Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis is one of the main hubs of all island towns. Being the largest town on the largest Scottish Island, it’s home to the headquarters of the Harris Tweed Trust, the Western Isles Council and it’s the center of Gaelic culture on the islands.
NICK HASELOFF
Smiley's Flea Market: Photo essay
March For Our Lives: Photo essay
March For Our Lives
Local students organize to march against gun violence
One high school student addresses a crowd of thousands at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in downtown Asheville. Through tears she reads the names of the victims of the school shooting she survived.
The student, Anna Dittman of Parkland, Florida, is a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a mass shooting claimed the lives of 17 students and staff in mid-February.
“I remember running away from the school terrified as my classmates jumped over the fence to get away from the gunfire,” Dittman said. “I eventually found my sister and we hugged and held each other, happy that we were safe.”
Dittman spoke Saturday as part of March for Our Lives Asheville, a rally and march set up by local high school students to respond to the shooting in Parkland, raise awareness of stricter gun control laws and advocate for voting into office representatives and officials that support those views.
“After the Parkland shooting, we felt that we could no longer be sitting down. We had to rise up and say what we felt about this issue,” said Aryelle Jacobsen, a senior from A.C. Reynolds High School and one of the student organizers of the event. “We felt like there's such a power to bring our community together and discuss a big prevalent issue and so it was just really gathering together with the students and knowing that enough is enough.”
The march coincided with the larger March for Our Lives event which occured in Washington, D.C. the same day.
“We were ready to stand up and say something. We were ready to stand up and march. My friends were ready to go up to Washington and stand for what we believe in,” Dittman said. “And it's all of us. And with you guys joining it's become a much bigger thing. We're ready for that.”
The march started in Pack Square Park, travelled east along College St. and then south down Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., where it culminated at Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The march attracted thousands of students, teachers and supporters.
“I have seen a change in students’ attitudes about guns in school and doing a lot more of saying something if they see something,” said Lindsay Kosmala-Furst, one of the main speakers in the rally and an educator within the Buncombe County School system for the past decade.
Kosmala-Furst said the event emphasized how America can tackle the problem of gun control and can work through their differences to help make schools a safer place for learning.
“I think this march is going to send a message,” said Lauren Cavagnini, a senior from A.C. Reynolds High School. “And since this is a bipartisan march, hopefully it will bring unity and cause a dialog on how we need to start having these common-sense gun laws in our schools and our communities.”
Tents set up in the park gave supporters the chance to speak with local community advocates, with one tent set up so supporters could easily register to vote. Dakota Sipe, a sophomore from Brevard High School, registered to vote for the first time in his life and cited issues like gun control as reasons for his registration.
“I wanted to support the movement of banning weapons of that are easily accessible to the general population,” Sipe said.
Jacobsen stressed the fight for safe schools is not close to over. She said people can incite change quickly and effectively through voting in officials who will support stricter gun control.
“I think what this rally is going to do for the Asheville community is to unite us together,” Jacobsen said. “So we can join as one to get more local legislation to make sure there's no more gun violence. There's a local sheriff's election coming up real soon and we want to advocate for people to come out and go vote for that. It’s really important that we move forward with this change.”
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UNCA v. Liberty: Photo essay
Last-ditch effort
Bulldogs lose to Liberty Flames in Big South semifinals
Despite a hard-fought and hectic last few minutes, the Bulldogs were not able to secure a win in the semifinals of the Big South Tournament.
In the bout during last week’s tournament, held in Kimmel Arena, the Liberty University Flames upset the first-seed Bulldogs 69-64.
The match against Liberty was the Bulldogs’ last hurdle before reaching the championship game of the tournament and a chance to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
In the first period the Bulldogs pulled out a 38-26 lead going into halftime. Liberty came out strong during the second period and fired back to claim the win.
Liberty started the last minute of regulation time with a 62-56 lead. This last minute took over 10 minutes due to constant fouls and subsequent free throws from both teams, drawing outraged cries from the fans and coaches in reaction to the tough game.
Sophomore guard Macio Teague and senior guard Raekwon Miller led the game in field goals, with 19 scored by each.
Along with Miller, three other seniors, Kevin Vannatta, Ahmad Thomas and Alec Wnuk played their last conference game as UNC Asheville Bulldogs.
Demonstrators: Photo essay
Demonstrators spark protest
Street preachers come to UNC Asheville's campus to preach messages about morality and religion.
Center for Craft: Photo essay
Clay, Stone & Wood:
Local gallery exhibits work of art fellows
Words and Photos by Nick Haseloff
The Center for Craft showcases art from grant recipients
As a celebration of the 10th anniversary of their Windgate Fellowship, the Center for Craft features work from 10 of its grant recipients in exhibition titled Scale Up: 10 Years, 10 Fellows, 10 Projects.
The gallery, located on Broadway Street in downtown, showcases art of many different varieties but the majority of the work on display from the Windgate Fellows is sculpture.
The art attempts to expose ideas surrounding scale, installation and community practice according to the center's website.
The exhibit will be on display until late July and feature multiple talks and events during its duration. The Center for Craft is open to the public and donations are accepted at the reception desk.
The Center for Craft is located at 67 Broadway St. Asheville NC 28801