When you meet him, David Brendan Hopes doesn’t seem like the type who’d be outdoors a lot — but after reading his new book, A Sense of the Morning (Milkweed Editions, 1999), one learns not to be fooled by his somewhat bookish facade. In fact, Hopes has spent a great deal of his life in … Read more
It could have been a figment of my 10-year-old [twin] daughters’ imaginations — but it wasn’t — when they burst through the door one afternoon fresh off the school bus, exclaiming, “Mommy, we just saw a black man holding a Confederate flag on the corner!” In my best maternal tone I replied, “No, girls that … Read more
I want to believe that the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce can get along with its neighbors. I want to believe that the organization won’t pressure the Historic Resources Commission into accepting a not-so-historically-pleasing design for a new visitor center near the head of Montford Avenue. But then I read a subtly threatening headline in … Read more
Women on the move North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt recently proclaimed March as Women’s History Month. And, at a March 14 banquet in Cary, nearly 70 prominent North Carolinians — including nine women from WNC — received this year’s Distinguished Women of North Carolina awards. Individuals and organizations across the state nominated women who’ve made … Read more
In this age of sprawling five-lanes lined with fast-food chains and megastores, we are fortunate to live in a city whose rich history is abundantly in evidence. From the gargoyles of the Jackson Building — whose necks jut out boldly over the adjacent streets — to the trim brick storefronts of bustling Biltmore Avenue, much … Read more
Citing health risks as their top concern, Asheville City Council has formed a crisis committee to weigh the pros and cons of dissolving the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency. “Asheville’s in an inversion 78 percent of the time, second only to Los Angeles,” Mayor Leni Sitnick pointed out during Council’s March 7 work session. “For … Read more
If you’re over 65 (or disabled) and make very little money, Buncombe County’s Board of Commissioners wants you to get a bigger break on your property taxes. At their March 7 regular meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a resolution urging the North Carolina General Assembly to raise the income cap and property-value exemption … Read more
Of all times of the year, spring offers the most promise. It is a time of renewal and rebirth, literally a season of light, since the official beginning of spring — the vernal equinox — indicates the precise moment when the earth is tilted so that the sun hovers directly over the equator. In fact, … Read more
Take a look at current gasoline prices, and you might begin to see your old bicycle in a new light. “[Bicycling] is simple and easy and cheap. There’s no car insurance, big repair bills or gasoline to buy,” points out Oliver Gadja, bicycling and pedestrian coordinator for Asheville’s Public Works Department. “We choose to drive, … Read more
St. Patrick’s Day gives us all a good reason to revel in the spirit of Ireland — not just the kind that comes in a cup, but also the essence of the country, as embodied in its music. One place where you’ll find both is Jack of the Wood (95 Patton Ave.). Live Celtic strains … Read more
