The start of a new year is always a good time for hope and optimism. Concern over mounting environmental issues that threaten the health of our planet, however, may dampen spirits. Here’s a suggestion: an inspirational account of why we should be hopeful for a better future by world-renowned scientist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall.
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts presents American Spiritual Ensemble (ASE) in concert in Diana Wortham Theatre Tuesday, January 25, at 7:30 p.m. The critically acclaimed group presents a dynamic and soul-stirring repertoire that highlights the Black experience.
Growing up in Marion, Megan Stevens remembers her family members and neighbors whispering about that bloody day. She remembers them shaking their heads, eyes downcast and doleful. When Stevens pressed for more information, she was hushed.
The clover, known to many as a symbol of prosperity, is a fitting moniker for Clover Acupuncture and Wellness Studio, in Tryon, where owner and acupuncturist Candice Behan and her team strive to assist clients in achieving well-being of both body and mind.
As the holiday season comes to an end, Christmas trees that served throughout the season as the centerpiece for households are taken down and hauled away, out of sight and out of mind until the next holiday season arrives.
When historian and author Anne Chesky Smith happened upon a box of papers related to a sensational 1930s murder in Asheville, she was intrigued. “As it turned out, the papers had belonged to Laurence Brown, who had been sheriff of Buncombe County for more than 30 years, including in 1936 when Helen Clevenger was murdered in the Battery Park Hotel,” says Chesky Smith.
The ancient Greeks explained the change of seasons, and especially winter, with the story of Persephone. The daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest, Persephone was abducted by Hades and taken to his realm in the Underworld. Demeter was so upset by her daughter’s disappearance that she stopped tending the earth. As a result, the plants died and the landscape was barren.
The two biggest problems that we face in agriculture today, as I see it now, are an over-dependence on drought-stricken California for the bulk of our vegetables and a system of corn-fed meat production that is rapidly depleting our soils in the Midwest and causing environmental damage (related to over-tilling and heavy chemical applications).
The Laurel of Asheville lifestyle magazine is available in both print and digital editionsWe are delighted you have chosen us to be your gateway—both through our popular print Asheville lifestyle magazine and our website—to the arts, culture, and communities that comprise the remarkable area that is Western North Carolina. In these pages, you will find behind-the-scenes stories about the region’s concerts, theatre and dance productions, festivals, restaurants, artists, and the multitude of locally-based businesses. We also enjoy bringing you features about the people and organizations who are caring for those in need, protecting our historic heritage, preserving our rich and diverse environment, and nurturing our cultural soul.
