Asheville Daily Planet May 2018

Robert E. Lee plaque vandalized (again)

Midtown Men light up Franklin

See STORY, Pg. A5

— See REVIEW, Pg. B1

Biltmore arrests man with AK-47 — See STORY, Pg. A6

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May 2018

Vol. 14, No. 6

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3 Redneck Tenors to make area debut

Ex-county mgr., son indicted, plead not guilty; request jury trial

From Staff Reports

Photos from 3 Redneck Tenors’ website

The 3 Redneck Tenors (above and to the left) will perform May 3-13 on the mainstage at Flat Rock Playhouse in Flat Rock. The classically trained vocalists will blend “redneck” comedy with opera into what is billed as “one zany experience.” The trio got its start on Season 2 of the television show, “America’s Got Talent.”

Lieutenant governor decries state’s political polarization

By JOHN NORTH

john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com

Never before has he seen more political polarization in North Carolina than now, state Lieutenant Gov. Dan Forest told the Buncombe County Republican Party during its annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner on April 8 at Renaissance Asheville Hotel in

downtown Asheville.

The two-hour dinner, with a theme of “Keeping America Great,” featured a number of speeches and drew a crowd of roughly “130-ish,” according to party Chairman Carl Mumpower. Prior to the dinner, a 75-minute VIP reception was held.

Besides Forest, the other two major speakers were Dr. Mark Creech

Former Buncombe County Manager Wanda Greene, who, upon her retirement last year was touted as one of the best administrators in North Carolina, could end up being sentenced to decades in prison after she and her son Michael, a former business intelligence manager for the county, were indicted in April by a grand jury on charges of embezzlement and wire fraud.

The charges — one count of conspiracy to embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud or misapply county funds and 50 counts of wire fraud offenses — were announced April 5 by U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murrary.

Greene also is charged with five counts of embezzling public funds and aiding and abetting embezzlement.

Greene, 66, and her son pled not guilty on April 13 before Magistrate Dennis Howell in a U.S. District Court.

They also requested a jury trial.

Greene was released on a $500,000 unsecured bond, while her son was released on a $100,000 secured bond.

Both are scheduled to appear in court again May 29. This time, it will be for a status conference in Charlotte with Judge Robert Conrad.

While investigations continue,

of the Christian Action League of North Carolina; and Chad Connelly, former director of Faith Engagement for the Republican National Committee.

In addition, briefly addressing the crowd by live video from their Washington, D.C. offices were U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows and U.S. Sen. Patrick McHenry.

Forest, who served as the dinner’s keynote speaker, is a Republican who aspires to unseat Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper in the next election.

See POLITICAL POLARIZATION, Page A13

For whom the cell tolls

neither will be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages or leave the Western District of North Carolina without court approval. They must surrender their passports and provide a DNA sample Wanda Greene to the courts.

The charges of wire fraud carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; the conspiracy charges, 5 years; and federal program fraud charges, 10 years per count. Each charge could also come with a $250,000 fine.

One of Greene’s attorneys, Thomas Aburgey, told the local news media that Greene is cooperating with the government.

While allegations have been in the news of questionable lavish expenditures on fine dining and economic development activities, such as the purchase of $150,000 in advertising in The Chronicle of the Horse, a publication owned by Mark Bellissimo who also owns the Tryon Equestrian Center; the charges only concerned the abuse of county purchasing cards.

As is his custom, Howell read aloud every line of the 38-page indictment.

See INDICTED, Page A14

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Want to know the answer? See ADVICE GODDESS, Page A12

A2 - May 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet

White officer’s beating of black jaywalker on video continues to spark rage, changes From Staff Reports

Johnnie Jermaine Rush’s jaywalking and the resulting beating he received from Asheville police captured the minds and hearts of the residents of Asheville and Buncombe County throughout April.

The incident occurred in Asheville, where it has resulted in terminations, restructuring and new hirings and programs, but it also has impacted the county, where leadership is calling for conflict de-escalation training for law enforcement workers.

On Aug. 25, 2017, Rush was walking home from work after dark, when he was spotted — by police — jaywalking. He

TO REPORT AN ERROR

The Asheville Daily Planet strives to be accurate in all articles published. Contact the News Department at news@ashevilledailyplanet.com, (828) 252-6565, or P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490.

Because of a compositional error, a headline — “Mission seeks to be acquired by PCA” — appeared incorrectly in the April edition of the Daily Planet.

It should have said, “Mission seeks to be acquired by HCA.” Also, there were instances in the story, as well as the newspaper’s editorial (The Daily Planet’s Opinion), wherein PCA was erroneously referenced rather than HCA.

Johnnie Rush

Chris Hickman

failed to comply with police and the resulting scuffle ended with an alleged assault by then-APD officer Chris Hickman.

Hickman was immediately placed on administrative leave, and an internal investigation was ordered.

Hickman resigned in January as Asheville Police Chief Tammy Hooper had prepared his letter of dismissal, and he was charged on counts of assault including strangulation.

In addition, APD Sergeant Lisa Taub, who was the supervising officer on the scene, was ordered to take additional training.

Bodycam footage of the incident was leaked to the Asheville Citizen-Times on Feb. 28, setting off a chain of events after the AC-T immediately posted the video footage on its website. Then, on April 2, at the request of Asheville City Council, additional footage was made public.

Seven officers had responded to the inciSpecial photo by

dent, and six were wearing bodycams. The seventh officer was in training and had not yet been issued one.

In bodycam footage from outside the hospital after Rush was released, Hickman explained Rush had been resisting arrest.

Hickman said he had told Rush to put his hands behind his back, Rush asked how he could when Hickman was choking him, and Rush replied he did not start choking him until he punched Rush 10 times.

Following cries of systemic racism following the incident, Asheville City Council held meetings, fired its city manager, doubled down on efforts to create a Human Relations Council, added authority to the city’s new Equity and Inclusion office, and called for additional changes to police policy, among other things.

A number of people in the community are still calling for Hooper to resign. They claim there was a coverup with unreasonable delays, even though Hooper followed protocols and immediately informed her direct supervisor, an assistant city manager.

Members of the public also thought she should have launched a criminal investigation instead of an administrative one.

Hooper responded to that saying she could not launch a criminal investigation once Hickman resigned.

Hooper, meanwhile, claims she has been working to mitigate distrust, pain and outrage Asheville’s African-American community feels toward government in general.

She told a group assembled at a Citizens Police Advisory Committee meeting in March

that she would resign if that would solve the problem, and later explained she had meant her resignation was not going to solve it.

Instead, Hooper said, as long as she is chief, she will be working to enforce fairness and build trust.

Noting the city’s actions, Buncombe County commissioners Jasmine BeachFerrara, Ellen Frost and Al Whitesides issued a press release via Facebook calling on the county to replicate actions the city had taken.

The post was published the day after the additional body cam footage was released, and its signers explained they were being compassionately responsive to citizen outcry.

The post said of systemic racism in the police department, “This is a crisis in our community on par with the opioid epidemic.

It must therefore receive the same level of open dialogue, honest assessment, collaboration across agencies and robust funding by the public bodies who are duty-bound to serve and protect our constituents.”

The three commissioners, who issued the press release with neither the knowledge nor approval of at least three other commissioners, went on to prescribe eight action steps they wanted Buncombe Sheriff Van Duncan to take.

They included implementing new policies, accommodating additional training, retaining records, creating a Use of Force Response Team and a Human Rights Commission, and developing new protocols for investigations. The roles and responsibilities of the UFRT were spelled out in four subcategories.

See JAYWALKER, Page A14

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I-26 plans tweaked, unveiled to the public

From Staff Reports

ARDEN — Recently revised plans for the widening of I-26 at Exit 44 (U.S. 25) in Fletcher and at Exit 49 (U.S. 64) in Hendersonville were addressed by North Carolina Department of Transportation officials at a public meeting April 16 at Biltmore Church.

The Exit 44 interchange has been redesigned as a diverging diamond — the same design that was built at the Airport Road exit, according to NCDOT officials.

In a diverging diamond, there are traffic lights on either side of an overpass. Cars turning right to enter the highway simply turn right before the light. After the light, through-traffic switches sides to cross the bridge, enabling traffic turning left to enter the highway to simply veer off.

A light on the other end of the bridge regulates traffic so it may return to the traditional configuration. Exit ramps will fork, allowing traffic to turn right normally or turn left smoothly into the zone where the lanes are switched.

The new design will reduce the number of homes or businesses that must be relocated from 11 to zero, and the number of properties that will be impacted from 41 to 11, according to NCDOT officials.

Meanwhile, the Exit 49 interchange will be changed to what the NCDOT refers to as a “Partial Cloverleaf B with Enhanced Left Turns.”

It will retain two existing loop ramps for exiting the highway, allowing only right turns. Traffic will enter the highway by veering right onto straightforward ramps

before the loops. U-turn lanes further away will direct traffic that would have turned left at the interchange.

Both interchanges had earlier been designed as traditional cloverleafs. The new designs will require less land acquisition, disturb less habitat and reduce construction costs, NCDOT officials noted.

Revised plans also better accommodate travel — in kayaks and tubes — along the French Broad River, while bridges are being replaced. Now each lane travels on a separate bridge. The widened highway will support a single bridge.

During construction, the NCDOT will build causeways in the river. Catchment devices will be hung from the bridge to prevent falling construction material from polluting the river.

Signage will direct river-users to open access points, and rope floats will direct people around construction zones once they are in the river.

The NCDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have agreed that the best solution to the decades-long six-lane/ eight-lane debate is a hybrid with six lanes between Exits 44 and 49 and eight lanes northward to the I-40 interchange in Asheville.

DMV officials reportedly are hoping to have the environmental impact statements satisfactorily completed in June, allowing it to request funding for the project in July.

If all goes according to schedule, the DMV will begin land-acquisition in August. Road widening between I-40 and Exit 40 could start as early as March 2019.

Widening between N.C. 280 and U.S. 64 could start in June 2019, the DMV noted.

Mission-HCA merger could give tax base 11% boost, city says

From Staff Reports The proposed acquisition of the Asheville-based nonprofit Mission Health by the Nashville, Tenn.-based for-profit HCA Healthcare could increase the city’s tax base by 11percent, interim City Manager Cathy Ball revealed at a March 29 meeting of Asheville City Council’s Finance Committee, Ball’s revelation was received particularly well, since the city is beginning its 2018-2019 budget discussions looking at a $1.7 million deficit.

Mission’s board of directors voted unanimously in March to execute a letter of intent to proceed with negotiations about an acquisition by HCA. HCA is the nation’s largest hospital chain, with 177 hospitals and 119 surgery centers in the United States and the United Kingdom. Last year, HCA reported a profit of $2.2 billion on $43.6 billion in revenue. It is ranked 63rd in the Fortune 500.

Mission spokespersons explained the decision to seek being acquired by HCA as being proactive. “Government, businesses, and payors are demanding that healthcare providers assume more risk and continually reduce costs,” they wrote. “Given the inevitability of consolidation, we wanted it to be our choice long before we were forced to make one.”

Statements by Mission officials have indicated that the hospital does not believe it is possible to build the scale needed to remain sustainable. Both Mission and HCA want to stay current with technological advances, offer compensation packages for recruiting and retaining top talent, and keep up with rising medical costs.

Mission reportedly had been searching for a health system that would be interested in acquiring it. One of the reasons leadership decided to work exclusively with HCA is that that organization proposed setting up a foundation to help indigents. Mission’s cashflow has long been burdened by treating a large number of patients who cannot pay.

See MISSION-HCA, Page A6

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Asheville Daily Planet — May 2018 - A5

Plaque honoring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee plaque vandalized (again) From Staff Reports

A downtown Asheville monument honoring Confederate General Robert E. Lee has been defaced — again.

The bronze plaque depicting Lee on a horse, with an inscription below, is set in a granite stone a few yards from the Vance Monument in Pack Square, Asheville’s centerpiece.

The damage, first noticed March 30, is highly visible, as exposed bronze shines through the plaque’s patina. The vandal or vandals etched a bronze cloud over Lee’s face and crossed out almost every line of the inscription.

The twice-vandalized Lee plaque

The second vandalism to the monument in a year followed an incident in August, when a corner of the bronze plaque was pried up as part of a nationwide movement protesting the death of a counterprotester at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va. The vandals were caught in the act by the police and sentenced to community service.

