Tag Archives: Local News

Asheville is Crazy for Google Fiber

Published in Asheville Live on March 14, 2010
This is one of the huge welcoming signs for Go...
Image via Wikipedia

From Facebook groups to blogs, full blown websites to Town Hall meetings, Asheville is going nuts for Google Fiber. Ever since Google announced it would be bringing its ultra-high-speed bandwidth connections to a select few towns across the country, the people of Asheville have been ga-ga for Google. Asheville isn’t alone, though. All across the country, cities and towns have raised their hands and collectively grunted, “Ooh, ooh, pick me, pick me!”

I don’t know if Asheville will get it, but I certainly hope so. We’re certainly qualified, methinks. Don’t believe me? Take a look at http://googleavl.com/, a website devoted solely to the Google Fiber initiative. If you aren’t convinced already that Asheville deserves a shot at the project, a little browsing on that site should go a long way toward making up your mind.

The latest post is very interesting. It’s a video put out some time ago by AdvantageWest and Meet-the-Geeks showcasing some of the advanced technology innovation going on in our fair city. I’ve reposted the YouTube video below, but I encourage you to head over to Google Fiber Asheville to find out how you can help to bring this amazing opportunity to Asheville.

[swf]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5m3_M8RqOw,425,344[/swf]

The audio may be wonky, but it’s the message that matters!

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Haiti Emergency Disaster Relief Contribution Agencies

Published in Asheville Live on January 18, 2010
They are all over the internet, organizations wanting money for the Haiti Disaster Relief, but how do you know they are legit?

We have compiled a list of a few organizations we know that are legit and doing a great job of assisting with the disaster relief efforts.

How you can help? Give to one of these organizations below. They will use your money to help with the long relief work that is ahead for this small Caribbean Nation.

In addition to providing emergency relief, these organizations are providing the following aid to those in need:
Providing Basic Needs:

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New Year's Eve Packages at the Biltmore House

Published in Asheville Events on December 18, 2009

The Vanderbilt Black-Tie Gala Package, The Dining Room Package, and The Bistro Package Include:

  • Guest room accommodations
  • Chef’s breakfast buffet daily in The Dining Room
  • Access to the Library Lounge with live entertainment starting at 9:00pm
  • Party favors
  • Champagne toast at midnight
  • Midnight fireworks (weather permitting)
  • Estate daytime admission valid for the length of stay
  • Daytime Audio Guide to Biltmore House
  • Gratuities for valet, bellmen, housekeeping, and packaged meals
  • Valet parking at the inn
  • Complimentary estate shuttle service

Vanderbilt Black-Tie Gala Package

Also Includes:

  • Reception with open premium bar
  • Five-course dinner with wine pairings
  • Live entertainment
  • Private post reception after midnight

Two-night package starts at $2,140 in a Grand King room, based on double occupancy.

The Dining Room New Year’s Eve Package

Also Includes:

  • Four-course a la carte dinner in The Dining Room
  • Desserts and Coffee served from 9:00p.m.
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170 new jobs coming to WNC region

Published in Asheville Live on December 17, 2009

Last week Buncombe County got some bad news about Volvo Construction Equipment’s plan to close its manufacturing facility, impacting 228 jobs.

Today, we learn of two new companies coming to Western North Carolina, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Marves Industries. Thermo Fisher Scientific will be locating to Buncombe County and Marves Industries will be located in Burke County.

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Thermo Fisher Scientific , a world leader in laboratory equipment and services, will expand its operations in Buncombe County. The company will create 104 jobs and invest nearly $5 million during the next three years at its site in Asheville. The announcement was made possible in part by a $208,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Marves Industries , an international producer of nonwoven textile cushioning and insulator pads for use in mattresses headquartered in Mexico, will open a new North American facility in Burke County. The company will invest $1.75 million and create 66 jobs in Hildebran. The announcement was made possible by a $200,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

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AT&T Enables 3G in Asheville!

