http://www.mountainx.com/blogs/ en webmaster@mountainx.com Copyright 2007 2007-04-26T20:02:00+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/vote_for_your_favorite_everything http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/vote_for_your_favorite_everything#When:22:18:24Z Before you check the accuracy of your calendar and wonder what happened to the year, fear not! It truly is May. You haven’t been hibernating. We moved the Best of WNC from October to August and the time to vote is now! As spring leans toward summer and the days grow longer, we’re offering twice as many categories to match the abundance of the season, and the brilliance of what makes life in WNC the best. Two times the categories, you ask? Just about. We gleaned suggestions and ideas from wherever passion, creativity and community pride could be found. But don’t worry — you don’t have to vote for all of them, just what you care about the most. The days may be longer, but still ... You only have to vote for 25 categories (and you know you’ll want to vote for at least that many). We revamped the poll entirely, so it’s easier to use than ever. You can s… 2013-05-07T22:18:24+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/asheville_city_council_tentatively_endorses_budget_plan_uncertainties_remai http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/asheville_city_council_tentatively_endorses_budget_plan_uncertainties_remai#When:17:10:33Z While noting that much of its fate remains in the hands of the state legislature, at a special meeting this morning Asheville City Council gave staff the go-ahead to start drafting a budget based on a plan that assumes the city and county may consolidate their parks and recreation operations by January. The plan also includes a 1 cent per $100 property tax increase — from 42 cents to 43 cents — to maintain the same level of revenue. While decreases in local revenue due to a state overhaul aren’t as dire as originally predicted, city staff still anticipate a $1 million loss. A parks and recreation authority would save the city $5 million. The plan also calls for increased infrastructure spending beginning in the summer of 2014, either using those savings or a 3 cents per $100 tax increase. “There’s a lot st… 2013-05-17T17:10:33+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/calcast_may_17-19 http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/calcast_may_17-19#When:17:03:51Z The CalCast podcast brings together a wide array of festivals, events and benefits each weekend. Take in some electronic music by Shueh-li Ong (pictured) and many others at the Asheville Electro-Music Festival, stop by the Twin Rivers Media Festival and honor our country’s veterans this weekend. Podcast hosted by Ms. Amandi of Asheville Free Media’s Bombshell-ter Radio. 2013-05-17T17:03:51+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/making_all_the_right_moves_josh_ritter_and_the_orange_peel http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/making_all_the_right_moves_josh_ritter_and_the_orange_peel#When:16:36:39Z Photographer Rich Orris (all photos in this post are his) noted, early in the Josh Ritter show at The Orange Peel, that Ritter is one musician who makes everything instantly better. And it’s kind of true. Not that Ritter has the power to mend a broken heart or heal the sick or anything like that. But the way he takes the stage with a huge grin, the way he looks so genuinely happy to be there, the way he insists it’s going to be such a fun night and the way he seems to get more energetic, more smiley, more raucously happy as the show goes on — if that doesn’t cure what ails you, it’ll at least make you forget for a couple of hours. Ritter started the show solo with “Idaho.” When he reached the line, “Ain’t no wolf … 2013-05-17T16:36:39+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/public_pools_set_to_open_soon http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/public_pools_set_to_open_soon#When:12:52:24Z As the weather heats up, soon there will be more options to cool down. The city of Asheville and Buncombe County will open there public pools on Memorial Day weekend. In addition to open swimming, a variety of lessons, games and exercise classes are available. As they wrangle with a tough budget, there’s been talk among Asheville officials that some pools would have to be shut down to save costs. But as the June 30 deadline to finalize the budget draws near, it looks like they will be open for the summer. See details on the city and county pools’ locations, operating hours, and other information below, via local government websites. City of Asheville Swimming Pools Three outdoor pools are open June through mid-August and offer relief from the heat at Recreation Park, Malvern Hills Park and Walton Street Park. A variety of swim lessons, water games and exercise classes are available. Pools are loca… 2013-05-17T12:52:24+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/smart_bet_web_extra_the_honeycutters_two-night_stand