Downtown Asheville - CITY NEWS, INFO & EVENTS

SNAPSHOT - October 28, 2008

MEDIABEAR PRESENTS
DowntownAsheville.com: Connected
'Community News from the Grassroots Up' TM

FEATURED NEWS

Unveiled Tonight:
First Draft of Parks & Rec Master Plan
NOTE: NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN
*INITIAL DRAFT OF ASHEVILLE PARKS & REC MASTER PLAN Presented at Hurried-Called Special Board Meeting | The public is invited to attend the meeting scheduled for Tues., Oct. 28, 2008, at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 6th floor training room. At that time, the Recreation Advisory Board, Public Art Board and the Greenway Commission -- all appointed by Asheville City Council -- will convene. This will be a special board meeting of the appointed boards for the City of Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department's first public unveiling of the initial draft of the Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts and Greenways Master Plan, as required by City Council. The presentation will be led by Parks & Rec master plan consultant GreenPlay, LLC. | SPECIAL NOTE: This draft is NOT to be confused with the city's long-awaited Downtown Asheville master plan, which has been delayed given the Downtown Commission request for modifications and clarifications. | For Parks & Rec master plan details, contact 828-259-5800, parks(at)ashevillenc.gov, or Click Here> | For info about Greenplay, Click Here>

WELL-HEELED PALIN SUPPORTERS RALLY IN ASHEVILLE * Belzak/MediaBear

7,800 Attend Sarah Palin's Obama-Bash Fest in Asheville on Sunday

Speech Focused on Personally Bashing Obama and Emphasized God, 'Joe the Plumbers,' and Patriotic Places in America

Palin Ridiculed Obama's Plans for Helping the Middle Class and Criticized the Federal Government for 'Over-Spending'

On Sunday evening, Oct. 26, 2008, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin spoke in person to 6,000 cheering supporters in the Asheville Civic Center, while an additional 1,800 attendees sat in an overflow auditorium within the Civic Center and watched Palin's speech on a giant TV screen.

Palin's speech in Asheville was mostly an attack on Obama and touched very little on the major issues of the day. She congratulated the audience on North Carolina measuring up to be a "patriotic place," which brought great cheers and applause from the Asheville crowd.

Before, during and after the rally, pro-Obama supporters had their say outside the civic center.

PALIN SUPPORTERS COLLIDE WITH OBAMA CROWD * Belzak/MediaBear

'BAMA BASHING
Palin's Asheville speech centered principally on Obama bashing, uttering similar comments as in her other recent speeches. Palin's Asheville speech served as a practice run for the speech she gave today in Fredericksburg, VA, utilizing many of the same phrase.

No new ground was covered in Palin's Asheville speech, only a reinteration that the McCain-Palin ticket is good, and the Obama-Biden ticket is not.

Although Palin said "John and I will fix the economy," asked war veterans in the crowd to raise their hands, and said that she stood for "all the Joe the Plumbers,", she provided few concrete details and no new ideas on how that would be accomplished.

PALIN SURROUNDED BY ALL-WHITE SUPPORTERS IN ASHEVILLE * Belzak/MediaBear

Palin did not explain what she would do for America's "Joe the College Kids," who are struggling to go to college and pay-off high-interest college loans. She made no mention of how she planned to stop spending $10 billion each and every month that American taxpayers are now spending on the Iraq war.

Palin said that Democrats were going to tax the people more than a McCain-Palin administration, but provided no specifics to back the charge.

"John and I are for government that is for the people, by the people, of the people," said Palin in Asheville. The people in the crowd cheered and clapped loudly. Palin did not follow up with any explanation of what that meant to her or McCain.

SOCIALISM FOR THE WEALTHY
Earlier on Sunday, conservative columnist George Will said on national television that there has been socialism practiced by the U.S. government the past eight years, but that it has come in the form of socialistic practices that have helped the wealthy, not the middle class. Palin, however, made no such distinction and accused Obama's plans of being socialism without offering any examples.

GOD, BABY, GOD
In Asheville, Palin mentioned "God" on numerous occasions -- and to a much lesser extent than she said "Drill, baby, drill," as well as "Mine, baby, mine -- giving the impression that she came to the mountains of North Carolina to deliver a sermon rather than serve as a secular politician in a country historically founded upon the principal of separation of church and state.

