Friday, November 22, 2024
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Nov 22's Weather Clouds HI: 37 LOW: 33 Full Forecast (powered by OpenWeather) |
Free Daily Headlines
Rick Livingston appreciates that the French Broad River is cleaner today than it was years ago. Read Story »
Asheville Regional Airport set another record for total passengers in 2016, the highest in its 56-year history, with enplanements up 5.6 percent (414,606) and deplanements up 4.5 percent (412,042), for a total of 826,648 passengers flying in and out of the airport. That was a 5 percent increase over the previous record year, set in 2015, and sustains AVL as the fourth largest commercial service airport in North Carolina."We have experienced three consecutive years of record-breaking growth," said Executive Director Lew Bleiweis . "We have excellent air service available, provided by four airline partners, and travelers are choosing to fly from AVL. The strong numbers are a reflection of the airlines' success, our region's economic strength, as well as the vibrancy of WNC as a tourism destination. I would like to personally thank our local travelers for their patronage and loyalty to our region's airport." "The Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority Board continues to focus on air service, infrastructure needs and development at the airport to best serve Western North Carolina," said authority Chair Bob Roberts. "And it is very positive to see continued strong utilization of our local airport. The board will continue to stay focused on our mission to provide an exceptional airport experience." All four airlines at AVL - American, Allegiant, Delta and United - saw annual growth in passengers. The largest growth in enplanements by percentage was experienced by Allegiant (12.5 percent) and United (8.5 percent), due to additional routes and increased frequencies to existing routes. Specifically, Allegiant added less-than-daily non-stop service to three new destinations in 2016: Jacksonville, Fla. (summer seasonal); Washington, D.C. via Baltimore/ Washington International (seasonal); and New York City via Newark Liberty International. United increased flights and frequency of service to Chicago during peak travel times. American and Delta both experienced growth, as well. In response to recent growth trends, the airport is constructing a new five-story parking garage, slated for completion later this year. "We are ready for continued growth, and look forward to a strong 2017," said Bleiweis. "We encourage our local travelers to continue to check AVL first for their travel needs, and we look forward to welcoming them to the airport soon." Read Story »
A year ago Sanctuary Brewing Company took over all 20 of its taps for the first time ever. In honor of that day, the brewery is throwing its first Beerversary on Sunday.The brewery will pour old and new recipes from 20 taps, the highlight being Sanctuary’s first barrel-aged beer — a blonde sour ale crafted to be reminiscent of Chardonnay. A year in the making, this oak-forward ale delights with an approachable tartness and notes of peach and pear.The brewery will also release its first Imperial Stout, a rich and dark high-gravity ale fermented with Brettanomyces. Eighteen other brews on tap will include playful new recipes such as Oatmeal Cookie Brown Ale, Jalapeno Raspberry Saison, and a new SMaSH (single malt and single hop) brewed with Southern Cross hops. Local favorites will also be available, such as Bobby Beer Jr., a crisp sessionable Kolsch; Hop Pig IPA, a citrusy and balanced West Coast-style India Pale Ale; and the hearty Nitro Joe, a coffee-infused stout.Commemorative glassware will mark the occasion, and customers will enjoy live music all afternoon, including the Americana style of Asheville-based artist Gracie Lane (1-3 p.m.) and the self-described “Dirty Funk n Roll” fun of Virginia-based band Lord Nelson (4-7 p.m.).Founded by beer enthusiasts, philanthropists and animal advocates Joe Dinan and Lisa McDonald in August of 2015, the bar has raised thousands of dollars for local charities since opening. The brewery offers free Sunday meals for anyone in need, and the Kindness Wall outside the main entrance is always stocked with essentials bags for the local homeless population. Recently featured in Thrive Magazine, Sanctuary has even garnered the attention of big names like comedian Ricky Gervais and racecar driver (and recent visitor) Leilani Munter. Read Story »
An Asheville man was sentenced last week to four years in prison for dealing in firearms without a license, U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose. Read Story »
The owner of the Blue Ridge Mall has launched a series of promotions to "re-energize" mall shopping through events that will include a mural contest, shopping events that support of local nonprofits and Sports Zone, a youth-oriented night out at the mall. Read Story »
The city of Hendersonville is seeking an architect to guide the construction of several major buildings over the next five years, including a new police station, maintenance facilities, public restrooms. The architectural firm would also conduct a citywide facility space analysis and plan and design multiple renovations and expansion projects, the city said in a request for “statement of qualifications.” Responses are due on Friday, Jan. 13. The city plans “to select the three best qualified firms on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualification for the type of professional services required and to engage the services of such firms on an individual project basis for a period of five years,” the request said. “The selected firms would provide work on an as-needed basis and upon assignment by the City. Projects will be assigned to selected firms based on expertise, experience and staff capacity.”The scope of work would include evaluating projects and sites, evaluating financing and zoning, design the projects and present them to the public if requested, preparing construction bid documents and cost estimates and overseeing the construction and renovation projects.In hiring an architect to guide major projects, the city would be following a model used by Henderson County. The county Board of Commissioners has retained the ClarkNexsen architectural and construction management firm for more than $150 million worth of construction jobs, including the Health Sciences Center, Innovative High School, Hendersonville High School, Edneyville Elementary School, emergency services headquarters and law enforcement training center. Read Story »
Van Winkle Law Firm attorneys Ryan W. Coffield and Michael M. Thompson have been recognized as Business North Carolina magazine’s 2017 Legal Elite. Coffield was honored in the “Young Guns” category and Thompson was honored in the “Real Estate” category. Read Story »
Life Care Center of Hendersonville won the Business Development Award of Excellence for the Blue Ridge Region parent company Life Care Centers of America during Life Care’s Eastern Division banquet at Greenbriar Cove in Ooltewah, Tenn., on Dec. 6. Shown, from left, are Vicki Hood, Eastern Division director of business development; Kathy Carver, admissions and marketing director at Life Care Center of Hendersonville; Thomas Hager, executive director at Life Care Center of Hendersonville; and Thomas Oliver, Eastern Division human resources director. The Hendersonville facility was nominated for its focus on helping local senior citizens prevent falls. The facility is part of the Western North Carolina Fall Prevention Coalition and Henderson County Transitions in Care Committee and developed helpful materials for seniors teaching how they can reduce their fall risk with exercises and home safety. As a result of this focus, which also includes free balance screenings on the first Monday of each month, Life Care Center of Hendersonville has seen a decrease in falls in the facility and a reduction in hospital admissions in the community due to falls. Life Care Center of Hendersonville, at 400 Thompson St., is one of two rehabilitation and skilled nursing centers in North Carolina operated or managed by Life Care Centers of America. Read Story »
The historic Tuxedo School is on the market and among the ideas a real estate agent and a prospective buyer have floated are a microbrewery, artist lofts and vacation condos. Read Story »
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