http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/smart_bet_web_extra_the_honeycutters_two-night_stand#When:15:20:24Z Local Americana band The Honeycutters has been working at a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for what will be the band’s third studio album. Click here to read about the band’s project and the breakdown of recording costs. In the bid, the band writes, “We gain momentum with every show, every new fan, every record sold. We’re well aware that we are able to do what we love because of you, the music lover. The best way we know to express our gratitude is to keep making music!” They’ll be doing exactly that this weekend with two (two!) shows during a residency at Isis. (Xpress will give away a pair of tickets to each show — details on how to win at the bottom of this post.) Those performances are: &#… 2013-05-16T15:20:24+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/this_weekend_on_a_shoestring776 http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/this_weekend_on_a_shoestring776#When:13:00:00Z Thursday, May 16 • Interested in catching some classical music without paying a high admission price? The Pan Harmonia chamber music series, whose mission is “to share great music with audiences of all ages,” will host a free open rehearsal in UNCA’s Reuter Center. 7 p.m. Info:  251-6140. • “The time is near for one of the most iconic symbols of a summer vegetable garden,” begins a calendar entry on the Small Terrain website. “Come learn about all things tomato in preparation for this year’s crop. Whether you’re transplanting your seed starts or seeking information on which varieties to take home to your garden, this workshop will help you understand how to cultivate healthy, productive and d… 2013-05-16T13:00:00+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/msd_board_approves_budget_readies_for_legal_battle http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/msd_board_approves_budget_readies_for_legal_battle#When:04:24:35Z Passing a new budget resolution and agreeing to hire additional legal counsel were the two top items at Wednesday’s meeting of the board of the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County. The preliminary budget for the public agency, totaling roughly $40 million, must be presented in advance to the Local Government Commission of North Carolina. The final 2013-2014 budget approval will take place at the board’s June meeting. The numbers reflect a $16.7 million capital improvement investment in line with the agency’s business plan, and a 2.5 percent rate increase for domestic users — also in line with the agency’s forecasts. “The methodology that MSD uses,” explains Tom Hartye, general manager, “ is not to do erratic rate increases, but to do small, incremental ones.” The 15-year business plan for year… 2013-05-16T04:24:35+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/locals_advocate_for_public_education_disagree_with_pending_state_legislatio http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/locals_advocate_for_public_education_disagree_with_pending_state_legislatio#When:21:44:29Z As dozens of young children played in downtown Asheville’s interactive water fountain, more than 50 adults criticized state legislation they say could jeopardize the future of educators, North Carolinians and the lives of the children playing in the nearby fountain. “The folks running state government in Raleigh now, when they talk about public education,  they talk about cuts, slash, burn and end — not about what we can do to make a difference. Make no mistake, our dedication to public education is on a downward spiral,” says Bob Etheridge, a former congressman, legislator and state superintendent of public instruction. Etheridge has been sharing this message across North Carolina as part of a statewide tour for the grassroots group, Public Schools First NC. (The Asheville event was the fifth stop.) “The problem is more than money. To be frank with you, it’s about the quality of the bad ideas coming o… 2013-05-15T21:44:29+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/strive_not_to_drive_bike_tour_highlights_multimodal_infrastructure http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/strive_not_to_drive_bike_tour_highlights_multimodal_infrastructure#When:15:35:55Z Photos by Max Cooper Cycling advocates guided local elected officials on a bicycle tour of Asheville, highlighting recent infrastructure improvements and encouraging progress to continue. The May 13 ride was part of the Strive Not to Drive campaign to promote multimodal transportation, which continues with events throughout the week. Participating officials included Mayor Terry Bellamy; city council members Gordon Smith, Cecil Bothwell, and Esther Manheimer; Buncombe County commissioners Brownie Newman and David Gantt; Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger; and city manager Gary Jackson. Despite facing a severe budget crunch this year, Jackson told participants the city will continue to try to fund construction of infrastructure such as bike