June 12, 2015 – mountainx.com

Character education: Complaint about “The Kite Runner” raises First Amendment issues

June 14, 2015June 12, 2015 by Daniel Hall

This spring, a 10th-grade honors English class was supposed to be studying Khaled Husseini’s acclaimed novel about two boys from different social classes growing up in 1970s Afghanistan. On April 27, teacher Brooke Bowman sent a letter to parents explaining the value of the 2003 best-seller as a teaching tool while warning of its mature content. In the scene in question, a servant boy is beaten and sexually assaulted by an older boy from a wealthier family.

Proposed mural to honor history of Shindig on the Green

June 15, 2015June 12, 2015 by Samantha Glaspy

A local visual artist has volunteered to paint a 24-foot mural in Pack Square Park to honor Shindig on the Green’s equally enormous history. The project is being supported by local groups including Folkmoot USA and the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area who are holding a fundraiser for it this Sunday.

In photos: Renaissance Hotel kicks off pollinator week with bees on the roof

July 24, 2015June 12, 2015 by Sarah Whelan

Brightly colored wooden hives full of bees now sit on top of the 12-story roof of the Renaissance Asheville Hotel as part of a program to encourage pollinator activity in downtown.

Chairlift: Silver River Center for Chair Caning adds school and museum

June 12, 2015 by Samantha Glaspy

Silver River Center for Chair Caning will be the nation’s first chair caning school and museum, bringing a centuries-old craft to Asheville’s modern-day riverside.

Calcast: A podcast of community events, June 12-14

June 12, 2015 by Ms. Amandi

Calcast brings together a wide range of community events in one handy podcast. Hosted by Theresa Amandi of WSFM 103.3 AshevilleFM’s Bombshell-ter Radio. Weekend of June 12-14. Listen to Bombshell-ter Radio every Tuesday afternoon from 3-5 p.m. EST featuring the best trip hop, electronica, chillwave and dreampop music — only on WSFM 103.3 AshevilleFM.

Cut off your nose to spite the state

June 12, 2015 by Brent Brown

Here-to-peer downloading: author Stephen Witt exposes Shelby man as kingpin of music piracy

June 12, 2015 by Kat McReynolds

During the 2000s, a Shelby man leaked more than 2,000 albums onto peer-to-peer downloading networks, often weeks before their official release dates, according to Stephen Witt’s debut book. The author discusses this previously untold tale at Malaprop’s on Wednesday, June 17.

Letter writer: Preservation must have a stronger voice in Asheville’s planning process

June 12, 2015 by Letters

“It seems that developers are clawing for a chance to get a piece of Asheville and that tourism promoters won’t be happy until the whole world wants to be here.”