Three of the four charged are affiliated with Asheville BeLoved, a group that advocates for social justice for African-Americans, exconvicts and the LGBTQ community. Asheville BeLoved stopped at the Vance Monument while marching through downtown on the day

the most recent vandalism was reported.

During the rally, the names of hundreds of people the group said were sold into slavery at that very location were read aloud.

Damage from the first incident has not yet been repaired, as Gov. Roy Cooper has called for all Confederate monuments to be removed from state property — and the issue remains in limbo.

The Vance Monument honors Buncombe County native Zebulon Vance, who was the governor of North Carolina for most of the Civil War. Both monuments are situated along the old Dixie Highway — and the tribute to Lee was one of several erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1926.

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Man with AK-47 arrested at Biltmore Estate From Staff Reports

A man who Biltmore Company police say brought a stolen AK-47 rifle and more than two and a half pounds of marijuana onto Asheville’s Biltmore Estate entrance was arrested April 11 by the BC police unit.

Torrey Lane Hodsden, 21, was arrested on two counts of assault of company police officers with a deadly weapon; possession with intent to sell, manufacture, or distribute marijuana; possession of marijuana; maintaining a vehicle for use, storage, or sale of a controlled substance; fleeing and eluding arrest; possession of a stolen firearm, and

injury to personal property.

Hodsden had tried to access the Biltmore Estate without a ticket, telling the guard at the gate he wanted to visit an employee. He was directed to turn his car around, which he did, but then parked his vehicle by the Gate House Gift Shop.

At that point, BC police were called to the scene, when he did not leave the premises.

Officers then approached his car and asked him to roll down his window. When he complied, they reported detecting a strong odor of marijuana and asked him to get out of the car.

Hodsden opened the car door as if cooperating, but then

threw the car in reverse, backing into the police vehicle behind him — and striking both officers with the car door.

Neither officer required medical attention.

Hodsden was arrested, and then the officers searched his car, finding a stolen AK-47-style rifle and 2.64 pounds of marijuana, divided and stashed in various parts the vehicle.

As of the Daily Planet’s presstime, the incident was still under investigation, and Hodsden was being held in the Buncombe County Detention Center on a $725,000 secured bond.

Representatives of the Biltmore Company stressed that incidents like this are extremely rare on the estate.

Man who punched cyclist Mission-HCA sentenced to 3 days in jail

From Staff Reports

Claude Donald Watson pled guilty to simple assault for punching a bicyclist in the face, according to Bunbombe County District Attorney Todd Williams.

On the afternoon of Sept. 27, Watson had been trailing a cyclist in a Dodge Ram pickup. When he stopped at the intersection of Sand Hill and Sardis roads, he reportedly got out of the vehicle and appeared to hit the cyclist. The incident was recorded by a video camera in a commercial vehicle approaching the scene.

Watson was arrested two days after investigators reviewed the video.

He was sentenced April 10 to 45 days in prison, but he could be out in three days if he meets the terms of his probation. Watson was also fined $25 and is responsible for $320 in court costs and $115 in attorney fees.

The aforementioned is on top of $276 he already paid for victim restitution. The cyclist’s injuries were described as minor.

In North Carolina, bicycles have a legal right to travel roads, and Mike Sule, executive director of Asheville on Bikes, said the footage showed the victim had been riding legally.

Sule said in a statement that he wants to broadcast the video footage and encourage other cyclists to “tell their stories” so issues may be identified and addressed.

Anti-racist group accused of racism after calling police to remove woman From Staff Reports

BILTMORE FOREST — Sharon Smith, the educational director for Asheville Black Lives Matter, was arrested at — and forcibly removed from — a Racial Equity Institute training event March 16 at the Mountain Area Health Education Center in Biltmore Forest.

She was charged with resisting a public officer, disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana.

The incident was set off during a panel discussion, when Smith, who was in the audience, fielded a question posed to the group of several participants.

Sitting two seats away from Smith was Carol Rogoff Hallstrom, a veteran civil rights activist who, like Smith, was an alumna of the training,.

Hallstrom reportedly reached over and reminded Smith of a REI guideline recommending alumna not to participate in training sessions.

Smith challenged what she viewed as an attempt to shut her down, and later said, “There is no way, according to systemic racism theory, that any white woman should be telling a woman of color what she should and shouldn’t be saying,” the Asheville Citizen-Times quoted Smith as saying. “That’s just not OK.”

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As the row did not de-escalate of its own accord, a MAHEC employee asked Smith to leave and called security. Eventually, a security guard called the police.

According to the Biltmore Forest Police Department, Smith did not leave after being asked, and so she was escorted out.

Regarding Smith’s arrest, Biltmore Forest Police Chief Chris Beddington told the AC-T that, “obviously, after multiple attempts, we have to escalate to an escort.

It’s kinda like soft hands, you’re guiding someone off the premise.

To the contrary, Smith told the AC-T that thre was noting “soft” about the officer’s hands, as her arm was twisted behind her back to get her to leave the training session.

Smith said that this surely constituted a use-of-force incident because she was practicing civil disobedience and was not going to leave otherwise.

REI Managing Director Deena HayesGreene said the organization did not tell Smith she could not talk and did not support calling the police.

Using the incident as a learning experience, Hayes-Greene said racism thrives in an environment of us-versus-them, where individual actions are interpreted as systemic racism.

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Continued from Page A4 A merger with HCA would be set up so proceeds Mission received from the sale would establish a foundation, which would receive disbursements valued at at least 5 percent of Mission’s assets in successive years, which reportedly could amount to tens of millions of dollars annually. While the organizational structure of the foundation is not settled, the funding would go toward helping needy people locally.

HCA has a track record for giving back to the community. In addition to providing $2.8 billion in indigent care last year, the hospital donated $23.2 million in cash to charitable organizations in 2016.

By acquiring Mission, HCA would debut in North Carolina with six hospitals serving 18 counties with more than 1,000 physicians certified in more than 50 specialties, 10,700 employees and 2,000 volunteers.

If the acquisition were to occur, Mission said, it would still continue to operate with its organizational structure and with Dr. Ron Paulus continuing as CEO. No job cuts are expected, Mission noted, adding that the intent of the merger is to sustainably grow services.

It is expected that due diligence talks will take three to four months. Any deal the two hospitals reach would still have to be approved by the state.

Gov. Roy Cooper has already expressed concerns that the indigent may not be served adequately by the merger. Attorney General Josh Stein will review whether or

not the price of acquisition is fair, whether or not the new system improves services, and whether or not there are any antitrust concerns. Regulatory approval would take another three months.

Meanwhile, members of the city Finance Committee debated how to deal with a potential windfall, even though Asheville would not be able to collect any revenues until the next budget cycle anyway.

City Budget Manager Tony McDowell arrived at an estimated $7 million Mission could add to city revenue by applying the city’s current tax rate to a valuation of Mission’s real estate at $1.6 billion. He added more properties — as-yet unidentified because they are not listed in Mission’s name — would be involved in the deal.

If those properties are added to the tax rolls, they would be responsible for county, city, and school taxes, and the hospital would start paying sales taxes, a portion of which is returned to the city, as well.

Vice Mayor Gwen Wisler said she felt rather confident the deal would be sealed, and city staff suggested $300,000 could be taken from fund balance this year in anticipation of the windfall.

Councilman Vijay Kapoor, who in private life is a financial advisor to cities across the United States, recommended against the move. He thought it preferable to trim nonessential services than to rely on a deal that might fall through and would not address structural shortcomings with the city budget, even if entered into.

Asheville Daily Planet - May 2018 - A7

Commentary

Sinatra died 20 years ago, but recordings of his exquisite vocals remain unsurpassed

By HERB STARK

Special to the Daily Planet

I

can't believe 20 years have gone by and it's time to remember Hoboken, New Jersey’s hometown son, Frank Sinatra who passed away on May 14, 1998.

His legacy is first and foremost, his music. From “All Or Nothing At All” to “New York, New York” and “My Way,” he compiled an unequaled resume of pop standard songs and he is very much a part of the “Great American Songbook.”

People around the world, young and old, should pause and give thanks to Frank and those associated with his success for the treasure trove of great music and songs they left for us to enjoy.

Among those honoring Frank Sinatra are Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Peggy King and the All-Star Jazz Trio, singer/actress Jane Powell, author Will Friedwald, musician/conductor George Roumanis, talent promoter/musician Billy Jon Coogan, archivist Anthony DiFlorio lll, WYYR program director Chris Valenti and DJ Ronnie Allen.

We should never forget the musical legacy Ol’ Blue Eyes left us to enjoy forever — and I believe it was his way of saying “thanks” to us for supporting him through good times and bad.

It is also remarkable that Sinatra, the

Way beyond hip and trendy Asheville Daily Planet

Frank Sinatra man and the music, remains as part of American culture and continues to grow in popularity year after year.

Thank you, Francis Albert Sinatra!

• Stark, who frequently writes letters to the editor to the Daily Planet, lives in Mooresville.

A8 — May 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet

The Daily Planet’s Opinion

Simone makes triumphant entry into R&R Hall of Fame

T

he late Tryon native Nina Simon richly deserved her April 14 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at its 33rd annual ceremony in Cleveland.

The jazzy and soulful Simone, who died in 2003, was a first-time nominee and was inducted into a class that included Bon Jovi, the Cars, Dire Straits and the Moody Blues, “but Simone herself, knew she belonged to a class of her own,” as Vanity Fair magazine stated so aptly in a Dec. 13, 2017 story.

“The singer, pianist, and activist, who rose to fame for her version of George Gershwin’s ‘I Loves You, Porgy,’ may not necesNina Simone sarily have loved the designation,” Vanity Fair’s Erika Harwood wrote, in pointing out the irony of Simone’s induction. “She once said she rejected her music being labeled as jazz, saying, ‘Jazz is a white term to define black people. My music is black classical music.’”

Simone’s unapologetic rage and accusatory voice named names and took no prisoners in the African-American struggle for equality in the early 1960s. Her triumphant voice sang what it meant to be young, gifted and black in a sometimes unjust and troubled world.

“Nina could sing anything, period,” Mary J. Blige told Rolling Stone, when the magazine named Nina Simone one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Often considered a jazz singer (particularly because of her masterful piano playing), she was classically trained, yet her nickname was “The High Priestess of Soul.”

We salute Simone, who, despite being born into poverty, made the most of herself and left a rich legacy, both as a human being in her quest for civil rights ... and as a stellar singer-pianist.

Frazier’s lovely language worth the wait

CHAPEL HILL — With the publication of “Varina” in early April, Charles Frazier’s many fans celebrated the end of a long wait.

Frazier refuses to work fast. Every word of every chapter of every one of his four books, “Cold Mountain,” “Thirteen Moons,” “Nightwoods,” and now, “Varina,” was reviewed, rewritten, replaced, and restored by him to make the final product just right.

In “Varina,” as in “Cold Mountain” and “Thirteen Moons,” Frazier takes us back to the 1800s and Civil War times. The central character of the new book is Varina Howell Davis, the second wife of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy.

In this book of historical fiction, Frazier attempts to give a true idea of Varina’s life and the times she experienced.

He builds her story around an unusual fact. While she was living in Richmond as First Lady of the Confederacy she took in a young mulatto boy whom she called Jimmy.

She raised him alongside her children. At the end of the Civil War, Union troops took the six-year-old Jimmy away from V, as Frazier refers to Varina, and she never learned what happened to him.

Frazier begins his story 40 years later at a resort-spa-hotel-hospital in Saratoga Springs, New York, where V is residing.

James Blake, a light-skinned, middle aged, African American has read about Jimmy.

His memories are very dim, but he begins to think he might be that same Jimmy and sets out to visit V at Saratoga Springs.

When Blake calls on V at the hotel, she is suspicious, having been the victim of various con artists who have attempted to exploit her fame. But something clicks.

“She works at remembrance, looks harder at Blake’s broad forehead, brown skin, curling hair graying at the temples. She tries to cast back four decades to the war.”

Looking back, V remembers her teenage years in Natchez, Mississippi, and her courtship and marriage to Davis. These are important sub-plots, but the book’s most compelling action develops in V’s flight from Richmond when the city falls to Union troops at the end of the Civil War. Her husband tells her she would be coming back soon because “General Lee would find a way.”

D.G. Martin Lee did not, and V’s group “traveled southwest down springtime Carolina roads, red mud and pale leaves on poplar trees only big as the tip of your little finger, a green haze at the tree line.

