‘World’s Greatest Quartet’ soars
Horse-drawn carriages to be banished in city — See STORY, Pg. A6
— See REVIEW, Pg. B1
S.C. tow truck driver snubs Bernie backer — See STORY, Pg. A7
LLE I V HE AS ASHEVILLEʼS GREATEST NEWSPAPER
June 2016
Vol. 12, No. 7
An Independent Newspaper Serving Greater Asheville www.ashevilledailyplanet.com FREE
Journeying (way) back in time
DeBruhl resigns; drops out of election From Staff Reports
Photos courtesy of Montford Park Players
Members of the local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism (above and left) will showcase their sword-fighting skills and eyecatching period costumes during the 2nd Annual Midsummer Faire at Hazel Robinson Amphitheater in Asheville’s Montford neighborhood from noon to 6:30 p.m. June 4. The Faire will precede the Montford Park Players’ presentation of William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” (which begins at 7:30 p.m.) and feature free demonstrations by the SCA, as well as a variety of activities for children.
Irreconcilable indifferences Q: My girlfriend of two years seems to be gradually moving me out of her life. Seeing her two or three times a week has dwindled into maybe once -- and no overnights. She’ll meet me at the movies and then ditch me afterward, saying she’s got a bunch of things to do. She denies anything’s wrong, claiming she’s just “very busy.” I think there’s more to it. — Left Hanging A: It seems you’re right; she’s really looking forward to your dates the way a cow looks forward to a personal tour of the slaughterhouse.
The Advice Goddess Amy Alkon
People talk about what a high falling in love is, and they aren’t wrong, because their body’s basically in the throes of a biochemical drug binge. University of Pisa psychiatrist Donatella Marazziti looked at blood samples of people who’d been madly in love for less than six months and found that they had serotonin levels comparable to people diagnosed with obsessivecompulsive disorder. Luckily, obsessively having sex is more fun than obsessively washing your hands. See ADVICE GODDESS, Page A9
Miranda DeBruhl, who recently was in the center of a political tsunami with her Democratic foes who blamed her for wrecking an economic development deal with Deschutes Brewery (an assertion that she vigorously has disputed), announced on May 16 that she is withdrawing from the Buncombe County political scene — to pursue a business opportunity. Therefore, DeBruhl said, she no longer will be vying — as the Republican nominee — to Miranda DeBruhl become the first woman chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in November’s election. DeBruhl also noted that she was resigning from her position as a commissioner. “Over the past few weeks and months, a business opportunity for my family has slowly developed from a small probability to a near certainty,” DeBruhl said in an e-mailed announcement. She characterized the opportunity as an “exciting prospect” but gave few other details. “It will create meaningful jobs and have significant economic impact. However, it will not be located in our county or even our state,” she said. The new work will require her to spend a significant amount of time away from Buncombe, DeBruhl noted. See DEBRUHL, Page A8
I-26 Connector Alternative 4B chosen for route through W. AVL, downtown From Staff Reports
Following a ringing endorsement by representatives of local environmental regulatory groups and other government agencies during a May 18 meeting in Asheville, Alternative 4B has been chosen for the new I-26 Connector to be built through Asheville. The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced during the meeting that it will proceed with 4B over other options that it previously favored, which pleased those who had contended that there was no chance of influencing DOT on its plans. A DOT engineer working on the massive projected said that, in part, the decision was based on
overwhelming public support for Alternative 4B. The new I-26 Connector will divert much through-traffic off Bowen Bridge, just west of downtown, making the bridge more of a connector between downtown and West Asheville. The route will include facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as cars. The new section of Interstate 240, as a bypass, will route traffic across the French Broad River on an arc-shaped freeway running north of the bridge and just to the east of Westgate Shopping Center. Local residents have long advocated the separation of Patton Avenue and Interstate 240 traffic in the area, but that concept was not part of DOT’s original plans. See I-26 CONNECTOR, Page A8
Asheville Daily Planet — June 2016 — A2
City’s RAD plan update unveiled, reviewed
By JOHN NORTH
john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
An update on transformative plans for — and work being done in — the River Arts District was unveiled to the Council of Independent Business Owners on May 6 at Chick-fil-A restaurant in North Asheville. About 60 people attended the meeting. The RAD reporte, given by Stephanie Monson Dahl and Sasha Vrtunski (both members of the City of Asheville planning staff) focused mainly on form-based code zoning — and RADTIP (River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project). Form-based zoning is now going through the process of being approved by Asheville City Council, which could happen possibly in October or November, the two officials said. Dahl, who spoke first, said of the 2.2-mile rebuilding of Riverside Drive and Lyman Street (from a point near Southern States at Hill Street and ending at the Amboy Road intersection) — “that’s what the RADTIP is.” It amounts to a $25 million capital investment project, she added, and “we’ve been working on it for about six years. “We will go out for bids for this project in October or November, when the draft codes are projected to be brought forward for endorsement by the Asheville Area River Redevelopment Commission, (the city) Planning and Zoning Commission and for adoption by council.” As for what will happen this year, Dahl said that the draft code was released March 7, followed by a March 22 drop-in session for the public and an April 7-8 public meeting on the draft code. On May 8, an open City Hall public comment period ended on the draft code,
she said. In May through July, continued revisions will be made to the draft code, followed by staff meetings with businessowners and work with a consultant. From August to September, a second draft will be released, including work sessions with the Asheville Area Riverfront Redevelopment Commission and the Asheville Planning and Zoning Comission, Dahl told the CIBO. A public meeting also will be held to review the second draft, along with a public comment period and meetings with property-owners. “We will have site control by June 30,” Dahl said, adding that Livingston Street also will be rebuilt. Next, Vrtunski said that “this rezoning project began maybe about a year ago. One of the things about form-based code is density gets thrown out the window. So that’s one of the benefits of form-based zoning.” She added, “We started last year. We had a weeklong workshop. At this point, we’ve had the highest number of property-owners getting engaged so far... We’re near the end of the time for public comment on the draft code... We’re rezoning this area to fit folks’ vision of the future for the area... We’ve got nine districts at this point. Some may collapse into others... We’ll have a second draft, probably in August.” Regarding what “‘uses’ want to come to the river,” Vrtunski said, “Housing and hotels are what most want to come. And because you’re along the river, you have to raise up” the construction to keep it out of the flood zone. “The first floor could only be parking” or some other non-residential use. “So this wouldn’t be low-income housing. This would probably be high-end hous-
ing. The planners were more scared about that than anybody else — (fearing) pushing out the businesses that are there now. “We do feel strongly about job creation in Buncombe County and we want to make sure business has its place. “If you have any comments, email or call me, drop by City Hall. I’m happy to hear your comments about it,” Vrtunski concluded. CIBO member Mac Swicegood asked, “Where is I-26 in all of this?” “Until that is put to bed, my project and my team doesn’t have control over that,” Dahl replied. An unidentifid man, in responding to Swicegood’s question, noted that, “on May 16… several groups will be picking preferred alternatives for I-26.” (See frontpage story on that meeting.) Another man asked the city to seek improvements under the trestle bridge on Riverside. To that, Dahl replied, “What the city is doing is lowering the road in that area” under the trestle bridge. “It will go from 13-foot-4 clearance to 14-foot-plus. “But what’s even better … is we’re working with Norfolk Southern to make a stormwater improvement in the area — it will have an exit into the French Broad River. “We are working to have the trestle bridge handled in such a way that graffiti is not a problem anymore,” Dahl said. On a separate matter, CIBO heard a report on the 2016 state General Assembly short session from Reps. Brian Turner and John Ager, who represent the Buncombe County area. Turner began his report by saying, “We’ve been down in session for two weeks. Mainly it’s intended to make cor-
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rections to the biennial budget. In terms of legislation that’s eligible to be heard, we’re limited just to local bills. The governor’s proposed budget was release for about $28 million. The goal and expectation is to have a House budget over to the Senate … and be done by the Fourth of July. “Some key things that are going on that affect Western North Carolina… I’m working with Department of Agriculture to get funding for improvements at the WNC Ag Center. It needs a little bit of a shot in the arm. Also, I’m looking for getting money for improvements at the WNC Farmer’s Market. We don’t have ‘cool-to-cool’ out there. “Also, we have a new toxicology lab being built. The budget hasn’t kept up with needs for the current lab in Asheville. We have in some cases up to a two-year backlog on DNA and rape kits. I’d like to get that moving along,” Turner said. “I’m also concerned about that Buncombe County allows shooting from the road. We think that’s a safety issue. All of the surrounding counties do not allow that.” Ager began his report by noting, “Thanks, Brian — great job! You did all the heavy-lifting.” Regarding the governor’s budget, “I’m pleased they’re talking about funding for the farmland preservation fund,” Ager said. “Particularly in the mountains, this is important to us. “I’m sorry HB2 kind of sucked all the air out of everything down there. The real problem we’re having with sexual assaults is on our college compuses. We really need to focus on that,” Ager noted.