lanes and greenways. “We’re going to fight like hell to get more in this year’s [budgetar… 2013-05-15T15:35:55+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/council_announces_delay_in_water_system_takeover_passes_energy_financing http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/council_announces_delay_in_water_system_takeover_passes_energy_financing#When:23:46:22Z Tonight, at a relatively brief meeting, Asheville City Council: • Heard from city staff that a judge in Wake County has granted the city a temporary restraining order against a new state law that would forcibly transfer the water system to a new authority and the Metropolitan Sewerage District. Council approved a lawsuit last week, asserting that the legislation is unconstitutional. The order lasts for ten days while the city’s lawyers seek a more lasting injunction as they pursue their legal case. If the order wasn’t approved, the city would have had to transfer the system tomorrow, May 15. • Approved 6-0 a $1.1 million from TD Bank for ener… 2013-05-14T23:46:22+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/x_marks_the_spot_commissioners_approve_incentive_deal_to_mystery_company http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/x_marks_the_spot_commissioners_approve_incentive_deal_to_mystery_company#When:23:02:27Z Photo by Caitlin Byrd Buncombe County commissioners unanimously approved offering an undisclosed company $18.38 million in economic incentives May 14. The county agreed to spend $15.7 million on land acquisition and facility construction, and give the mystery company an additional $2.68 million in cash grants. In exchange, the company — referred to as “Project X” in documents and discussions — would invest about $126.67 million into the local facility and create 52 new jobs, paying an average wage of $40,000 per year. In addition, the company would agree to continue employing an unknown number of current local workers; the “total amount of jobs impacted would be more than 760 positions,” according to the resolutions passed by commissioners. One of the resolutions also states that Project X informed the county that if it doesn’t provide the requested incentives, it wouldn’t make the propose… 2013-05-14T23:02:27+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/local_environmental_controls_likely_to_be_whittled_down_by_regulatory_refor http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/local_environmental_controls_likely_to_be_whittled_down_by_regulatory_refor#When:21:07:58Z It’s nine pages long with the short title “Regulatory Reform Act of 2013.” But given its contents, Rich Ducker of the UNC School of Government calls Senate Bill 612  “a real Christmas tree of a bill – all sorts of things hung on it.” “I guess the name of the bill gives a decent hint of what the framers had in mind who developed the bill,” says Ducker, who is an associate professor of public law and government. “It tends to focus on environmental regulation, but there are probably 10 to 15 different topics.” The biggest issue, however – and one Ducker thinks may be a “sleeper issue to some people”—is language that appears to hold that local ordinances cannot be any… 2013-05-14T21:07:58+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/live_updates_from_the_may_14_meetings_of_the_buncombe_commissioners_and_ash http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/live_updates_from_the_may_14_meetings_of_the_buncombe_commissioners_and_ash#When:20:06:59Z It’s a busy evening in local government, with meetings of both the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and Asheville City Council. Commissioners meet at 4:30 p.m. to consider a big economic incentive deal to an undisclosed company. Asheville City Council meets at 5 p.m. to discuss financing green energy improvements and establishing a multimodal transportation commission. See live updates from the meetings below via Twitter using the hashtag, #avlgov h2> Real Time #avlgov Coverage on Twitter 2013-05-14T20:06:59+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/photos_ashe_memorial_rededication http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/photos_ashe_memorial_rededication#When:19:36:46Z A memorial in Pack Square Park honoring Samuel Ashe, for whom Asheville was named, was rededicated this morning by the Edward Buncombe Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A North Carolina governor, Ashe became Asheville’s namesake in 1797. The ceremony featured the DAR color guard, complete with piccolo and snare accompaniment, and a speech by Mayor Terry Bellamy, who remarked that she was glad not to be mayor of “Morristown,” the name by which Asheville was previously known. 