They fled like a band of Gypsies—a ragged little caravan of saddle horses and wagons with hay and horse feed and a sort of kitchen wagon and another for baggage.

Two leftover battlefield ambulances for those not asaddle.

The band comprised a white woman, a black woman, five children, and a dwindling supply of white men — which V called Noah’s animals, because as soon as they realized the war was truly lost, they began departing two by two.”

The goal was escape to Florida and then Havana.

Like Inman’s trek toward home in “Cold Mountain,” there is adventure and terror at almost every stop.

Supplies dwindled and their money was worthless. Rumors circulated that their caravan had a hoard of gold from the Confederate treasury and that there would be a big reward for their capture.

Frazier writes, “In delusion, bounty hunters surely rode hard behind faces, dark in the shadows of deep hat brims, daylight striking nothing but jawbones and chin grizzle, dirty necks, and once-white shirt collars banded with extrusions of their own amber grease.”

Even though we know the escape is doomed to failure, Frazier’s dazzling descriptions make us hope.

Readers who loved such language in “Cold Mountain” and “Thirteen Moons” will agree that “Varina” is worth the wait.

The others? They just don’t know what they are missing..

• D.G. Martin hosts “North Carolina Bookwatch,” which airs at noon Sundays and at 5 p.m. Thursdays on UNC-TV.

Letters to the Editor

‘Fine-tuned’ administration needs be ‘fine-tuned’ (again)

I

f, as President (Donald) Trump says, “My administration is running like a fine-tuned machine,” how come there’s such a “yuuuge” turnover?

It seems there are a lot of loose screws that have to be tightened.

Instead of running like a 2018 Cadillac, the current administration sounds more like a 1908 Model-T Ford with disastrous domestic and foreign policies to match!

Finally, ‘midst the firings and resignations of key department heads, President Trump sees it as “new energy” while the rest of America views it as “total chaos” with no end in sight!

Herb Stark Mooresville

Claim of most cost-efficient energy options called wrong Last month the Daily Planet ran a front-page story reporting Stuart Weidie’s remarks touting natural (methane) gas, supplemented by rooftop solar, as the most cost-efficient means to heat and cool buildings. He is wrong.

The environmental and health costs of continuing to rely on fracked gas as a source of energy production in this country will only grow. Any expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in our country simply extends our downward spiral toward rapid climate disruption.

The Council of Independent Business Owners, of course, care about their energy expenses. But numerous research studies report that the cost of clean renewables like wind and solar has plummeted in recent years.

The New York Times wrote in 2014 that “in some markets, renewable generation is now cheaper than coal or natural gas.” Recently, Clean Technica newsletter reported that solar and wind power have

become over 60 percent cheaper in the last seven years.

We don’t actually have to choose between low prices or jobs or protecting our air, water and climate. Sunshine and wind, of course, are free, but distributed solar and wind power plants have to get built and installed — those are things humans do, creating local jobs.

Frank L. Fox Asheville

Tongue-in-cheek utterance?

Silver linings from shootings

Like it or not, the bottom line is that as long as the housing supply is limited by environmental concerns — in Parkland, Sandy Hook, Columbine and Asheville — every school shooting will result in more housing for the rest of us, as will every deportation.

And death by homelessness is slow.

Alan Ditmore Leicester

End apathy, student urges; vote for Price for Congress

We, as North Carolinians, have entered an era of restrictive practices centered around limiting our ability to decide governance.

Our districts are gerrymandered in order to keep one party in power.

We elected officials that ensure their power by neutralizing our votes and refuse to work with each other.

We must take action in this upcoming election. We cannot allow ourselves to stay apathetic. We cannot allow our votes to be weakened by calloused politicians who work tirelessly to ensure their own power.

The 10th and 11th districts need fresh blood; new perspectives that have not been jaded by the power dynamics and party squabbles.

See LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, Page A10

The Candid Conservative

Dads: Here’s 10 things to teach your kids

“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”

— Theodore Hesburgh

The problem

N

o matter what the dark statistic – crime, drug abuse, early mortality, poverty or school shootings – the absence of a good and loving Dad is an early predictor of travesty.

Curiously, for the better part of the past half century, our society has been on an active mission to strangle Dads. Not surprisingly, most of the policies associated with this misguided enterprise track to the left.

No matter where one looks – be it abortion, welfare expansion, public housing, abandonment of the traditional family, broken education policies or faith detachment – the liberal agenda on Dads is anything but progressive.

Anger is not a solution

Witnessing the recent hyper-emergence of the angry anti- police, immigration enforcement, 2nd Amendment, Caucasian, and anything else outside of my imagined safe zone movement makes one thing clear – we’re training a lot of people to believe anger is a functional path to social advancement.

Reality 101 teaches a different course.

Anger – like the left’s other compass points – is a path to personal empowerment that’s

Carl Mumpower inevitably addictive and like all things addictive, a trap.

Our community’s liberal conformists are getting bored and depressed – anger does that to you too – but they’re not done with their attempts to undo our culture.

With an eye on a more positive course, this month’s good time to tip our hats to Dads. For those trying to resist the denigration of their importance, I thought a “Good Dad” cheat sheet might be helpful. Here’s ten points of light as a counter to the anti’s.

The importance of choice

Genetics and environmental influences play key roles in how we turn out. Yet there are too many thriving people born in a ditch in India for the equation to be that simple.

The difference is found in choice. If you want to help your kid be a fulfilled adult, teach them to skip over influences they can’t control, and concentrate on the good choices they can.

The failure to integrate the importance of choice in our social safety net explains a 50+ year track record of failure.

See CANDID CONSERVATIVE, Page A10

Asheville Daily Planet — May 2018 - A9

Commentary

Oh, can’t you see the morning after?

M

y wife doesn’t complain when I sing around the house. In fact, I think she gauges my mood by my songs. For a few days now, I’ve been singing Maureen McGovern’s powerful #1 hit from 1973:

Lee Ballard

What Trump has done can be undone. All the gnarly devices Raleigh Republicans use to seize and keep power can be straightened into fresh democracy.

This trash pickup is inevitable. It will happen. And the reason is us.Us! We’re My wife knows all too well the sad plight voters who will vote, but we’re more than of national and North Carolina politics. that. We’re heirs to the irrepressible AmeriI think she wonders at the sound of my can spirit that goes back to our beginnings optimism.

– the spirit of freedom and fairness that The Washington swamp that Donald resisted King George, the spirit the FoundTrump promised to drain has instead ing Fathers assumed would be in us forever become a sewage retaining pond. He’s des- when they designed our government. And perate to stop investigations into the secret now, we, the people, say to those who sins of his sorry life, while scandals among would corrupt and disdain it, “Enough!” his people pop like Chinese Democrats will win this firecrackers. Sewage sludge year and in 2020, in part, might be too tame an analbecause they’re not Republiogy. cans. We can hope they will For perspective, the govern precisely as RepubTeapot Dome Scandal of licans have not governed the 1920s, the worst before – with fairness and humilWatergate, was run-ofity. We can hope they will the-mill bribery. President resist divisive ideology. We Maureen McGovern, (Warren) Harding’s interior can hope they will resist the secretary leased oil reserves circa 1973 grasping hand of power. to Sinclair Oil on favorable, I have a wild hope that but legal, terms – except that he got big Democrats, in Washington and in the states, money in the deal. Teapot Dome wouldn’t will require our representatives to attend even make front pages today. seminars on our nation’s founding principles.

Meanwhile, our Republican Congress Maureen McGovern uses the word “love.” gives huge tax breaks to big corporations, That may be asking too much. But let’s promising they will pass on profits to their remember that convention delegates in employees, and instead they buy back their Philadelphia in 1787 crafted our magnifistock and employee wages don’t rise. cent Constitution, through compromise, And here in North Carolina, we’ve in spite of their differences, because they watched Republicans trash our schools, our believed in America. environment and our elections for seven I can see the “morning after,” bright and years – reduced to watching because gerbeautiful. It’s out there waiting for patriots rymandering makes our votes worthless. like us to “put our hands [to work] in time.”

We’re not shrugging. We’re enraged.

• The vision of our Founding Fathers stood Lee Ballard, who lives in Mars Hill, strong for 230 years. Now, so quickly, in is a published lexicographer and seWashington and Raleigh, we feel democmanticist.” To reach him, email leebalracy slipping away. lard1936@gmail.com.

Doom and gloom? No. Let’s continue on with my song: “There’s got to be a morning after If we can hold on through the night We have a chance to find the sunshine Let’s keep on lookin’ for the light.”

“Oh, can’t you see the morning after It’s waiting right outside the storm…

It’s not too late, we should be giving Only with love can we climb It’s not too late, not while we’re living Let’s put our hands out in time.”

I embrace Maureen McGovern’s word for our time. “It’s not too late!”

All the Washington garbage, all the Raleigh garbage, there’s a landfill for all of it.

Remember the neediest!

Write a Letter to the Editor

The Asheville Daily Planet print letters to the editor, preferably less than 150 words in length. All letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number for confirmation purposes only.

Send your opinions to Asheville Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490 or e-mail them to letters@ AshevilleDailyPlanet.com.

Grumpy Salvage OPENING SOON

Jeans, books, jumble items

423-2400

NCDOT TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING FOR THE PROPOSED IMPROVMENTS TO U.S. 19/23 FROM CHESTNUT MOUNTAIN ROAD (S.R. 1836) TO WIGGINS ROAD (S.R. 1200) BUNCOMBE AND HAYWOOD COUNTIES TIP PROJECT NO. U-6048 The N.C. Department of Transportation will hold an open house public meeting regarding the proposed project to improve U.S. 19/23 from Chestnut Mountain Road (S.R. 1836) to Wiggins Road (S.R. 1200) in Buncombe and Haywood Counties. The meeting will take place on Thursday, May 10th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre Annex located at 53 Park Street in Canton.

The public may drop-in at any time during the meeting hours. NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and listen to comments regarding the project. The opportunity to submit comments will also be provided at the meeting or via phone, email, or mail by May 25th. Comments received will be taken into consideration as the project develops. Please note that no formal presentation will be made.

For additional information, contact Scott Miller, NCDOT Division 14 Construction Engineer at 253 Webster Road, Sylva, NC 28779, (828) 586-2141, or jsmiller3@ncdot.gov.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this meeting.

Anyone requiring special services should contact Caitlyn Ridge, P.E., Environmental Analysis Unit at ceridge1@ncdot.gov or (919) 707-6091 as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.

Persons who speak Spanish and 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 1-800481-6494.

Aquellas personas que hablan español y 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.

A10 — May 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet

Letters to the editor

Continued from Page A8 First-time candidates offer this perspective. We have a duty to research our candidates and vote for who we believe is the best fit, if we do not actively engage in the political system, we will only see the expansion of these power controlling tactics.

Access to health care; prison reform; equality regardless of gender, race or sexuality; and infrastructural repair are all important issues to me, so the candidate I will vote into U.S. Congress is Phillip Price.

You must find the right candidate for you to promote real change in our state.

Connor Ferry Asheville EDITOR’S NOTE: Ferry noted in submitting his letter to the editor that “I’m a 22-year-old student who lives in Asheville, in the 11th District of North Carolina.”

It’s time to tax the rich and spread the wealth in the U.S. Politics in this country has reached the

point where I would be shocked if any candidate for the U.S. House or Senate showed the courage to support a national wealth tax of 25 percent on all individuals worth $10 million or more.

Here’s what we could do with that revenue: 1. Eliminate the federal budget deficit and the national debt.

2. Pass a Canadian-style national health insurance program to cover all Americans.

3. Turn student loans into scholarships.

4. Make Social Security fully solvent beyond the current date of 2034.

5. Supplement the unequal pay for equal work that women do in this country to bring it up to what men get paid.

6. Help working families pay day-care expenses for their children and elderly family members.

7. Guarantee jobs to all Americans that will pay enough to lift them above the official poverty line and the official “nearpoverty” line.

And, there would still be money left over!

This is how much wealth that there is in this country. Eighty percent of all of

Candid Conservative

Continued from Page A8 Dads, learn from that and run your childcare agency accordingly.

Live in the moment

There are three armies we battle in life – the past, present and future. We can defeat one, maybe two, but never three.

Smart Dads teach their children to do battle with the big one – the present. That is, after all, the foundation of the past and the future.

