Mountain Xpress 01.22.20 by Mountain Xpress

OUR 26TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 26 NO. 26 JAN. 22-28, 2020

Downtown sidewalk redo impacts retailers

Exhibition spotlights women of Black Mountain College

BRING THE

HEAT

Homegrown restaurants spice up new hotels MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

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OUR 26TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 26 NO. 26 JAN. 22-28, 2020

C O NT E NT S

PAGE 19 HOMEGROWN, NATIONALLY KNOWN

Downtown sidewalk redo impacts retailers

Exhibition spotlights women of Black Mountain College

BRING THE

HEAT

Homegrown restaurants spice up new hotels

Luxury hotel restaurants in many metropolitan tourist destinations bank on high-profile celebrity chefs. But Asheville’s newest upscale hotels are taking a completely different approach. On the cover: Benne on Eagle chef de cuisine Ashleigh Shanti with chefowner John Fleer. COVER PHOTO Johnny Autry COVER DESIGN Olivia Urban

FARM & GARDEN WELLNESS

NEWS 2

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

17 FERTILE LEGACY Jewish Farmer Network cultivates ancient agricultural wisdom

27 PLAYING WITH FIRE Cynn Chadwick’s new book explores the secret choices of women 28 GOOD WORKS Tarah Singh talks about personal paintings and global design initiatives

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23 SWISS ARMY WOMAN Leah Rainis taps diverse skills as Asheville Brewers Alliance’s new director

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14 B HERE NOW Unusual virus pattern shapes early flu season in WNC

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6 HANG ON, HAYWOOD STREET Residents, businesses brace for nine-month construction project

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FEATURES

Opening Four New Exhibits

C O NTAC T US

3 LETTERS 3 CARTOON: MOLTON 5 CARTOON: BRENT BROWN 6 NEWS 9 BUNCOMBE BEAT 11 ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES 12 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 14 WELLNESS 17 FARM & GARDEN 19 FOOD 21 SMALL BITES 23 BEER SCOUT 25 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 30 SMART BETS 31 CLUBLAND 36 MOVIES 38 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 38 CLASSIFIEDS 39 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

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OPINION

Send your letters to the editor to letters@mountainx.com. STA F F PUBLISHER: Jeff Fobes ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson MANAGING EDITOR: Virginia Daffron A&E EDITOR: Alli Marshall FOOD EDITOR: Gina Smith GREEN SCENE EDITOR: Daniel Walton OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose STAFF REPORTERS: Able Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Laura Hackett, Brooke Randle, Daniel Walton COMMUNITY CALENDAR EDITOR: Deborah Robertson CLUBLAND EDITOR: Lauren Andrews

CARTOO N BY RAN D Y M O L T O N

Asheville’s progressive addiction is growing old As the ever-interesting potentials of a new year begin, it might be a good time to rethink habituation as a functional approach to politics. Nowhere is this soul train to misery more evident than among Asheville’s progressives. Mr. Webster offers clarity through his definition of liberalism: “Willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one’s own; open to new ideas.” Progressives aren’t liberal anymore — they simply want their way. Wanting what we want, when, where and how we want it, flags addiction. That affliction, regardless of what one is addicted to, comes packaged with three partners — denial, anger and depression. Today’s progressive movement is inconveniently mired in all three. Regrettably, it’s not possible to get to good places through bad means. As the world grows crazier and more dangerous, habit will, of necessity, give way to a more authentic version of liberalism open to new or different thinking. Don’t be afraid, Asheville. In contrast to left-leaning propaganda, your conservative opposition is rarely dull, ignorant, indifferent or rich. As with all political movements, there are notable exceptions, but most right-thinking folks operate out of the root word of conservativ-

ism: Conserve [v. kuh n-surv] to use or manage wisely; preserve; save. It’s revealing that Asheville’s progressive community literally cringes at diversity of thought exposures found in conservative thinking. Don’t believe it? Ask the diversity-loving administrators at UNC Asheville and A-B Tech how many conservative faculty members they have. Ask yourself why a diversity-loving city like ours would have a 7-0 locked-in blue City Council. Finally, when’s the last time you heard of a local progressive political group suggesting a debate between opposing sides? This “good guys/bad guys” approach to politics is not remotely up the challenges of a 21st century world. Contrary to the two-headed coin most mainstream outlets use to secure the liberal view, a simple penny reveals there are always two sides. Anyone believing that only their angle of view matters is naïve and dangerous. It’s easy to see why conservatism is not the winner in today’s political popularity contest. In contrast to the left’s “any way you like it” seductions promising the downhill run, conservatism is hard. It commands the energy, courage and perseverance of an uphill climb. We get it that most things in life that are good are also hard. Open-minded versus addicted progressives still receptive to new ideas might consider a simple truism. Mental masturbation has as much productive connection to reason as coyotes have to

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JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

OPINION

Send your letters to the editor to letters@mountainx.com.

newborn winter calves. Culturists who get that distinction are needed more than ever — on both sides of the coin. — Carl Mumpower Asheville

Thumbs down on mocking corrupt county officials While it is true that the recent Wanda Greene et al. scandal was a gross example of greed and entitlement gone wild, I was very disappointed that your editors thought it is funny to mock people who have been tried, justly convicted and are paying their debt to society [“Prison Pen Pals: Letters From Corrupt Buncombe County Officials,” Jan. 1, Xpress]. I have heard similar hardhearted attitudes about this from others in our community, and frankly, it surprised me. Is it a laudable act to steal from the public coffers with which you have been entrusted? No. Is it a worthy American value to mock the incarcerated who have succumbed to temptation in a society where wealth is seen as the measure of success? I think not. — Sherrill Knight Asheville

Wells offers a wise, thoughtful perspective I support having Terri Wells be District 1 county commissioner. I have known Terri Wells for a few years now and am quite enthusiastic about her running to be county commissioner for District 1. Terri is a good listener who is passionate about improving the quality of life for all the residents of our county, those living in our urban areas as well as those residing in our more distant rural sections. She values engagement in a political process that supports a better way of life for all residents of our county. Terri’s persistent personal engagement in local political concerns is a living testimony of this — and she is consistently seeking to encourage others to also engage in a democratic process that is truly inclusive. I am a registered independent and often find myself straddling various party policies. Terri has my support because I have always found her perspective thoughtful and wise and her action to be encouraging everyone to be as involved as possible in addressing our collective needs and concerns as citizens of Buncombe County. I have been a resident of Buncombe County since January 1977 and can’t think of anyone I would appreciate more having serve as a Buncombe County commissioner. 4

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM

The Democratic primary is March 3, and I encourage everyone who is going to vote to consider Terri Wells’ platform carefully — to be found on her website terriwellsforcommissioner.com. — John Johnson Leicester Editor’s note: Johnson reports that he is volunteering to help in Wells’ campaign.

Sloan has courage, skills to help Buncombe There’s no question that these are trying times. So much painful news circulates that we can easily be overwhelmed by it. If somehow you find a way to keep your head up — and I hope you will — you’ll see a few people coming forward with the values, knowledge and courage to do something about all this trouble. We’re fortunate that one of these people is Parker Sloan. I want Parker representing District 3 on our county [Board of Commissioners]. I want this because I’m a father, and Parker shares my personal investment in Buncombe’s children. Smart kids don’t close achievement gaps; policy does. I want Parker on county commission because I tube and paddle the French Broad, and I want my daughter and her generation to do the same without fear of illness and injury. Good intentions don’t sustain a river; policy does. I want Parker on county commission because I’m incredibly blessed to own a home, and I want others to have the same privilege. When you live in a place as desirable as we do, markets don’t create affordable housing; policy does. I want Parker on county commission because people I love have been poisoned to death by opioids. Scolding addicted people doesn’t break the cycle of addiction; policy does. I want Parker on county commission because I see my neighbors cut out of the deal of Asheville’s booming wealth and popularity with tourists. Thousands of people visit us each year, not knowing that a cut of their hotel bill is being funneled toward making the wealthy wealthier, while our roads buckle and our teachers work second jobs. Charity doesn’t fix this; policy does. Maybe, like me, you’re a parent, or a water lover, or a homeowner, or a family member or a neighbor. Maybe, like me, you can’t change what you’d love to see changed because you don’t have the time or the skills. Good news for us: Parker Sloan does. — Joe Wilkerson Asheville Editor’s note: Wilkerson reports that he is volunteering with Sloan’s campaign.

Help get Sams on ballot for District 11 I met Winn Sams at a café in Asheville through the introduction of a friend who met her at a shop in Black Mountain. Winn gets around — and if we’re lucky, she’ll get all the way to Washington, D.C., on our behalf! Here’s what she writes in her request to sign the petition to help get her on the ballot: “Most would say our current state of affairs are not in the best shape. To make a change, we have to align with people who will represent us, but be courageous enough to buck the popular way of thinking.” (Apparently, we only have till the end of February, so thank you, Daniel Walton, for such an informative article in the Jan. 8 issue of the Xpress [“No Party People: Unaffiliated Candidates Face Challenging Path to Ballot”]!) With a dozen years of advocacy work in different areas of health and health care that so tragically need more than just a face-lift, Sams, a chiropractic physician, is offering to make the hard trek amassing close to 9,000 signatures among the constituents of the newly redistricted N.C. District 11, which is made up of the 16 ½ counties (half of Rutherford County, that is) of WNC. The reason all those signatures are needed is because Sams wants to run as an unaffiliated candidate (no party, no entrenched platforms). I assume affiliation with the Democrats or the Republicans is supposed to assure us that at least enough people would be interested in the candidate, so no petitions are needed. Some of Sams’ top priorities to help us make a better place for ourselves and our families include legislation she’s already introduced and seen passed through legislators in other states. Her programs prioritize wise strategies for medical pain intervention, a much-needed strategy for curbing if not ending opioid and other rampant addictions. She is also an advocate for affordable health care choices (think licensing those still considered “alternative” practitioners, like naturopathic physicians) and a more transparent and honest state government in general. “Our system needs healing, not fixing,” she writes. “I cannot do this alone.” To help gather the needed support, we can get petitions and other pertinent information via the contact page on her website, www.awinnfornc.com, and we can gather registered voters’ signatures in the county or counties where we live and work. Winn Sams’ website also includes locales where petitions are already being hosted.

C A R T O O N B Y B R E NT B R O W N Click “Sign The Petition” and help turn things around, starting locally. — Arjuna da Silva Black Mountain Editor’s note: Da Silva reports that she is volunteering with Sams’ campaign.

