Embattled APD chief resigns
‘Teatro’ enchants with vocal talent
By landslide, Buncombe elects 1st black sheriff — See STORY, Pg. A2
See STORY, Pg. A4
— See REVIEW, Pg. B1
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Christmas splendor adorns Biltmore Estate
Special photos courtesy of BilTMore Company
About 40 Biltmore Estate staff members raised a massive 35-foot-tall Fraser fir tree (left) that was brought into the 70-foot-tall Banquet Hall of America’s largest home – the Biltmore House (above) – on Nov. 1. 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 the Biltmore House. Santa Claus, aboard a horsedrawn carriage, led the procession that hauled the 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 runs through Jan. 6.
He’s surely the best man for the sob
Q: I’m a 28-year-old guy with an amazing girlfriend. She gets upset and sometimes cries, and I never know how to soothe her. I’m afraid to say the wrong thing, so I don’t say anything at all. Of course, she then gets more upset, thinking I don’t care. But I do care, and I want her to know. — Tongue-Tied
Want to know the answer? See ADVICE GODDESS, Page A18
The Advice Goddess Amy Alkon
A-B Tech wants its tax funds
From Staff Reports Leaders at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College have taken new — and formal — steps to find out how spent millions in sales tax dollars that were meant for the school instead were spent by Buncombe County. Specifically, A-B Tech’s Board of Trustees is asking — through a public records request for detailed figures on the school’s sales tax — for a full accounting of $15 million earmarked for new construction at A-B Tech. In August, the board sent a letter to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners asking for the same information, but never got a response. This is a second try. The A-B Tech money in question is from a quarter-cent sales tax — narrow- Dennis King ly approved by voters seven years ago. Only a portion of the funds have been allocated to the school. “I think the first thing we’ve got to do is get the definitive numbers on how the money has been used thus far,” A-B Tech President Dennis King said on Nov. 14, according to the Asheville Citizen Times. “I feel that we have a solid relationship with the county. I feel this is a bump in the road. It will be resolved, and I believe it will be resolved to our favor,” King told the ACT. Meanwhile, Asheville television station WLOS News 13 reported in mid-November that it had obtained a copy of that letter the A-B Tech trustees sent to commissioners’ Chairman Brownie Newman. In the letter, the board “asked Newman for details about whether the sales tax funds reserved for capital improvements were instead used to pay off any county debt or outstanding loan,” WLOS noted. “They also want itemized details on all proceeds that have been allocated or spent on items unrelated to A-B Tech. See A-B TECH, Page A9
Ideas unveiled to shift tax burden to tourists
By JOHN NORTH
john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer unveiled a plan under consideration by the city to shift the tax burden more to tourists to ease the burden on locals during a Nov. 9 meeting of the Council of Independent Business Owners at UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center. About 65 people, including CIBO members, area government officials and others, attended the
early-morning breakfast session. Manheimer began her CIBO address by noting, “First, I just want to say we have our interim city manager here — Cathy Ball. She’s done a fantastic job for us. Cathy is the one who has spearheaded our study on revenues.” Turning to the topic of her talk, the mayor said, “I’ve been asked to come here and talk about hotels... It’s generated this larger discussion of how well we can manage the stresses on our infrastruc-
ture… in our discussion of hotels. Ten hotels have opened in Asheville since 2015, with 1,183 rooms, she said, adding that seven more hotels are under construction in the city. “Why have we seen so many hotels?” Manheimer asked, rhetorically. “Because we’re the best. We’re a top community to come visit and we’re seeing that. We’re also experiencing growth, but not at the rate of Raleigh or Charlotte.” See TAX BURDEN, Page A6
Esther Manheimer
A2 - December 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet
Buncombe elects 1st black sheriff From Staff Reports
By a resounding margin, Democrat Quentin Miller was elected Buncombe County’s new sheriff and the first-ever African-American to hold the position during the Nov. 6 general election. He triumphed despite a hard-fought battle with — and a surge in last-minute campaigning from — Shad Higgins, his Republican opponent and owner of a Weaverville tire and wheel shop. Miller, a 25-year veteran of the Asheville Police Department, won 61.5 percent of the vote; Higgins, 35.5 percent; and Libertarian candidate Tracey DeBruhl, 3 percent. DeBruhl was jailed on a stalking charge in September, “We now must work together as a community,” Miller said at his victory party late on Nov. 6, according to the Asheville Citizen Times. “We must come together with the local government, with the communities and law enforcement as one. We have to address our issues in that fashion, in that way. And we all must have a place at the table and we must learn to work together to solve our issues and problems.” Sheriff Van Duncan, who is retiring after 12 years at the helm, did not publicly endorse a candidate in the race to replace him. Nonetheless, Miller promised during his campaign to pick up where Duncan left off. Miller told the ACT that he has no plans to clean house, but that does not mean he will leave the upper administration unscathed. “I don’t think we’re going to have any significant changes, as far as the personnel,” Miller told the ACT. “I think we have to look at the top people in administration. I think we’re going to have to change that. But I think as far as guys out there working, that
doesn’t change for me. I think we need each and every one. It’s our community. It’s our department.” “I think – and I really mean this – I think when people get into law enforcement, they do it for the right reasons,” Miller said. Quentin Miller “They do it because they care about the community they serve. So I don’t anticipate (any) real changes, because we still have the same mindset that we want to do what’s right for our community.” Chief deputy Terry Rogers actively campaigned for Higgins during the election and reportedly was present at the Republican election results party at Twisted Laurel in Leicester on Election Night. Miller promised during his campaign to focus on de-escalation training, jail diversion and increased community interaction — all recommendations of former President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, the ACT reported, adding that he also said on Election Night that he wants to quickly organize some “town hall meetings” to gauge the most important issues to the community. Higgins thanked his supporters on Nov. 6 and congratulated Miller on his victory. While he was surprised by the results, including GOP defeats in other local races, he told the ACT, “We’ve done everything we could,” “I don’t know we could’ve done anything different to make up that kind of margin.”
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Incumbents hold seats; 4 of 6 amendments OK’d From Staff Reports
With all precincts reporting statewide, here are the results — excluding the sheriff’s race featured in the adjoining story — in the general election on Nov. 6 in races affecting the Buncombe County (asterisks denote winner): 10th District U.S. House: *Patrick McHenry (R) 59% David Wilson Brown (D) - 41% 11th District U.S. House *Mark Meadows (R) 59% Phillip Price (D) - 39% Clifton Ingram Jr. (L) - 2% N.C. Senate 48th District *Chuck Edwards (R) 56% Norm Bossert (D) - 44% N.C. Senate 49th District *Terry Van Duyn (D) 64% Mark Crawford (R) - 34%
Lyndon John Smith (L) - 2%
N.C. House House 114 *Susan Fisher (D) - 82% Kris Lindstam (R) - 18% N.C. House 115 *John Ager (D) - 58% Amy Evans (R) - 42% N.C. House 116 *Brian Turner (D) - 55% Marilyn Brown (R) - 45% N.C. House 117 *Chuck McGrady (R) 60% Gayle Kemp (D) - 40% District 1 seat, Buncombe commissioners *Al Whitesides (D) 100% District 2 seat, Buncombe commissioners *Amanda Edwards (D) 55.21% Glenda Weinert (R) 44.79%
District 3 seat, Buncombe commissioners *Robert Pressley (R) 50.95% Donna Ensley (D) 49.05%
Four constitutional amendments passed • To protect the right to hunt and fish - 57% For • To strengthen the rights of crime victims - 62% For • To lower the maximum income tax rate from 10 percent to 7 percent - 57% For • To require a photo ID to vote - 56% For Two constitutional amendments did not pass • To move some power to fill judicial vacancies from the governor to the legislature - 67% Against • To move some power to choose officials in charge of elections from the governor to the legislature - 62% Against
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Asheville Daily Planet — December 2018 — A3
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A4 — December 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet
87-room Foundry Hotel opens in The Block area in downtown AVL
From Staff Reports
The Foundry Hotel, part of Hilton Worldwide’s Curio collection, opened its doors on Nov. 20 at 51 S. Market St. It is Asheville’s newest downtown hotel. Developer David Tart noted that the opening culminated years of rehabilitating three aging buildings once facing likely demolition. “With this project, I felt like every day we had a significant challenge with buildings that were here 100 years ago,” Tart told the Asheville Citizen Times on opening day. He specifically cited a fix to the existing buildings near South Market Street that had no prior foundation. “It was hard to ever relax and keep a very close eye on making sure the right decisions were made to preserve the buildings, but also to create the unique guest experience we’re trying to do here,” he told the ACT. The 87-room luxury boutique hotel connects three contiguous buildings adjoining Eagle, South Market and South Spruce streets. The hotel is located in The Block, Asheville’s historically black business district. The Foundry Hotel features Benne on Eagle, a 100-seat restaurant run by Rhubarb owner
and Chef John Fleer/ Other hotel highlights include a 3,500-squarefoot lounge, a marketplace offering local retail items and luxury hiking and camping equipment as well as a Tesla Model X House Car to drive guests around downtown. David Tart Tart, who is a partner in Charleston, S.C.-based Encore Lodging, told the ACT that the project came with a degree of “unpredictability.” The site’s previous owner, the nearby Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, had planned to raze the three existing buildings after failing to find a partner to redevelop them. Tart told the ACT that his company offered a project that blended the area’s industrial history — it is situated on a site once occupied by Asheville Supply & Foundry Co., a steel mill which manufactured steel for the Biltmore Estate — with “warm hospitality.” The site was sold to developers in 2014 for $3.5 million. In total, the redevelopment effort was expected to cost about $30 million, Tart said.
N.C. Appeals Court rules in favor of downtown Embassy Suites plan
From Staff Reports
The developers who proposed a 185room Embassy Suites hotel in downtown Asheville are entitled to a conditional use permit for their hotel planned at 192 Haywood St. because the City of Asheville had failed to make a case to stop the development. The North Carolina Court of Appeals, the state’s second-highest court, issued the ruling on Nov. 6. The hotel would be located at the site of the former Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. The three-judge apShaunak Patel peals court argued — in a 30-page filing — that Parks Hospitality Group of Raleigh is entitled to a conditional use permit. The project was valued at $24 million in 2016. In January 2017, Asheville City Council rejected the project, citing concerns over parking, traffic and a high concentration of hotels near the proposed site. In the aftermath, chief developer Shaunak Patel appealed council’s decision to Buncombe County Superior Court, which ruled in his favor. The city then appealed the Superior Court decision to the state Court of Appeals. As of the Daily Planet’s press deadline, it remained unclear as to whether the city would try to appeal the case to the North Carolina Supreme Court.