We live in a culture which spends entirely too much time teaching children to dismiss the past and pretend today’s choices have no part in tomorrow. A better equation finds us learning from our past as we live today wisely and softly prepare for the future.

The magic key to misery

It doesn’t make any difference what the unpleasantry – injury, disability, depression, anxiety, etc. – the antidote is “skill.”

Once we figure out unhappiness is nothing more than a messenger encouraging us to find a better way, the pursuit of new skills can get us through most anything.

Kids taught how to solve problems versus run from symptoms are safer in a dangerous world.

The why, when and how of self-protection

Though we talk a lot about protecting children, we’re not so good at it. That conclusion begins an ends on a telling statistic – we’ve aborted 58 million of our off-spring.

Those children we don’t erase end up in a public education system notoriously devoted to liberal group-think. In this toxic mix are a host of emotional and physical bullies who target the independent as surely as the vulnerable.

Though school systems talk about protecting children, the number one job of most is to protect themselves. That point is demonstrated in many ways, but one standout is punishing children for standing up for themselves. A bully can get by with abusing a child twenty times and when that child hits back on the twenty-first, the system punishes the victim and thus rewards the perpetrator.

It’s therefore important to teach children physical and emotional self-protection. That means how to believe in their worth; how to respectfully deal with authorities; how to ask for help; how to verbally stand up; and how

to punch a bad-guy in the nose when none of the above works.

Dad, when foolish school polices punish your child for resisting bullying, may I suggest dinner and a movie? “You didn’t protect me after I repeatedly informed you, so I had to protect me,” is couregeous and should be rewarded.

America’s traditional success equation

Ignore the progressive apologists who tell you America isn’t special. Our exceptionalism is proven quite simply – in governance, medicine, education, faith, defense, technology and about everything else – we’ve set the tone for the world.

What’s America’s Success Equation? It’s as simple as four words – Liberty + Opportunity + Responsibility = Prosperity.

Teach your kid the importance of the first three working in unison and you aid them in achieving the forth.

Everyone is wanting to come here for a reason. Your children fortunately don’t have to imigrate to access our success model – they do have to be taught its importance.

Solomon’s wisdom

The left likes to pretend our Bibilical foundation is irrelevent. Each day brings tangible revelation they’re wrong and that the Bible was built around real history – including a gentleman named Solomon – the wisest man on earth.

His pearls boil down to a few truisms: most of man’s pursuits are poisoned with vanity; honoring God’s will is the only compass that will keep us from getting lost in that vanity; and like all compasses there are four primary points of merit – laboring, loving, learning and living – as in celebrating the gift of.

Want to help your kids? Teach them Solomon’s Wisdom.

To love

Today’s culture gets an ‘F’ on teaching children how to love.

Self-absorption is not a form of love – nor are lust, enabling, or dependency. Those are sachrine-like substitutes for real sugar.

Honest love is that which we do for the betterment of others or ourselves. That’s a doing thing; a giving thing; and an uplifting thing.

Nat King Cole was right, “The greatest

the wealth in the USA was never earned by those who hold it — it was inherited.

It grows and grows into tens of millions, hundreds of millions, and into the billions.

No one could possibly ever need that much money. Yet, I can’t find one Democrat in either house of Congress who supports a national wealth tax.

Someone should write a book and call it “Profiles In Cowardice.”

They’re supposed to care about helping the people more than they care about raising millions of dollars so that they can win re-election.

Stewart B. Epstein Rochester, N.Y.

From Comey to Clinton, moral corruption abounds

Fired FBI Director James B. Comey said that President (Donald) Trump was “not fit to be president because of his moral values” and that they did “not reflect the values of this country.”

Problem is, America has departed from God and is going against His Moral Values, set forth in His Laws.

Through the years, American has become morally corrupt!

thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” Teaching this skill is the biggest of the Dad jobs.

A functional moral code

Everyone has a moral code – the trick is finding a good one and practicing.

Though Hinduism, Islamism, Buddism and Humanism have seasoned our world, it’s the Bible that’s made it. How’s that?

Well just look at the ground we’ve covered above. Everything tracks right back to the functional moral code found in the JudeoChristian faith.

Do I acknowledge a bias on this path to morality – absolutely. That’s because a Dad’s best teaching tools are his love and example. Christianity uniquely jells them both.

Teach your children to be conservative

The governed need to know about goverance. Conservatism – tracking to its root word Conserve [v. kuh n-surv] To use or manage wisely; preserve; save – is a smart path to understanding governance.

Good Dads teach their children what

If we apply God’s Moral Values, Trump’s opponent was definitely not fit for that office because of her ungodly values. She strongly supports things that are abomination to God. Things like same-sex marriage, and the mass murder of unborn babies.

God directed the death penalty for those two bridges of His Law — on others, too, including adultery.

America is in great danger of being condemned and destroyed by God because of moral corruption.

In the Word of God, the Holy Bible, He left several examples of His judgment of several nations, including his precious chosen people, the nation of Israel.

Back then, Israel, like America, abandoned God. They were throwing their children in the fire as sacrifice to idol gods. But now we/America tear our unborn children out of the womb. Both are crimes against God and humanity.

Because God considered homosexual acts a “very grievous sin,” he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, and two other city-states.

Our Creator is a patient, very loving and forgiving God. But He will say that enough is enough, at some point!

Manuel Ybarra, Jr. Coalgate, Okla.

works. Conservatism understands the crucial difference in progress as in productive and progressive as in pretense.

Then there’s that American Success Equation thing.

Liberalism ignores responsibility and starves liberty. Libertarianism likes opportunity and liberty but similarly discounts responsibility. Socialism kills all four. Only conservatism embraces the first three as the path to the last and thus is an honest political formula.

One last thing

Whoops, that’s only nine. Where’s number ten?

That’s an easy fix – just go to the quote at the top of the page. The first nine give you a handy handbook for making sure you’re a good Dad. Add that “love your kid’s Mom thing” and you’ll be darn near a perfect one….

• Carl Mumpower, a psychologist and former elected official, is chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party. He can be reached at drmumpower@aol. com.

Asheville Daily Planet — May 2018 - A11

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.

Tuesday, May 1

JIM HENRY PRESENTATION, 7-9 p.m., The Billy Graham Training Center, 1 Porters Cove Road, Asheville. Jim Henry will lead a program on “Jesus: the Joy of the Journey.” Regarding the program, the center asked, “Does your congregation understand that being joyful is a biblical command? Come to be inspired to ‘press on’ as Paul did in difficult times, both in his personal life and in the life of the church.

To register, visit oneuprising.com.

Thursday, May 3

HEALING TALK BY A PHYSICIAN, 7-9 p.m., Center for Spiritual Living, 2 Science of Mind Way, Asheville. Dr. Helmut Vogelsberger, M.D., from Germany will speak about a natural, cost-free, medically verifiable path to healing through the teachings of Bruno Groening. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. To register, call 808-4156 or visit northamerica.bruno-groening.org.

Saturday, May 5

HEALING WORKSHOP, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Calvary Episcopal Church, 2840 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher. A workshop in healing will be led by the Rev. John RIce. Registration and coffee will begin at 8 a.m. To register, which costs $5 and includes lunch, call 684-6266.

MEDITATION INTRODUCTION/OPEN HOUSE, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Asheville Shambhala Meditation Center, 60 N. Merrimon Ave., Asheville. The center will hold an open house “for new and not-so-new people,” as well as a “friendly introduction” meditation and the center. All are welcome to ask questions and savor light (and free) refreshments.

Sunday, May 6

GREGG LEVOY PASSION WORKSHOP, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Unity of The Blue Ridge, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. Gregg Levoy will lead a workshop titled “The Call to Passion.” Regarding the program, Unity noted, “Callings are urgings from the

Gregg LeVoy

Junie Moon

deep self that tell you what it will take to make your life literally ‘come true.’ They’re signs and signals pointing you toward awakenings, course-corrections and powerful authenticity, as well as toward what inspires passion in your life. This presentation (sermon and hands-on workshop) is designed to help you clarify what the signs and signals in your own life — and your life-force — are calling-for from you at this juncture. The goal is to get a snapshot of what wants to emerge in your life, whether in the arenas of creativity, vocation, relationship or spirituality.” Attendees are asked to bring writing materials to the workshop. Levoy is the author of “Callings: Finding and Following An Authentic Life (Random House)” —rated among the “Top 20 Career Publications” by the Workforce Information Group — and “Vital Signs: The Nature and Nurture of Passion (Penguin).” He is the former “behavioral specialist” at USA Today and a regular blogger for Psychology Today. To Pre-register: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/the-call-to-passion-with-gregg-levoy-tickets or call (448) 555-12044. Admission is $25.

Monday, May 7

DON WILTON PRESENTATION, 7-9 p.m., The Billy Graham Training Center, 1 Porters Cove Road, Asheville. Don Wilson will lead a program on “A SeniorCelebration: Living It Up.” Music will be provided by The Burchfield Brothers. Regarding the program, the center noted, “God’s Word reveals that we are chosen, we are holy, and we are strong.

Because of who we are in Jesus Christ, we can truly ‘live it up.’ Come find out why you have the greatest hope through every challenge in each stage of life.”

To register, visit oneuprising.com.

Tuesday, May 8

MEDITATION PROGRAM, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Unity of The Blue Ridge, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. Gayle Ray will lead a program titled “Meditation for the Love of It.” The twice-monthly program also will be offered from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

May 9. The program is based on the title of a book with the same name by Sally Kempton that will be used as a guide. “We’ll discuss ideas from the book and do guided meditations,” Ray noted. “We will explore different ways of going within and connecting with the Divine Self and living from that place of

connection and awareness.

Also, we will explore the loving devotional heart and the objective Knower – Awareness – and fusing these two aspects of the Self together.

The class is for beginners and seasoned meditators.

We will cover posture, mantra, breath, grounding, quick centering techniques, and do a number of guided meditations that lead us further into a state of oneness with the Beloved.” The program is offered on a love offering-basis — and all are welcome.

Wednesday, May 9

RON HUTCHCRAFT PRESENTATION, 7-9 p.m., The Billy Graham Training Center, 1 Porters Cove Road, Asheville. Ron Hutchcraft will lead a program on “Joshua’s Five Bold Choices for Our Uncharted Times.” Regarding the program, the center noted, “Now is the time for bold choices, for courageously taking new ground with God and for God. Come be inspired to turn your back on fear and make brave, life-enlarging choices. To register, visit thecove.org.

Friday, May 11

SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVIE NIGHT, 7-9:30 p.m., Sandford Hall, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The UUCA will screen its monthly Social Justice Movie Night offering, the title of which is to be announced. After the screening, a discussion will be held. All are welcome and admission is free.

Sunday, June 10

“SHADOW SHIFT EXPERIENCE” PROGRAM, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Unity of The Blue Ridge, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. Junie Moon, billed as “an empowering keynote speaker and heart-centered coach” who is known as “The Inner Critic Tamer,” will lead a program titled “The Shadow Shift Experience.” Regarding the program, Unity noted, “Do you question... Is this all there is? Perhaps, you’ve noticed that you’ve been stuck in self-sabotage patterns… forever. Or, you beat yourself up… a lot. Want new and better in your life?” The program is designed to be life-shifting.

“Come experience Exclusive Exercises only happening at this event, which will catapult you into a new realm of radical self-acceptance and empowerment,” Unity noted. “What’s the secret to manifesting the life of your dreams? Loving the whole package! Discover the reason you’re not loving the whole package of who you are. You are awesome, but somewhere along the way you got programmed to believe you’re not, which now makes you question your brilliance and beauty. Is it possible to love your whole package? YES!” Moon will introduce what are billed as “powerful methods from her new book, ‘Loving the Whole Package,’ at this one-time event.” Moon bills herself as “the expert who brings you ‘Transformation That Sticks.’” Moon is a bestselling author of “Loving the Whole Package: Shed the Shame” and “Live Life Out Loud.” For early-bird registration, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-shadowshift-experience-with-junie-moon-schrieber-tickets.

Pre-registration tickets are $20, while tickets at the door are $25.

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Cut Cutto toSize Size

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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I-26 Exit 44, North miles I-26 I-26 Exit Exit 13, 13,then then thenNorth North North miles 3 miles I-26 Exit 13, then 3333 miles I-26 Exit 13, then North miles

I-26 I-26 Exit Exit 13, 13, then then North North 33 miles miles

684-0801 684-0801 684-0801

A12 — May 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet

Advice Goddess Continued from Page A1 A: If your smartphone were actually smart, it would ping you to listen to your girlfriend before she’s your ex-girlfriend trash-talking you in a bar.