Remillard: A promise to put community interests first Since the election of President Trump, our country has become increasingly polarized. Our politics have become more fractured, with leaders from both extremes fighting for policies that seem to benefit certain groups of Americans at the expense of others. We are, as President Lincoln cautioned against, a house divided: left versus right, blue versus red, neighbor against neighbor. This unfortunate regression toward tribalism is painful for me to watch. I joined the Army at 24 years old, driven by a desire to serve this country and all of her people. I took the oath of enlistment — that “I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and bear true faith and allegiance to the same” — with the understanding that it was my duty to ensure the welfare of all Americans. In Iraq, I stood shoulder to shoulder with brothers-

and sisters-in-arms who fought for this belief. Sadly, some gave the ultimate sacrifice in the process. Meanwhile, here at home, I was disheartened to see our political leaders engaging in partisan bickering and putting their own interests ahead of the people they were sworn to protect. I believe our community deserves better. And that is why last month, I filed to represent District 117 in the North Carolina House. We need a representative in Raleigh who will restore honor and integrity to the General Assembly and who will work in a bipartisan way to build a stronger North Carolina — one that does not leave our children’s education, our health and our environment behind. People are tired of gamesmanship and mudslinging. People want a return to decency. They want someone who takes seriously the fundamental issues they are concerned with: creating high-quality jobs, investing in education, protecting our air and water, and making health care more affordable. If I have the privilege to serve as your representative, I promise to always listen, to be responsive and to put the interests of our community first. I hope you will join me in this fight. — Josh Remillard Mills River Editor’s note: Remillard notes that he is a Democratic candidate for N.C. House District 117. More info: www. JoshRemillard.com. X MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

NEWS

HANG ON, HAYWOOD STREET Residents, businesses brace for nine-month construction project BY BROOKE RANDLE brandle@mountainx.com Haywood Street is arguably one of downtown Asheville’s busiest economic corridors. Flanked by Patton Avenue and Pritchard Park at its southern end and the newly renamed Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville to the north, the street is home to dozens of businesses, including restaurants, clothing boutiques and bars. But the iconic thoroughfare will be getting a makeover this year. The Haywood Streetscape and Infrastructure Improvement Project kicks off this month and promises to replace the street’s crumbling blue slate sidewalks, fill in existing potholes, update the stormwater and sewer infrastructure, and install new benches and tree wells. “We’ve seen Haywood Street grow from just a few stores on up,” notes Sue Foley, who has co-owned The Chocolate Fetish with her husband, Bill, since 2001. “The bluestone is hard for our customers to walk on, and quite honestly it’s dangerous, because it’s not being repaired. We also move handcarts with tons of chocolate and tons of boxes on the sidewalk, and it just tears up our handcarts.” But while the renovations are sure to bring a breath of fresh air to the area, Dana Frankel, the city’s downtown development specialist, says the nine-month project will come at a cost to local businesses and resi-

WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS: Construction to replace Haywood Street’s blue slate sidewalks, sewer and water infrastructure, tree wells and other amenities is scheduled to start in March and is expected to last through September. Photo by Brooke Randle dents dependent on accessibility and foot traffic. “We’ve known for a long time that the sidewalk on Haywood Street really needs to be replaced: We’ve heard from the community for years,” says Frankel. “The areas of sidewalk that have the slate or the bluestone, they’re in horrible condition. But this is going to be disruptive, and it’s going to look bad. So we want to be honest with people about that — and, of course, address their concerns.”

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NUTS AND BOLTS Initially, the focus was solely on replacing Haywood Street’s sidewalks, says Dustin Clemens, program manager for downtown capital projects. But the city, he says, saw an opportunity to tie in the work with the upcoming sewer and waterline maintenance. “We always reach out to other utility companies and make sure that they don’t have any overlapping projects that might either cause our project to

get disrupted right after it’s built or just cause undue construction impacts to businesses and residents,” Clemens explains. Shaun Armistead, an engineer with the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County, says Haywood Street was “pretty high” on the agency’s priority list, citing the infrastructure’s age and the need for modernization as factors arguing for replacement. On Nov. 12, Asheville City Council approved a cost-sharing agreement with MSD for the $4.7 million project, which will also include water and sewer improvements on portions of College and Walnut streets. Both MSD and the city have hired local construction companies to do the work, says Armistead. The companies in question have also been involved in the transportation improvement project in the River Arts District. The current work, he explains, will be completed in phases, beginning with the line replacements on portions of Walnut and College streets in January. That phase is expected to take about seven weeks and will include lane and street closures; it’s not yet known how long they will last. “There’s a portion of Walnut Street that’s so narrow right now, we won’t be able to keep traffic moving on it during that period of time,” says Armistead. “There will be some limited disruptions on College as well, and until we have a contractor on-site and we know exactly where some of

those utilities are, we can’t tell what that duration is going to be.” After that work is finished, construction crews will turn their attention to Haywood Street, replacing sewer and water infrastructure before proceeding with the sidewalk restoration and amenities. That work, says Clemens, is slated to start at the beginning of March after the Southern Conference basketball tournament wraps up at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville (formerly the U.S. Cellular Center). Businesses and residents, he says, can expect to see ongoing lane and sidewalk closures on Haywood Street from Vanderbilt Place to College Street as crews tackle the work in sections. “Probably right after the SOCON tournament, we will change the traffic pattern on Haywood Street to be one direction headed south for vehicles,” Clemens explains. “That will allow vehicles to still access the site and to get through the area and also give us some space to detour pedestrians when we need to and obviously create enough safe work area for the contractor to get his work done.”

DETOURS AHEAD Clemens maintains that despite the inevitable lane and sidewalk closures, the city and MSD have sequenced the various phases to keep as much of the area as possible open to pedestrians and vehicles. The entire process is expected to last at least into September, though adverse weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances could extend the timeline, he cautions. And while the construction may cause headaches for residents who live in the area, businesses along Haywood will probably bear the brunt of the impact. “We’re looking at possibly an off-site pickup location. We can’t just afford to go to another space for months and months because our production is here as well as our store,” says Foley of The Chocolate Fetish. “We’re involved with food tours that come here every day: It’s just a lot of things that are impacted where we are.” Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe, meanwhile, “will be affected at every stage, because of the corner we’re on,” owner Gretchen Horn says about her busi-

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ness, which sits at the intersection of Haywood and Walnut streets. “We’re taking a wait-and-see approach: There’s a timeline sent out, but we don’t know how strictly they’re going to adhere to that. It’s hard to really know when the impact will hit.” Over the last couple of years, Frankel says, the city has used flyers, email updates and more than 15 community engagement opportunities to keep residents and business owners informed and garner feedback. She adds that while a construction project spanning much of Asheville’s tourist season is far from ideal, it’s harder to pour asphalt and concrete in cold weather. The hope, notes Frankel, is that the project will be completed by the time leaf season begins. “We know that there’s a lot of busy times, but a lot of businesses see October as their busiest month of the year, and we wanted to take advantage of the slower months, which are really just January through March,” she explains. SPREADING THE WORD

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Foot traffic “is our store,” says Daniel Areyzaga, who owns Charmed boutique at 46 Haywood St. “We rely on pedestri-

Public Notice: Community Action Opportunities (CAO) is applying for $760,381 to the Office of Economic Opportunity-Community Services Block Grant in order to operate a Self-Sufficiency project in FY 20-21 in Buncombe, McDowell, Madison, Henderson, Transylvania and Polk Counties. CAO currently provides comprehensive case management services to help individuals and families move out of poverty for residents who meet income eligibility criteria and are ready/able to work full-time. CAO will host public hearings to discuss programming: Thursday, February 6, 20 at 12pm at Community Action Opportunities, 25 Gaston St. in Asheville, NC and Wednesday, February 5, 20 at 1:30pm at the AB Tech Madison Campus in Marshall. CAO’s Board of Directors-Executive Committee is scheduled to meet to approve this application on Wednesday, Feburary 12, 20 at 1pm at Community Action Opportunities, 25 Gaston St. in Asheville, NC. The public is invited to attend any of these events in person or via webinar. Email kate.singogo@tcqr.org with the webinar info of the event you would like to attend at least 24 hours prior to the event in order to receive the log-in information. Call 828.210.0601 or email for more information.

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OLD TOWN ROAD: Construction to replace sewer and water infrastructure on portions of College Street is already underway. Photo by Brooke Randle an traffic to look in the windows, come in the shop and buy. We’re not looking forward to the downturn: We’re going to have to make a labor reduction. We can’t support the same people in the shop that we did last year.” To help mitigate the revenue loss, Meghan Rogers, executive director of the Downtown Association, says the city has allocated $10,750 to the organization to develop a promotional campaign aimed at drawing potential customers to Haywood Street during the construction process. Employing what she calls “fun and creative messaging,” the campaign is expected to include signs and banners indicating that the vendors and restaurants are open; the nonprofit is also considering providing parking vouchers and organizing promotional events. “We want to let people know that businesses are open during the project and encourage them to visit,” notes Rogers. “We’re likely to use a combination of light-pole banners, A-frames, sidewalk decals and construction fence banners.” Not everyone shares her enthusiasm, however. “I’ve seen a couple examples that the city is putting forward or proposing,” says Areyzaga. “But let’s face it, if you’re blocking off a sidewalk and you’re dealing with a bunch of dust, it’s not like people are going to be walking down to these areas.” Rogers says the city is also considering temporarily halting construction during profitable holidays such as Valentine’s Day, so businesses can cash in.

GET READY Frankel says the construction will typically take place between 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday with occasional the Saturday to compensate for weather delays. An on-site project manager will be available during those hours to address the needs of residents and business owners. The city also plans to continue providing monthly updates to keep the community informed about what to expect during each stage of construction. Many merchants, meanwhile, say they’re just planning to ride out the unavoidable disruption. “We’ve been here for 18 years, and we will survive,” Foley says. “We will probably depend on our internet sales even more than normal and hope that both the locals downtown and the tourists continue to come and visit us and see what we do and try our products.” Areyzaga sounds a similar note, saying, “We’re going to just keep on trucking along. We know it’s a sacrifice that we have to make, but it is for the greater good.” And over at Malaprop’s, Horn says she’s counting on support from longtime customers to get through the next nine months. “Luckily, we have a very faithful, loyal community that still comes in even if the weather’s bad. So that’s why I’m not as nervous as I could be. We’ll just be prepared and want people to know that we’re going to be open at every stage of it. We’re open, we’re here: Come on in.” X

BUNCOMBE BEAT

Asheville transit needs run $500K over budget The fare for a rider on Asheville’s bus system is $1, but running those buses costs considerably more. And at its Jan. 14 meeting, Asheville City Council heard that the projected need for transit funding was $500,000 more than budgeted at the July 1, 2019, start of the fiscal year. Jessica Morriss, Asheville’s assistant director of transportation, explained that the higher costs were primarily driven by federally mandated door-to-door paratransit service for residents with disabilities. Not only are more riders taking advantage of the service, she said, but the average trip distance has also increased. The remaining transit budget gap, Morriss said, was due to higher-thanexpected prices for fuel and electricity to power Asheville’s buses. In total, the expected $500,000 gap represents a 4.9% increase over the $10.16 million transit services fund for fiscal year 2019-20. Morriss added that due to this fiscal reality, the city would likely not be able to lengthen the hours of bus operation for the rest of the year, an expansion called for by the 2018 Transit Master Plan. City planners estimated the cost of that extension at $250,000 to $300,000. “It would be challenging, to say the least, primarily because we’re in a $500,000 shortfall,” she said. Looking ahead to fiscal year 202021, Morriss said her department would request an additional $2.5 million to cover the extra paratransit and fuel costs, as well as pay for a full year of the Transit Master Plan changes that began on Jan. 5. Roughly $400,000 of that increase, she added, would cover a portion of paratransit services currently subsidized by Buncombe County government, which has told

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DRIVING DOLLARS: Projected costs for the city of Asheville’s transit system exceed its fiscal year 2019-20 budget by $500,000, primarily due to higher-than-anticipated paratransit expenses. Photo courtesy of the city of Asheville the city it intends to eliminate that funding in its next budget cycle. Council member Julie Mayfield, who has long positioned herself as an advocate for transit expansion, said she hoped her Buncombe colleagues would reconsider their decision to end the paratransit subsidy. County government, she pointed out, is responsible for most of the area’s other health and human services expenses, and all city residents are also residents of the county. “Feel free to take that message back to them,” Mayfield told Morriss. IN OTHER NEWS After nearly an hour of discussion and signs of opposition from Council member Keith Young, developer Harry Pilos asked Council to delay a decision on his request for a conditional zoning amendment to the RAD Lofts project until Tuesday, Feb. 25. The change would have reduced the project’s per-

centage of residential units covered by affordability restrictions from 100% to 10%, a move he said was necessary to secure investor funding. Pilos claimed that none of Asheville’s affordability incentives made economic sense for the project and said he would offer the 10% of affordable units without city support. But Young suggested that the developer’s proposal wouldn’t meet city housing goals. “This sort of development promotes gentrification,” he said. Council also approved the issuance of $23.2 million in general obligation bonds initially authorized by city residents as part of a 2016 referendum. Instead of directly funding projects, the bond sale will be used to pay back a form of short-term debt called a bond anticipation note; city CFO Barbara Whitehorn noted that Asheville has already spent $15.6 million of that money on affordable housing projects and plans to draw on the remainder over the next month.