“The city is aware of the decision and is evaluating its options,” Asheville spokeswoman Polly McDaniel said in a statement in early November.
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News Briefs
Asheville bans e-scooters. but keeps open possibilities
Asheville City Council on Nov. 27 voted to forbid electronic scooters in the city, with ban proponents citing safety concerns and lack of permits or other notification efforts with the city. Others expressed skepticism that e-scooters could be integrated into Asheville’s hilly environment, coupled with what was described as its occasionally chaotic transportation system. E-scooters are two-wheeled, self-propelled vehicles. The ban will result in a $100 civil penalty for anyone riding the scooters and for any person or persons renting them. The action was prompted by the strategy of California-based company Bird, which
recently placed 200 unpermitted e-scooters downtown without city permission. Bird makes money by renting e-scooters through phone apps. The city seized the scooters, but released them after obtaining a verbal promise to keep them off the streets. However, the next day they were back, leading to a cease-and-desist order. City staff said the ban does not have to be permanent, but it will provide time to complete a bike share study that would include e-scooters.
City doubles (or more) fines for parking infractions
The City of Ashevlle recently announced that it is doubling its parking fines, beginning Feb. 1 These include $20 for overtime parking (up from $10), each subsecquent violation within 24 hours, $30 (up from $20), loading/unloading zone violations, $30 (up from $10), and all other violations, $20 (up from $10.) The meter fee for parking remains $1.50 per hour.
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Asheville Daily Planet — December 2018 - A5
AVL ranks 2nd best for local shopping during holidays
‘Paris of the South’ — only topped by Laguna Beach, Calif. — continues to win accolades
From Staff Reports
Asheville is the second-best city in the United States in which to shop locally during the holidays, according to the results of a Yelp survey unveiled Nov. 20. The so-called “Paris of the South” trailed only Laguna Beach, Calif., Yelp, a San Francisco-based search and review firm, released the results following a company-commissioned survey measuring search traffic for gift-related queries
between Thanksgiving and Christmas from 2012 to 2017. Asheville finished ahead of Lahaina, Hawaii; Santa Fe, N.M.; and Cleveland, Ohio. The city also topped a number of other major metropolitan cities, including New Orleans, La., Minneapolis, Minn.; Indianapolis, Ind., and Denver, Colo. Company methodology shows cities were ranked based on the highest Yelp ratings for businesses in categories such as shopping, beauty and food. Only one city per state could land on the list and each city must have at least 100 relevant local businesses to qualify for it.
The Yelp ranking is just the latest accolade for Asheville. The city has been highlighted frequently in recent years by national and regional publications as well as tech companies, following heavy promotion by local tourism officials. Among the numerous lists it has graced, Asheville has been called one of the “30 Top Cities to Visit in 2018” by TripAdvisor.com, the only U.S. city on Forbes’ “15 Coolest Places to Go in 2018,” one of the top 15 best small cities in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler and “a beer lover’s paradise” by financial advice website SmartAsset.
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Tax burden
Continued from Page A1 In what she termed “a revenue overview,” the mayor said that the Asheville area averages about 11 million visitors per year. To put that into context, she said, that exceeds the population of North Carolina, which is estimated at 10 million people. The general fund budget, with revenue mainly from property taxes at $64 million and sales taxes at $25.7 million and other sources, is showing annual growth, Manheimer noted. “So, in the best of times, Asheville expects an annual increase in its revenue of about $3.56 million. For a city of (its size in) North Carolina, that’s not too bad. “But our expenditures also grow — just slightly more than revenue. “So we don’t have room to increase annual expenditures. We’re just holding the line,” the mayor said. At that point, she said, “Let’s look at our visitor population... We’re a regional economic hub, so we have a lot of people who come into the city every day... Asheville has the highest daytime/nighttime change in population, for its size, of all other cities in North Carolina.” After a pause, she then asked, rhetorically, “Who uses services?” Responding to her own question, Manheimer said, “Whether you’re a visitor or resident of our city, you get essentially the same services.” She prompted laughter from the meeting attendees when she quipped, “Now, you do get brush collection, if you live here” in the city limits. As to “who pays for these things,” Manheimer said Asheville officials looked at how other comparable cities popular with tourists balance their revenues and expenditures. “We looked at Portland, Maine (population 66,882) — it’s sort of similar to Asheville,” in that it draws many tourists. (Asheville’s population is estimated at 91,902.) City officials also looked at Miami Beach, Fla. (population 92,307), which the mayor described as “roughly same size as us” In addition, Duluth, Minn. (population 86,066), which generates revenues from a city sales tax, a food and beverage tax and other sources, was examined by Asheville staffers. Contrary to other comparable cities, Mainheimer said “the financial burden (in Asheville) is placed more on our residents, disproportionately, than on our visitors. Is there a way to even it up? “You’re the first test audience, and probably the toughest test audience, for what would work and fit,” she told the CIBO meeting attendees. As for a path forward, the mayor reviewed the following possibilities: • 1/4 cent sales tax for transit, a move which would require a Buncombe County referendum in 2020. That tax could raise around $13 million, she said. • Food and beverage tax, for which the state would allow Asheville to hold a referendum, again probably in 2020. That tax could raise around $8 million or $9 million, she said. • Hotel tax, which would help the city “align impact to resources,” she said, adding that its implementation would require city officials to work with the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. “Obviously, it’s not just about hotels. It’s about growth, in general.” For instance, Manheimer said, “We have a higher 911 call volume, per capita, because we have so many more people here. During a question-and-answer session that followed, a woman asked, “So I understand dealing with your budgets…. I commend the city for adopting green energy goals and a federal climate solution… Are you considering in your plans how to deal with more people living here, via clean energy with building standards?”
“The city, to my knowledge, cannot enforce higher clean energy standards than that of the state,” Manheimer replied. A man asked, “If the hospital sells, how much would it increase the city’s budget?” “Around $6.8 million,” the mayor answered. A man queried, “Beside trying to figure out more taxes, I’m sure you’d like to make the property more valuable in the city....” “I would not say that that is the goal,” Manheimer interjected, adding, “This is how it usually goes.” After the mayor’s interruption, the man asked, “What efforts are you thinking of to create incentives for developers to come in?” “I think that is a good question,” Manheimer said. “One that I worry about. To me, we need to make those pathways as easy as possible. Obviously, if a project has to come to council for approval, it’s much harder and totally stressful. “We struggle in our community in (considering the issue of) how we grow versus projects that we really want... I can tell you council receives hundreds of emails that says say ‘no’ to any more development. So there is that voice. “We’re trying to navigate those two tensions... We are growing. That is inevitable. The option of not allowing one more thing to happen is not an option.” A man told Manheimer, “All this discussion of prohibition and moratoriums…. It’s a disaster... The hotels and visitors that are coming — and are not going to Todd Okolichany stop coming.... This is what Asheville has wanted for the last 30 or 40 years. Now you’ve got it.” Continuing, the man told the mayor, “So discussing prohibition… You’re discussing sprawl — because everyone’s locating on the outskirts” of Asheville, since city leaders are opposing downtown hotels. In response, the mayor said, “I agree with you that there’s a schizophrenia about creating urban density — and that we don’t want more hotels downtown. I totally agree that you can’t marry those two opinions.” Prior to the mayor’s address, Todd Okolichany, the city’s director of Planning and Urban Design Department, reviewed the “urban center zoning goals,” as recently defined by the Living Asheville committee. Okolichany added that the city is looking at several urbanized areas for possible rezoning from “highway business” to “urban place,” including the following: • Around the Kmart property on Patton Avenue in West Asheville. • Around the Stein Mart department store on Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville. • Around the Innsbrook Mall area on Tunnel Road in East Aseveville. • Around the Walmart discount store on Leaftree Boulevard off Hendersonville Road in South Asheville. “Current zoning is mostly highway business and some, regional business, and some is zoned river,” Okolichany said,. The first phase of the city’s zoning changes is something called “urban place,” he said. “With urban place, the city would require mainly two-story buildings vs. onestory buildings... We’d also allow higher residential density.” While the current highway business zoning allows 35 units per acres, under the urban place designation, 64 units per acre would be permitted. “So more housing would be allowed,” he noted. However, under urban place zoning, some things would be prohibited, such as drivethroughs. Okolichany said that “some things would be allowed to be ‘grandfathered....’” See TAX BURDEN, Page A7
INTERSTATE 26 CONNECTOR AND RIVERSIDE DRIVE WIDENING PROJECT ASHEVILLE, BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC HEARING Project Nos: I-2513 and U-5868
Tuesday, December 4, 2018 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Pre-Hearing Open House 7:00 p.m. Formal Presentation Grand Ballroom, Renaissance Asheville Hotel 31 Woodfin Street, Asheville The N. C. Department of Transportation in partnership with the City of Asheville, has completed preliminary designs for the preferred alternative for the I-26 Connector Project (I-2513) and Riverside Drive Widening Project (U-5868). A Pre-Hearing Open House and Public Hearing on the above stated projects will be held on December 4th. NCDOT representatives will be available between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to answer questions and receive comments relative to the proposed projects. The opportunity to submit written comments or questions will also be provided. Interested citizens may attend at any time during the abovementioned hours. A formal presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. Following the formal presentation, an opportunity for the public to provide verbal comments will be provided. The hearing will be open to those present for statements, questions and comments. The presentation and comments will be recorded and a transcript will be prepared. The project calls for widening existing I-26/240 from the I-26/240 interchange to Patton Avenue (U.S. 74A) and construct on new location a fully controlled access freeway from Patton Avenue (U.S. 74A) to an interchange at U.S. 19/23/70 and Broadway Street (S.R. 1781). The proposed freeway will be median divided with eight 12-foot travel lanes and 12-foot paved shoulders. Additional right of way and the relocation of homes and businesses will be required for this project. The maps displaying the design of the are available for public review at the following locations: • City of Asheville Transportation, 70 Court Plaza—Mezzanine Level, Asheville, North Carolina, 28802 • NCDOT Division 13 Office, 55 Orange Street, Asheville. • The maps are also available online at http://www.ncdot.org/ projects/I26Connector and http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/publicmeetings/ NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this hearing. Anyone requiring special services should contact Robbins as early as possible so that arrangements can be made. Persons who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494. Aquellas personas no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan antes de la reunión llamando al 1-800-481-6494.
