| Title |
Excerpt |
Author |
Date |
| Amanda Palmer flash gigs Pritchard Park (Twitter coverage, as it unfolded) |
10:16am @amandapalmer tweets: heading to Asheville to visit moog factory & play with their toys. will consider a ninja gig if enuf people tweet... 2:54pm: RT @amandapalmer: ninja gig at 3:14 pm! the park in middle of Patton Ave, College St... right in boho district RT @amandapalmer: Apparently this magic… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/21/09 |
| Ingles relents: Lifts ban on Salvation Army bell ringers |
BlueRidgeNow reports: The spirit of Christmas—and sensitivity to a barrage of customer complaints—has won the day. The Ingles supermarket chain announced Friday it had reversed its decision banning Salvation Army bell ringers from its stores and, in a compromise, would allow them the week before Christmas. “The kettles will be… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/21/09 |
| OUTDOORS: Best hiking guidebooks of the Smokies |
SouthernHighlandReader says: BRYSON CITY–Jim Casada churns out an amazing amount of outdoors writing for the Smoky Mountain Times, and his current series of book reviews is invaluable. His most recent column takes a lengthy look at these hiking guidebooks of the Smokies: Ken Wise’s “Hiking Trails of the Great Smoky… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/21/09 |
| 16,000 organic laying hens available to good homes |
Attention, small organic farmers and backyard chicken raisers (the following email went out to Carolina Farm Stewardship Association members): Carolina Waterfowl Rescue in Indian Trail [near Charlotte, N.C.] has been tasked with finding homes for a lot of chickens! The chickens are free but donations are welcomed. If anyone is… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/21/09 |
| Andrew Jones says, “Thank you, Climate Change” |
Drew Jones of the Climate Interactive Program at Sustainability Institute addresses the crowd at the “350 Day of Action” rally in Asheville, North Carolina USA, October 2009. “Thank You Climate Change” rally speech by Drew Jones from Climate Interactive on Vimeo. |
Jeff Fobes |
11/20/09 |
| WCU to host ‘An Evening With Garrison Keillor’ |
Tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 30, for an appearance at Western Carolina University by Garrison Keillor, host of the popular public radio show “A Prairie Home Companion.” An acclaimed author, storyteller, humorist and musician, Keillor will take center stage in WCU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m.… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/20/09 |
| Citizen-Times details its LINC collaboration project with area bloggers |
The Asheville Citizen-Times’ collaborative journalism project, LINC, took a step forward today when Project Coordinator Angie Newsome announced a “memo of understanding” that the paper crafted to lay out two sets of expectations: for itself as project convener and for those websites/blogsites that join the project. To read the blog… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/20/09 |
| Rep. Susan Fisher seeks probe of NC Blue Cross lobbying efforts |
The Progressive Pulse says: The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that Buncombe County lawmaker Susan Fisher has joined Ellie Kinnaird, Pricey Harrison, and the Pitt County commissioners in calling for an investigation into anti-health reform mailers and robocalls produced by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The elected officials are… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/20/09 |
| When the birds came alive: Inside John Payne’s studio ... and head |
Asheville sculptor died in 2008, leaving many memories. Here, thanks to streamlineantiquated’s video, Payne’s steel animals come alive. The shots were taken inside John Payne’s Asheville River District studio in 2007. |
Jeff Fobes |
11/20/09 |
| ATT turns on 3G in Asheville area; ebullience ensues |
“This is the happiest day of my life,” proclaimed @willc after tweeting, “WOW! 3g is working here near UNCA for me!” @hozae noted that high-speed internet for cellphone service had, after months of promise, been activated. He tweeted at 8:26 pm, “Whoa 3G is in Asheville.. hearing Downtown, W.Asheville and… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/19/09 |
| Outspoken Asheville doctor taunts patient and medical board |
When you’re a 77-year-old practicing physician, you may be willing to bluntly tell people what you think, including the NC Medical Board. McClatchy.com reports: Dr. Earl Sunderhaus, an Asheville, N.C., eye doctor, has what might charitably be described as a brusque bedside manner. That much is not in dispute. But… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/19/09 |
| N.C. AG charges manufactured-home seller with deceptive practices |
Legalnewsline.com reports NC Attorney General Roy Cooper has filed a lawsuit regarding an alleged scheme to deceive consumers into purchasing overpriced manufactured homes and agreeing to loans they couldn’t afford. One seller conducts business in Asheville. Cooper’s complaint, filed on Wednesday, names Phoenix Housing Group, Inc., K&B Homebuilders, Inc., and… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/19/09 |
| Video explains why Asheville’s hempcrete house is making history |
