Without a doubt, “Local Food: Thousands of Miles Fresher” is one of the most popular bumper stickers in Western North Carolina. Born of the Local Food Campaign launched by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project some seven years ago, the bumper sticker is the sort of mantra I’m proud to sport on my car. And like … Read more
I used to wade in the river where the bank softens its steepness and comes close to the old river road. You could park on the side of the road back then. We would park, Sarah and me, and cross the road without looking, since not many cars came through back then. Sarah’s instincts would … Read more
Mo’ money: In a recent round of grants, The American Hiking Society awarded nearly $50,000 to 16 nonprofits across the country that work on trail-related projects. One of the winners is the Nantahala Hiking Club. The grant money will go toward creating a pilot workshop to bring hiking into the physical education curriculum of local … Read more
Brew’n’View market moves: The North Asheville Tailgate Market will relocate from the parking lot behind Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company on Merrimon Avenue to UNCA beginning Saturday, Aug. 4. “The area’s oldest and largest producer-only farmers’ market continues to expand and the move to UNC-Asheville will provide additional space for local farmers to sell their … Read more
West Asheville residents have been getting their cool-treats fix this summer from Lucia’s Gelato, a tented gelateria operated by Elizabeth and Matt Mullen. The couple started selling gelatos and sorbets two years ago, after their attempts to seduce Ultimate Ice Cream and Sweet Heaven to set up shop on the west end of town were … Read more
I am writing to inform Brownie Newman (whom I once had sincere admiration for, thanks in part to his strong stance on curbing air pollution in North Carolina) and his three partisan-election-pushing cronies (whom I also voted for) that there are more than two letters in the alphabet. I’m all for simplifying one’s political affiliation … Read more
I am crestfallen, nay, dismayed, to see the long-independent Mountain Xpress pander to the machinations of Asheville’s civic powers. I am referring, of course, to the travesty of truth published in the lead sentence of Hal Millard’s article, “Boom and Bust” [July 18], wherein he claims the translation of “Bele Chere”—our town’s annual three-day tourist … Read more
Concerning the article on CTS [“Fail-safe? Hazardous-waste Site Falls Through Regulatory Cracks,” July 11], I want to express my deep gratitude to Dave Ogren, who called the Department of Environment and Natural Resources back in 1990; Barry Durand, who did his research and brought the situation to the attention of the Mountain X; Rebecca Bowe, … Read more
“According to local historians, Asheville was a black freeman’s town: no plantations, no cotton, comparatively little slavery.” (Italics my emphasis.) Nothing personal, Ms. Hammond [“The Asheville Niceness Factor,” Commentary, July 11], but I am inspired to do a take-off on your observations. I call it “comparatively blood-soaked.” In Asheville, there is comparatively little consideration of … Read more
Thank you for printing at least the civil portion of my letter regarding Rose Hill Plantation (aka Bulldozed Hill Abomination) [“Mourning the Mountain,” July 11]. It was thoughtful and kind of the editor to remove the rabid insults that I fired at the developers. Unfortunately, I feel that in the cleanup, the main intention was … Read more
