2009 VILLAGE ART & CRAFT FAIR * CLIVE WRIGHT * MediaBear / BB
37th Annual Village Art & Craft Fair well-attended
*THIS PAST WEEKEND ART-LOVERS OF THE FREE, OPEN-AIR , 37TH ANNUAL CRAFT FAIR in Biltmore Village had to hoof it in to enjoy a well-attended display of handcrafted works on the grounds of the Cathedral of All Souls Church | Of the 125 artists and artisans, 15 artists exhibited for the first time at the fair, including Asheville artist Perry Houlditch. | For more photos of the 2009 fair, Click Here>
'Preparedness Night' with Tourists
Why be prepared?
*PREPAREDNESS NIGHT at historic McCormick Field | The Asheville Tourists baseball game begins 7:05 p.m., June 26, 2009. Fans can register for great prizes to be given away during the game at tables which will be set up just inside the front gate. Local agencies will explain why citizens should be prepared for the unexpected. | For Tourists schedule, Click Here>
Black Ball fundraiser Saturday
Ad hoc art group gets it together
*THE ASHEVILLE BLACK BALL fundraiser organized by the Asheville Art Initiative is scheduled for Sat., June 20, 2009 | Tickets begin at $25; participating artists get in for free. Net proceeds benefit Art2People, Black Mountain College Museum, Artist's Roundtable, and Flood Gallery. | For details posted by artist Brian Kirk, call 828-779-7012 or Click Here> | The downtown kick-off party begins at 2 p.m. followed by the ball and art exhibition held at various venues. Featured bands include Hellblinki Sextet, Zombie Bazooka Patrol, Cutthroat Shamrock, oddStar, and Dashvara. For more info, visit ashevilleblackball.com or Click Here>
Land of the Sky Symphonic Band plays Sunday
30-piece band under direction of David Kirby
*3 P.M., SUN., JUNE 21, 2009, at St. Matthias Church | The program will include two concertos: one for clarinet by von Weber with David Kirby as soloist; the other for four trombones with Alan Greene, Linda Davis, Clare Nichols, add Steve Freeby as soloists. | For directions to St. Matthias, Click Here> | For details about the historic church, Click Here>
Keowee Chamber Music Festival Celebrates 9th Year
Final weekend of festival
*FOUNDER KATE STEINBECK AND HER MUSICAL FRIENDS finish their 9th year of providing exceptional chamber music in the mountains on Father's Day, Sun., June 22, 2009 | For schedule and details, visit keoweechambermusic.org or Click Here>
Asheville ties Portland as favorite 'Beer City, USA'
Philadelpia 3rd; San Diego 4th; St. Louis 5th
*SCRUTINY HOOLIGANS' GORDON SMITH recently gave a 'heads up' (so to speak) about putting Asheville on the map as America's top craft beer manufacturing center | He done good! Encouraging Ashevillians to cast their vote by May 7, Smith helped Asheville tie Portland for first place -- and Portland, Oregon, is seven times larger than Asheville. Beer examiner Charlie Papazian posted his updated comments about the poll at Examiner.com, or Click Here> | For Hooligans' heads-up notice, Click Here> | The poll results are just in time to celebrate microbrew suds during American Craft Beer Week, which runs May 11-17, 2009: Click Here> | For 150-plus comments posted on the Examiner.com, Click Here> | Last year, Colbert Nation gave it a special play: Click Here> | And where can you find Gordon Smith discussing his favorite local suds and political takes? Try Asheville Brewing Co. at 77 Coxe Ave. on a Thurs. evening as part of Drinking Liberally where Smith and other locals raise an elbow in "promoting democracy one pint at a time" or Click Here>
Mumpower: 'McCarthy was right'
*CARL MUMPOWER PUSHES IMMIGRATION ISSUE and says "McCarthy was right" | Mumpower recently issued a surprising statement that supports Joe McCarthy-like tactics in response to growing criticism of his questionable accusations against local businesses who Mumpower accuses of hiring illegal aliens | For Dwight Butner's response to Mumpower's accusations and local reporter John Boyle's disgust of Mumpower's tactics, see CURRENT NEWS section below.
Mumpower points icy finger at Vincenzo's, others
*CITY COUNCILMEMBER MUMPOWER WRITES LETTER TO I.C.E., and lists eight Asheville area restaurants and motels with possible illegal immigrants | Carl Mumpower's April 16, 2009, letter to Charlotte-based agent Delbert Richburg of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) states: "I have no idea as to the validity of these claims." Nonetheless, Mumpower publicly listed eight area restaurants by name, one of which includes Vincenzo's, but provided no details. | For the unabridged "From the Desk of Carl Mumpower" 4-16-09 letter to I.C.E., Click Here> | In response to criticism that accuses Mumpower of being a modernday McCarthy, he responded in a one-line public statement: "McCarthy was right."
DWIGHT BUTNER: Vincenzo's owner battles Mumpower's accusations * File photo: MediaBear
MUMPOWER: 'MCCARTHY WAS RIGHT'
Vincenzo's Butner responds to Mumpower's accusations about illegal workers
Reporter John Boyle writes about Mumpower's modernday McCarthy tactics
*VINCENZO'S DWIGHT BUTNER: 'If I wrong, I'll take care of it. If I'm not, I'll expect an apology from Carl [Mumpower]' | In an exclusive telephone interview on Thurs. afternoon, April 16, 2009, Dwight Butner, long-time Asheville resident and respected restauranteur, addressed Mumpower's serious accusations about illegal aliens working at Butner's long-time established restaurant, located near city hall. Said Butner to DowntownAsheville.com: "I spoke with Carl today and he refused to tell me who gave him this information." | Butner said: "I consider Carl to be a friend. I've known him for years." He added: "I thought better of Carl. ... I'm disappointed." | For more of the exclusive interview with Dwight Butner, Click Here> | MORE RECENTLY ... Citizen-Times' reporter John Boyle compares Mumpower to a modernday Joe McCarthy: Click Here> | MountainXpress takes note of growing public disgust of Mumpower's McCarthy-like tactics: Click Here> | Mumpower issues a public statement and one-line response to John Boyle's commentary: "McCarthy was right." | Tell DowntownAsheville.com what you think about Mumpower's tactics and motivations: Click Here>