2013-05-14T19:36:46+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/leaf_standout_performance_oliver_mtukudzi_and_the_black_spirits http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/leaf_standout_performance_oliver_mtukudzi_and_the_black_spirits#When:17:04:28Z Zimbabwean musician Oliver “Tuku” Mtujudzi and his band, the Black Spirits, have been on tour in the U.S., playing dates from California to Quebec, including a stop at Lake Eden Arts Festival last weekend. From the start of the band’s set on the LEAF main stage, it was apparent that they were showcasing a different side of the “traditions” theme of the spring festival. LEAF has a long history of bringing impressive world music acts to the stage — from Japanese taiko drummers to Tibetan singer-songwriter Yungchen Lhamo. But Tuku and the Black Spirits’ sound didn’t seem as far flung as it did instantly recognizable. Okay, maybe “instantly recognizable” isn’t the exact phrase. But instantly comfortable, digestible and, most of all, just easy. The kind of music you dance to without thinking about; the kind of music you relax into… 2013-05-14T17:04:28+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/asheville_city_council_preview_going_green http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/asheville_city_council_preview_going_green#When:14:45:56Z At its meeting tonight, Asheville City Council takes a look at financing green energy improvements and establishing a multimodal transportation commission. The financing is $1.1 million from TD Bank for LED streetlights, a new boiler at the Stephens Lee Center, and new windows at Fire Station 7 in East Asheville. The debt payments will be paid off with savings from the reduced energy costs. Council will also vote on the creation of the multimodal commission, with members from a number of other c… 2013-05-14T14:45:56+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/n.c._senate_bill_may_dissolve_advantagewest_citizen-times_reports http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/n.c._senate_bill_may_dissolve_advantagewest_citizen-times_reports#When:13:16:11Z Part of North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s plans to turn the Department of Commerce into a public-private partnership that would be run like a business, Senate Bill 127 would mandate the dissolution of regional organizations like AdvantageWest and strip it of state funding. It passed a second reading in the Senate Monday night, May 13, by a 31-17 vote. Earlier this spring, Gov. Pat McCrory announced plans to turn the North Carolina Department of commerce into a public-private partnership that would “run much as a public business would, with a board chaired by the governor and filled by a mix of government appointees and executives from the private sector,” WRAL reported on Apri… 2013-05-14T13:16:11+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/buncombe_county_considering_big_incentives_for_project_x http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/buncombe_county_considering_big_incentives_for_project_x#When:20:55:50Z Buncombe County commissioners will hold a special May 14 meeting to consider offering a big economic incentive deal to an undisclosed company, called “Project X” in related documents. As part of the proposal, the county would spend roughly $15.7 million on land acquisition and facility construction, and give the mystery company an additional $2.68 million in cash grants. In exchange, Project X would invest about $126.67 million into the local facility and create 52 new jobs, paying an average wage of $40,000 per year. In addition, the company would agree to continue employing an unknown number of current local workers; the “total amount of jobs impacted would be more than 760 positions,” according to the county’s resolution. The resolution also states that Project X informed the county that if it doe… 2013-05-13T20:55:50+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/keep_it_simple http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/keep_it_simple#When:18:28:29Z Keeping a garden at home takes time and commitment. So what’s an aspiring gardener who’s short on time supposed to do? Join a group of like-minded gardeners for the Asheville E-Z Gardeners club and share the work with friends and neighbors. The Asheville E-Z Gardeners, which was recently recognized as Club of the Year (small club division) by the Garden Club of N.C., is a haven for busy professionals who want to add a little green to their lives. The group takes on short-term community service projects that can be completed in a couple of days. They host weekend garden wine strolls, pick up littler on a “raggedy stretch” of Sweeten Creek Road, participate in community beautification projects and enjoy Sunday brunch meetings. Their motto is, “If it’s not E-Z, we don’t do it.” The group will host a “Plants and Pints” garden sale at Wedge Brewery Company on Sunday, May 19 from 2-5 p.m. Rose geraniums, h… 2013-05-13T18:28:29+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/asheville_cedes_beer_city_title_to_grand_rapids http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/asheville_cedes_beer_city_title_to_grand_rapids#When:17:26:05Z Photo by Max Cooper After a four year winning streak, Asheville lost its title of ‘Beer City USA’ to Grand Rapids, Mich., according to poll results released May 13. Conducted by craft beer