Instead, smartphones and apps turn us into lab rats ferociously hitting the touch screen for another hit of techno-crack. They do this through what psychologists call “intermittent reinforcement” — “rewards” that come randomly and unpredictably. Checking your phone sometimes “rewards” you with a new message or newsbit -- sometimes (or even often), but not always. When “rewards” come regularly and reliably -like when a rat pushes a bar and gets a food pellet every time — the rat chills out and only presses when, say, his stomach rings the dinner bell. Unpredictable rewards, on the other hand — only sometimes getting a hit — drive the rats to pump the bar incessantly, sometimes even till the little fellers go claws up.

However, there is hope for you —- and your relationship — thanks to research on habit formation (by psychologist Phillippa Lally, among others). Repeatedly behaving differently when your girlfriend’s talking to you— by turning your phone totally off and, if possible, relocating it to another room — can eventually change your default behavior from robotically checking your phone to attentiveness to those important to you.

In time, you might expand your attentiveness into other areas of your life.

A good test for whether it’s okay to be all up in your phone is swapping in its lowtech counterpart. For example, when the highway patrolman strides over and taps on your car window, is that really the best time to pick up that Stephen King novel and read the end of Chapter 4?

The customer is always frightened

I’m a 36-year-old single woman. I’ve noticed that the more I like a guy the more nervous I get and the louder, more irreverent, and more inappropriate I become. I’m actually a really sweet girl.

How can I stop doing this?

— Unintentionally Brash Your cocktail party conversation shouldn’t translate to “I mean, come on… do I really seem like a danger to myself and society?!”

To calm down so you can talk like a person instead of a scary person, it helps to understand — as I explain in my new “science-help” book, “Unf*ckology” — that “emotions aren’t just thinky things.”

They have a basis in the body. For example, in the case of fear, your heart pounds, you breathe faster, and adrenaline

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surges — whether what you’re afraid of is physical death or just, say, dying onstage while giving a talk — as you watch 43 people simultaneously yawn and pull out their phone.

The human brain is a marvel, but we can take advantage of how it’s also about as easily tricked as my dog. Take that bodily reaction of fear — pounding heart and all — which also happens to be the bodily reaction of being excited. Research by Harvard Business School’s Alison Wood Brooks finds that you can “reappraise” your fear as excitement — by repeatedly saying aloud to yourself, “I am excited” (to talk with some guy, for example) — and actually shift yourself from a “‘threat’ mindset” to an “‘opportunity’ mind-set.”

Also, assuming the current weather isn’t “nuclear holocaust with a chance of rain,” some dude you’re flirting with probably isn’t the last man on the continent. Keeping that in mind, reframe your interaction as a mere opportunity for something to happen with himz — and an opportunity to figure out whether it’s a good idea.

You do that not by selling yourself like it’s 4:56 p.m. on Sunday at a yard sale but by asking him about himself. Counterintuitively, you’ll probably be at your most attractive by leaving a man guessing about you -- as opposed to leaping to conclusions, like that you were the little girl who beheaded all the other little girls’ Barbies.

Wall of me

I’m a single woman struggling with maintaining boundaries. I find myself going along in the moment with things men do or want -- saying “sure, that’s cool” even when it’s not. I’m pretty assertive in other areas, so it’s confusing that I’d be such a wimp with men.

— Yes Woman Guys love a woman who says yes — until they’re done doing whatever she said yes to.

It isn’t surprising that you’re inconsistently assertive. There’s this myth of the self as a single, stable entity -- like one of those Easter Island statues (but with lip gloss and an iPhone). However, evolutionary psychologist Lee A. Kirkpatrick and

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his colleagues find that our self-evaluations (and the behavior that follows) evolved to be “domain-specific” — different in different areas of our lives.

“Situational variables” matter — like the value to us of a potential relationship. So you might march around like some warrior princess of the work world yet want a boyfriend so badly that you show guys you’re dating that there’s no amount of backward that’s too far for you to bend over.

The good news is, your emotions are not your factory foreman. You will not be fired and end up sleeping on cardboard in a doorway if you refuse to obey them. Reflect on possible boundary-challenging scenarios and preplan what you’ll say — and then just say it. State your limits, despite any inner squeals of protest from your fears (those jerks). Expect this to feel uncomfortable, but do it anyway. In time, you should see that it’s self-respect, not compliance, that earns you respect from others — leading them to want you for more than…um… temporary erection relief.

A brief history of tame

I’m a 45-year-old single guy seeking a long-term relationship. My problem is that when I’m interacting with a woman I’m attracted to, my ability to read whether she’s interested in me goes out the window. I suspect I’ve missed out on some great women because I couldn’t read their signals quickly enough.

— Disappointed Where you go wrong is in taking the hesitant approach to asking a woman out — waiting for her to give you some unambiguous indication of interest (ideally, in large red letters on a lighted billboard pulled by a pair of rented elephants).

That said, you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself. The psychological operat-

ing system now driving you (and all of us) evolved to solve ancestral mating and survival problems, and what was adaptive back then can be maladaptive today.

Take how we evolved to be deeply concerned about safeguarding our reputation.

Reputation is essentially our social report card — others’ evaluation of the sort of person we are. It matters today, of course, but not in the life-or-death way it often did in an ancestral environment, where — per anthropologist Irven DeVore’s estimate — many people were with the same band of about 25 others for much of their life.

Back then, if a guy got snubbed by a girl, it would be front-cave news; everybody would know and be laughing behind his back in short order.

Flash-forward to today. You’re in a bar.

Some woman you hit on spurns you. Well, that blows —- and more so if there are witnesses. But there are countless other bars — which means you can erase the embarrassing stain on your social rap sheet simply by trotting down the block to the next happy hour.

Ultimately, recognizing the mismatch between our evolved emotions and modern life helps you understand when the emotions driving you are counterproductively outdated — and basically stupid. In short, assuming that a woman you’re chatting up isn’t giving you a hate glare, ask her out.

If she isn’t interested, she’ll let you know — either right then, with some brushoff like “Actually, I have a boyfriend…” or later, when you phone her and hear: “Home Depot, lumber department. How may I direct your call?”

• (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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Asheville Daily Planet — May 2018 — A13

Political polarization

Continued from Page A1 The lieutenant governor, who has served for six years, spoke for 25 minutes at the dinner.

Forest was introduced by Mumpower, who said, “He’s a man of conviction and character... He’s taking some positions that lots of politicians didn’t have the courage to take.”

The state’s second-in-command, who was greeted with standing ovations before and after his speech, said that while the nation and the state is now well-represented with Republicans, “I think there’s a different call of action... I’ve traveled across North Carolina for the last six years as a lieutenant governor.

“I don’t remember growing up around the dinner table, people saying ‘identity politics,’” or that “‘so and so is a Democrat, or a Catholic....’” “(The late president Ronald) Reagan said... ‘Freedom’s never more than a generation away.’ It was a different day in America.

“Why do we have to assume that things have to be worse today?

“One of the reasons might be that we live in a political illusion.

“It’s about the over-politicization of everything today.

“We grew up with Judeo-Christian values.

They were taught in our schools. They’re not taught there any more. We now talk about family values as a thing of the past.

“So today we live in a world where everything’s over-politicized. Because politics is their (the liberals’) religion….

“We need to get out of this habit of overpoliticization. Then you create a 50-50 environment.

“We think America’s the greatest country in the world. What we do as conservatives is try our best to return to federalism, to the Consitution, to the Declaration of Independence, … we fight to unpoliticize things.

“As the central government gets larger and larger, we get further and further away from freedom.

“Our job as we elect conservative Republicans, is that we make sure they understand…. Otherwise, all we’re going to get is continued leftist lunacy.

“How do we avoid the lunatic left?”

Forest asked, rhetorically. “We elect great people.

“We need to make sure that we don’t keep putting political policy bandaids over “Do you want to solve the problem of poverty in America?” he asked, tying poverty to crime.

Solving the problem of poverty requires solving the problem of “fatherlessness,” he said. “It’s 80 percent likely those kids (without fathers present in their homes) will grow up in poverty.

“We need to get back to the basics.

“There aren’t that many big problems in America. We could solve most of the problems by solving the problem of fatherlessness.

“We’re all called to be part of it. It’s no longer enough to say it all ok and we can go home.

“Just like (William) Wilberforce (17591833), you’re all called to that challenge.

(Wilberforce was a major British opponent of the slave trade — and he championed the importance of religion, morality and education.)

“It’s up to make America being the bright, “shining city on the hill.”

At that point, Forest noted that the aforementioned phrase “comes from the Sermon on the Mount.”

“He was talking about people — you and me.

“We think of salt as a flavor, but way

back ... it was a preservative.

“So we call for salt to be a preservative. Light doesn’t shine in the darkness. It eliminates darkness.

“How do we do it?

“We return to the values that made this country great. What happens then? God blesses the United States of America.

“We’ve become a nation that looks to our central government to solve all of our problems.

“Economically, we (North Carolina) are doing great right now…. We’re No. 3 in the nation.

“Guess what friends, North Carolina is going to continue to grow. Here’s the challenge — what are we going to do to preserve the culture that we call home.”

After a sustained standing ovation by the BCGOP for Forest’s speech, Mumpower, the BCGOP chief, said, “Again, the Republican Party N.C. Lt. Gov. is the only party Dan Forest that can counter ‘Brand X.’ “What a great slate of speakers....”

Mumpower added that “the first generation of saints were martyrs. The second were educators. The third — and last — will be normal, who can be normal in this world.’”

Mumpower then cited the late Scott Peck, an author whose works included “People of the Lie.” The BCGOP chief said Peck wrote in the aforementioned book 37 years ago “that we’re busy creating a generation of liars who would one day try to steal the heart of the country. He was prophetic.”

Mumpower talso cited Jesus, noting that he said, “If you don’t do it in love, you don’t do it in the name” of God. “We’re the party of normal, the party of courage, the party of truth,” Mumpower asserted.

“We honor two men (Abraham Lincolnm and Ronald Reagan), who were not perfect, but they reached for courage, truth, love, and left a tremendous footprint on our world. We reaffirm their mission,” Mumpower said.

The event then ended with a prayer.

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A14 - May 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet

Indicted

Continued from Page A1 In addition, Howell read the entire list of inappropriate purchases. Greene was responsible for more than $58,000 in retail purchases; her son, $8,000.

In addition, Greene had either purchased or directed staff to purchase more than $90,000 in retail gift cards. Over a period of 10 years, a total of $200,000 in improper purchases are attributed to the two.

Green is being held responsible for $10,718.76 in purchases at Target, which included alcohol, a wine aerator, underwear, a lamp shade and soap dispensers; $6,479.03 at TJ Maxx; $1,464.17 at Bed, Bath & Beyond; $1,146.48 at Tuesday Morning; $443.08 at Walmart/Sam’s Club, which included wine, thermal underwear, lingerie, hair dye, a Nintendo Switch video game system, groceries, cleaning supplies, makeup, skinny jeans, and four tires installed; $18,256.69 at Best Buy; $3,572.93 at Barnes and Noble; $2,798.19 at Amazon; and another $13,202.32 at other stores ranging from Toys ‘R’ Us to Vera Bradley.

Her son is being held responsible for $2,926.87 in purchases from Amazon, $970.77 from Staples, $1,592.78 from Best Buy, and another $1,988.78 from stores like Target and Barnes & Noble. Itemized purchases include 20 DVDs and a ticket to watch “Young Frankenstein” at a New York City theater.

Greene is suspected of having used other employees’ cards to purchase $705.53 from AT&T; $18,554.35 from Verizon; $4,909.89 from the Apple Store; and another $18,257.12 from other vendors, including the infamous Tic-Tac-Toe wall hanging shipped to her house from Wayfair.

Both the former county manager and her son were allowed to review and approve their own purchases without oversight. Her son had had his card revoked in 2009 after an internal audit disclosed systematic fraud perpetrated against the county. He paid a $1,600 fine and underwent no additional disciplinary action.

Greene voluntarily surrendered both her county-issued credit cards in 2011, telling one employee she did not want them because use could be subject to public records law.

Greene also ordered employees to provide her with photocopies of their county-

Continued from Page A2 Within hours of that post, Duncan responded with “A Message from Your Sheriff.”

