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Spotlight on: Get There Asheville

Photo by Esmée Dorf

Whether you know it or not, you’re probably a member of Get There Asheville.

The multimodal transit advocacy group—which formed this year to press municipal candidates to make a smart, sustainable local transportation network a top priority—aims to represent the interests of bus riders, cyclists and pedestrians.

“Even if you don’t slap on spandex for a road ride or take the bus to work, you might bike with your kids on the weekend or take an evening walk,” explains group member Rachel Reeser. “We all stand to benefit from better transit options in our community.”

Get There Asheville’s goal this year is to ensure that every mayoral and City Council candidate thoroughly understands the issues pertaining to local transit, and that every voter knows where the candidates stand on these important issues.

Group member Sandy Tarantino says, “No matter how voters travel to their polling places, we hope they will all consider the importance of multimodal transit to Asheville’s economic and environmental future when they cast their ballots.”

To familiarize voters with candidates’ transportation platforms, Get There Asheville has collected candidate responses to a 10-question survey on local transportation issues. Voters can read the responses online at http://www.getthereasheville.com and in a printed booklet, available free at area bike shops and libraries.

Get There Asheville’s next event is a candidate forum at the Asheville Design Center, 8 College St., on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. To submit questions for the candidates, shoot an e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or visit the group’s Web site.

Weekly Picks

Painter Jim Meyers won this year's "Best in Show" award in the Toe River Arts Council's annual Fall Celebration of the Arts competition. Meyers' winning painting and many other splendid works will be on display through Saturday, Nov. 7, at the TRAC Center Gallery, 269 Oak Ave., Spruce Pine. Info: 765-0520.

Erik Reece, the author of the book Lost Mountain about coal politics, will give a presentation titled "What's the Real Story Here?" Thursday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. at Warren Wilson College's Ransom Fellowship Hall. Info: 771-2017.

Two touring indie bands, Blind Pilot and The Low Anthem, will perform at UNCA's Highsmith University Union Friday, Nov. 6, at 8 p.m. Info: www.myspace.com/blindpilot or www.myspace.com/lowanthem.

Browse the wares at the third annual Arts and Crafts Holiday Market at Beech Glen Community Center in Mars Hill Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Artisans from Madison County and surrounding counties will be offering works in glass, fiber, wood, paper, oils, watercolors, metal and more. Plus, live music. Info: 689-5117 or 689-2112.

In recognition of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, join veterans and other members of the community for the "A Celebration of America" concert Sunday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 6th Ave. West, Hendersonville. Info: 693-4890.

World Cup ultrarunner Anne Lundblad will share all of the gory details involved in setting a women's course record at the next Asheville Track Club general meeting Monday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. at Posana Cafe, 1 Biltmore Ave., Asheville. Info: www.ashevilletrackclub.org.

Catch a screening of The Third Man (1949), a film Xpress' Ken Hanke says "is about as close to a perfect film as you're likely to get," Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. at Weaverville Library. Local film historian Bill Brittain will offer an introduction and follow-up. Free popcorn. Info: 250-6482.