APD’s 1st female chief resigns after stormy tenure; given $118K From Staff Reports
After a three-year tenure that turned tumultuous in the last six months, Tammy Hooper, the Asheville Police Department’s first female police chief, announced her resignation, effective Jan. 2. What’s more, she will be leaving with an extra payment of $118,000 for delaying her resignation during a crisis and for consulting work she will Tammy Hooper perform after she departs, based on a recent agreement signed by Hooper and Mayor Esther Manheimer.
However, the Asheville Citizen Times reported that “the Nov. 5 agreement and other documents obtained in a public records request don’t answer several questions about Hooper’s planned Jan. 2 departure after an intense half year. “Those include the circumstances surrounding Hooper’s original resignation. City officials say Hooper first gave her notice in February, but said Thursday (Nov. 8) they didn’t know the exact date. “City spokeswomen have said her original resignation occurred prior to a city crisis ignited by the Feb. 28 release of a leaked police body camera video showing the beating, choking and tasing of a black pedestrian by a white officer stopped for jaywalking,” the ACT noted. The incident drew national attention and triggered local outrage.
Creighton plea deal in kickback scheme OK’d From Staff Reports
A federal judge moderated restrictions on the release of former assisant Buncombe County manager Jon Creighton and formally accepted a plea agreement between Creighton and prosecutors in connection with a bribery scheme that involved a longtime contractor. Creighton held his hands in front of him and reportedly answered nearly all of U.S. Magistrate Judge David Cayer’s questions with “yes, sir,” as he pleaded guilty on the morning of Oct. 30 to conspiracy to defraud the federal government. The ex-Buncombe staffer is the first among three defendants indicted in August to enter a
plea deal. So far, he also is the second county official to plead guilty since federal officials began an investigation about 15 months ago. Creighton’s conspiracy charge includes “embezzling, stealing, obtaining Jon Creighton by fraud and misapplying” county property and “corruptly soliciting, demanding (and) accepting” bribes prosecutors allege came from longtime county contractor Joe Wiseman, the Asheville Citizen Times reported.
From Staff Reports The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 20 agreed unanimously to accept a $40,000 settlement from former county employee Michael Greene. The payment provides relief sought in the county’s civil lawsuit against Michael Greene Greene and his mother,
former County Manager Wanda Greene. “The settlement would allow the county to pursue legal action against Greene for additional damages that may be discovered in the future,” the Asheville Citizen Times noted. Federal prosecutors charged Michael Greene in April with charging about $7,500 in personal purchases to his county-issued purchase card. Michael Greene misspent about $38,000 of county funds, according to Ron Payne, the county’s outside attorney handling civil lawsuits against former staffers who have been indicted as part of an ongoing federal corruption probe.
Continued from Page A6 He added, “We’re looking at about 52 properties on about 145 acres.” The city agreed on Nov. 7 to delay action on the proposed rezoning of parcels to urban place until Jan. 24 , when the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a formal review, Okolichany said. After that, tentatively in February, Asheville City Council will hold a public hearing and review, prior to making a final decision. In questioning that followed, a man asked about the stormwater problems that persist on Patton Avenue “You’re right, there are stormwater issues on Patton Avenue,” Okolichany replied. “On the southside of Patton Avenue, there are more issues with flood plains. Again, with the rezoning, it’s changing the zoning” and not resolving other issues. Craig Justice, a local attorney, asked a number of questions about the Kmart property on Patton Avenue, pertaining to “if a developer wanted to put affordable housing there.” “You can go up to 75 percent of a project to make an improvement for a nonconforming building,” Okolichany said. “We would look at the entire site in its totality. Most likely due to the size of the redevelopment of some of these properties, it would go through the conditional zoning process. That conditional zoning allows an applicant to create different conditions that might deviate from the zoning” rules.
The city official also was asked by Justice, “While we’re talking about 15 feet (building are required to be placed close to adjoining roads), could we talk about logic? For instance, he noted that Walgreens Pharamcy on Merrimon Avnue had to construct a small building that remains vacant along the street just to conform to the city’s regulations. (The pharmacy itself is set back far from Merrimon.) “What is the logic in this 15 feet?” Justice asked. “Multiple businesses have gone out of business because of what you (city officials) are forcing people to do.” In response, Okolichany said, “Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale (Fla.), where I came from, used to look just like Patton Avenue here,” but “it looks better” now because the buildings are required to be built closely to the main road. “Once you start looking at streetscape improvements and private development with housing, it changes” visually for the better, Okolichany said. Disagreeing, meeting attendee Jeff Slosman queried, “What’s the logic of putting buildings 15 feet from the street?” “What we’re trying to create is a more urban environment,” Okolichany replied. “If we can bring buildings closer to the street, a lot more can be done behind them. We’re trying to create these pedestrian-friendly environments. Along these corridors ... we’re making it more pedestrian-friendly.”
Greene’s son agrees to pay back $40K to county
Tax burden
Asheville Daily Planet — December 2018 - A7
NCDOT TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING ON DECEMBER 13 FOR PROPOSED INTERCHANGE AT I-40/BLUE RIDGE ROAD (S.R. 2500) WITH THE WIDENING OF BLUE RIDGE ROAD FROM JUST SOUTH OF I-40 TO U.S. 70 AND A ROUNDABOUT AT BLUE RIDGE ROAD AND N.C. 9 IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY STIP Project No. I-4409 The N.C. Department of Transportation proposes to convert I-40 / Blue Ridge Road (S.R. 2500) gradeseparation to an Interchange, widen Blue Ridge Road from just south of the new interchange north to U.S. 70, and construct a roundabout at the intersection of Blue Ridge Road and N.C. 9. A public meeting will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13 at the Lakeview Clubhouse at Lake Tomahawk Park located at 401 Laurel Circle Drive in Black Mountain. The purpose of this meeting is to inform the public of the project and gather input on the proposed design. As information becomes available, it may be viewed online at the NCDOT Public Meeting Webpage: https://www. ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings. The public may attend at any time during the public meeting hours, as no formal presentation will be made. NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and receive comments. The comments and information received will be taken into consideration as work on the project develops. The opportunity to submit written comments will be provided at the meeting or can be done via phone, email, or mail by January 11, 2019. For additional information, contact Michael Clark, NCDOT Division 13 Project Engineer at, 55 Orange Street, Asheville, NC 28801, (828) 251-6171 or, mgclark@ ncdot.gov. NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this workshop. Anyone requiring special services should contact Tony Gallagher, Environmental Analysis Unit, at 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1598, by phone (919) 707-6069 or by e-mail at magallagher@ncdot.gov as early as possible so that arrangements can be made. Persons who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494. Aquellas personas no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan antes de la reunión llamando al 1-800-481-6494.
A8 — December 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet
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A-B Tech Continued from Page A1
“The letter goes on to ask for copies of all official county board of commissioners action approving such expenditures. “The board chair and A-B Tech president were unavailable for comment,” WLOS reported in mid-November. State law does not require that the money be allocated to A-B Tech, but in campaign promises prior to a referendum put before local voters (which narrowly passed) both county and college leaders promised the money would go toward new construction projects at the school. However, the ACT reported that “budget amendments and annual financial reports show the county has transferred more than $15 million of the generated revenue to its own coffers. “Interim County Manager George Wood, while warning of a projected shortfall next year, told commissioners in September they’ve been using the funds to help balance their budget — an unsustainable habit, he said,” according to the ACT. A-B Tech officials are seeking to pinpoint exactly how that $15 million was spent. A-B Tech board Chairwoman Mary Ann Rice asked in an Aug. 13 letter for the commissioners to provide “a full accounting of all expenditures funded in whole or part” by the tax.
Asheville shop named N.C.’s ‘most beautiful independent store’
From Staff Reports
Porter & Prince, a shop in Asheville’s historic Biltmore Village, recently was chosen by Architectural Digest as North Carolina’s “Most Beautiful Independent Store.” The shop was founded in 1996. The magazine praised Porter & Prince as “Asheville’s premier destination for French antiques, luxury linens, dreamy sleepwear, fine gifts and unique home decor.” In response, store owner Debra Prince Slosman said in early November, “This honor not only reflects our love of what we do but also represents our dedication to the mission of bringing any tiny bit of beauty and comfort we can to those who enter our door,” according to the Asheville Citizen Times. Architectural Digest published its list of the “The Most Beautiful Independent Store in Every State in America” in October. The magazine cited Porter & Prince as “a tranquil shopping haven for home furnishings, with a strong focus on French and Scandinavian influences.” The store previously had been chosen as a “Top 100 Store in the Country” by Cottage Living Magazine. It also was the subject of a feature in Domino Magazine and was selected by Huffington Post as a “Top Place to Shop in Asheville.” Its Architectural Digest selection was based on the store’s “uniquely curated merchandise selection, their commitment to kind, patient service and striving to creatively inspire the love of home and beauty in those who Porter & Prince is passionate about serving,” the magazine noted. In response to the honor, Porter & Prince officials said the shop is “deeply honored” and grateful to its customers for the “appreciation the community places on personalized service not typically found in big-box stores,” the ACT reported.
The ACT noted that, “after never receiving the information from commissioners, college officials hand-delivered the records request to Wood and commission Chairman Brownie Newman.” Buncombe began shifting A-B Tech tax revenue to its general fund as early as the 2013-14 year, according to an ACT analysis. The newspaper reported that an initial $249,000 transfer has skyrocketed to an alltime high of $6.5 million this year, adding, “That’s the same amount that Buncombe appropriated to A-B Tech this year.” While state money comprises most of A-B Tech’s funding, the college the county also gives it an annual appropriation to cover operations and some maintenance. “Reports show the county slashed that appropriation after the tax was passed,” an ACT story noted. “Commissioners gave nearly $8.1 million during the 2012-13 year. They cut it the next year by $2 million, a roughly 25 percent decrease.” In the aftermath, the commissioners have reported being deluged wth phone calls and emails from constituents infuriated by the county’s handling — or as they have contended, mishandling — of the sales tax. What’s more, state Rep. Brian Turner, D-Buncombe, whose district includes the college’s Enka campus, called for the commissioners to “make A-B Tech whole” and to give control over construction projects to A-B Tech officials. He noted that county government has oversight under a state bill passed after the sales tax was approved.