PALIN'S BABY PROP
Earlier on Sunday at a rally in Florida, Palin had one of her daughters carry out and hold the Palin baby on stage. The baby has increasingly become a standard Palin stage prop.

SARAH PALIN WITH SEN. RICHARD BURR (L.) IN ASHEVILLE * Belzak/MediaBear

BLIND FAITH
Nonethelesss, thousands of the Palin faithful loved what they heard and saw. Palin looked well rested. She was animated, energized, resisted saying "You betcha," and said the race was far from over. She criticized the media for reporting the polls that currently show that the McCain-Palin ticket is trailing the Obama-Biden campaign.

FOR PALIN RALLY STORY AND MORE PHOTOS, Click Here>

$3 Million Bribe by Fraga?
*MUMPOWER REQUESTS TRANSPARENCY in Fraga High-Rise Project | City council member Carl Mumpower recently sent a letter to Mayor Terry Bellamy requesting that a “Fraga Project and Public Benefit Packages” issue be added to an upcoming agenda. Mumpower contends that the "public benefits offer" by the developer of the proposed massive Fraga hotel and condo project with two 20+ story towers in Downtown Asheville "was, in essence, a three-million dollar bribe intended to sway the Council to make a political versus legal decision on his project." | For Mumpower's complete letter, Click Here>

POLITICS

'The Reformer' Arrives
*PALIN POSTER AVAILABLE in Downtown Asheville | Downtown Books & News and On-A-Roll, both located on Lexington Ave., now offer "The Reformer." Also available online at www.MaverickParty.com or Click Here>

Early Voting in Buncombe Ends Nov. 1
*BUNCOMBE COUNTY OFFERS 16 EARLY-VOTING LOCATIONS (UNTIL NOV. 1), including the Downtown Asheville Board of Elections Office | Voting questions answered at 828-250-4200 or Click Here> | For list of one-stop, early-voting locations in Buncombe, Click Here>

Uncommon Wisdom
*ASHEVILLE FIRM PRODUCES MANIFESTOBAMA.COM to Help America Envision Obama as President | Asheville-based Wisdomology produced a simple and inspiring video for those who want to try out a new three-word phrase: President Barack Obama. | Click Here>

Everywhere A Sign
*THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE RECENTLY REMINDED CITIZENS of Political Sign Standards | 1. Signs can be posted in any zoning district. 2. Signs must be located on private property. 3. Signs must not be placed within any public right-of-way. 4. There is no limit on the amount of signs that can be posted. 5. Signs must be no larger than eight square feet and can be double faced. 6. Signs must be removed within five days of Election Day by property owners and candidates. 7. Citizens may not not remove the opposing sides’ signs. | For more info about posting political signs within city limits, call the Planning Department at 828-259-5830.

Obama '08 Yard Signs Are Available at Rosebud Video For Only $3 Each

Friends Don't Let Friends Be 'Signless'
*PARC PAC Offers Obama Signs at Cost | Available at Rosebud Video on Charlotte Street and at Instant Karma and On-A-Roll, both on Lexington Ave. PARC writes: "Pick up additional signs for your friends. Buy a bunch and offer them to your neighbors at cost." | For details, Click Here>

Election Protection Hotline
*VOLUNTEERS MAN THE PHONE NATIONWIDE to Help Voters | The over-riding message of this non-partisan group is straightforward: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. If you have questions about the election or have a problem voting, call toll-free 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683), visit 866ourvote.org or Click Here>

2004 Photo of P. Diddy (left), who coined the phrase "Vote or Die" and subsequently founded Citizen Change, a youth-oriented nonprofit that advocates the importance of the youth vote because what politicians say and do affects the lives of America's youth. * The Black Collegian

Rockin' the Youth Vote
*ROCKIN' THE 2008 VOTE: Why America's Youth Vote Will Decide This Year's Presidential Election | TC Roberson High School senior Will Belzak examines the importance of the youth vote in this year's presidential election. | Click Here>

A Guiding Light
*LOCAL VOTERS' GUIDE by Scrutiny Hooligans | For newcomers and old-timers to the Asheville blog-o-sphere, a good place to spend some quality time. | To see if you agree with ScrutinyHooligans.us election wish list, Click Here>

