Frankie Avalon still wows ‘em
Sports column makes debut — See Commentary, Pgs. A8-9
Tank Spencer
— See Concert Review Pg. A14
Arlo Guthrie savors ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ — See Concert Review, Pg. B1
ILLE V E H AS ASHEVILLEʼS GREATEST NEWSPAPER
March 2015
Vol. 11, No. 04
An Independent Newspaper Serving Greater Asheville www.ashevilledailyplanet.com FREE
‘Live long and prosper!’
Asheville ‘Star Trek’ chapter honors passing of Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy, 1931-2015)
Leonard Nimoy, 83, died Feb. 27 at his home in Los Angeles. Beloved for his portrayal of Mr. Spock on “Star Trek,” Nimoy also was an accomplished director, stage actor and writer. The Asheville Star Trek Club honored him during a Feb. 28 gathering in East Asheville’s Oakley neighborhood. See story on Page B1.
Hope fiend Once a cheater always a cheater?
Q: —I met this man a few years ago, and it was like a thunderbolt struck us — the stuff movies are made of. He told me that his female roommate was just a friend. We went on a few dates before I realized she was actually his girlfriend. He promised that they were going to break up, so I hung around for a bit, but of course it never happened. Last year, I ran into him, and he said he was no longer with that woman and wanted to date me. I turned him down flat
Whitewater park feasible, study shows From Staff Reports The recent unveiling of a feasibility study for a proposed $1.78 million whitewater park on the French Broad River in Asheville’s River Arts District constituted a step forward for the long-time dream of its proponents. The 60-page study, “Site Visit and Conceptual Design Study, Asheville Whitewater Park,” shows Asheville and the river could accommodate a waterpark with an “in-stream” feature that would simulate a surfing wave, providing year-round whitewater in the burgeoning RAD. The “surf wave” park would not be a slipand-slide, but rather the plan suggests a river feature with a low dam-like structure, using natural rocks, concrete and mechanical metal gates to direct water through multiple side-byside drops to create whitewater of a quality that does not exist near Asheville The park would take about four years to complete and has several potential sites. The preferred site is an access near the New Belgium Brewery (which is still under construction) and the preferred alternative is under the Jeff Bowen Bridge, according to the study. Other potential sites include near the Jean Webb Park and near the Pearson Street Bridge. The study was done by S20 Design and Engineering, which is run by Scott Shipley, the three-time Olympic whitewater slalom kayaker and World Cup Champion. The study cost $13,000, which was raised
The Advice Goddess
Amy Alkon
because I figured that if he was going to lie and cheat on her, then he would do the same to me. I’m kicking myself now because I have never met anyone like him. Is it really “once a cheater, always a cheater,” or could it be different for us? I have to put this to bed in my mind because I can’t stop thinking I missed out on “the one.” — Opportunity Lost See ADVICE GODDESS, Page A7
under the auspices of the Asheville Parks and Greenways Foundation, as well as some local businesses and outfitters. S20 built the artificial whitewater park at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte and Mayor Esther the course for the 2012 London Olympics as well Manheimer as many parks. Following the study’s unveiling, city leaders will be looking to the public to move the plan forward by offering input and raising needed funds, Vice Mayor Marc Hunt noted. The next step will working with local governments, including the city, to see how planning and further design might fit into the RAD redevelopment effort, according to Rick Lutovsky, a key proponent of the project. He has served as a president and chief executive officer of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. As for funding, the $1.78 million projected cost would be funded partially by grants and other partnerships, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said. “This is kind of a perfect opportunity for a public-private partnership, with city-owned land and possibly the Buncombe Tourism and Development Authority and other partners,” Manheimer told local news media.
Sheriff predicts marijuana will be legal in Buncombe From Staff Reports Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan repeated his opinion that North Carolina ultimately would legalize marijuana at the Council of Independent Business Owners’ Feb. 6 meeting. Duncan said he does not support pot legalization, but that N.C. will “probably” legalize it, eventually. North Carolina and 22 other states have decriminalized pot in simple possession cases or for medical purposes.
Colorado and Washington already allow recreational sale and use of marijuana, boosting tax revenues, and two other states, Alaska and Oregon, are phasing in legalization this year. “Every time a state legalizes pot, it makes enforcement harder” in Buncombe County, Duncan said. “Some forms (of marijuana) are hard to detect.” The only good thing about marijuana legalization, Duncan said, is that it cuts into drug-cartel profits.