Jimmie Vaughan whirls Spindale — See Review, Pg. B1
Asheville buzzes as Bee City USA — See Story, Pg. A2
Mayer Hawthorne: Hip hop over soul? — See Review, Pg. B8
ILLE V E H AS ASHEVILLEʼS GREATEST NEWSPAPER
October 2013
Vol. 9, No. 11
An Independent Newspaper Serving Greater Asheville www.ashevilledailyplanet.com
Big Love Festival: The next Bele Chere?
Daily Planet Staff Photo
Blues band Pleasure Chest entertains the crowd during the Big Love Festival on Sept. 15 at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville. The event, which some have speculated could replace the now-defunct Bele Chere street festival, is a celebration of “unchained and independent Asheville.” Pleasure Chest also plays rock ’n’ roll, soul and “garage.” More photos of Big Love Fest appear on Page A12.
Coal ash settlement explained, fuels ideas
From Staff Reports The details of a tentative agreement that the state of North Carolina recently reached with Duke Energy Progress regarding coal ash pond pollution in Asheville and at several other sites across the state were reviewed and explained during a presentation Sept. 18 at the County Club of Asheville. About 60 people attended. Addressing “The proposed Duke Coal Ash Settlement: What Does It Mean?” at Leadership Asheville Forum’s Critical Issues Luncheon were Julie Mayfield, an attorney and co-director of the WNC Alliance; and co-presenter Kelly Martin, the Sierra Club’s North Carolina campaign representative. “Until you do something different with coal ash, or stop producing coal ash, it’s like bailing out a boat, but not fixing the hole,” Mayfield said. See COAL, Page A8
Future economic development? Mayoral candidates’ visions vary By JOHN NORTH
john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
Asheville’s three mayoral candidates expressed widely varying views on future economic development for the city during a Sept. 19 public campaign forum. Vice Mayor Esther Manheimer said she favors continuing what she termed “a balanced approach” to economic development. In sharp contrast, former city employee John Miall said the city has “all the pieces necessary to make Asheville the health and wellness mecca it is destined to be” and that that would be his focus. He also said he wants to boost tourism. Taking yet another tack, restaurant waiter Martin Ramsey said Asheville should seek a completely new path to make it less reliant on tourism. He said tourism “needs to be critically looked at” because it creates so many jobs with
low wages and no benefits. On a question asking for a simple “yes” or “no” about their confidence in embattled city Police Chief William Anderson, only Manheimer spoke positively — and even that was qualified. “I’m standing by the chief of police — at this point,” she said. Miall and Ramsey gave “no’s” on their confidence in Anderson. As for the question “Yes or no, does City Manager Gary Jackson have your full confidence?” Manheimer said “yes;” Miall, “initially, yes;” and Ramsey, “no.” A standing-room-only turnout of more than 130 people attended the event in the board room at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce in Montford. A 30-minute informal “meet and greet” with the candidates preceded the 60-minute question-and-answer session. The three candidates will square off in an Oct. 8 primary, with the two top vote-getters advancing to the Nov. 5
FREE
general election. The city’s current mayor, Terry Bellamy, has chosen not to seek re-election, noting an interest in running for a higher office. Welcoming everyone — and praising the turnout — was Karen Oelschlaeger, president of the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, one of the forum’s sponsors. She emphasized that the LVM “is a nonpartison organization, so we don’t support or oppose candidate.” She also said men, as well as women, are welcome to join the LVM. She noted that the questions asked of the candidates were submitted on index cards by forum attendees to the moderator, David Hurand, of WCQS-FM (88.1). The moderator also was allowed latitude to ask some questions and to keep the candidates on focus. See MAYORAL, Page A9
The Advice Goddess
Amy Alkon
Another brick in the wallow
Q: I’ve missed countless opportunities because I fail to speak up in the moment. A pretty girl smiles at me on the bus. Ten minutes later, I will wish I’d stayed on the bus and struck up a conversation. The same thing happens with business opportunities. At the critical moment I need to act, I go into a fog of some kind, weighing my options. Much later, I’ll realize that gold was put in my lap, and I’ll endure a lot of shame from not being present enough to recognize that. I’m all man when I have a girlfriend (which I don’t now) and will do anything to make her feel secure. But because of my problem with seizing opportunity, I’m much lonelier than I need to be. I’m realizing that I’m an irretrievable mental defective. — Hopeless
Want to know the answer?
See ADVICE GODDESS, Page A18
A2 —October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
Asheville abuzz over becoming 1st Bee City USA
By JOHN NORTH
Berry Bate for appointment The importance ofCall honeybees as pol- 828-508-6667 linators — along with the need for human off Sweeten Creek Rd. beings to enhance their foraging habitat — Winners Circle • Arden were emphasized during a 2Sept. 16 ceremony downtown to unveil a sign designating ShOwROOm Asheville as the first Bee City USA. john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
Bows! in Guns & next week our ad Look for
Rebates Up to $150*
A Grown Up WishMADFrom Santa! E IN THE Factory Direct Pricing BY LRebates IBERTY Up to $150*
A Grown Up Wish From Santa
0001904920 0001904920 Newt Plemmons Daily Planet Staff Photos Berry Bate ADE IN THENewt Plemmons M Direct Councilmen Cecil Bothwell (left)Bows! and Gordon Smith Factory are all smiles Sept. 828-231-8169 CityCall appointment 828-508-6667 828-231-8169 16 afterfor unveiling a sign — designating Asheville as a certified Bee City USA in Guns & Call for appointment— along Patton UpPark to Avenue the Veterans Memorial inRebates Pack Square off Sweeten Creek adjoining Rd. Call for appointment next week in downtown Asheville. 23 Young Road • Weaverville our ad 2 Winners Circle • Arden 23 Young Road • Weaverville Look forUp Wish A Grown From Sant Both Bothbetter...D Congratulations on wARehOUSe Gary Jackson.ShOwROOm E IN THE wARehOUSe A B M Y Y T R L E I B well and Smith had been our Bee City USA” desig-
— 2 LOCATIONS —
A Grown Up Wish From Santa!
Some men wore bright-yellow hardhats invited to speak. nation, he concluded. labeled “Worker Bee,” prompting goodBothwell, who noted he Injecting a note Direct of humor Factory natured teasing from those knowledgeable is a former beekeeper, said, into the ceremony, Smith *Factory rebates for month of December only. of apiculture that worker bees are infertile BYfor Y that *Factorybegan rebates month of T December only. to “It isn’t just the bees, it’s by quipping R Rebates Up L E I B females and that the only male honeybees Phyllis Stiles speaks from behind a all kind of insects and some “Phyllis has been *not only are drones, known to be lazy and whose custom-built beehive lecturn. Flank- mammals” that are dying the ‘queen bee,” but she has only function is to mate with new queens. ing her are Carl Chesick and her suddenly, mysteriously and 0001904920 put beforeEthe citizens of Berry Bate Newt Plemmons INquintessential THENewt Plemm Berry Bate Other attendees sported black-andAD the husband Richard Stiles. MBows! in alarming numbers. He Asheville Bows! Call for appointment 828-508-6667 828-231-8169 * 828-231-8 yellow antenna on their heads that were Call for appointment 828-508-6667 in Guns & noted that many people may proposition: “To bee, or not in Guns & off Sweeten Creekworldwide Rd. Call for appointment next week to the food supply for people provided by Phyllis Stiles, director and off Sweeten Creek Rd. Call for appoi next week be unaware of how essential to bee.” Stiles, along with our ad 2 Winners Circle • Arden 23 Young • Weaverville our ad without the pollinators that are essential in Look founder of Bee City USA. 2 Winners Circle • Arden the crowd, 23 Young Road • pollinators are Road to maintainlaughed heartily. for Look for ShOwROOm wARehOUSe enabling the lifecycle of flowering plants to ing an adequate In keeping with the event’s theme, ShOwROOm food supply OnBaY serious note, Smith TYwARehO R L E I B progress. the lectern that the speakers used was a for human— beings. said, “The health — of our polTH2 — 2 LOCATIONS E LOCATIONS MADE IN — “Lastly, it wouldn’t have happened (the camouflage-green, wooden beehive (with “What we’re doing is linatorsFactory is very important to Direct rebates for month of December only. Bee City USA designation) without our no bees inside), with the telescoping cover *Factory rebates fo destroying*Factory the habitats of our achieve” the community’s Asheville City Council, whichFlexible voted unani- Interiors tilted at an angle to provide a platform on Rebates Up to pollinators,” he asserted. goal of feeding hungry Flexible Interiors A playful young woman mously” to support the project,” Stiles said. which written speeches could be placed. Bothwell added that there sports a honeybee outfit. people throughout the area. She recognized two councilmen pres-in the “Hi, everybody,” Stiles said enthusiastiare many things local resigalaU.S.A. ended*with Made U.S.A. BY LI BMade ERTY inThe the ent at the ceremony — Cecil Bothwell and cally, in opening the program. “Thanks for dents can do to provide better habitats to Bothwell and Smith unveiling IN Tthe HEcolorful MADEAsheville Gordon Smith, both of whom are running celebrating with us ... Here, in the first Bee “Weeds are better” than grass. sign, proudlySizes proclaiming as the Many Sizes pollinators. Available Many Available for re-election — as well as City Manager City USA.” The small crowd cheered, as “Clover is better than grass. Bee balm is first place designated as a Bee City USA. 0001904920 0001904920 Bate Newt Plemmons she spoke in front of a banner thatBerry stated, UL Tested Berry Bate Newt Tested Plemmons ADE IN THEUL MBows! Bows! “The bees need you (almost much as you828-508-6667 in Guns & Call forasappointment 828-231-8169 Call for appointment 828-508-6667 in Guns & 828-231-8169 B Y L I B E RTY need them).” off Sweeten Creek Rd. CallHigh for appointment Fire Ratingoff Sweeten Creek Rd. next week High Fire Rating Call for appointment next week “Lots of times, great ideas don’t go anyour ad 2 Winners Circle • Arden 23 Young Road • Weaverville our ad 2 Winners Circle • Arden 23 Young Road • Weaverville Look for where ... That’s not what happened for Bee Look forSelling Safe in America #1 Selling Safe in America ShOwROOm wARehOUSe #1 ShOwROOm B City USA in Asheville.” Many parties were Y LSelling IBERTYwARehOUSe #1 Safe in America contacted in the process, and a negative — 2 LOCATIONS — — 2 LOCATIONS — response anywhere along the way probHigh Fire Rating *Factory rebates for month of December only. *Factory rebates for month of December only. ably would have derailed the effort, Stiles * said. “So all it would have taken was one Flexible Interiors UL Tested Flexible Interiors ‘no,’ but everyone said ‘yes.’ So this is a day of gratitude to everyone. We’re setting Made in the U.S.A. Sizes Available Made in theMany U.S.A. precedents....” IN THE in A beekeeper herself with two hives, ADESelling Made the U.S.A. America M#1 Made inSafe the in U.S.A. Many Sizes Available Stiles noted — with obvious pride — theMany Sizes Available project has advanced from the “egg” to the High Fire Rating Flexible Interiors UL Tested “larval” stage. UL Tested She added that “we live in a real special UL Tested *Factory rebates fo BY LIBE— Y T R part of the world where we have very com- High Fire Rating *Factory rebates for month of December 2 LOCATIONS — only. High Fire Rating mitted beekepers. “Some of them started Many Sizes Available ShOwROOm wARehO organizing and created a thing called the Selling Safe in America Look for #1 #1 Selling Safe in America 2 Winners Circle • Arden 23 Young Road • our ad Center for Honeybee Research.” 285offSafe N.Sweeten Main St., #7, Weaverville • (828) Made innextthe U.S.A. #1 Selling in America week Creek Rd. Call for appo Stiles thanked the many supporters in Guns & ShOwROOm Call for appointment 828-508-6667 wARehOUSe 828-231-8 of the project, including the Buncombe Bows! Look for Flexible Interiors High Fire Rating Berry Bate 23 Young NewtDunn Plem Newt Plemmons, owner 2 Winners Circle • Arden Road • Weaverville County Beekeepers Chapter, as well as Carl Harley our ad Selling Safe in America *Factory rebates f #1 Chesick and her husband Richard Stiles. next week off Sweeten Creek Rd. UL Tested for appointment —230-27 231-8169 (Chesick, director of the CHR and an —Call 2 LOCATIONS in Guns & High Fire Rating B I E Asheville resident for more than 30 years, Y appointment 828-508-6667 ShOwROOm BY L CallRTfor 828-231-8169 BY LIBERTY wARehO Bows! said the center focuses on the issues and Many Sizes Available Look for 2 Winners Circle 23 Young Road • Berry Bate Newt our ad UL Plemmons Tested We• Arden accept credit cards: difficulties faced by honeybee pollinators. 0001904920 next week off Sweeten Creek Rd. *Factory rebates Call foronly. appo He told the news media at the event that he for month of December #1 Selling Safe in America in Guns & Made in the U.S.A. Call for appointment 828-508-6667 828-231Many Sizes Available wants the CHR to be “the world hub for all MADE IN THE MABows! Berry Bate DE IN THE Newt Plem things bee, and it’s a pretty gradiose plan, High Fire Rating Flexible Interiors Made in the U.S.A. but I think it’s reachable.”) She noted that colony collapse disorder, *Factory rebates for month of December only. ShOwROOm wARehOUSe UL Tested Flexible Interiors Rebates Up to $150 wherein colonies of bees die suddenly — Look for Rebates Up to * 2 LOCATIONS — 2 Winners Circle •— Arden 23 Young Road • Weaverville and mysteriously — is one of the most *Factory rebates fo our ad Factory Direct Pricing Many Available challenging problems facing beekeepers Factory — Direct ShOwROOm next week — Call off Sweeten Creek Rd. Sizes for appointment 2wARehOUSe LOCATIONS Look for today, “so even with dedicated worker bees, 2 Winners Circle • Arden 23 Young Road • Weaverville inourGuns & ad you can’t always save the colony no matter Made in the U.S.A. Call foroffappointment ShOwROOm wARehO next week Sweeten Creek828-508-6667 Rd. Call828-231-8169 for appointment Bows! Look for how hard they work.” 2 Winners Circle 23 Young Road • in Guns & • Arden Newt Plemmons, Ken Driggers Virginia Allen our ad Call for appointment 828-508-6667 828-231-8169 Berry Bate Newt Plemmons Bows! As for Asheville, Stiles noted that “urban next week off Sweeten Creek Rd. Call for appo Flexible Interiors 0001904920 Owner Deliveries & Sales Offi ce Mgr. & Sales Berry Bate Newt Plemmons in Guns & areas can actually be a refuge for bees.” Call for appointment 828-508-6667 828-231-8 0001904920 509 New Bows! *Factory rebates for month of December only. (828) 231-8169 (828) 772-7752 #1 Selling Safe in America (828) 775-9694 She also cited a recent Time magazine Berry Bate Newt Plem Leicester Hwy. cover story titled “A World Without Bees” — 2 LOCATIONS — Asheville LibertySafeSales@gmail.com that told of the problems that would happen High Fire Rating LI B ER
Flexible Interiors Made in the U.S.A.
