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SNAPSHOT - October 2, 2008
MEDIABEAR PROUDLY PRESENTS
DowntownAsheville.com: Connected
  'Community News from the Grassroots Up' TM


Photo Courtesy of
AdvantageWest
*WELCOME to Independent News about Downtown Asheville, North Carolina ... a diverse, urban, Southern Appalachian city ... where business bustles ... new ideas germinate ... grassroots' activism grows ... the All-American City and county seat of Buncombe ... "Anyway You Like It" ... located in the Blue Ridge Mountains ... along "America's Favorite Highway," the Blue Ridge Parkway ... a vibrant city dubbed "Paris of the South" ... the heartbeat of Western North Carolina. Click Here>


*TODAY'S
 Weather
| And forecast. Click Here>
*AIR Quality | Ridge tops and valleys. Click Here>

*ASHEVILLE AREA Maps | Find your way. Click Here>
*MILEAGE Charts | From Point A to B. Click Here>
*SAVE with GasBuddy.com | Local gas prices. Click Here>
*TRAFFIC & CONSTRUCTION Reports | Daily. Click Here>

*13 CALENDARS of Events | What's new to do. Click Here>
*QUICK CLICK Directory | Good stuff daily. Click Here>
*COUNTY Facts | Per U.S. Census Bureau. Click Here>


*WPVM
Radio
| Broadcasting from Downtown. Click Here>
*UNITED WAY'S 2-1-1 | Confidential help 24/7. Click Here>
*SUSTAINABLE Asheville | Calendar of Events. Click Here>


CURRENT NEWS


Local Author: Cheri Britton
Inspiration and Hope at Malaprops Tonight
*LOCAL AUTHOR CHERI BRITTON Speaks at Malaprops at 7 p.m., Oct. 2, 2008 | Boom thinker and business visionary (as well as Asheville local!) Cheri Britton will discuss and sign copies of her book, "Boom Thinking: The Gutsy Guide to Breaking Out of Old Mindsets." | For tonight's details and list of upcoming guests, visit Malaprops.com or Click Here>

City and County Offices Open for Business with Limitations
*CITY REMAINS AT 'LEVEL TWO' of Fuel Conservation Measures | However, this increased level of conservation will not interrupt police, fire and rescue, transit and sanitation services. | For more details about limited programming, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 828-259-5800. After-school child care services will operate normal hours from 2-6 p.m. The Asheville Civic Center remains open. | For info online, visit AshevilleNC.gov or Click Here>

Nature Center Open, 'Hey Day'  Volunteers Needed 
*HELP NEEDED FOR ANNUAL 'HEY DAY' of Family Fun at WNC Nature Center on Oct. 11, 2008
| The Nature Center needs more volunteers to staff its annual Hey Day event, a fun-filled family festival, on Sat., October 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Nature Center had been closed due to the gas shortage, but the doors are now open again. Let the fun begin. | To sign up as a Hey Day volunteer, contact: email Shannon Wildes at heyday (at) rocketmail.com, call 828-298-5600 (ext. 308), or Click Here>

Got Gas? Some Do
*STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SAYS More Gas Coming
| Increasingly gasoline will become available for Western North Carolina. | To find an area station that's likely to have fuel at more affordable rates, Click Here>


BEYOND ASHEVILLE


UNIFIRE PERFORMS AT LEAF * Photo: LEAF
Get Your LEAF Tickets Now
 Because No Tickets Are Sold at the Gate
*LEAF TICKETS Selling Fast | The always musical, always artful, always peaceful, always sold-out Lake Eden Arts Festival of Black Mountain, NC, reports: "October 2008 festival tickets are selling like hotcakes!" DISCOUNT TICKET PRICES UNTIL SEPT. 30. | To get in on the musical, cerebral, funky, poetic, friends and family fun -- before it's too late -- call 828-686-8742, or Click Here>


BAILOUT NEWS & VIEWS

Senate Passes Bailout Package 74-25, House to Vote Next
*SERIOUS FINANCIAL NEWS Worth Reading and Watching | CNN Money has the latest news about the financial meltdown and, hopefully, news about how the government and others are doing something about it. | For CNN Money, Click Here> | For more money news, visit C-SPAN.org
 Economist.comFortune.com, FT.com, MSNBC.MSN.com, NYTimes.com, Time.com, USAtoday.com, WashingtonPost.com, and WSJ.com.

