news
compiled by Hayley Benton
hbenton@mountainx.com
Buzz Around Buncombe
The Bywater tweeted this photo on Wednesday, March 11, writing, “As of today, the Bywater will no longer serve Bell’s Brewing. We stand with @InnovationBeer. #avlbeer #avlnews #avl” Photo courtesy of Bywater
innovation bRewing gains nationaL suppoRt oveR LegaL dispute witH beLL’s bReweRy A recent story from the Asheville Citizen-Times unveiled a legal dispute between small Sylva microbrewery Innovation Brewing and the much larger Bell’s Brewing in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Sylva company applied to trademark its name — Innovation, the exact word Bell’s uses in its unregistered slogan, which appears on the company’s bumper stickers but not its bottles or packaging. The Michigan brewery claims two of its slogans, “bottling innovation since 1985” and “inspired brewing,” may cause confusion between the two companies. The story of the microbrewery’s fight for its name spread to outlets across the
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nation, triggering both a petition and Go Fund Me page for the brewery’s legal fees. Petitioners from around the country signed the e-document with kind words about the strength of the craft beer community — some calling Bell’s out for “bullying” a much smaller company. “[The craft beer community] ... supports, creates and builds new ideas together,” signs Kody Thames, from Tempe, Ariz. “Attacking a small brewery across the country that will never affect your business or cause confusion with some stupid bumper sticker amounts to bullying.” Following the social media push for a boycott, Bell’s vice president responded to the public’s outrage, claiming Bell’s offered Innovation numerous coexistence agreements, but the Sylva brewery rejected them all. Innovation’s owners, chip owen and nicole dexter, replied to Bell’s response point-by-point, claiming that Bell’s version of the story is far from the truth. The owners explained that the terms outlined in Bell’s offer gave no room for expansion, stunting Innovation’s growth should they go through with the trademark.
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At press time, 5,411 supporters had signed the petition and $4,849 had been raised for the cause. Innovation announced Saturday via Facebook that it sent Bell’s a coexistence agreement, ending the statement with, “Bell’s, we just don't think you should have filed [the dispute]. We believe that it lacks merit, and the impact has been an unfortunate, costly and lengthy heartache for all. Let’s settle it.” — Hayley Benton asHeviLLe city counciL bans e-cigaRettes fRom pubLic pRopeRty Puffing on an electronic cigarette in an Asheville city bus, park, greenway or other city facility (such as the U.S. Cellular Center) could now net you a $50 fine. Asheville City Council voted unanimously at the March 10 meeting to regulate e-cigarettes to the same extent as traditional lighted cigarettes after receiving complaints about vapor on city buses. “This measure is about not exposing people to vapor, just like traditional smoking bans,” said council member jan davis. “It will be banned in the same public facilities that smoking is currently not allowed in.” — Pat Barcas
bounty & souL pop-up food maRKet seeKs funding to go mobiLe Hunger-fighting nonprofit Bounty & Soul needs help to get rolling. The organization has been running a pop-up food pantry and food security effort at three locations in Black Mountain since 2012, but it has been looking for a way to expand its reach since last spring. “Our goal is to go mobile because right now we’re not even scratching the surface,” allison casparian, Bounty & Soul’s founder, told Xpress last April. “It would allow us to get to the communities and the people who really have a hard time getting to the food.” The organization’s mobile setup is designed to reach Buncombe’s rural areas — including a sizable population of seniors and low-income residents, eliminating the need to travel to the markets for assistance. The nonprofit seeks $2,500 through crowdfunding efforts to help cover the cost of driving the new truck from Miami to Black Mountain, as well as renovating the mobile space for food delivery. To check out the Go Fund Me campaign, visit avl.mx/0tl. — Carrie Eidson just economics inspiRes foRmation of duRHam Living wage pRoject The Just Economics Living Wage Certification Program, the largest in the country, has certified more than 400 Western North Carolina businesses as paying a “living wage.” The goal of the local program is to create a sustainable economy through a dedicated workforce. On Monday, March 9, The News & Observer reported that Durham’s new living wage certification program — coined the Durham Living Wage Project, cites Asheville’s Just Economics as the model for its startup program. Twenty businesses and eight nonprofits have been certified through Durham’s program thus far, totaling a combined 692 employees now paid up to 70 percent more than the current minimum wage. In a YouTube video, Just Economics Executive Director vicki meath and Living Wage Certification Coordinator mark Hebbard welcome Durham into the world of the living wage and congratulate the founders on their progress. “We’re excited to have you in the community and look forward to partnering with you guys in the future,” Hebbard says. — Hayley Benton X