Buncombe County is the 25th healthiest among North Carolina's 100 counties, according to national rankings released Feb. 17. The county also ranked third in the state in clinical care, sixth in health behaviors, 12th in social and economic factors, and 13th in physical environment. The rankings were produced by the County Health Rankings initiative, which … Read more
The Community Cloud Computing project is seeking federal stimulus dollars to establish a potent local digital network. Cloud computing involves aggregating — and massively increasing — computer power over an extended network. "Most people don't have access to this kind of computing power," project coordinator Wally Bowen explains. "This is a step toward treating it … Read more
At Mountain Xpress, we're getting ready for our Big Small Business Issue, which is slated for April 14 — and we want your help. Send us your tips and stories of what works to keep a small business surviving and thriving in Western North Carolina during tough economic times. What lessons, straight from the source, … Read more
In a dramatic Feb. 17 appearance on WCQS-FM's "Conversations" program, Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy charged that Council member Gordon Smith was exploiting the issue of same-sex, domestic-partner benefits to boost his prospects in a future mayoral bid. "This issue was put forward in a way that was very divisive," said Bellamy. "I think it was … Read more
Our local colleges keep the green flames burning: Here are a few upcoming ecoevents at Warren Wilson College and UNCA. Food security Ethnobiologist Gary Paul Nabhan — facilitator/founder of the Slow Foods project Renewing America's Food Traditions and author of such seminal tomes as Coming Home to Eat — will give a free public lecture … Read more
"We recorded the basic tracks in a just a few days," says Wayne Robbins, referring to his latest offering with the Hellsayers, All You Need to Sleep. "It was right before we went to Europe. Then I moved. That was when everything started getting complicated." Photo by Sandlin Gaither That was two-and-a-half years ago. To … Read more
The Guthrie Family Rides Again Tour is coming to Asheville. And it's not just the Guthrie grownups that will be taking the stage. Legendary folk-music icon Arlo Guthrie will be joined by his seven grandchildren, ages 2 through 18. While Arlo acknowledges that the littlest ones aren't on stage for the entire show "because they … Read more
It's only February, and already 2010 has been a big year for Chris Bower. Last month, his short sci-fi film, Solatrium, received accolades from wired.com, a popular entertainment Web site, when it had its world premiere at the Slamdance film fest in Park City, Utah. Currently Bower is shooting footage for his eagerly anticipated documentary, … Read more
"I'm at the epicenter, so I think I know a thing or two about it," singer/songwriter Austin Lucas says of the current cowpunk resurgence. Sure, punk bands have been drawing inspiration from and even turning to country sounds for decades. Rank & File led the charge in the '70s, Mojo Nixon always mixed his post-punk … Read more
This is what I keep hearing about Kovacs & the Polar Bear: "I liked them more than I thought I would." And, indeed, following their middle-of-three-bands set at a Rocket Club showcase, most of the audience cleared out: Unfortunate for the band that had to follow Kovacs' excellent performance. Front man Nicholas Kovacs bears a … Read more