Many Sizes Available
UL Tested High Fire Rating #1 Selling Safe in America
— 2 LOCATIONS —Direct Pricing Factory Protect Your Valuables from Theft & Fire A Grown Up Wish From Santa!
Rebates Up to $150 Flexible Interiors Factory Direct Pricing v o a r F i t e s ’ a Satof$150 t e in the U.S.A. San Made Rebates Up A Grown From Santa IN THWish E MADEUp Sizes From Available A GrownMany Up Wish Santa! Protect Your Valuables from Theft Protect Your Valuables from Theft & Fire UL Tested Factory Direct Pricing
av rite Sa BYn LItBa ER’TsY F Rebates Up too$150 Sa High Fire Rating avoinriAmerica te Safe ta’s FSafe anSelling S#1 #1 Selling Protect Valuables from Theft SafeYour in America AComplete Grown Up Wish From inventory inavstock! orite Sa F High Fire Rating ta’sSanta! San
UL Tested Factory Protect Your Valuables from Direct Theft Pricing & Fire Rebates Up to $150 Many Sizes Available riteTheft Favofrom Protect Your Valuables FireTheft Saf&e Factory defects, ta’s n a S Protect Your Valuables from Santa’s FavSoarinttea’SsaFfaevorite SSaa#1nfetSelling in America Made the U.S.A. e a n a’s FinSSafe t a t factory returns i ra’’sesNo.FFS1-rated aa avoThe vforite Saf isafe te Sa triteTheft vnoRating aaInteriors s FFire S Protect n Your from ’Valuables aHigh Saavo&rFire tFlexible
ffrom e Theft andProtect closeouts Sa& Fire Protect Your Valuables Your Valuables from Theft in America Protect Your Valuables from UL Tested Your Valuables from &feFireare S Plemmons voAll a riLiberty F at Theft & Fire Protect t— eTheft s ’ a SLiberty t aSafes San — 2 LOCATIONS
FANTASTIC PRICES!
Plemmons Liberty Many Sizes Available Safes fire- & theft-resistant offer a full line 285 N. Main St., #7, Weaverville • (828) 231-8169 Made in the We U.S.A. of Liberty Safes
Flexible Interiors Protect Your Valuables from Theft Fire Newt Plemmons, owner Harley Dunn,&sales in Sa#1ntSelling Safe a’s FSafe e230-2731 ritAmerica a o v 231-8169 —’s2 LOCATIONS — Safe avo rite FFire SantaHigh Rating B Y L I B E RTY
Santa’sLarge Favoselection rite Safe for LIBEthe RTY Y B Protect Your Valuables from Theft & Fire Protect Your Valuables from Theft & Fire entire family Plemmons Liberty Safes
UL Tested Plemmons Liberty Safes 285 N. Main St., #7, Weaverville • (828) 231-8169
285 N. MainMany St., #7,Sizes Weaverville • (828) 231-8169 ARBY‛S SHOES Available M E A A Grown HUp Wish From Santa! M D E IN T 828.258.1128
A Grown From Santa E ADEUp IN THWish
Newt Plemmons, owner Made in 231-8169
Harley Dunn, sales the U.S.A. 230-2731
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013 - A3
A4 - October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
Mission Hospital development plans unveiled City official hears criticisms of possible three-laning of Charlotte Street
From Staff Reports
Ambitious development plans for Mission Hospital were unveiled by a hospital official during the Sept. 6 issues meeting of the Council of Independent Business Owners following breakfast in the food court at Biltmore Square Mall in Asheville. In addition, the proposed narrowing of Asheville’s Charlotte Street from four to three lanes to allow for sidewalks and bicycle lanes was presented by city Transportation Director Ken Putnam, assisted by Vice Mayor Esther Manheimer. In addressing Mission’s development plans, Brian Moore put much of his focus on the building plans and space needs for the hospital. Moore, who has been with Missionsince 1985, is director of the hospital’s public policy and regulatory affairs Moore began by noting that nearly $350 million in (cost) cuts” will be necessary as the result of “changes resulting from” the Affordable Care Act, which is more commonly called Obamacare. “We’ve had to make some tough decisions, including letting some employees go,” Moore asserted. “That’s a tough issue to go through. He said Mission’s “mission” is to serve this community. “The only reason we’re here is to do it safely, without waste and with an exceptional experience,” Moore said. “So we’ve got the whole changing environment.... On both the Mission and St. Joseph sides of the street — we’ve got a whole lot of buildings that are hitting 50 years old or more....
that end, Moore said anyone who has visited the ER area lately will see the major changes. “One of the main issues we’re facing are ancient facilities. Two hospitals that used to be competitors are across the street from each other,” he said in reference to Mission and St. Joseph’s that are now merged into Mission. Last year, Moore said, 12,000 trips were made with patients by nurses, Brian Moore Ken Putnam doctors and other staff between the buildings. “So those are some tough issues that are colliding... Having to modernize and at the “That’s wasteful. You can’t fix that.” “Another issue is room size,” he noted. same time facing cuts in reimbursements. Each year, Mission Hospital faces $50 mil- “When hospitals were constructed in ‘60s and ‘70s, rooms were smaller. Now with lion in buildings needing modernization.” Moore spoke glowingly of Dr. Ron Pau- medical equipment and patient expectalus, Mission’s president and chief executive tions,” the rooms are too small. “The punchline is we consolidate our faofficer, and “I’ve never had more confidence cilities on the Mission side of the street,” in our leadership team..” Moore then asked, rhetorically, the CIBO Moore said. He noted the growth of “that Medical members, “How many of you been involved in — at any point in time — and studied Mile” between the hospital and downtown Asheville. manufacturing?” “At the earliest, around 2015, we could He added that, “about two years ago, we began updating our processes.... How many begin this construction. There are lots of have you been in our emergency department processes we have to go through first. “Areas that are suboptimal... the towers, in last year?” For Mission, “it’s a tough environment. We both have room sizes that just won’t make have to deal with issues of behaviorial health,” it for the future. “I’m very confident the building can stay particularly in its emergency room areas. “The emergency room is like the front on our existing campus....It looks like it door (at Mission), so you start there.” To wants to be a tower.
“It’s easy to get lost at Mission and St. Joseph’s ... We’re seeing over 105,000 patients per year in our emergency department. With three or four people” accompanying each patient, “it’s easy for us to see a half a million people in our emergency department.” During a question-and-answer period that followed, CIBO member Mac Swicegood asked, “Is there anything that’s going to happen to the street system — the way you’ve got it outlined?” “The answer, I think, is no — if it’s designed properly,” Moore replied. To another question, he said Mission’s urgent care centers are proliferating, but still its ER is seeing an “unusually high number of patients.” Also, Moore added, “We have a problem in Western North Carolina … We’re 140 positions shy of primary care doctors — and as we look forward to the retirement situation with baby boomers (who are doctors),” the situation is likely to get worse To a question about whether Mission will remain independent or merge with a larger health system, Moore said, “I think our board of directors have made it very clear that we should stay independent. I think we will increasingly see ourselves (in the U.S.) with coalitions of systems. The systems that are being created across the state do provide important critical mass. It’s a tough issue.... We like our independence in Western North Carolina.” On the separate issue of possible Charlotte Street road changes, Putnam told the CIBO members that there are pluses and minuses with remaining at four lanes or narrowing to three lanes. See PLANS, Page A8
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013 - A5
Dickie’s Cheapest groceries
Trucks arrive daily
anywhere!
DICKIE’S FOODS Buy, Sell, Salvage Foods & Overruns
Product constantly changing
Huge selection 10-lb. boxes RICE SALE of Chicken of cookies and Whole-grain “dirty” herb (wings, tenders, crackers just Fried rice Chicken and herb arrived — hurry nuggets, breasts, Couscous cut-up chicken, while the Risotto pre-cooked) “dirty” rice selection‛s good! All Chicken.....$1/lb. Cajun Gumbo dinner kit
Asian, Thai and Curry Roasted Garlic Dinners..................98¢ Hamburger Helpers
DICKIES FOODS
(10 flavors to choose from)
HAMS
98¢
Spiral-sliced, 1-l.b pack of Hot Dogs 49¢ to 98¢ halves and wholes, Buy, sell, Salvage Foods & Overruns Propel, Gatorade, deli ham, 98¢ 3-lb. bucket of Juices......... So cheap 10-lb. box black pepper ham Lard (manteca) you won‛t believe it! irregular-cut 00 98 00 All hams........ $1 /lb. $2 ea. or 2/$5 of center-cut #1 1114 Hansel Ave., Asheville, Ph. 253-4415 All Salad Dressings #2 308 Patton Cove Rd., Swannanoa, Ph. 686-58523/$500 Candy Bars, Energy Pork Chops #3 1512 Charlotte Hwy., and Mayonnaise $1000 Fairview, Ph. 826-0834 Bars, Nutri Bars, Steaks Owner Buzzy Country-Fried Plemmons 98¢ each Two 8-oz. rolls 00 00 Snack Bars... 5/$1 00 8-lb. box/$10 of Sausage...... 2/$1 Salvage refers only to 28-oz. cans of –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– slight dents in cans or Tomatoes, organic Bacon — $200/pack or Scalloped Potatoes boxes. They are the Dickie‛s #1 & reg..................... 98¢ 98¢ 3/$500 same brands found in specializes in bulk any supermarket. 10-lb. box of Thanks to everyone who shops at Dickie’s. foods for nursing Hot Dogs ....... $1000 Contents all 100% The Plemmons family sure appreciates your guaranteed business! Buy, sell, Salvage Foods & Ove homes, day-cares All items have been rigidly inspected by us and are passed for sale. 1 lb. roll of and restaurants. Out of date product guaranteed by us. Spicy Sausage......98¢ 3 LOCATIONS Rice, vegetables
3 LOCATIONS
DICKIES FOO
Pork Loin Chops and Pork Cubes - all $2/lb. (smaller sizes)
3 LOCATIONS
If not satisfied, return product BULK FOODS CHEAP! #1 114 Hansel Ave., Asheville, Ph. 253-4415 for full refund. #2 308 Patton Cove Rd., Swannanoa, Ph. 686-5852 #1 1114 Hansel Ave., Asheville, Ph. 253-4415 All stores #2 308 Patton Cove Rd.,accept Swannanoa,EBT Ph. 686#3 1512 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, Ph. 628-0834
Visit our web site at DickiesHalfPriceFoods.com
#3 1512Se Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, Ph. 826-083 habla español
Owner Buzzy Plemmons
A6 — October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
Daily Planet Staff Photos
DA5’s 2013 finale ends on fun note Asheville’s Downtown After 5 monthly summer street fest ended its season on Sept. 20 with live music and an eclectic — maybe even surreal — mix of dancers, along with a variety of local craft beers and food offered to attendees. The concert was opened by The Blue Rags (left), an Ashevillebased band. The headliner (not pic-
tured) was the Nashville-based Americana rockers Truth & Salvage Co., which has long had roots in Asheville, beginning as Scrappy Hamilton. The group moved to Los Angeles in 2005 and renamed itself Truth & Salvage, but its latest CD “Pick Me Up” was recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain Recording Studio.
