Stories and news from The Urban News in Asheville, North Carolina http://www.theurbannews.com Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:25:41 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 Subscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with Pageflakes http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/rxjM3vT9BB4/index.php Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:06:12 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=822&Itemid=8 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/kkPoAhvVU9M/index.php Former chapter president Karen VanEman receives the Evan Mahaney Champion of Civil Liberties Award from board member Alan Robinson. By Moe White The Western North Carolina Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union held its annual meeting on Saturday, June 13 at the Greenlife Grocery restaurant on Merrimon Avenue. More than 40 members and supporters heard outgoing president P. J. Roth review the past year’s activities and install new president Alexandra Cury. The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the “Evan Mahaney Champion of Civil Liberties Award” to Dr. Karen VanEman for her work in the community on behalf of those whose civil liberties are threatened. VanEman, also a former ACLU chapter president, moved to Asheville from Michigan in 2001 and quickly became involved with the local branch. One of her early projects grew out of the public protests against the war in Iraq, launched in March 2003, when she learned of the Asheville Police Department’s numerous arrests of protesters, often based on charges of “resisting arrest.” Community activists were pushing the city to establish a civilian review board to provide oversight to the APD, then led by longtime chief Will Annarino, and VanEman and the ACLU joined forces with them. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:02:13 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=821&Itemid=8 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/dKasBgarxiY/index.php M. Jerry VeHaun, Director of Emergency Services for Buncombe County. By Thomas Jankowski This question does not arise until the reaction is needed. We go on with our daily lives dealing with and thinking about only what we face on a regular basis. Then the crisis emerges and we find our selves at a loss about what to do, in what order, and who is going to be there to help.  Preparation comes first. Not when the incident happens, but well before. Good advance planning lets us deal with what we expect, and we should follow exactly the same procedure for the unexpected. This will give us some order even in the most dramatic crisis. But, like other things that we do not need on a regular basis, we tend to put off planning. This causes mild to major panic when the need arrives, along with all the regrets that “I should have…” and “Why didn’t I?” Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:52:23 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=820&Itemid=61 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/Zrdc0Z-IQhc/index.php by Johnnie Grant South French Broad’s class of ’69 inherited and continued Stephens-Lee High School’s proud legacy. The closing of Stephens-Lee and the redirection of African-American students to South French Broad High School was the result of a marred “separate, but equal” system. The famous 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown et.al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka (KS) et.al. was intended to be a humane one. Its purpose was to help take away the stigma of inferiority that had plagued African Americans throughout this country. However, one important factor which was completely ignored, was the decision that never demanded that white students step outside of their comfort zone. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:48:59 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=819&Itemid=61 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/PWoXS4AZPuM/index.php Staff Reports Progress Energy Carolinas has signed an agreement with Southern Energy and NxGen Power to build, own and operate a 1.3-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) array and sell the output to Progress Energy Carolinas for distribution to its customers. The proposed PV array would be located on City of Raleigh property at the Neuse River Wastewater Treatment Plant (NRWWTP).  The project will be the first utility-scale solar power project located on local government property in North Carolina. This is also the fifth and largest solar array project announced by Progress Energy Carolinas, bringing the total amount of solar-generated electricity scheduled to be purchased by the company to more than five megawatts. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:33:15 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=818&Itemid=61 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/2xEgItSpxoM/index.php Staff Reports Tim Johnston, President and CEO of Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation, announced the opening of a new Urgent Care facility off Highway 64/276 at the intersection of North Caldwell and Whitmire Streets in Brevard. The facility will open in the Fall 2009 and will offer patients, businesses, and industry convenient access to quality treatment of minor illness and injuries, without an appointment. Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care’s existing network includes: Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:31:39 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=817&Itemid=61 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/ehiBxs5sMXY/index.php Joyce Briscoe pauses for a moment while working in her flower garden. You can’t miss Joyce Hadden Briscoe’s apartment at Livingston Heights. By Cathy Holt It’s the one with the brightest colors. Pink, white, and red flowers are planted in front, and a bright red panel beside her door tells you someone special lives there. But her love of beauty doesn’t stop there: she has been responsible for more beautification nearby. On Saturday, June 25, she organized several neighbors and children to plant flowers donated by Asheville GreenWorks in the entrance area of Livingston Circle. “Even when I lived in New York, I started a program to plant flowers,” she says with a chuckle. Born in Asheville, she attended Stephens-Lee High School, but she lived in Detroit, Florida, Chicago, and New York for more 35 years. About ten years ago, she returned to Asheville, as have all her brothers and sisters. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:30:19 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=816&Itemid=10 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/3K4Wvj69z_s/index.php Samuel Nimmons will be performing at the Asheville Community Theater, and UNC-A Lipinsky Auditorium. Photo Thomas Jankowski. Most of us have had times in our life when we wished we were someone else. We might have been overwhelmed by the burden of bad days, bad months, and of things never going our way. by Thomas Jankowski Sometimes wanting to run away from ourselves is unavoidable, feeling chased by envy of others who seem to have it all, the people whom problems always seem to avoid. Asheville resident Samuel Nimmons is no different from the rest of us, except that he might have found an answer to the dilemma. Born and reared in Orangeburg, SC, Samuel excelled academically at Wilkinson High School. He was elected his class president, served as the school’s drama club liaison, and sang in the school choir. He graduated in the top ten percent of his class and was awarded an Academic Scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:24:09 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=815&Itemid=10 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/6yM7LAjopzk/index.php One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records, including one for “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time.” He won 13 Grammy Awards, charted 13 number one singles in his solo career, and posted sales of over 750 million records worldwide, making him the best selling solo artist of all time. Jackson also donated and raised more than three hundred million dollars for beneficial causes through his Heal the World Foundation, charity singles, and support of 39 charities. Rest in Peace Michael Art by ELLY (http://www.mjcafe.net ) Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:22:07 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=814&Itemid=10 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/jMoUMHhQCW0/index.php Staff Reports The APD Animal Services Unit is seeking the public’s help to locate dog owners in two recent bite incidents. On June 25, around 12:30 p.m., at 5 Oak St. downtown (near First Baptist Church), a German Shepherd-type dog of about 40-50 lbs. was tied to a tree and bit a child who came near. The dog, whose name is believed to be “Fluppy,” was black and tan colored, with white fur on its chest. The dog’s owner was described as a white male, about 5’4”, with dreadlocked hair. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:20:25 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=813&Itemid=10 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/i47ThWl6QsM/index.php Social activist bell hooks and Majora Carter. Photo: Urban News By Sharon L. Shervington The new book “belonging” by the prolific writer bell hooks [hooks does not capitalize her name] was the catalyst behind two public appearances she made in Asheville the weekend of June 27. That night, the downtown bookstore Malaprops closed its doors by 7:15 p.m. to avoid creating a fire hazard. That is not so surprising when you consider how deeply hooks has impacted at least two generations as a writer, activist, feminist, advocate, poet, and woman of letters. hooks, the doyenne of African American letters, was joined by Majora Clark, who has become a leading light in the sustainability and green jobs movements. The pair spoke again at a Burton Street Community Center Peace Garden event the next morning. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:19:39 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=812&Itemid=10 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/-JWsS8kXlVQ/index.php Asheville City Schools VISTA volunteer Jillian Buckley with Adam, one of the 35 Asheville middle school students interviewed for the Listening To Our Teens project. Photo Urban News By Sarah Williams Our local Americorps VISTA is hosted by the Asheville City Schools Foundation (ACSF). Leah Ferguson and Kate Pett are co-directors of the program. ACSF is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to the educational success of all Asheville City Schools students. The Foundation works to engage and mobilize the community to support teachers, students, and their families. It is supported by individual and corporate donations, grants from philanthropic organizations, special events, product sales, and fee-for-service. “All of their programs are funded entirely by the community,” said Joanne O’Sullivan, Americorps Coordinator of Asheville Programs. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:14:47 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=811&Itemid=12 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/_sCUEbm02-o/index.php reviews By Sharon Shervington Not only child’s play — well-told stories work for any age! Alligator Bayou – Written by Donna Jo Napoli It used to be that Italians, Sicilians in particular, weren’t considered white. In Donna Jo Napoli’s most recent Young Adult novel, we learn about a Sicilian family that moved to Louisiana in the late 19th century as vegetable growers and merchants. The 14-year-old protagonist, Calogero, and his uncles and cousins provide their town, Tallulah, with high-quality produce, but the town is not grateful. The Sicilian family treats blacks with respect, enraging the racist townspeople and putting the family in peril from lynch mobs. Interesting characters, an interracial love story, and the author’s consistently excellent historical research make this a must read. Wendy Lamb Books, 280 pages, $16.99 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:15:52 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=810&Itemid=72 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/IPxOLvpNWtM/index.php By Jason Sandford, WNCAP Board Member The Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP) has launched a campaign, “I Need You to Know,” to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prevention estimates that one in five people living with HIV is not aware of their status. Because early entry into care lowers medical costs and improves prognoses, testing is the essential first step in HIV/AIDS prevention. But people at risk often fear the stigma of AIDS. “It took a couple of months before I told my sisters,” says Shirley, a WNCAP client whose family is now supportive. At first, however, “They didn’t want me around at all,” she says. “My niece had just had my great-nephew. I didn’t get to see him until he was four years old.” Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:12:13 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=809&Itemid=12 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheUrbanNews/~3/xEclzrwhe3s/index.php Paul Choi addresses a crowd of 300 at an Asheville healthcare reform rally. Photo courtesy of Paul Choi by Michael Hopping As far back as the year 2000, the World Health Organization ranked the US healthcare system only 37th best in the world, sandwiched between those of Costa Rica and Slovenia. The CIA World Factbook (2008) puts us 41st in life expectancy, tied with Puerto Rico and a whisker behind Jordan. Cuba and 44 other countries have better infant mortality rates than the United States of America! But it is cost, not human suffering, which drives this year’s healthcare debate in Congress. We’re number one by a mile in spending, and the numbers are worsening. This year the average American will rack up $8,160 worth of medical bills. That represents 17.6% of the value of all goods and services produced in the United States. Healthcare’s share may exceed 20% by 2018. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:10:28 +0100 http://www.theurbannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=808&Itemid=12