Intent on his task, a blond-headed child with pink, chubby cheeks plants a miniature Confederate battle flag on a gravesite in a little church cemetery. The placid image dominates the cover of a booklet on Confederate issues published by the N.C. Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Within the SCV’s ranks, however, a battle … Read more
The vibrant community of Black Mountain has a knack for finding creative ways to showcase its stunning surroundings. Whether the occasion features art, culture, music, antiques or recreation, setting it against the natural backdrop of the Seven Sisters range and the towering heights of Mount Mitchell imparts a special magic. On my first visit here … Read more
A lot of folks who came to this state from other places like to call ourselves North Carolinians. But what do you have to do to earn those bragging rights? I’ve devised a couple of proven ways to spot a real North Carolinian. My first standard test question is always, “Did you study North Carolina … Read more
If you’ve got lemons, make lemonade, right? It’s good to know that this kind of can-do, entrepreneurial thinking has risen to the top ranks of government and industry. As recently reported by Mother Jones magazine, the heavy thinkers at the East Tennessee Technology Park realized that the lemons on their sprawling facility would make some … Read more
“The vindication of the Cause” The Sons of Confederate Veterans, organized in Richmond, Va., in 1896, is a “patriotic, historical, civic and benevolent organization designed to preserve the history and legacy of Southern heroes, so future generations can understand the motives that animated the Southern cause,” according to Guide to Confederate Issues in North Carolina, … Read more
To many people, the Civil War probably seems remote from their everyday lives. But they haven’t ridden with Jim Holbrook in his black GMC pickup truck to get a look at the house where his great-granddaddy, a Confederate soldier, once lived. Holbrook Road (named for his family) runs parallel to the Smokey Park Highway on … Read more
A proposed “eco-friendly” north Asheville development has nearby residents worried that it won’t be neighborhood-friendly. Asheville developers Bill Fleming and Elana Kann want to build Wild Cherry Village, a 76-unit townhouse community, on 20 acres off Beaverdam Road. The two developers — co-owners of Neighborhood Design/Build — plan to employ many of the same design … Read more
Watch out, Washington: Asheville’s hiring a gunslinger. At their Jan. 28 formal meeting, a divided Asheville City Council voted to hire a lobbyist to help secure federal funds for the city. It was a split decision, however, and the preceding debate raised some prickly questions about the realities of government and the D.C. money hunt. … Read more
Teach-in highlights U.N. role in Iraq crisis When it comes to the current crisis in Iraq, says Doug Jones, coordinator of UNCA’s honors program, “It seems like what we hear a lot of is the American perspective, and we hear the administration’s perspective, but I don’t think our media is doing as good a job … Read more
“I had a dream that you grew a garden on a trampoline and I was so grateful I invented peanut butter.” — Noel (Zooey Deschanel) in All the Real Girls A year ago, David Gordon Green brought his cast and crew to Marshall for a month-long film shoot. “We knew we wanted to shoot in … Read more