These venues invite you to visit them in Downtown Asheville
ART + I N D E PE N D E N T FI L M S
Coming in October
ENOUGH SAID • 12 YEARS A SLAVE I’M SO EXCITED! DALLAS BUYERS CLUB Visit our new location at 28 Asheland Avenue, Downtown Asheville
• Free parking • Sales, service and repair
New, used and vintage
BICYCLES 253-4800
New & Used
Always purchasing LP collections Sell us your records for cash
90 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville
(828) 255-9333
•
36 Biltmore Ave
•
232.1536
Located at the Grove Arcade
Way beyond hip and trendy Asheville Daily Planet
COMPARE OUR BUYING PRICE ON GOLD AND SILVER
WE BUY LARGE
OR
SMALL COIN COLLECTIONS
BUYING ALL GOLD & SILVER Mon.-Sat. 10-5 1 Page Ave Suite 120 Asheville NC
828-255-0731
0003151683
LPs & CDs
www.FineArtsT heatre.com
Open D aily
Voltage Records
Buy - Sell
$5 Tuesdays Local Brews on Tap Best C oncession Prices Special events/fund-raisers excluded Prices subject to change Upstairs Stadium Seating All films — all day — only $5.00
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013— A7
Indians’ legacy helped Carolina Readiness Supply make U.S. what it is, presents Comanche pundit says SENSIBLE MOUNTAIN By JOHN NORTH
john@ashevilledailyplanet.com
The conteporary landscape of American Indian politics and culture were addressed and deconstructed by Paul Chaat Smith, a Comanche author, essayist and curator, during a midday talk Sept. 20 in the Highsmith University Union’s Grotto at UNC Asheville. Smith, an associate curator of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., drew a standing-room-only crowd of more than 100 people. According to his “bio,” he holds no college or university degrees. His visit was part of UNCA’s Native American Speaker and Performance Series that includes talks by Native American leaders. Smith’s presentation ran parallel to his most recent book, “Everything You Know About Indians Is Wrong,” He told a number of stories — funny and painful — that illustrate the ways he sees Indian stereotypes infiltrating mainstream American culture. He also is co-author of “Like a Hurricane: The Indian Movement From Alcatraz to Wounded Knee,” billed as a standard text in American Indian studies and American history courses. Smith began by telling his fantasy of striking it rich, enabling him to buy “the largest spread just outside of town (Asheville) — and there’d I’d raise llamas.” He joked that he would have a large stock of “expensive Scotch (liquor)” on hand, as well as other amenities — and life would be a dream. As the crowd laughed, Smith turned suddenly serious and noted, “When I’m not daydreaming about becoming the world’s laziest llama farmer, I’m thinking about Native American Indians.” He said he agrees with experts who contend that America’s founding differed with the rest of the world because it was based on “a messianic idea” resulting in a new reality. Smith also contended that the U.S. began as a country with a vision that needed a blank slate. “During this time, Europeans often called Indians ‘Americans.’ They called the Indian leaders not chiefs but kings and emperors... What happened? How did kings become chiefs?” He then asked, rhetorically, “What do we remember and why?” “We forget — all-too-soon — things we thought we couldn’t forget I think forgetting is just as important part of life as remembering.” Smith ripped newspapers for biased work, including in their reports on Indians far back in American history — and on civil rights leader Martin Lurther King Jr. in his early days. Only after King’s assassination in 1968 did the media narrative on him change from negative or neutral, to positive, Smith said. The change was so drastic that, by 1983, King’s birthday was made a national holiday, he noted. “In the 1963 March on Washington, a sense of dread hung over the white people of (Washington) D.C.,” he said. Many whites felt it was impossible to have a huge “crowd of negroes” gathering there without violence. “The big news was that no violence involving blacks occurred,” he said. He also spoke of “Robert Kennedy’s wire tapping,” referring to the then-attorney general authorizing the FBI to wiretap King’s home and office telephone lines. “Yet I think we should try to remember
the bad stuff, as well as the good,” Smith said. “Otherwise, we short-change the amazing progress the U.S. has made” in recent years. Smith devoted a significant portion of his talk to the “epic Paul Chaat Smith scale” of the Trail of Tears, involving the forced removal — by the federal government — “of five Indian nations from the American South in the 1830s.” Many thousands of Indians died in the reportedly brutal conditions of the forced marches from the Southeast to Oklahoma that ended with the last tribe — the Cherokee — in 1838. (The other four relocated tribes were the Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw. Recently, he noted, “there have been remembrances of the Trail of Tears” around the U.S. “Thousands and thousands of Americans have directly taken part in these activities... The United States government, as well as state governments, have offered an apology and held formal ceremonies to express their regret. “There is something American — and very practical — about this” effort to remember and forget the Trail of Tears, Smith said. “In the most narrow sense, it’s about the forced march” that resulted in so many deaths. “Everyone agrees it was an awful case of injustice and cruelty and a shameful chapter in our history.” However, Smith asked, “If it was such a bad thing, why did it happen? Actually, many people even in the 1830s thought it was a bad thing. It was bitterly debated. “Andrew Jackson presented the Indian Removal Act as a good thing because the Indians were being terrorized for their lands… and (he said) that this was a better option. “Here’s the thing: Many of the Indians owned businesses. Most of the Cherokee were Christians.” Therefore, Smith suggested, the forced removal of the Indians really signified a move to open up land “for landless whites and eliminated competition.” “This was a very big project. It took a whole decade from the signing of a document in 1830 until the last group was removed in 1838,” Smith noted. “They say each Indian nation had its own Trail of Tears... What most people don’t realize was that the South was an Indian place. “After removal, a few tribes were allowed to stay. But the area never had the same character” afterward. “It was one of the largest removals” of people in world history. However, he noted, “On the bright side, many Indians made the best of things and many of them are thriving today... On the dark side, the additional lands often became cotton land — and slavery exploded. Cotton takes a lot of people. “So the larger story goes from the Indian removal and suffering to… It’s how the U.S. became the way it is ... I don’t want the people to feel guilty because nobody here was alive during that time. But I don’t want people to forget. It’s a legacy that’s important.” During a question-and-answer period, he said he uses the terms “Indian” and “Native American” interchangeably and has no problem — for now — with what is regarded as the politically incorrect term “Indian.” However, Smith said he strongly favors changing the nickname of the Washington Redskins because he feels the term “Redskins” is offensive.
PREPAREDNESS SEMINAR III November 1-2, 2013
Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745 Advance Tickets: $20ºº At the Door: $25ºº
William Forstchen
Mr. Modern Survival — Spiritual Preparedness ............................................................................6:00 pm Tim “Old Grouch’s” Glance — Communications..........................................................................7:00 pm Mike Moore — Security...................................................................................................................8:00 pm
Opening Prayer & Pledge of Allegiance ......................................................................................8:00 am Jennifer Elswick Elswick — — Food Food Storage Storage..................................................................................................8:15 am Jennifer Skinny Medic — Building Your First Aid Kit.....................................................................................9:00 am Engineer 775 — Retreat Design (Water/Electric)..........................................................................10:00 am Dr. William Forstchen — Author of “One Second After” ..............................................................11:00 am
Mr. Mad Mick — Prepper’s Medicine Chest (For Beginners) .........................................................1:00 pm Lori Hunt — Survival Medication (Advanced).................................................................................2:00 pm Sootch00 — Weapons.................................................................................................................... 3:00 pm Question & Answer .......................................................................................................................4:00 pm
A8 - October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
Coal
Continued from Page A1 Jeff Hay, head of the LAAF, introduced Mayfield to the crowd. “We quite frankly don’t know everything we need to know about the coal ash issue,” he said. “I live four or five blocks away from Lake Julian, so that’s why this issue is important to me… I hope today we’ll be able to get better acquainted with the facts. We have several speakers today.” He added, “What we wanted was an education as opposed to resolving litigation.” Regarding Mayfield, Hay said she was chosen by LAAF “to provide a balanced presentation — and she brought along someone (Martin) from the Sierra Club. We invited Duke Energy, but no speaker, but we have Jason Walls from Duke Energy, who will listen and be available to answer questions afterward.” Martin began the presentation by noting, “Julie asked me to provide a little bit of bigger context of the Beyond Coal effort around the United States… That will kind of set us up for Julie’s presentation.” As for what spawned the Beyond Coal movement, she said, “What we see from the cradle to the grave is coal in the Appalachian Mountains just north of us in West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. It’s required people to move out of areas after living there for generations.” She said a second reason for Beyond Coal is that coal is “a leading cause of respiratory illness.” What’s more, Martin said, “Personally, I’m worried about the impact (of coal) on global warming and climate change.” In terms of climate change, she claimed that, in 2009, “coal is responsible for one third — 35 percent — of carbon pollution in the United States Therefore, we need to transition from coal to clean energy as soon as possible. “I see that climate disruption is on our doorstep…. There is vast evidence… I feel compelled that this is our moral obligation to act… As does our president (Barack Obama), who has regulations proposed to roll out soon.” Beyond Coal is operating in 47 states across the country, she said. “We have grassroots organizing and a legal front.” She listed the following Beyond Coal’s action phases: • Phase 1: Stop the rush to build new coal (2005-2012). Specifically, this involved stopping 90 percent of proposed plants — and building the group’s movement and infrastructure • Phase 2: Replace most vulnerable plants (2010-2015). This, she said, would involve replacing 105,000MW with clean energy by 2020. Also, the group would try to block exports in Alaska, the Northwest and the Gulf • Phase 3: Replace coal with clean energy (2015-2020).
Plans
Continued from Page 4 He then noted that the possibility of narrowing Charlotte Street — to make it more friendly to pedestrian and bicycle traffic — is still being studied and no definitive action has been taken on the matter. “There are 11 intersections along that corridor from I-240 to Edwin Place, Putnam said.”There’s a lot of traffic congestion.” Also, he said, “There are a lot of driveway cuts. We also have ways along the corridor where driveway cuts exist, but they don’t go anywhere. That deteriorates the sidewalk and makes them ... not customer-friendly.” Charlotte Street carries 14,000-20,000 motor vehicles per day, Putnam noted, adding, “The afternoon hours are the most critical ones. “If the road stays at four-lanes, we can expect minor delays by 2015 and, a few years after that, “moderate” problems. “We’ll start seeing the congestion spreading out.” On the other hand, “If we go to three lanes, we’d see delays increase on side streets... Some of the results that the study found is that queu lanes – the southbound approach.... So the queus would be longer on the side streets. The potential for speeding will likely increase simply because we’ll have wider lanes... “Even if we did all of this, we’d still have the problem with driveways. … So the biggest problem is how we can make this more pedestrian-friendly? And not at the expense of businesses. Putnam introduced Manheimer,, who is
This means locking in replacement of the remaining coal fleet no later than 2030 Martin added, “We’d like to see all of our coal go away by 2030…. If this is successful, what we’ll see is a dramatic reduction Julie Mayfield Kelly Martin in carbon pollution.” There have been 171 proposed coal plants defeated, as a result of the Beyond Coal efforts across the country, she said. “Also, many plants will close as the result of tighter EPA standards for coal-fired power plants. Here at the Asheville plant, Duke Energy Progress invested in pollution controls.” However, she said, “Many companies have found it’s more economical” to build new clean-energy plants. “We have a goal of retiring one-third of the country’s coal fleet by 2020 — and we’re about halfway there. So coal generation has declined about 18 percent over the past few years. “Wind has tremendous potential, but the technology is not there yet for widespread use around the United States... Wind is now producing about 3 percent of this country’s electricity, which is a vast change”from even a few years ago. “Solar’s not on the map yet —almost 1 percent, but it’s cost is coming down... When you set a benchmark for generating clean energy…. it can make it happen,” Martin said. “By 2050, renewables can supply 80 percent of U.S. energy generation, according to studies... North Carolina is fifth in installed solar capacity.” In Asheville, the Duke Energy Progress coal plant at Lake Julian “generates electricity for us,” Martin said, in concluding her presentation. “It’s the biggest source of pollution in the county — the coal equivalent pollution to 500,000 cars per year on the road.” Mayfield then then began her phase of the presentation by asking a rhetorical question: “What is coal ash?” In response to her own question, she said coal ash is “the stuff that is left over after you burn coal. It is stored in two (unlined) lagoons” near Lake Julian in South Asheville. “The ash is mixed with water and stored there. There is a 1964 lagoon, which overs 45 acres; and a 1982 lagoon, 42 acres.” “They’re right along I-26, near the French Broad River, Mayfield said. “The dams are so close to I-26 that the EPA rates them as ‘high hazard dams,’” wherein a breach would likely result in loss of life. Ironically, she noted, “Air pollution controls increase pollutants in ash... As you might have heard, the1982 pond is being emptied for fill at the airport. And that’s actually a good thing because the coal ash stays where it is placed.. The older pond is not really a pond any more. It’s earth now
running for mayor. “I think Ken nicely summarized where we are with this.” she said, “I’m chairing the Planning and Economic Development Committee... The process is going to include more public input opportunities. We may bring this to our annual retreat (in January)... If we do something, it’s going to require capital expenditures. “We’d like input and feedback on any ideas by city officials.” Manheimer said, adding, “I probably get more emails about Charlotte Street than Hendersonville Road.... on pedestrian safety.” She noted, “I’m talking to business-owners. We’d like to enhance, ultimately, the business opportunities on this corridor.” In a question-and-answer period after the city duo’s presentation, Swicegood asked about the impact of any plans on Chestnut and Hillside streets. “Yes, they were added into the equations,” Putnam replied. “The right of way on Charlotte Street varies.... 46 to 53 feet.... It is true that space is the issue. We’d like to think (about that) as we explore these other options. There’s more opportunity on one side than on the other (side of the road) because of existing retaining walls.” Mayoral candidate John Miall said he saw no purpose in still planing the project after paying for five consultant reports — to date — regarding the reducing of the lanes on Charlotte Street — and all five recommended against it.
and things grow on it.” Mayfield asked, rhetorically, “So what’s the problem with coal ash? They’re two-fold. There are seeps coming out from underneath the dams and getting into the French Broad River… The other problem is the pollutants are seeping into the groundwater. Heavy metals and other chemicals are there.” While Duke Energy has been conducting its own testing for years around the ponds, Mayfield said, referring to environmentalists, “We’ve been doing our own surface-water testing for about three years... You can obviously discharge wastewate — and they have a permit. But the two seeps are illegal.” In detailing a timeline from January to August, she told of environmental groups sending notice of intent to sue, a lawsuit filed against Duke Energy over its Asheville and Riverbend plants, environmental groups petitioning to interveneand the announcement of a draft settlement that drew nearly 5,000 comments. “What those lawsuits say, in essence, is continued operation of those plants is a threat to human health and the environment and the state is on record in agreeing with that,” Mayfield said. The draft settlement on coal ash, she said, does the following: • Imposes a $60,200 fine • Requires site assessment to determine “cause, significance and extend of exceedances of groundwater standards” What it doesn’t do, she said, are the following: • Have firm deadlines on when things will happen. • Require Duke Energy to stop the pollution of groundwater and the French Broad River • Require Duke Energy to do anything different with coal ash going forward. “I can’t talk about it now, but I think the deadlines issue has been addressed” in the latest agreement, she said. “We have the right to appeal this consent decree, if we don’t agree with that. There are multiple forums, including the litigation forum. “Ultimately, what we’d like to do is address is the future of coal ash with Duke Energy Progress,” Mayfield concluded. Meanwhile, Walls, the Duke Energy Progress official sitting in on the LAAF meeting, told the Daily Planet afterward that “I respect Julie and Kelly,” but there are three “really important things” he would say in response to their presentations. “First, if you look at the French Broad River today — it’s a healthy river,” Walls said. “Second, the company’s accountable for what remediation” is deemed necessary. “Third, the state is doing what, by law,” it must do “to regulate our business. Walls added that, of about 15 coal-fired Duke Energy plants across the state, “seven are being retired.”
Miall suggested adopting a plan for the I-26 connector, as recommended by former mayor Ken Michalove, “then see what, if anything, needs to be done on Charlotte Street.” Manheimer sprang to Putnam’s defense, noting that,“Ken comes to us originally from the Department of Transportation — and he’s an expert road engineer. “ She added, “Because we are dealing with a finite width and finite amount of dirt,” the proposal is complex. “We’re asked about bike lanes,” too. “I think the primary consideration would be cars and sidewalks,” Manheimer said. “You may have to give up on-street parking and bike lanes because of the finite space.” Putman interjected, “Just to add to that, hopefully, there are some short-term things we can do.... Right now, if congestion is around the I-240 ramps, we can work with the Department of Transportation. We’ve already started that conversation. They don’t want traffic backing up into interestate.” A CIBO member asked for a comparison of Merrimon Avenue and roughly parallel Charlotte Street traffic. Charlotte Street averages 14,000 to 20,000 motor vehicles daily between I-240 to Chestnut Street, while Merrimon averages 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles daily from I-240 to Chestnut Street, Putman said. “Charlotte Street, Edwin Place and Kimberly Avenue are the three optional routes,” Putnam noted. “Merrrimon has been in
that traffic-volume range. The uinque thing about Merrimon being four lanes is the outside lanes tend to be left turn lanes.”
