The street is her runway • Who she is: Karenina Brooks • What she’s wearing: Necklace from “a cheap store in the mall,” as she puts it; red low-cut top, from a mall store featuring club-inspired clothing; black skirt given to her by a friend; pants from Express; and sleeves cut from a shirt she … Read more
Zulu Connection The Neville family and the local healing-arts festival are developing a new connection: LEAF volunteers helped rebuild the Katrina-destroyed house of Ivan’s cousin Charmaine, and are in a program with Tipitina’s Foundation that helped Ivan and others replace a total of $74,000 in instruments lost in the storm. “For several days, we pulled … Read more
When Burlington, Vt., implemented a one-year, fare-free promotional period, ridership increased 56 percent — and it remained 25 percent higher after fares were reinstated. The recent article “How Green Is Asheville?” (March 15 Xpress) gave a good overview of sustainability initiatives. As a follow-up, here are some specific ideas for how Asheville can create a … Read more
Eliminate subsidy, not Civic Center In the May 2 edition of the Mountain Xpress, Hal Millard [paraphrased] me as saying that I thought that the city should dump the Civic Center [“Red Ink Blues“]. This is a misrepresentation of what I said. Council had reviewed the city’s budget outlook for the coming fiscal year. In … Read more
Lunch with the legislators “The good news,” announced Rep. Ray Rapp (D-Madison), is the approximately $1.3 billion surplus waiting for the state legislature as its 2006 short session opens this week. “We’ve moved into a positive cash flow with the state.” Rapp was one of seven area state legislators reporting in at the 2006 Legislative … Read more
“I think these problems can be solved. It’s not a matter of money only — it’s a matter belief.” — Asheville City Schools Superintendent Robert Logan on fighting dropouts and closing the achievement gap Like horses out of the gate, budget requests rushed the lectern at the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners’ May 2 meeting. … Read more
It’s no news that Asheville is a tourist destination. But maybe the Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Development Authority haven’t set their sights high enough. The truth is in there? Former Asheville resident Steven Greer, a long-time extraterrestrial enthusiast, returns next week for a presentation at UNCA. Dr. Steven Greer, a former Biltmore Forest … Read more
“First of all, I thank you, my undocumented friends, for having given your best to build up the United States.” — the Rev. Russell B. Hilliard Sr. Dressed in a pair of work jeans and a gleaming white T-shirt, Luis says he’s here in North Carolina illegally, far from his home in the Mexican state … Read more
Boating Got floatation? North Carolina law requires all children under 13 to wear a personal floatation device while on the water. Kids grow, foam rots, buckles rust — what condition are your PFDs in this year? Visit www.wildlife.state.nc.us for the regs and tips on keeping little ones afloat. Nature Mr. Big Stuff: Look east after … Read more
The author on the summit of Roan Mountain Have you been to Hospital Rock, Walnut Bottom or the Ellicott Rock Wilderness? If you’re wondering how to hike to these places, stay tuned and I’ll get you there. Here in the Southern Appalachians, we’re blessed with the highest mountains in the East, outstanding waterfalls, and thousands … Read more