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The Daily Planet’s Opinion
Parents of infected students: Rethink immunization stance
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s of late November, The Asheville Waldorf School, a private school in West Asheville with one of the highest rates of religious exemption from vaccinations in North Carolina, claimed 36 enrolled students had contracted chickenpox. Given that Waldorf — with enrollees ranging from nursery age to sixth-grade — also has North Carolina’s third-highest rate of vaccination exemptions, it comes as no surprise that 19 of the 28 currently enrolled kindergartners had exemptions to at least one state-required vaccination. It is easy see why chickenpox spread so quickly among Waldorf’s students. What’s more, Buncombe County, as a whole, leads the state in religious exemption rates for kindergarteners, at 5.7 perceent. Sad to say, the Asheville area is being branded a “hot spot” for ultra-low vaccination rates, a distinction making international news, literally adding insult to injury, and resulting in embarrassment for our community. Chickenpox normally just produces an itchy rash and usually is not lifethreatening. Annually, the vaccine prevents more than 3.4 million cases of chickenpox, 9,000 hospitalizations and 100 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control. While North Carolina law allows for religious exemptions to immunizations required for all schoolchildren, it appears to us that some people are using the religious exemption to mask their real problems with immunizations, which often are based on conspiracy science published with much ballyhoo on the internet and, usually, later quietly retracted. In other cases, where religion is sincerely cited for the exemption, we wonder if that is sufficient reason to endanger public health. Regardless of whether it is based on religion or something else, nonimmunization presents a clear and present danger to the public. When parents withhold immunizations, the large number of non-immunized children creates a reservoir where the virus can take refuge and multiply. When a virus gains traction through non-immunized people, it can spread to everyone with whom those carrying the virus interact, such as pregnant women, people with AIDS and those finishing chemotherapy. We urge area parents who have exempted their children from vaccines to reconsider, based on the undeniable medical research showing they are safe, that they save thousands of lives every year — and out of concern for not only their offspring, but for others in our community who may be vulnerable to the ravages of viruses that could be easily prevented simply with a vaccine.
Lessons for Dems from recent elections
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HAPEL HILL — What did North Carolina Democrats learn from the elections earlier last month? A few lessons: 1. North Carolina Democrats learned the great advantages of recruiting good candidates to run in every district, even when the odds of winning some entrenched legislative seats had seemed remote. Well-funded, wellorganized campaigns can produce demonstrably good results. 2. However, they learned again that clever partisan gerrymandering gives Republicans a clear advantage in legislative and congressional elections. Until this year, the situation was similar in Pennsylvania. Republicans held a 13-5 edge in that state’s congressional delegation prior to redistricting ordered by the state’s supreme court. In last month’s election, using the new districts, each party won nine seats. In North Carolina, where the total statewide congressional vote is about even, Republicans nevertheless have a 10-3 advantage. The current districting plan concentrates many Democratic voters into the three Democratic districts and spreads Republican voters throughout the remainder. With seven losing Democrats garnering more than 40 percent of the vote in the recent election, a fair redistricting plan would have made several of them winners.
D.G. Martin Federal judges have already ruled that the existing North Carolina congressional districts violate voter rights. Subject to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, new and fairer districts could be in place by 2020. However, new and fair districts will not automatically result in a balanced congressional delegation. Geographic gerrymandering has many Democratic voters packed into urban areas and spreads Republicans more evenly throughout the rest of the state, giving them a better chance to win in more districts. In state legislative races Democrats were much more successful than in recent years in the urban areas along I-85, Charlotte, the Triad, and the Triangle, but they still struggle in the widely dispersed rural areas. The geographic gerrymandering will continue to make it difficult for Democrats to regain control of the legislature even if partisan gerrymandering ends. Thus, Democrats will have to do more than simply wait for judicially mandated fair redistricting. See MARTIN, Page A16
Letters to the Editor
Reader’s threat of genocide against pot-users? Horrific
I
am horrified at the suggestion in your paper to murder all cannabis users (in a letter to the editor from Richard D. Pope that appeared in September’s Daily Planet). I again stand aghast at the virulent phobia of an herb based on lies. Previous to around 1911, it was a simple boon to humanity, in soil-enriching industrial hemp and more stridently medicinal varieties. As societies looked for an expedient to keeping money in industrial enclaves and everyone without handed down privilege out, cannabis became a scapegoat. In his (Pope’s) letter, I’m too passive to defend my country and he advocated genocide of my minority cannabis-using religion as well as others using science instead of propaganda to regulate their lives. In another publication, ghosts of old cannabis-using hassasins scare folks “Reefer Madness”-style that I am too violent to trust. Which is it? In reality, cannabis has played a positive part in every war this country has fought and sober-minded use does not leave one simultaneously experiencing polar opposite propagandized mental effects. Defending one’s country first should best be done through civics, land protection, and entrepreneurial value-creation before any thought of violent self-defense is needed. The blame-and-shame game and the lynching of science for refusing to bow to racist and misogynistic industrial interests does not stop at cannabis prohibition. However, defending my country means announcing such prohibition is a half-tied Gordian knot that a sea change in maturity
can easily unpack. This hubric knot is linked to every other social harm. To hear a certain Kennedy say it, it’s simply a tool to be able to search and seize private property. We are better than such sloppy shortcuts. Band-Aids like the $30k a year prescription Epidiolex are mere nods to the power of what would happen should we use science, agriculture and our ingenuity to confront what the most calculated and demonstrably specious of smear campaigns has done in our community. Our public forests should not be private grow lands for the privileged, and their insistence that they maintain the forest because they put fertilizer back on it should terrify every environmentalist into demanding front-yard normalization over a singularly productive plant. Freeing America from this naked emperor has come at great physical and social sacrifice to me — and I even get the couverture of my own minority religious denomination and have had less to lose than the heroes who are beginning to come out of the wordwork for justice and common sense. One should not have to fear for the safety of one’s children as a scientist for being scientific. That is only one example of the 300 million-plus unique ways this domestic harm to our Constitution is laughably hurting our country for the amusement of problematic controllers. We are better than threats of genocide, and everyone sworn to defend this land does not need more work keeping the peace because of your reader’s misplaced concern and hubris. Anna Creasman Brevard See LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, Page A16
The Candid Conservative
Who maimed Asheville? (Part 1)
“We have to distrust each other. It is our only defense against betrayal.” — Tennessee Williams
The Problem
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on’t look now, but Asheville is limping. From north to south and east to west, the transitions, growth and mutations are transforming what once was a cool green working man’s mountain town into a frustrated, bulging, expensive and confused asylum. Over the past several decades a host of hands – some passive, some aggressive – have successfully conspired to turn paradise into something more acquainted to misery than cool. How’d it happen? Glad you asked – there are host of perpetrators. An indifference to our traditional values Contrary to those who like to rewrite Asheville’s history, our community was founded on a long-standing tradition of conservative Christian values. Sure, we’ve had our share of rogues, colorful characters and dynamic visitors, but most of Asheville was built and maintained by people once called “normal.” The mad dash of newcomers has been remarkably indifferent to those traditions and, frankly, brought many of the bad habits they came here to escape. The result – much of what once made us nifty has been extinguished and an intangible specialness has been lost in the exchange. Hate to break it to our transplants, but
Carl Mumpower
buying a new car and running it off a cliff doesn’t make sense. An enabled drug culture In 1970, the year I stumbled out the doors of Owen High, the school logged one weed smoking incident. That individual was kicked out and ostracized by the community. Why? Because the majority understood that drugs were not a path to anything of lasting good. Fast-forward to today. The majority has lost sight of that old-style wisdom and embraced the idea that drug-induced mindlessness is a necessary ingredient to modern life. The result is a drug dealer in every neighborhood, a gazillion lost souls and an epidemic of overdoses. How did we get here? Well, a big part of the failure equation tracks to a well-advised war on drugs that fairly targeted suppliers but then gave a pass to the users funding this sour enterprise. We ignored history’s relentless affirmation that demand always generates supply. As a result, we have been chasing our tail – and losing ground – long enough to have created a genuine dialed in to-the-max drug culture. See CANDID CONSERVATIVE, Page A16
Asheville Daily Planet — December 2018 - A15
Commentary
Liberalism: nutty or urgently needed?
F
lorida’s governor went into a rant: “I won’t stand idly by while unethical liberals try to steal this election.” An old friend sent me an email. She said she was raised “an evangelical, liberal-hating Republican.” She wrote that she’s become disenchanted with Republicans but wasn’t ready to become a Democrat. “I don’t want to be under the same roof with all those wacky liberals,” she said. Blame Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh for taking a great word from history – “liberal” – and turning it into a hot iron for GOP candidates to brand their opponents with. A Notre Dame poli sci prof named Patrick Deneen has written a book called “Why Liberalism Failed.” I heard him interviewed on Ezra Klein’s podcast. The title is an unabashed lure to conservative book buyers. Deneen’s liberalism, that he says failed, goes back to the Enlightenment, to the philosophers whose ideas inspired our Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. They set things in Patrick Deneen motion, he says, that resulted in our crumbling society today. Conservative columnist David Brooks, in his critique of Deneen’s book, wrote: “The liberal democratic moral….stands for the idea that our covenantal institutions — like family, faith, tradition and community — orient us toward higher loves and common dreams that we then pursue in the great gymnasium of liberty.” Exactly. Our great freedoms are built on the foundation of liberal thought. John Locke, the 17th-century “father of liberalism,” whispered in Jefferson’s ear as he wrote the Declaration of Independence. An article in The New Yorker magazine last July put it neatly: “Liberalism is a perpetual program of reform, intended to alleviate the cruelty we see around us….[We hope for] a future society, flawed, like our own, but less cruel as time goes on.” We aspire to ever-greater things, and our basic liberal principles propel us to achieve them. It can be truly said that liberalism contributes something otherwise missing in our govern-
Lee Ballard ment: problem-solving. Think about it. Democrats – all of whom Gingrich and Limbaugh would call liberals – were in power when all the great and positive changes in American life took place: women’s suffrage, social security, minimum wage, overtime pay, GI Bill, Medicare, Civil Rights Act, on and on. With full power in Washington for two years, what problems have the Republicans even tried to solve? Securing Social Security? Disaster preparation? Global warming? Healthcare? Strengthening ties with allies? Balanced budgets? None. And the big reason for their failure is their philosophical refusal to confront problems head-on. Government is enemy, not friend. They make a show of doing something when necessary, but their heart isn’t in it. In today’s America, Democrats are the keepers of our long liberal tradition. No question about that. Republicans look backward to some utopia before the New Deal, when Republican governments helped business but certainly not the people in need! Democrats now have control in the House of Representatives – which makes me worry. They have opportunities to make life “less
LETTERS The Asheville Daily Planet invites Letters to the Editor of 200 words or less. Please include your name, mailing address, daytime telephone number and e-mail address. For more information, call (828) 252-6565. Send mail to: Letters, Asheville Daily Planet P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, NC 28814 Send e-mail to: letters@ashevilledailyplanet.com
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cruel” for our people. They can work with Republicans to make healthcare a reasonable reality, for example. But will they? Many Democrats who worked hard in the recent election are howling for impeachment of Trump, something that would totally distract from the people’s work. Political correctness can result in the elevation of people not ready for leadership. Incoming freshmen could clique together as a power bloc. It is urgent that Democrats connect them-
selves with liberalism’s historic difference – namely, how problems get solved, how government meets the needs of the ordinary people who elect them. Let’s give all those liberal-hating Republicans the positive experience of good liberal government. There’s no better way to heal the divide in our land. • Lee Ballard , who lives in Mars Hill, has a website at Mountainsnail.com.
