Archive for Action
Strive Not To Drive This Week
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Beginning today and going through Friday, people across the city are choosing to drive less and try different ways of moving from Point A to Point B.
Asheville Transit rolls out its new routes and schedules. You can find yours at ridetheart.com – includes fancy Google Map that tells you the route designation, times of arrival, estimated time of travel, and what it would cost for you to drive your car there. Don’t forget you can put your bike on the front of the bus if you’d like to use both modes. It’s really easy. Here’s an instructional video. You can ride the bus for the next three weeks for free. F-R-E-E.
You can check out our newest Greenway sections along Reed Creek on your bicycle. Or head downtown to see the fancy green striped bike lanes. Please follow all traffic rules, wear a helmet, and be visible at night! Riding a bike around Asheville is an incredible way to relate to your city, not to mention the fact that it’ll give you nice legs. Here’s a map with bike routes (it’s a big .pdf).
We’ve got more sidewalks than ever in Asheville, so take a stroll.
If none of the above are options for you, then organize a car pool.
Grab your skateboard, segway, roller blades, unicycle, or jetpack and do something different this week in regard to your transportation habits.
Lastly, be aware that this is a week when there are some less experienced cyclists out there. If you are driving, show extra caution and patience to the bikes. Thanks to everyone who’s participating!
Asheville Needs You
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You may be aware that there are many boards and commissions set up to aid Asheville City Government in being responsive to the needs of our citizens. Several of those groups have openings coming up, and they need caring, talented people like you to serve. You can get an application by emailing our city clerk, Maggie Burleson at mburleson@ashevillenc.gov, the deadline for applications for these groups is June 6.
First and foremost is our newest group, the Neighborhood Advisory Committee. Here’s a brief:
NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE– The Committee was established to advise the City Council on neighborhoods within the City of Asheville’s zoning and planning jurisdiction. The Commission shall have the following powers and duties: (1) Develop rules and by-laws for the conduct of its business, including but not limited to meeting schedules, officers, voting, sub-committees; (2) Develop a plan to strengthen neighborhood identity and resilience, and to facilitate communication and cooperation between Asheville’s neighborhoods and City offices; (3) Develop benchmarks and standards by which progress towards implementing the plan can be measured; and (4) Work on special projects that are consistent with the goals of the committee, as assigned or directed by Council.
Within 180 days from date of the commencement of the initial terms, the Committee shall provide a written report to Council setting forth its plan for carrying out its powers and duties as set forth above, and making other recommendations as to powers and duties, including whether the Committee should be established by ordinance.
More Boards and Commissions after the jump.
We Do – Update and Appeal
Posted by: | CommentsThis morning, we’re in Asheboro, N.C. At 9:30 a.m., we’ll stand with Barb and Angela as they request – and are denied – a marriage license in their home town, surrounded by friends, family and clergy.
We Do Campaign Returns to Asheville
Posted by: | CommentsEight cities. Five days. The We Do Campaign, led by brave LGBT couples across the state and organized by the Campaign for Southern Equality, returns to Asheville today after stops in Bakersville and Marshall. Yesterday the effort was in Winston-Salem. CBS News reports:
Mary Jamis, 52, of Mocksville, and a heterosexual friend who joined the protest, Mary Lea Bradford of Winston-Salem, were arrested after they blocked the entrance to the marriage license office and refused to leave more than 30 minutes after closing time.
A county administrator tried to talk the women into leaving and avoiding arrest, but the two insisted they would stay unless Jamis was issued a marriage license for her and her partner, Starr Johnson, 48.
[...]
Christine Regan, 35, and Megan Silbert, 34, of Winston-Salem, were rejected for the marriage license while a heterosexual couple a few steps away were receiving theirs.
Today at 3pm, I’ll be supporting the Asheville couples who will seek justice and be arrested today. Some of my good friends will be handcuffed and processed for seeking recognition of their relationships. Cindy and Laura are married in California, but they can’t even guarantee parental rights here in North Carolina. If you’d like to be a supporter you can bear witness today at the Register of Deeds’ office or you can Donate Here. Follow on Facebook or Twitter.