— Daniel Walton X

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www.junkrecyclers.net MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS by News staff | news@mountainx.com CAMPBELL SELECTS DAVID ZACK AS ASHEVILLE POLICE CHIEF

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After a two-month national search, City Manager Debra Campbell announced that David Zack will serve as the chief of the Asheville Police Department beginning Tuesday, Feb. 4. Zack currently works as the police chief in Cheektowaga, N.Y., and was first introduced as a finalist for the position Dec. 17. The search for a new police chief launched in November following the abrupt resignation of former Chief Chris Bailey in September after less than two months on the job. (See avl.mx/6sc). HCA INDEPENDENT MONITOR ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY MEETINGS Gibbins Advisors, the New York-based health care consulting firm tapped to oversee commitments made as part of HCA Healthcare’s purchase of Mission Health System, has scheduled a series of public meetings across seven Western North Carolina counties to discuss the firm’s role and answer questions. No reservations are necessary for the events, taking place Tuesday, Jan. 28, through Thursday, Feb. 13; however, seating is limited. More information at avl.mx/6ve. ASHEVILLE MALL LAUNCHES YOUTH ESCORT POLICY The Asheville Mall introduced a new youth escort policy Jan. 17 in response to several incidents at the shopping center, including a fight among teenagers in December that resulted in an early closure of the mall. The new policy will require those under 18 to be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 21 on Friday and Saturday

ONE THE JOB: David Zack, chief of the Cheektowaga Police Department in New York, will serve as the new chief of the Asheville Police Department starting Tuesday, Feb. 4. Photo courtesy of the city of Asheville nights after 5 p.m. More information at avl.mx/6v1. BUNCOMBE COUNTY NAMES VAN TAYLOR JONES AS EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR Buncombe County has selected Van Taylor Jones to serve as the director of emergency services beginning Tuesday, Jan. 21, after a nationwide search to fill the position. Jones previously worked as the emergency services director in Anderson County, S.C., for almost 12 years and replaces outgoing Emergency Services Director Jerry VeHaun, who announced his retirement in December after serving in that role since 1972. BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE RECEIVES LARGESTEVER INDIVIDUAL DONATION The Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation received a $1.75 million bequest from the estate of

Liselotte Wehrheim, the largest single gift from an individual in the college’s history. The donation will provide scholarships and other program support for health care training programs. Wehrheim died in Tryon in August 2019 at the age of 103. CHOW CHOW SELECTS REBECCA LYNCH, SHAY BROWN FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS Nonprofit festival Chow Chow named Rebecca Lynch, formerly the fundraising campaign director for the Asheville Art Museum, executive director of the organization. Shay Brown of Shay Brown Events of Asheville, an event design company that specializes in destination weddings, was also picked to oversee festival operations as festival director. This year’s Chow Chow is scheduled for ThursdaySunday, Sept.10-13; tickets are expected to go on sale by late March or early April. X

FEA T U RE S

ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

‘A positive disgrace’

Residents lament the state of city sidewalks, 1889 tell his congregation that all miracles lie nearly two thousand years in the past, and that the present Board cannot work impossibilities.”

PLEA FOR FEET: “At the present rate of building sidewalks, the streets of this city will not be respectably paved in 25 years,” bemoaned the Rev. C.M. Bishop in 1889. This photo, circa 1905, appears to have been taken on Church Street. The sign promotes Humpty Dumpty, a vaudeville act performed that year at the Grand Opera House, previously located where the S&W building stands today. Photo courtesy of the North Carolina Collection, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville On Jan. 8, 1889, the Rev. C.M. Bishop wrote a letter to the editor, published by The Asheville Citizen in the following day’s paper. Speaking on behalf of his congregation, Bishop raised a complaint that echoes to this day. “I wish to call your special attention to a matter, which it seems to us, is of great importance, and which needs a little ventilation; vis: ‘The need for better pavements and sidewalks.’” Though Bishop’s attention focused primarily on Buxton Street, where his congregation met, he noted, “Even on the principal streets, the pavements are, to say the least of them, no honor to the town.” Many of the thoroughfares, he continued, lacked sidewalks and crossings. These, he declared, “are a positive disgrace.” Meanwhile, Bishop maintained, the Board of Aldermen continued to ignore his requests and petitions. As a result, members of his congregation were “forced to go through mud ankle-deep” streets.

Though he characterized the aldermen as “high-toned gentlemen and good citizens,” Bishop argued that it was time to vote these leaders out of office in the upcoming May election. The reason was simple, Bishop stated: “They do not nearly meet the demands of the people in this matter of furnishing sidewalks for muddy, almost impassable streets.” Two days later, Alderman T.C. Westall responded to Bishop’s remarks in a scathing letter to the editor, claiming Bishop fired into the Board of Aldermen “with considerable boldness and recklessness.” Westall continued: “I wish to inform the reverend gentleman that the Board cannot do everything without the money. There are six miles of streets, more or less, without sidewalks, all in as bad a fix about mud as the Riverside church street, and the Board would be glad to accommodate all of it could be done: Let Mr. Bishop

Along with decrying Bishop’s declarations, Westall invited the religious leader to run for alderman in the May election. “If he should find that he could not put in good time at his church because of his official duties in trying to lift our streets out of their present ‘disgrace,’” Westall wrote, “I’ll promise to put in a sermon occasionally free for him.” Not everyone was amused by Westall’s response. On Jan. 19, 1889, one M.B. Ramseur offered his thoughts on the matter, in a letter to the editor. He believed the city would be in far better shape if more community members followed Bishop’s lead. “Why should it require boldness for the sovereign people to demand of the public servants an account of their stewardship?” Ramseur asked. “Have they, like Caesar, grown so great that we dare not attack them openly?” Again, Ramseur encouraged residents to speak up, despite the potential consequence of “subjecting ourselves to insolence and abuse” from city officials. “Did more of our citizens, best qualified to direct our public affairs, take an active interest in them, I venture to say, there would be more satisfaction among the tax-payers.” That May, Westall lost his seat, as the city voted in a new mayor and three new aldermen. Around the same time, a new business was creating quite a stir in town. C.A. Moody arrived in Asheville in early 1889 by way of Milwaukee. According to The Daily Citizen, he was a manufacturer of artificial stone. “The question ‘how shall we attain good sidewalks?’ may now be on the eve of a satisfactory answer,” the paper declared. Later that year, on Oct. 10, 1889, The Daily Citizen reported on Moody’s growing enterprise. “We are glad to see this material coming gradually into use for sidewalks, several of the new and handsome stores having adopted it as an elegant outdoor finish for their handsome fronts,” the paper read. “We mention the subject not with obligation to Mr. Moody, but with satisfaction that he has made a new and really very important addition to the industries of Asheville.” Editor’s note: Peculiarities of spelling and punctuation are preserved from the original documents. X

MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

COMMUNITY CALENDAR JAN. 22 - 30, 2020

CALENDAR GUIDELINES For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, ext. 137. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, ext. 320.

ACTIVISM 5G GLOBAL PROTEST DAY • SA (1/25), noon-5pm - 5G global protest rally, march and film screening. Free. Held at Pack Square Park, 121 College St. WORLD BEYOND WAR • TH (1/30), 6-8pm World BEYOND War (WBW) is a movement and campaign of education, advocacy and nonviolent direct action to end all wars. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St.

ANIMALS AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB DOG AGILITY TRIALS • FR (1/24) through SU (1/26) - American Kennel Club Dog Agility Trials. Friday & Saturday: 8am-4pm, Sunday: 8am-noon. Free. Held at WNC Agricultural Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road

BENEFITS ASHEVILLE HOT CHOCOLATE RACES • SA (1/25) - Proceeds from the Asheville Hot

2020

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JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

BACK TO THE BASSOONIVERSE: Experience the sonorities of four bassoons in the acoustically blessed sanctuary of Biltmore United Methodist Church on Sunday, Jan. 27, 3 p.m. The program includes a wide variety of music written for bassoon and bassoon ensembles by the composers Francisco Mignone, Amber Ferenz Spuller, Francois Devienne and Mozart. The bassoonists include Rosalind Buda, Jennifer Anderson, Susan Cohen and Will Peebles. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $5 students 26 and younger. Purchase online at panharmonia.org/shop. Photo courtesy of Michael Hynes (p. 29) Chocolate Races with hot chocolate benefit the Isaac Dickson PTO. 8:30am - Marshmallow Dash and 1K Hill Climb, 9am - 10K, 9:15am - 5K. $5-$40. Held at Isaac Dickson Elementary School, 90 Montford Ave.

at Riverview Station, 191 Lyman St.

ASHEVILLE SISTER CITIES BURNS NIGHT SUPPER • SA (1/25), 5:30-10pm Proceeds from the 261st Robert Burns Night Dinner with three course meal including haggis, a piper, poets, dancers and a cash bar benefit Asheville Sister Cities. $100. Held at The Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Road

• SA (1/25), 9am-noon - Are You Ready To Start A Small Business, seminar. Registration: conta.cc/30baPTb. Free. Held at A-B Tech Enka Campus, 1459 Sand Hill Road, Candler

DANCING WITH THE ASHEVILLE STARS • SA (1/25), 7pm - Proceeds from Dancing with the Asheville Stars benefits HelpMate. $25. Held at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave. JOHN MAC KAH FUNDRAISER • SATURDAYS in January, 10am-4pm - Proceeds from the fundraiser for John Mac Kah benefit the chemotherapy expenses for John Mac Kah, landscape painter, studio 234. Held

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY ARE YOU READY TO START A SMALL BUSINESS

FLETCHER AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION • 4th THURSDAYS, 11:30noon - General meeting. Free. Held at YMCA Mission Pardee Health Campus, 2775 Hendersonville Road, Arden SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE MODIFICATIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE (SAMI) TRAINING • TH (1/23), 1-5pm - SAMI session 2 includes entry solutions, kitchen options and the dangers of code compliant solutions. Registration: avl.mx/6uy. Free. Held at Goodwill Career Training Center, 1616 Patton Ave.

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS EMPYREAN ARTS CLASSES (PD.) Intro to Handstands weekly on Thursdays 7:45pm. Aerial Yoga weekly on Mondays 6:15pm and Wednesdays 7:30pm. Intro to Pole Fitness weekly on Tuesdays 7:15pm and Saturdays 11:30am. Intro to Pole Dance weekly on Mondays 7:30pm. Release & Restore weekly on Sundays 5:00pm, Mondays 7:30pm, and Thursdays 5:15pm. EMPYREANARTS. ORG. 828.782.3321 A-B TECH SMALL BUSINESS CENTER 1465 Sand Hill Road, Candler, 828-398-7950, abtech.edu/sbc • WE (1/22), 9-11am - Preparing for a Small Business Loan, seminar. Registration: avl.mx/5zx. Free. • SA (1/25), 9am-noon SCORE: Are You Ready to Start a Business?, seminar. Registration: avl.mx/5zx. Free. AMERICAN LEGION POST 70 • LAST MONDAYS, 6pm - General meeting.

Dinner at 6pm. Meeting at 7pm. Free. Held at American Legion Post 70, 103 Reddick Road BIG IVY COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD MEETING • 4th MONDAYS, 7pm Community center board meeting. Free. Held at Big Ivy Community Center, 540 Dillingham Road, Barnardsville BLACK MEN MONDAYS • LAST MONDAYS, 6:30-8pm - Black Men Mondays brings positive, strong and like-minded black men together for the benefit of one another and the community. Information: 828-361-4529. Free. Held at Community Action Opportunities, 25 Gaston St. EXPLORING THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY • WE (1/22), 7pm - Exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway talk by a park ranger. Free. Held at REI Asheville, 31 Schenck Parkway FRENCH BROAD VIGNERONS • SA (1/25), 10am - French Broad Vignerons annual meeting and elections. Held at Pleb Urban Winery, 289 Lyman St.

GETTING READY FOR TAX SEASON • WE (1/29), 11:30am1pm - Getting Ready for Tax Season, get organized, discuss frequently overlooked deductions, accounting systems and more. Registration: conta.cc/2O1XSqv. Free. Held at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 36 Montford Ave. MARINE CORPS LEAGUE ASHEVILLE • 4th TUESDAYS, 6pm - For veterans of the Marines, FMF Corpsmen and their families. Free. Held at American Legion Post #2, 851 Haywood Road WNC AFFORDABLE HOUSING FAIR • SA (1/25), noon-4pm - Thirteen agencies provide information about emergency shelter, rentals and home ownership for area residents with different types of housing needs, from homelessness to renters and those qualifying for home ownership assistance programs. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St.