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A6 - June 2016 - Asheville Daily Planet
EEOC accuses Mission of discrimination
Horse-drawn carriage ban OK’d in Asheville, but sole operator given two years to wind down
From Staff Reports
From Staff Reports
City Council voted 6-0 April 26 to enact a general ban of horsedrawn carriages on Asheville streets, effective May 30, except for one exception — Asheville’s lone horse-drawn carriage operator. The vote banning horse-drawn carriages repealed a 1990 ordinance allowing them on city streets. Council later voted unanmously to offer a franchise extension to Asheville Horse and Carriage Tours, LLC, starting on May 30, to allow its owner, Catherine Hunter, adequate time to transition into a new livelihood. The firm had an open-ended franchise agreement with the city. However, the vote to extend the franchise for two years, rather than the one-year extension proposed by Councilman Brian Haynes, passed by a narrower margin, 4-2. Councilman Cecil Bothwell joined Haynes in voting against the longer extension. Councilwoman Julie Mayfield, who was attending an energy use conference, was absent on the votes. After the ban was enacted, animal rights activists told the local news media that they are happy with council’s vote to end permitting and regulating horse-drawn carriages. They said the operation posed a threat to horses and people — and was cruel to the animals. “The whole point of ending the horse carriage in Asheville was to protect the horses, protect the safety of the general public — and that’s been accomplished here tonight,” Lafayette Prescott, American Voice for Animals, said at the April 26 meeting. “No horse carriage owner ever started out with the intention of causing any harm.” Prescott, a founder of Asheville Voice for Animals and self-described former cowboy, said economic pressure often leads to animal neglect. Hunter told council that she rescues horses from bad situations and that some of them become carriage horses, which pays for their upkeep. Hunter said she wants to transition out of the
Horse-drawn carriages will soon disappear from city streets. business through the sale of a book about working with horses in nonabusive ways — and through teaching and lecturing. “I think it’s very sad that how they can take away somebody’s hard work and somebody’s viable business,” Hunter said. “It is my only income. And it is the only way I can support the carriage horses and the horses that I care for and train.”She started the business in 2013. Meanwhile, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer told Asheville’s WLOS-TV (News 13) that the agreement would start when the horse-drawn carriage ordinance is repealed on May 30 and would continue until May 30, 2018.
A complaint was filed April 28 by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Asheville’s Mission Hospital, accusing it of religious discrimination. Specifically, the EEOC is accusing the hospital of violating federal law for firing three workers who declined — on religious grounds — to adhere to the hospital’s annual flu vaccine requirement and refused the shot. Mission’s human resources department denied the religious-exemption requests because the former employees submitted them after a Sept. 1 deadline, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. “Under federal law, employers must attempt a fair balance between an employee’s right to practice his or her religion and the operation of their business,” according to Lynette A. Barnes, regional attorney for EEOC’s Charlotte District Office. “An arbitrary deadline does not protect an employer from its obligation to provide a religious accommodation,” Barnes added. “An employer must consider, at the time it receives a request for a religious accommodation, whether the request can be granted with undue burden.”
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Asheville Daily Planet — June 2016 - A7
Tow truck driver refuses service to woman for being Bernie backer
From Staff Reports
A woman with disabilities — stranded on the median along Interstate 26 in Asheville after a car accident on May 2 — was refused service by a tow truck driver because her vehicle had Democratric presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ signs on it. The story immediately went viral, with reports of the incident picked up by media outlets around the world. Casandra McWade, 25, summed up her reaction to the news media after she was refused service as follows: “I was like, ‘Wait, are you serious? You’re kidding me.’” In giving his version of the story, tow truck driver Ken Shupe, 51, of Shupee Max Towing of Traveler’s Rest, S.C., told the media: “Something came over me. I think the Lord came to me, and He just said, ‘Get in the truck and leave.’ And when I got in my truck, you know, I was so proud, because I felt like I finally drew a line in the sand and stood up for what I believed.” McWade said that after her car accident, her family called its regular mechanic to drive about 45 minutes north (to Asheville) to tow her to her Traveler’s Rest home. However, the mechanic was not able to make the trip, so McWade said the mechanic called Shupe to handle the towing job instead. Shupe reportedly arrived after about an hour and began the process of towing the vehicle. “He goes around back and comes back and says ‘I can’t tow you.’ My first instinct
Cassandra McWade
Ken Shupe
was there must be something wrong with the car,” McWade told Asheville’s WLOSTV News 13 on May 4. “And he says, ‘No, you’re a Bernie supporter.’ And I was like, ‘Wait, really?’ And he says, ‘Yes ma’am,’ and just walks away.” McWade has a Sanders bumper sticker on her rear fender and a Sanders yard sign in her rear window. Shupe, who supports presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, told the news media that his decision on the side of the interstate was more about business than politics — some liberal clients have not paid him, he said. Shupe said he believes Sanders’ supporters are socialists, and has had problems with two customers over the last six months who support Sanders. He added that they caused him problems over paying their bills. “I’ve had some horrible experiences in the last six months with towing cars for this mindset individuals, in that I don’t get paid,” he told the news media. “They want to argue about a $50 tow bill, and it turns
into just a drama and a fuss. And I said, ‘You know, I’m not going to associate with them, and I’m not going to do any business with them,’” Shupe said. “I’m really not interested in doing business with that clientele,” he said, referring to Sanders’ supporters. For her part, McWade said, “I personally don’t believe that you don’t have to agree on anything just to be kind to one another. I was like, ‘What did I do to you?’ You know, I do believe I try to do right by people. So I was offended, and I don’t know what exactly he thinks I would have done to him directly by being a believer in Bernie.” McWade has psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and early-stage Crohn’s Disease, which she said made sitting on the side of the road without a nearby restroom “terrifying.” She is legally disabled and says the handicapped sign was dangling from her mirror when Shupe arrived. She also said the family mechanic had told Shupe that she was disabled. After waiting more than an hour and a half, McWade was towed by another company. Conversely, Shupe said he did not know that McWade was disabled. “‘Had she been disabled, would I have towed her car?’ No ma’am. I would have pulled forward and sat there with her to make sure she was OK until another wrecker service showed up to get her home safely, but I still would not have towed her car,” Shupe said. “I stand by my decision, and I would do it again today if the opportunity presented itself.”
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A8 - June 2016 - Asheville Daily Planet
DeBruhl
Continued from Page A1 “Therefore, I strongly believe it would be irresponsible and disingenuous for me to continue this campaign. I firmly believe that elected officials should reside in the same jurisdiction as their constituents.” DeBruhl, a first-term commissioner, won 60 percent of the vote in the March 15 Republican primary, whipping opponent Chad Nesbitt. She would have faced Democrat Brownie Newman, vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners, in the Nov. 8 general election. (DeBruhl, who lives in Leicester, is one of two commissioners representing District 3 in western Buncombe. She and her husband Kelly have two children and run a convenience store in Fairview and an recreational vehicle dealership in Fletcher.) The Buncombe County Republican Party will work to select her replacement as soon as possible, the BCGOP said in a press release. “While we are sad to see her move on, we thank her for her service and the steadfast conservative voice she brought to the commission,” the BCGOP noted. In March 2015, DeBruhl took a lead role in opposing the county’s $6.8 million purchase of land in Bent Creek in an economic deal that was intended to attract Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery. Deschutes planned to spend up to $200 million on a East Coast brewery and create up to 154 jobs. However, the company opted instead for Roanoke, Va. In the aftermath, Democratic commissioners blamed DeBruhl for botching the deal by scorning it on social media and even contacting Deschutes president. In opposing the land purchase, DeBruhl said she saw it as “speculation” since the county bought it before any deal had been signed with the brewery. In an usually public way, the fight featured Democrats and Republicans sparring
I-26 Connector
Continued from Page A1 The agency only began studying the Alternative 4B option because of pubic concerns and suggestions. Supporters said they were worried that DOT would block the idea because of the extra cost involved. “I really wasn’t expecting it — in view of what DOT was pushing,” Bruce Emory, a retired transportation planner involved in the effort, said of Wednesday’s decision. Triggering a governmental agency as large and powerful as DOT to change directions is “a big deal.” DOT and local residents and officials have been talking about how to relieve congestion on the bridge — the busiest spot on the state highway system west of Gaston County — since the state General Assembly chose the I-26 Connector project as one of the intended uses for higher highway taxes in the late 1980s. The entire project includes changes around Bowen Bridge, widening Interstate 240 in West Asheville and improvements to the interchange at the far west end of I-240 near the WNC Farmers Market. Heated debates over the route and how wide I-240 should be, lack of funding for highway projects and the project’s low score on at least one DOT priority list have all driven the schedule for the I-26 Connector well beyond what anyone expected more than 25 years ago. The May 18 decision delighted some people who have advocated 4B as the best route for that part of the project and those more concerned with just getting construction going to accelerate traffic on Bowen Bridge. “I’m very pleased and I think overall it’s the best choice for the city of Asheville,” said local architect Alan McGuinn, a member of a volunteer group — the Asheville Design Center — that developed the alternative that DOT modified to become 4B. “I give DOT credit in that they did listen
verbally — with accusations flying — during an open April 5 board meeting. DeBruhl, who was trained as a registered nurse, grew up in the county and entered politics only recently, unseating fellow Republican David King in a heated 2014 primary. She later defeated King’s wife, Nancy Waldrop, a Republican who became an unaffiliated candidate to run against DeBruhl in the general election. As a member of the board’s minority party, DeBruhl led the criticism of Democrat-backed animal welfare rules that she said were overreaching. The rules included limits on dog-tethering, mandates on social interaction for animals and a requirement that horses have manmade shelters. The commissioners later voted unanimously to reverse some of the measures. In running for chair, DeBruhl said that, while being female definitely informed her politically, the possibility of being the first woman to lead the county’s elected body was not a motivator or necessarily a campaign issue for her. For instance, as a woman and mother, she is a strong supporter for education, she said. Otherwise, her issues mirrored many classic conservative views, such as lowering regulatory burdens on businesses, she said. Recently, she supported HB2, the state’s ban on local rules allowing transgender people the right to use bathrooms of their choice. DeBruhl said she agreed with GOP state lawmakers that such local rules about bathrooms opened the door to sexual predators. Other portions of HB2 ban local rules protecting LGBT people from discrimination in private businesses such as hotels and restaurants. Another measure of the law makes it harder for people who felt they had been discriminated against because of race, sex or other characteristics to sue. Recently, she and other Republicans on April 19 voted against a move — supported by Democrats — to eliminate the question of criminal history from county job applications. to us” in the end, he said, even though “sometimes I thought they didn’t.” Kit Cramer, president and CEO of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, said her organization did not favor any one route: “We just want to get it built — get it done.” “I’m glad that we have taken another step. I hope we can get the final details wrapped up and move on this thing because we needed it yesterday (May 18),” she said.