Community Resilience and Emergency Preparedness
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From the Facebook page. This is going to be an exciting and important event:
In the spirit of responsibility and prudence, and building on the rich heritage of the Appalachian traditions of self-sufficiency and interdependence with our neighbors, you are invited to come join our solutions building session on community building through preparedness..
On Wednesday, May 9th, 2012, 6 PM at Posana Cafe, 1 Biltmore Avenue, downtown Asheville
Green Drinks Presents A very special event organized and sponsored by: Transition Asheville & the Food Security Cluster of the Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council
A panel of our city and county’s emergency response team and community leaders to discuss -
Food Security in times of Crisis, Transition, and Emergency: A Community Forum On Resilience and Emergency Preparedness
Confirmed Panelists:
Martha Salyers, Public Health Preparedness Consultant
Chris Pelly, Asheville City Council
Scott Burnette, Asheville City Fire Chief
Jerry Vehaun, Buncombe County Emergency Services
Alphie Rodriguez, YWCA
Preventive Health Director Red Cross Representative, TBD
J. Clarkson, Director of Resource Development, Manna Food Bank• How prepared is our community to handle an interruption in the distribution chain of our food supply?
• How can we as a county/city/neighborhood/family/individual help foster cooperation?
• Who is in charge in times of crisis? What plans do they have in place?
• How much food do we have for emergency use? How would it be distributed?
• What can we do to become more secure and prepared at the civic and individual levels?
• How being prepared is also a community building exercise, is good for our economy, the environment, and our health!!!
Arrive early at after 5:30 to take part in pre-event mingling.
Please Help the Hungry
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Howdy, Hooligans. I know that so many of you are engaged in various pursuits that help our community, and I wanted to share with you an opportunity to join with Rotary International. On April 28, Rotary will package 300,000 meals with the help of 900 volunteers. Please volunteer for this effort. They’ve already raised a great deal of money, and now it’s time to get the food packaged and ready to go out the door.
Rotary has taken a great interest in food security, and this event to address hunger is a part of that. Here’s the info. I’ll be there for the 2nd shift if you’d like to join me!
We welcome volunteers to help package meals. We will need more then 900 people to help on April 28th, 2012. We will be working in three shifts.
First shift will be from 8:30 Am – 11 Am,
Second shift will be from 11:30 Am to 2 Pm,
and the third shift will be from 2:30 Pm to 5 Pm.
Volunteers should arrive 30 minutes before the shift starts to get registered and trained.If you wish to volunteer, please:
Email RotariansAgainstHunger@yahoo.com
Subject Line: volunteer
Include the name(s) and email / phone number for each volunteer (or the primary contact for the group) so we can send reminders about the event.
Or to sign up your group please DOWNLOAD the volunteer form, fill it out in MicroSoft Word and email it back to us at RotariansAgainstHunger@yahoo.com.The event will take place at the Reuter YMCA in the Biltmore Park Town Square complex off of I26 and Long Shoals Road. The actual address is 3 Town Square Blvd. Asheville, NC 28803.
Lindsey’s Extra Awesome Voter Guide
Posted by: | CommentsLindsey Simerly sent this into my email inbox, and I thought I’d share it here. Lindsey has been involved in lots of Democratic campaigns (Jones, Smith, Newman, Reisinger, Shuler) and is currently working with the Campaign for Southern Equality as well as being Chair of the City of Asheville’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. She also ran for City Council in 2007, which is when I became enamored with her work ethic, intelligence, and boundless energy.
After the jump you’ll find her extra-awesome voter guide.
UPDATE/CLARIFICATION: “extra-awesome voter guide” is Lindsey’s title for this guide and post. Some folks made the assumption that Lindsey’s choices are also my endorsements. Hope this clears that up.
Voting Begins Tomorrow
Posted by: | CommentsTime to get your votin’ hat on. Voting prior to May 8th means that you can tell those callers, door knockers, and poliscolds, “I already voted.”