FOOD & BEER ASHEVILLE VEGAN RUNNERS • 4th SATURDAYS, 5:306:30pm - Asheville Vegan Runners, open group meeting. Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Road

FESTIVALS ASHEVILLE FRINGE ARTS FESTIVAL • SU (1/19) through SU (1/26) - Performance arts festival with 100+ ticketed performances featuring cross genre fringe artists. See website for full schedule. $14-19. Held at Downtown Asheville

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS IMPACTS OF HOTELS: THE ULI FINDINGS • TH (1/30), 5:30-7pm - An Urban Land Institute panel presents their recommendations on best land use practices and other tools and strategies for the City to consider in order to better plan for and regulate hotel development. Free to attend. Held at Harrah’s

CONSCIOUS PARTY Cherokee Center - Asheville, 87 Haywood St.

gmail.com (828) 771-6344.

INFORMED PROGRESSIVE WORKSHOP • WE (1/22), 5:30 - Food. 6pm - Workshop to discuss and further understand the current progressive movement and a discussion of a progressive vision for the community. Childcare available. Free. Held at Donaldson Room, 1216 Sixth Ave. W., Suite 500 (in back), Hendersonville

BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • FR (1/24), 4pm - Sign up to read for 15-minutes with J.R. the therapy dog. Free. Held at EnkaCandler Library, 1404 Sandhill Road, Candler • MO (1/27), 4pm - LEGO builders, kids 5 and up. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville • 4th TUESDAYS, 1pm - Homeschoolers' book club. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. • 2nd SATURDAYS, 1-4pm & LAST WEDNESDAYS, 4-6pm - Teen Dungeons and Dragons for ages 12 and up. Registration required: 828-250-4720. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St.

MEET THE CANDIDATES • TH (1/30), 5:30-7:30pm - Meet the democratic candidates running for local, state and congressional offices. Free to attend. Held at Salvage Station, 468 Riverside Drive SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ACTION • TH (1/23), 5:30pm - Why We March. How We March: The Culture of Organizing and Community Building, workshop by Cortina Caldwell. Free. Held at Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Heights, Mountain Suites. WNC AFFORDABLE HOUSING FAIR • SA (1/25), noon-4pm - Affordable housing information available to people experiencing homelessness or other housing barriers. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St.

KIDS EMPOWERING THE LEADER IN EACH YOUNG MAN (PD.) Journeymen is supporting adolescent boys on their paths to becoming men of integrity. Our cost-free program is now enrolling young men 12-17. Mentees ("J-men") participate in bi-weekly mentoring groups and a semi-annual Rites of Passage Adventure Weekend, where they develop compassion, self-awareness, accountability, resilience and authenticity. Learn more: journeymenasheville.org Contact: journeymenasheville@

MOUNTAINS BRANCH LIBRARY 150 Bill's Creek Road, Lake Lure, 828-287-6392, mountainsbranchlibrary. org • TU (1/28), 3:30-5:30pm - STEM with Dr. K: Heart and lung circulation model. Registration required. Ages: 6-106. Free. • TH (1/30), 4pm - Make your own pinback buttons. Ages 8-18. Free.

OUTDOORS GRASSLAND STARGAZE • FR (1/24), 5:49pm - A public stargazing party at a private observatory. Gate code provided the day of the stargaze by 4pm. Free. Held at Grassland Mountain Observatory, 2890 Grassland Parkway, Marshall

PARENTING ASHEVILLE WALDORF SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE • SA (1/25), 8:30am4pm - Choose from 25+ mini-workshops to explore and experience firsthand the Waldorf education methods. Tickets: avl.mx/6uw. Lunch: $12.50. Held at

by Deborah Robertson

practices of sitting and walking meditation. Admission by donation. Held at Asheville Shambhala Meditation Center, 60 N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 113

THE GREAT FLOOD: The Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County presents Come Hell or High Water: Remembering The Great Flood of 1916, a documentary by David Weintraub. The screening is planned for Thursday, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m., at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center. In 1916, the remnants of two tropical storms resulted in 22 inches of rain in a 24-hour period in our drainage basin, causing the French Broad River to rise 17 feet above flood stage and the Swannanoa River to swell to a mile in width. The suggested donation is $10. Photo courtesy of North Carolina Room, Pack Memorial Library (p. 36)

Azalea Mountain School, 27 Balm Grove Ave. FOSTER PARENT TRAINING • WE (1/22), 6-9pm - Foster Parent Training classes begin. Registration: 828-6946252 or families4kids@ hendersoncountync.gov. Held at Department of Public Health, 1200 Spartanburg Highway, Hendersonville SMILES CHANGE LIVES • SA (1/25), 1-4pm - Dr. Timothy Scanlan and his team to screen kids to qualify for $650 braces through the nonprofit Smiles Change Lives. Families who meet the program qualifications register their child here: avl.mx/6tn. Held at TS Orthodontics, 4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Suite 110

PUBLIC LECTURES 'BEETHOVEN THE IMPROVISER' • TU (1/28), 7pm Beethoven the Improviser, lecture by Music Department Chair, Brian Felix. Free. Held at Karpen Hall, UNC Asheville, 2000 University Heights ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION • TH (1/25), 5pm - Annual Martin Luther King Celebration with speaker, filmmaker, Frederick Murphy. Murphy shows excerpts from his documentary, The American South as We Know It. Free. Held at Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon

CREATIVE SECTOR TALKS • TU (1/28), 5:30pm - City of Asheville Outdoor Event Manager Jon Fillman and Business Inclusion Manager Rosanna Mulcahy talk about how special events help build an equitable and inclusive community. $5. Held at Center for Craft, 67 Broadway HISTORY BITES: A WINTER LECTURE SERIES • FR (1/24), 11:30am - An informative talk by Mark Williams, executive director of Agribusiness Henderson County. Light refreshments. $5. Held at Historic Johnson Farm, 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville MASTER CLASS ON THE INTERSECTION OF THE ARTS AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP • TU (1/28), 1:20pm - Shared Poetics Across Disciplines: Cultivating Global Citizenship, UNCA faculty, staff and students from different departments speak on the intersection of music, performance, creative writing, activism, civic engagement and global citizenship. Free. Room 018. Held at Lipinsky Auditorium at UNC Asheville, 300 Library Lane PISGAH NIGHTS: SPACE, SPIES AND SECRETS • FR (1/24), 6pm - PARI's Facilities Director, Brad McCall, presents Pisgah Nights: Space, Spies and Secrets and afterwards tour the Learning Center's galleries and attend a planetarium show. Reservations required. $40/$13 students ages 6-17. Held at Learning Center at PARI, 1 PARI Drive, Rosman

SENIORS A MATTER OF BALANCE: MANAGING CONCERNS ABOUT FALLS • TH (1/30), 10am-noon - Learn how to reduce your fall risk and feel more confident, 8-session series. Registration: 828-251-7438 or stephanie@landofsky.org. Free. Held at Transylvania Regional Hospital, 260 Hospital Drive, Brevard • TU (1/28), 10am-noon - Learn how to reduce your fall risk and feel more confident, 8-session series. Registration: 828-251-7438 or stephanie@landofsky.org. Free. Held at YMCA - Asheville, 30 Woodfin St. • TU (1/28), 10am-noon - Learn how to reduce your fall risk and feel more confident, 8-session series. Registration: 828-251-7438 or stephanie@landofsky.org. Free. Held at Black Mountain YMCA, 25 Jane Jacobs Rd. Black Mountain • TU (1/28), noon-2pm - Learn how to reduce your fall risk and feel more confident, 8-session series. Registration: 828-251-7438 or stephanie@landofsky.org. Free. Held at YMCA Mission Pardee Health Campus, 2775 Hendersonville Road, Arden INTRODUCTION TO MEDICARE: UNDERSTANDING THE PUZZLE • WE (1/22), 4pm - Introduction to Medicare – Understanding the Puzzle, explains how Medicare works, the enrollment process, how to avoid penalties and ways to save money. Registration: coabc.org or 828-277-8288.

Free. Held at Blue Ridge Community Health Services, 2579 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville

SPIRITUALITY ANATASATI MAGGA (PD.) Sujata Yasa (Nancy Spence). Zen Buddhism. Weekly meditations and services; Daily recitations w/mala. Urban retreats. 32 Mineral Dust Drive, Asheville, NC 28806. 828-367-7718. info@anattasatimagga.org. ANATTASATIMAGGA. ORG ASTRO-COUNSELING (PD.) Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Stellar Counseling Services. Christy Gunther, MA, LPC. (828) 258-3229. A COURSE IN MIRACLES STUDY GROUP • 2nd & 4th MONDAYS, 6:30-8:30pm - A Course in Miracles, study group. Information: 828-712-5472. Free. Held at Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Road

THE CENTER FOR ART AND SPIRIT AT ST. GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1 School Road, 828258-0211 • 4th FRIDAYS, 10amnoon - Contemplative Companions, meditation. Free. • Last TUESDAYS, 7-9pm - Aramaic, Hebrew and Egyptian vocal toning, breath work and meditation. Admission by donation.

VOLUNTEERING TUTOR ADULTS/ YOUTH IN NEED WITH THE LITERACY COUNCIL (PD.) Give someone another chance to learn. Provide reading, writing, and/ or English language tutoring and change a

life forever. Volunteer orientation 2/3 (9am) or 2/6 (5:30pm) RSVP: volunteers@litcouncil. com. Learn more: www. litcouncil.com. Free. TRANZMISSION PRISON PROJECT • Fourth THURSDAYS, 6-9pm - Monthly meeting to prepare packages of books and zines for mailing to prisons across the US. Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Road WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AIDS PROJECT • 2nd & 4th SATURDAYS, 10am-noon - Volunteer to deliver food boxes to homebound people living with HIV/ AIDS. Registration: 828-252-7489 x 315 or wncapvolunteer@ wncap.org. For more volunteering opportunities visit mountainx.com/ volunteering

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BASICS OF BUDDHISM • TU (1/28), 1:30-2:30pm - Roger Dillon hosts the Basics of Buddhism. Free. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. MINDFULNESS MEDITATION • SU (1/26), 10am-noon - Mindfulness meditation

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DOWN FOR THE COUNT: Flulike illnesses typically come on fast, says Dr. William Hathaway of Mission Health. “Often people say, ‘I was fine one second and then within an hour, I knew I was sick.’ That’s sort of classic for the flu, that it hits people in a very sudden and dramatic onset.”