'Behind the Bailout' Updated
*ASHEVILLE AUTHOR/JOURNALIST MICHAEL HOPPING Updates His Commentary about the Proposed Financial Markets Bailout 
| Hopping writes: "I can live with this bill, though I’m disappointed that bankruptcy judges don’t get additional authority to redraw mortgage terms."
| For Mike "Meet Me in Paradise" Hopping's updated report on what's behind the massive financial bailout, visit michaelhopping.com or Click Here>

What's Coming No Matter What
*WHY THE REVISED BAILOUT PLAN Remains a Bad Idea | Columnist Pat Richards writes: "Everyone keeps saying that the $700 billion 'rescue' plan will 'unfreeze' the international credit markets, and then the sun will rise again on Wall Street and light up a new day for our economy. That's a sweet dream, but it's only a dream. Here's why." | Click Here>

Bailout Should Help 'Main Street' First

*CONGRESS SHOULD CONSIDER Economic Rescue for All Americans | Ben Foster of Benz Signs in South Buncombe forwards this thoughtful blog about alternatives to the modified Paulson plan
 | Click Here>

Stop the Foreclosures
*BANK BAILOUT Versus Homeowner Security | Asheville consulting engineer Phil Bisesi wants Congress to "vote for the citizens and small investors, rather than the big investors, banks and brokers." Here's Bisesi's strategy to reduce the risk and the price tag of the bailout for taxpayers. | Click Here>

Who Should Be Funding the Bailout? The Rich
*TRUTHOUT.COM TOOK NOTE of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders' bailout plan
| The Senator from Vermont has a proposal that may be more in line with middle class sentiments: Why should taxpayers be left holding Wall Street's bag of rotten excess. | Click Here>

What, Me Panic?
*HOW NOT TO PANIC About the Stock Market
| Although easier said than done, a little calming message with some practical investment advice provided by the Consumerist.com might not be such a bad thing during these crazy times. | For ideas that go beyond just parking your retirement savings in a 0% t-bill, Click Here>


BREAKING (UP) NEWS


The Party Formerly Known As The Republicans!
For those who could use a good laugh about now: 
MaverickParty.com
Brought to you as an it's-a-whole-lot-of-bunc public health service and sanity rescue plan (sorta). Lots of funny videos, cartoons and commentary for the election silly season.  | Click Here>


FEATURED NEWS

Voters' Registration Deadline Oct. 10
*LESS THAN 2 WEEKS TO MAIL IN North Carolina Voter's Registration Form
| NC residents must have their voter's registration forms postmarked no later than Oct. 10, 2008, to be allowed to vote in the presidential election on Nov. 4, 2008. | For NC voter registration details, Click Here>

Gas-Saving Adventures
*ASHEVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Recently Offered Fun Things to Do that Saves Gas
| The local chamber, along with local government, continues to encourage residents to only purchase the gas they need and not to hoard it. The Chamber also offered some good gas-saving adventures throughout the Asheville Area.Click Here>


Major Neighborhood Association Conference Oct. 4
*COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOODS (CAN) ANNOUNCED Its 3rd Annual Neighborhood Congress | To be held on Oct. 4, 2008, 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Jubilee! in Downtown Ashveille. | For info about CAN, Click Here>


Bravo and B.B. Barns Team Up for Benefit Concert Oct. 5
 *ARTS IN THE GARDEN Benefit Concert to Help Asheville Bravo Concerts | Public is invited to attend on Oct. 5, 2008, 4 to 6 p.m., at BB Barns Garden Center on Sweeten Creek Rd. | For more info, call Bravo at 828-225-5887, visit bbbarns.com, or Click Here>