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December 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet
Letters
Continued from Page A14
Sinatra, born 103 years ago, will sing/swing forever
popular by Sinatra. As Count Basie would say, “One More Time!” — Happy 103rd Birthday, Frank! May you keep swingin’ among the stars with the rest of those entertainers who left us all too soon. Herb Stark Mooresville
Legendary singer/actor/producer/director Frank Sinatra was born 103 years ago on Dec. 12, 1915. His talent in the entertainment field has endured through the years and it is a testament to his abilities. Join me in wishing “Ol’ Blue Eyes” a very Happy Birthday, along with such luminaries as jazz singer Peggy King and the All-Star Jazz Trio, music archivist Anthony DiFlorio III, talent promoter Billy Jon Coogan, musician George Roumanis (bass), Tony Bennett, WYYR program director Chris Valenti, Diana Krall and add Willie Nelson’s beautiful new tribute CD, titled, “My Way,” featuring 11 songs made
What Americans fear and loath? ‘I am a Christian’
Continued from Page A14 Can we do anything? Absolutely. It starts with ending the pretense that we’re having anything approaching success in treating our drug abusers. As a personal view, when it comes to the heavy hitters like opiates and meth, we’re lucky if – over time – we salvage one in ten. Drug treatment in America has become a commercial enterprise attempting to counter another commercial enterprise. Drug dealers have proven to be much more creative than drug treatment dealers. So, what do we do? Keep trying to salvage the plethora of users, but concentrate on new recruits. It’s in stopping the recruitment of users that we have a winning chance. How do we do that? The same way we keep our drinking drivers, child and spouse abusers and bank robbers down to a minimum – consequences. In the case of new users those consequences have to be immediate and dramatic enough to discourage the behavior. Dramatic consequences like when you get caught buying or using drugs you get twoweeks in a tent jail and picking up paper along the highway. Are we going to do that? No. As a culture we don’t have the courage or the character. For those who still care and wish to make a difference, may I offer a simple compass course? Remember that drug abuse is like colon cancer – you have to catch it early to stop it. What we’re doing in America today is
pretending that colon cancer is no big deal.
Those afraid of getting kicked out of their apartment because that third job isn’t covering city leadership’s concept of affordable housing can take heart. Thanks to all these new hotels dotting our skyline, you can embrace a $400 a night room until you snare that ’65 Oakwood mobile home rental in Swannanoa. Firing one up and sleeping in the car can be a back-up plan. If you are one of the many struggling to make ends meet in our platinum city, reflect on those most-favored city council buzzwords – good jobs and affordable housing. We now know those were code for employment for the liberal elite and $350,000 bungalows in West Asheville. When Swannanoa is full, the rest of us are expected to move to Tennessee.
Continued from Page A14 They must also work to develop greater strength in North Carolina suburban and rural areas, using the same techniques as they did to gain strength in urban areas, namely organization, candidate development, and adjustment of platforms to respond to the concerns in those areas. 3. Democrats may no longer need to run away from being identified as Democrats in statewide elections. Their success in state supreme court and court of appeals judicial candidates showed this dramatically. Past conventional wisdom argued judicial candidates with a Democratic Party label were at a disadvantage. However, in the recent election, the candidates who were identified as Democrats on the ballot came out winners. Was this advantage a quirk, or will it carry over to future elections and non-judicial contests? We will get a clue in the next election if Democratic candidates for all offices start to put their party affiliation on their yard signs again. 4. The results in Texas, Georgia and
Florida, even though losing, should be encouraging to North Carolina Democrats. The campaigns of Beto O’Rourke in Texas and Stacey Abrams in Georgia demonstrated that Democrats can again mount competitive statewide campaigns even in the deepest red southern Republican stronghold states. That is good news for Democrats in North Carolina, which is not nearly as Republican as those two states. More significantly perhaps, Abrams and Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, ran unapologetically as progressive African-Americans. They were able to move past race with many white voters while boosting the turnout of black voters. The lesson for North Carolina Democrats is that it is not enough to look for black voters to support the party’s ticket. It is to recruit, develop and train black candidates like Gillum and Abrams who can lead their tickets to victory in future elections. • D.G. Martin hosts “North Carolina Bookwatch,” which airs at noon Sundays and at 5 p.m. Thursdays on UNC-TV.
Frank Sinatra, one of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century, built a career as an award-winning singer and film actor.
Candid Conservative
Martin
Clogging up our traffic Arteries This one, like a host of our community’s ills, falls firmly on the doorstep of the liberalprogressive-socialists who’ve successfully shanghaied the Democratic Party. These folks and their partners in crime – the Sierra Club and other histrionic climate obsessives – have spent decades intercepting every DOT attempt to address our long-anticipated traffic overload. Now we are there and suddenly these folks are slinking off and even pointing fingers at the DOT. Sorry guys, obstructionists on the left are singularly responsible for our clogged-up highways. Next time you are stuck in a creep and beep on I-26, I-240 or I-40, remember who you need to thank for all that pollution wastefully undoing the atmosphere. If you’re a member of the liberal elite who – with typical chutzpah – thought you knew more than the rest of us, may we recommend you take the bike route? Elitist elected officials Speaking of elitism, the Democrats who have politically dominated our community for 20-something years have that trick down to a science. Their fascination with centralized control, tax and fee increases, regulation and micromanaging everything but the misbehavior of their mascots has created a town that no one but the wealthy, vacationing, super-employed or trust-funded can afford.
We live in a day that recalls a historical period prior to World War II. There is a sense of desperation on many levels in America, where I reside. I am a white male of German and Finnish ancestry. I am the literal face of what some in America fear and loath. Even worse, I am a Christian. I live in a country that is founded on the principle of freedom for everyone. It is a noble idea. America was also organized by men who, by and large, were
Special interest groups While observing the polls during the recent election, I was introduced to a campaigning Sierra Club member. “Are you a member,” she asked. “No,” I replied. “Don’t you care about the environment,” she exclaimed. My response – while on my way to climb into my Subaru Outback – was, “Yes, but I don’t agree with how you guys go about it.” Needless to say, there was righteous indignation at that poll that day. I took the pain and avoided trying to make a broader point – that would be that special interest groups have a reliable tendency to evolve into selfish interest groups. Selfish groups, in turn, become greedy for power and privilege. Witness the fact that by law the city’s room tax goes to a special interest group working under the umbrella of the Chamber of Commerce. No other city in North Carolina has this “special” set-up. Why? Because a certain deceased Democrat state senator – aided and abetted by
well-educated and wealthy landowners who had a stake in their own personal liberties. It is unfortunate that, as a Christian, it seems that my opinions and beliefs seem to have been severely limited in recent history by a court decision that arrogantly established a wall of separation between the divine and our governance. Once again, the divisions of faith have come to the fore. Anyone may choose against the truth of our Creator — and disaster will be the inevitable result. I do not wish to be a judge of anyone, but I would hopefully pray that all of us — starting in our country — may see the wisdom in seeking the way, the truth and the life. My faith remains in Christ. May everyone be convinced by their own experience. Amen. ERIC LAURILLA Swannanoa
a group of bi-partisan co-conspirators – made it so. That’s a special deal, but a not-so-special outcome if you are a resident paying property taxes to subsidize a gazillion tourists. My personal favorite special deal is the one enjoyed by our local privately owned megaestate. Perhaps you’ve noticed that liquor by the drink is a city-only phenomenon in North Carolina? So how did the folks at Biltmore get that privilege without being voluntary annexed into Asheville like the law requires? It was a special deal by the same crew that funneled the city’s room tax to the chamber. Oh yes, and these are the same folks who worked so hard to steal the city’s water system to give a special deal to their county supporters. Don’t get me wrong, I am not fan of Asheville’s governance model, but end-runs are not the way to address it. Special deals for others usually equate to the shaft for the rest of us. When it comes to such, I’m reminded of what a friend once said when he was asked to run for public office. “I have so many skeletons in my closet,” he said, “if I ran people would think it’s Halloween.” Asheville is embedded with lots of skeletons – living and dead. What’s a guy or gal to do? We’ll cover that in more detail in Part II. For now, may I suggest the best response is a simple one? It has something to do with writing your own script – and remembering God always hides opportunity in the misery…. • Carl Mumpower, a psychologist and former elected official, is chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party. He can be reached at drmumpower@aol.com.
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Asheville Daily Planet — December 2018 - A17
Faith Notes Send us your faith notes
Please submit items to the Faith Notes by noon on the third Wednesday of each month, via email, at spirituality@ashevilledailyplanet.com, or fax to 252-6567, or mail c/o The Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting. To place an ad for a faith event, call 252-6565.
Saturday, Dec. 1
CHRISTMAS MUSICAL, 7 p.m., Newbridge Baptist Church, 199 Elkwood Ave., Asheville. A Christmas musical, “The Heart of Christmas,” will be peformed by the Newbridge Baptst Church Choir “as a gift to our community.” The musical celebrates “the birth of the Christ Child, our Savior... Oh come and enjoy Christmas music, inspirational ballads, with joyous gospel songs and more,” church noted.
Thursday, Dec. 6
COOKIES & CAROLS, 7-8:30 p.m., Lambuth Inn, Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska. Visitors will gather around the piano with John Cockman Jr. and friends, who will sing traditional Christmas carols with an Appalachian flare. Song sheets, hot tea, cider, cocoa and cookies will be provided. The event is only open to those on the Appalachian Christmas lodging package.
