MEDIABEAR PRESENTS

DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE: View from proposed Baucatcher Overlook Park

DowntownAsheville.com: Involved
'Community News from the Grassroots Up' TM

*TODAY'S Weather | And forecast. Click Here>
*AIR Quality | Particle pollution. Click Here>
*ASHEVILLE AREA Maps | Find your way. Click Here>
*GOOGLE Street Map | It's new. It's Big Brother. Click Here>
*LINKS Directory | Good stuff daily. Click Here>
*DOTS Daily | Financial wellness ideas. Click Here>

*POLICE Blotter | Asheville's latest arrests. Click Here>
*13 CALENDARS of Events | What's new to do. Click Here>
*ASHEVILLE'S Blog Heaven | Voice your opinion. Click Here>
*VISIT the Archives | News snapshots of 2008. Click Here>
*SUNDAY Reader | Those who confess. Click Here>

TOP STORIES

Bothwell Releases Newest 'Finding Asheville'
*CECIL BOTHWELL RELEASES 2009 GUIDE: 'Finding Your Way in Asheville' | Local author/journalist Cecil Bothwell has just released the second edition of his popular Asheville area guide book, entitled "Finding Your Way in Asheville." Bothwell told DowntownAsheville.com that given the rapid changes in the area he would now update his book each and every year, "every January 1st." For ordering information, visit Malaprops on Haywood Street or buy online at braveulysses.com or Click Here>

---

OBAMA ROLLS LAST NIGHT: Pres. Obama's first address to joint session of Congress * Photo: whitehouse.gov 

 City Calls for Local Federal Recovery Project Proposals, Obama Calls for America to 'Rebuild'
*THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE WANTS PROPOSALS from local organizations and agencies so it can present a community portfolio of projects to be considered for funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The local project portfolio will be available for public review. It will also be made available to state or federal agencies. The purpose: to demonstrate the community’s capacity to effectively use recovery funds. | For details about how to submit an Asheville proposal, Click Here> | For President Barack Obama's Feb. 24, 2009, speech to Congress exhorting America to rebuild, re-energize and educate itself, Click Here>

---

A-B Tech President Resigns, But Still Stays
*BETTY YOUNG throws in towel amidst talk of discontent, but ...| MTX article: Click Here> | AC-T: Click Here> | For happier times at AB Tech, Click Here> | MTX's recent update: Click Here>

---

Progress Energy Hits Record Level in January, Reports Hopping
*IN JANUARY 2008 PROGRESS ENERGY CUSTOMERS in Western North Carolina set a new record for peak electric demand: a one-hour average of 984 MW. Such numbers weren’t expected until 2011. But that number was blown away in January 2009 when a new record for peak electric demand hit 1050 MW. | This report was filed on Feb. 13, 2009, by local author and journalist Mike Hopping. It is part of his ongoing Electrifying Developments 2 series that examines the electric utilities and power consumption in WNC. He reports in his copyrighted article: "This winter, on the morning of January 16th, WNC blew that mark away. According to the revised estimate of Progress system planner Sam Waters, we burned through 1050 MW, far surpassing the company’s peak demand forecast for 2015. The news set a grim and occasionally contentious tone for the February 13th meeting of Progress Energy’s Community Energy Advisory Council (CEAC). | For more excerpts, Click Here> 

---

Advance Reports of City Road Closings Now Online
*TO KEEP RESIDENTS INFORMED OF PLANNED ROAD WORK, and to help drivers plan ahead, the City of Asheville reports that is has added a new section to its ashevillenc.gov website. For details, Click Here>

---

How Stressful Is the Job You Seek?
*JOBSRATED.COM LISTS THE TOP 200 JOBS, including the most stressful. Stress is one of the five criteria used to judge the goodness of a job. What's the least stressful? Music instrument repair person. The most stressful? You probably guessed it already. As you seek or change jobs -- or wonder which job offer to accept after attending the job fair at UNCA on Tues., Feb. 17, 2009 -- consider whether or not you're about to jump from the frying pan into the fire; no pun intended. | For the list of 200 top-ranked jobs, along with a stress analysis of each, Click Here>