GOVERNMENT ALERTS

*CITY OF ASHEVILLE ANNOUNCES CITIZEN OPENINGS ON THREE COMMISSIONS: Civic Center, Civic Service, Greenway | Application deadline: Oct. 16, 2008. | For details about the commissions and how Asheville citizens can submit their applications, Click Here>


Have You Seen Her?
*HAVE YOU SEEN MISSING TEEN Jessica Renee Hall? | This 17-year-old was last seen in Downtown Asheville's Pritchard Park on July 13, 2008. Jessica loves art, school and track. She has a little brother, mother and grandmother who miss her dearly. Any clue is appreciated. Click Here>



ART NEWS


ARTIST GABRIEL SHAFFER'S IF YOU WANT BLOOD
Shaffer Goes Solo at Satellite
*SOLO SHOW OPENING FOR GABRIEL SHAFFER at Satellite Gallery | Shaffer's show, entitled "If You Want Blood," will be featured throughout September and October at Satellite, which is located on Broadway in Downtown Asheville. | For Satellite Gallery, Click Here> | For Gabriel Shaffer, Click Here>

*ASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN GALLERY Association | Click Here>

*ASHEVILLE AREA Arts Council | Click Here>

*ASHEVILLE Art Museum | Click Here>

*RIVER DISTRICT Artists | Click Here>

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS


Asheville's "No Ads" Movie Theatre
*FINE FLICKS at the Fine Arts Theatre | For current schedule of Downtown's only independent movie theatre, Click Here>

*TOP 21 Nightspots | For fun downtown. Click Here>

*PARTY Too Hearty? | Call four cabbies! Click Here>

*ASHEVILLE Calendar | Any way you like it. Click Here>

MONEY ALERTS

Suntrust and BB&T Fare Better Than Most
*IN ONE YEAR, THE COMBINED TOTAL DEVALUATION of U.S. Stocks Is $4 Trillion, Reports NY Times, But Two Southeast Banks Heathlier than Most | Two Southeast regional banks, Suntrust and BB&T, which have faired relatively well given the current circumstances. To utilize this interactive chart, just move your mouse on top of one of the blocks to see the figures for the various banks and financial legends. | For this NY Times report, Click Here>



56 Ormand Ave. (ABOVE) is "competitively priced," said The Real Estate Center broker and listing agent Megan Kieninger * Click Here>

Fewer Real Estate Agents, More Listings, Lower Prices
*HUNDREDS OF LOCAL AGENTS LEAVE PROFESSION, But Homes Still Selling and Some Are Lowering Prices | While real estate has been hit hard in states such as Florida, Nevada and California, several local real estate brokers confirmed that Asheville Area prices are, for the most part, holding up. "There's too much money and too many people wanting to come to the mountains for there to be a collapse in prices here," said Mike Bryant, owner of Estate Realty. | For current listings throughout the Asheville Area, visit WesternNorthCarolina.com or Click Here> | For Real Estate Weekly articles and listings, Click Here>


HISTORICAL ASHEVILLE


*HISTORIC EVENT When Asheville Helped Make Obamania Happen | Buncombe was the only county in Western North Carolina to prefer Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton| For the latest news about where the North Carolina Democrats go from here, Click Here> | "Obama's Challenge" addresses why he could become one of America's great presidents in a time of great national need, Click Here>


*URBAN Trail | History worth walking | Click Here>

*HISTORIC DOWNTOWN Architecture | Click Here>

*GROVE ARCADE Architectural Tour | Click Here>

*PHOTO Tour of Downtown Asheville |  Click Here>

PARKSIDE NEWS


Asheville's Epic Struggle Continues
DowntownAsheville.com continues its in-depth news coverage of Asheville's most contentious real estate development, an epic struggle between middle class citizens and the powerful, well-heeled elite.