“I read this statement this morning and was completely disheartened. Three of my Buncombe County Commissioners, Al Whitesides, Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and Ellen Frost basically told their sheriff and their Sheriff’s Office that the hard work we have done over the past 12 years has counted for nothing. The three of them feel that they should have oversight through County government into all use of force complaints and use of force policies that involve any law enforcement agencies in Buncombe County to include their Sheriff’s Office.

This Sheriff’s Office, by and large, enjoys the support of the community that it serves, has been an agency of best practices and been recognized nationally for its efforts in community policing practices, and this comes as a slap in the face.

“I, as well as the community, was taken aback at the incident that occurred with the Asheville Police Department and Mr. Johnnie Rush. Because of that, some in elected office are taking advantage of this situation to drive a very anti-law enforcement agenda that I can promise you will impact your public safety and the safety of those that serve. Instead of addressing the very serious issue and making sure justice is served, they are applying what they see as the solution to agencies and officers who had absolutely nothing to do with the Johnnie Rush incident. They are also proposing actions that they do not statutorily have the ability to enforce. What I think shows the intent of these commissioners the most is they did not communicate with anyone at the Sheriff’s Office or to my knowledge any other municipality or their law enforcement agencies before responding with the following: “The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide the best service possible to the people of Buncombe County and will not own any of this statement that gives the impression that we do the contrary.”

The police chiefs of Weaverville and Woodfin also responded in short order with open letters.

Michael Dykes, Woodfin’s chief of police, asked for a retraction. “I must state that such an accusation is either grossly uninformed or intentionally dishonest. To imply that the Woodfin Police Department would engage in such behavior serves only to erode the trust that we have worked so

and made changes that made everybody Duncan said many of the recommendahard to build with the public that we are safer. sworn to protect,” he wrote. tions are already implemented as well as Duncan stressed the good that an HRC “Given that, to the best of my knowlthey can be given his current budget. Other can do when staffed with people working edge, no effort was expended to obtain recommendations showed a lack of underto do the right thing rather than entrench a information about the Woodfin Police Destanding of law enforcement. For example, political, us-versus-them dynamic. partment’s Use of Force Policy or to review regulatory vehicle stops and searchers are Duncan then told of an incident that hapany relevant records about any allegations one of the few legal tools officers have pened the day before. Deputies had gone of abuse by the Department,” he wrote, “it to address drug trafficking, a problem for to McDonald’s to serve a warrant, and an is hard to accept that the true intent of your which he said he fields calls daily. employee crawled through the drive-thru April 3, 2018 statement was a serious effort He then explained statutory separations window and ran, screaming, “Are you guys to create changes in policy.” of powers. In Asheville, the police chief is gonna murder me?”

Woodfin’s mayor, town manager and appointed by City Council and answerable Duncan said the county did not have ispolice chief wrote, “Town leaders were to city management. In the county, the shersues like that with race before, but, “That’s taken aback by the inclusion of our Town iff is elected by and answerable directly to what happens when you have these types of and other municipalities in this joint statethe people. The sheriff, just like the comconversations that push political agendas.” ment. We believe it to be futile to enter into missioners, has specific roles and responHe said officers’ jobs are complicated any conversation when emotional enlistsibilities. The only say the commissioners enough already, and more complications ment, hyperbole, and nebulous overstatecan legally have in how to run the sheriff’s ments may be deliberately employed as the office is in setting its annual budget. will only work to the detriment of their foundation for a debate.” safety and that of the communities they On a positive note, Duncan said a They added, “In over 30 years, our human relations council could be very ben- serve. police department has received zero formal eficial. He recalled a time when deputies “When elected officials jump on board complaints regarding bias or excessive use with something very loosely grounded in responded to complaints about a rash of of force.” break-ins in the Latino Community. People fact, and they make people in the communiAll police chiefs agreed what had hapty feel like they have something to fear from were frightened, because they thought they pened to Rush was terrible and did not would be deported, so Duncan sat down people who are there to help them, you’re reflect the high standards of their departwith Sarah Nuñez, the director of the nowadding to the problem,” Duncan said. ments. One bad incident, they said, should defunct community relanot be used to defame the character of the tions council, listened, men and women who put their lives on the collected information, line every day to defend all members of the community.

Your Wedding Dance can become one of the Duncan was granted most memorable of life’s permission to address moments. We will help the Buncombe County you look wonderful on Board of Commisthe dance floor, giving Exciting opportunities you the poise and confisioners at its April 10 dence you need as you with the new Hilton Garden Inn-Downmeeting to clarify his dance your first dance town Asheville with 140 rooms, resstatements. He warned as man and wife. taurant and rooftop bar located at 309 A wedding dance can the commissioners College Street. Hotel is now accepting be fun, romantic, elagainst adding fuel to applications for: egant, passionate, all the fire. “I don’t think or any of the above! We • Bartender there’s anybody here will take you step by · General Manager step through your •·Food Beverage Director in elected office that Pillar & Rooftop Bar Manager dance, matching easy to doesn’t recognize that • House Person · Food and Beverage Director learn choreography to there’s a pretty strong your special song.

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Jaywalker

issued purchasing cards, and then reportedly used the details to make personal purchases. Among these purchases were two Bose sound systems found in her house under a federal search warrant.

Four county employees were identified in the indictment only by their initials. These people were either guilty of offenses, or their cards were being used by somebody else to make unauthorized, inappropriate personal purchases.

Thickening the plot, serious charges were made with a card issued to a former Buncombe County commissioner, whose name has not been released. All commissioners who were serving at the time have either said they did not make any inappropriate purchases — or that they were cooperating with investigators.

The mystery commissioner’s card was used to purchase cheese, chips, onions, prosciutto, crackers, beef tenderloin, lamb, crab meat, strip steak, oysters, shrimp, turkey, roses, oranges, garlic, peas, romaine hearts, silver bracelets, amethyst rings, vitamins, coffee, bath towels, a scale, napkins, toiletries, an iron skillet and a 6-foot table.

During her last week of employment, Wanda turned over $14,400 in gift cards to

county Budget Director Diane Price.

When the county Board of Commissioners received their 2017 audit, presenter Ed Towson of Gould Killian CPA Group explained, “It’s not known because the investigation is not complete – but it’s our understanding that in the questionable transactions involving [purchasing] cards, there were, in fact, two or more people involved. Now, it has kind of an ugly name in accounting. We call that collusion.

“And you think of it usually as two people that participate in an activity where they both benefit. And that’s not the case.

Sometimes, collusion is inadvertent.

There’s so much trust in an individual that a person does what they’re instructed to do, and we suspect that some of that occurred.

And then, sometimes, collusion can occur simply because the person has some fear or other worry about their job or something that could happen. And so, when we get to that point, then there’s a little bit of a problem, which is the system of internal control on the preventive side is undermined. This is often called override of internal control.”

Buncombe County, under new County Manager Mandy Stone, is continuing to set policy and pass ordinances to prevent incidents like this from happening again.

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A16 — May 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet

Open May 19th - September 9th

Entertainment & Calendar of Events

Special Section PULLOUT

B1

Asheville Daily Planet — May 2018

‘Ain’t it funny how the night moves,

Downtown After 5 to begin May 18 with AVL All-Stars

‘Like a Rock,’ Bob Seger’s music given a solid salute

The Asheville All-Stars will begin performing about 5 p.m. May 18 for the opening of the 30th anniversary season of Asheville’s Downtown After 5 outdoor concert series.

The shows run until 9 p.m.

The concerts, — on the third Friday from May through September — are held on a section of North Lexington Avenue (at the I-240 overpass) in downtown Asheville that is closed off for the events, which are free and open to the public.

Also, local beers on tap will be served — and food trucks and vendors will be offering a variety food and water.

The Asheville All-Stars band is billed as being “comprised of some of Asheville’s best musicians... Attendees can expect original songs mixed with fun covers, with a nod to 1988” — DA5’s first year.

The remainder of the schedule includes: • June 15 — The band Town Mountain will perform what is billed as a “unique bluegrass sound (that) is spiced with country, old-school rock and boogie-woogie.

The opening band will be Sanctum Sally, which plays rock, bluegrass, funk, psychedelia, country, folk and blues.

• July 20 — Performer Fantastic Negrito, who is billed as “the incarnation of a musician who is reborn playing songs from a long, hard life channeled through black roots music. The opener will be The Get Right Band, which a DA5 press release described as performers who combine “catchy, clever, honest songwriting with musical expertise and fearless improvisation.”

• Aug. 17 — The band Southern Avenue, a fiery young Memphis quintet, will perform soul, blues and gospel music. The opener will be the band The Fritz, which is billed as “a soul-driven dance rock band with an aggressive approach to funk, soul and rock.”

• Sept. 21 — The band The Pharcyde, a West Coast hip hop outfit, will perform.

Its debut album sold more than a million copies and was widely praised as one of the most influential hip hop albums of the 1990s. The opener will be the band Free, the Optimus. The Asheville-based band is a hip hop collective focused on bringing improvisational lyricism to jaz-influenced boom bap soundscapes.

When you just don’t seem to have as much to lose....’

By JOHN NORTH

john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com

F

LAT ROCK — Steve Kelly and his band The Tribute Kings exuded the passionate, welcoming and energetic style of Bob Seger during a tribute concert April 6 on the mainstage at Flat Rock Playhouse.

Kelly, who last appeared on the FRP stage last year with his tribute to Neil Diamond (“Cherry, Cherry”), made a sizzling return for the Bob Seger salute, which ran April 5-8.

Kelly featured amazing, athletic choreography (especially considering that he was recovering from recent back surgery), magnificent stage presence and had a terrific voice. His band was top-notch, too.

About 200 people attended the two-hour, two-set performance that included such Seger hits as “Night Moves,” “We’ve Got Tonight,” “Old Time Rock and Roll,” Special photo courtesy of FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE “Against the Wind,” “Like a Rock” and “Hollywood Nights.”

Tribute artist Steve Kelly (singing above) and his band performed a salute The regular show ended with the rollickto “The Music of Bob Seger” recently at Flat Rock Playhouse in Flat Rock. ing “Mary Lou’s Getting Down Tonight,” after which the crowd erupted in a standing bitt, drums; Dan Canyon, bass guitar and sexual content in the lyrics for another of ovation. At that point, Kelly and the band backing vocals; Christy McKinnin, keyanother of his songs — “The Horizontal gathered side-by-side across the front of the boards and vocals; Roger Keith Wheeler, Bop” — from Tipper Gore and the Parstage, joined hands and bowed in unision. guitar and backing vocals; Darryl Estes, ents Music Resource Center.)

They then left the stage. saxophone and percussion; and George The second song of the night was one As the crowd chanted for more, the band Haage, saxophone, flute and percussion. that Kelly described as “our (and Seger’s) soon returned to perform one more song — The show started with the lively 1977 theme song, ‘Main Street.’”

“Old Time Rock and Roll” — to the delight hit, “The Fire Down Below,” which Continuing in a Seger blast-furnace of the audience. interestingly was criticized — at the time mode, the next song was “Hollywood With Kelly performing lead vocals, his — by syndicated newspaper advice colNights,” which ignited the audience. seven-man band included Dean Babbitt, umnist Ann Landers for glorifying sex.

See BOB SEGER SALUTE, Page B7 guitar and backing vocals; Neal Bab(Seger also would later take heat for the

T

Midtown Men excel with soaring harmonies, stellar choreography

By JOHN NORTH

F

john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com

RANKLIN — The Midtown Men — singing songs from the 1960s and featuring lush harmonies and a near-perfect blend of precision choreography with a dash of fun mixed in — performed a 90-minute set with no intermission on April 21 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts.

The high-energy vocal quartet and its stellar sevenpiece band finished the regular show with a red-hot rendition of The Four Seasons’ classic, “November

1963 (Oh, What a Night).”

With the crowd cheering and on its feet, the four singers began walking off the stage at the conclusion of the show’s finale, but suddenly swiveled on their toes simultaneously and returned for one rousing encore — Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye),” waving farewell to the near-ecstatic crowd as part of the choreography.

About 700 people attended the concert, which marked the second visit locally by the Midtown Men, a group that made its Franklin debut about six years ago.

See THE MIDTOWN MEN, Page B7

DVD cover of the Midtown Men

The Midtown Men, originals from the Broadway musical “Jersey Boys,” include (from left) Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, J. Robert Spencer and Daniel Reichard.

