Good day and welcome to DKos Asheville. This is the weekly DKos Asheville Open Thread for Saturday, March 25th, 2023.
This space appears each weekend to give readers a variety of links to local and regional news of interest, and open the floor for comment and discussion. Wishing all a good day from beautiful Western North Carolina.
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Please jump the fold for some good local stuff.
WLOS, Kristy Kepley-Steward & Andrew James, 3/24/2023
It was an amazing view for sky-gazers Thursday night into Friday morning, March 24, as brilliant and bright colors from the northern lights were visible across the country.
Photographers from Asheville, Fairview, Boone and across the state are sharing photos of the vibrant colors in the night sky. In western N.C., UNC Asheville meteorology student Evan Fisher captured images of the northern lights from his front yard in Fairview Thursday night.
Fisher shared with News 13 that he waited for hours and took more than 400 photos to get the perfect shot.
“By 9:30 or so, we started seeing the first flickers on the horizon, and then at 11:15 there was one particularly bright just burst of the Northern Lights that showed some red pillars," Fisher said.
The aurora borealis lights, also known as northern lights, are mostly yellow-green with areas of red, purple, and white.
According to NOAA, auroras are geomagnetic storms, created when energy and particles from the sun disturb the Earth’s magnetosphere. The colors of an aurora are determined by the altitude and type of molecule that is excited. Excited oxygen molecules typically glow red above 120 miles, and green glows occur between 75 and 110 miles.
WLOS, David Plunkett, 3/24/2023
A wall went up Friday, March 24 on Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity's 40th anniversary home, to celebrate four decades of helping families own their own homes. Haley Brockwell and her two children are slated to move in once it is finished. It's the final home in the first phase of Habitat's New Heights neighborhood in west Asheville.
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity was the first chapter in the state when it started in 1983.
Now, its effort is bigger than ever in 2023.
"What I want folks to know is how incredibly blessed by this community for 40 years. Habitat is built on volunteer labor and generous donations from this community, and you have really propelled us for the last 40 years to make an incredible impact in this community," said Andy Barnett, executive director of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity.
The New Heights community will be Asheville Habitat's largest so far, with 98 homes once it is finished.
Mountain Express, Edwin Arnaudin, 3/24/2023
Life as a royal is never easy, but the current climate for drag queens and kings feels especially fraught.
In its first year tracking anti-LGBTQ protests and threats targeting specific drag events, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation reported 141 incidents in 2022. Of those, 10 were in North Carolina, which ranks second only to Texas’ 20, and the numbers continue to grow in 2023.
Divine, a local performer and producer with Bearded Lady Productions, knows about those threats all too well. In January, a group of protesters gathered outside her event at the S&W Market.
Amanda Ball, Highland Brewing Downtown Taproom assistant manager, says the group was blocking entry into the building and carried signs and fliers. “They had microphones and were being very loud about their beliefs,” she recalls. “When the cops arrived, they told them that they must stay on the sidewalk and that they cannot block entry nor block the door.”
Samantha Booth, spokesperson for APD, confirms that a call was received for a civil disturbance, officers made contact with the involved parties, and no arrests were made. Instead of cowering, Divine performed that evening and walked out the door “in full drag, ready to take it on.” By then, the crowd had dispersed. Nevertheless, she was escorted to her vehicle by members of the Highland team and now has security at her shows.
“When you think that there’s a Listserve somewhere for [hate groups] to notify them where to go to protest or bash somebody — that’s frightening,” Divine says. “This is not just the bully at school. It’s a systemic planned attack.”
Black Mountain News, Karrigan Monk, 3/25/2023
When the pandemic hit, John Richardson knew he had to find a way to keep people together. Now, he is preparing for the opening of his new community gathering space concept, The RailYard Black Mountain.
“COVID happened, and I knew that people wanted to still have a place to go out and eat and gather,” Richardson said. “It’s going to be different. I’ve known about this space, trying to figure out for the town what this place could be that would be cool and fun and exciting.”
Located at 141 Richardson Blvd., the space will be host to a taproom, restaurant and community gathering space. The RailYard officially opens April 15, but Richardson said March is being used as a soft opening for locals to come in and get to know the space.
The RailYard will host American roots band LazyBirds, as well as craft beverages and food from the space’s own burger concept, SmashBalls, on the official opening date of April 15 from noon-10 p.m.
Once opened fully, the 7,000 square foot main building will host SmashBalls’ full kitchen, a taproom, a 70-foot bar and a 1,200 square foot community space. This community space will host events ranging from farmers markets to yoga classes and can be rented out for private events.
(I have been invited to provide entertainment at this cool new spot, can’t wait!……..Looks like a good place for a meetup this summer?)
WNC Parent, Chris Worhty, 3/22/2023
Spring is here, technically speaking, so we can start planning for what’s to come. This week, that includes garden planning, with the help of free seeds, and looking ahead to outdoor events that require registration. Find all this and more, including a hiking snack activity, new products for families, some great new children’s books, laughs, inspiration and more at wncparent.com.
Stay in touch on social media @wncparent, and get your organization’s family-friendly events on our calendar by emailing chris@worthyplace.com.
Galaxy Night is March 24 at PARI – Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute. Overnight options are offered. Learn about what fuels galaxy formation and what these amazing objects can reveal about the universe around us. For details, visit pari.edu/events/winter-wonderland-evening-viewing.
WNC Charity Fire Truck Pull is March 25 at the WNC Agriculture Center Expo Building. Doors open at 10 a.m. This is a family friendly event. For details, visit wnccharityfiretruckpull.com.
Free seed libraries are offered in Buncombe County at the Weaverville, Black Mountain and Leicester Libraries. Different seeds are available at each location and you do not need a library card to use the seed library. For more information, contact the Black Mountain Library, the Leicester Library, or the Weaverville Library.
Kolo Bike Park – $10 Sunday Fundays are Sundays through March 26. Rentals are available for an extra charge. Call 828-225-2921for conditions. Visit ashevilletreetopsadventurepark.com/kolo-bike-park.
Four O’Clock Club: Sand Art for grades K – 5 is at 4 p.m. March 29 at the Henderson County Main Library. Visit hendersoncountync.gov/library.
Fri-Yay! with Bounty & Soul Kids: Foods to Eat When You Aren't Feeling Well is 10 – 11 a.m. March 31 at the Black Mountain Library. The event is for families. Get practical information to support your child's health and development. Classes are free, but registration is required. Register at bountyandsoul.org/events. For details, visit buncombecounty.org/library.
Thank you for reading and contributing, wishing you all a great weekend.