Published monthly by Star Fleet Communications Inc. Phone: (828) 252-6565 • Fax: (828) 252-6567 Mailing address: P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490 Website: www.ashevilledailyplanet.com E-mail the following departments:
News: news@ashevilledailyplanet.com Letters to the Editor: letters@ashevilledailyplanet.com Display Advertising: advertising@ashevilledailyplanet.com Classified line ads: classads@ashevilledailyplanet.com Circulation: circulation@ashevilledailyplanet.com Publisher: publisher@ashevilledailyplanet.com
To subscribe to the Asheville Daily Planet, send check or money-order to: P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490 One-year local subscription (Asheville, Buncombe County, N.C., only)..............................$35 One-year out of area subscription (outside of Asheville, Buncombe County, N.C., but inside the United States).........................................................$50 One-year outside U.S. subscription (outside U.S.)..................................................................................$100 Copyright 2012 by Asheville Daily Planet. Advertising copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. The Asheville Daily Planet is available free throughout Western North Carolina. Limit one copy per person. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 per copy, payable at the ADP office in advance. No person may, without prior permission, take more than one copy of each issue.
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013 — A9
Mayoral
Continued from Page A1 In her opening statement, Manheimer said, “I currently serve on Asheville City Council and have since 2009, when I was elected. I love Asheville. I care about Asheville. My husband and I are raising our three boys here in Asheville. My husband is a social studies teacher at Enka High. This community is special to all of us in this room…. If elected, I will carry out what is the heart and soul of this community, going forward. … Engagement… is what Asheville is all about… For instance, we’re working on the Haywood Road corridor… I’ve been by and seen the project… This is about the community and the city working together to further our collective ideas and vision for the City of Asheville. I ask for your vote and I’ve been honored to serve you thus far.” Next, Miall said, “It’s good to see so many faces. I’m encouraged that maybe we’ll have a good turnout for this election. I’m a lifetime resident of Asheville. I worked for the city for 30 years. The idea of serving this community is what appeals to me. … That said, I’d like to think we can do better than we are through local government… I’d like to concentrate my remarks on expanding our economy…. I’m interested in health care (too). We have some of the greatest physicians anywhere…” Miall spoke of his involvement with the Asheville Project. “I think we’ve got all the pieces necessary to make Asheville into a mecca of health and wellness that it is destined to be.“ Finally, Ramsey said, “The future is bleak by all objective standards. We are rendering people invisible.… We believe people can and should be making decisions on the spending of their (tax) money. Doling out money to corporations to locate in our city is a losing battle and results in diminishing returns.” He said the city and other local bodies should look at using their spending power to spawn worker-owned businesses. “To those who believe that’s impossible, we would point to other cities. Another Asheville and another world are possible. .. We have to demand a real alternative. The future belong to us… and we’re not going to take this lying down.” Following are some of the questions and answers from the forum: What will you do to improve the city’s relationship with Raleigh? Ramsey — “We have to realize we’re not being negotiated with in good faith… I’d do my very best to remedy that in the short term” — and, in the long term, make sure new legislators are elected to serve in Raleigh. Miall — “I’d offer that some of the seeds for the current water issue were sown when the water agreement was made a few years ago… I think it was a lesson we were all taught as children, which was ‘Do unto others.’ And I think if we follow it, we will have a better future for our water system.” Manheimer — “North Carolina is not unique in this. But we’re an extreme example of this conflict between cities and the state legislature. Our own representative,. Tom Apadoca (R-Hendersonville), said…. ‘Cities are getting too strong....’” In response, Manheimer said, “This is going to require working with all of the cities in North Carolina to educate our legislators on the need for cities — and to work with them. I’d also encourage everyone to change the legislature in Raleigh because, ultimately, that may be what is required.” Would you drop the lawsuit water? All three candidates answered “no.” What is your stance on tourism as a form of economic growth?
Esther Manheimer John Miall Miall — “I was going ‘downstate’ to speak to a group and I passed Durham and the city limits sign. I saw a sign saying ‘Welcome to Durham, City of Medicine.” I thought, why don’t we have signs saying, ‘Welcome to Asheville, City of Health and Wellness’? All the pieces are here — just not the vision and leadership to drive it... Just a few short years ago, we were told by the chamber of commerce that a company chose not to locate here because of health costs… I want to diversity the economy, not at the expense of tourism, but in addition to tourism.” Ramsey —”Cooperative economic development is part of my strategy. I think we ought to follow the example of Cleveland, Ohio. .. I think that model holds some interesting possibilities for those of us in Asheville. .. I think we can encourage a worker-owned and worker-managed future for the City of Asheville. I’m the only one up here whose (payment of his) power bills depends on the tourism industry… The tourism industry is the only growing segment of our (Asheville) economy, postrecession. We can do better than that.” Manheimer — “Asheville is currently the city with the lowest unemployment rate in the state… Even so, we can do better… We need to seek higher-wage jobs and more diversity of jobs… The city can strengthen itself in many areas, such as the arts… We as a City Council have adopted an economic incentive policy. And it’s worked to bring in companies such as New Belgium and Linamar.” What efforts do you support to bring in private-sector jobs? Manheimer — “I’ve spent a lot of time on council learning what you (the citizenry) want. I’ve spent several years learning about the different groups, each of which has a role. I’ve been working with City Council on an economic development plan…. One is a project involving the River Arts District… I feel I am now in a position to contribute to that going forward.” Miall — “To contrast,” while others talking about spurring economic development, “I’ve done it. The Asheville Project — I hate to keep going back to that. … I’ve done it, I’ve led the charge and it’s part of my vision to see Asheville take it to a whole newer level.” Ramsey — “While I think the health care industry is an important component in or economy,… I think ultimately it could be dangerou” for Asheville to depend too much on it for job growth. “With problems with health care nationally, I’d hate to see Asheville be a part of another bubble economy… We need to do better than that.” What about the $2 million city budget allocation for the art museum? Ramsey — “I’d personally like to see the Asheville Art Musuem have more free days and be more accessible to more people. That said, … I think regular people in our neighborhoods can come together for our spending decisions. If the people agree on that, I’d respect that. But I also think we should consider projects like Sunday bus service.” His comment on the bus service drew loud applause from some inthe crowd. Miall — “Bus service, indeed. Our side-
Martin Ramsey walks and streets are crumbling,” despite tax and fee increases, which he termed “a great sleight of hand in the budgeting process. Folks, I’m here to tell you, for the first time in the history of this city, we don’t get our garbage picked up without paying a fee... It’s like planning a trip to the beach when we don’t have money to eat — when we give $2 million to the (art) museum.” Miall’s jab at council’s art museum expenditure garnered loud applause. Manheimer — “We need to make investments in our community so that we can rely on our own revenue. We raised taxes 4 cents. We are putting that into sidewalks and into roads. Asheville owns the Pack Place building. Art museums in downtowns are proven to pay for themselves in short order…. We need to keep in mind the balance needed, including sidewalks and roads — and the arts, which bring all of us to a higher place.” Which is more important to you: lower taxes or increasing public services? Ramsey — “I think we can avoid making the city unlivable for the poor. I’d also prioritize to avoid soaking the rich.” Miall — “We all remember the drill … I was careful to listen. The city’s own audited financial statements for 2012 showed the city had nearly a 4 percent increase in revenue. This year, 2.6 percent. If your income is going up, but your expenses are going up four times higher, you’ve got a spending problem. … I’d also suggest the vice mayor fact-check her statement that the city owns the Pack Place. The city does not own that building.” Hurand, the moderator, allowed Manheimer to respond to Miall’s challenge to her statement about Pack Place. She said, “I’ve reviewed the lease and it’s complicated,” but she held to her contension that the city owns Pack Place. What’s more, Manheimer said, “You do have to pay for city services ... police and fire service.” Among North Carolina cities, “we have the greatest change of daytime vs. nighttime population — a 50,000 (person) difference,” which puts pressures on a city to provide services to nontaxpaying commuters. Identify essential services beyond police, fire and garbage. Ramsey — “We should maintain control of our public water system. I think affordable housing should fall under that category. Also education is important... It’s
not like we can decide not to pay for the coming generation’s education.” Miall — “I agree with all of those, especially the water. I’m not an attorney, as is Ms. Manheimer, but there is an inspections requirement and (also) parks and rec” that the city must cover. “So I’d add parks and rec to that list of core services.” Manheimer — “The city, in addition, provides storm water mitigation services. It’s statutory. That’s a major issue for our community. Public works is another thing. Planning and permitting — the vision we see for our community going forward. Hopefully, the Merrimon Corridor Project, after the Haywood Road Corridor Project. Transit... Parks and rec is an $8 million subsidy. That’s a very real expense, when you first have to pay for police, fire and garbage. Affordable housing is an essential issue.” In closing statements, Miall said, “I’d like to talk briefly about visions. I think we have to be more fiscally responsible. If our expenses are growing at a rate of five times our revenues, we need to get control of our expenses.” Ramsey said, “It’s my opinion that Asheville will grow. Who will it grow for? I’d like to be part of a movement for egalitarian growth, where everyone gets to matter. Let’s stop chopping down every acre of trees and despoiling the world around us.” Manheimer said, “I think Asheville is a great community. I’d like to lead this city as your next mayor. I feel my time and experience has” given her excellent preparation for the job.
A10 - October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013 — A11
A12 - October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
Big Love fun
The band Red Honey (above left) performs Sept. 15 on the Asheville FM Stage dur-
ing the Big Love Festival in downtown Asheville. Meanwhile, a painter practices his
Daily Planet Staff Photos
art in Pack Square Park at the main stage, as the crowd grooves to the music.
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.
Friday, Sept. 27
THOMAS MERTON RETREAT SEMINAR, 8 a.m., Lake Logan Episcopal Center, Canton. A weekend seminar (Sept. 27-28) will focus on the teachings of Thomas Merton. The Rev. Brian Cole, former Canon of the Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville, will conduct the program. Cole has had a lifelong interest in Merton’s life and works. Cole is rector of The Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington, Ky. Merton was a prolific writer and mystic who lived as a monk at the Trappist monastery, the AbBrian Cole bey of Gethsemani, in Kentucky. Merton’s bestselling autobiography, “The Seven Storey Mountain (1948),” is credited with influencing many people to seek the monastic life. National Review listed Merton’s life story as one of the best non-fiction books of the 20th century. The three-day retreat is $325 per person double-occupancy, including all meals and materials. To register, call 646-0095.
Tuesday, Oct. 1
PUB CHAT, 6 p.m., Mezzaluna restaurant, 226 N. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The Unity Center in Mills River will hold “Truth on Tap,” a pub chat with the Rev. Chad O’Shea on matters spiritual and otherwise. A love offering will be taken.
Wednesday, Oct. 2
ANIMAL BLESSING, 6-7 p.m., Unity Center, Mills River. The Rev. Chad O’Shea will lead a blessing of the animals, which, weather permitting, will be held outside the church. A love offering will be held.
Saturday, Oct. 5
BENEFIT YARD SALE, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Woodland Hills Church, 50 Woodland Hills Rd., Asheville. A benefit yard sale to benefit Mountain Area Pregnancy Services will be held. In addition, hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, drinks and desserts will be served for a donation, beginning at 10 a.m. CAR SHOW, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ridgeway Baptist Church, 525 Old U.S. 19/23, Candler. The Annual Ridgeway Car Show will also feature food, a silent auction and children’s activities. The fee is $10 to show a car and advance registration is not necessary. Admission to the show is free. DINNER/BAKE SALE,11 a.m.-5 p.m., Asheville Mennonite Church, 49 Bull Mountain Rd., Asheville. The church will hold its semi-annual smoked chicken dinner and bake sale. More than 900 chicken-halves will be smoked and sold as quarter or half chicken dinner, or as meat alone. Dinners will include cole slaw, baked beans and a roll.
Sunday, Oct. 6
PUMPKIN SALE, noon-7 p.m., Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville. Pumpkins will arrive at the church on Oct. 6, with the pumpkin patch also operating noon-7 p.m. Sundays, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. MondaysSaturdays through Halloween. The pumpkins are grown and delivered by Navajo people in New Mexico.
Saturday, Oct. 12
FALL FESTIVAL, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville. The church will host a fall festival, featuring games, music, a pumpkin walk, bake sale and free hot dogs.
Sunday, Oct. 13
GUEST SPEAKER, 11 a.m., Unity Church of Asheville, 130 Shelburne Rd., Asheville. Pana Columbus, an award-winning and critically acclaimed playwright, private transformation coach and creator of “The Elements of Transformation” (an intensive weekend transformation event), will be the guest speaker at the 11 a.m. service. Stories will be shared about mythological, historical and modern-day stories “that will rejuvenate your commitment to realizing your personal dreams, as you discover the part they play in bringing heaven to earth,” Unity noted. COFFEEHOUSE CONCERT, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The Mountain Spirit Coffee House concert series will continue.
Covenant Reformed
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 281 Edgewood Rd. • Asheville, N.C. 28804
828-253-6578
www.covenantreformed.net Wednesday— 7 p.m. Prayer/Bible Study Sunday— 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11 a.m. Worship • 6 p.m. Worship
Celebration Services 11 AM Sunday
Unity Church of Asheville An Informal Spiritual Center of Practical Christianity for Everyday Living.
Bookstore Meeting Rooms
130 Shelburne Road West Asheville 252-5010 www.unityofasheville.com
Advertise your church in this space
@ $10 per month
If interested, e-mail us at
advertising@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com ... or call 252-6565.
New Books by Dr. Bob Holt, M.D. at Lulu Dot Com “Jesus in India,” etc. www.healthark.com
email: decoderdoc@juno.com
Unity Center
A Church Family for ONE and ALL Come as you are! Sunday Services Sunday Services 10:00 a.m 9:30am & 11:00am Serving WNC for 60 years
891-8700 / 684-3798
2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd. Mills River 28759 Rev. Chad O’Shea
www.unitync.net
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013 — A13
Where were YOU when the lights went out?
Bob Lawrence Power Equipment Co. Inc.
