The Skyland Fire Department’s white-walled community room might not be the usual place to watch an in-depth news report, but for the roughly 50 people gathered late on the afternoon of Nov. 18, it wasn't a typical viewing. Many residents of the Mills Gap Road area have lived with the specter of severe health risks … Read more
As a concerned citizen, I am planning to take part in a nationwide wave of peaceful civil disobedience in the event that Obama approves the Keystone Pipeline. 76,000 people in the U.S. have signed the “Pledge of Resistance to the KXL Pipeline,” initiated by Rainforest Action Network and CREDO, committing themselves to risk arrest in … Read more
In a recent issue of the Xpress, I read an article about light voter turnout [“Between the Lines,” Nov. 13 Xpress]. In previous issues, we read about what [some] considered restrictive voter laws. No matter what side of the issues your opinion may fall on, the solution to both problems is simple. I can sit … Read more
I am the director of Goat Mountain Animal Sanctuary in Leicester, and some of the calls we get regarding pigs are from people who believed, when they purchased their potbellied pig, that it wouldn’t grow large — that it was some new, mini-type that would only grow to be 30 pounds. When the pig grows … Read more
If the name The Melodic seems a bit too pointed (albeit sweetly so), the English folk ensemble has been living up to it. A collaboration between songwriters Huw Williams and Rudi Schmidt, the Melodic taps ’60s and ’70s British and American folk along with inspirations gleaned from international travel. “Our approach to recording our songs … Read more
The next two weeks offer a couple of unconventional opportunities to connect with local culture and influence. From an art exhibit featuring folk-heritage takes on seasonal spirit to a film focused on the German-born Bauhaus movement in America (and, specifically, Western North Carolina), it’s an insider’s perspective on regional art and craft. The spirit of … Read more
"This album really was created by the grace of the good Lord and a lot of friends and family that have helped this old boy and his family," singer-songwriter and WNC native Malcolm Holcombe said in a recent interview. He was talking about his newest album, Down the River — his ninth studio effort. Holcombe … Read more
The mighty plank of wood sailed through the air before docking atop my table. On it, two iron burners protected small fires in their depths. Armored red legs rested in a tangle in the middle and architecturally interesting shapes rose from the edges, forming a tantalizing city. The new pupu platter from Ben’s Tune Up … Read more
On Nov. 19, Buncombe Commissioners voted to spend $69,000 on a conservation easement to protect 121 acres from development on Long Mountain in the Upper Hominy area. The measure passed 6-1, with commissioner Mike Fryar casting the lone, dissenting vote. The property includes a rare mountainside wetland and is visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. … Read more