*270 ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES NEEDED to Win | To do the math with this interactive U.S. map, visit 270towin.com or Click Here>

OBAMA IN ASHEVILLE * Lisa Ringelspaugh-Irvine/MediaBear

*IN ASHEVILLE, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BARACK OBAMA Spoke with Eloquence, Passion and Focused on Healthcare to 20,000+ | Obama electrified Asheville on Oct. 5, 2008 as he spoke for over an hour to over 20,000 who attended the Obama political 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 photos, Click Here>

*ON VOTER ELIGIBILITY and the ACORN Story | "The real threats to the fabric of democracy are the unreasonable barriers that stand in the way of eligible voters casting ballots." -New York Times Editorial, Oct. 16, 2008. | Click Here>

*BOOKIES WILL LOSE BIG, If McCain Wins | For the 2008 Presidential Betting Odds, Click Here>

*'JOE THE PLUMBER' STORY Springs Some Leaks | For San Francisco Chronicle report, Click Here>

CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CARL MUMPOWER * CAMPAIGN PHOTO

*MUMPOWER ANNOUNCES October 2008 Campaign Appearances | Follows are Asheville city council member and Republican congressional candidate Carl Mumpower's stated appearances on his quest to defeat incumbent Rep. Heath Shuler: 10/27: Opportunity House, Hendersonville, 6 - 7 p.m.; 10/28: Solo interview, Mat Mittan Show, 4 - 5 p.m.; 10/30: Scheduled debate between Mumpower and Shuler, Mat Mittan Show, 3 - 5 p.m. | For Mumpower, Click Here> | For Shuler, Click Here>

*MUMPOWER SUSPENDS ALL BROADCAST ADVERTISING, Campaign for U.S. Congress 'Almost Broke' | Carl Mumpower emailed a recent statement to the media explaining that he was immediately stopping all broadcast ads, because he believed that they were simply sound bites that manipulated the public. | For Oct. 16 news story, as reported by Fort Mill Times, Click Here>

CURRENT NEWS

Progress Still Pushes Coal and Nuclear
*MIKE HOPPING REPORTS on the Latest News and Noise from Progress Energy | Filed on Oct. 10, 2008, the bottom line is bad: Progress Energy will keep pushing its worn out agenda of increased coal pollution and nutty nuclear in the name of electrical power. When will Progress get serious about renewable energy? Read journalist/author Michael Hopping's even-handed take ("Welcome to My World: CEAC XVI") on WNC's so-called Progress. Click Here>

Sign Up for Youth Karate
*KARATE FOR KIDS OFFERED by Asheville Parks & Rec | The city announced it will offer "Kids Power Karate" weekly instruction for eight consecutive weeks beginning October 30, for youth ages 5-12. | For details, call Allison Dains at 828-350-2058 or Click Here>

GOT FRESH LEAVES?
*WANT FALLEN LEAVES DELIVERED or Want Them Removed? | Most city residents and businesses want their fallen leaves collected by the city, and the city recently released its pick-up schedule. However, for those who want fresh leaves for mulching, the city is more than happy to deliver them at no charge. For details, call 828-251-1122. | For the city's current leaf collection schedule: Click Here>

GOT PEACE?
*STAND FOR PEACE AT VANCE MONUMENT Each Tues. Afternoon | Stand for peace with members of Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Western North Carolina Peace Coalition, Buncombe Green Party and sundry peace-mongers each Tues., 4:30 to 6 p.m., at Vance Monument, located at Biltmore and Patton avenues in the heart of Downtown Asheville. | ALSO, Veterans For Peace Chapter 099 holds a monthly meeting that is free and open to the public the first Thurs. of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Firestorm Cafe & Books, 48 Commerce Street, Asheville NC. | For details about Veterans for Peace in Asheville, Click Here> | For WNC Peace Coalition info, Click Here> | For directions to Firestorm, Click Here>

GOT COUPONS?
*CHAMBER ANNOUNCES MONEY-SAVING SITE, SaveInAsheville.com | To download online coupons provided by local businesses and professionals, Click Here>