---

UNCA Takes the Local Lead to Celebrate Black History Month, City Council Issues Two Proclamations
*UNCA OFFERS variety of programs. Throughout the month of February, a number of events to be held on the UNCA campus will celebrate Black History month. For details, Click Here> | YMI Cultural Center's photographic exhibit, entitled "That's Me: Scenes from Black Asheville Before Urban Renewal," continues through April 30, 2009. For details, Click Here> | For a national perspective, celebrate Black History month on biography.com or Click Here> | While the Obama Administration has of yet to officially recognize Black History Month, here's President Obama's civil rights agenda posted on whitehouse.gov or Click Here> | On Feb. 10, 2009, Asheville City Council honored Black History month. For an online video of the Feb. 10 meeting, Click Here> | Also, City Council issued a proclamation to honor the 100th anniversary of the NAACP. Visit naacp.org or Click Here>

---

Buncombe Commissioners Receives Strategic Plan
*THE AYCOCK GROUP SUBMITTED A DRAFT of the Buncombe County 2009 -2012 Strategic Plan for approval by the County Commissioners at its regularly scheduled public meeting on Feb. 17, 2009. | For an online copy of the strategic plan, Click Here> | For the agenda packet of the regularly scheduled public meeting on Feb. 17, Click Here>

---

Photo: Zen Sutherland

City Council Debates Adding Spanish, Ukrainian, Russian Languages to Directional Signs
*AT ASHEVILLE CITY COUNCIL'S REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING ON FEB. 10, 2009, new business included a discussion about adding Spanish and other languages that are commonly heard in Asheville to directional signs. Councilmember Carl Mumpower was opposed to the idea. Councilmember Robin Cape was in favor of it. Police chief Bill Hogan said the U.S. Justice Dept.'s recent audit in Asheville found the city lacking in conforming to federal language mandates. City manager Gary Jackson said to ignore the feds could result in a federal lawsuit and fines. The discussion continues. | For an online video of the entire Feb. 10th meeting, Click Here>

---

Charter to File for Bankruptcy April 1
*CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE after it files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 1, 2009, reports Marketwatch.com. | For more details about the cable giant's woes, Click Here> 

---

Is Mumpower Playing with a Full Deck, or Just Dealing a Joke?
*ASHEVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CARL MUMPOWER is soliciting citizen suggestions on who should have their faces placed on his newly proposed 52-card deck intended, says Mumpower, to identify "our own group of destructive public and private figures who have wounded the future of our country." For details, Click Here>

---

 

Downtown Master Plan Lead Consultant David Dixon Co-authors Urban Design Book
Davis Dixon of Goody Clancy, who has been a central figure in researching and writing Asheville's new downtown master plan, announced that he has co-authored a new book, entitled "Urban Design for an Urban Century: Placemaking for People." For details, Click Here>

---

Beware of Jury Scam Duty
*YOUR TELEPHONE RINGS and someone accuses you of not showing up for jury duty. Then they say that there's a warrant out for your arrest. You reply that you never received a notice. Stop there. Don't answer any of their questions. It's a scam. | The Buncombe County Sheriff's department provides details about what to do -- and what not to do -- to avoid I.D. theft: Click Here> | For details about other fraud schemes, visit fbi.gov or Click Here>

---

UNCA NEWS

UNCA's Weather Calendar Available
*UNC ASHEVILLE'S 24TH ANNUAL weather calendar is still available | The University of North Carolina at Asheville is one of the nation's top public liberal arts universities. It is now back in full swing after its winter break. | For Ramsey Library hours, Click Here> | For UNCA's main website, which includes course info and campus news, Click Here> | For details about UNCA's selection as one of the nation's "Best Value" public colleges, Click Here> | For upcoming UNCA public events, Click Here> | For the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement at UNCA, Click Here> | To order UNCA's popular weather calendar, Click Here> 

---

ON THE BEAT

RAPID RIVER MAGAZINE IS THE REGION'S OLDEST AND
MOST WIDELY READ ARTS AND CULTURE MONTHLY

*CURRENT ISSUE of Rapid River | Click Here>

*CURRENT ISSUE of MountainXpress | Click Here>

*CURRENT ISSUE of WNC Woman | Click Here>

*OUT IN ASHEVILLE Launches Daily Gay News Online | Click Here>

---

FEATURED NEWS

Virato Celebrates Four Years on Air, Live Every Saturday
*LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY VIRATO, A.K.A. J. CHARLES BANKS, recently celebrated his 4th anniversary on the air and is headed toward his fifth next January | Virato Live! is broadcast live every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 880 AM radio and is streamed online at viratolive.com. | For details, Click Here> | For Virato's AshevilleMagazine.com, billed as "a reflection of higher consciousness," Click Here>

