It is not due to chance that, together, Pisgah and Nantahala national forests are the second-most visited parks in the country. No one lives in Western North Carolina long without experiencing the breathtaking majesty of our mountains and forests. With the tallest peaks east of the Mississippi and more than 1 million acres of land, … Read more
Sylva To the visiting outsider, the Jackson County town of Sylva epitomizes the western reaches of Southern Appalachia: soft but tall hills flush with blue-green hues, forming a horizon shrouded in mist; a Main Street of old brick buildings decked with awnings and oblong wooden signs culminating with a regal civic building at the top … Read more
Longtime local Grateful Dead cover band Phuncle Sam celebrates 10 years together in March of next year. What better way to mark this approaching milestone than to headline a new jam-band festival bearing its name? Phuncle Fest will feature more than 20 musical performances by area bands, 15 of which are from Asheville. The festival … Read more
In the context of the forest plan revision for Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest, it is important to understand that the vast majority of the last management plan has not been implemented. The funding provided by the federal government is a fraction of what would be needed to put the 1994 plan into action. The budget that … Read more
Seminars on how to make different kinds of goat cheese — including old-fashioned clabber cheese (made without rennet or cultures) and mozzarella — will be among a wide range of classes offered in the upcoming American Dairy Goat Association's Annual Meeting and Convention. The event will be hosted by the Piedmont Dairy Goat Association Saturday, … Read more
I write in support of Cecil Bothwell's candidacy for re-election to Asheville City Council. My initial meeting with Cecil took place when he first ran for City Council. I was impressed with his honesty and straightforward manner, and I have volunteered to work in his campaigns ever since. Unlike some other members of City Council, … Read more
Venturing into the orchard and filling baskets with fresh apples has been an Orris tradition since before we were married. One of our first dates involved crisp apples, hot doughnuts and the intoxicating bite of cold apple cider. After this year's trip to the orchard, we looked at the bushels of apples hogging the counter … Read more
Gwen Wisler is an outstanding candidate running for a seat on Asheville City Council. She is passionate about our city and will be an excellent addition to Council. Gwen is the former CEO of Coleman Company, a well-known outdoor-recreation firm. Prior to Coleman, she was the president of First Alert, Powermate and Eastpak. Gwen started … Read more
When the original Thirsty Monk opened in 2008, it was in the basement of 92 Patton Ave. downtown. As it became known as one of the nation’s best beer bars, it took over the ground floor. In 2010, a Monk popped up south of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Gerber Village. Just two weeks ago, … Read more
North Carolina’s pottery tradition stems from the very makeup of its geography: lots of clay. While the clay-laden soil may be a challenge for gardeners, it also provides a rich supply of artistic material. The use of local clay has been part of our history for a long time, with pottery shards dating back to … Read more