Asheville’s NauHaus posted this video of Ian Pritchett explaining what’s so revolutionary and historic about the local hemcrete-constructed house. Clarke Snell, of the Nauhaus Institute, interviews Ian Pritchett, managing director of Lime Technology, about the Nauhaus Prototype Project, the first home in the U.S. to use Hemcrete. It was filmed… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/19/09 |
| French Broad Riverkeeper posts video of sediment pollution |
Video report from an unhappy riverkeeper: North Asheville construction site in Grove Park Cove that polluted the French Broad River for months. Sediment is the number-one polluter in the French Broad and most of that sediment comes from badly managed construction sites. The video was posted on Nov. 19. No… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/19/09 |
| Fin, a California/Caribbean themed eatery, to open in Hendersonville |
Hendersonville Epicurean reports: Partners Matt Johnes and Annie Hargus, co-owners of the very successful Hannah Flanagan’s Pub on Main Street, are expanding their holdings. According to Johnes, “Fin” will be opening at 114 N Main Street “just after the first of the year”. This is the space previously occupied by… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/19/09 |
| NC DOT engineer explains I-40 landslide & clean-up efforts |
via Twitter, by @avlbizvoice, Thursday morning: An NC DOT Division 14 engineer is giving an update on I-40 rockslide. 200,000 tons of rock fell. Two lanes are cleared for work trucks, but highway can’t be reopened because of unstable rock. The stretch of I-40 with the rock slide ordinarily sees… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/19/09 |
| Environmental group: Utility customers will pay for Duke Power’s expansion |
Environmental watchdog group NC Warn says: “It is more than clear that Cliffside is being built so Duke can add new customers – at reduced rates – despite Duke’s years-long insistence that Cliffside was needed to accommodate growth (which became non-existent) within its approved territory.” This became clear last week,… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/19/09 |
| Dorothy Allison to speak tonight at WCU |
SouthernHighlandReader reports: Dorothy Allison, a major literary voice from the South, talks about her work in an audience participation program, 7:30 p.m., November 19, in the UC Theatre at Western Carolina University. Allison’s novel, “Bastard out of Carolina” is the focus of the show, which will be simulcast with interaction… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/19/09 |
| 24th annual Sustainable Ag Conference just two weeks away |
The event provides educational workshops for beginning gardeners, advanced organic farmers and folks interested in sustainable living. Keynote speaker: Timothy LaSalle is CEO of The Rodale Institute. Location: Blue Ridge Assembly, Dec 4-6. |
Jeff Fobes |
11/18/09 |
| Craggie Brewing’s soft opening tonight (via Twitter) |
The reporter was a little silly, but here’s the “color” of Craggie Brewing’s soft opening, via a few inconsequential tweets: • asheville’s new brewery, craggie brewing, is warm and homey. • i’m drinking the battery hill bitter at craggie right now. smooth. • i thought i was cool, but guess… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/18/09 |
| Land of Sky Regional Council get $1.9 M fed stimulus funds |
Southern Research Station Director Jim Reaves announced today that Land of Sky Regional Council (LOSRC) was awarded the grant to manage the $1.9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds announced by Secretary Vilsack on Sept. 9. The funding will create a cooperative marketing network in Western North Carolina… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/18/09 |
| Woodfin manager predicts Weaverville ABC store won’t last |
Woodfin Town Administrator Jason Young said the town’s ABC store is seeing its sales return to normalcy after a dip following the opening of the county’s new ABC store four miles to the north in Weaverville. Young believes the Weaverville store will not be able to sustain because of debt… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/18/09 |
| Afromotive performs “Tolon” at St. Louis’ community-radio studio |
Clean audio & video captured at St. Louis’ KDHX community radio station of Afromotive performing “Tolon.” (July 8, 2009) — editor’s note: The video establishes a fine connection between St. Louis & Asheville: I helped keep the KDHX flame alive in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, when the station… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/18/09 |
| Budget cuts may end program that trains inmates to fight forest fires |
BlueRidgeNow reports: Henderson County fire chiefs are trying to save a program that trains inmates to support firefighters at wildfires. The program, run by the North Carolina Forest Service, is in danger of being cut because of state budget reductions.... The Forest Service and the N.C. Division of Prisons use… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/18/09 |
| Charlotte company says its working on a soccer-park for Asheville |
According to a report in charlotte.bizjournals.com, a Charlotte-based company, National Amateur Sports, says it “is working on a similar park development near Asheville.” The article, which explains discussions about a soccer-complex in Charlotte, provides no other details regarding the Asheville-area project. Regarding the Charlotte project: 160-acres; complex cost $25.5 million;… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/18/09 |