BY VIRGINIA DAFFRON vdaffron@mountainx.com This year’s season for the flu and influenzalike illnesses is packing a wallop, according to Dr. William Hathaway, Mission Health’s chief medical officer. “Across the board, we’ve been hit heavily. We typically see an escalation of influenzalike illnesses, many of which are flu, hit a crescendo and a peak, and then drop off over a six- to eight-week time period. “It’s a little bit earlier than what it was last year, and there tends to be more of the influenza B/Victoria strain than in previous years,” Hathaway says. Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, medical director for the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that it’s unusual to see influenza B viruses circulating this early in the flu season, as the A strain of the virus typically causes the first wave of

infections. In fact, this is the first time since 1992-93 that B strains have been the predominant form of the virus at the beginning of the flu season. “Influenza B infection is more common in children and can cause severe illness in children,” Mullendore notes. She points to the CDC’s updates for the week ending Jan. 11, which indicate a slight decrease in flu activity but warn, “It is too early to know whether the season has peaked or if flu activity will increase again.” While Hathaway advises those who are “really critically or desperately ill” to go immediately to the emergency department, many others should first check in with their primary care providers by phone or visit an urgent care clinic. “We don’t want to discourage people from coming to the hospital, but we want to make sure they really need it,” he explains. HELP IN A HURRY A busy flu season in December and January has increased Range Urgent

Care’s patient volumes about 20% over other times of the year, according to Alyssa Vahala, physician assistant at the Merrimon Avenue clinic. “We are seeing around 40-45 patients a day, and a big bulk of those individuals have a viral syndrome, whether it’s flu or upper respiratory infections,” Vahala says. The practice also has seen more influenza B patients than typical for early in the flu season. Range Urgent Care prescribes antiviral medications to patients who are diagnosed with a flulike illness and who come in within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. The clinic sells a generic version of Tamiflu for $40. A course of the medication includes one pill in the morning and evening for five days, according to Dr. Stephanie Trowbridge, Range medical director. Xofluza, a newer medication, is less likely to cause gastrointestinal side effects than Tamiflu, Trowbridge continues, and requires only a single two-tablet dose. Those advantages come with a higher price tag — over $150 using coupons from the GoodRx. com website, which Trowbridge recommends (though it isn’t affiliated with her practice in any way). Both Tamiflu and Xofluza shorten the duration of symptoms by about 24 hours and lessen their intensity. Even if someone doesn’t catch the symptoms early enough to take antiviral medication, Trowbridge says, “It doesn’t mean you have to feel miserable for the entire duration of the flu. Things like fluids, and we can give IV anti-inflammatories here — things that can improve the symptoms, even if you’re not a candidate for Tamiflu.” OUNCE OF PREVENTION All the medical authorities consulted for this story echo the CDC’s recommendation that everyone over 6 months of age — except for those with certain medical conditions — should receive the influenza vaccination yearly. The effectiveness of the vaccine in any given year ranges from 60% to over 70%, Hathaway says, so getting it doesn’t guarantee people will avoid the illness. Still, Hathaway and public health officials advise, having received a flu shot is believed to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms if you do get sick. While the exact form of the B virus that’s circulating is different from the corresponding component of this season’s vaccine, Mullendore notes, “Studies suggest the current vaccine

at 40 Coxe Ave. offers walk-in immunizations Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and many pharmacies and primary care providers also offer the flu vaccination. Among this year’s flu sufferers who did receive the vaccination, Vahala has noticed lower fevers and less severe symptoms than she would otherwise expect to see with the flu. SERIOUS ILLNESS

FLU FIGHTER: Dr. William Hathaway, chief medical officer for Mission Health, says this year’s flu season got rolling early and has hit the area hard. Photo courtesy of Mission Health may offer protection against the circulating B/Victoria viruses.” “Even though the ideal is to get vaccinated by the end of October, it’s still not too late. We say it takes two weeks to be protected, but flu season could extend for months,” Mullendore says. The Buncombe County Health and Human Services Immunization Clinic

Based on the population of the 18-county region Mission Health serves, the area can expect about 150 total hospitalizations associated with influenzalike illness, Hathaway says. But those cases aren’t likely to be spread evenly across all groups. “It impacts different people — the old, the very young, pregnant women, those with other illnesses like chronic lung disease, diabetes, other long-standing illnesses. They’re at higher risk, not only for getting the illness but having more severe complications with it,” Hathaway says. Eleven people died of illnesses associated with influenza in North Carolina during the week of Jan. 5-11, the most recent week for which data is available. That brings the statewide flu-related fatality total to 33 since the influenza season began Sept. 29. Of those who died, 21 were over age 65.

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In Buncombe County, three flu deaths have been reported through Jan. 15, according to Mullendore. Among them, Haywood County teen Lacie Rian Fisher, 15, died at Mission Hospital on Dec. 30 of sepsis related to influenza. State health officials note that the number of flu-related fatalities could change as updated information becomes available. Western North Carolina’s sickest flu patients often come to Mission Hospital, which has advanced medical technology like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation — a type of heart-lung bypass machine that helps patients with compromised lung function take in oxygen — as well as the most highly trained critical care providers. Of ECMO, Hathaway says, “Very few hospitals in the country employ this, but we’ve used it on a couple of patients, some successfully, some not, in an effort to get them through the catastrophic complications that come with lung disease related to influenza.” Hathaway points out that Mission requires all its employees to receive the vaccination, with very few exceptions for medical conditions or religious beliefs.

“I cannot overemphasize the critical importance of getting a vaccination,” Hathaway says. “The science supports overwhelmingly that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any potential risk for an adverse reaction. Your likelihood of having a serious complication if you get sick far outweighs the risk of getting the vaccination.” X

Flu symptoms According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Flu signs and symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms: • Fever* or feeling feverish/chills • Cough • Sore throat • Runny or stuffy nose • Muscle or body aches • Headaches • Fatigue (tiredness) • Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults. *It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.”

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PILATES CLASSES AT HAPPY BODY (PD.) Individualized, Challenging, Equipment and Mat classes. Call 277-5741. Details at: AshevilleHappyBody.com SOUND HEALING • SATURDAY • SUNDAY (PD.) Every Saturday, 11am and Sundays, 12 noon. Experience deep relaxation with crystal bowls, gongs, didgeridoo and other peaceful instruments. $15. At Skinny Beats Sound Shop, 4 Eagle Street. www.skinnybeatsdrums. com ASHEVILLE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION CENTER: INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS • THURSDAYS, 6:307:30pm - Introductory session for Transcendental Meditation. Registration: 828-254-4350 or MeditationAsheville.org. Free. Held at Asheville Center for Transcendental

Meditation, 165 E. Chestnut COFFEE AND CONVERSATION: AMONG FRIENDS • 4th WEDNESDAYS, 11:30am-noon - Coffee and conversation on wellness topics. Free. Held at Ferguson Family YMCA, 31 Westridge Market Place, Candler INDEPENDENT MONITOR FOR HCA HEALTHCARE COMPLIANCE • TU (1/28), 5:30-7pm - An Independent Monitor for HCA Healthcare’s compliance with Mission Health System holds public meetings to discusses their role and provide an opportunity for questions. Free. Held at Cashiers Glenville Recreation Center, 355 Frank Allen Road, Cashiers PROJECT SEARCH INFORMATION SESSION • WE (1/29), 6pm - Mission Health Project

SEARCH is a yearlong internship program for young adults with developmental disabilities. Find out if your loved one isis an appropriate candidate for the program. Free. Held at Mission Hospital, 1 Hospital Drive RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES redcrosswnc.org • TH (1/23), 10am-3pm - Appointments & info: 800-733-2767. Held at Walmart, 146 Monticello Road, Weaverville • FR (1/24), 8am-12:30pm - Appointments & info: 800-733-2767. Held at Avery's Creek Elementary School, 15 Park S. Blvd., Arden • FR (1/24), 12:30-5pm - Appointments & info: 828-407-4567. Held at Neil Dobbins Center, 356 Biltmore Ave., Suite 150 • MO (1/27), 1-5pm Appointments & info: 828650-0404. Held at Living Savior Lutheran Church, 301 Overlook Road

• MO (1/27), 2-6:30pm - Appointments & info: 828-775-9840. Held at Newbridge Baptist Church, 199 Elkwood Ave., Woodfin • TH (1/30), 10:30am-4pm - Appointments & info: 828-803-2884 or visit redcrossblood.org. Held at Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Heights RICEVILLE COMMUNITY WORKOUT • THURSDAYS, 6pm Community workout for all ages and fitness levels. Bring yoga mat and water. Free. Held at Riceville Fire Department, 2251 Riceville Road VAGUS NERVE REFLEXOLOGY • TH (1/23), 3pm & 4:15pm - Phyllis Weimar speaks on Vagus Nerve reflexology and wellbeing. Free. Held at Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain

FARM & GARDEN

SEED OF WISDOM

Jewish Farmer Network cultivates ancient agricultural practices

BY LAURA HACKETT

ator of the earth,” says Goldstein. Because of the individual’s lack of true ownership, he explains, any produce that is grown from the earth ultimately belongs to God, which

lhackett@mountainx.com Western North Carolina has long been home to thoughtfully designed, diverse agricultural systems. In the 1920s and ’30s, there was the Farmers Federation — an early pioneer of the cooperative farming system — which stimulated and accelerated farming success across the region. Then, after the historic decline of tobacco, along came a new wave of vegetable, mushroom, fruit and flower cultivation. Today, organizations such as the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project and the Organic Growers School have bolstered the region’s reputation as a laboratory space for organic, sustainable and resilient agricultural methods. Yet, despite WNC’s history of agricultural knowledge and abundance, the legacy of Jewish farming — and its deep wisdom surrounding food security, land ownership and community building — has remained shrouded in relative obscurity. At the Fairview-based Yesod Farm + Kitchen, an emergent farm and educational space, Jewish farmers Sarah Seldin and Shani Mink are working to change that narrative. In March 2019, after connecting at a food justice conference a few years prior, the duo officially founded the Jewish Farmer Network, a national nonprofit that defines itself as seeking to cultivate and support a network of farmers who will “envision a world of social and ecological justice, where life in all forms is honored.” To accomplish this vision, members are reaching back and learning from ancient Judaic wisdom, which they believe has much to offer the contemporary world of agriculture. Seldin and Mink are not alone in their endeavor. Across the country, an increasing number of Jewishidentifying farmers are seeking to connect with their spiritual roots and sow together what has long felt like two disparate identities. Since the early 2000s, greater numbers of Jewish farms and support organizations have been cropping up, including the Jewish Farm School in Philadelphia and the Adamah organic agriculture fellowship in New York City. However, despite this recent uptick, Seldin, who previously

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Celebrating

rs Ye a PUTTING DOWN ROOTS: Jewish Farmer Network co-founder Sarah Seldin, right, plants pawpaw seedlings with Yesod Farm + Kitchen scholar-in-residence Justin Goldstein. Photo by Gabrielle White worked locally at Root Cause Farm and Living Web Farms, says that many Jewish farmers, including herself, have struggled with what she calls “double invisibility.” “Farmers don’t necessarily think of Jews farming, and Jews don’t think about each other farming,” she explains. “So if you’re a Jewish farmer, your community doesn’t see you or expect you to be there. There’s also an inherent loneliness that comes with farming, particularly in rural areas as a result of that physical isolation.” In fact, a huge source of inspiration behind founding the Jewish Farmer Network, says Seldin, was an extremely active Facebook group named “Jewish Farmer Network” that Seldin helped launch in 2017. After just two days, she recalls, the group swelled to 200 members. Today, there are more than 800 members from around the globe. “It was clear we had tapped into a deep interest,” Seldin says. “One of the biggest takeaways from our conversations was that agriculture is actually how many of us express our Judaism in the world.” She observes that many people may have felt a need to step away from Judaism in order to farm. “We hear

from so many people whose decision to farm is met with confusion or derision,” she says, noting the importance of having a community that says, “‘Actually, what you’re doing is really important ecologically. It’s not a repudiation of your tradition but actually an affirmation of your tradition.’ That’s really powerful and comforting for people to know that they’re not alone, a failure or an aberration.” CHECK THE SCRIPT Those affirmations can be found within the earliest examples of the Jewish Torah and Mishnah in traditions such as gleaning, tithing and shmita (the practice of allowing cultivated land to lie fallow once every seven years). “A theological premise that goes throughout the Jewish tradition is that there’s no such thing as private ownership,” explains Rabbi Justin Goldstein, who recently left his position at Congregation Beth Israel to become a scholar-in-residence at Yesod, where the Jewish Farmer Network is headquartered. “The only entity that can actually possess land in perpetuity is the cre-