Published monthly by Star Fleet Communications Inc. JOHN NORTH Publisher
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Advice Goddess
Continued from Page A1 Falling in love also alters testosterone levels — though differently in men and women. Men’s drops — making them more cuddlywuddly — and women’s goes up, increasing their interest in sex. Unfortunately, this increased interest is temporary. Marazziti found that T levels went back to normal between the one- and two-year mark — which is when the feeling “We’re perfect for each other!” can start to be replaced by “We’re perfect for other people.” This may be how she’s been feeling. To get an answer — beyond knee-jerk denials that anything’s wrong — email her. Ask her whether you two have a problem, and tell her to take a couple of days to think about it. Upon reflection, she should either decide to try to fix things or break up with you — and not in a way that mimics continental drift.
For whom the belle tolls
I know my boyfriend’s into me, and he’s generally very loving, but I get far more compliments about how I look from guys I’m not dating. How do I get my boyfriend to let me know that he likes the view? — Uncomplimented There’s a reason that the Miss World pageant lacks a mathematics category, in which
contestants come out smiling and waving and then do one of the world’s great unsolved math problems in their head: “And now, ladies and gentlemen, we’ll watch as Miss Uruguay proves that the 196-algorithm does not terminate when applied to the number 196.” Obviously, beauty isn’t everything. In fact, according to research by economist Jeremy Greenwood, a smarty-pants, highly educated guy is more likely than ever (compared with, say, 1960) to require his bride-to-be to be similarly smarty-pants and highly educated. What hasn’t changed is male sexual desire. Because it’s intensely visual, it’s reassuring for a woman to hear that the way she looks is driving a guy wild — as opposed to driving him to pluck his eyes out with barbecue tongs. Men like to know they’re making a woman happy — or at least how they might have some hope of that. So, put it in those terms: “Baby, you know what I’d love…?” rather than “Buddy, you know how you’re failing me…?” (Gently remind him until he gets in the habit.) A positive approach like this tends to be the most effective, tempting as it may be to hint that noncompliance will lead to severe sanctions: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, if you ever want a blow job again, you’d better say something nice about my outfit.” • (c.) 2016, 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).
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Asheville Daily Planet — June 2016 - A9
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A10 — June 2016 - Asheville Daily Planet
The Daily Planet’s Opinion
To tow, or not to tow.....
I
t is truly a sad state of affairs when a disabled woman, involved in a car accident in Asheville, is refused service by a tow truck driver — simply because of her political stance. Specifically, Ken Shupe, who says he is a conservative and a Christian, decided not to do the towing job on May 2 because he noticed Cassandra McWade had Bernie Sanders’ political signs on her Toyota Camry. Suffice it to say, the story went viral and has prompted discussions about yet another manifestation of discrimination. This incident involved discrimination on a political basis, in a time when the public debate in North Carolina (at least) is raging over HB2 and gender-bias in the bathrooms and showers — as well as in other facets of society. And that’s not to mention the debate over race and religion. Shupe said later that he did not know McWade had disabilities, but noted “there’s a huge difference between being disabled and drawing disabilities.” He also said that if he had known about her disabilities, he still would not have towed her car, but would have waited with her for another service to arrive. Through his actions (or lack thereof), Shupe, in our view, was being neither a true conservative, nor a Christian — and he is, in fact, bringing discredit to both groups. A real conservative, as with a real liberal, respects others’ belief systems and gladly offers help to those who are helpless and in true need. And, as for being a Christian, Jesus certainly was known for helping the outcasts and unfortunates. Indeed, the outrage that this incident sparked brings at least a measure of credit to the rest of humanity — and for that, we are encouraged.
Finding our way out of a locked bathroom CHAPEL HILL — What can we do about House Bill 2? Polls show North Carolinians divided about the new law. Answers to polling questions depend upon how the questions are asked. Most North Carolinians, even supporters of transgender rights, do not want men to barge into women’s bathrooms. And most, even those who disagree with the lifestyles of gay and transgender people, do not want our state to discriminate against them. Some politicians in both parties think the controversy will help them at election time. As former Gov. Jim Martin wrote recently, “The political reality is that this works great for both political parties. Each side can stand up for its respective, favored constituents. Democrats can stand firm in defense of liberal constituents and principles. Republicans can stand firm in defense of conservative constituents and principles. Neither has to listen to the other’s legitimate concerns. Each can righteously blame the other for overreacting.” But most other North Carolinians do not want to continue to fight about this matter if it means our state will lose new businesses, NCAA basketball tournaments, NBA all-star games, concerts, conventions, and tourists. Most do not want to risk loss of federal funding for roads, education or housing. No one relishes the uncertainty and high costs that could result if litigation is the pathway to settling the issue. Mainly, folks do not want our state to lose its good, positive name because of our inability to resolve this challenge expeditiously. Would it be possible for a small group of public-minded citizens to design a pathway out of this crisis? I believe that a panel of people of goodwill representing both supporters and opponents of HB2 could come up with a solution that would be acceptable, maybe not perfect but acceptable, to a large majority of North Carolinians and would be viewed as nondiscriminatory by the gay and transgender communities. “Good luck,” I can hear you saying. Sure enough, it would be challenging to assemble such a group, for it to agree on recommendations that would be viewed as fair, and would get the attention of a legislature and a city council which, so far, have shown no interest in backing away.
D.G. Martin But what have we got to lose by trying? Who would serve? I would try to find well-known and respected people of different viewpoints, former politicians who love North Carolina more than their parties, ones with courage to take the heat. For instance: Former governors like Martin and Jim Hunt. Respected former or retiring elected officials who have no further political ambitions, such as Elizabeth Dole, Kay Hagan, Richard Stevens, Jennifer Weiss, Leo Daughtry, Rick Glazer, Bill Cobey, Richard Vinroot, Harvey Gantt, and Joe Hackney. Commentators from different political persuasions such as Carter Wrenn, Gary Pearce, Tom Campbell, and John Hood. Who would appoint such a committee and give it authority? Either the General Assembly or Gov. Pat McCrory could and should establish such a committee. I am not holding my breath. But they could surprise us because, deep down, they also care more about North Carolina than political advantage. If they do not act, former governors Hunt and Martin could do the job. Other potential organizers are groups of business and professional leaders and their organizations, religious groups, non-partisan public affairs groups like the League of Women Voters, and any other group that feels a call to rescue our state in its time of need. What possible solutions could the group recommend? Nothing would satisfy everybody, but the group could start with the possibility of one step back for everybody. Ask the Charlotte City Council to suspend its ‘bathroom” ordinance’s effectiveness for 12 months and the General Assembly to repeal HB2 and assign a study commission to make recommendations for the next session. Impossible, maybe, but worth a try. • D.G. Martin hosts “North Carolina Bookwatch,” which airs at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and at 5 p.m. Sundays on UNC-TV.
Letters to the Editor
Let’s avoid Barcelona’s fate on short-term rentals
I recently saw this sign in Barcelona, Spain: “The rent of holiday apartments in this neighbourhood destroys the local socio-cultural fabric and promotes speculation. Many local residents are forced to move out. Enjoy your stay.” Short-term rentals are increasing — and increasingly controversial — in popular tourist cities. To those frustrated that City Council is restricting STRs, I offer two points. First, STRs in residential areas, with the exception of homestays, have always been prohibited. True, the city did not enforce these rules for years, but enforcement is discretionary and everyone has been on notice for close to two years that stepped up enforcement was coming. Second, there are still plenty of legal STRs in non-residentially zoned districts like downtown, in permitted homestays, and in the county. Just because STRs are not permitted in whole houses or ADUs (for now) in Asheville’s neighborhoods does not mean STRs are unavailable in and around Asheville and that residents aren’t benefitting from the tourism trade. Our obligation, particularly to those struggling against our less than 1 percent
vacancy rate, is to maintain the housing we have for people who live here rather than people who visit here. Let’s not invite signs like the one above in Asheville. JULIE MAYFIELD Asheville EDITOR’S NOTE: Julie Mayfield is a member of Asheville City Council.
Roy Cooper working against business in N.C.