Friday, Dec. 7
HOLIDAY CONCERT, 7 p.m., Unity of the Blue Ridge, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. The annual Unity Holiday Concert will feature music of the holiday season by pianist Richard Shulman and the Unity Band, vocalist Kat Williams, the Rev. Darlene Strickland, senior minister; and others. For tickets, which are $10, visit https:// www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3741820. Handel’s “Messiah” PERFORMANCE, 7:30 p.m., Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska. The Lake Junaluska Singers will return, under Director Mary Huff and Associate Director Kathy Geyer McNeil, to perform Handel’s “Messiah” and a special Christmas concert during Appalachian Christmas. Handel’s “Messiah” is a baroque-era music composition by George Frideric Handel, composed in 1741-1742 and the Lake Junaluska Singers will perform the piece alongside a regional chorus and area musicians.
Saturday, Dec. 8
APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOW,
are welcome and admission is free.
of the Sugar Plum Fairies,’” said Mary Huff, director of the Lake Junaluska Singers.
Monday, Dec. 24
Sunday, Dec. 9 Storyteller Sheila Kay Adams will perform at 2 p.m. Dec. 8 in Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Harrell Center, Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska. The Appalachian Christmas Craft Show will include more than 40 artisans exhibiting all handcrafted items. The show is run by the Junaluska Woman’s Club and the profits go toward scholarships the Woman’s Club puts together for Lake Junaluska staff members every summer. All are welcome to attend the craft show. STORYTELLER, 2 p.m., Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska. The Appalachian Christmas Craft Show will be held. Sheila Kay Adams, a renowned local storyteller and ballad singer, will perform. In 2013, Adams won the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship Award, which recognizes folk and traditional artists for their artistic excellence and efforts to conserve America’s culture for future generations. Lake Junaluska Singers Concert, 7:30 p.m., Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska. The Lake Junaluska Singers, a 16-voice ensemble, will return from across the country to perform at Appalachian Christmas. Carols with audience participation, Appalachian Christmas songs, and poignant readings will round out the evening. “In addition to annual favorites including ‘Carol of the Bells’, ‘The Little Drummer Boy’, and ‘O Holy Night’, this year we will feature women’s voices in excerpts from Benjamin Britten’s exceptional ‘Ceremony of Carols’ and men’s voices in ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ and the ‘Dance
The Lake Junaluska Singers will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 in Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center.
The Lake Junaluska Singers will perform Handel’s “Messiah,” alongside a regional chorus and area musicians, at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center.
Appalachian Christmas Worship Service, 9:30 a.m., Memorial Chapel, Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska. The center’s Appalachian Christmas celebration will wrap up with a stirring morning worship service ieaturing the Rev. Mitzi Johnson.
Friday, Dec. 14
SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVIE NIGHT, 7-9 p.m., 1 Sandburg Hall, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The UUCA will screen a yet-to-be-announced film. After the screening, a discussion will be held. All
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, 2, 4 and 6 p.m, The Rock Church, 273 Monte Vista Road, Candler. The Rock Church, a contemporary, nondenominational church just outside of Asheville, will hold three identical family-friendly Christmas Eve services that are “full of music, laughter and fun,” the church noted. The services will feature a selection of Christmas music as well as a short message. Child care will be provided for those ages 5 and younger. CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, 3 and 5 p.m., Biltmore Baptist Church, 35 Clayton Rd., Arden. BBC will hold two Christmas Eve services. CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, 4 and 9 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The UUCA will hold two Christmas Eve services.
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A18 - December 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet
Advice Goddess
Continued from Page A1 When things get emotionally fraught in a relationship, it’s tempting to wish for a simpler existence — like being a dog so all that’s expected of you is 1. Don’t pee on the rug. 2. Sit still while the girlfriend dresses you up as a bee. In fact, if you’re like a lot of men, a female partner’s tears are liquid kryptonite, causing you to pretty much lose consciousness while appearing to be totally awake and ambulatory. Women may not entirely get this — or the extent of it — because of some sex differences in emotion processing. Generally speaking, putting it in collegiate terms, the female mind majors in psychology; the male mind majors in physics — though individual male and female minds vary, of course. Research by psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen finds that women tend to be the “empathizers” of the species, driven (from childhood on) to identify others’ “emotions and thoughts, and to respond to these with an appropriate emotion.” Men, on the other hand, tend to be “systematizers” — driven to understand the inner workings of the blender. The good news is, there’s a secret — even for the most emotionally inarticulate man -- for comforting an upset woman: You don’t have to be Shakespeare; just don’t go all shutupspeare. For example, last week, when I was bummed about something — to the point of tears — I was on the phone with my boyfriend, and he said the sweetest thing: “I’m bad at this” (meaning knowing what to say) “but I want to help you feel better.” This made me feel loved — and better. Also, it was kind of sexy. (Showing vulnerability, contrary to what many believe, is a sign not of weakness but of strength — suggesting you have enough social and emotional capital not to act all superhero all the time.) As an emergency measure — if even the words about not having the right words fail you — you can communicate your desire to comfort her with a hug, hair stroking, and other loving gestures. Again, just be sure to make some kind of effort to soothe her (lest she add feeling emotionally abandoned by her boyfriend to her boohoo list). Ideally, when your girlfriend suddenly wants to try some new positions, they aren’t things like standing on the base of the fireplace as she’s screaming at you to say something already.
Apartnering up
My husband and I started having problems when I found an email he sent to his ex-girlfriend saying, “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He’s never complimented me during our five years together. He revealed that he and his ex used to have sex for hours, while the most we ever spent making love was 45 minutes — only once, when we were first dating. I think I should leave, but we have a 1-year-old child. We are good together caring for the baby, but it’s terrible to be with a man who lacks love, respect and desire for you. — Tormented Parents today are in fierce competition for whose kid achieves things first: “Little Euripides graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard while still in the womb!” Best not to be the parents whose child has the dark side nailed, reflected in Instagram brag shots like “Baby’s First Rehab!” A good deal of research suggests that the healthiest home environment for a kid is an “intact family” — as opposed to the “Uncle” Of The Month Club. Couples wanting what’s best for their children are motivated to de-uglify their relationship and can often work out what I call “process-oriented” problems (counterproductive ways
of interacting that lead to nasty fights or just seething resentment). This is essential because even if nobody’s screaming and hurling casserole dishes, the underlying tone of a relationship is reflected in interactions as mundane as “Can ya pass the salt?” (Ideally, your tone suggests some affection for your partner — not that your reluctance to do time is all that’s keeping you from smothering them with a pillow.) You, however, are in a relationship with a man who is deeply passionate about another woman and appears to see sex with you as a household chore. Your resentment from feeling unwanted and equally toxic feelings from him are sure to seep into your daily life. So, staying together under these circumstances would most likely be damaging for your child — but chances are, so would splitting up. To understand why an intact family seems important for kids’ well-being, it helps to understand a few things from an area of evolutionary research called “life history theory.” It explores how the type of environment a person grows up in calibrates their psychology and behavior — for example, how able they are to delay gratification. This calibration is basically a form of human mental economics — a subconscious calculation of how stable or risky a person’s childhood environment is and whether they’d be better off allocating their energy and efforts toward the now or the future. A stable, predictable environment — like growing up with middle-class parents who remain married, live in a peaceful neighborhood, and always provide enough food to eat — tends to lead to a more future-oriented approach (like being able to save money). Conversely, growing up in a dangerous neighborhood, having divorced parents with unpredictable finances, and getting moved around a lot is likely to lead to a more noworiented approach (spendorama!). The good news is, you two may be able to break up without it breaking your kid. My friend Wendy Paris and her former husband did this — splitting up as a couple while staying together as parents of their young son. Wendy writes in her book “Splitopia: Dispatches From Today’s Good Divorce and How To Part Well” that they even relocated together from New York to Los Angeles, moving to separate places a few blocks apart. They hang out and do activities as a family. Her ex often comes over to make breakfast for her son and coffee for her. He even takes out the trash! Sure, he did that when they were married, but Wendy was too preoccupied with her issues with him as a husband to appreciate it like she can now. It’s difficult to set up an arrangement like Wendy’s if you’re, oh...say...preoccupied with wishing your husband’s penis would wither and fall off like a skin tag under a dermatologist’s liquid nitro. In a situation like yours, where resentment is high, a mediator could be helpful. (Look for a marital specialist at Mediate.com.) A mediator is not a judge and won’t tell you what to do. He or she is a neutral third party, de-escalating conflict — creating a safe, productive psychological environment. This makes it possible for people with disputes to work out a mutually acceptable agreement for how they’ll go forward. Now, mediation doesn’t work for everyone. However, it’s probably your best bet for “having it all” — acting in your child’s best interest and eventually having a man in your life who sees you as more than ballast to keep the mattress down in case there’s a tornado. • (c.) 2018, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol. com (advicegoddess.com). Weekly radio show: blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon
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A20 — December 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet
1 Roberts St. • River Arts District • Asheville Open Tuesday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Entertainment & Calendar of Events
Special Section PULLOUT
B1
Asheville Daily Planet — December 2018
Asheville holiday parade sparkles
Daily Planet Staff Photos
The float with Santa and Mrs. Claus (top left) were among the highlights of the 2018 Asheville Holiday Parade, which rolled, danced and marched through downtown for nearly two hours during midday Nov. 17. The parade, with the theme “Appalachian Holiday,” featured nearly 100 entries. The performance stop for the judges was at the corner of Biltmore and Patton avenues in Pack Square. The grand marshall was Jennifer Pharr Davis, who is a former world record holder for the fastest hike of the Appalachian Trail. She is a Hendersonville native.
Playhouse ends Hendersonville run with a bang
Teatro delights with musical Broadway revue By JOHN NORTH
H
john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
ENDERSONVILLE— The male vocal quartet, Teatro, made its Western North Carolina debut during the final Music on the Rock production at Flat Rock Playhouse’s Hendersonville venue at 125 S. Main St. The FRP announced recently that, after a seven-year run, it is closing its downtown Hendersonville stage and concentrating its resources and efforts on its mainstage in Flat Rock.