265 Broadway, Asheville • 828.252.3561 Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. • Sat., 9 a.m.-noon
A14 — October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
Daily Planet’s Opinion
Occupy Asheville’s future? If revived, make changes Say it ain’t so, Joe. Alas, the informal group that spearheaded Occupy Asheville disbanded the local movement on Sept. 14 in a ceremony at Wall Street Coffee House and Emporium in downtown Asheville. About 17 people met and agreed that the “small amount remaining in the treasury was distributed to several local charities. The checking account is to be closed, the website shut down,” according to Occupy participant James Latimore. Only two or three of the 17 people who had gathered wanted to keep Occupy going. The group has been inactive for several months, as many of the former activists ran out of energy.
We admire the never-say-die spirit, as expressed by Occupy member John Spitzer, who said that the group is dormant and could eventually return to action. We also think that any revived Occupy would need to make some changes. For instance, we have yet to meet anyone around Asheville who likes to think of being “occupied.” Maybe the group could give itself some less threatening name? On another front, it would be helpful to its supporters, or potential supporters, if Occupy were to clarify and narrow its focus and stance on issues. Occupy served a useful purpose in bringing much-needed attention to overlooked problems and getting people active.
The making of a Southern liberal CHAPEL HILL — What is the dilemma that haunts every Southerner who confesses he or she is a liberal? For Brandt Ayers in his new book, “In Love With Defeat: The Making of a Southern Liberal,” it is this: his progressive views set him apart from many of his fellow Southerners, whose culture and basic values he respects and shares. At the same time, this attachment to his Southern heritage sets him apart from nonSoutherners who share his basic political views but cannot understand his attachment to the positive features of Southern culture. The Ayers family publishes the Anniston, Ala., Star newspaper. Like the Hodding Carter family’s Delta Democrat-Times in Greenville, Miss., and the Neil Davis family’s newspaper in Auburn, Ala., the Ayers’s Anniston Star pushed for racial tolerance, fair treatment, and opportunity for blacks when the majority of their readers were committed to preserving the Deep South culture that Gov. George Wallace called “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” There are North Carolina connections to these families. Hodding Carter III and three of Neil Davis’s children live in North Carolina. Brandt Ayers’s wife, Josephine, grew up in Raleigh, the granddaughter of Gov. J.C.B. Ehringhaus, and they have a second home here. Although Ayers worked at his family’s newspaper as a teenager, he got his professional journalism start with the Raleigh Times in 1959. While in North Carolina he admired Gov. Luther Hodge’s successes in attracting business, handling the challenge of courtordered school desegregation, and promoting the Research Triangle Park. Ayers also observed Terry Sanford’s victory over staunch segregationist I. Beverly Lake in the 1960 Democratic primary and Sanford’s push for educational improvement and racial tolerance. Ayers remembers hearing from many in our state “a self-conscious phrase: ‘North Carolina is a vale of humility between two mounds [sic] of conceit.’ It finally dawned on me that Tar Heels are mighty cocky about their humility.” Upon his return to Alabama, Ayers used the positive accomplishments of Hodges and Sanford in North Carolina to contrast with the failures of Alabama leaders like George Wallace. Under Ayers’s father, Col. Harry Ayres,
D.G. Martin the Anniston Star had developed a progressive stance. The Star was the first newspaper in the South to endorse Franklin Roosevelt for president. When Brandt Ayers returned home to work at the Star, he led Anniston’s efforts not to be like Montgomery, Selma, or Birmingham, where racial turmoil engulfed communities and made reconciliation problematical. While “In Love With Defeat” is a personal memoir, it is also an exploration of the transformation of the South from a region of racism and poverty to what it is today. Ayers writes that some things, good and bad, about the old South have been preserved. “The glue that held the old, segregated civilization together, which binds our society today, is the sameness of everyday life: workday rituals, habits of civility, conformity to the norm, ambivalence, indifference, and resignation. There were bitter-end haters, but it is remarkable how light was the hold of the haters on the rest of us.” At the end of his book Ayers is still caught between his liberal leanings and his identification with Southerners who do not share those views. “Morally, millions of white Southerners would have to confess they recoil at the idea of being governed by a black man. However, partially in their defense, the average white in the Deep South has not heard or felt an invitation to Barack Obama’s e-pluribusunum national oneness. “‘We’ used to be the solid Democratic South, an impenetrable phalanx arrayed to stop the black man from entering. ‘We’ are now the solid (white) Republican South, arrayed with similar intent, lessened affect, and excused with heightened deceit.” Maybe it is a tough puzzle to understand, but former Mississippi Gov. William Winter says Ayers comes “as close to explaining who we Southerners are and why we act as we do.” • D.G. Martin hosts “North Carolina Bookwatch,” which airs Fridays at 9:30 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. on UNC-TV.
Letter to the Editor
Think Bush was bad? Obama’s even worse
G.W Bush’s government borrowed and spent more money than ALL of the Presidents that came before him — put together! Barack Obama’s government, then borrowed and spent twice as much as ALL the previous presidents including Mr. Bush! (Adding $12 trillion of debt to Mr. Bush’s $6 trillion) Despite his rhetoric, Mr. Obama’s stimulus program, has only benefited the uberwealthy. Witness Wall Street soaring 20 percent every year for the last five years; while his core supporters’ (blacks, Latinos, women, and young people) real wages have fallen more than 10 percent in the same period. It certainly isn’t because he hasn’t spent enough! Under his policies, banks are actually bigger than ever; the major media is more consolidated than ever; healthcare and insurance costs have soared, college tuition has
skyrocketed, food, shelter and gasoline are up 10 percent, more people are in poverty and on welfare, large cities are declaring bankruptcy, and the Government is spying on its own citizens in an alarming manner. To criticize Congress for opposing more of his programs does not make sense. The results of six years have proven him to be an ineffective leader, doing more damage to the working middle class than any of his predecessors. Why does Big Media criticize those in Congress for obstructing his policies (ie: Obamacare)? Does Big Media fail to recognize that enacting more of his failed policies will only continue to pull the working class deeper into poverty? His record on lifting people out of poverty is non-existent. Despite all of Obama’s words and speeches, the only segment benefiting from his terms in office are billionaires and the ruling class. Steven Chase Boone
The Candid Conservative
Reward the honest rich
Though America is suffering through harsh unemployment numbers and growing job insecurities, our corporations are doing better than ever. In fact, thanks to productivity gains found in squeezing existing workers, U.S. corporations recently logged one of the most profitable quarters ever. That would normally be great news for big business and hopeful news for job searchers, but there’s a catch. A full three-quarters of those profits went to Wall Street banks and investment houses. Yes, these are the same “too big to fail” crony capitalists we bailed out with taxpayer money. Though they were once about lending and stimulating growth in our economy, their new model centers on securities trading and self-protection. So much for Washington’s regulatory reforms. Until America rededicates itself to rewarding the honest rich – those who produce – we will continue to be ripped off by the dishonest rich – those who manipulate. Special interests, rich and poor, are continuing to exchange our “American Dream” for their “American Deal”….
True conservatives not partisan
During the Bush years, Republicans swallowed a lot of decidedly un-Republican actions. “W’s” expansion of Medicare was the largest entitlement increase in history. Under his hand our military’s budget doubled in size – dangerously paid for with tomorrow’s defense funds. With rare exception, conservatives jumped on a partisan bandwagon that ironically assured the election of the most liberal president in our history. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, Republicans have rediscovered their conservative roots while Democrat apologists make excuses for their guy’s follies. In both cases ideological convictions have taken a back seat to being part of a club, often with no greater mission than resisting the other side. Resistance, a la the “terrible twos,” is one of the most primitive forms of identity formation and not remotely up to the task of governance. Real conservatives don’t flock and they don’t buy that “lesser of evils” nonsense. Perhaps that’s the reason that real conservatives are real rare. Standing for something is much harder than going with the partisan flow…
Creeping corruption
Military commanders contemplating
Carl Mumpower our intrusion on Syria fear something they call “mission creep.” This is where a small unit action grows into a mess with no good exits. Government bureaucracies are especially vulnerable to mission creep. Take social security. When Roosevelt first introduced the program, it was voluntary, contributions were deductible and benefits non-taxable, it represented 1 percent of a person’s first $1,400 of income, focused on retirement, and contributions were maintained in a closed trust fund. Now social security is mandatory, contributions are not deductible but benefits are taxable, it costs us 7.65 percent of our first $90,000 of income, focuses on a host of entitlement promises, and contributions are put into the general fund to be robbed at will. In each case, Democrats have led the creepy mission that’s bankrupted social security. Not surprisingly, they shamelessly sell the lie it’s Republicans who want to destroy the program. Now we’re lining up for socialized medicine under the supervision of Uncle Sam. It’s another point of shame that these same creepy politicians have done one more creepy thing – they’ve
subsidized their participation in Obamacare….
The folly of trying to run world
Real conservatives value reality and the lessons of history – both of which point to foreign entanglements as bad investments under almost all circumstances. Examples of such entanglements include defense treaties, aide programs, rigged trade agreements, and any effort to treat the shenanigans of the U.N. seriously. Sixty-five years after the fall of Berlin, America still has 100,000 troops in Europe. Fifty-seven years ago, we surrendered half of Korea to China Inc. We still don’t have a peace agreement, but we do have a human shield of 30,000 troops as political duct tape. See CANDID CONSERVATIVE, Page A17
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013— A15
On the left
Write a Letter to the Editor
The propriety of public privacy
If you have a job your personnel records are, well, personal. Your employer has information about you that is not to be shared with others—for example, your Social Security number. If you are a public employee, holding a job with government at any level, your personnel files are even more specifically protected. Any exposure of your work record can give you grounds for a complaint or a law suit for breach of that statutorily required confidence. For the most part this seems to be a good idea. In the course of doing their work public employees are sometimes placed in difficult positions, enforcing rules, imposing fines, settling estates ... in short, performing tasks that may stir up great citizen disgruntlement. Then too, those employees are human beings, prey to all of the shortcomings that beset our species. Sometimes they behave badly, or accuse others of bad behavior. In order for these workers to do their jobs effectively it would seem that a system that buffers public knowledge of private lives is a reasonable policy. With good management, all such issues can be investigated and addressed appropriately. However, it’s my sense that there are government employees whose public roles ought to override the privacy protection accorded most workers. Recent accusations and allegations concerning Asheville’s chief of police offer a case in point. Following a single-car auto accident involving his son, APD Chief William Andersen was accused of meddling with the investigation by a senior officer. Allegations included attempted coercion of testimony regarding the incident. Initially these accusations became part of the criminal investigation of the accident, and were left to the State Bureau of Investigation and the district attorney for resolution. When the chief was cleared of criminal charges, the allegations reverted to an internal personnel inquiry, because they involved an employee complaint against a department manager. Under Asheville’s system of governance, the chief of police is hired by and serves at the pleasure of the city manager, so the manager’s office conducted the internal investigation. Involved parties were interviewed, e-mail, phone and other records were examined, and a conclusion was reached. Due to the seriousness of the charges, and the implications for public confidence, City Council authorized a very limited release of those conclusions (as permitted under applicable personnel law.) The chief retained his job, as did the employee making the charges. Some reassignments within the department were suggested and put into effect. An outside contractor was hired to evaluate the internal management structure of the police department, and to offer recommendations for change. Nobody was happy. During the long internal investigation, the Asheville Citizen-Times weighed in with a front-page editorial which suggested that City Council was shirking its responsibilities to citizens by sitting on its hands instead of somehow leading a public charge into the fray. This completely ignored the fact that
Cecil Bothwell council was prevented by law from making any public statements other than general support for the legal process. Other officers jumped into the limelight, making further charges which once again could not be publicly addressed. Distrust of the police department, specifically the chief and senior officers, was fanned into flames. The city manager’s office was accused of a cover-up or worse. All of this, despite the fact that each step along the way followed the letter and spirit of the law. No public good was served. Public employees in senior management positions ought not to be subject to the same privacy protection as the worker-bees in their departments. Like elected officials, their records, allegations of misconduct and the result of any investigation ought to be part of the public record. That’s the only way public trust can be maintained. At the same time, anyone who makes allegations about a senior manager should know that their allegations would be made public, and that the results of any investigation involving their claims would also end up in the public eye. In other words,
lodging complaints against that higher-up would result in giving up the privacy of their own personnel records. Such a policy ought to provide some screen against frivolous claims and put cards on the table. Public office is a public trust, and we could all benefit from a little more sunshine. • Cecil Bothwell, author of nine books, including “She Walks On Water: A novel” (Brave Ulysses Books, 2013), is a member of Asheville City Council.
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.
Tell our advertisers — who enable us to bring you this newspaper for FREE every month — that you saw their promotions in the Daily Planet!
Old Grouch’s Military Surplus 82 Main Street, Clyde • 828-627-0361 www.oldgrouch.com
ASHEVILLE PET SUPPLY Holistic before it was cool!
Since 1990 NATURAL AND ORGANIC FOODS AND TREATS Wellness, Solid Gold, Wysong, Nature’s Variety, Raw Frozen, EVO, Innova, California Natural
Herbal remedies Flower Essences Homeopathic Remedies WHAT MORE COULD YOUR PET NEED? Toys! Lots of toys! The fun place to shop for you and your best friend.
ASHEVILLE PET SUPPLY 1451 Merrimon Ave., Asheville (828) 252-2054
Spring is here - are you ready? The Old Grouch’s Military Surplus is located justMilitary 20 minutes west of Arctic Stove s in stock Asheville and is WNC’s oldest REAL now- burns military surplus store. diesel, kerosene,With the best jet fuel, wood or prices found anywhere, the money you even coal! Great for you hunting camp, garage, a back the drive. save will more thanorjustify up heating source for the house!!
We now have real, brand-new military Jerry cans for safe Follow us on Facebook for anfuel storage! Ammo cans, nouncements of camo clothmore great deals! Firsting, field gear, aid kits tactical gear — we have Wool Blankets, Military Sleeping and much Western Bags, Immersion heaters, Boots, North USMC backpacks Camo Clothing, andmore. much much Carolinas greatest selection of first-aid more — well worth the drive to Clyde by Arc’teryx in while they kits, from a small hiking to to a complete to see WNC’s best REAL military last for just... $99.95! surplus store! trauma kit! MRE’s — we
stock FRESH, quality meals, complete meals, full cases and even individual entrees.