How can North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper (the “Progressive Democrat” running in the fall against current Gov. Pat McCrory) justify his actions (in opposing HB2) of contacting cities directly encouraging them to hurt North Carolina by not doing business here? Uncovered by The Wall Street Journal and reported worldwide, our state’s top lawyer, Roy Cooper, asked San Francisco and who else — performers? companies? who’s next? — to do their best to destroy our economy. Democrat, Republican and Unaffiliated voters should remember that Roy Cooper works hard to hurt North Carolina’s businesses, employees and families. See LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, Page A11
The Candid Conservative
There is normal
“The next generation of Saints will be those who can be normal in an abnormal world.” — Vatican Priest
The problem
B
et you don’t know many Baptists who own a Catholic Church. The Church of the Little Flower rests in the middle of Madison County. Acquired from the Charlotte Diocese some 20 years ago, the plan was to turn the church into a family getaway. The rich history of this 1931 Jesuitgrounded source of outreach merited a future, so restoration became the new plan. Current responsibilities seem to be just keeping it alive until someone better comes along. Out of this experience came the opportunity to visit the Vatican with my then-12year-old son. At one point, we were about 30 feet away from Pope Paul – an impressive guy even in a feeble state. By far the best moment was a two-hour dinner with a Vatican insider who spoke seven languages. In my language, he shared a standout insight, “The first saints were martyrs. The second group was made-up of great teachers, leaders and healers. The last generation of saints will simply be those who can be normal in an abnormal world.” This month I would like to talk about how one might best purchase a seat on that last Saint train. That journey requires attention to one’s head, heart, body, and spirit. Here’s a boarding pass.
Fix your head
Ask most people what they want more than anything in the world and odds are some version of “peace of mind’ will be a part of the answer. In our very prosperous world, mental serenity has ironically become quite rare. We think too much. We think too much because thinking too much is easier than acting – because technology hyper-stimu-
Carl Mumpower lates our brains – because we’re inaccurately taught that thought is the answer to all things – and because thinking is addictive. All that nonsense leads to brains stuck on overdrive. The signs are everywhere. We have trouble sleeping, relaxing and enjoying. We’re quick to judge, anger, criticize or over-react. We go to bed thinking, wake up thinking, and take prescribed and nonprescribed drugs to – more than anything – stop us from thinking. Our brains are like car motors – they’re not designed to run all the time. Idle, slow, fast, and off are all necessary to good brain function. Brain management is a skill that – like all skills – requires practice. Running our brain instead of having it run us begins with the term mindfulness. That concept can be reduced to the idea of just being in the moment and letting go of what’s behind and in front. When we pull ourselves into the precious present our brain naturally slows down. Saints-in-training need to be as good at turning their brain off as turning it on. A broken switch is the human equivalent of a jammed accelerator – and leads to the same outcome.
Love your heart
The fact we have brain cells in our heart may explain why emotion seems to originate from the chest. It’s not technically true, but to the extent emotions are more of a feeling thing than a thinking thing, having an imagined treasure chest in our heart works out quite nicely. See CANDID CONSERVATIVE, Page A14
Asheville Daily Planet — June 2016 — A11
Commentary
Working people scammed by Republicans
M
y mother wasn’t known for surprises. She lived on a straight line that went back to her South Georgia roots. But, oh my, did she spring one on us in the fall
of 1980. That year, it was Carter versus Reagan, and we were all Carter people. My father was an old-time Roosevelt Democrat, and Jimmy is a distant cousin. So Mom’s bomb at Sunday dinner shook things up.,
Letters
Continued from Page A10 For years, Gov. Pat McCrory has worked tirelessly to do the opposite and has succeeded. Our state ties with Texas for the highest economic output in the nation as of autumn 2015. Voters can blame Cooper’s “progressives” if our next economic situation is not as good. Henry D. Mitchell Asheville EDITOR’S NOTE: Mitchell is the former chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party.
‘Doin’ what comes naturally’ not always best way to go
North Carolina’s Gov. (Pat) McCrory to legislators on HB2: Repeat after me: “Folks are dumb from where I come, they ain’t had any learnin’. Still they’re happy as can be, doin’ what comes naturally!” (With apologies to Irving Berlin.) Finally, one has to wonder if Gov. McCrory read the ill-conceived HB2 bill that purports a set of “Bathroom Etiquette” rules. It is a stupid, unworkable, unenforceable, unconstitutional bill that deserves to be flushed! Herb Stark Mooresville
Too bad the ‘9/11 dead’ cannot be risen from dead
On 9/11, as I watched the horror unfold on TV, I longed for the Christ-like power to raise the 9/11 dead. But I’m a simple man, with no such power. In the days, weeks, months and years following 9/11, I wrote letters to the editor, which supported 9/11 and terrorism. But those were devils’ advocate letters intended to counter-balance all of the letters by people who see things in blackand-awhite and claim that the war on terror is a war between good and evil, when in actuality, the war on terror brings out both the best and the worst in America and Americans. But like I say, those were just insincere devils’ advocate-genre letters. I could never support terrorists who have lost their humanity, and love for humanity, and connection with their fellow men.... I would never raise the 9/11 dead. But I’ll always wish I could!!! RICHARD D. POPE Hendersonville
Lee Ballard “John says Ronald Reagan is God’s man,” she blurted into a pause in the conversation. “In his sermon, he said this election is spiritual warfare.” John was her pastor. We all knew him. My father called him a hustler, and maybe he was. He sure hustled Mom. Looking back, we had no idea, sitting around that Sunday dinner table, that we were witnessing the beginning of something totally new in American politics. Millions of Christian soldiers were marching off to war on the side of the Republican Party. This new phenomenon didn’t just happen by chance, though. Right-wing Republicans had coveted conservative evangelicals for years – their huge numbers, their zeal, their fundraising and direct mail capability. Then in the spring of 1979, in a famous meeting in the coffeeshop of the Lynchburg Holiday Inn, Jerry Falwell met with Paul Weyrich, founder of the pro-business, antitax, anti-regulation Heritage Foundation – and conservative evangelicals became Republicans. Falwell had originally said his flock wouldn’t accept religion mixed with politics, but Weyrich presented him with a poll that showed his flock definitely
WOULD buy in. That meeting marks the beginning of the “Christian Right” and the Moral Majority (Weyrich suggested the name) – and also marks the enlistment of Jerry Falwell as an activist in the Republican Party. Falwell worked coast to coast for Ronald Reagan in 1980. It was a marriage made in heaven, so to speak. The Weyrich right-wing faction was a clear minority in the Republican Party at the time. Richard Nixon had been an economic moderate and accepted much of the New Deal and Great Society. In Falwell, Weyrich found a partner already prepared. Falwell had been influenced by theologian Francis Schaeffer, who taught about America returning to its Christian roots, back to the way we were, as he saw it, back before “pluralistic secularism” (Schaeffer’s expression). Falwell had held a series of “I Love America” rallies in 1976, mixing patriotism and “social concerns,” especially speaking against abortion and women’s liberation. Weyrich’s proposal gave him just the vehicle he wanted. In reality, right-wing Republicans had no interest in evangelical issues. But in the Moral Majority, they had the foot soldiers to take over the Republican Party. And very soon, from precinct caucuses to state conventions, they did. It goes without saying that the social changes that evangelicals want will never happen. The real power elites in the Repub-
lican Party – the super-rich and corporations and now Donald Trump – only give lip service. But the anti-tax, anti-regulation changes these elites want CAN happen. They just need the NUMBERS that evangelicals bring, voters ready to march. So today we see ordinary working people out campaigning for Republican policies that are totally against their own personal well-being. Rip Van Winkle would listen to a political discussion between conservative evangelicals in a restaurant, and he’d join them and say: “Let me get this straight. Y’all believe socialism is ‘godless’? My friends, it’s the capitalists who are paying y’all the minimum and not offering healthcare – so they can make more profit! And y’all are on the side of these greedy jerks? Excuse me, folks, but that’s dopey.” Why would working people back a party that favors big business and cuts budgets for education, that can help their children get ahead? Why? To be blunt, they’ve been had, duped and hoodwinked. And worse, the scam is brought to them by people they trust. A friend once said to me: “If I don’t follow what my pastor says, I’ll have to follow somebody else, won’t I?” To which I responded: “I guess so, Tom – unless of course you want to be responsible for your own beliefs and actions.” • Lee Ballard lives in Mars Hill.