Special photos courtesy of FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE
Teatro vocalists from left are Forest VanDyke, Nicholas Verina, Jeremiah James and Jason Watson. The Nov. 17 performance, which is the Feel the Love Tonight?” from “The Lion focus of this review, filled 182 of the 250 King.” It prompted a standing ovation theater seats. The show ran Nov. 15-17. that included sustained applause. Comprised of two 45-minute sets, The performers smiled out at the crowd the production finished with “Can You and one of them asked, “You want one
more?” The crowd cheered in response. The group performed, as an encore, “The Impossible Dream” from “The Man of La Mancha.” The rousing rendition triggered another standing ovation, but this time the house lights were turned up, the performers bowed and left the stage permanently. Regarding Teatro, the FRP noted, it is “often billed as theatre’s first supergroup.” The Playhouse also touted Teatro as “featuring a phenomenal group of talented vocalists.” who take an audience “on a musical journey through the greatest songs of Broadway. Audiences can expect this production to sweep them far, far away, with classics from ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ to ‘Guys and Dolls’ and ‘West Side Story.’ “Teatro will bring a taste of late-night New York City to downtown Hendersonville,” the Playhouse stated. See TEATRO, Page B7
B2 — December 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet
N.C. Stage Co. will stage the Christmas classic “Live From WVL Radio Theatre: It’s a Wonderful Life” through Dec. 16 in its theater at 15 Stage Lane in downtown Asheville. Special photo courtesy of N.C. Stage Co.
Calendar
of
Saturday, Dec. 1
Events
TREE PLANTING/TREE DISCUSSION,10 a.m., Town Square, downtown Black Mountain. The town’s annual Arbor Day celebration will feature local arborist Andrew Wagner, who will demonstrate tree-planting and answer questions about trees. Wagner, who works for Heartwood Tree Service, also will discuss the benefits of trees, especially in flood prevention. The town noted that “free refreshments will be on hand for as long as they last.” The Town Square (and other sites in town) will have been decorated for Christmas earlier that morning by the Black Mountain Beautification Committee. HENDERSONVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE, 10:30 a.m., from the intersection formerly known as Five Points to Caswell Street, Hendersonville. With a theme “The Magic of Christmas,” the Hendersonville Merchants Association will host the annual Christmas Parade. Parade entries will be judged on attractiveness, best use of theme and originality. Afterward, cider and cookies will be served at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street downtown by the Henderson County Heritage Museum. Admission to the parade — and to imbibe in the refreshments afterward — is free. “A FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS” SHOW, 2 and 8 p.m., mainstage, Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock. “A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas” will be performed through Dec 22. Regarding the show, the FRP noted, “If you loved ‘A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas’ in 2017 you will not want to miss this all-new production in 2018! Come enjoy your favorite holiday songs as we journey through the streets of a bustling city all the way to the winter wonderlands we dream of at Christmas. Featuring an all-star cast from all over the U.S.A., Studio 52 students, The Flat Rock Playhouse Chorus, dancers from Pat’s School of Dance and children choirs from the surrounding four counties.” Showtimes vary. For tickets, which are $17-$55, call the box office at 6930731 or visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org. BILTMORE PARK HOLIDAY TREE-LIGHTING, 6 p.m., Biltmore Park Town Square, South Asheville. Biltmore Park Town Square will hold its Holiday Magic & Memories celebration. An activity touted as “family fun” begins at 2:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., a holiday tree lighting will be held. The celebration will include a holiday parade, carriage rides, live music, other entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus. Refreshments — hot cocoa, cider and other treats — will be available throughout the park. Admission is free “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE” PRODUCTION, 7:30 p.m., N.C. Stage Co., 15 Stage Lane, downtown Asheville. The N.C. Stage Co. will present its production of “Live From WVL Radio Theatre: It’s A Wonderful Life” through Dec. 16. Wednesday through Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Regarding the show, the N.C. Stage Co. noted, “This fresh adaptation of the film is set in the fictional studio of WVL Radio Theatre, which is struggling to stay on the air one snowy winter’s night. The professional voice actors are unable to get to the studio, but the show must go on—and so a small but intrepid band of employees manages to create the story’s dozens of characters and scenes using just their voices and some everyday
Life is short. Dance in the right shoes!
household items for sound effects.” For tickets, visit www.ncstage.org or call 239-0263. BERNSTEIN FAMILY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR, 7:30 p.m., The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St., River Arts District, Asheville. The theater will present what is billed as “the wonderfully wicked 25th annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular” through Dec. 14. Showtimes vary. (The show is actually in its ninth year in Asheville, despite the billing.) The R-rated holiday spectacle is touted by the theater as “a hilarious, envelope-pushing ode to the TV specials of yesteryear, with the dysfunctional Bernstein clan doing a varity of skits and witty commercials for local businesses. This show is absolutely for adults only, and only for those who are willing to go along for a ride with some delightfully depraved individuals.” For tickets, which are $25 visit www.themagnetictheatre.org. Tickets also may be purchased at the door. “NUNCRACKERS” CHRISTMAS STAGE PLAY, 7:30 p.m., Main Stage, Hendersonville Community Theatre, 229 S. Washington St., Hendersonville. The HCT will perform “Nuncrackers” through Dec. 16. Regarding the plot, the HCT noted, “Mount Saint Helen’s nuns are putting on a Christmas show, which is an original ballet based on ‘The Nutcracker.’” Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. For tickets, visit hendersonvilletheatre.org, or call 692-1082. “A ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS” SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts, 1028 Georgia Road, Franklin. The show, “A Rocky Mountain Christmas Featuring Jim Curry & the Music of John Denver.” Regarding the show, the SMCPA noted, “A family holiday tradition comes to life in ‘A Rocky Mountain Christmas,’ as Jim Curry performs the music from John Denver’s many Christmas television specials and Christmas music collections. Memorable melodies that speak to the heart of the holidays like ‘Silver Bells,’ ‘Silent Night,’ and ‘O Holy Night,’ along with John’s own ‘Christmas for Cowboys,’ ‘Noel, Christmas Eve,’ ‘Aspenglow,’ and ‘The Peace Carol.’ Enjoy these songs along with Denver’s all-time hits, such as ‘Rocky Mountain High,’ ‘Sunshine On My Shoulders’ and ‘Back Home, Again,’ as Jim Curry and his band ‘fill up your senses’ in this heart-felt seasonal show.” For tickets, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com.
Sunday, Dec. 2
HOLIDAY CONCERT, 3 p.m., Conference Hall, Blue Ridge Community College, Campus Drive, East Flat Rock. A “‘Tis the Season” holiday concert will be performed by the Hendersonville Community Band, under the direction of Winford Franklin, with featured guests the Blue Ridge Ringers. For tickets, which are $10 for adults and free for students, visit www.hcbmusic.com.
Monday, Dec. 3
COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS, 6-7 p.m., Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, 204 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville. Hendersonville City Council will be holding the fifth — and last — in its Council Conversations series of five community meetings. The meeting’s host will be Councilman Steve Caraker. The meetings are intended to improve communications between council and Hendersonville residents. City Manager John Connet and staff will be in attendance to help answer questions or provide information.
See CALENDAR, Page B3
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• Tuesdays —Shag and Swing • Wednesdays — Ballroom and Country Lesson at 6:30 p.m. • Dancing 7-9 p.m. Requests are always welcome. $5 per person • Food and drinks available at the bar
Dances at the Asheville Ballroom 291 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville
Back Room at the Ballroom Christmas Party
Sat., Dec. 22 • 7:30-10:30 p.m. Admission $10 • Cash bar for beer & wine
Asheville Daily Planet - December 2018 - B3
Donated photo
“A Rocky Mountain Christmas Featuring Jim Curry & the Music of John Denver” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. The photo above shows Curry paying tribute to Denver (born in 1943 as Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.), who died in 1997.
Calendar of Events
Continued from Page B2
Tuesday, Dec. 4
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL LECTURE, 7:30 p.m., Manheimer Room, Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. “Report From 90 Miles South: Continuity and Change in Post-Castro Cuba” will be addressed by Stan Dotson and his wife Kim Christman, local pastors who have served as chaplains and leaders of two churches in Matanzas, Cuba. They will provide an on-the-ground view of Cuban life. Admission is $10 for the public and free to members of the WAC and UNCA students. “HAMILTON” PERFORMANCE, 7:30 p.m., the Peace Center, Greenville, S.C. The Broadway musical “Hamilton” will be performed through Dec. 16 at the Peace Center. Showtimes vary. The national tour of the “Hamilton” is, according to the Peace Center, “the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first treasury secretary. It features a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, rhythm and blues, and Broadway, ‘Hamilton’ is the story of America then, as told by America now.” For tickets, visit the peacecenter.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 5
KOREAN WAR VETERANS HOLIDAY PARTY, noon, Bay Breeze Restaurant, 1830 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville. Korean War Veterans Association’s Chapter 314 will hold a holiday party for all Korean War and defense veterans. Each attendee will be responsible for covering the cost of his or her meal. AUTHOR ALLI MARSHALL READING, 6 p.m., Whitman Room, Ramsey Library, UNC Asheville. Alli Marshall, UNCA’s 2018 Ramsey Library Community Author, will give a free public reading. She will be accompanied by Heather Taylor, a guitarist, flutist and singer-songwriter. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m. Marshall is arts and entertainment editor for the Mountain Xpress, and also is a writer of creative prose and poetry and a spoken-word artist. She is the author of “How to Talk to Rock Stars,” and the chapbook, “It All Comes Rushing Back: Essays on Live, and the Zones Curb Service Gospel and Sleeping on Rooftops.” Admission is free and the public is invited.
Thursday, Dec. 6
“THE NUTCRACKER” PERFORMANCE, 9 a.m., Diana Wortham Theare, Pack Square, downtown Asheville. The Asheville Ballet will perform its entire production of the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” for local schoolchidlren. Seating is limited. For reservations, call or email Ann Dunn, director, at 215-3728 or visit adunn@unca.edu. “THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER!” SHOW, 7 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts, 1028 Georgia Road, Franklin. The Overlook Theatre Company will perform “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!” through Dec. 8.
Regarding the event, the SMCPA noted, “The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, say things they shouldn’t, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant. None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale — the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating — has a lot of people up in arms. But it will make this year’s pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever. ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ is a powerful story of misunderstanding, faith and redemption. Through most of the play, the audience can’t stop laughing, but by the end most will be watching the show through tears. A great, fun holiday experience for any age and sure to become a modern Christmas classic.” The one-act production is approximately one hour in length. For tickets, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com.
1st 30-minute lesson for
Friday, Dec. 7
“THE NUTCRACKER” PERFORMANCE, 7:30 p.m., Diana Wortham Theare, Pack Square, downtown Asheville. The Asheville Ballet will perform professional production of the full original “The Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7-8 and at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 8-9.. Seating is limited. For tickets, which are $15-$50, call 257-4530 or visit www.ashevilleballet.com. JOE PERRY CONCERT, 9 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Cherokee. Joe Perry, former guitarist for the rock band Aerosmith, will perform in concert. He will be joined by Aerosmith co-guitarist Brad Whitford and Extreme vocalist Gary Cherone. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com or call (800) 745-3000.