| Boyd GM dealership closes, along with 1300 other GM outlets |
BlueRidgeNow reports: The Boyd Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC dealership in this Transylvania County community is closing its doors Dec. 31 as part of General Motors elimination of 1,300 U.S. dealerships, the dealership’s owner said Tuesday. The dealership is still appealing a decision by GM to shut it down as part… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/18/09 |
| Reigning Sound: ferocious punk rock meets hopeless teenage romanticism of rhythm and blues |
mlive.com (Jackson, Mich.) review, plus a video of one song that night: ...here is a past-meets-present quality to the Asheville, N.C., band's mash-up of the hopeless teenage romanticism of early rhythm and blues with the ferocious energy of punk rock. It was my first time seeing Reigning Sound live, and… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/18/09 |
| David Sanborn, John Pizzarelli to play “All That Jazz” in Jan. |
The eighteenth annual “All That Jazz” weekend at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa will bring legendary jazz artists to Asheville, North Carolina for two days of concerts and jazz themed special events. Jazz legends David Sanborn and The John Pizzarelli Quartet will headline the performers at “All That… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/17/09 |
| St. Louis alt-weekly foodie calls Asheville “quirky as hell” |
From the Riverfront Times: Despite its relatively small population—around 70,000 in town, 400,000 in the surrounding areas—Asheville is packed with interesting shops and restaurants—and it’s surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s weird and quirky as hell, meaning I loved it…. We at a… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/17/09 |
| Roadfood.com blogs Asheville’s Tomato Jam Cafe |
Asheville is to North Carolina as Austin is to Texas: an isle of non-conformity in a culture known more for allegiance to traditional values. It is tempting to use Tomato Jam Cafe as evidence of this proposition because it is a restaurant with a unique personality unlike anything conceived in… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/17/09 |
| 12 Bones buys building adjacent its south Asheville location |
Twig & Bull, the corporate owner of 12 Bones, just purchased the building next to the restaurant’s south Asheville location, according to the Buncombe County transfers listed in the Sunday Asheville Citizen-Times: “Limestone: • 3480 Sweeten Creek Road, $275,000, Eblen Family Ltd. Ptrsp./Eblen Corp. to Twig & Bull Corp.” The… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/17/09 |
| Mild-mannered D.G. Martin tries to figure out why Nesbitt got Senate Majority Leader post |
Raleigh Telegram ran an op-ed by well known commentator D.G. Martin. Here are a few excerpts: The big news in North Carolina insider politics these days is the resignation of Senator Tony Rand -- and his pending replacement as Senate majority leader by Senator Martin Nesbitt, who has the recommendation… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/17/09 |
| She Who Eats reviews: Merrimon’s new soul-food Chameleon DJ |
Chef Joyner is a sweet man who clearly puts all the love in his heart into his food. He feels soul food should have soul, and I can get with that.... Their buffet-style menu items are bare bones soul, from the collard greens to the fried chicken to the mac… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/17/09 |
| Facing South: Shuler & Rep Joe Wilson speak from same Genentech page |
FacingSouth.com reports: The New York Times reported last week that during the historic House debate on health care reform, statements made by more than a dozen lawmakers were ghostwritten in whole or part by lobbyists working for one of the world’s largest biotechnology firms…. The lobbyists for California-based Genentech—a wholly… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/16/09 |
| Video: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo at Buncombe Library |
Who says government is stodgy and backward thinking? And since when are you supposed to be quiet in the library. No more! Asheville’s Secret Agent 23 Skidoo gets it on for a roomful of kids in this 40-minute show. Hip hop goes literary? |
Jeff Fobes |
11/16/09 |
| Men sentenced in attempted bear sale |
CharlotteObserver.com reports: Two N.C. men were sentenced to federal prison Monday after pleading guilty to charges of attempting to transport, buy or sell an American black bear in Haywood County, authorities said. Bobby Allen Gibson, 24, and Steven Louis Broom, 31, were charged in July 2008. It isn’t clear what… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/16/09 |
| Evergreen Packaging employees ratify union contract |
The Mountaineer reports: Members of the Smoky Mountain Local 507, the labor union for Evergreen Packaging employees, early last week passed local supplements for a five-year labor contract that included a nearly 12 percent wage increase throughout the duration of the contract. Alan Jones, president of Smoky Mountain Local 507,… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/16/09 |
| Teen Open Mic Afternoon at the East Asheville Library |
