We publish a list of NewsNotes every day in our newsletter, but there’s so much happening in the area that it’s easy to miss some of the biggest announcements and updates.
So, we’ve started picking our top 10 NewsNotes every week for you. Here are the items getting the biggest buzz from the past week –
Number: $3.4 million. The potential increase in funds for Asheville City + Buncombe County Schools in the County’s proposed budget. The funds would be used for a social worker + school resource officer for ACS, and would help increased employee benefit + utility costs for BCS. This amount is about $600,000 less than what was requested by school officials. Revisit our report about teacher funding here.
Number: 45,000. The number of pages of documents reviewed by federal prosecutors in the case against former County manager Wanda Greene + her son Michael Greene who are being charged with wire fraud + conspiracy. Wanda is also charged with embezzlement for $200,000 of “improper” purchases made with her County credit card. Their defense attorney has asked to postpone their jury trial (scheduled for June 4th) to September so they have time to review the documents provided by federal officials.
Drink: Two new bars have recently opened in downtown and North Asheville: The Asheville Club (20 Haywood St.), a beer + wine bar with a name that alludes to the building’s past as an early twentieth-century gentleman’s club, and The Waterbird, which features craft cocktails, as well as non-alcoholic mocktails, fresh juices and food. FYI: The Waterbird’s parking lot will also host a Sunday tailgate market. 🍸
Civic: Buncombe County’s voter turnout was higher than Mecklenburg, Wake + Guilford counties. While ours was at 15.8%, Mecklenburg, the largest county by population, only had an 11% voter turnout. Here’s to record numbers of voters come the General Election in November.
List: Asheville has been named the country’s “Most Hospitable City” by Airbnb. The rankings were based on the number of 5-star reviews in each city. Other cities on the list included Charleston, SC, Austin, TX, and Nashville, TN.
Award: Asheville Brewing Company’s Ninja Porter won the bronze medal last week in the Brewers Association’s biennial World Beer Cup Competition in Nashville, TN. The beer took home the gold medal in 2014’s World Beer Cup. Competition was fierce: 66 countries were in the running this time around, with 2,515 breweries + 8,234 beers. 🍺
Dish: Chef Vijay Shastri, restaurateur and owner of former Asheville culinary destination The Flying Frog, will open a new restaurant, Continental Lounge, this June in the spot formerly occupied by Local Provisions (77 Biltmore Ave.). The menu will focus on American comfort food.
Number: $8.3 billion. The wages + salaries generated by N.C.’s outdoor recreation industry according to last year’s Outdoor Industry Association Outdoor Recreation Economy Report. Several area schools, including Southwestern Community College, Western Carolina University, and Warren Wilson College, offer programs in outdoor leadership, education, management + wilderness therapy.
Closing: The Southern and Dirty South, the club in the back. The Asheville food scene staple will close its doors for good Saturday. New management at the location wants to make the area into a retail space. Wednesday was the last chance to catch the Disclaimer’s long-running comedy open mic at Dirty South. The Disclaimer is looking for a new home for their open mics. 🎤
Watercooler: Great news for all you Tourists fans: the Colorado Rockies have extended their Player Development Contract for another two years. Beginning in 1994 the Tourists became an affiliate of the Rockies. Now, with this new agreement, this active affiliation is the longest between any South Atlantic League team + their Major League affiliate. Currently, 18 Colorado Rockies players (from a roster of 40 men) have played for the Asheville Tourists. Want to know more about the Tourists + their history here in Asheville? Click here. ⚾