A16 - October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
Commentary
If GOP tactics work, then Dems poorly regarded At the Wagon Wheel restaurant in Mars Hill one morning, as I sipped my coffee and waited for friends, four men sat at a table across the room. I knew only one of them. Suddenly, one voice rose above the others: “Don’t Republicans understand we aren’t ignorant anymore?” They left soon thereafter, so I didn’t get to ask the obvious: What was the man ranting about? As I think about it now, possibilities flood my mind. Was he talking about the ads attacking Obama on TV? Or Republicans in the General Assembly who vote one way in Raleigh and then when they’re in their districts explain how they didn’t really do what they did. Or maybe he was a conservative Christian who realized that Republican billionaires hoodwink churches with trinkets,
Lee Ballard like a constitutional amendment, so they’ll make tax cuts for rich people part of their gospel. Or maybe he was a Tea Party guy who happened to look at where the movement’s money comes from. Or maybe he had just received a slick mailer telling how totally terrible the Democratic candidate in his district is, in vivid color and lurid detail ─ how the Democrat is salivating to raise taxes and spread favors to every crony in the county. Or maybe the light came on as he washed
his hands in the restroom, when he realized that all the money buying TV time and slick mailers comes from rich guys off somewhere hiding behind friendly names like “Real Jobs NC.” Or maybe he put two and two together and understood that those hiding rich guys aren’t just generous benefactors, that they’re really buying a General Assembly friendly to hiding rich guys. Or maybe he understood that Republicans slashing money for education aren’t slashing because of cash shortages, but rather they have a long-range plan to shrink public schools and grow charter schools that are not governed by elected school boards and, oh wow, how they plan to bring all those liberal state universities under the control of those hiding rich guys. But alas, the moment has passed. I didn’t ask my friend sitting with the man
for an interpretation. So I had to speculate. Now two things come to mind. First, I note that the man’s questions is a rhetorical question ─ an apparent question that’s not asking a question. He’s really saying, “Republicans should know that we’re not ignorant anymore.” To that, I respond, Well, as long as their tactics work, they assume we ARE ignorant. And second, I think of the scene in the movie, “When Harry Met Sally,” the one at the sidewalk cafe when Meg Ryan’s character goes into ecstatic shrieks ─ and a woman at the next table says to her friend, “I want what she had.” I’d like to know what the man in the Wagon Wheel had to eat that morning. I’d recommend it to everybody. • Lee Ballard lives in Mars Hill.
laws infringe on our liberty, a natural right. For example, laws banning pornography are wrong. If a person wants to watch porn til the cows some home, that’s his business. It is his individual freedom to choose to behave destructively toward himself or not. If he infringes on anther person’s life or liberty, for example he commits a sexual assault, then that crime should be prosecuted (without relation to the porn). It is government’s job to protect you from others’ infringements on your rights. It it NOT government’s job to protect you from yourself.
you’re confident. Flats say you’re smart. Pumps say you’re professional. Platforms say you’re daring. Women also love shoes because they are fun and easy to try on; you don’t have to remove your clothes and get dressed again. Shoes fit no matter what size your body is. And the more unusual pairs allow you to walk “on the edge of fashion” without looking too vain. Just as a single pair gives clues to a woman’s current mood, her shoe collection (both quantity and style), reveals whether she’s a nature lover, a pragmatist, a party animal, a fashionista, or a comfort queen. Personally, I’m a sucker for heels. I like how I feel when I wear them. They flatter women: high heels elongate the body and enhance the rear and the bust. When I dress to go out, I put on the outfit, I do the hair, and I apply the makeup. The tasks of “getting ready” are done. But when I slip on the shoes, I feel complete. I feel the feelings that I experienced when I first saw the pair in the store: excited, delighted, girly. I feel ready to face the world. So next time you greet a woman, take a look at her shoes. You’ll know her mood and her style. You’ll also get a good idea of how she’s feeling today. You may even catch a glimpse of her overall philosophy of life. • Robin Shoemaker lives in Asheville and holds a bachelor’s of science degree in accounting from Clemson University.
Risks and rewards: Is pornography really so bad? With the Internet, pornography is now exceedingly accessible and mobile. It offers huge libraries of video and much of it is free. On your computer, phone, or iPad, you can select any type of porn that you desire and skip to your favorite parts. The ubiquity of porn has changed mainstream society; it has contributed to the popularity of thongs, Brazilian waxes, and breast enhancements. Pornography isn’t just the purview of men. According to a study by the University of Sydney Graduate Program in Sexual Health, 30 percent of women confess to using online porn. Susannah Breslin of www.thefrisky.com lists “The Top Ten Reasons that Women Watch Porn:” among them curiosity, to learn new moves, to get in the mood, sexual release, and to kill time. Breslin says that men watch porn “to get off” and because they’re bored. All of this new sexual freedom and ideas arising from it should be making us very satisfied in bed. Right? Turns out that the age of Internet porn has created some real issues in intimate relationships. Pornography idealizes the aesthetics of the human body. Once a person gets used to seeing perfect bodies in a sexual way, it can become difficult for that person to become aroused by an attractive, but flawed, partner of flesh and blood. It offers every fantasy and fetish one can dream up — and many that one would never think to dream up. As a person consumes it more and more, he or she becomes desensitized to more common sexual activity. It takes a lot more “kink” to get things going. Porn is most often used in a masturbatory fashion. There is no better sexual feedback than self-feedback. It is difficult for a partner to compete with self stimulation, for a partner does not have the instantaneous feedback to guide him or her. The masturbator is so used to being stimulated in a particular way that it is difficult to retrain the body to enjoy a partner’s touch. All of these factors work to disable a person’s ability to connect in a meaningful way with a live human being. You don’t have to be addicted to it for porn to affect your relationship in a negative way. Regular viewing of pornography can quickly reduce sexual activity from being an expression of love and communication to merely a physical high. But no amount of physical pleasure is as satisfying or as lasting as real intimacy with
Robin Shoemaker another person. In “What I Wish I’d Known Before Watching Porn,” Lauren Dubinsky of the Huffington Post says, “I wish that someone would have told me that researchers have suggested it sabotages your sex life.” “I wish someone would have told me it would make me feel less valuable to men and bring up insecurities for years in the bedroom. “I wish someone would have pointed out pornography can establish your sexuality completely apart from real-life relationships, causing huge problems in your intimacy with real significant others. “I wish someone would have told all the men I’ve dated that the porn they are watching is keeping them from being turned on by me, ultimately destroying our relationship.” The good news is that there is a simple fix to the complications that pornography brings to a relationship. According to Marnia Robinson in her July 11, 2011 Psychology Today article, “PornInduced Sexual Dysfunction: A Growing Problem:” If you stop watching it for 8-12 weeks (and try not to masturbate), you’ll get your mojo back. So, yes, in my opinion, porn really is bad. For me, the risks far outweigh the rewards.
Natural rights
Our Constitution is based on the concept of natural rights. What are natural rights? Why do we have natural rights? Our rights are natural (our nature) because they are the very reason for our existence. This leads to the question, “Why do we exist?” As a Christian I ask, “Why did God create us?” I believe that God created us so that we could choose him. In order to choose him, we must have free will. In order to have free will, we must 1) be alive and 2) be free. Life and liberty: these are our most basic natural rights. The primary purpose of U.S. law should be to protect our natural rights from being trampled upon by government and by other people. Laws that govern behavior that does not infringe on others’ rights are wrong. These
Women love their shoes
What is it WITH women and shoes? According to a 2007 poll by Consumer Reports National Research Center, U.S. women own, on average, 19 pairs of shoes and 15 percent of women own more than 30 pairs. Why do we need so many shoes? Of course, the obvious reason is that we need more variety of shoes than men do in order to fit different occasions: sneakers are for casual walking, sandals are for a daytime date, heels are for a nighttime party. But a woman’s shoes are about much more than function. Our shoes say something about ourselves. They make a statement. As Stacy London, star of TLC’s “What Not To Wear” says, “Shoes are the period at the end of an outfit.” Flip flops say you’re laid back. Boots say
Meticulous
References Available
PAinting! interior & Exterior 232-9195
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013 — A17
Commentary
Chill on Voter ID law ... ‘democracy is working just fine’ By HENRY D. MITCHELL Everyone, please, just relax! The new North Carolina Voter ID Law simply compares to the election laws already existing in most of the other states. A Voter Suppression Act. Disenfranchised voters. One of the nation’s most restrictive Voter ID Laws in the country. Controversial. Sweeping. Fiercely contested. An assault on democracy..... We have heard it from the press. We have heard it from the left. It’s all over the Internet, Facebook and Twitter..... Actually, the TRUTH? North Carolina’s new Voting and Election Law just brings us closer in line with the rest of the country. Believe it or not — somehow, elections are still occurring in all of these other states. North Carolina’s voting laws had been among the most liberal in the country. Now, even with the new changes, North Carolina’’s Election Law
remains more liberal than those in many states. No voting problem was required to be reported to the state by county Boards of Elections.Controlled by the governor’s party, many boards never reported any.Statewide voters use other people’s names. Other North Carolina voter fraud is easy to find online. Here’s a recap on what the new law actually does and how NC lines up with other states.... • HB 598 brings North Carolina more in line with voting regulations in other states and makes substantive changes to our election laws that many truly believe will restore integrity and instill trust in our voting system. • VOTER ID: Not required until 2016 and provided free of charge at all DMV offices across the state.Anyone over age 70 may use expired IDs and licenses.Some states report increased minority participation with voter ID. And NO it’s not controversial... Thirty-three states require Voter ID. North
Carolina is the 34th state to do so. • STRAIGHT TICKET VOTING: No longer allowed. Fourteen states allow straight party voting. North Carolina now joins 36 other states that do not allow straight ticket voting. • EARLY VOTING: The number of days allotted has been reduced, but the number of hours the polls will be open is still the same. Fifteen states allow NO early voting or noexcuse absentee voting. Thirty-two states allow early voting, ranging from 4 days to election day to 45 days, with an average of 19 days. North Carolina now allows 10 days, but requires the same number of hours of early voting that were available in 2012 and 2010 when the early voting period was 17 days. SAME DAY REGISTRATION: No longer allowed during early voting. • Only one state allows same-day registra-
tion during early voting. North Carolina was the only other state to allow this and has now joined 48 states in not allowing same-day registration during early voting. • Eleven states allow same day registration on Election Day; North Carolina does not. PREREGISTRATION: No longer allowed for 16-17 year olds. • Five states allow 16 to 17-year -olds to preregister to vote. Forty-five states do not, now, including North Carolina. RELAX. Across America, people are voting. Democracy is working just fine. The sun will come up tomorrow in North Carolina and across America. In fact, the sun might be a litter brighter on the next election day-- as fair and just elections are now insured for all voters in North Carolina.
Continued from Page A14 Police work, whether on the streets of Washington or the streets of Baghdad, is dangerous. Experience has taught us, repeatedly, that we are best able to fix a fallen world by first fixing ourselves. America cannot secure its own borders from pedestrian invaders. We cannot secure our communities from drug thugs. Our economy is increasingly based on spending money we do not have to buy goods we no longer produce. Yet we pretend that we have the power to transform cultures far less functional than our own. Political adventurism, budgetary excess, indifference to our borders and laws, and policing the world are not conservative missions. Too many who embrace the conservative title have sat back and pretended otherwise. Passive conservatism ensured the election of one of the most inexperienced and ill prepared presidents in history – twice. Witness another example of how foreign entanglements always hold unforeseen consequence. There are times when the merits of foreign engagement are compelling. Many argue that our relationship with Israel, an island of sanity in a sea of chaos, may be one of those. Nonetheless, in any such relationship we should proceed with transparency, realism, and vigilance. The obligations of friendship carry risks as certainly as rewards. Conservative thinkers know our most powerful tool of influence remains our example – not our power, dollars or capacity to meddle in the affairs of others. If America wants to fix the world, then we would do best to fix ourselves first. Nothing produces world change like a beacon of success shining a bright message of hope, normalcy, and prosperity…
tions and deliberations. Neither the power politics of Washington’s left-right tug of war nor the limited capacities of Supreme Court justices are up to that undertaking. Important issues merit broader scrutiny and creative consideration. The conservative position on important social issues rests on the Constitution. Judicial and Congressional trumping of the common will has demonstrated the value of the eyes, hearts, minds, and hands of our fifty empowered states. Resolution of crucial social and governance issues is supported through state convention powers under Article V of the Constitution. A conservative’s moral and spiritual
position on an issue may run in direct and unpleasant opposition to one’s political position. That is an internal dilemma for each of us to address in our own fashion. It is not an opportunity, however, to confuse the conservative mission by pretending that our pro or con positions are faithfully conservative. Pretend conservative politicos know that supporters’ moral and spiritual passions can be an effective way around principled service. Name recognition and image capture most votes. Positions on social concerns come next. The words, “I am against abortion and taxes and for veterans and social security,” have elected many a self-serving
politician. From a moral, social, and spiritual perspective, the harms from abortion are irrefutable – but personal and political values are not the same thing. This conflict of interest mirrors what many of us face on life choice issues. In the final analysis the authentic conservative political position on the right to life is on how and where these decisions are addressed – at the state level – and not what those decisions should be... • Carl Mumpower, a former member of Asheville City Council, may be contacted at drmumpower@thecandidconservative.com
Candid Conservative
Let states decide right to life choices
The right to life is widely viewed as a foundation issue for conservatives. It’s no small paradox that support for the death penalty and against physician assisted suicide for the terminally ill are also associated with the conservative movement. Assumptions frequently betray truth – the authentic conservative positions on abortion, the death penalty, and the right-to-die are not what they seem. Abortion rights and other life issues involve moral, social, and spiritual considerations meriting society’s fullest atten-
• EDITOR’S NOTE: Mitchell is chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party.