---

Scrutiny Hooligans Gets Facelift
*FOR ASHEVILLE'S FAVORITE -- and revamped -- political blog, ScrutinyHooligans.us, Click Here>

---

Cape Requests Energy Conservation
*IN HER MOST RECENT E-NEWSLETTER, Asheville Council member Robin Cape urged citizens to conserve energy | Cape cites the need to conserve now in light of last week's record energy usage reported by Progress Energy | To read the complete article, Click Here> | To read Cape's recap of 2008, Click Here>

---

WHITE HOUSE PHOTO RELEASED JAN. 20, 2009

*CHANGE HAS COME: Barack Obama, 44th U.S. President | Congratulations, America! Congratulations, Asheville! Truly. The White House is back. America is back. Asheville is back in gear, too. Our best days are in front of us. Get involved. It's our time. | Visit whitehouse.gov or Click Here> | Read the transcript of Obama's Jan. 20, 2009, Inauguration Address: Click Here> | For more Obamania news, views, photos and links, Click Here>

---

HOLLY JONES GRAPPLES WITH I-26 CONNECTOR ISSUE; VIDEO OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JAN. 6 PUBLIC MEETING IS AVAILABLE ONLINE * Belzak/Mediabear

3-2:
Chamber Wins, Burton Street Community Loses

*I-26 CONNECTOR CONTROVERSY CONTINUES: Buncombe County Commissioners Vote Against Asheville Design Center's Community-Supported I-26 Connector Alternative 4B; Alternative 3 Wins Commission Recommendation to North Carolina DOT by 3-2 Vote; No Citizen Speaker Supported Alternative 3; Resort Owner Supports Alternative 2 | *VIEW VIDEO of Jan. 6, 2009, public meeting online: Click Here> | *MINUTES OF MEETING transcribed: Click Here> | For more details, Click Here>

---

ASHBIZ.COM
THE BUSINESS OF ASHEVILLE

Free Online SBA Seminars
*ASHEVILLE S.C.O.R.E. PRESENTS business seminars for a fee as well as online Small Business Administration seminars for free| For details, 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>
*REAL ESTATE Weekly | Articles and listings | 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 GREY EAGLE Live | Pickin', singin', playin' | Click Here>

*MALAPROP'S Books/Cafe | A Downtown favorite | Click Here>

*PEOPLE Watching | Real-time video on Battery Park Ave. | Click Here>

Barley's Click Here> | Catawba Vale Click Here> | Jack of the Wood Click Here> | Stella Blue Click Here> | Tressa's Click Here> | Westville Pub Click Here>

CURRENT NEWS

Former Citizen-Times Editor Files $15 Million Lawsuit
*GANNETT NEWSPAPERS JUST RECEIVED BAD NEWS from its former Asheville Citizen-Times executive editor Susan Ihne | Ihne recently filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against her former employer. She claims, according to a Dec. 17, 2008, MountainXpress report, that the newspaper's publisher "bullied and harrassed" her. | For MTX article by Jason Sanford, Click Here> | To read the lawsuit filed against Gannett and Randy Hammer, the company's publisher in Asheville, Click Here>

---

How the County Spent Taxpayer Dollars
*REVIEW OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY Monies Spent in 2008 | Click Here>

---

ART NEWS

*ASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN GALLERY Association | Click Here>
*ASHEVILLE AREA Arts Council | Click Here>
*ASHEVILLE Art Museum | Click Here>
*RIVER DISTRICT Artists | Click Here>
*ASHEVILLE ART Galleries | Dozens to visit | Click Here>

---

POLICE REPORTS

Leicester Man Nabbed for Downtown Graffiti
*ASHEVILLE POLICE ARRESTED COREY DANIEL ABSHIRE on Feb. 9, 2009, and charged him with two counts of Injury to Real Property, as well as with Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell & Deliver Marijuana. The city reported that officers had spent several hours attempting to locate his vehicle as one that had been used in a graffiti vandalism incident. For details, Click Here>

Predatory Towing Arrests
*ALL-SAFE TOWING TWOSOME charged with obtaining property by false pretense in sting operation by Asheville police | One of the big-little stories of Downtown Asheville that is certain to get more attention in 2009. | For details, Click Here>

---

SHOPPING ASHEVILLE
Featuring Local Businesses and Organizations

*NEW, MONEY-SAVING COUPONS AVAILABLE ON CHAMBER'S NEW WEBSITE, SaveInAsheville.com | To download online coupons provided by local businesses and professionals, Click Here>