A12 - June 2016 - Asheville Daily Planet
Commentary
In taking embarrassing stance, N.C. on wrong side of history
Jeff Messer is the host of a daily radio talk show on Asheville’s WPEK (880AM, The Revolution) that airs from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. This column features posts from his daily blog. • The following was posted on May 16:
N
orth Carolina likes to make history. It just happens that this time around, the history we are making is one of assured loss at a massive cost, as well as being on the embarrassing side of history. On May 9, we had a chance to get out from under this mess surrounding HB2 and the hate and discrimination baked into it by dishonest and divisive politicians and their out-of-state funders like ALEC and the Koch brothers. The U.S. Department of Justice gave North Carolina until the end of the business day May 9 to remove the anti-LGBT aspects of HB2 that involved the bathroom part. Now, I am, by no means, willing to help the North Carolina GOP find a life preserver amid the chaos of this sinking ship, but I have to say that I am perplexed by its lack of willingness to take advantage of this incredible offer from the Obama administration. They could have looked like right-wing heroes, who could use it as a re-election issue. They could have called themselves victims of the U.S. government, who were holding their morality hostage. The fear of losing federal funding should lead them to want to accept the offer, right? Then complain that they had to do it to keep North Carolina functioning, but are angry over having to capitulate to the big, bad Obama administration. As well, this would have allowed them to keep the rest of HB2 intact, which, to my thinking, is what they were after all along. They just used the ignorance and
Jeff Messer paranoia of the masses who support their divisive politics already to only focus on the bathroom part, while ignoring the real government overreach from the state level, imposing iron-fisted rule on local control. They could have vilified the Obama Leftist agenda, and still kept the rest of the bill in place. No one will ever accuse them of being smart. Instead, the NCGOP has filed counter suits to the United States government suits that claim that North Carolina is violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964, among others. Now, that makes North Carolina the first such state to have this leveled against them since, well ... you’d have to dig up George Wallace to find the next nearest comparison, if that tells you anything. And here’s the thing: We know how that turned out. We know how this will turn out. Come on. Don’t we? North Carolina will lose. Of course, it will. And the people in charge know that they will eventually lose. How could they not? Which makes me wonder (and should be a red flag to all of you) if they have ulterior motives in keeping this fight going. And we should question why the NCGOP would knowingly chose to suffer such losses in economic productivity — and in loss of reputation? What gains are worth that cost? And why are they so eager and willing to do it? Next time you think about, or talk about HB2, think about those things. And, perhaps pose those questions to those who may not be thinking it through past the edge of the bathroom’s door.
What’s next for N.C.? Maybe the potty police Pete Kaliner is the host of a daily radio talk show on Asheville’s WWNC (570AM) that airs from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. This column features posts from his daily blog. • The following was posted on May 3:
A
t some point in most debates over North Carolina’s HB2 — the so-called “bathroom bill” — somebody will allege that Republicans want to see everyone’s genitalia. I always suspect that the person making this argument believes they’ve hit “Daily Show” paydirt, as the sound of sycophantic laughter rings in their ears. But this argument is predicated on the faulty assumption that if we are unwilling to hire people to inspect genitals, society is completely unable to police bathrooms. Of course, this is false. In fact, we are all the bathroom police. And we’ve been doing the job for a pretty long time. There are no bathroom monitors standing guard at public restrooms. So, the monitoring is left to all of us. We self-police entry to these private facilities. Just as we self-police in most aspects of our lives. Here’s a scenario for all the dads and moms .... You pull off the interstate to get some gas and go to the bathroom. As you’re pumping the gas, you see me follow your 10-year old daughter into the restroom. What do you think? What do you do? Most parents would view me as suspicious based on my appearance as a male, and my entry into a female bathroom. A parent would be prompted to make a
Pete Kaliner decision based on this information alone. As a society, we all use heuristics to selfpolice. “... any approach to problem solving, learning, or discovery that employs a practical method not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect, but sufficient for the immediate goals. Where finding an optimal solution is impossible or impractical, heuristic methods can be used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution. Heuristics can be mental shortcuts that ease the cognitive load of making a decision. Examples of this method include using a rule of thumb, an educated guess, an intuitive judgment, stereotyping, profiling, or common sense.” The sight of me following your daughter into a restroom would likely prompt an intervention of some sort — based on my appearance. Nothing more. Is this wrong? If we are to believe the Left — yes, it is. But, what happens when we tell society that this heuristic no longer applies? What happens when society is instructed to ignore the man entering a women’s bathroom? We all become desensitized to such a sight and people are made more vulnerable under this standard. And maybe then we will actually need police to stand guard at our restrooms and showers in yet another example of how willing people are to abdicate personal responsibility to government.
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.
Thursday, June 2
CLASS, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Unity of the Blue Ridge, 2014 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. A five-week class, based on the book, “Lessons In Truth — The Teachings of H. Emilie Cady,” will be led by the Rev. DeBorah Ogiste. The class will be held on Thursdays from June 2 through June 30. Cady, a metaphysician and homeopathic physician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. “Lessons in Truth” is considered a foundational textbook of Unity. A love offering will be taken.
Saturday, June 4
INDOOR YARD SALE, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., East Asheville United Methodist Church, 48 Browndale Road, Asheville. The church will hold its annual
indoor yard sale in tandem with a yard sale by Boy Scout Troop 53. All proceeds will go to missions. BARBECUE & BLUEGRASS FUNDRAISER, noon-5 p.m., Swannanoa Valley Independent Missionary Baptist Church, Lytle Cove Road, Swannanoa. The church will hold a barbecue and bluegrass fundraiser, with music by One Day Closer and Piney Mountain Boys. Barbecue will be $8 per plate for the general public, $5 for ages 5-10 and free for ages 4 and younger.
Thursday, June 9
CHURCH SAFETY/SECURITY CLASS, 6-8 p.m., Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, 100 N. Grove St., Hendersonville. The HCSO will offer a “House of Worship Safety and Security” class for any and all churches to attend. The presentation is intended to help church leaders and congregation members in making their place of worship a safe and peaceful venue. Topics will include developing an action plan and what to do in the event of an incident or attack.To register, for which the deadline is June 2, email anock@hendersoncountync.org.
Friday, June 10
SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM, 2 and 7 p.m., Sandburg Hall Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The UUCA’s Social Justice Movie Night (and matinee) will feature a film to be announced. Admission is free.
Covenant Reformed
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 281 Edgewood Rd. • Asheville, N.C. 28804
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A positive path to spiritual living 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River, N.C. 28759
828-891-8700
unity@unitync.net www.unityblueridgenc.org Rev. Darlene Strickland Sunday services with child care, workshops, bookstore, meeting rooms, weddings
Advertise your church on this page
@ $10 per month
If interested, e-mail us at
advertising@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com ... or call 252-6565.
Asheville Daily Planet — June 2016 — A13
A14 - June 2016 - Asheville Daily Planet
Candid Conservative Continued from Page A10
God gave us a rainbow of emotions. He knew that in a crazy world, we’d need them all of them. Emotions are neither right or wrong or good or bad – that determination is made in how we turn them to action. For example, anger, shame, fear and jealousy are emotions that should be treated like hot sauce. There may be times when a dash or two is appropriate, but overuse will burn you up. Again, like hot sauce, these emotions are addictive. The more we give in, the more we want to give in. Ironically, happiness is the emotion that causes the most trouble. In fact, the pursuit of happiness is our biggest addiction and accounts for most other addictions. Happiness is an emotion that can never be pursued directly. It’s intended to be a byproduct of something else. People who work, contribute, worship, love, grow, learn, and the like are often thus the beneficiaries of happiness. A good heart requires listening to our emotional reactions to life events and actually feeling what comes up. Suppressing or otherwise running from emotion allows accumulation and that leads to all sorts of bad things. The key to emotional health is control what you do with your feelings, not whether you have them or not. That’s important because the mind is the source of intelligence – adding the mind to the heart is the source of wisdom.
Take care of your body
We only get one, but per the way we abuse ourselves you’d never know it. We’re drinking and eating too much at the same time we’re exercising and sleeping too little. To keep the mess in check we’re taking prescription drugs for depression and getting high on other stuff for relief. Take a trip over to Mission Hospital and talk with the staff there. The honest ones will tell you that the place is exhausted. Behind all that shiny new construction is a hospital that’s chronically understaffed, over-utilized and abused. The numbers of addicted, obese and other lifestyle-damaged people coming in those doors for time out is amazing – and many of the worst get
their mini-vacation for free. If our body quits working, so does the other stuff. Thankfully, God built a ton of resilience into the human anatomy. Making even a marginal effort to patrol one’s health can pay big dividends. Start by moving! Activity is the best medicine you can give your body – period. In a hyper-medicated America, a med check is another good idea. Most drugs chase symptoms, not problems. Most of those symptoms are our body’s way of telling us to clean up our act. Making warnings go away with pills is like taking a morphine for cancer and thinking we’re cured. Yes – you are what you eat. Bad food is okay sometimes, but eating patterns are a crucial factor in how many minutes we get on the planet. Portion control is the number one key to dietary success. We’re stuck with a simple truism – everything requires preventive maintenance – including the container we live in.
Take a spirited approach
Through thousands of years and billions of lives, the value of spiritual investment has been persistently affirmed. Today’s American culture seems to think we’re smarter, stronger, better, and more realistic than our predecessors. We’ve really just swapped worshipping a heavenly deity for earthly ones. As a psychologist and a Christian, I believe two things are true. One – if people followed the 10 Commandments, I would be out of business. Two – those who have a spiritual faith do better with their worries and woes than those who don’t. It’s not for me to stuff my values into anybody’s head, but I can suggest it’s smart
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to have a functional concept of where we came from; where we are going when we leave here; and what we should be doing while we are here. No matter where one puts their trust – the things of man or the things of God – both require a leap of faith. If the track record of modern man resonates more than two thousand plus years of history, then go for it. Personal experience is that man has a disturbing tendency to step on his own wee-wee. I’ll stick with higher authority and the wisdom of the ages.