Saturday, Dec. 8
“HOLIDAYS AT THE MOVIES” CONCERT, 3 and 7:30 p.m., Concert Hall, Blue Ridge Community College, East Flat Rock. The Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra will present its “Holidays at the Movies” concert twice. Joining the orchestra, under the baton of maestro Thomas Joiner, will be Preston Dyar, well-known actor for the past many years at Flat Rock Playhouse, the state theater of North Carolina. Dyar will provide colorful narration during the concert, including retelling the holiday story, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” This year’s concert is billed as “an uplifting blend of music from such films as “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Polar Express,” “MIracle on 34th Street” and “White Christmas.” For tickets, visit hendersonvillesymphony.org or call 697-5884. “THE NUTCRACKER” PERFORMANCE, 3 p.m., The Foundation Performing Arts Center, Isothermal Community College, Spindale. Dreamweavers Dance Studio will present a performance of “The Nutcracker.” For tickets, visit FoundationShows.org.
See CALENDAR, Page B6
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B4 — December 2018 — Asheville Daily Planet
Asheville Daily Planet — December 2018 — B5
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B6 — December 2018 — Asheville Daily Planet
Calendar
ing Arts, 1028 Georgia Road, Franklin. The show, “A Bluegrass Christmas With Sierra Hull” will be performed. Regarding the event, the SMCPA noted, “Sierra Hull is a singer, mandolinist and former child prodigy who signed with Rounder at age 13 and distinguished herself by becoming the first bluegrass musician to receive a Presidential Scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Though she is best known for her work as a mandolin player, Hull is also respected as a composer and lyricist, having worked closely with 15-time Grammy Award-Winner Bela Fleck. And now, Sierra invites everyone to enjoy the musical sounds of a Bluegrass Christmas celebration.” For tickets, which are $15 and $18, visit www.greatmountainmusic. com.
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Sunday, Dec. 9
“DON QUIXOTE” BALLET PERFORMANCE ON FILM, 3-5 p.m., Bardo Arts Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowee. The BAC Sunday Cinema Series will feature the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow — filmed on April 10, 2016 — performing Miguel de Cervantes literary classic “Don Quixote.” Regarding the production, WCU noted, “Inspired by heroic stories of brave knights, Don Quixote of La Mancha and his faithful servant Sancho Panza set out on an adventure to meet his ideal woman, Dulcinea. Cervantes’ hero comes to life in the Bolshoi’s critically acclaimed staging of this exalting performance. Single tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (ages 65 and older) and WCU students and faculty, and $5 for students. To reserve tickets, call 227-ARTS or visit bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.
Saturday, Jan. 5
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELVIS” TRIBUTE SHOW, 7 p.m., The Foundation Performing Arts Center, Isothermal Community College, Spindale. Dreamweavers Dance Studio will present a performance of the tribute show “Hapy Birthday, Elvis,” featuring Travis Powell. For tickets, visit FoundationShows.org.
Saturday, Jan. 19
Wednesday, Dec. 12
“THE 12 DATES OF CHRISTMAS” PRODUCTION, 7:30 p.m., N.C. Stage Co., 15 Stage Lane, downtown Asheville. The N.C. Stage Co. will present its production of “The 12 Dates of Christmas.” The play runs through Dec. 30. Wednesday through Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Regarding the show, the N.C. Stage Co. noted, “After seeing her fiancé on TV kissing another woman at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mary’s life falls apart — just in time for the holidays. Over the next year, she stumbles back into the dating world, where ‘romance’ ranges from weird and creepy to absurd and comical. It seems nothing can help Mary’s growing cynicism, until the charm and innocence of a five-year-old boy unexpectedly brings a new outlook on life and love. This heartwarming one woman show offers a hilarious and modern alternative to the old standards of the holiday season.” The show includes discretionary content stemming from “adult language.” For tickets, visit www.ncstage.org or call 239-0263.
Saturday, Dec. 15
CHARLES TAYLOR HOLIDAY DINNER, 6:30 p.m., Expo Center, Crowne Plaza Resort, 1 Resort Drive, West Asheville. U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., will be the featured speaker at this year’s Charles Taylor Holiday Dinner, an annual gathering of primarily Republican activists and officials put on by the former congressman and his family. Also appearing will be other GOP officials, including Mark Harris, a Republican who recently was elected to represent North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District, which takes in part of Charlotte and several counties to the east. He will take office in January. Taylor, a Republican from Brevard, served in the U.S. House from 1991 to 2007. For tickets, which are $65 (or $75 for those who wish to be photographed with the special guests), contact Trish Smothers at 2432187 or visit tasmothers@yahoo.com. CIRQUE MUSICA CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, Cherokee. Circque Musica Holiday Presents Wonderland is billed as “an all-new concert experience featuring the cast of ‘Cirque Musica,’ together with your favorite holiday songs performed by a live symphony orchestra. Cirque Musica Holiday will bring audiences on a journey into a world of ‘Wonderland’ with unforgettable visuals and amazing acrobats, aerialists, hilarious hijinks and holiday cheer. This is the perfect opportunity for the entire family to experience great holiday music, love, while enjoying spectacular costumes, production, and an edge of your seat circus experience.” For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.
Tuesday, Dec. 18
A SWANNANOA SOLSTICE SHOW, 2 and 7 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, downtown Asheville. The show “A Swannoa Solstice“ will be performed. Regarding the show, a publicity item noted, “For 16 years and counting, ‘A Swannanoa Solstice’ has welcomed the winter season, delighting local audiences with its world-class display of folk music and becoming a beloved holiday tradition, drawing more devoted fans each year. Bringing back renowned recording artists Al Petteway, Amy White, Robin Bullock and Grammy-winner David Holt, this seasonal selection promises an evening of creative Celtic, American roots and world-influenced melodies to dazzle locals and visitors alike. The Asheville
Special photo courtesy of THE MAGNETIC THEATRE
The Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular will run — for yet another year — through Dec. 15 at The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St., in Asheville’s River Arts Distrct. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, and at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
AIR SUPPLY CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Resort. The duo Air Supply will perform in concert. For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com, visit the TWA box office or call the box office at (800) 745-3000.
See CALENDAR, Page B7
tradition, reflecting the heritage of its hills, spreads a peaceful, united and uplifting message, perfect for the holiday season.” For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com, visit the TWA box office or call the box office at (800) 745-3000. “A CHRISTMAS TOGETHER” SHOW, 7-9 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts, 1028 Georgia Road, Franklin. The show, The Overlook Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Together: An Evening of Stories, Songs & Family” on one night only. For tickets, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com.
Friday, Dec. 21
“A BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS WITH SIERRA HULL,” 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for Perform-
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Calendar Continued from Page B6
Saturday, Jan. 19
ASHEVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT, 8 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, downtown Asheville. The ASO will perform “Masterworks 4: Saint-Saéns” under guest conductor Ward Stare, and featuring Daniel Kaler on cello and Laura Strickling, soprano; and the Asheville Symphony Chorus. on piano For tickets, visit ashevillesymphonyorchestra.org. STEEP CANYON RANGERS CONCERT, 8 p.m., U.S. Cellular Center, downtown Asheville. The Steep Canyon Rangers with Hiss Golden Messenger will perform in concert.
Sunday, Jan. 20
“CAT ON A TIN ROOF” FILM SCREENING, 3 p.m., Bardo Arts Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowee. The BAC Sunday Cinema Series will feature a screening of “Cat on a Tin Roof.” Single tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (ages 65 and older) and WCU students and faculty, and $5 for students. To reserve tickets, call 227-ARTS or visit bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.
Sunday, Feb. 17
TREVOR NOAH PERFORMANCE, 8 p.m., U.S. Cellular Center, downtown Asheville. Trevor Noah, host of television’s “The Daily Show,” will perform in Asheville as part of his first-ever 28-city Loud & Clear arena tour. Born in South Africa to a black mother and a white father during the end of apartheid, Noah is known for sharing “incisive social and political commentary,” according to a news release. He released his New York Times bestseller book, “Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood,” in 2016. Noah performed in Asheville in September 2017 at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.
Teatro
Continued from Page B1 Indeed, each performance of the show featured cabaret-style seating, which afforded audience members a more intimate experience with the performers. The vocalists included Jeremiah James, who appeared in last year’s production of “The Little Shop of Horrors,” along with three men making their FRP debuts — Forest VanDyke, Nicholas Verina and Jason Watson. The show’s strength was the stellar performance of the singers in their leads and harmonies, stage presence and choreography. Alas, the obvious flaw was that they performed to recorded music, instead of with a live band or orchestra, which has been the usual standard in the Music on the Rock series. The show opened with “The Music of the Night,” with all four vocalists dressed in black suits, ties and shoes, with two of them wearing white — and the other two black — shirts. The song was from Andew Lloyd Weber’s “The Phantom of the Opera.” Teatro’s rendition of “Luck Be a Lady” from the show “Guys and Dolls” was powerful and prompted loud and sustained applause from the audience. Other memorable first-set songs included “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Love Changes,” “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” and “I Am What I Am.” Among the top songs of the second set were “What I Did for Love,” “Memory,” “I’ve Got This Feeling,” “Over the Rainbow” and “Try to Remember. Early in the show, the singers pointed out that there was some disagreement among “musical theater purists” regarding who was the better composer — Steven Sond-
Asheville Daily Planet - December 2018 - B7
heim or Andrew Lloyd Webber. Perhaps of interest to the layman, the vocalists noted that, while Sondheim is arguably the most revered and awarded composer in the industry, few of his shows have turned a profit in their original forms. In contrast, Webber’s “Lion King” show “grossed more money” than the next nine top-grossing Broadway musicals combined. “The Lion King” reportedly grossed $1.6 billion through 8,519 performances. Regarding “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from the show “Evita,” the vocalists said that it was performed superbly by a number
of female vocalists. However, pop star Madonna is best-remembered for her rendition in the movie version of “Evita.” In a lighter vein, the singers asked the mostly older crowd if there were any fans of pop singer Justin Timberlake in attendance — and only two or three hands were raised. Right before the vocal quartet launched into its rendition of “I’ve Got This Feeling” (from the show “Trolls’), one of the singers prompted broad smiles from the crowd when he quipped, “This song is for your children — and the three Justin Timberlake fans in the audience!”
B8 — December 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet