Biltmore owner leaves a legacy
Gladys Knight, friends soar at benefit show
4 protesters cleared in Lee plaque incident
See STORY, Pg. A9, EDITORIAL, Pg. A14 William A.V. Cecil
— See STORY, Pg. A5
Gladys Knight performs
— See REVIEW, Pg. B1
LLE I V HE AS ASHEVILLEʼS GREATEST NEWSPAPER
December 2017 Vol. 14, No. 1
An Independent Newspaper Serving Greater Asheville www.ashevilledailyplanet.com FREE
Looks a lot like Christmas at Biltmore
Photos courtesy of Biltmore Estate
When a 34-foot-tall Fraser fir tree is brought into America’s largest home – Biltmore House – it’s a sure sign that Christmas is just around the corner. In early November, Santa Claus, aboard a horse-drawn carriage, ushered the massive tree to the home that George Vanderbilt opened to his friends and family on Christmas Eve 1895. Christmas at Biltmore, the estate’s annual holiday event, started officially Nov. 4,
and runs through Jan. 8. More than 40 Biltmore staff members hoisted the tree onto their shoulders and carried the tree into the home’s 70-foot-tall Banquet Hall, where they raised it using a system of ropes to secure it into place. More staff members festooned the tree with hundreds of lights, toys and wrapped packages. The tree joins more than 60 other hand-decorated Christmas trees that light up the rooms of Biltmore House.
From Staff Reports Mission Health kept its promise in October to terminate its contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, if terms the hospital system deemed profitable could not be reached. Mission on July 5 had announced its intent to terminate the contract. Blue Cross then ended negotiations, stating it does not negotiate when a party opts out. The parties were unable to find an agreeable middle ground in the meantime. The hospital system is also keeping its word about talking minimally to the press if negotiations resumed. In November, both parties said the negotiations would begin again, but so as not to mislead members of the public with false rays of hope, neither would provide updates unless and until a contract was signed. Afterward, media outlets caught word that the two parties had resumed negotiations. Previously, BCBSNC had explained it was corporate policy not to negotiate with parties who opt out of its contract,
The Advice Goddess
but now that Mission is an out-of-network party, talks could commence. Representatives from Mission said they were disappointed becauyse they had expected talks to resume immediately, instead of after a one-month delay. As of Oct. 5, those carrying Blue Cross insurance were considered out-ofnetwork by all physicians and facilities affiliated with Mission Health. As a result, people seeking medical attention from local providers likely are paying more. However, emergency department visits and certain qualified expenses remain in-network. Those needing medical care are being encouraged to talk to Mission or BCBSNC for answers to specific questions. BCBSNC spokesperson Austin Vevurka said on Nov. 13 that “Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Mission Health have entered into discussions regarding a future network participation agreement, and will refrain from public comment until those talks are completed.” See NEGOTIATIONS, Page A12
Ex-county manager probe triggers more disclosures Economic development spending raises questions
From Staff Reports Economic development expenditures are now being brought into question as the Asheville Citizen-Times continues to spearhead a probe of why former Buncombe County Manager Wanda Greene may be under federal investigation. The latest disclosures indicate the county spent $577,116 to support the Tryon International Equestrian Center. All but $897 of the total came from the county’s economic development incentives fund. Amy Alkon While it is a common practice for counties to wine and dine executives to lure business to their tax bases, Want to know the answer? See ADVICE GODDESS, Page A16 the payments were made to a Polk
A good man is hard to fund Q: -- I’m a 35-year-old woman. I’m living with my boyfriend, who’s a freelance artist (talented but just getting started). We’ve been together for three years, and I am paying for pretty much everything. I don’t feel resentful. I feel like we’re a team and eventually his career will take off. However, my parents keep saying it’s a bad dynamic: I’m coddling him, and he’s taking advantage of me. — Worried
Mission, Blue Cross restart negotiations
County enterprise owned by Mark Bellissimo. The Tryon Equestrian Center, billed as an economic engine, cost $125 million to build and runs with a $31 million operating budget. The county paid $276,427 directly to the equestrian center, $150,689 to Equestrian Sport Productions, and $150,000 to The Chronical of the Horse. All businesses are owned by Bellissimo. The former is an equestrian center based in Wellington, Florida; the latter, a magazine headquartered in Virginia. Greene had explained the expenses were a promotion for the Asheville Regional Airport. See DISCLOSURES, Page A12