow, on May 26, City Council will hold a public hearing on the Plan. Between now and then there's going to be a lot of wrangling over this vision for Asheville. Read more...
Parkside: Appeals Court To Hear Case May 19
Here's a great chance for the multiple civic organizations who opposed the Parkside boondoggle to come together one more time. According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, 'The state Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments May 19 in a lawsuit over Buncombe County's 2006 sale of property just west of City Hall to developer Stewart Coleman...' Read more...
Tied with Portland! Asheville is Eastern 'Beer City, USA!'
'Over 16,000 people from 46 countries cast votes between March 18 and May 7 for their favorite Beer City USA. In the end Portland, Oregon and Asheville, North Carolina gathered the most votes. It was close right up until the end. Philadelphia came in third with 1,103 votes and cities with over 100 votes were:' Read more...
Media Arts Advantage Fund Open Now
The MAP has been supporting artists, innovation, and the regional economy since 2001. As a member of the Board of the MAP, I can attest to the passion and talent that goes into this Media Arts Advantage Fund. Please help spread the word about this excellent opportunity Read more...
Good Shuler!
Heath Shuler is making some positive headlines on climate change and his support of The Motor Vehicle Owner's Right to Repair Act HR 2057. Read more...
Patsy Keever to Challenge Bruce Goforth in 2010
Bruce Goforth has served four terms as the NC representative for House district 115. His record on the environment and other issues have been less than stellar. When a recent poll showed that 80% of Watauga County residents want more landslide regulation and warnings for people buying homes in landslide prone areas, Goforth said, 'I have about as much confidence...' Read more...
Hampton Inn Biltmore Square Completes Renovations
Hampton Inn Biltmore Square Completes Renovation of Entire Hotel totaling 3.5 Million Dollars. South Asheville Hotel Associates today announced that it has completed a renovation of Hampton Inn Biltmore Square located at 1 Rocky Ridge Road in Asheville, NC. Read more...
Carl Mumpower to Run For Re-election
He's been coy for some time on the subject, but this piece from the Buncombe County Republican Party site puts an end to the wondering. Carl Mumpower will be in the race for Asheville City Council this year, and his announcement is vintage Carl - refusing money and calling the other Council members vain, irresponsible, criminal child abusers: Read more...