FOR MORE IDEAS AT SHOPPINGASHEVILLE.COM, Click Here>

---

WNC HEALTHCARE

MISSION HOSPITALS: Western North Carolina's Largest Healthcare System

*MISSION HOSPITALS' NOV. 21, 2008, 'SCOPE' NEWSLETTER highlights how the financial meltdown is affecting our community health system | Writes Mission: "The number of uninsured and underinsured people in our region is on the rise. ... The tight credit markets will affect everything from new construction to the purchase of major equipment. ... Look for major projects and purchases to be delayed in 2009." | To read the current "Scope" issue, pick up a copy at the hospital. | To view previous issues online, Click Here>

*FIVE MYTHS about America's Ailing Healthcare System | Washington Post reports: Click Here>

OBAMA IN ASHEVILLE * Lisa Ringelspaugh-Irvine/MediaBear
OBAMANIA IN ASHEVILLE: More than 20,000 supporters listerned to Barack Obama when he campaigned on Oct. 5, 2008, at the Asheville High School stadium.

Obama's Major Healthcare Speech Still Resonates
*IN ASHEVILLE, BARACK OBAMA Spoke with Eloquence and Focused on Healthcare | Obama electrified Asheville on Oct. 5, 2008, as he spoke for more than an hour to over 20,000 who attended his campaign rally at Asheville High School stadium in Downtown Asheville. He was introduced by a Mission Hospitals' nurse who spoke passionately in favor of healthcare reform. Obama, in turn, focused on his vision for heathcare for all Americans. | For Mediabear photos of Obama in Asheville, Click Here> | For president-elect Barack Obama's website, Click Here> | *For official news about Obama's healthcare plan, Click Here>

 
LAUREY MASTERTON: BIKING FOR OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS

Masterton's Ride for Awareness
*OUT in Front | For Laurey Masterton's note about her quest to bring awareness and support of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and early detection with her major, upcoming, cross-country bike ride and fundraiser, Click Here>

---

PARKSIDE NEWS
The Scandal Continues


Steve Rasmussen: Community Activist * Photo: Belzak/Mediabear

Why Save Hayes & Hopson Building from Demolition
*STEVE RASMUSSEN SPEAKS OUT in favor of preserving Asheville's heritage  by saving the Hayes & Hopson Building | Asheville's oldest structure, the Hayes & Hopson building, next to the historic jail and beside Asheville's central park, is slated for demolition by Stewart Coleman, developer/builder of 21 Battery Park condominiums and the controversial Parkside project in front City Hall. Steve Rasmussen (pictured above as he presents an anti-Parkside petition this past summer at a heated Buncombe County commissioners meeting), one of the key figures in those who have publicly opposed Parkside and in saving Asheville's historic magnolia, now speaks out again against Stewart Coleman's threat to destroy another important piece of Asheville's heritage. | For more, Click Here>

 Parkside: a Coleman Spite House in the Making?
*STEWART COLEMAN MIGHT HAVE THE MONEY AND MOTIVATION to get even with those whom he feels wronged him | For news analysis about what Asheville developer Stewart Coleman might have up his sleeve next concerning his Parkside condominium project, Click Here> 

---

HUMOR (NO KIDDING!)

Photo: Belzak/MediaBear
TONGUE-ON-CHEEK Questions of the Week

*Can you heat your home by 'Fire Hooping' in Asheville? Click Here>
*Can drunken Durham, NC, fraternity in danger of losing its house launch successful, hare-brained, economic fix? Click Here>
*Is a 'Sense of Humor' store just for laughs? Click Here>

FOR MORE PRESSING QUESTIONS, Click Here>

---

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>

---

MUSICIANS WHO PLAY ASHEVILLE

*BARREL HOUSE MAMAS: Tennessee Waltz | Click Here>
*DELTA MOON: Clear Blue Flame | Click Here>
*DONNA THE BUFFALO: Family Picture | Click Here>
*FIRECRACKER JAZZ BAND: Happy Feet | Click Here>
*JAZZ THE RIPPER: In the Park | Click Here>
*KELLIN WATSON: Chains of Love | Click Here>
*LAURA BLACKLEY: Ain't Gonna Lay Down and Die | Click Here>
*MAD TEA PARTY: Every Way | Click Here>
*PRESTON COOPER: Mr. Tambourine Man | Click Here>
*SONS OF RALPH: Big Spike Hammer | Click Here>

---

HISTORICAL ASHEVILLE

*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>

---

FOOD NEWS