*JUDGE HYATT RULES IN FAVOR OF PACK HEIRS, But Future Uncertain | Many questions remain, such as: Will Parkside developer Stewart Coleman appeal once the final judgment is filed? | *For ScrutinyHooligans.us coverage, Click Here> | *For MountainXpress update about Judge Hyatt's ruling, Click Here>

*PARKSIDE'S ATTORNEY SAID COLEMAN WILL APPEAL Judge Hyatt's Ruling | To read the lastest report about what the attorney representing Parkside developer Stewart Coleman said will happen next, visit Mountainxpress.com or Click Here>

FOR MORE PARKSIDE INFORMATION:
*Asheville On The Ground blog: Click Here>
*DowntownAsheville.com archives: Click Here>
*ScrutinyHooligans.us reports: Click Here>
*StopParkside.org: Click Here>


IN REVIEW

OrganicFest 2008 * Photo:
Lisa Ringelspaugh-Irvine
OrganicFest Spreads the 'O' Word
*THE 7TH ANNUAL ORGANICFEST Delivered the Food and the Message that Organic Food Is Better | Downtown Asheville's organic food street party provided townies and tourists alike with good tastes and good times this past weekend on Sat., Sept. 6, 2008. | For this year's festival info, Click Here> | For news about why the festival was founded, Click Here>

ASHBIZ.COM
THE BUSINESS OF ASHEVILLE

Getting a loan is harder, but not impossible.
For recent Newsweek report, Click Here>

*ASHEVILLE #41 Best Place | To live and launch | Click Here>

*ADVANTAGEWEST | Attracting business to WNC | Click Here>

*ASHEVILLE AREA Chamber of Commerce  | Active | Click Here> 

*HUB | A catalyst for business collaboration | Click Here>

*MOUNTAIN BizWorks | Helping new businesses succeed | Click Here>

*S.C.O.R.E. | Seasoned expert help | Click Here>

MUSIC AND MORE

*WHO'S DOIN' The Peel? | One of America's best musical venues | Click Here>
*THE GRAY EAGLE Live | Pickin', singin', playin' | Click Here>
*ASHEVILLE ART Galleries | Dozens to visit | Click Here>
*CONCERTS at St. Mathias | Attend | Click Here>
*LIVE Downtown Video | On Battery Park Ave. | Click Here>
*MALAPROP'S Books/Cafe | A Downtown favorite | Click Here>

HUMOR (NO KIDDING!)

Compliments of AllFordMustangs.com
 

TONGUE-ON-CHEEK
Questions of the Week

*What are we, (fill in the blank)? Click Here>
*Is a 'Sense of Humor' store just for laughs?
Click Here>
*Is it time for some campaignin'? Click Here>
*Will the anti-Bush merchandise market collapse? Click Here>
*Can the Society for Creative Anachronism modernize? Click Here>

FOR MORE PRESSING QUESTIONS, Click Here>


FOOD NEWS

*RESTAURANTSAsheville.com | Only unique restaurants in Asheville listed, such as Rosetta's Kitchen. To find your favorite place, Click Here>


REAL ESTATE INFO
*REAL ESTATE Listings | Featured homes | Featured Condos | Vacation rentals | B&Bs | Hotels/Motels | For sale | For rent
Click Here>

QuickClickDIRECTORY
Click Here>

*CIVIC CENTER Schedule of Events | Click Here>

*CALENDAR of Festivals and Events | Click Here>
*DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE Schedule | Click Here>
*UNCA Master Calendar | Click Here>


The Pig Statue That Was Stolen Is Still Missing
Watercolor by Asheville artist Lisa Ringelspaugh-Irvine at ArtAsheville.com

LOCAL NEWS FROM THE GRASSROOTS UP...
For nearly four consecutive years, DowntownAsheville.com has been reporting the news about our unique urban community. The more we know about each other, the more we are truly connected. Help keep Downtown Asheville weird, wired and wonderful ... from the grassroots up. So continue to email your news, photos and essays to us today. Email: byron(at) mediabear.com or Click Here>

*DowntownAsheville.com is published daily by MediaBear | MediaBear, a division of Wenoca Real Estate, Inc., is an independent Internet publisher and writing service based in Buncombe County.


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