BAILOUT NEWS & VIEWS

*MAYBE Alan "The Maestro" Greenspan Was Wrong? | Now that's an understatement as one listens to his testimony in front of blistering questioning by U.S. Senators about what happened with the economy and his part in it. | For Greenspan quotes, Click Here> | For intelligent public response to Greenspan's admitted surprise that banks couldn't self-regulate themselves, dah, Click Here>

*MARKET Watch | Follow the bouncy ride. Click Here>

*SERIOUS Financial News | Worth Reading. Click Here>

*BAILOUT DETAILS ABOUT H.R. 1424 That Have Been Signed into Law | To read H.R. 1424 posted at the Library of Congress, 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>

'RIDE, BABY, RIDE'
*A NOTE from Laurey Masterton | Click Here>

OPEN UP TO DOOR ART
*ANNUAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND-RAISER NOV. 6 at The Orange Peel | For details about the 2008 Doors of Asheville featuring art by regional artists, call 828-254-4030, visit mtnhousing.org, or Click Here>

Citizen-Leader Wanted
*CITY OF ASHEVILLE ANNOUNCES CITIZEN OPENING for ABC Commission | Application deadline: Nov., 2008. | For details about the Asheville ABC Commission and to submit an application to become a commission member, Click Here>

JOHN MAC KAH'S NEW LIMITED EDITION: COLD MOUNTAIN IN AUTUMN

Mac Kah Presents New Work
*NEW WORK OF COLD MOUNTAIN by John Mac Kah now available at BlackBird Frame & Art | This past Sat., Asheville artist John Mac Kah presented his newest work of Cold Mountain in the fall. | For details and directions to BlackBird, Click Here>

Downtown Master Plan Coming Soon?
Been wondering about the consultants' progress?
*AFTER THE SEPTEMBER PUBLIC MEETING WAS CANCELLED, Citizens Have Been Waiting for a New Meeting Date to Analyze the Master Plan for Downtown | The long-awaited Master Plan for Downtown Asheville produced by city-hired consultants Goody Clancy of Boston is being readied and may be unveiled in a public meeting sometime in late Nov. or early Dec. Stay tuned. | For official city news about the plan to date, Click Here> | For more news and photos, Click Here>

PARKSIDE NEWS

Gathering Signatures to Petion for Eminent Domain * Photo: Belzak/MediaBear

Asheville's Epic Struggle Not Over Yet: Coleman Appeals, Says Tribune

*DOWNTOWNASHEVILLE.COM CONTINUES Its In-Depth News Coverage about Parkside | Asheville's most contentious real estate development -- an epic struggle between middle class citizens and the powerful, well-heeled elite -- just won't go away. | For comprehensive coverage of Parkside scandal, Click Here> | For Jennifer Saylor's article about Parkside in The Blue Banner, UNCA's newspaper, Click Here> | For Asheville Tribune, find a copy on the street in an outdoor box downtown.

Coleman's 'Spite House'?
*ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE CONCERNING THIS BAD DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL According to Many Local Real Estate Professionals Who Wish the Project Would Go Away for Good | Here's what developer Stewart Coleman could do on land that he owns -- and in the process tear down Asheville's oldest building that's next to the new $21 million City-County Plaza park now under construction with Pack Square Conservancy oversight: Click Here>

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

BREAKING (UP) NEWS

The Party Formerly Known As The Republicans!

For those who could use a good laugh about now: MaverickParty.com
*FUNNY Videos, Cartoons and Commentary | For the election silly season | Click Here>

ASHBIZ.COM
THE BUSINESS OF ASHEVILLE

GOVERNMENT ALERT

Have You Seen Her?
*HAVE YOU SEEN MISSING TEEN Jessica Renee Hall? | Any info? 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>

HISTORICAL ASHEVILLE

MUSIC AND MORE

Hometown Holiday Jam VIII
*COMMUNITY HOLIDAY BENEFIT for Manna Food Bank and Salvation Army | On Dec. 10, 2008, at The Orange Peel. $10 advance / $12 at the door. Bring a can of food or a toy, too. Help your hometown through the tough times. | 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>

QuickClickDIRECTORY
Click Here>

Asheville Civic Center * Watercolor Artist: Lisa Ringelspaugh-Irvine

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>

Photo Courtesy of AdvantageWest

DowntownAsheville.com
*YOUR 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>

*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.