guru Charlie Papazian, the unscientific online poll showed Grand Rapids winning decisively with 27,005 votes. Kalamazoo, Mich. came in second with 11,150 votes and Asheville placed third, with 10,075. Last year, Asheville tied Grand Rapids for first place. Since Asheville’s tie for first in 2009 with Portland, Ore. the title has helped attract national attention to the area for its thriving craft beer scene. The local industry continues to boom, with New Belgium and Sierra Nevada brewing companies in the process of building major production facilities and several smaller breweries slated to open in coming months. However, Asheville garnered significantly less votes in this year’s poll than it did in 2012. Here’s the list… 2013-05-13T17:26:05+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/trying_to_find_a_place_to_live_in_asheville http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/trying_to_find_a_place_to_live_in_asheville#When:14:35:01Z In discussions about housing in Asheville government officials, developers, neighborhood activists, and even non-profit representatives are often featured in the media, especially when a dispute over a particular proposed development comes to the fore. But amid all the argument about appropriate density, aesthetics, traffic there’s another group that’s hardly ever heard from: Ashevilleans who work within the city and are trying to find a place to live. That’s often challenging, especially with the rising cost of housing. Many of us have, or know, personal stories, but they rarely make it into the public eye. So let us know: Did you manage to find an affordable place? Were the landlords reasonable? What was the condition of the housing? Has the search become harder over the years? Did you ever have to stay with friends? Were you ever homeless due to the difficulty of finding a place? Leave personal experiences in the comments below or… 2013-05-13T14:35:01+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/all_swing_together_city_democratic_legislators_defend_suing_state_over_wate http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/all_swing_together_city_democratic_legislators_defend_suing_state_over_wate#When:15:53:48Z Friday morning, Asheville city officials past and present were joined by some of the local legislative delegation to voice their opposition to a state bill that would forcibly transfer the water system to a new regional authority and the Metropolitan Sewerage District. At the press conference they supported City Council’s decision to sue the state in an attempt to halt the new law. “It’s because of the leadership you see behind me that the city’s seen unprecedented growth and been able to weather the recession,” Mayor Terry Bellamy said. Part of that leadership, she added, included the management of the water system, something that makes the state’s legislation a particularly bad idea. “We are proud of the legal team we’ve put together to defend out water system.” … 2013-05-12T15:53:48+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/strive_not_to_drive_campaign_aims_to_promote_sustainable_transportation http://www.mountainx.com/news/2013/strive_not_to_drive_campaign_aims_to_promote_sustainable_transportation#When:12:42:40Z Today, May 12, marks the beginning of the annual Strive Not to Drive campaign, which features a series of local events designed to promote active and sustainable transportation. A highlight is the May 13 Leadership Community Bike Ride. Hosted by city and county officials, riders will take to the streets across Asheville to learn about recent successes and ongoing challenges with developing multimodal transportation infrastructure. Members of the public wishing to join the ride should gather with bikes and helmets in tow at 5:15 in front of City Hall. On May 15, Lauren Tamayo, who earned a silver medal in track cycling at the 2012 London Olympics, will greet students as they arrive in two “bicycle trains” at Hominy Valley Elementary School. The school is one of six schools across Asheville and Buncombe County that are hosting walk- and bike-to-school 2013-05-12T12:42:40+00:00 http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/smart_bet_web_extra_wick-it_the_instigator_plays_the_orange_peel http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2013/smart_bet_web_extra_wick-it_the_instigator_plays_the_orange_peel#When:14:51:38Z DJ and mash-up artist Wick-it the Instigator returns to Asheville for a Saturday co-bill with Eliot Lipp at The Orange Peel. Cry Wolf opens. 9 p.m., $10 advance / $12 day of show. “He’s got a reputation for doing some thoughtfully fresh and mindblowingly original remixes that take him from beyond a standard dub step or mash-up artist to a DJ/producer with skills that have turned heads and caught ears all over the Southeast,” says Wick-It’s website. His 2010 Big Boi vs. Black Keys mashup album The Brothers of Chico Dusty was groundbreaking, but his new material is now less entertaining. Here’s a Wick-it remix of Justin Timberlake’s “My Love”: 2013-05-11T14:51:38+00:00