West Asheville Community Watch meeting August 3
A meeting to discuss crime in West Asheville will be held on Wednesday, August 3, 7 pm at 278 Haywood Road. Representatives from the Asheville Police Department and the City of Asheville will be on hand to distribute information and answer questions. For more information see this Facebook group.
Asheville Police Department seeking assistance in Home Invasions
The Asheville Police Department has responded to and continues to investigate a number of Home Invasions; particularly in West Asheville. Detectives are seeking any information that may assist in identifying the offenders. In all the cases the offenders were asking for electronics, money and drugs. Anyone with information can call crime stoppers at 828-255-5050 or the Asheville Police at 828-252-1110. Below is information regarding locations and suspects:
386 Kenilworth Rd – May 13, 2011 around 1210 am – 3 black males all dressed in black clothing and wore black bandanas fitting the following descriptions:
1) 5`9 to 5`11 light skinned Black or Hispanic, with a five inch long ponytail at the nape of his neck, wearing a black bandana with white on it, a black hoodie
2) 5`8, 215 -225 pounds, black Nike tennis shoes with a white “M” shape or design, wearing a black shirt, black pants, chubby build
3) 6’-0 to 6`4 170-180 pounds, wearing a solid black ball cap, wearing Nike Air Force tennis shoes
A handgun displayed
*This incident is not believed to be related to those in West Asheville
20 Michigan Ave – June 7, 2011 around 12:30 am – 4 Offenders
Victim recalls only dark clothing, bandanas, and 2 handguns
102 Burton St – June 25, 2011 around 1245 am – 3 Offenders
The 3 Offenders are described as follows:
1) A “skinny” white male, 5`7“- 5`10“ tall with blonde hair wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans, light blue green eyes or bright blue.
2) Average build black male around 6`2“ tall with short hair, a red (possibly a Cardinals) baseball cap wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans.
3) A “chubby” black male 5`10“- 6`0“ tall with short dread locks with beads on the ends wearing a t-shirt and jeans also wearing a face covering.
*A handgun was displayed
436 Pearson Dr – June 29, 2011 around 4:27 am – 2 Offenders
2 Offenders described as having t-shirts wrapped around their faces. No weapon shown, believed to not be related to others in the city.
326 Riverview Dr – July 5, 2011 around 2:30 am – 3 Offenders
1) White male with blue or green eyes, green bandana, thin build
2) Black male, medium size, sunglasses, blue hat, light clothing
3) Dark skinned black male, wearing dark clothing
*A handgun was displayed
46 Logan Ave – July 6, 2011 around 3:15 am – 3 offenders
3 Offenders described as follows:
1) Black male subject with short dreads, a green bandanna covering head and face, wearing rectangular frame glasses and had a tattoo on right forearm of possibly a female’s name.
2) Black male subject short hair, wearing unknown color bandanna.
3) White male subject thin build, wearing a bandanna covering face and head.
*All three offenders were wearing t-shirts and baggy jeans. A handgun was displayed
These reported Home Invasions are being investigated as residential burglaries, robberies and assaults – which would be referred to as Home Invasions when occurring simultaneously. Residents are asked to contact officers if they would like to have someone speak to their group and/or if they see unusual activities taking place in their neighborhoods. Residents are also invited to attend the next Weed & Seed crime prevention meeting at noon in the Pisgah View Apartment complex in West Asheville on Monday, August 22. Call Weed & Seed Coordinator Rebecca Byrn for details 552-1311.
East and North Asheville:
CRO Brien Griffin (828) 552-1467
CRO Jeremy Woody (828) 552-9423
West Asheville:
CRO Josh Simpson (828) 251-4032
CRO Chad McCall (828) 251-4032
Central/South:
CRO Jackie Stepp (828) 337-7478
CRO Evan Coward (828) 777-4505
Non-emergency Police Department contact: (828) 252-1110
Haywood Road Corridor Committee meeting August 10
The next meeting for the Haywood Road Vision Plan will be Wednesday August 10, 2011 at the West Asheville Library starting at 6 PM until about 7:45. Please come join us and provide comment and input.
Agenda:
1. Provide input into transportation related topics for the corridor as a follow-up to the meeting we had in May.
2. Complete the land use discussion we started at the last meeting. We had questions about some uses and want to follow up
3. With remaining time discuss some of the site specific zoning issues and regulations as they relate to the corridor and new businesses come in along the corridor and when new buildings are constructed.
Please see the notes from the last meeting on Land Use which provides some background on these topics. Also visit the WABA website to see the archive of notes we have been posting to the site at west-asheville.com/category/haywood-road-corridor-committee/.
City of Asheville Greenway Commission meeting August 11
The City of Asheville’s Greenway Commission will host a public meeting to receive citizen recommendations pertaining to the implementation of municipal greenway projects via the Capital Improvement Project budget. The current City of Asheville Greenways Master Plan was adopted several years ago. The City of Asheville’s Greenway Commission welcomes recommendations pertaining to greenways already delineated in this Master Plan as well as potential new greenways. Comments regarding these greenways along with observations as to their implementation priority will be considered in the process of developing the Capital Improvement Project budget for 2013.
