It’s garden season in Western North Carolina. While festivals, plant sales and the like abound in the Asheville area, nearby Waynesville has its own event — the ninth annual Whole Bloomin’ Thing, to be held in Frog Level on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. (For the uninitiated, this national historic area … Read more
It’s a volatile point in the state’s budgeting process, and like their colleagues in other state agencies, employees of North Carolina’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources can only watch as legislators, led by a recently installed GOP majority, plan massive cuts to close an estimated $2.6 billion shortfall. DENR, which handles everything from forest … Read more
Sen. Jim Davis isn’t out to make Mission Health System close its doors, he told Xpress in a recent interview. “I wouldn’t do anything knowingly to harm Mission. It’s critical to Western North Carolina,” said the Republican state senator, acknowledging the company’s position as a major health-service provider and a major employer in the region. … Read more
Chances are, by the time you read this you’ll already be knocking the dirt off your sandals from a festival or two (Big Love, All Go West and MerleFest came up quickly!) — but fear not. Festival season is only just beginning. Even if you haven’t yet ventured into the great, music-accompanied outdoors, there’s plenty … Read more
Alan Muskat is wearing pink Crocs. He’s standing in front of a group of people gathered in dappled sunlight on the lawn of the Laughing Frog Estate, a lush 200-plus-acre plot in between Hot Springs, Marshall and nowhere. "I'm very honored and appreciative to have you all here," he says to the group, most of … Read more
Asheville City Council April 26, 2011 meeting No tax increase in proposed $132 million budget Weirbridge Village tax exemption approved Leicester incorporation narrowly endorsed It began with the airport — specifically, with proposed state legislation that would take the Asheville Regional Airport away from the city without compensation. The bill also calls for beefing up … Read more
Storm clouds collide as lightning seems to surround the airplane — immediately followed by the ear-splitting, heart-stopping reverberation of thunder booming through the cabin. Gusts of wind buffet the plane mercilessly, and maintaining elevation is becoming a life-threatening struggle. As the plane labors under the weight of crew, cargo and passengers, it begins losing altitude … Read more
I read Lance Hardcastle's attack letter several weeks ago, and I wanted to write in to give my wholehearted support to the new, improved Greenlife [“Whole Foods: The Bigger the Worse?” March 30 Xpress]. Personally, I was very excited when I heard Whole Foods was taking over the Asheville location. They are making some great … Read more
Legislation would limit Mission Health’s acquisitions The bill, introduced by Sen. Jim Davis (R), would also place a cap on Mission’s employment of physicians by limiting it to 10 percent of physicians in a county. Sen. Davis introduced the legislation in response to what he believes is a “monopoly” by Mission, according to the report. … Read more
