It’s not every day that a former chairman of the UNC Board of Governors (and a man with a distinguished professorship named after him) takes a complaint to the Regional Water Authority of Asheville, Buncombe and Henderson. But that’s what Philip Carson found himself doing at the Authority’s Nov. 16 meeting, when frustration and even … Read more
There’s more than one way to toss around the name of New York’s glamorous theater district. Indiana-bred actress Hanneleis Hepler, for example, has never played on Broadway. But she recently landed the plum role of Golde in a touring production of Fiddler on the Roof — a show that happens to boast the “Broadway” designation … Read more
Perhaps it’s best to clear the air about one little thing before delving into the remarkable intricacies of Umphrey’s McGee. When the band’s meaty new disc — Anchor Drops, on SCI Fidelity Records — hit shelves this summer, longtime Rolling Stone critic/editor David Fricke opined that the Chicago-based sextet had “become odds-on favorites in the … Read more
This is the story: Four mentally handicapped men live their lives in a supervised house under the eye of a young, burned-out social worker. Okay, it’s not the sexy, midriff-baring, star-vehicle material Hollywood cranks out. It’s not even I Am Sam. The Boys Next Door gives us no explosions, no car chases, no alien invasions, … Read more
Views Well, it was bound to happen eventually, especially without Xpress‘ two former music men — ’80s-luminary Frank Rabey, gone now the way of the Dodo, and indie-Obi-Wan Steve Shanafelt, dislodged from this post by yours truly in August — to cry foul. (Actually, SS helped me land the gig, and I’m happy to note … Read more
“While the inn and the city stand to make millions on this project, what does the neighborhood get?” — Clay Ballantine, Grove Park Neighborhood Advisory Committee A Nov. 23 public hearing on the Grove Park Inn’s latest development plans began with a swarm of more than three dozen witnesses gathered around the Bible to be … Read more
Republicans join paper chase The Buncombe County Republican Party has teamed up with what would seem to be some unlikely bedfellows in calling for a voter-verifiable paper record of ballots cast using electronic voting machines. In a Nov. 17 press release, the party’s local headquarters said: “Voters should be able to be confident that the … Read more
Sheriff: Medford article was spin and innuendo Re: Vol. 11, No. 16, Nov. 17, 2004, pp. 8-9. Note that this letter is copyrighted. It may be republished in total; however, no part may be reproduced without the whole. Cecil Bothwell’s article referenced above clearly illustrates why I will only communicate with your publication through legal … Read more
County managers are now reporting that the new system will cost taxpayers three times as much per year as our time-proven public system did — while providing only about half as much care for patients. North Carolina is in the throes of a crisis in mental-health care. Tragically (and shamefully!), this is a human-made disaster, … Read more
