Years ago, shortly after my family’s arrival in Asheville, I met Cecil Bothwell for the first time. He was in Pritchard Park, pleading passionately with the people. It was a political rally—something most independent publishers disallow their staff to engage in. Mr. Bothwell was saying something about “wake up America” and “get out there and … Read more
On Saturday, Nov. 3, I attended the Bike Ballot rally at Asheville Pizza on Coxe Avenue. Forty or so of us huddled around drinking beer and talking with candidates about an alternative future for Asheville that doesn’t include a treeless skyline and log-jammed roadways. I’m not a radical—[I] drive a car most days of the … Read more
As a veteran of the often-forgotten Korean War, I am pleased that a memorial to all veterans will be installed in the new Pack Square Park. However, I couldn’t agree more with [the article by] David Forbes [“The Writing on the Wall,” Nov. 7 Xpress] that the poem, “It is the Veteran,” is unsuitable as … Read more
We were delighted to read your article [“The Biz: Carland Academy’s Lessons for Area Entrepreneurs,” Oct. 31] highlighting Jim and JoAnn Carland’s new academy and their life’s work as visionary educators in entrepreneurship. We are graduates of the first cohort of their award-winning Masters of Entrepreneurship program at Western Carolina University. We signed up for … Read more
So PAC-man Russell has won a seat on the City Council with the help of Asheville Citizen-Times’ endorsement, which is about as surreal as their endorsing Brother Christopher (at least we know where he stands on the issues). PAC-man Russell, on the other hand, promises to preserve the beauty of Asheville while simultaneously paving it … Read more
Not to beat a dead horse, but what a disappointment the last few weeks have been in Asheville politics. It’s been said that people get the government they deserve. Considering the turnout for the last primary, perhaps it’s true. One of the candidates for City Council even suggested that this voter apathy means the voters … Read more
I recently walked by Pet Luv in the Asheville Mall, one of the two places in our area where you can buy a life, no questions asked (aside from the countless backyard breeders, of course). Three kids were jumping around their mother begging for some little fluff-ball of a puppy, and I walked away, disgusted. … Read more
I appreciate and value the greater Asheville area. I have reasons. Before coming to this area of deep family roots for my wife, she and I lived in an area blanked by a deep mist of monolithic, fundamentalist theocracy. We have also lived where development avarice and political opportunism have destroyed much of natural value … Read more
Good move firing Cecil Bothwell! Nobody liked him anyway. Well, I thought I did, but then your courteous response that we stupid readers “don’t have enough facts to adequately assess” your decision to sack your arguably best and demonstrably most popular reporter. Where do we get off, forming opinions on this issue based on our … Read more
A slightly different slant. Not a very telling one, but perhaps indicative of the fact that, as radio giant Paul Harvey pointed out daily in his broadcasts, once the apparent facts are known, there can often still be “the rest of the story” [“Curious? Furious? Publisher, Editor Respond,” Oct. 14] agree that Cecil Bothwell is … Read more