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F AR M & GA R DEN means that a certain percentage of food is meant to be shared with the most vulnerable members of society. “If you withhold it, you’re stealing from them,” he maintains. The practice of gleaning is one way that principle has been implemented. In the Jewish tradition, crops growing in the corners, or those that have been forgotten or dropped in the fields are not to be harvested. The same concept applies to trees, vines or other plants that have been pruned. “Anything that grows past that point, you don’t harvest,” Goldstein explains. “There’s also a whole series of more home-based and urban-based safety nets for communal food pantries and food funds.” Another means of support is an elaborate system called tithing, a kind of self-tax that instructs farmers to set aside 10% of their harvest and designate certain percentages of that to communal institutions, celebrations and the poor. The tithes occur twice annually for a period of six years, until year seven arrives and farming operations halt for the year of intentional, agricultural recession called shmita. “All fences are taken down, animals are given access to what previously was

protected, and no one is allowed to sow any seed. No one is allowed to plow or till or do anything. The land has to stay completely fallow,” explains Goldstein. This cycle allows the soil to rest, regenerate and avoid exhausting its nutrients. During this time, it’s tradition for all debts to also be released. After seven of those cycles of shmita, Goldstein continues, there’s jubilee — a time when all agricultural work stops and the land is returned to its ancestral owners. “The jubilee is a hard economic reset. The design of it is to prevent an unfettered economic gap,” he says. “And what the Torah creates, what our ancestors created, is the system that keeps that process in check. It recognizes that in order for us to have a society grounded in equity, we need to be responsible and mindful in both our marketplaces and our farm field and the relationship between the two.” MAKING IT MODERN Of course, while these traditions are fascinating and speak to powerful values and traditions, translating these ideas into contemporary agriculture isn’t entirely straightforward. At the Jewish Farmer Network’s inaugural conference, Cultivating Culture: A Gathering of Jewish Farmers, more than 120 Jewish farmers will gather in Reisterstown, Md., Feb. 13-16 to

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Three seats. 9 candidates. Asheville City Council Primary Forum presented by Mountain Xpress WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5 Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; forum begins at 6 p.m. A-B Tech Ferguson Auditorium, 19 Tech Drive, Asheville This nonpartisan forum is free and open to all. Parking available at the A-B Tech/Mission Health Conference Center deck. Produced in partnership with:

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AUTONOMOUS & CONNECTED VEHICLES WORKSHOP • FR (1/24), 10:30am-2:30pm - The Autonomous & Connected Vehicles workshop, a community discussion on the benefits and challenges of these technologies. Free. Held at NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way CLIMATE CHANGE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES • TH (1/23), 5:30-7:30pm - Effective strategies for climate change communication with reception. Held at The Collider, 1 Haywood St., Suite 401 CONNECT BUNCOMBE ANNUAL MEETING • WE (1/22), 6-8pm - Connect Buncombe annual meeting with guest speaker Tristan Winkler, Director of

the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization and hear about plans the regional Hellbender Trail. Free. Held at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 36 Montford Ave. CREATION CARE ALLIANCE • TH (1/23), 6-7:30pm - Asheville area faith communities come together to care for the rivers, air, forests and our neighbors in WNC. Find out how to get involved in what congregations are doing in our community. Light snack. Free. Held at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St.

FARM & GARDEN 27TH ANNUAL ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL SPRING CONFERENCE (PD.) March 6-8, 2020. at Mars Hill University, NC. Preconference workshops &

discuss how to mobilize this ancestral wisdom to create a more just and regenerative food system. According to Seldin, this will be the first publicly recorded gathering of Jewish farmers since 1914. “We have these systems that our ancestors designed and we can debate with how they’re actually put into place. But how do we apply that system from another place in time to wherever we are today, and how do we connect people to the reality that we have these systems to look back to in creating the world we want to live in?” Seldin muses. For Seldin, Mink and Goldstein, Yesod is a place to practice implementing these Jewish agricultural values at a small scale. This winter, the team is crafting a business plan for farm operations which will seek to include the concepts of shmita, tithing and gleaning. The farm has already hosted several retreats and, come springtime, will offer educational workshops and classes. “In five years, the hope is to have a bunch of fruit and nut trees, to be growing annual crops and to be having community workdays and meals, celebrating Jewish holidays on the land and connecting people to the embodied experience of stewarding land and practicing Jewishness,” Seldin reflects. X

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ADVANCED ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (PD.) THU. FEB 6TH 3PM-7PM. Advanced Enterprise Development will dig into enterprise development and help farmers understand the factors that influence farm profitability, assess recordkeeping and farm documentation in order to enhance their farm financial picture. https:// organicgrowersschool. org/farmers/advanced-enterprise-development/

HOW TO MAKE MORE MONEY ON THE FARM • TH (1/30), 1-4pm - How to Make More Money on the Farm. Registration: avl.mx/6tv. Free. Held at Haywood Community College, 185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde

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FOOD

HOMEGROWN, NATIONALLY KNOWN New Asheville hotels tap local talent to raise the bar for on-site dining scratch food, kitchen counter seating & vegan verve all the time 165 merrimon avenue (828) 258-7500 plantisfood.com AROUND THE BLOCK: Rather than bringing in a celebrity chef from another city, The Foundry Hotel started with local chef John Fleer to create a concept for its restaurant, Benne on Eagle, which celebrates the African American history and culinary heritage of its surrounding neighborhood, known as The Block. Pictured, right, is Benne chef de cuisine Ashleigh Shanti. Photos by Johnny Autry

BY KAY WEST kswest55@comcast.net The 100 words touting Benne on Eagle as No. 5 on Esquire magazine’s annual list of “22 Best New Restaurants in America 2019” do not include The Foundry Hotel, from which Benne leases its space and where the seeds for the now nationally famous restaurant were planted. While it was The Foundry, says general manager James Poole, that decided independent and local was the direction it wanted for on-site dining, within the Esquire write-up, it’s “rising star Ashleigh Shanti working side by side in the kitchen with Asheville luminary John Fleer,” who receive the kudos. In the competitive luxury-level hospitality industry, there is a vast difference between a hotel restaurant and a unique restaurant that happens to be on hotel property. The former, says Poole, has long had a stigma. “[The thought was that] they just fill a need; it was something hotels had to offer,” he says. “That has evolved into hotel operators realizing the dining experi-

ence can impact your guests’ perception and experience overall.” Current thinking, he adds, is that “having a great restaurant partner and something interesting within the hotel can drive revenue to the hotel in terms of more frequent stays but also brings in nonguests and locals, which provides exposure for the hotel.” AN ASHEVILLE APPROACH That is what both The Foundry and Kimpton Hotel Arras sought as the properties were developed, yet not quite in the same way that larger, more cosmopolitan tourist-rich destinations play the name game. Las Vegas is famous for many things, but high on the list are celebrity-chef-owned and/or branded restaurants in hotels, including Jaleo by Jose Andres in The Cosmopolitan, Thomas Keller’s Bouchon in The Venetian, two from Joel Robuchon at the MGM Grand and Giada de Laurentis’ Giada at The Cromwell. Closer to Asheville, the booming hotel business in Nashville, Tenn., has lured a number of name-recognized chefs from around the county

to work their high-profile magic, if not exactly to set up personal residence in Music City. The Thompson Nashville made the first splash when it opened in late 2016 with three concepts by New Orleans chef John Besh (who a year later was pushed out following sexual assault allegations); the 33-story, 533-room luxury JW Marriott snagged San Francisco celebrity chef Michael Mina to open Bourbon Steak, and The Westin lured Charleston’s Oak Steakhouse to its property. But Asheville hotels, while pushing the parameters of standard hotel dining, are taking a different approach. “We have a pretty darned good reputation already as a culinary destination,” says Marla Tambellini, vice president of marketing/deputy director of the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Asheville is not recruiting or pulling in chefs from outside like other cities have,” adds Dodie Stephens, director of communications for CVB. “John McKibbon (McKibbon Hospitality, developer of Arras) has hotels all over the country. But he is

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F OOD passionate about Asheville and our food scene, and he wanted his hotel here to reflect that.” To accomplish that, McKibbon looked no farther than one block from where he spent almost four years overseeing the transformation of the BB&T Building into luxury lodging and condominiums. “Downtown Asheville is so unique, all local and regional, and our goal from the beginning was to be consistent with that ethos,” he says. “It was so important

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to get a local chef/owner to operate the restaurants which would be in the hotel, but not part of the hotel.” McKibbon met with Peter Pollay, chef and co-owner with Martha Pollay, of Posana restaurant and Mandara Hospitality. The couple had been exploring opening a restaurant in another city, but when the opportunity to stay close to home presented itself, they grabbed it, bringing in Posana chef de cuisine Jordan Arace. “We knew John was looking for local,” says Peter Pollay. “He was familiar with Posana, and we had a good relationship and aligned in how we see food and hospitality.” McKibbon didn’t initially see what the Pollays and Arace envisioned for the Broadway expanse of the lobby, which was originally going to be leased as a restaurant on one side and retail on the other, with walls separating two individual businesses. “Martha and Peter wanted both sides,” says Arace. When the team members stood in the gutted lobby, they felt the floorto-ceiling walls defining the sides were breaking up the space, so under Martha’s direction, down they came. “It was the best move we could have made,” says McKibbon. “Martha came

in and took on the restaurant and our original design, reworked it, stepped it up, and it is so much better. It just feels more local, more Asheville, less of a hotel and more of a restaurant.” District 42, the all-day restaurant/ lounge, and Bargello, the breakfast/ dinner restaurant, are distinct from one another and from the hotel — the check-in desk is at the drive-up entrance off Patton Avenue — yet the overall flow is seamless. Not quite so seamless was a dispute between District Wine Bar, which opened in the River Arts District in early 2018, and Mandara Hospitality Group, which under LLC McKibbonPollay trademarked the name District 42 in November 2016. The controversy publicly erupted on Dec. 10 when wine bar owners Lauri and Barrett Nichols posted a message on the bar’s Facebook page announcing plans to concede and change the name of the popular RAD establishment. Two days later, Peter Pollay published an explanation of Mandara’s position on the District 42 Facebook page, which generated nearly 90 comments, the majority of them negative. (See “Small Bites: The Business Formerly Knows as District Wine Bar” in the Dec. 25, 2019, issue of Mountain Xpress.) FOOD AND CULTURE

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Fleer was not actively looking to open another restaurant when he was approached at the end of 2016 by Four 17 Partners, the owners and developers of what would become The Foundry. “They had spoken with Jane Anderson at [Asheville Independent Restaurants] about potential restaurant partners in Asheville,” he says. “They gave me a call, and over the course of a few months we talked about the project.” Fleer recalls that when he moved to Asheville in 2011, there were still a few vestiges remaining of The Block’s once flourishing black-owned businesses. “But when we started talking, there were just empty shell buildings,” he says. “I saw the opportunity to do something that was, in a way, missionbased and a tribute to the community. That it would be an independent restaurant was key. If you have a unique property and also want a unique vision for dining, it makes sense to go with someone outside the hotel.” Fleer says he was always clear with the developers about how he envisioned the restaurant. “I was not pitching restaurant concepts,” he says. “I don’t think at the time they knew the importance of that neighborhood culturally, though they understood the

historic significance of the buildings and were committed to taking great care in preserving that. When I raised the issue of food and culture, it took them a minute to understand this was a crucial component. But once they wrapped their head around it, there was no hesitation. I would not have done it otherwise.” He brought in Sarah Kowalski, the designer who did the interiors for Rhubarb and The Rhu, to take over the design of the space. And he found Shanti through Rhubarb’s chef de cuisine, Derek Herre. “Derek met her when they both worked for Vivian Howard,” says Fleer. “When this project was in the pipeline, he recommended Ashleigh. At the time, she had been traveling the country doing stages and figuring out her next step.” That next step turned out to be Asheville and a job at Benne on Eagle after a meeting with Fleer and a short stage at Rhubarb. “I had written the base of the first opening menu, but not much of the recipe development was done, so we worked on that first,” says Fleer. “Since the restaurant has opened, Ashleigh has done the lion’s share of subsequent menu development.” The menu, wrote Esquire, “celebrates the debt Appalachian food owes to African cuisine,” and writer Ronni Lundy describes it as “rooted in specific place and culture.” Pollay and Arace say it was the grand sense of space and materials that first inspired Bargello’s Mediterranean menu. “I worked in a Mediterranean restaurant in Malibu that was superfresh, as local as possible, with bright flavors, nice acids, great oils, lots of herbs and citrus,” Pollay explains. “It might also have been influenced by my passion for pasta,” admits Arace, now executive chef at Bargello, with a laugh. “It is all just a means for me to indulge in making fresh pasta.” Whether it is The Foundry’s deep, rich history and cultural homage or Arras’ transformation from dreary to stunning, both offer what the CVB’s Stephens calls “the experiential piece.” Expectations are higher now than ever before for Asheville, she explains. “It drives creativity in the arts, food, craft beer and spirits, and recently, hotels and hospitality.” “Asheville is a unique bird,” says Fleer. “I think these hoteliers have been very perceptive in the way they have situated their restaurants, understanding they need a unique vision, not just for their guests, but locals as well. Regardless of how things go in the rest of the world, they’re different here in Asheville.” X