B2 - May 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet

Calendar

of

Events

Send us your calendar items

Please submit items to the Calendar of Events by noon on the third Wednesday of each month, via e-mail, at calendar@ashevilledailyplanet. com, or fax to 252-6567, or mail c/o The Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 288148490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting.

To place an ad for an event, call 252-6565.

Tuesday, May 1

LEADING LADIES FILM SERIES SCREENING, 7 p.m., Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon. The TFAC’s “Leading Ladies” film series will feature a screening of the 1953 romantic comedy, “Roman Holiday.” Regarding the film, the TFAC noted that “Princess Ann, graceful figurehead of an unnamed European country, is played

by Audrey Hepburn in her first American film. On a whirlwind tour of Rome, she grows desperately bored with her official role. One night she sneaks off, becomes lost, and is rescued by Joe (Gregory Peck), an American reporter. He colludes in her secret adventure, and with the help of his friend, photographer Irving (Eddie Albert), they have a fantastic day — until duty calls once more and forces the princess to make a choice.” The TFAC added that, “shown at the peak of the Red Scare, the film was written by blacklisted “Hollywood 10” writer Dalton Trumbo, who had to disguise his authorship. Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) was Oscar-nominated for his role as Trumbo in the eponymous 2015 film.” Tickets are $6.

Wednesday, May 2

-

STAGE PRODUCTION, 7:30 p.m., N.C. Stage Co., 15 Stage Lane, downtown Asheville. The production “Burden” will be performed through May 20. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. WednesdaysSaturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Regarding the show, the NCSC asked, rhetorically, “What do you gain by lying to yourself? An original play four years in the making, ‘Burden’ tells the story of a journalist in pursuit of truth and justice, while being unwittingly blind to both. It is a new American play inspired by classic American themes, created by two frequent NC. Stage collaborators.”

Thursday, May 3

THREE REDNECK TENORS CONCERT, 2 p.m., Mainstage, Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock. The Three Redneck Tenors, a trio that was a top 10 finalist on “America’s Got Talent” television show, will perform in concert from May 3 through May 13. Regarding the trio, the FRP noted, “The 3 Redneck Tenors (is) a new musical adventure!

Their musical comedy featuring classically trained veteran artists is like ‘Duck Dynasty’ goes to Carn-

egie Hall – down home laughs with big-city music!

It has been said that if Larry the Cable Guy, Il Divo, and Mrs. Doubtfire had a baby, that child would be the 3 Redneck Tenors. The trio show’s was written by opera-veteran Matthew Lord, with music arranged by award-winning composer Craig Bohmler... These boys have seen it all, sing it all, and make us laugh ’till we double over, reminding us that in life, it’s not just the destination, it’s the journey. Get ready for one side-splitting ride as we go on an excursion only the 3 Redneck Tenors could have had… delighting audiences with their vocal prowess and a smorgasbord of songs and music ranging from gospel, to country, to Broadway, pop and classical.” The Fort Worth Sun said the trio possesses “phenomenal voices,” while The Dallas News described the trio as “NASCAR meets opera….” Showtimes are 2 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m.

Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. For tickets, which are $20 to $52, call the box office at 693-0731 or visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

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Friday, May 4

MICHAEL STEVENS QUARTET OUTDOOR CONCERT, 4-9 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The Michael Stevens Quartet will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

TANYA TUCKER CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin.

Country music icon Tanya Tucker will perform in concert. The SMCPA billed Tucker as “Edgy. Classic.

Country. A defining voice of country music and a modern day legend, Tanya Tucker inspired many female artists who still top the charts today. From the signature classic songs to the unforgettable sass and soul of her voice, Tucker has paved a path in country music and beyond through an unprecedented level of success and continues her longevity today due to a natural, undeniable talent which has proven to be timeless ever since she recorded her debut single ‘Delta Dawn,’ at age 13. With appearances across the world, the Grand Old Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame and even Super Bowl Half-Time Show, Tucker’s career, nearly four decades already underway, is proving to be one for the record books.” For tickets, which are $28, $33 and $38, call 524-1598 or visit www.greatmountainmusic.com.

“THE GIN GAME” STAGE PRODUCTION, 7:30 p.m., second stage, 229 S. Washington St., Hendersonville. “The Gin Game,” the 1978 Pulitzer Prizewinner for drama, will be performed through May 6. The May 5 production will be at 7:30 p.m., while the May 6 show will be at 2 p.m. The show, rated PG-13, is limited to “mature” audiences because of “strong language.” For tickets, visit hendersonvilletheatre.org or call 692-1082.

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Asheville Daily Planet - May 2018 - B3

YouTube photo

Tim Hawkins will perform his comedy show at 7:30 p.m. May 18 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Calendar of Events Continued from Page B2

Friday, May 4

“MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS” PRODUCTION, 7:30 p.m., main stage, Hendersonville Community Theatre, 229 S. Washington St., downtown Hendersonville. The production “Moonlight and Magnolias” will be performed through May 6.

Shows are presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday sand Saturdays — and at 2 p.m. Sundays. For tickets, visit hendersonvilletheatre.org or call 692-1082.

SCOTTY MCCREERY CONCERT, 9 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Cherokeee. MCreery, a North Carolina native, will perform in concert. He broke out in 2011 by winning the 10th season of Fox’s television talent show, “American Idol.” Perhaps his most popular song, “Five More Minutes,” is the lead single on his most recent album, “Seasons Change. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee/shows.

Saturday, May 5

CREATIVE INTERVENTION EVENT, 3-9 p.m., Broadway to North Lexington to Walnut to Woodfin streets, downtown Asheville. A Creative Intervention Event will be held in the Broadway Cultural Gateway Study Area. The event, hosted

by MountainTrue, will prototype design interventions and art-based solutions that are intended to shift how the public interacts with urban spaces.

It is billed as “one component of the Broadway Cultural Gateway project, an effort to transform Broadway Street into a central artery for a vibrant arts and cultural district, stretching from its intersection with Woodfin Street to the cultural attractions of Pack Place. Admission is free.

96.5 HOUSE BAND OUTDOOR CONCERT, 4-9 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The 96.5 House Band will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

Sunday, May 6

FRENCH BROAD TRIO OUTDOOR CONCERT, 2-7 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The French Broad Trio will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

Friday, May 11

GYPSY SWINGERS OUTDOOR CONCERT, 4-9 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville.

The Gypsy Swingers will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

BALLET SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, downtown Asheville. The Asheville Ballet will present a program, “Spring Into Dance: A Movement Bouquet.” The performance also will be presented at the same time on May 12.

Saturday, May 12

UNCA COMMENCEMENT, 9 a.m., Quad, UNC

Asheville. UNCA will hold its commencement with William J. Murdock as its keynote speaker.

Murdock is co-founder and chief executive officer of Eblen Charities. If it rains, the event may be moved into Kimmel Arena.

JOSEPH HASTY & CENTERPIECE BAND OUTDOOR CONCERT, 4-9 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. Joseph Hasty & the Centerpiece Band will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

MASTERWORKS CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, downtown Asheville.

The seventh and last in this season’s Masterworks concert series will feature the Asheville Symphony Orchestra in a concert titled “Bend It.” The conductor will be Jacomo Bairos, while Jennifer Frautschi will be featured on violin. The program will include “Bernstein: Overture to Candide,” “Hyken Four — A Reimagining of Vivaldi’s Four Seaons” and “Brahms: Symphony No. 2.”

For tickets, which are $24 to $69, call 254-7046 or visit ashevillesymphony.org.

SHENANDOAH CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Greeneville, Tenn. The group Shenandoah will perform in concert. For tickets, visit npacgreeneville.com.

THERESA CAPUTO SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Cherokeee. “Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience” will be performed. For tickets, visit caesars.com/ harrahs-cherokee/shows.

Sunday, May 13

JUST US DUO OUTDOOR CONCERT, 2-7 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The Just Us Duo will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

Thursday, May 17

TELLICO OUTDOOR CONCERT, 5-9 p.m., Main Street between Allen and Caswell streets, downtown Hendersonville. The annual Rhythm & Brews concert series will open with the Ashevillebased band Tellico, which is billed as a “rising bluegrass and Americana” group. No dogs are allowed. Admission is free.

BUBBLEGUM POP TRIBUTE CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Playhouse Downtown, 125 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. Flat Rock Playhouse’s Music on the Rock series will present a Bubblegum Music tribute show. The show will feature “all (of) the teeny-bopper hits from the pop music phenomenon of the late ‘60s — “Sugar, Sugar”… “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy”… “Co-Co Sweet”… “Daydream Believer”… “Simple Simon Says”… Come dance the night away with this journey down musical lane.” The show will run through May 20. Showtimes are 8 p.m. May 18, 2 and 8 p.m. May 19 and 2 p.m. May 20. For tickets, which begin at $35, call the box office at 693-0731 or visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

See CALENDAR, Page B6

Dances at the VFW, North Main Street, Hendersonville

• 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 with cash bar downstairs.

Dances at the Asheville Ballroom, Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville

• Saturday, May 5

Cinco de Mayo theme

Lesson at 7 p.m. • Dancing 8-10:30 p.m. $10 per person. Light snacks served.

Introductory Ballroom Dance Lessons

1st 30-minute lesson for

$25

Package discounts available Call to schedule appointment today!

Ballroom dancing offers fun and exercise, with great music and great people.

Kitty Williams

DVIDA-certified dancewithkitty@gmail.com

(828) 778-2785

B4 — May 2018 — Asheville Daily Planet

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24-Hour Emergency Service Call Anthony / Owner

828-552-6274 or 828-775-6210

Asheville Daily Planet — May 2018 — B5

B6 — May 2018 — Asheville Daily Planet

Calendar

Continued from Page B3

Friday, May 18

TUXEDO JUNCTION OUTDOOR CONCERT, 4-9 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The band Tuxedo Junction will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

“GUYS AND DOLLS” PRODUCTION, 7:30 p.m., Hendersonville Community Theatre, 229 S. Washington St., downtown Hendersonville. The musical “Guys and Dolls” will be presented May 18-June.

“In New York City, a gambler is challenged to take a female missionary to Havana, but they fall for each other,” the HCT noted of the plot. “The bet has a hidden motive — to finance a crap game. A Tony Award winner — considered to be the perfect musical comedy.” Shows are presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday sand Saturdays — and at 2 p.m. Sundays. For tickets, visit hendersonvilletheatre.org or call 692-1082.

TIM HAWKINS COMEDY SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. Comedian Tim Hawkins will perform. “Since giving up his job as a grocery truck driver in 2002,” the SMCPA noted. “Tim Hawkins has been forging the magical blend between two comedic ideals: (1) a genuinely funny comedy show (2) that caters to the entire family. Is it realistic? Hawkins thinks so.

With over 100 million views on YouTube, 120-plus soldout shows every year..., Tim has started a gutbusting grassroots revolution of multi-generational (hilarious) proportions.” For tickets, which are $30, $35, $40 and $65 Uber fan package, call 524-1598 or visit www.greatmountainmusic.com.

Saturday, May 19

THROWBACK THURSDAY BAND CONCERT, 4-9 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The band Throwback Thursday will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

TIM HAWKINS COMEDY SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Greeneville, Tenn. Comedian Tim Hawkins will perform. For tickets, visit npacgreeneville.com.

Sunday, May 20

JAMES HAMMELL TRIO OUTDOOR CONCERT, 2-7 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The band James Hammell Trio will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

JIM SHARKEY LAKESIDE CONCERT, 5-7 p.m., lake, Blue Ridge Community College, East Flat Rock.

The annual Music by the Lake concert series will open with singer-songwriter Jim Sharkey, who performs Irish and Americana music. Attendees arre urged to bring lawnchairs and blankets. Admission is free.