Asheville’s been destroyed! “I’m alive and I’m glad I shopped at the Combat Zone”
• Need ammo? Come to the Ammo Depot! • Yes, we carry bulletproof vests
• Camo • Tactical Gear • Blackhawk • Flags • Army Surplus • MREs • Water Purifiers • Medical Supplies • Survival Training No Double Discounts
A18 — October 2013 — Asheville Daily Planet
Advice Goddess
Continued from Page A1 A: You’ve heard that 80 percent of success is just showing up? Well, the other 20 percent is not acting like you got glued to the toilet seat shortly afterward. You diagnose yourself: “I’m an irretrievable mental defective.” Um, no — probably just a drama queen with risk aversion jets set a little high. Your freezing in the face of opportunity is probably due to an “approach-avoidance conflict,” a type of inaction-producing psychological stress that occurs when an opportunity has both positive and negative aspects that make it simultaneously appealing and offputting. For example, with the girl on the bus, there’s a possible date versus a possible rejection. The closer (and more possible) the opportunity, the larger the negative aspects loom. This leads to indecision and, in turn, inaction. When you have some distance (say, a few hours after you get off the pretty girl express bus), the positive aspects take center stage, and going for it seems the thing to do. Only then, this no longer takes a nervous “hello” across the bus aisle; you need one of those “missed connection” ads and $3,000 for a private detective. You need to practice opportunity-spotting and preplan what you’ll do when it knocks so you won’t respond like a bratty preteen girl: “Go away! Nobody’s home. I hate you!” Recognizing opportunity takes knowing your goals. Articulate them, and then identify five opportunities a day and seize at least two of them. This requires simply taking action despite your indecision. Assuming you aren’t weighing the opportunity to blow through a bunch of stop signs, what are the likely damages? Step back and do a little cost-benefit analysis. If, say, you’d talked to the girl on the bus, worst-case scenario, she might’ve glared back
The Advice Goddess
Amy Alkon
at you, giving you an ouchie in the ego for what, 10 minutes? Doing nothing leaves you with lasting regret, shame, and self-loathing. Doing nothing repeatedly should help you get a headstart on becoming a bitter old man, thanks to all the years you’ve invested standing near the ladder of success yet never once having a woman in a bikini shinny down and hand you a mai tai.
Sum girls ....
Why does my girlfriend say she loves me more than I love her? There’s no anger behind it; she says it teasingly. But it’s making me uncomfortable and a little annoyed. I’m beginning to wonder whether I love her enough. I mean, I thought I did. — Bugged “I love you more than you love me!” is just the thing to say to a boyfriend — if you want him to take you in his arms so he can look over your shoulder for your replacement. The problem with the subtext — “You know, you could probably do better” — is the “principle of least interest,” sociologist Willard Waller’s 1938 theory that the relationship partner who is less emotionally invested calls the shots. Even if that less committed partner isn’t an exploitative creep, he’s likely to get his way in ways he wouldn’t in a more equal partnership, and Waller felt this didn’t bode well for the relationship. Current research supports this.
Social psychologist Susan Sprecher, for example, found that unequally involved partners were less satisfied with their relationship and more likely to break up. If you aren’t already eyeing the door, ask your girlfriend whether there’s a problem — maybe something she needs that she isn’t getting from you. If she’s just playfully needling you, tell her you need her to stop. It’s okay, in a relationship, to ask that a phrase or two be a no-go zone. This “I love you more than you love me!” business, for example, is a cousin of the loselose question, “Do I look fat in this dress?” There is a right response to that question, and it isn’t “Yes, come to think of it,” “No!” or “No, you look like a cow landing with the world’s largest parachute”; it’s hiring somebody to be there to clock you with a tire iron before you can answer.
Going code turkey
I broke up with a boyfriend a few years ago because I wasn’t getting what I wanted from him. I’d give him subtle cues, and when he didn’t respond in the ways I was hoping for, I blamed him for being thickheaded. I’ve ended many a relationship because of this. The dudes didn’t have a chance. I now see that we women can skip years of frustration by getting clear with our partners about what we need from them. Understanding this now, you’d think it would be simple for me to follow through. Yet, I’m continually surprised at how strong my “have him guess!” impulse can be. Letting a man in on my feelings actually takes a lot of courage and stretches me like nothing else. — Challenged It isn’t hard for a boyfriend to make a woman happy instead of pissed off for days. He just needs the right answer to “Hey, honey, guess what it means when I put my hair in a ponytail and walk out of the room!”
A guy gets to the point where he can’t be sure whether he’s in a relationship or a really, really long game of charades. (Either way, it helps if there are occasional breaks for angry sex.) Although men and women are psychologically similar in many ways, studies by social psychologist Judith A. Hall and others find that women are more accurate in sussing out the meaning of nonverbal cues. The problem is, we humans all have a tendency to assume others’ minds work just like our own. So, you conclude that a guy is withholding and mean when he seems to ignore what you think should be obvious — that your left nostril flaring is code for “Tell me you love me right this second!” (Not to be mistaken for the flaring right nostril’s “Take out the trash or I’ll kill myself!”) To your credit, you took a hard look at yourself and admitted that you were wrong. As for why you’re having difficulty putting what you now understand into practice, Yale psychology professor Alan E. Kazdin explained on my radio show, “Knowing doesn’t control doing.” Doing actually takes doing -- in your case, repeatedly pushing yourself to express your feelings, despite how uncomfortably vulnerable it makes you feel. Repeating behavior over time actually rewires the brain and, in Kazdin’s words, “locks” the new behaviors in. Eventually, healthier behavior should come more naturally to you -like recognizing, without animus, that the way to get your boyfriend to admire your sexy new haircut is by telling him you’ve gotten one, not by glaring out at him from under the subtly different slant of your bangs. (As every woman needs to understand, his not noticing your new do doesn’t mean he’s stopped loving you; it means you haven’t shaved your head.) • (c.) 2013, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or email AdviceAmy@aol.com (advicegoddess. com). Weekly radio show: blogtalkradio.
Monthly Horoscope By MARYANNE MORRIS Special to the Daily Planet
Aries ( March 21-April 19) You will have a wonderful month, overall. Just watch out for stop signs. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Try your hand at gin rummy this month. It’s a great card game for the weekends. Gemini (May 22-June 20) Don’t play dumb with your friends. They know you video chat for “fun.” Cancer (June 21-July 22) Try live action role-playing this month. I heard it is fun and it has room for imagination. Leo ( July 23 - August 22) Don’t worry to much this month — everything will be fine. Just don’t let your friend Steve ruin it for you.
Virgo ( August 23- September 22) Please try not to be a stick in the mud. Libra ( September 23October 22) Happy birthday to you ! And have a jolly time this month. Scorpio ( October 23-November 21) Eat some donuts ... and love it. Sagittarius ( November 22- December 21) Look outside and really take in fall! Capricorn ( December 22-January 19) Look for a better job. It’s time. Aquarius ( January 20- February 18) I think it’s time to start looking for a new pet to add to your home. Pisces ( February 19- March 10) Wake up early this month and enjoy the whole day.
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013 — A19
STEEL BUILDINGS
Discounted Factory Inventory, 14x36, 38x50, 48x96, 60x150. Misc. Sizes, limited availability www.utilityking.com Source #1GU 866-609-4321. HIGH-SPEED INTERNET EVERYWHERE by satellite! Speeds up to 12mbps!(200x faster than dialup) Starting at $49.95/mo. CALL NOW & GO FAST. 1-888-714-6155. MEDICAL ALERT for Seniors - 24/7 monitoring. FREE equipment. FREE shipping. Nationwide service. $29.95/month. Call Medical Guardian today. 855-899-5309. ADVERTISE — Call 713-6336 today to place your ad in the Daily Planet to reach our estimated 25,000 readers. Rates are as little as $10 for 15 words or less per month. Our circulation stretches from Mars Hill to the north to Flat Rock to the south to Black Mountain to the east and to Waynesville to the west.
WANT TO BUY — The Daily Planet is seeking to buy newspaper vending boxes. 713-6336.
4. Employment Delivery Drivers needed — Asheville Daily
“If you can’t cut ‘em, we’ll Newcomb!”
• Free estimates & • Stump grinding fully insured & lot clearing • Tree removal, • Crane removal trimming & pruning • Trackhoe • Bucket truck & services chipper
Mention this ad for a 10% Discount
Pat Newcomb 828.777.1226
Planet is looking for responsible individuals with reliable trasnportation and safe driving records to deliver newspapers to newsrack locations around the area once a month for several hours. Experience preferred. If interested, lease email the Daily Planet at circulation@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com or call 252-6565.
PART-TIME JOB with full-time benefits. You can receive cash bonus, monthly paycheck, job training, money for technical training or college, travel, health benefits, retirement and more more! Call now and learn how the National Guard can benefit you and your family! 1-800-GO-GUARD. A SODA/SNACK VENDING Route - Prime locations available. $8,995 investment required. Guaranteed cash flow. 1-800-367-2106, ext. 6077.
10. Services A HOUSEKEEPER TO WORK FOR YOU — 1-828-319-1527 or ginhollow@gmail.com
To place an ad in this space, call 252-6565
Tell our advertisers — who enable us to bring you this newspaper — that you saw their ad in the Daily Planet!
Newcomb Tree Service
4. Employment
1. Announcements
The ‘Doomsday Preppers’ headquarters for Asheville and Western North Carolina! Your local source for: √ Heirloom seeds
√ Freeze-dried and dehydrated food √ Military paracord
A20 — October 2013 — Asheville Daily Planet
Concert Reviews and Calendar of Events
Special Section PULLOUT
B1
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013
Guitar ‘legend’ Jimmie Vaughan sizzles By JOHN NORTH
john@AshevilleDaily Planet.com
Marty Stuart, in file photo
REVIEW
Marty Stuart, band prove to be superlative
By DAVE ROWE
Special to the Daily Planet
“If you’re here to hear something sedate and well-structured, you’re in the wrong place — you’re about to hear a high-octane hillbilly band.” That’s how Marty Stuart and his threepiece band, the Fabulous Superlatives, launched into an hour-and-45-minute set Sept. 7 at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville. Starting with “Stop the World and Let Me Off,” a tune popularized by Merle Haggard, Stuart and his band played several selections from his 2012 release, “Tearing Up the Woodpile.” Then came “The Whiskey Isn’t Working Anymore,” a hit he co-wrote several years ago with Travis Tritt. The crowd of roughly 3,000 in the 6,500 capacity venue sang along. Then the highly regarded county singersongwriter, with his trademark gray-black pompadour, traded in his electric guitar for an acoustic for a chilling rendition of “Long Black Veil,” then into “Ring of Fire” — the tune June Carter wrote for Johnny Cash. At that point, Stuart said a few words about Johnny Cash. “We used to be next door neighbors in Hendersonville, Tennessee. I’d go over in the morning and have a cup of coffee.We’d discuss world events and sometimes music. He’s been gone about 10 years and I still miss him.” From there, Stuart played a solo version of “Dark Bird,” a tune he wrote about those meetings. Then it was a breakneck display of his mandolin prowess, a gift that at the age of 13 won him a spot with the Nashville Grass, the backup band for legendary flatpicking guitarist Lester Flatt. “That was a lot more fun than going to school,” noted Stuart. ”I worked for Lester and I worked for John — those are the only two jobs I’ve ever had.” From there, Stuart and his band sang three gospel songs with sweet harmonies. Then backed by the Superlatives — who deserve the name — walked off the stage before returning for two encores — Stuart’s signature tune, “Hillbilly Rock,” then the title track from “Tearing Up the Wood Pie.” See STUART Page B8
SPINDALE — Bluesman-rocker Jimmie Vaughan and his horn-rich Tilt-a-Whirl Band entranced the crowd during a Sept. 6 concert at The Foundation Performance Arts Center at Isothermal Community College. As Guitar Player Magazine said of Vaughan, “He is a virtual deity — a living legend.” He is billed as “providing a vital link between contemporary music and its proud heritage, as well as being a long-time avatar of retro cool.” The 90-minute show drew about 500 people to the 1,200-seat venue. While the crowd was small, it also was highly enthused about Vaughan. Upon his appearance on stage, Vaughan and his Texas-style blues band — all dressed in black — received a sustained standing ovation. His stellar five-piece band included a guitarist, standup bass player, drummer, saxophonist and trombonist. During Vaughan’s poignant guitar-playing and searing singing on “The Pleasure’s All Mine,” a woman in the crowd yelled, “We love you!” Among the concert’s highlights was Vaughan’s demonstration of his mastery of the guitar — by playing it, without missing a beat, behind his head during one song. See VAUGHAN, Page B8
Special photo by Ashley Stewart
Jimmie Vaughan plays his guitar behind his head during his Spindale concert.
CONCERTS FEATURING A WIDE RANGE OF MUSICAL GENRES — JAZZ, BLUEGRASS, FOLK, ROCK, INDIE-POP —
B2 - October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
Calendar
of
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. 28814-8490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting. To place an ad for an event, call 252-6565.
Thurs., Sept. 26
AUTHOR’S PRESENTATION, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. V.E. Schwabb will present her new novel, “Vicious.” CONCERT, 7 p.m., Isis Restaurant & Music Hall, 743 Haywood Rd., Asheville. Phoebe Hunt with Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band will perform. For tickets, which are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, call 575-2737. CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Porter Center for the Performing Arts, Brevard College, Brevard. The Brevard College Symphonic Winds will perform. Admission is free.
Friday, Sept. 27
UNCA BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING, 8 a.m., Mountain View Room, Sherrill Center, UNC Asheville. UNCA’s Board of Trustees will hold its next meeting, which is open to the public. Portions of the meeting may be closed to the public under provisions of the North Carolina Open Meetings Act. Asheville Quilt Show, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., WNC Agricultural Center Expo Bldg, Fletcher. The three-day Asheville Quilt Show will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 Sunday. More than 250 quilts, vendors, gift shop, silent auction and quilts for sale. Free parking will be available and the event is handicap accessible.Admission is $6. GREEK FESTIVAL, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., HolyTrinity Greek Orthodox Church, 227 Cumberland Ave., Asheville. The annual Greek Festival will be held over two days. Saturday’s hours are 11 am.-9 p.m. AUTHOR’S TALK, 5:30 p.m., Fountainhead Bookstore, 408 N. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. Ann Be Ross, author of the Miss Julia series, will give a talk. STORYTELLING, 7 p.m., Mainheimer Room, Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. Lyn Ford, storyteller and author of “Affrilachian Tales,” will share “Home Fried Tales,” stories rooted in her storytelling traditions. AUTHOR’S PRESENTATION, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Bob Inman will present his latst novel, “The Governor’s Lady.” CONCERT, 8 p.m., Isis Music Hall, 743 Haywood Rd., Asheville. Ten Cent Orchestra and the Alex Krug Combo will perform. JAZZ CABARET DINNER CONCERT, 8 p.m., White Horse nightclub, Black Mountain. A jazz cabaret dinner will be featured. An optional dinner served by Black Mountain Bistro will begin at 6:30, followed by the show at 8. For reservations, which are required, call 669-0816 or visit www.whitehorseblackmountain.com.