Calling all poets, singers, drummers, actors, ukulele players, guitarists, comedians, and lovers of the limelight in general! Bring your friends and come share your talents with other teens at the East Asheville Public Library on Saturday, November 21 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. This program is for ages 11 to… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/16/09 |
| Weekend News Round-up, via Twitter |
This was a weekend of balmy weather, a bit short on news quantity, but long on downtown excitement, including the River District Studio Stroll. What follows is a summary of tweets that passed through the Xpress Twitter feed, on five different fronts, between late Friday night and 8 p.m. Sunday.… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/15/09 |
| OPINION: Shuler owns his troubles over TVA/land deal |
SouthernHighlandReader draws together two newspapers’ coverage: The Hendersonville Times News, along with the Knoxville News Sentinel, have followed closely 11th District Congressman Heath Shuler’s real estate misadventure involving the TVA in east Tennessee. The Times News warned early on that even the appearance of influence-peddling in real estate matters would… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/15/09 |
| NC Policy Watch: State budget at 13-year low |
NCPolicyWatch’s study of North Carolina’s General Fund reveals the deep impact of the recession on tax revenues. North Carolina government spending per person has fallen to its lowest rate in 13 years, the report finds. This provides further evidence that balancing the state budget using cuts alone was simply an… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/15/09 |
| Winning films announced for this year’s Asheville Film Festival |
via the Asheville Citizen-Times: Best Feature Film: “16 to Life” Runner-up: “Deadland” Best Documentary: “Food Fight” Runner-Up: “Bonecrusher” Best Short Film: “Open Your Eyes” Runner-Up: “True Beauty This Night” Best Student Film: “Down in Number 5” Runner-Up: “Autogenesis” Best Animation: “O Pintor de Ceos (Painter of the Skies)” Runner-Up: “The… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/15/09 |
| Asheville Film Festival: Creative Loafing’s ‘day three’ (Sat.) recap |
SATURDAY: ... As for the 37 films screened today, I caught 24 of them. Here are my seven favorites, listed in alphabetical order. Autogenesis (Student). One of the festival’s most indescribable films… Melting the Snowman (Student). In the 1970s, a conservative columnist for the Los Angeles Times… Sam and Jenny… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/15/09 |
| Asheville Lyric Opera to perform first-ever Christmas show |
Not only will Christmas get a rousing kick off this coming Friday, thanks to the Asheville Lyric Opera’s first-ever yuletide show, but, as BlueRidgeNow points out— The Brevard College Chamber Chorale has been invited to perform in the first ever Christmas concert by the Asheville Lyric Opera Company on Friday… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/15/09 |
| More than 130 artists take part in this weekend’s River District Studio Stroll |
From the RiverArtsDistrict blog post today: More than 130 artists are participating in the Studio Stroll Saturday and Sunday, November 14 & 15, from 10-6 each day! In addition to the members listed in the Studio Guide and on the website, we welcome our newest members [see list below] and… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/14/09 |
| Natural Disaster Newsreports, from Ms. Eggett’s class :) |
Turn off the TV news. And turn off Jay Leno for that matter. Mrs. Eggett’s class students bring you a world of natural disasters. Natural Disaster Newsreports, 09-10 from Mrs. Eggett's Class on Vimeo. |
Jeff Fobes |
11/14/09 |
| Parkway’s 75th Anniversary Kicks Off This Weekend |
Friday morning marked the kick off of a year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. At the Ravensford Overlook, officials began the anniversary with a Cherokee Indian ceremonial dance. The celebration continues today with an all-star benefit concert at 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/14/09 |
| Creative Loafing’s film critic names his top-10 from Friday’s Asheville Film Fest |
Charlotte Creative Loafing's Matt Brunson blogged his impressions of Friday's screenings at the Asheville Film Festival. Some excerpts: ...with so many titles under my belt, I can definitely say that this year’s crop is a strong one, with plenty of gems and very few duds. Of the 36 from today,… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/14/09 |
| UNCA defends fee-funded positions; says they don’t violate policy |
After the student-run UNCA newspaper criticized university officials use of student fees last month, we learn from the Blue Banner: UNC Asheville is not violating state policy by paying several administrative salaries with student fee money, according to Bill Haggard, vice chancellor for student affairs. The university partially or fully… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/14/09 |
| Charges dropped against last protestor in Cliffside protest |
It appears that Charlotte attorney Ken Davies had hoped to subpoena Duke Power’s CEO in a trespass case resulting from a protest against the under-construction Cliffside power plant, until Davies’ case was dismissed, reports Facing South. Forty-three people were arrested in the incident. All either pleaded guilty or had their… |
Jeff Fobes |
11/14/09 |