This meeting will occur in the Main Floor Conference Room in Asheville City Hall, located at 70 Court Plaza on Aug. 11, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Maps of existing plans and possible additions to that plan will be available for review at this time. The Greenway Commissioners and staff will outline and facilitate the process for prioritization of funding and the future direction of Greenway projects. Public comments will also be accepted by email or mail addressed via the addresses noted for Al Kopf until October 1, 2011.
For more information on the progress of the Greenway Master plan, visit http://www.ashevillenc.gov/departments/ParksRCA/default.aspx?id=12914 , or contact Al Kopf, ASLA; Superintendent of Park Planning & Development, Asheville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Dept., P.O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802. Al Kopf can also be reached at (828) 259-5838 or akopf@ashevillenc.gov .
West Asheville Garden Stroll sponsorships available
The Third Annual West Asheville Garden Stroll is scheduled for Saturday, September 10th! This popular event has brought almost 500 folks to the Haywood Road Corridor and it’s diverse neighborhoods; and the gardens aren’t the only highlights. This event is free thanks to generous support from West Asheville Businesses and the stroll flyers and website are a great way to advertise and show how community minded our West Side businesses are. We’re proud to be hosting this wonderful connective event and hope the West Asheville businesses will be interested in joining our Support Sponsors. To really highlight the businesses Sponsorship is just $25…with larger $100 sponsorship also available for those businesses that would like their logo on the Garden Stroll website and brochures. Call Leslie at 337-2952 for more info or download the sponsorship flyer here.
West Asheville Plant Walk September 10
Come learn about the medicinal and edible plants growing in the sidewalks, gardens, and wild spaces of downtown West Asheville! Due to popular demand and a terrific turnout at the Spring event, Nancy Hyton and Keri Evjy will be hosting their second urban plant walk this year on Saturday, September 10th at 10:30am. It’s a different season and different plants will be out, plus they will be taking a new route so there will be lots of different things to see. As an added bonus, the plant walk will coincide with the 3rd annual West Asheville Garden Stroll, a free event sponsored by the Center and other local neighborhood businesses that takes place on the same day from 11:00am to 4:00pm.
This West Asheville Urban Plant Walk will be happening Saturday September 10th from 10:30 to 12:00, rain or shine. It will start at the Center for Holistic Medicine, located at 779 Haywood Road in the heart of downtown West Asheville, and venture off into the immediate neighborhood. The walk will be co-hosted by Nancy Hyton, Licensed Acupuncturist, Certified Herbalist, and founder of the Center, and Keri Evjy from Healing Roots Design, an edible and medicinal landscape design and consultation business. The cost is $5 for adults and includes a useful handout of the plants covered on the walk. Kids are free! Sign up in advance at the Center or just come by on the day of the event. You can also call 505-3174 or email at info@centerholistic.com to get on the list.
Be a Local Leader
The boards listed below currently have vacancies. The deadline for receiving applications for these openings is Wednesday, August 3 at 5 p.m.
Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 259-5601 or by e-mail at mburleson@ashevillenc.gov for an application form.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE – The Committee will work in conjunction with City leadership and staff to implement the 2008 Affordable Housing Plan. The specific functions will be (1) to consider affordable housing policy issues and advise City leadership about those policies; (2) to develop concrete action steps to implement the highest priorities of the Affordable Housing Plan, and to update that Plan as appropriate over time; and (3) to advise City leadership and staff regarding affordable housing priorities for the investment of City-controlled funds.
CRIMESTOPPERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE – The responsibilities of this committee is to review crimes and set awards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of felony crime offenders and to capture fugitives. The committee offers anonymity to persons who furnish information.
POLICE OFFICERS & FIREFIGHTERS DISABILITY REVIEW BOARD – The Board determines when supplemental payments should be made to members of the Asheville Policemen’s Pension and Disability Fund or their survivors when the disability retirement payment from the N. C. Local Government Employee’s Retirement System is less than the amount of monthly benefit which they would have been entitled to under the Asheville Policemen’s Pension and Disability Fund.
RECREATION BOARD – The Board advises City Council on various matters pertaining to the operation of park facilities and recreation programs within the City of Asheville, to make policy recommendations to City Council, and to carry out duties as may be assigned to them by City Council.
RIVER DISTRICT DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE – This vacancy is for a design professional. The Committee shall (1) promote Asheville’s riverfront as a vital economic development area for Asheville and WNC; and (2) review and make comment on major work projects within the River District in accordance with the River District Design Review Guidelines.
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY – This vacancy is for an individual who is involved in the tourist business and who has demonstrated an interest in tourism development but who does not own or operate a hotel, motel or other taxable tourist accommodation. The purpose of the Authority is to further the development of travel, tourism, and conventions in the county through state, national and international advertising and promotion.