SMALL BITES by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

Asheville Restaurant Week returns

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ROOM AT THE TABLE: Once again, a number of local restaurants are serving up a variety of specials during the eighth annual Asheville Restaurant Week. Photo courtesy of Chestnut Over 30 restaurants are creating special deals for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s eighth annual Asheville Restaurant Week, which takes place Tuesday-Sunday, Jan. 21-26. The weeklong event “gives restaurants a boost during a typically slower time period,” says Erin Leonard, vice president of communications at the chamber. At the same time, Leonard adds, locals can “enjoy a winter special or try out a restaurant they’ve never been to.” Bargello, The Bier Garden, Broth Lab, Button & Co. Bagels, Mountain Madre and Vivian are all new this year to the lineup. Returning businesses include The Admiral, AUX Bar, Benne on Eagle, The Bull and Beggar, Buxton Hall Barbecue, The Cantina at Historic Biltmore Village, Capella on 9, Carmel’s Kitchen & Bar, Chai Pani, Chestnut, Copper Crown, Corner Kitchen, Cúrate, The Greystone Inn, Hemingway’s Cuba, Isa’s Bistro, Laughing Seed Café, The Lobster Trap, The Marketplace Restaurant & Lounge, Posana, Red Stag Grill, Rezaz Pan Mediterranean, Rhubarb, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Strada Italiano, Table, Tupelo Honey South, White Labs Kitchen & Tap and Zambra.

The specials vary widely but include such deals as a three-course meal for two for $30 at Chai Pani; a wood-fired pizza and beer flight for $12 at White Labs Kitchen & Tap; six tapas dishes for $30 at Zambra; and a three-course vegetarian Cuban lunch for $15 at the Laughing Seed Café. “We are so fortunate in Asheville to have a great food scene,” Leonard says. “We hope Asheville Restaurant Week encourages locals to support these local restaurants while enjoying some great food.” Asheville Restaurant Week runs Tuesday-Sunday, Jan. 21-26. For a list of restaurant specials, visit avl.mx/6uv.

Macaron and cider pairing Bold Rock Hard Cider partners with À La Mode Macaron for a macaron and cider pairing on Thursday, Jan. 23. The menu includes the following: white cranberry cider paired with white chocolate cranberry almond macaron; Vat No. 1 paired with Florida sweet orange macaron with Champagne buttercream; ginger turmeric cider paired with candied ginger macaron; Reaper cider paired with blood orange Meyer lemon curd macaron. Tickets are $15.

À La Mode Macaron will also be selling macarons separately from the pairing while supplies last. The event runs 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Bold Rock Hard Cider, 72 School House Road, Mills River. To learn more, visit avl.mx/6un.

Food as Medicine cooking class The Hendersonville Community Co-op will host Food as Medicine, a two-hour workshop focused on digestive and gut health, on Saturday, Jan. 25. Registered dietitian nutritionists Carol Shimberg and Tatiana Arturo will discuss the connection between gut health and skin care, as well as the role of a plant-based diet in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. In addition, the event’s Facebook page notes, students will learn “simple, seasonal, delicious, nutritious and affordable recipes.” Tickets are $25 for the general public and $20 for co-op owners. Food as Medicine runs 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at The Hendersonville

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FOOD Community Co-op, 60 S. Charleston Lane, Hendersonville. To purchase tickets, visit avl.mx/6up.

SAWHORSE Comfort food inspired by the old diners and lumber camps of the north country

Chili Cook-off at Homeplace Beer Co. Homeplace Beer Co. will host a chili cook-off on Saturday, Jan. 25, featuring 12 competitors serving homemade recipes. The gathering will also feature a guacamole competition. Sampling is

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free, but a scorecard to vote for your three favorite dishes is $3. The competition takes place 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at Homeplace Beer Co., 6 S. Main St., Area C, Burnsville. To learn more, visit avl.mx/6ur.

Weird Science The Blind Pig’s first event of 2020, scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 26, will be a five-course dinner inspired by the 1985 film Weird Science. The undisclosed

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District Wine Bar has rebranded itself as Bottle Riot. Owners Barrett and Lauri Nichols renamed their River Arts District business following a trademark dispute brought by Peter and Martha Pollay of Mandara Hospitality Group, owners of the new District 42 inside the Arras Hotel. The new name, writes Lauri Nichols in an email exchange with Xpress, is part of the establishment’s overall mission to create a venue “void of the pretension and arrogance” often associated with the wine industry. Bottle Riot is at 37 Paynes Way. To learn more, visit avl.mx/wordcaoq. X

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Candler resident Kasey Trent recently launched a GoFundMe for Earthling Coffee + Espresso in an effort to help the Candler business recoup financial losses following a break-in. The campaign aims to raise $5,000; at press time, community contributions totaled $1,232. “Let’s show these amazing earthlings that we love them as much as they love us,” Trent writes on the GoFundMe page. Earthling Coffee + Espresso is at 867 Smokey Park Highway. To contribute, visit avl.mx/6ut.

Bottle Riot

Asheville Restaurant Week January 17 - 26 Design your 3 course meal from our special menu!

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

The annual Asheville Food Fan Awards returns Monday, Jan. 27, to celebrate and recognize individuals and businesses within the local food scene. VIP tickets are $100 and include early entry, one-on-one time with chefs, food and two drink tickets; general admission is $45 ($50 at the door) and includes food and a cash bar. Over 15 restaurants will be serving dishes at the event, including Sunny Point Café, AUX Bar, Cúrate and The Underground Cafe with DoughP Doughnuts. Co-organizer Stu Helm says, “People should show up hungry.” The award show takes place 5-10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at the Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway. To purchase tickets, visit avl.mx/6us.

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location will be revealed to ticket holders as the date nears. Proceeds from the event will benefit Foster Our Future – Buncombe County Health & Human Services. Tickets are $65. The dinner runs 5-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26. To purchase a ticket, visit avl.mx/6uq.

Must Present Coupon Dine In Only

BEER SCOUT by Edwin Arnaudin | earnaudin@mountainx.com

Swiss army woman Leah Rainis taps diverse skills as Asheville Brewers Alliance’s new executive director

GLASS HALF FULL: Leah Rainis, new Asheville Brewers Alliance executive director, plans to expand the organization’s roster of social and educational events. Photo courtesy of Rainis The Asheville Brewers Alliance has a new executive director. As of Jan. 1, Leah Rainis is steering the “trade and membership organization dedicated to promoting Western North Carolina craft beer and breweries.” She takes over for Asheville Brewing Co. President Mike Rangel, who had been the interim executive director following the resignation of Kendra Penland in July 2018. Born in Rochester, N.Y., Rainis moved with her family at age 4 to the town of Clifton Park, just north of Albany. In 2001, she moved to Boston to attend Emerson College and eventually worked at a package store that sold liquor, beer and wine. “They just happened to have a great craft beer selection, and that’s kind of what caused me to dip my toe into the water,” Rainis says. After she graduated from Emerson with a marketing degree, Rainis says

her parents wondered when she’d get a “real job,” so she moved into the financial services industry and stayed there for about a decade. All the while, her interest in the craft beer industry continued to grow. “I was an enthusiast, I guess you could say — trying new beers, visiting new breweries and all of that,” she says. Rainis’ passion remained high when she and her now husband, Casey Visco, moved to Austin, Texas, in 2014. A quick stint in an office job reminded her that she wasn’t fond of that type of work setting, which led her to picking up some bartending shifts at Hops and Grain Brewing — as well as a professional revelation. “I just fell in love with the industry,” she says. “The people in it were amazing, and even though Austin ultimately

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F OOD didn’t end up being the city for me, we moved to Asheville with the intent of me trying to continue working in the beer industry.” Mountains, beer and proximity to her retired parents in Myrtle Beach, S.C., led Rainis to her new home in January 2016. The following month, she made her ABA debut as a volunteer at the AVL Beer Expo, where she made numerous connections that she’s since maintained. That August, she enrolled in the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast at A-B Tech and started bar-backing and bartending at Catawba Brewing Co.’s South Slope location, working multiple beer festivals with the brewery. Rainis went on to do her CBI internship at Catawba’s Morganton location, performing a combination of cellar and production work, and moved into operations work doing brewhouse data analysis. She then decided to get into brewing and, upon graduating, was hired at Sanctuary Brewing Co. in Hendersonville. Throughout her professional development, Rainis’ ties to the ABA strengthened. Around 2017, she was offered a part-time position within the alliance doing administrative work, and following Penland’s departure, the board of directors expanded Rainis’ role to include email correspondence and planning socials and educational opportunities. In March 2019, she left Sanctuary to take on additional ABA responsibilities and help run day-to-day operations. After what she calls a certain amount of “self-advocacy” for her future within the organization, her position evolved into the executive director role. She feels the promotion is a “natural progression,” considering her varied experiences within the ABA and beer industry, as well as the relationship management skills from her marketing degree and business savvy from her time in the financial services industry. “When you’re looking at supporting members, having been in their shoes

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and doing a lot of the things they’ve done really helps inform,” Rainis says. “You gain a better understanding and know where people are coming from. You can kind of translate the different languages if someone’s talking about something highly technical. It’s cool to have all those pieces come together. It feels like this is a full-circle situation where I’m actually using both the degrees I have and my skills.” Along with Rangel and ABA President Brandi Hillman, Rainis has expressed a strong interest in bringing the organization’s focus back to its brewery members. She seeks to achieve that goal through adding more social events and educational offerings, building on the industry panels from AVL Beer Week — which returns May 22-31 — and AVL Beer Expo, whose return as a more industry-focused event rather than a public beer festival is in its early planning stages. As for Beer City Festival, it will likewise be back on May 30 at Roger McGuire Field, but Rainis says the ABA is stepping back from its role as a partner to let the “festival experts” more fully run the event. Rainis is also collaborating with government and municipal entities, including the Metropolitan Sewerage District in regard to sewer-use ordinance updates and N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement agent Stacy Cox in implementing proactive Q&A sessions every four to six weeks to better encourage legal compliance throughout the local brewing community. The ABA is also meeting with Land of Sky Regional Council and Waste Reduction Partners to discuss sustainability issues, such as repurposing spent raw materials from the brewing process. “The brewing community and what’s done here is so much bigger than the breweries,” Rainis says. “It’s an opportunity to touch on a lot of different aspects of it and look at the community as a whole.” X

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BMCM+AC opens an exhibition spotlighting women artists

