Western North Carolina has it all: picture-postcard scenery with pristine water. Unfortunately, hydraulic fracturing threatens it. Fracking is an industrial process using millions of gallons of our pure mountain water mixed with toxic chemicals pumped underground at extremely high pressure to break apart natural gas-infused rock. Each well poisons 3 million to 5 million gallons … Read more
Minority Enterprise Development Week, in its 31st year in Asheville, kicked off its third day of events Sept. 10 with what could be called “lender speed dating.” MED Week organizers dub the event “Meet Your Lender,” and it took place on the third floor of the Self-Help Credit Union on Wall Street in downtown Asheville. … Read more
I would like to respond to the letter from Fred Flaxman [“How Do We Know If Fracking Chemicals are Safe?” Aug. 27, Xpress]. Fracking chemicals are no secret. Anyone can go to FracFocus.org and learn all the chemicals used in all the mines. Companies are required to use safe chemicals. What is secret is the formula … Read more
I’ve had an ongoing issue with the North Carolina Mountain State Fair for the last three years. After 18 years with no dress code sign or any specific rules about how people are supposed to dress at the fair, in 2011 they erected a large “Shirt and Shoes Required” sign at their gate. As a full-time “barefooter,” … Read more
Everybody has a thing. And regardless of whether that thing is Boston terriers, hiking with small children, drinking wine or paranormal activity, Meetup.com offers a way for strangers with similar interests to connect with each other and cultivate friendships. Created by Scott Heiferman who was inspired by the camaraderie shown by New Yorkers in the wake of 9/11, the website … Read more
The Mountain Xpress was born in a decade — the 1990s — that produced major challenges new to Asheville and Buncombe County. First challenge: Two large construction projects — a new jail and landfill — had been neglected because of their cost and unpopularity. Second challenge: A new source of drinking water was needed to … Read more