Saturday, Sept. 28
SOCIAL MEDIA SEMINAR, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Ferguson Auditorium, A-B
Events
Tech, Asheville. A social media seminar will be hosted by the Buncombe County Republican Party. Tickets are $15 in advance by calling 253-5800. Tickets at the door are $20. Land of Sky Doll Show, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Boone Building, WNC Agricultural Center, Fletcher. ENCAMPMENT, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Gov. ZebulonVance Birthplace State Historic Site, Weaverville. A two-day Early 19th Century Citizens Militia Encampment will be held. Sunday’s hours are 1-4 p.m. Admission is free. CONCERT, 7 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, Pack Place, downtown Asheville. The World Masterwork Series “Preserving the Musical Lineage of Franz Liszt will be performed by pianists Dr. John Cobb and Christopher Tavernier. Tickets are $12. Dance Theatre , 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. The Diavolo Dance Theatre will perform. For tickets, which are $21, $25 and $29, call 524-1598 or visit greatmountainmusic.com.
Sunday, Sept. 29
STORYTELLING, 3-5 p.m., Fletcher Feed & Seed, 3715 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher. A storytelling program titled “Holding Down the Homefront: Shortages, Submarines, Saboteurs & War Bonds” will be presented. Humorists, historians and tandem tellers Wayne and Jane Sims will perform with storyteller Nancy Avera. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.
Monday, Sept. 30
BENEFIT CONCERT, 7 p.m., The Expo Center, Crowne Plaza Resort, Asheville. Justin Hines will perform in a concert to benefit MHO and WNC Group Homes. For tickets, which are $20 for adults and $10 for children, clal 254-4030, ext. 116.
MantraFest will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 1 in the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in downtown Asheville. group Free Planet Radio, with special guests violinist Farzad Farhangi from TURKU and “Mandalas in Motion” accompaniment by photographer Taylor “Taz” Johnson. For tickets, which are $15 at the door (or available at Malaprop’s), call 225-3232.
Saturday, Oct. 12
The Hit Men CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Foundation Performing Arts Center, Isothermal Community College, 286
ICC Loop Rd., Spindale. The Hit Men, featuring Former Stars of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, will perorm in concert. October 12, 7:30 p.m. For ticket, call 286-9990. COMEDY SHOW, 8 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, Pack Place, downtown Asheville. Sandra Bernhard will perform her “Sandyland” comedy show.
Tuesday, Oct 14
LIBERTARIAN MEETING, 7 p.m.,
Asheville Daily
weekend g n i v r e Now s
MANTRAFEST 7 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, downtown Asheville. MantraFest on Tour 2013 will feature Deva Premal & Miten with Manose and Maneesh de Moor. Also performing will be the Guru Ganesha Band, featuring Paloa Devi and Hans Christian. For tickets, which range from $30 to $108, visit BrightsSarEvents.net.
Wednesday, Oct. 2 JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTE BAND, 9 p.m., Isis Music hall, 743 Haywood Rd., Asheville. Cash’d Out, a Johnny Cash tribute band, will perform. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $5 at the door. COMEDY SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. Dave Coulier, star of ABC’s “Full House,” will perform in a comedy show. For tickets, which are $16 and $20, call 524-1598 or visit greatmountainmusic.com.
Thursday, Oct. 10
CANDIDATES FORUM, 6 p.m., Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. An Asheville City Council candidates forum will be held. The event, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, is free and open to the public.
Friday, Oct. 11
CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Jubilee Community Church, 46 Wall St., downtown Asheville. A concert will feature the
See CALENDAR, Page B6
Way beyond hip and trendy
Tuesday, Oct. 1
Saturday, Oct. 5
Oakleaf Furniture, 130 Miller St., Waynesville. The Haywood County Libertarian Party, which meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays, meets for open discussion, with debate encouraged. All perspectives and persuasions are welcome, regardless of political or religious affiliation. For more information, call Windy McKinney at windymckinney@yahoo.com.
$2 Tuesdays
$2 domestic draft Wednesdays Breakfast Club-Brunch menu served until noon on Sundays before shows.
brunch
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013 — B3
See CALENDAR, Page B6
B4 - October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013 — B5
::
Proud Supporter of Asheville and MantraFest on Tour Thomas Wolfe Auditorium U.S. Cellular Center October 1, 2013
Harmony Motors 621 Brevard Road Asheville, NC 28806 828-232-4000
Located between I-26 and I-40 near the WNC Farmers’ Market
ASHEVILLE, OCTOBER 1st • THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM • 7 PM 87 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC • Tickets: $30 • $108 at BrightStarEvents.net
B6 - October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
A band performs at a recent Barnaroo Music, Camping, Farm Festival, which will be held this Nov. 1-3 at Franny’s Farm at 38 Came Sharp Rd. in Leicester. The festival opens at 5 p.m. Nov. 1. The gala will feature two stages with more than 19 bands. Among the Nov. 1 entertainers will be Chuck Brodsky, Andrew Scotchie and The River Rats. On Nov. 2, some of the bands will include Demon Waffle, Bubonik Funk, David Earl and the Plowshares, Red Honey, Shonna Tucker and Eye Candy and A Ghost Like Me. The event will wrap up Nov 3 with Big Ben & The Clock Towers with Sunday Morning Swing Band Jazz. For more information, visit frannysfarm.com
Cash’d Out, a Johnny Cash tribute band, will perform at 9 p.m. Oct. 2 at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall at 743 Haywood Rd. in West Asheville. Doors will open at 5 p.m.
Calendar
Wed., Oct. 23
Continued from Page B2
Wed., Oct. 16
CORNEL WEST SPEECH, 7:30 p.m., Sherrill Center, UNC Asheville. Cornel West, author of “Race Matters” and “Democracy Matters,” will discuss the role of race, gender and class in American society in a public lecture. A leading political commentator, proressive activist and public intellectual, West is professor of philosophy and Christian practice at Union Theological Seminary and a professor emritus at Princeton Univesity. He graduated from Harvard University in three years and was the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton. The even is free and open to the public.mountainmusic.com.
UNCA CHANCELLOR’S TALK, 11;45 a.m., Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Rd., Asheville. UNC Asheville Chancellor Anne Ponder
Friday, Oct. 18
Cornell West will speak at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in UNC Asheville’s Sherill Center.
Saturday, Oct. 19
“The Partridge Family,” will perform in concert.For tickets, which are $22 and $28, call 524-1598 or visit greatmountainmusic.com. SYMPHONY CONCERT, 8 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, U.S. Cellular Center, downtown Asheville. The Asheville Symphony Orchestra will perform “Northern Lightsfeaturing Grieg’s Piano Concerto,” with pianist Ron Dank and also works by Rautavaara and Sibelius.
CONCERT, 8 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, Pack Place, downtown Asheville. Chic Gamine will give a new spin to the classic 1960s girl group sound.
DAVID CASSIDY CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. David Cassidy, who became a megastar with the chart-topping hit “I Think I Love You” from TV’s
will present a talk tiled “What’s Up at UNCA” at the 2013 Critical Issues Luncheon hosted by the Leadership Asheville Forum.
See CALENDAR, PAGE B7
Enjoy a peace of the Pacific at Asheville’s premier tea house and herbal-drink relaxation destination.
15 Eagle Street, Asheville • 828-505-8118 vanuatukavabar.com
Asheville Daily Planet — October 2013 — B7
Calendar of Events Continued from Page B6
Thursday, Oct. 24
SPEAKER, 5:30-7 p.m., Humanities Lecture Hall, UNC Asheville. Dr. Jim Johnson will present “Disruptive Demographics. Johnson is the William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. Attendance is limited and reservations are requested by visiting www.cfwnc.org.
Friday, Nov. 1
BARNAROO MUSIC/ART FESTIVAL, 5 p.m., 38 Came Sharp Rd., Leices-
Sarah Bernhard will perform comedy at 8 p.m. Oct. 12 in Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place in downtown Asheville.
14,000 copies
42,000 readers
Our SEPTEMBER edition marked an
all-time circulation record for
Asheville Daily Planet
We thank our readers from Western North Carolina who enjoy our FREE newspapers. We must continually increase our pressruns to make enough Daily Planets available to satisfy your voracious demand.
CONTACT US to get your advertising message before our enthusiastic readership.
828.252.6565
advertising@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
ter. Barnaroo will run through Nov. 3. Among the featured performers are Big Ben & The Clocktowers, Chuck Brodsky, Shonna Tucker and Eye Candy, Bubonik Funk and many others. For event information, visit frannysfamr.com.
Saturday, Nov. 2
RONNIE MILSAP CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. Born in the mountain town of Robbinsville, N.C., Ronnie Milsap, who went on to become a country music star, will perform in concert. For tickets, which are $25 and $30, call 524-1598 or visit greatmountainmusic.com.
LETTERS The Asheville Daily Planet invites Letters to the Editor of 200 words or less. Please include your name, mailing address, daytime telephone number and e-mail address. For more information, call (828) 252-6565. Send mail to: Letters, Asheville Daily Planet P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, NC 28814 Send e-mail to: letters@ashevilledailyplanet.com
B8 - October 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet
REVIEW
Mayer Hawthorne disappoints by favoring hip hop over soul
By JOHN NORTH
john@ashevilledailyplanet.com
Mayer Hawthorne and his band The Country performed a heaping helping of hip hop and just a little bit of his crowdpleasing retro-soul music during a 90-minute concert Sept. 20 at The Orange Peel in downtown Asheville. Between 500 and 600 fans attended —and women outnumbered men. Most of the attendees appeared to be in their 20s, but there also was an unusually wide spread of age groups present, likely because of Hawthorne’s crossgenerational appeal from his success at writing and singing 2013-style songs, with 1960sera soul inflections. At least some of the women Mayer Hawthorne, in a file shot. and older fans, particularly, apThe crowd was into the show, as Hawpeared to be delighted when Hawthorne thorne occasionally showed off his vocal performed a few of his soul hits — and a pyrotechnics, particularly his ability to bit perplexed, if not irritated, with his deshift — seemingly effortlessly — from cided penchant for playing hip hop songs. his regular voice to falsetto and back However, for a number of the fans at again. His silky smooth voice especially the concert, it was no big deal and they was showcased in the soul songs he seemed to groove no matter what Hawperformed. thorne and his band performed. Besides providing lead vocals, HawPreceded by the Superhumanoids, thorne also played guitar or keyboard at Hawthorne’s four-piece backup band various times. appeared about 10:07 p.m., as the lights Flanked by his guitarist and bassist, dimmed. The Country included a guitarHawthorne and his other two frontme ist, bassist, keyboardist and drummer. “Is everybody feeling OK tonight?” an performed some eye-popping choreography together, as they moved back and announcer said. “We’ve got a great treat for you tonight. All the way from Detroit, forth in unison — to the crowd’s delight. Definitely his best performances of the Mayer Hawthorne!” night were on the soul songs, including a As the crowd cheered, Hawthorne song or two from his “Strange Arrangebounded onto the stage clad in a wellment” album, such as “Wish It Would tailored tan suit with a white shirt, Rain,” and his smash hit from earlier, accentuated by a bright metallic-gold bowtie. His hair was in a pompadour. In “The Walk.” the background and above the band was At one point during the show, Hawa set featuring a large red broken heart. thorne shot a picture of the crowd. Then Hawthorne and crew launched into he asked everyone to shoot pictures of “Physicality,” followed by “Back Seat him, as he posed, making funny and seriLove” and “A Long Time.” ous faces.
Vaughan
After that, Hawthorne said, “Ladies and gentlemen, picture time is officially over.... We’re going to pretend like we’re actually at the show right now.... We’re all going to party together with our own eyes,” as opposed to looking through a camera lens at the show. He performed “Can’t Go for That” and transitioned — medley-style — into “The Walk,” his most famous song, which drew the biggest cheer of the night from the crowd. He had the crowd — womenas well as men — singing merrily along with the refrain: “You walk those high heels, baby, right out of my life....”
After playing the happy and soulful “The Walk,” the group’s lead guitarist launched into some Jimi Hendrix-style riffs — and the crowd, which heard the song of the night, (“The Walk”), started thinning out a bit. He later closed the show with “Where Does This Door Go?” but the crowd wanted more, so Hawthorne and his bandmates soon reappeared to perform some more songs during the encore. Before performing the encore, Hawthorne told the crowd, “Whether you guys know it or not, I’m glad y’all stuck around because you’re going to be part of a ... video. We had about 50 cameras out there” to film the action. Then he said, “The next one is my favorite song to sing. It’s an oldie-butgoodie. It’s one you sing to your girlfriend or wife when you’ve messed up.” Hawthorne then sat on the edge of the stage and sang “May I Come In,” a novelty song which he seemed to enjoy more than the crowd. However, Hawthorne finished with some hip hop songs — and a little bit of soul — to keep the crowd on its feet as he left the stage to sustained applause.
Continued from Page B1 Another highlight was his performance of “Six Strings Down,” a song that he co-wrote that is a eulogy to Jimmie Vaughan’s brother, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and, by extension, many other fallen guitarists. A glaring omission from the show was failing to perform “Tick Tock,” which Jimmie and Stevie Ray had performed together years ago. Also, some fans grumbled afterward that no songs by The Fabulous Thunderbirds were performed during the
show. The Thunderbirds were formed in 1974 and featured founding member Jimmie Vaughan on guitar. Joining Vaughan and band on stage part-way through the show was Lou Ann Barton, who sang lead or backup for several songs, perhaps most notably the sultry “Baby, I’m in the Mood For You.” The band finished its regular set with “Down in Texas” prompting Vaughan to say it would perform an encore without leaving the stage. Among the encore songs was a rocking “Baby’s Gone and Left Me” that appeared to delight the crowd.
Continued from Page B1 By this time with the house lights on, many women pressed up against the stage, taking pictures and cheering on Stuart, in tight, black leather pants. Opening the show — and fetching in a low-cut dark blue dress and platform shoes — was Amber Hayes, an up-andcoming singer/songwriter on the Nashville scene. She sang the title track off her most recent release, “Any Day Is a
Good Day,” and also “Me and Loretta,” a tribute to Loretta Lynn. “She’s my hero,” Hayes said. “I saw her last month and she can still sing her wazoo off.” The show was a benefit for the Asheville Firefighters Association, with the proceeds going to children whose homes have been destroyed by fires — and for Camp Courage, located near Chapel Hill, for children burned in fires. Also, some of the proceeds went to Coats for Kids.
Stuart