Guest Book

Also a second award from Asheville Mountain Xpress. Best Candidate for a Key to the City Warren Haynes He's Asheville's guitar hero, slinging his ax with such luminaries as the Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule and members of the Grateful Dead. And during the holiday season, like any good boy, he defies Wolfe and proves you can go home again. While here, the homegrown legend channels St. Nick himself, staging one of the best annual all-star jams in the country and donating all the proceeds to Habitat for Humanity. For one shining night each December, the Asheville Civic Center is brimming with people and filled with a glorious noise and energy; and because of it, some local families that otherwise couldn't are now able to celebrate the season in a home of their own. It's a selfless act of giving on Warren Haynes' part that personifies the true meaning of Christmas. But whenever Haynes does manage to break away from his unrelenting tour schedule for a brief respite in his hometown, he's got to get someone else to let him in. You see, he's got no key to the city. Through the years, city leaders have bestowed the ceremonial honor on other Asheville residents: The latest recipient was local NASCAR legend Bob Pressley. And under former Mayor Leni Sitnick, Hollywood's Andie McDowell scored a shiny key in honor of her many charitable efforts, even though she'd only lived in the area for a couple of years. Besides, Asheville has the least-affordable housing in the state, a problem that the current City Council has promised to address. And while they have taken some commendable steps in that direction, the shortage of affordable-housing continues to bedevil the city. Haynes is one of the many private citizens working on this critical concern; as a community, we ought to recognize those efforts. It's time to give him our thanks. It's time to give him the key. - BS