We need more saints
We live in a time when it’s considered loving to legally command free-range bathroom access for the gender confused; when government is successfully buying loyalty with the promise of free stuff; when most people find life so miserable they routinely ingest legal or illegal drugs to compensate; when men are being raised to be immature little boys anxious to use and abuse equally immature women raised to be sex toys; when we sacrifice the socio-economic future of our children and grandchildren so we Baby-Boomers can party on; when up is down, left is right, and good is bad; when…well you know. In such a time, we can use all the saints we can get. Per my friend in Rome, it’s not really that hard. Just work to be normal. Find that Goldilocks place between too hot and too cold and strive to stay there. It’s doable – an in an increasingly crazy world, increasingly crucial…. Thanks for spending a few minutes with a candid conservative! • Carl Mumpower is a psychologist and former elected official. He can be reached at drmumpower@aol.com.
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A16 — June 2016 - Asheville Daily Planet
Entertainment & Calendar
High-energy California Honeydrops create a vibe
Special Section PULLOUT
Asheville Daily Planet — June 2016
Shelley Wright Investigating in the field (and thinking ‘there are lots of ways to die in here’)
The three frontmen in the Eagles tribute show were (from left) Ryan Guerra, Ryan Dunn and Dustin Brayley. on “Best of My Love” and “Desperado,” during which all band members (but the bassist) were seated side by side on bar stools, singing and playing instruments dramatically — and to the crowd’s delight. See EAGLES TRIBUTE, Page B6
sell millions of records for RCA Records and Columbia Records. The quartet’s portrayals featured athletic, even acrobatic efforts — all while playing their instruments. Three of the portrayals of the stars were spot-on, including that of Lewis (Nat Zegree), Perkins (Jeremy Sevelovitz) and Cash (Johnny Kinnaird). Zegree’s vivid and bouncing portrayal of Lewis stood out as the show’s single best element, although Kinnaird’s Cash was a surprisingly realistic presence on the stage. Specifically, Kinnaird, who (of course) was clad in black boots, black jeans and a long-sleeve black shirt, looked and sounded (with his sonorous, gravelly voice) just like Cash, especially when he says — dropping
his voice low — “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.” Puzzlingly, Elvis, played by Christopher Fordinal, did not look anything close to his part — the best-known and loved of the quartet. Therefore, Fordinal was less believable in his role as the boy from Tupelo, Miss., who eventually would become known as “the king of rock ‘n’ roll” with his singing and hip-swinging. Interestingly, the show does present Perkins’ jealousy of Presley over the latter’s much-bigger hit with “Blue Suede Shoes” — a song written (and orginally performed) by Perkins. Also, each of the quartet members credited black musicians for inspiring and, in some cases, mentoring them as youths. See MDQ, Page B6
The California Honeydrops had the crowd swinging and swaying to its high-energy, infectious, horn-driven, dance-party vibes during a three-hour concert May 6 at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall in West Asheville. About 270 people attended, with a highly unusual mixed demographic that included mostly 20-somethings — but ranging up to those who might have been 50 years older. The Honeydrops, with a barrelhouse-style rhythm section keyed by pianist Chris Burns, played two sets — 70 minutes and 90 minutes each — punctuated by a 30-minute break. A major highlight was the rousing conclusion of the concert, finishing the night
HENDERSONVILLE — The Music of the Eagles, a tribute concert performed as part of Flat Rock Playhouse’s Music on the Rock series, provided a trip down memory lane for a mostly older audience. The concert ended with “Already Gone,” but the crowd clapped and cheered for an encore — and the band responded with a scintillating rendition of “Hotel California” that lasted almost 10 minutes. From the look of the audience members, some of whom appeared to be nearly delirious with joy at hearing “Hotel California,” a particularly popular lyric fragment appeared prophetic: “You can check out any time you like ... but you can never leave.” About 220 people attended the May 20 performance in FRP’s downtown Hender-
sonville stage. The tribute band invited the crowd to dance, so as many as eight couples danced at one time. The show, which ended its run on May 22, featured two 55-minute sessions, split by a 10-minute intermission. The frontmen included Ryan Guerra and Ryan Dunn, who played guitars; and Dustin Brayley, who rotated between playing keyboard and guitar. They noted that they have been performing together for nearly a decade. They were accompanied by a bassist and drummer. The show’s gorgeous vocals were covered by everyone — except the bass player. The top talent on the stage clearly was Guerra, who was stellar both vocally and with his guitar work. While “Hotel California” was the show’s highlight, the band’s effort also was superb
john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
T
he weather was perfect. By perfect, I mean tsunami winds and rain and a temperature dip that hit the mid-40s at night. By the time we entered the grounds, the storm had mostly passed, leaving the property with the gothic look and feel that delights all ghost-hunters and fills us with a deviant sense of anticipation and trepidation. The air was charged, our pulse was racing and we couldn’t wait to experience whatever the magnificent buildings that rose up mightily before us had to offer. Built in 1888, Odd Fellows Asylum was an old folks home and orphanage and is comprised of many buildings that have fallen into ruin, but are under renovation. It’s said that more than 10,000 people died here. Belvoir Winery is housed in the renovated main building that also contains the skeletal remains of an Odd Fellows member in a glass case. Skeletal remains of deceased members were often used by the Odd Fellows in secret rituals. Darkness fell, as did the temperature. We split into large groups and ours was led to the old Hospital, the furthest distance from the main building. We carefully made our way down a long trail — stepping gingerly around mud puddles and vegetation — to the darkened doorway of the old Hospital. Our flashlights bobbed up and down as we walked inside. Cold wind rushed through the broken windows and open doorways. Debris littered the floors. Peeling paint scored the walls. Vines grew through the windows and doorways. Water dripped from holes in the ceiling and asbestos filled the air. Caution tape barred our entry to exceptionally hazardous situations such as huge holes in the floors, an elevator that had collapsed, exposing the open shaft, and stairs that abruptly ended partway down. See WRIGHT, Page B7
off with a most Website photo definitive bang. The California Honeydrops, led by Lech Wierzynski (second Indeed, the from left with microphone), rocked West Asheville on May 6. six-member band — while playing a jam of its song “Hanging out With earning them a performance in Lexington Avenue’s now-defunct BoBo Gallery. the Street People” —boogied off the stage The Honeydrops are led by Lech Wierzynand into the very center of the crowd below ski, a dynamic lead singer with a golden voice ... like a traditional New Orleans band at the and multi-instrumentalist. The group draws end of a swinging, joyful jazz funeral. on diverse musical influences from Bay Area The throng of fans made way for the rhythm and blues, funk, Southern soul, Delta band members, who set up in a circle, facblues and New Orleans second-line. ing one another, as the revved-up audience The show opened with an original, “Sudanced and cheered on the periphery. perman Is Dead — Goodbye Whiskey” and The Honeydrops, who formed in 2007 and then virtually soared with a cover of Wilson busked in the subway stations of Oakland, Pickett’s “Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool Calif., said during the Isis show that they — about five years ago — had played a four-day You” that featured a wild saxophone lead. See HONEYDROPS, Page B6 stint “on the streets” of downtown Asheville,
By JOHN NORTH
B1
Eagles tribute show hits peak with ‘Hotel California’
Photos courtesty of Flat Rock Playhouse
‘Million-Dollar Quartet’ shakes, rattles and rolls By JOHN NORTH
john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
An impromptu jam on Dec. 4, 1956 featured Elvis Presley (seated) and (from left) Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.
FLAT ROCK — The “Million-Dollar Quartet,” based on a true story, proved to be a crowd-pleaser for the Flat Rock Playhouse during its recent run that ended May 21 on the mainstage. A number of soldout shows were reported, but the attendance on May 13, when the Daily Planet reviewed the musical, filled more than 300 of the 506 seats. The show tells of a time — Dec. 4, 1956 — when the stars were truly in alignment and Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash performed in a jam session that lasted less than two hours. Afterward, the four men each went on to
B2 - June 2016 - Asheville Daily Planet
Rhonda Vincent (left) & The Rage will perform at 3:05 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. June 3 at the Cherokee Bluegrass Festival in Cherokee.
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Wednesday, June 1
SIERRA CLUB/GREEN DRINKS MEETING, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin St., Asheville. Author Danny Bernstein will give a talk and present a slideshow about her celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Serivce, during which she visited 71 park units in the Southeast. From that experience she wrote the book, “Forests, Alligators, Battlefields: My Journey Through the National parks of the South.” After her presentation, she will sign books and donate $2 per book — as she does at all non-profit group presentations. She will accept only cash or checks. Admission is free and open to the public. “THE AFFECTIONS OF MAY” PRODUCTION, 7:30 p.m., mainstage, Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock. The musical production, “The Affections of May,” will be presented through June 4, with varying showtimes. For tickets, visit flatrockplayhouse.org, or call 693-0731.
Thursday, June 2
CHEROKEE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, noon-11 p.m., Happy Holiday RV Village and Campground, 1553 Wolfetown Rd., Cherokee. The three-day Cherokee Bluegrass Festival will feature live music from noon to 11 p.m. through June 4. Among the many notable performers will be The Gibson Brothers (Thursday); Rhonda Vincent & The Rage and Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band (Friday); and Mike Snider, Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers, Balsam Range and The Grascals (Saturday). The show will proceed, rain or shine, under a covered pavilion. Tickets will
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be available at the gate for daily prices of $45 for adults. A three-day ticket is $95 at the gate. JUST US UNITED FUNDRAISER, 6-8 p.m., Lex 18, 18 N. Lexington Ave., downtown Asheville. Just Us United will hold a Speakeasy Soirée featuring an auction and fundraiser, with live music, food, drinks and guest speakers. Funds from the 2016 Speakeasy Soirée would allow JUU to hire the necessary field staff to run a campaign in House District 118. The campaign intends to engage and educate voters — through phone calls, door to door contacts, mailers and media — “to elect a representative who promotes policies that are in line with the needs of North Carolina families.” JUU is a nonprofit based in Western North Carolina that engages in a combination of voter engagement, community outreach, legislative accountability and advocacy, with the goal of promoting policies that support North Carolina families. JUU is committed to accomplishing its five-point plan in North Carolina: improving public education, expanding access to affordable health care, promoting safe energy alternatives, supporting fair tax reform for the middle-class and restoring competitive democracy to the state.