Published in Asheville Live on December 6, 2009

AT&T Enables 3G in Asheville!OK, this one isn’t related to any live events or downtown happenings like most of the posts on this page, but I’m just so excited I had to post it anyway.

I’ve had an iPhone for over a year now, and during that time I’ve grown… let’s say disgruntled… at AT&T due to their weak service in the Asheville area. I have been pretty PO’ed for a while now at the fact that I’ve been paying for a crappy and practically unusable data plan, while users in Charlotte are paying the SAME AMOUNT per month for 3G. I’ve repeatedly called AT&T to try to get an answer as to 1) why my plan costs the same as a 3G plan and 2) when 3G will be coming to Asheville, but the answers have always consisted of script-reading or stonewalling.

Well it took a long time and a full-frontal assault by Verizon (via the “Map for That” campaign), but AT&T has FINALLY turned on 3G in Asheville! I haven’t roamed around the city limits to determine the extents of the 3G coverage, but I get excellent 3G reception downtown and in West Asheville, where I live. I’ve also heard reports that 3G coverage is pretty thorough throughout Asheville.

So let me finally say (for perhaps the first time): AT&T, good on ya!

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Asheville Awaits the 31st Annual 'Bele Chere' Festival, July 24-26th

Published in Asheville Events on May 22, 2009

July 24th will mark the start of Asheville’s 31st annual ‘Bele Chere’ Music and Art Festival and the influx of 350,000 estimated festival-goers. According to their website, “The festival features four stages of free- live music and an impressive array of arts and crafts; as well as entertainment and activities for children. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the mountains of Western North Carolina- come join us for one of the Southeast’s largest free outdoor street festivals.”

Though still a couple of months away, here at AshevilleLive we are keeping this festival on our radar and plan on bringing you a series of reports ranging from exciting events to see and participate in, to some of the changes being made for 2009. One of the additions to this year’s festival will be a “battle of the bands-style contest” conducted in conjunction with WNC Magazine and the Asheville Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department called “Last Band Standing: Road to Bele Chere 2009“.

Other events we’ll be keeping an eye on include the 30th Annual Bele Chere 5k, the Lexington Avenue Drumming Tent, and Rashad McCant’s “Shoot for the Cure“, in which one lucky festival-goer will have a chance to win $10,000 with proceeds benefiting breast cancer research.

So stay tuned to AshevilleLive for upcoming reports with more information on how to maximize your fun at the largest street festival in the southeastern United States.

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Asheville Edition of TED Talks in the Works

Published in Asheville Live on May 20, 2009

Local fans of the California-based TED conference (technology, entertainment, design) have begun planning Asheville’s own TEDx event for late summer in hopes of highlighting our own group of inspiring thinkers with fascinating ideas.

TED (technology, entertainment, design) is an annual conference that defines its mission as “ideas worth spreading”. TEDxAsheville executive director Jennifer Saylor is currently seeking recommendations for local speakers and elaborates in a note via Ashvegas:

Dear friends and colleagues, TED, the California-based organization offering free talks from the world’s most interesting and inspiring speakers (Bill Gates, Al Gore, Brian Greene, Gladwell, Dawkins, etc.) is helping Asheville produce an INDEPENDENTLY ORGANIZED, homegrown TEDx event in Asheville in late summer. I’m serving as the 2009 executive director for TEDxAsheville and am looking for speakers. If you’re familiar with TED and have a recommendation or would like to speak yourself, skip the rest of this note and send me an email. If you’re not familiar with TED, it’s a free event where people with varying backgrounds do a 20-minute “speech of a lifetime.” It’s billed as “Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world.” TED stands for technology, entertainment and design. Technology is NOT the primary focus, and singers, poets, comedians, actors and teachers share the TED stage with scientists, physicians, inventors and aid workers. TED is for anyone with a powerful message and a strong ability to impart it.

When asked “Why?” by Mountain Xpress reporter Jason Sandford, Saylor responds: “Because Asheville is such a creative place with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, a spirit of community, of helping, of learning. It

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