local

At Hart Square in Catawba County, a man with a passion for historic structures keeps the past alive

Fill up on apple cider doughnuts fresh out of Hendersonville

A Madison County program brings advanced literacy skills to rural girls

Throughout Western North Carolina sit dozens of public schools abandoned by time, consolidation, and changing demographics. In their heyday, they were community epicenters and veritable second homes for thousands of students. Today, some are boarded up, while others await imminent demolition and replacement by new state-of-the-art facilities. But there are also a handful of old schoolhouses tucked away in various corners of the mountains that have found new purpose as community centers, concert venues, historical beacons, and artists’ studios. Here’s a look at the past and present of eight of them.

Three nonprofits improve lives through creative expression

Local filmmakers sound off on what it takes to chase the silver screen

The fusion of tap brews and bottling creates a new wave of beer service

Whether or not they fight for the title in the WNC Battle of the Burger, these joints are worth a visit

Chef Andrew Long gives okra the Louisiana treatment with an Appalachian twist

Find fresh, quality meats, plus grilling tips, at local butcher shops

Roan Mountain’s Cloudland Hotel once served as an elevated destination for naturalists

Gear up and make a dash for West Virginia, where white-water thrills, world-class climbing and mountain biking, and a hip small-town outpost await in the New River Gorge

A historic photo collection in Hendersonville springs to life with community input

Chef Evan Chender, aka The Culinary Gardener, loves cultivating specialty greens

After an unprecedented internal health assessment, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians expands its approach to wellness

Ron Rash’s novel The World Made Straight gets the big screen treatment