Friday, June 3
CLIMATE ACTION WORKSHOP, 10 a.m.noon, First Congregational Church, 20 Oak St., Asheville. A climate action workshop will be held, billed as “bringing hope to the climate crisis through faith and action.” The Rev. Jim Antal is the conference minister and president of the Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ. Workshop attendees “will be inspired by courageous initiatives already underway, and to consider how you and others might harness your religious communities to meet the greatest moral challenge humanity has ever faced,” a news release noted.
See CALENDAR, Page B4
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Asheville Daily Planet — June 2016 - B3
B4 - June 2016 - Asheville Daily Planet
Country music star Toby Keith will perform at 8 p.m. June 30 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in Cherokee.
Calendar
of
Continued from Page B2
Events
Friday, June 3
LORRIE MORGAN CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. Country vocalist and superstar Lorrie Morgan will perform in concert. She has sold more than 6 million records worldwide. Morgan was scheduled after Johnny Rivers, an iconic rock singersongwriter-guitarist, canceled because of health problems. For tickets, visit GreatMountainMusic. com, or call 524-1598.
Saturday, June 4
MONTFORD MIDSUMMER FAIRE, noon-6:30 p.m., Hazel Robinson Amphitheater, 92 Gay St., Asheville. The 2nd Annual Midsummer Faire will feature free demonstrations by the local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism. The gala will precede the Montford Park Players’ presentation of William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” which begins at 7:30 p.m. ASHEVILLE STARS BALL, 3 p.m., Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort, 1 Resort Drive, Asheville. Worldclass dancers and judges will be featured at the Asheville Stars Ball. Competition will be in ProAm, ballroom, Latin, smooth, rhythm and country events. Also featured will be a professinal show and live music. For more information, visit ashevillestarsball.com. VARIETY SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. Ms. Patti’s Entertainment Tonight will feature a variety show to support local missions. Among the entertainers scheduled to participate are Blue Ridge, Susan Pons, Scotty and Nikki Corbin, Grady, Mark and Ren Corbin, David Beam, Brandon Scruggs, Ed Hill, Jay Bairds and Limited Distance, Teddy Burnett, Shawn Burrows, H2O Cloggers, Mountain Voices, Arphea Brimmer, Llana Lubitsch and David Moffitt and Rhonda and Luke Bateman. For tickets, which are $20, visit GreatMountainMusic.com, or call 524-1498.
Wednesday, June 8
JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING, 9:30 a.m., Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, 117 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain. A meeting will be held by Just Peace for Israel/ Palestine.
Thursday, June 9
BILLY JOEL/ELTON JOHN TRIBUTE SHOW, 7:30 p.m., downtown Hendersonville stage, Flat Rock Playhouse, Hendersonville. “The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John” will be presented June 9-19. Showtimes vary. For tickets, visit flatrockplayhouse.org, or call 693-0731.
Friday, June 10
AUTHOR EVENT, 7 p.m., Firestorm Cafe & Books, 610 Haywood St., West Asheville. Maya Schenwar, author of “Locked Down, Locked Out: Why Prison Doesn’t Work and How We Can Do Better,” will speak. His book looks at how
prison tears families and communities apart, creating a rippling effect that touches every corner of our society. Through the stories of prisoners and their families, as well as her own family’s experience of her sister’s incarceration, Schenwar shows how the institution that locks up 2.3 million Americans — and decimates poor communities of color — is shredding the ties that, if nurtured, could foster real collective safety. The destruction does not end upon exiting the prison walls: the 95 percent of prisoners who are released emerge with even fewer economic opportunities and fewer human connections on the outside than before. “Locked Down, Locked Out” is billed as showing how incarceration takes away the very things that might enable people to build better lives. MUSIC ON MAIN STREET CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., Visitor’s Information Center, downtown Hendersonville. The group Tuxedo Junction will perform. Also, a classic car show will be held along Main Street. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and blankets. Admission is free. MOVIE IN THE PARK, dusk, Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. The 2016 season of the Movies in the Park series will open with “Finding Nemo”) (2003 and rated G), which is Pixar’s hit movie about a fretful clown fish (Albert Brooks) searching for his lost son in the vast ocean. Attendees are urged to bring a chair or blanket. Admission is free.
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Saturday, June 11
PTSD TOWN HALL MEETING, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Mission Health/AB Tech Conference Center, 340 Victoria Road, Asheville. A PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome) town hall-style meeting will be held. The program is for all military veterans, active duty personnel, their families and supporters.
Wednesday, June 15
MEDICARE CHOICES WORKSHOP, 2 p.m., Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. A “Medicare Choices Made Easy” workshop will presented in partnership between the Council on Aging of Buncombe County and OLLI. The workshop will offer what is billed as “unbiased and accurate information” from trained volunteers from the North Carolina Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program. Those who attend early — beginning at noon — will be able to get questions answered about Social Security benefits and Medicare enrollment. Admission is free and open to the public. GREEN DRINKS MEETING, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville, LenoirRhyne University Board Room, 36 Montford Avenue, Asheville. Asheville Green Drinks, is part of a networking party and part of the self-organizing global grassroots movement to connect communities with environmental ideas, media and action. People who are interested in environmental issues and topics meet up for a drink and occasionally listen to an expert in environment, ecology and social justice.
See CALENDAR, Page B5
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Calendar
Thursday, June 30
MOUNTAIN VOICES CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. Mountain Voices, a 50-voice choir, will perform a concert featuring show tunes, pop songs, as well as selections of gospel music and patriotic anthems. For tickets, which are $22 and $25, visit GreatMountainMusic.com, or call 524-1498. TOBY KEITH CONCERT, 8 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, Cherokee. Toby Keith — on his “Interstates and Tailgates Tour” — will perform in concert. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com, or call (800) 745-3000.
Continued from Page B4
Thursday, June 16
“THE MUSIC MAN” MUSICAL, 2 and 7:30 p.m., mainstage, Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock. The musical production “The Music Man” will be presented June 16-July 9. Showtimes vary. For tickets, visit flatrockplayhouse.org, or call 693-0731. RHYTHM & BREWS CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., downtown Hendersonville. Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, a bluegrass group, will perform in the city’s monthly Rhythm & Brews concert series. The group was recently nominated for “Recorded Event of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association for its “Against the Grain” recording featuring Garth Brooks. Admission is free. WORKSHOP, 7-9 p.m., Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. An advance care planning workshop will feature a panel whose members are experienced in addressing end-of-life issues. Discussion will include communicating one’s treatment wishes to loved ones and to medical personnel, ethical and legal issues, and the uses of advance directives. Admission is free and open to the public.
Friday, June 17
DOWNTOWN AFTER 5, 7-9 p.m., North Lexington Avenue near I-240 overpass, downtown Asheville. DA5 will feature the group Futurebirds, which performs a high-energy, country-rockinfused show, featuring four-part harmony and pedal steel guitar licks, guitar solos and organ flavors. The opener is the band Raising Caine. Admission is free. MUSIC ON MAIN STREET CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., Visitor’s Information Center, downtown Hendersonville. The group Horsefly will perform. Also, a Corvette show will be held along Main Street. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and blankets. Admission is free. COMEDY SHOW, 9 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, Cherokee. Comedian Gabriel Iglesias will perform. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com, or call (800) 745-3000.
Monday, June 20
History Alive/Chautauqua Event,7 p.m. daily, Ferguson Auditorium, 3 A-B Tech Campus, 40 Victoria Rd, Asheville. The History Alive/ Chatauqua event will be held. CONCERTS ON THE QUAD,7-8:30 p.m, quad, UNC Asheville. The band Appalatin will perform in the summer Concerts on the Quad series. Admission is free and open to the public.
Friday, June 24
OPERA TALK, 3 p.m., Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. The monthly Opera Talk series will feature a presentation by Asheville Lyric Opera General Director David Craig Starkey, along with a young artist performance and a “talk back.” Admission is free and open to the public. “AN AMERICAN IN PARIS” CONCERT, 6 p.m., Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium, Brevard Music Center, Brevard. BMC’s 80th season will debut with “Opening Night: An American in Paris.” It is billed as “a French-inspired evening of music, featuring ‘gentleman, poet and pianist’ Jean-Yves Thibaudet. He will perform on piano with the BMC Orchestra, conducted by Keith Lockhart. For tickets, which are $30 to $75 in the open-air auditorium, or $15 on the lawn, visit brevardmusic.org, or call 862-2105. MUSIC ON MAIN STREET CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., Visitor’s Information Center, downtown Hendersonville. The group Emporium will perform. Also, a classic car show will be held along Main Street. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and blankets. Admission is free. DAVID PHELPS CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. David Phelps will perform in concert. For tickets, which are $22 and $25, visit GreatMountainMusic. com, or call 524-1498. WOMANSONG CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Rainbow Community School. The local vocal group Womansong will sing.
