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DKos Asheville Open Thread [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-06-28
This space appears on most weekends with links to news and opinion from Asheville and Western North Carolina, and the floor is open for comment and discussion. Wishing all a good day from this still beautiful part of the world.
“Daily Kos fights for a progressive America by empowering its community and allies with information and tools to directly impact the political process.”
The temperatures are soaring with summer’s arrival, but the same can’t be said for tourist numbers in Buncombe County.
During their June 25th meeting, members of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCDTA) were presented with lodging occupancy data by Vic Isley, president and CEO of Explore Asheville.
According to Isley, May 2025 hotel occupancy was down 5 percentage points from 2024 and down 10 percentage points from 2019. Vacation rentals are down 4 percentage points from 2024 and 1 percentage point from 2019. Lodging demand for fiscal year to date is down 8% from the same point a year earlier, and supply, including both hotel and vacation rental, is down 7% fiscal year to date.
The board also received an overview of recovery efforts on the Blue Ridge Parkway by Rachel Stasny, National Park Service acting superintendent, and Leesa Brandon, external affairs specialist. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile National Historic Landmark that winds through 29 counties in both Virginia and North Carolina, bringing in nearly 17 million visitors and $1.4 billion annually. It includes 520 miles of paved road, 32 miles of unpaved road, 26 tunnels, 180 bridges, eight campgrounds, 14 picnic areas, two lodges, over 350 miles of trails and 500 structures, with 90 of them designated as historic. <More>
The final order of business on the legislature’s calendar before lawmakers embark on a month-long summer vacation was passing the latest Tropical Storm Helene recovery package.
Just a week ago, it appeared as if lawmakers might not reach a deal before their extended break. After the House passed its Helene recovery bill in May, the Senate sat on it for a month.
But shortly after Senate Democrats threatened to use a lesser-known procedure to force a vote on the Helene recovery bill, it began to not only move, but sprint.
Originally, Senate leaders hoped to use the Helene bill as a bargaining chip in ongoing budget negotiations; however, it became clear last week that the House and Senate would not come to a budget agreement before July 1.
Monday, the state Senate unanimously passed its heavily amended Helene bill. The House did not agree with the changes, so the bill went to conference committee yesterday, where selected members of both chambers came to an agreement. <More>
Chimney Rock State Park reopened Friday, June 27, exactly nine months after Helene damaged the area.
N.C. Govenor Josh Stein celebrated with state leaders and locals, just below the park’s lookout where the American flag flies.
“Every morning, I get to look at this mountain, this Hickory Nut Gorge Falls,” said Chimney Rock Village Mayor, Peter O’Leary. “What a glorious way to start the day.”
Natural and Cultural Resources State Secretary, Pam Cashwell also attended the 1:30 p.m. ribbon cutting.
GOV. STEIN MARKS CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK REOPENING BY SIGNING NEW HELENE RELIEF BILL
Mayor O'Leary was behind the scenes advocating to get to this day. He called, emailed and met with leaders from the start emphasizing the business community would go under if state leaders didn’t get moving on reopening the park. <More>
Today and Sunday
A free healthcare clinic is happening this weekend at Foster Church in Asheville. On Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29, you can get free dental, vision and medical care.
AMEN Free Clinic is hosting the event. The nonprofit partners with healthcare professional volunteers to get services to insured and uninsured people.
[email protected] 828-274-2014 375 Hendersonville Road Asheville , North Carolina 28803
In a shaded clearing near Mingus Mill lies a cemetery. Small, unmarked rocks sit at the head and foot of each plot, adorned with shimmering coins visitors have left as tokens of respect.
The names, life stories, and even the exact number of people occupying Enloe Cemetery in Great Smoky Mountains National Park have long been lost to history, but interest in this plot of ground has increased in recent years as pieces of the story have come to light. The cemetery is believed to be the final resting place of at least half a dozen Black people who were enslaved by the Mingus family.
In 2023, two new interpretive signswere installed to illuminate the site’s history, and their presence highlighted the need for a better way to reach the cemetery, which sits atop a steep hill. The path from the parking lot was difficult to climb, often slippery, and prone to erosion. Thanks to a $31,600 contribution from park partner Friends of the Smokies, a new access trail has been in place since December 2024. <More>
The Cherokee Preservation Foundation awarded 12 grants to partners in western North Carolina, totaling more than $3.3 million. The grants were awarded to projects advancing the Foundation’s mission of improving the quality of life for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and neighboring communities.
The 2025 spring grants were awarded to the following organizations and programs:
Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River to provide awareness of traditional Cherokee fishing practices among Cherokee youth – $14,000
Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc. to update and modernize the gallery space of Qualla Arts and Crafts to increase visitation – $58,086
Cherokee Boys Club to demonstrate innovative sustainable alternative energy technologies available for transportation and electricity that reduce carbon emissions – $975,000
The Sequoyah Fund to support small business development in the town of Cherokee via lending, grant writing support, and other programs – $533,181
Uwena to provide financial advice and planning for EBCI-members on the Qualla Boundary – $30,000
Ray Kinsland Leadership Institute to produce selfless leaders with modern skills who are grounded with Cherokee core values – $336,872
Cherokee Historical Association to increase heritage-based tourism in the town of Cherokee through CHA’s offerings – $698,000
EBCI Qualla Public Library to develop a strategic plan for modernizing the Qualla Boundary Public Library into a contemporary knowledge center and community hub -$15,000
Cherokee High School to preserve Cherokee art history, and art techniques through the sharing of knowledge on various Cherokee art forms – $19,965
Museum of the Cherokee People to support the Museum of the Cherokee People’s efforts to revamp and update their offerings – $500,000
RiverLink, Inc. to encourage the practice of Cherokee traditional lifeways by expanding river cane availability in the region for Cherokee artisan use in arts and crafts – $20,000
Snowbird Cherokee Traditions to prevent the loss of the Cherokee language by supporting second language learning programming efforts – $115,250
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