Friday, May 25

TUXEDO JUNCTION OUTDOOR CONCERT, 4-9 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The band Tuxedo Junction will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

“CLUE: THE MUSICAL” PRODUCTION, 8 p.m., Mainstage, Flat Rock Playhouse, 2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock. The musical “Clue” will be performed through June 9. Showtimes vary. “Clue” is based on the Parker Brothers board game of the same name. Regarding the musical, the FRP noted, “The internationally popular game is now a funfilled musical which brings the world’s best-known suspects to life and invites the audience to help solve the mystery: who killed Mr. Boddy, in what room and with what weapon. The audience receives forms to help them deduce the solution from clues given throughout the fun-filled evening. Three audience members choose from cards representing the potential murderers, weapons, and rooms; there are 216 possible solutions! Only one hard-nosed female detective is qualified to unravel the merry mayhem.” For tickets, call the box office at 6930731 or visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

Saturday, May 26

ROCK AND ROLL REUNION BAND OUTDOOR CONCERT, 4-9 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The band Rock and Roll Reunion will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

Sunday, May 27

BEE ZEES OUTDOOR CONCERT, 2-7 p.m.,, ga-

The Music on the Rock series will present a “Carolina Shag” tribute concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. May 31 at the downtown Hendersonville venue of Flat Rock Playhouse. The show will run through June 10. Above left is an iconic scene from the 1989 film “Shag,” showing a young man wearing Bass Weejuns dancing the shag at a burger joint

with a waitress wearing roller skates. Above left is what some considered one of the best versions of The Drifters, during the period in which Clyde McPhatter provided lead vocals. The Drifters’ music, although recorded in New York City, was among the wide variety of genres adopted as Carolina beach music by shaggers along the Southeast Coast.

zebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The band The Bee Zees will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

band. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and blankets. No backpacks, coolers, alcoholic beverages or pets are allowed. Admission is free.

Thursday, May 31

Friday, June 8

CAROLINA SHAG TRIBUTE CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Playhouse Downtown, 125 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. Flat Rock Playhouse’s Music on the Rock series will present a Carolina Shag tribute show through June 10. Regarding the show, the FRP noted, “Get out your Weejuns and head on over to the Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown to revel in the Carolina Beach Music hits of The Embers, The Tams, Chairmen of the Board, The Drifters and more.” Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p..m.

Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. There also will be one Wednesday show — at 7:30 p.m. June 6. For tickets, which begin at $35, call the box office at 693-0731 or visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

Friday, June 1

DRAYTON & THE DREAMBOATS OUTDOOR CONCERT, 4-9 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The band Drayton & the Dreamboats will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

Saturday, June 2

GYPSY SWINGERS OUTDOOR CONCERT, 4-9 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville. The band The Gypsy Swingers will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

Sunday, June 3

FRENCH BROAD TRIO OUTDOOR CONCERT, 2-7 p.m.,, gazebo, Antler Village, Biltmore Estate, Asheville.

The French Broad Trio will perform under the gazebo in the Live Music at the Bandstand concert series.

Monday, June 4

VIRGINIA AND THE SLIMS OUTDOOR CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Visitors Center, 201 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The annual Monday Night Live concert series will feature Virginia & the Slims, an Asheville-based jump blues and swing

Website photos

TUXEDO JUNCTION OUTDOOR CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Visitors Center, 201 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The annual Music on Main concert series will open with the band Tuxedo Junction, which bills itself as “Western North Carolina’s premier dance band... Tuxedo Junction is renowned for always adding the right music, consummate professionalism and magnetic personality to every event.” Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and blankets. No backpacks, coolers, alcoholic beverages or pets are allowed. Admission is free.

TAYLOR MASON COMEDY SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. Taylor Mason will perform his comedy show. “Taylor Mason’s quick wit, flawless delivery and polished material make him a hit with audiences of every age,” the SMCPA noted. “He is a ventriloquist, musician and stand-up comedian...

By using the music, laughter and shared experience of sheer joy as his calling cards, Taylor Mason has built an outstanding, consistent and truly American career as an entertainer.” For tickets, which are $15 and $18, call 524-1598, or visit www.greatmountainmusic.com.

Friday, June 22

“THE LEADER OF THE PACK” PRODUCTION, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. “The Leader of the Pack — The Musical Life of Ellie Greenwich” will be performed by the Overlook Theatre Co. on June 22, 23, 29 and 30. “This hit Broadway musical retrospective celebrates the life and times of Ellie Greenwich, whose doo-wop sounds skyrocketed to the top of the 1960s’ charts,” the SMCPA noted. “In the city of Levittown of New York state lived an ordinary girl named Ellie. She dreamed of a great career in the music industry and longed to hear her songs played on the radio. Through joys and heartaches, commercial successes and painful loss, Ellie managed to fulfill her dream with a career spanning more than 40 years and countless gold records. ‘The Leader of the Pack’ musical tells the story of that girl through the melodies and lyrics of more than 30 songs that made her famous, including such hits as ‘Chapel of Love,’ ‘Be My Little Baby,’ ‘Da Do Run Run,’ ‘Why Do Lovers Break Each Other’s Hearts?’ ‘Do Way Diddy Diddy,’ ‘The Leader of the Pack’ and many more.”

For tickets, which are $12 and $17, call 524-1598 , or visit www.greatmountainmusic.com.

Saturday, June 16

BETTER DADS FESTIVAL, 1-9 p.m., Pack Square, downtown Asheville. The Better Dads Festival will be held. It aims to create an active, inspirational, fun and educational space for the Asheville community to explore and celebrate fatherhood. The event, which is free, welcomes people of all ages from Asheville’s diverse communities. Features will include live music, dance, games, costumes, drumming, storytelling, crafts, poetry and a dress-your-dad photo booth. Community speakers and resource booths will invite festival-goers to explore how men show up in their lives, the challenges they face and new possibilities. For those seeking deeper connection, there will be sharing circles. The musical lineup will include Grammy Award-winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, acclaimed local vocalist Lyric and The Willies.

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Bob Seger salute

Continued from Page B1 The crowd — women as well as men — seemed to be into the show, as Kelly belted out: “She stood there bright as the sun on that California coast He was a Midwestern boy on his own She looked at him with those soft eyes so innocent and blue He knew right then he was too far from home....”

Following a rendition of “Here I Am on the Road Again,” Kelly and his group

performed a sublime rendition of “Against the Wind.”

Other memorable first-set songs included “Katmandu,” “Gambling Man” and then the smashing, “Night Moves,” a song that Seger said was inspired from watching the film “American Graffiti.” (“Night Moves,” released in 1976 and topping out at No. 4 on the U.S. pop charts, was, nevertheless, named Single of the Year” for 1977 by Rolling Stone magazine.)

“Night Moves” seemed to be the song of the night and Kelly got the crowd involved in singing along with him on parts of it, Alas, the band chose just to perform the

The Midtown Men

Continued from Page B1 The group’s vocalists were introduced as “four stars from the original cast of Broadway’s (musical) ‘The Jersey Boys.’” They included Michael Longoria, Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer. It was Longoria who played — and sang — the part of Valli in “Jersey Boys,” a Tony Award-winner.

His ability to hit the high notes that Valli did was nothing short of amazing, although sometimes he sounded less like the silky-smoothvoiced Valli and more like Donald Duck.

While the choreography, vocal harmony and backing band’s musical punch were the strong points of the show, the weak point was that the Midtown Men seemed to lack a true lead singer, especially when Longoria was not singing Valli-Four Seasons songs. The others have fine voices, especially for backup vocals, but nobody really stood out.

As it was Hoff’s 50th birthday, the group led the crowd in singing happy birthday to him — and a birthday cake and a group of doughnuts, both lighted up with candles, were carried onto the stage, with Hoff successfully blowing out all of the candles.

The Midtown Men’s backing band include a guitarist, bassist, drummer, a threemember horn section (trombonist, trumpeter and saxophonist) and a keyboardist.

The vocalists were dressed in black, including sequined tuxedos that sparkled, and accented by bright-red pocket squares. The band members simply wore all-black.

The show opened with The Four Seasons’ mega-hit “Sherry,” In noting that the April 21 show marked the group’s second appearance at the SMCPA, one of the vocalists said, “It is good to be back here.” He praised the area’s scenic beauty and its friendly residents.

In a reference to the musical “Jersey Boys,” he noted that “our story began on 42nd Street on Broadway. We were the original cast of ‘The Jersey Boys’ and, something happened, and we fell in love with ‘60s music” and the quartet went on to form the Midtown Men. “We’ve done over 800 concerts” in the eight-year history of the group, he said, adding that many of the songs the Midtown Men would be performing at the Franklin show “are about love.” He then emphasized that “we need more love in the world” right now.

The group then sang Jackie DeShannon’s “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” followed

by The Turtles’ “Happy Together,” Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar” and the Beach Boys’ “Wouldn’t It Be Nice?”

After celebrating Hoff’s 50th birthday on stage briefly, the group — for the first time in the show — sat on stools, as Hoff sang his best lead of the night on the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “What a Day for a Daydream,” followed by the Youngbloods’ “Get Together,” Van Morrison’s “MoonDance” and the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.”

Back on their feet and showing off their dazzling choreography, the Midtown Men then performed a rousing rendition of the

Beatles’ “Got to Get You Into My Life.”

At that point, the vocalists told of meeting their real-life counterparts in the Four Seasons that each of them played in “Jersey Boys” — and heaped praise on them.

The Midtown Men then performed a medley of Four Seasons songs from “Jersey Boys,” which, a member noted, “we got to do eight times per week,” when they were with the show.

The medley, which sparked one of the loudest and most enthusiastic responses of the night from the audience, included “Working My Way Back to You,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Big Man in Town,” “Rag Doll” and finished with a bang with “Walk Like a Man,” with hilarious choreography that included the vocalists taking hilariously steps that exageratedly emphasized their manliness.

As the quartet left the stage for a brief costume change, the band kept the audience in the ‘60s mood, playing instrumentals of “Secret Agent Man,” “Theme

Asheville Daily Planet - May 2018 - B7

original — at its three- or four-minute length — rather than stretching it out into what it merited — a 10-minute or so jam.

The crowd joined in as Kelly sang: “Workin’ on our night moves.

And it was summertime. Sweet summertime, summertime.

And, oh, the wonder. We felt the lightning.

And we waited on the thunder. Waited on the thunder.

I awoke last night to the sound of thunder.

How far off I sat and wondered.

Started humming a song from 1962.

Ain’t it funny how the night moves....”

As the group’s rendition of “Night

From the Pink Panther,” “Theme From the Munsters” and “Theme from Hawaii 5-0.”

Then, the quartet returned to the stage in the same all-black outfits, but with the addition of bright-red tuxedo jackets and launched enthusiastically into the Temptations’ “Get Ready,” which was interesting to hear with Langoria singing lead Valli-style.

After that, the group performed renditions of the Rascals’ “Good Lovin’” the Zombies’ “Time of the Season” the Monkees’ “I’m Not Your Stepping Stone” and the Rascals “Groovin’” — all of which were true highlights of the concert. The audience’s sustained applause seemed to confirm my evaluation. Only the earlier Four Seasons’ medley was comparable.

The hard-working quartet then slowed the pace, as the vocalists sat on side-byside stools to sing some more mellow songs of the night, with Hoff singing a deliciously haunting and jazzy version of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth.”

Still on stools, the group sang Glenn

Moves” wound down, Kelly left the stage briefly only to return in a mod jacket with frills (a la Seger) and wrapped up the first set with a rendition of “Beautiful Loser.”

Following a 20-minute intermission, Kelly stepped up his mimicking of Seger’s habit of changing into stylish jackets between songs during the second set.

Among the second set’s memorable songs were “Strut,” “Fire Lake,” “We’ve Got Tonight” and “Blame it on Midnight.”

However, possibly the best song of the second set — based on crowd response — was the solid “Like a Rock.”

Upcoming shows at the Flat Rock Playhouse’s Flat Rock mainstage include “Clue: The Musical,” May 25-June 9; “The Love List,’ June 14-30; and “Broadway on the Rock,” July 6-21. Showtimes vary.

Campbell’s memorable ballad, “Galveston” Back on their feet, Langoria began the lead vocals on Valli’s “My Eyes Adored You,”after which each of the other quartet members sang lead on a verse, too, for an interesting effect.

Then Langoria, with an obvious touch of pride, told the crowd that the next song was “my big number” in “Jersey Boys” — as he launched into the lead of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” The audience then applauded Langoria’s efforts enthusiastically.

After the show’s finale and the encore, the crowd cheered and the smiling (and sweating) Midtown Men gathered sideby-side at the front of the stage with arms around one another and performed an elegant group bow — and then exited permanently for the night.

Upcoming SMCPA shows include country icon Tanya Tucket at 7:30 p.m. May 4, comedian Tim Hawkins at 7:30 p.m. May 18 and “The Leader of the Pack: The Musical Life of Ellie Greenwich at 7:30 p.m. June 22, 23, 29 and 30.

B8 - May 2018 - Asheville Daily Planet