Saturday, June 25
STATION WAGON SHOW, noon-4 p.m., Clarion Inn, 550 Airport Rd., Fletcher. The International Station Wagon Club will hold its 2016 annual convention June 21-25. An associated car
Friday, July 1
MUSIC ON MAIN STREET CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., Visitor’s Information Center, downtown Hendersonville. The group Wishful Thinkin’ will perform. Also, a Corvette show will be held along
Pop and Christian music singer Amy Grant will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. June 25 in Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium at Brevard Music Center in Brevard. show, open to the public, will be held noon to 4 p.m. June 25 on the hotel grounds nearby. BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY TALK, 2 p.m., Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. “Taking Another Look: New Views of the Blue Ridge Parkway” will be addressed by Anne Mitchell Whisnant of UNC Chapel Hill’s faculty. She will discuss the complicated and often contentious process that brought the Blue Ridge Parkway into being from the 1930s to the 1980s. Admission to the event, sponsored by the WNC Historical Association; is $5 for public attendees and free for members. AMY GRANT CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium, Brevard Music Center, Brevard. A joyous celebration of BMC’s 80th anniversary will showcase six-time Grammywinner Amy Grant in what is billed as “the most elaborate, fully staged concert production ever seen on the WPA stage.” Grant will perform with the BMC Orchestra, conducted by Keith Lockhart. For tickets, which are $45 to $125 in the open-air auditorium, or $25 on the lawn, visit brevardmusic.org, or call 862-2105. CHARLIE DANIELS BAND CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., McNair Field, Forest City. The Charlie Daniels Band will perform in concert. For tickets, which are $20 to $50, visit www.foundationshows.org.
Sunday, June 26
“SHOSTAKOVICH 5” CONCERT, 3 p.m., Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium, Brevard Music Center, Brevard. “Shostakovich 5” will be presented. The orchestra concert is billed as “a rousing and inspired program marking the end of BMC’s opening weekend, and the start of a spectacular new season. Featured will be Emmanuel Tjeknavorian on violin, with the BMC Sinfonia, conducted by Keith Lockhart. For tickets, which are $25 to $55 in the open-air auditorium, or $15 on the lawn, visit brevardmusic.org, or call 862-2105.
Monday, June 27
CONCERTS ON THE QUAD,7-8:30 p.m, quad, UNC Asheville. The band Rational Discourse will perform in the summer Concerts on the Quad series. Admission is free and open to the public.
Tuesday, June 28
BELA FLECK CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium, Brevard Music Center, Brevard. Grammy Award-winning banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck wil bring his “newgrass” artistry to Brevard with “The Impostor Concerto” and favorite bluegrass duets with wife Abigail Washburn. Fleck and others will be accompanied by the Brevard Festival Orchestra, directed by Keith Lockhart. For tickets, which are $25 to $70 in the open-air auditorium, or $15 on the lawn, visit brevardmusic.org, or call 862-2105.
Wednesday, June 29
HISTORY DISCUSSION SERIES, 6-7 p.m., Lord Auditorium, downstairs in Pack Memorial Library, downtown Asheville. The monthly lecture series will feature a presentation on “Social Activism and Social Agencies.” The moderators will be Carlos Gomez, Deborah Miles, Bob Smith and Robert Wiltshire. Admission is free.
Main Street. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and blankets. Admission is free. NEAL McCOY CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. Country music star Neal McCoy will perform in concert. For tickets, which are $24, $27 and $30, visit GreatMountainMusic.com, or call 524-1498.
Thursday, July 28
DAUGHTRY CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., South Terrace, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The rock band Daughtry will perform in concert. For tickets, visit www.biltmore.com/concerts, or call (866) 336-1255.
Friday, July 29
AARON LEWIS CONCERT, 9 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, Cherokee. Aaron Lewis will perform in concert. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com, or call (800) 745-3000.
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Honeydrops Continued from Page B1 The Honeydrops, a humble band that has recently served as an opening act to Bonnie Raitt, praised Asheville as “our new hometown,” extolling its many virtues, but added that “we still love Oakland.” The band included lead singer Wierzynski (most of the time playing guitar, and sometimes on trumpet), along with a bassist, keyboardist, saxophonist, clarinetist and drummer. On certain songs, the clarinetist would play saxophone instead. Several group members also provided stellar backup harmony. Wierzynski, who was born in Warsaw, Poland, has a voice that has been compared to that of late-great soul singers Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson, among others.
The concert featured a mix of originals and covers of songs. At least twice during the concert, several of the group members would stand side by side at centerstage (while the others would leave the stage) and play songs that especially featured top-notch washboard-playing. Other highlights of the first set included renditions of “Like You Mean It,” “Everybody Gets Brought Down” and “When It Was Wrong,” the last of which included an extended vocal jam at the end that delighted the crowd. Memorable songs from the second set included renditions of The Impressions’ “People Get Ready” (with gorgeous threepart harmony), “Crazy Girls,” “Miss Louise” and “Just Because.”
Continued from Page B1 The band told the audience later in the first set that the show was being performed in honor of one of the best-known of the Eagles, Glenn Frey, 67, who recently died. While“Hotel California” was the show’s highlight, many of the songs got the crowd moving and singing along. The show began with “Seven Bridges
Road,” featuring terrific four-part harmony, followed by “Take It Easy,” “Witchy Woman” and “New Kid in Town.” First-set sparklers included “One of These Nights,” “I Can’t Tell You Why” and “Lying Eyes,” while second-set highlights were “Tequila Sunrise,” “Peaceful, Easy Feeling,” “Best of My Love,” “Desperado” and “Take It to the Limit.” — Reviewed by John North
Continued from Page B1 Asheville’s Willie Repoly turned in a credible performance as Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Record Studio. Yet another performer in the production, wasp-waisted Dyanne (Ryah Nixon), shows up for the jam session on the arm of Elvis — and then proves to be more than just arm candy, as she delivers renditions of some songs in a powerful and beautiful way. Those playing the four lead male musical roles not only played their own instruments (guitars, except for Lewis on piano), they played them superbly. They were backed by a bass player (Eric Scott Anthony) and drummer (Paul Babelay).
Director James Moye did a terrific job in shaping the show’s actors into an effective musical ensemble. Besides “Blue Suede Shoes,” some of the other 20-plus songs featured in the musical were “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Hound Dog,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Matchbox,” “Who Do You Love?” “That’s All Right,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Down By the Riverside,” “Peace in the Valley,” “I Walk the Line” and “See You Later, Alligator.” “Million-Dollar Quartet,” billed (accurately) as “high voltage,” is a Tony Awardwinning Broadway musical.
Eagles tribute
Quartet
Wright
Continued from Page B1 Holy crap! There are lots of ways to die in here! I thought back to that release form that my friend, Dave Schrader from Darkness Radio, made me sign. “So my lifeless remains can’t sue you?” I quipped. “So we know where to send the body, “ he answered. Demented Patty, Justin and I took the first room on the left, while the others in our group fanned out to cover more ground. We closed the door and stood in the dark. After about five minutes, I felt the unmistakable caress of a hand down the entire length of my arm. I told the others. The door blew open, making us jump. Patty said she saw a dark figure standing behind Justin that was taller than he was and it kept leaning forward and looking around him. It then leaned forward and came close to her face. Then Patty got touched on the arm. And when she raised her arm out, she felt spider webs on her hand! That was all for that room. The group moved to the front of the Hospital and examined equipment that Bill Chappell, engineer and inventor of equipment used in the TV show “Ghost Adventures,” brought to share with us. We then moved to a low, moldy smelling building called the Bunker. It was used to store dry goods and made a good hiding place for the children that had lived in the asylum to hide out and keep from doing their chores. The leader of our group kept calling out to the children to talk to us so it could be captured on his recorder. I started sneezing. They caught a couple of Electronic Voice Phenomena, or EVP. We headed back to the main building up to the third floor of Belvoir Winery to capture more EVP. That part was still being renovated and all I caught was sawdust up my nose. More sneezing. Next stop was the Morgue. We had more EVP adventures with Psychic Medium Chris Fleming. He had a nifty little contraption that did instant EVP and lit up if he got an EVP. He played the responses back over and over. I couldn’t make out what was said. By that time, others had joined in with the sneezing and we were all dodging and weaving to keep out of the steady drip from the ceiling. The last building of the night was manned by Dave Schrader. All of his previous groups had experienced shadows and footsteps down the long hallways. All I experienced was cold drafts. The next day was filled with lectures and a Gallery reading by Chris Fleming. Patty, skeptical by nature, was about to throw down the hooey card when Chris walked straight over to her and started telling her all about her relationship with her deceased mother and about the things her mother said she needed to address in her own life. It was pretty powerful and Patty was understandably shaken. It was a successful trip in that my friends and I did have experiences and we got to hang out and visit with other friends. The grounds were amazing and we sure did enjoy the wine. • Shelley Wright, an Asheville native,
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Asheville Daily Planet — June 2016 — B7
is a paranormal investigator. She works at Wright’s Coin Shop in Asheville and is a weekly participant in the “Speaking of Strange” radio show from 9 p.m. to midnight on most Saturdays on Asheville’s WWNC-AM (570).
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B8 - June 2016 - Asheville Daily Planet