BY ALLI MARSHALL

and more, these color images have been surfacing — photographs and a couple of films.” For Averett, “What has been unexpected is finding all these candid accounts from women [about topics such as] going [to the college] and finding their queer identities. … Things you didn’t think you’d find in women writing about the 1940s.” She adds, “A few women had similar stories about coming to Black Mountain College with prom dresses, thinking they would be coming out to society. Then they’d throw them away and go get a pair of Levi’s, which is so funny and great.” Institutions lending art to Question Everything! include the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark., and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, as well as the family of sculptor and BMC alumna Ruth Asawa. BMCM+AC’s own collection includes long-held works of impor-

amarshall@mountainx.com Although it’s the men associated with Black Mountain College — such as teaching artists Josef Albers, Buckminster Fuller and Charles Olsen — who have historically received the most acclaim, the women of that institution were also innovators, change makers and important players in the art world. In fact, “During World War II, when most of the men were off fighting, the women ran the college, which is a pretty interesting part of the story,” says Alice Sebrell, program director at Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. Sebrell and outreach manager Kate Averett curated the new exhibition, Question Everything! The Women of Black Mountain College, set to open Friday, Jan. 24. A wide array of accompanying programs, from music and spoken word to workshops and film screenings, runs through April 25. “We knew we wanted to do a women’s show, but in a targeted way,” explains Averett. In oral histories, she found that “so many [female] students talked about having this intellectual freedom there that they didn’t find in traditional universities and didn’t find in their homes. … Questioning themselves as individuals, as artists, as students, as educators.” Instead of focusing on narratives of oppression (such as why women’s art has historically been underrepresented), the show sheds light on the contributions and experiences of female faculty and students at the experimental college, which operated 1933-57. “We had conversations about works in our collection that had not been showcased recently,” says Averett. Other women featured in the exhibition came to light through research. In one instance, a door from the college’s weaving studio, painted by lesser-known alumna Faith Murray Britton when she was a student, turned up with Britton’s family. “She came back and got the door when Black Mountain College closed and had it in her home,” says Averett. “It was one of these things like, ‘Maybe that exists,

tance as well as new acquisitions, such as Jo Sandman’s colorful, geometric piece “Untitled,” from 1952; and paintings by Pat Passlof. The latter was featured in BMCM+AC’s 2012 exhibition, Pat Passlof: Selections 1948-2011, which opened just a couple of months after the artist’s death. Despite the art world being largely male-led, Passlof “was in New York, she was painting, she was part of the scene,” says Sebrell. Passlof organized junior club meetings for younger artists; the group quickly became so successful it was shut down by leading artists in the field who likely felt threatened. So many of the BMC women “went on to have really creative lives,” says Averett. “I do think there was a streak of radical experimentation, whether [they] went on to become

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TRY EVERYTHING: At Black Mountain College, women artists found “you didn’t have to ask permission,” says exhibition co-curator Alice Sebrell. Question Everything! includes works new to the BMCM+AC collection by artists such as Jo Sandman and Pat Passlof. Painting by Sandman, 1952, courtesy of BMCM+AC somewhere.’ Being able to find it was a nice surprise.” Graphic designer Ati Gropius Johansen (the daughter of German architect and Bauhaus school founder Walter Gropius) captured the culture of the BMC through illustrated letters. “They’re funny; they’re pointed in a way, but with humor,” says Sebrell. She continues, “That’s something we’ve always done: Don’t just pay attention to the famous but dig deeper. … We’ve always tried to bring those more hidden stories to light.” Unearthing the details of the women who taught and learned on the Black Mountain campus more than half a century ago is further complicated by name changes due to marriage. But the families of the artists continue to donate new materials to institutions such as the Western Regional Archives. Sebrell notes Nell Goldsmith’s color photos among recent discoveries. “For so many years, Black Mountain College has been in black and white in my head,” she says. “But, more MOUNTAINX.COM

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A &E

THE RIGHT FIT: Many women who taught at or attended Black Mountain College in the 1940s found freedom at the experimental school that was not available to them at home or other universities. Some arrived with ball gowns, expecting to come out to society, “then they’d throw them away and go get a pair of Levi’s,” says Question Everything! exhibition co-curator Kate Averett. Photo of Cora Kelley Ward by Diana Woelffer, 1949, courtesy of BMCM+AC artists or move to California and start a homestead.” Sebrell points to poet, potter and writer M.C. Richards “as somebody who still hasn’t gotten her due. … She’s so brilliant and complicated, it’s hard to contain her.” And Suzi Gablik, who came to BMC to study painting with Robert Motherwell, also took classes with Olsen and realized writing was her path. Her books of art criticism include How Modernism Failed. The school was more than a degree program; it was a way of life, Averett notes. The attendees were hippies before hippies were a thing. They discussed identity politics and sustainability. “Vera Baker Williams talks about how, at Black Mountain, if you had an idea and you could figure out how to make it happen, you could do it,” says Sebrell. For example, Williams wanted to paint the dining hall, so she made paint from buttermilk. “I

think that was problematic,” Sebrell adds with a laugh. “But you didn’t have to ask permission. That taste of freedom and empowerment is something I think many [women] took with them, post-Black Mountain.” X

WHAT Question Everything! The Women of Black Mountain College WHERE Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center 120 College St. blackmountaincollege.org WHEN Opening reception Friday, Jan. 24, 5:30-8 p.m. On view through Saturday, April 25

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by Kim Ruehl

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PLAYING WITH FIRE Author Cynn Chadwick is adept at wielding the compelling story of a single protagonist through whatever life might throw at her. Though this is a theme that remains present in her eighth novel, The Things That Women Do, it is merely a small piece of the story. Chadwick and a collection of her writer friends — Vicki Lane, Mildred Barya, Laura Hope-Gill, Jennifer McGaha and Ellen J. Perry — will gather at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe on Sunday, Jan. 26, to launch The Things That Women Do. They’ll likely spend some time discussing the various challenges that life throws at women and how they react. That concept, in Chadwick’s hands, becomes a richly entwined collection of the stories of several women’s lives, the things they do and how they impact one another. It was an idea that she had been toying with for a while, but which all started to come into clear relief when she was in Florida for a writing workshop. “I was walking down the beach,” says Chadwick, “and it was turning dark, and I had these women in my head and this time frame of goddess gatherings [in the ’80s and ’90s] going on in my mind, and when I turned around that ball of fire of sunlight was so glaring, I was almost blinded. I had never seen something so big or bright or amazing in my life. In that flash, I realized that the anchor of the setting of the story was going to be around that women’s spirituality, that goddess worshipping, that giving it over to the mother, you know.” The novel begins with women native to the area and newcomers alike celebrating the divine feminine in a way that could only happen around a fire pit in the mountains, in the middle of nowhere. “[It] comes from a time in my life,” Chadwick says, “when we were going through that third wave of feminism — spiritual goddess worshipping, drumming naked around the bonfire. … We were out here in Reems Creek and we sort of figured it was in the water. Those gatherings really happened. Those friendships were really important.” One of the storylines in the novel was inspired by something Chadwick remembered from her childhood, a memory that came back to the top of her mind shortly after she returned from that fated trip to Florida. She was getting ready for work one morning when she got an email from a

Cynn Chadwick’s new book explores the secret choices of women to get to the next level, and sometimes they’re not nice or good. Sometimes we have to do what we have to do and we get punished for it in ways that the other half of the human race doesn’t.” She adds, with intention: “I can’t say I wasn’t inspired by the politics of the day. I wanted to tell a story where women win.” X

WHO Cynn Chadwick presents The Things That Women Do WHEN Sunday, Jan. 26, 3 p.m. Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe 55 Haywood St. malaprops.com

FULL CIRCLE: Local author Cynn Chadwick weaves her own experiences with goddess-worshipping rituals of 30 years ago into a story about the interweaving of women’s lives that launches with a bonfire in the mountains. A reading at Malaprop’s on Sunday, Jan. 26, will be followed by a reception at Sly Grog Lounge. Author photo by Elenna Rybicki childhood friend she hadn’t seen or spoken to in a half-century. “My mom and a really dear friend of hers, Marie, who had two daughters. … Marie’s husband wound up having an affair, and my mother and Marie apparently decided to play private eye,” she says. “[They] followed the guy on his trysts and took pictures and sat outside of hotel rooms and motel rooms. And then things … devolved really badly. “We learned later that Marie had committed suicide. I was thinking about that story and I talked to my mother about that story … the thing about my mother and Marie running around spying and the weird things that women do.” Then Chadwick got an email from one of Marie’s daughters, who happened to be at Well-Bred Bakery in Weaverville. Chadwick ran over to see her, but the reunion was brief. They exchanged contact information, said they’d get together after the holidays, and then Chadwick never heard from the woman again. “She was just gone,” Chadwick says. “And I thought, ‘Oh my God. I have to write this story.’” And so the narrative begins there, around a bonfire in the mountains of a fictional place in eastern Tennessee. A

bevy of women characters include an outsider who’s curious and intrigued by the whole scene, and a matriarch of the community to whom everyone else seems to look for guidance. And then, as the goddess worshipping and drumming and dancing naked around the fire unfolds, the women discover something terrible has happened in the barn. “[There are] so many things that women couldn’t or can’t do on the upand-up, so things have to be done below the surface,” she explains. “I wanted to tell the story of the things we have to do

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JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

by Alli Marshall

amarshall@mountainx.com

GOOD WORKS Local painter, sculptor and designer Tarah Singh has a lot of proverbial irons in the fire. And, because she tends to explore every creative avenue and modality available to her, she might have some literal irons in the fire, too. Environmental sculpture for beehives is one project in the works; a tote bags collaboration with Julia McDowell, secretary of local nonprofit civic organization Just Folks, is another. Singh was also recently hired by Just Folks to create a mural that will honor the contributions of African Americans in Asheville. “It will be called ‘Uptown DNA,’” Singh says. “I’m excited about that because community is really important to me. … It will be a community mural. A collaboration, which is my favorite thing.” And her most recent exhibition of paintings in on view at The BLOCK off Biltmore through January. Of that collection, Singh notes, “This is probably the only time in my life I’ve created political or social [commentary] pieces. If you look back at my work, it’s nudes and romantic, lots of sensual energy, which is really important to my creative process. But I’m definitely finding spaces for broadening the conversation.” That show is called #HUMAN and shares a title with Singh’s new effort, a design project with global aspira-

HUMAN NATURE: “I thought, ‘What is the simplest word to unify everyone globally?’” says painter, sculptor and multimedia artist Tarah Singh of her latest design initiative. “The word ‘human’ came to mind as the solution. It’s the simplest reason for others to follow the golden rule.” Singh’s line of #HUMAN shirts are available on her website. Photo by Cindy Kunst tions. “This is a vision that was created by the social climate in the United States in 2019,” she says in an artist’s statement. Changes to immigration law

2020

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Tarah Singh talks about personal paintings and global design initiatives

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and heightened racial tensions struck a chord with Singh, whose own family is from British Guiana (now Guyana). Of the first generation to be born in this country, she has lived in Western North Carolina since age 5. The initial T-shirts she made addressing those ideas said “Not for Sale,” “Not Illegal,” “Not Disposable” and other such statements. “It made me think about nonviolent language and how the world might look if people [didn’t] objectify others,” Singh says. “I thought, ‘What is the simplest word to unify everyone globally?’ The word ‘human’ came to mind as the solution. It’s the simplest reason for others to follow the golden rule. … Regardless of our age, race, gender and ideals, we are all human.” The current result is apparel screen printed with #HUMAN in a design of Singh’s making; future iterations will express the same word in a range of languages. Singh hopes to spread the design and its mission to other countries and is in talks with fellow artists and former Ashevilleans Ben Betsalel (now based in Senegal) and Georgi Bora (Russia). The latter is the son of the late Vadim Bora, a beloved painter and sculptor in Asheville, whom Singh credits with helping her cultivate her own creativity.

When Singh was working at a hair salon on Battery Park Avenue, Bora’s studio was upstairs. “I had my sketchbook with me, and he popped his head in one day and said, ‘Are you an artist?’” she recalls. “That started a six-year, intense journey with him of being an apprentice.” Bora gave Singh her first exposure to working on public art, as well, “and helped me to see everything in a broader spectrum.” Another opportunity that cemented her commitment to artwork was a three-month trip to Italy in 2017. “It was for my personal growth,” she says. While there, Singh had the chance to present an idea at FloraCult, a natureand culture-based event created by fashion designer and social activist Ilaria Venturini Fendi. That pitch didn’t work out as Singh had hoped, but, she says, “My whole thing in Italy was about making connections and taking myself seriously as a creative.” Back in Asheville, she dedicated herself to her painting, community involvement — such as an upcoming workshop for LEAF — and raising two daughters, both of whom are also makers. “Artists do purposeful work,” Singh says. “Not that we don’t create beautiful things, but as I’ve matured as a person, my new focus has been, ‘How do I make this bigger than myself?’” Part of that mission has included connections with other local artists of color, including Cleaster Cotton and Cortina Caldwell; another facet takes the form of stepping back from monthly exhibitions. In fact, Singh is far from putting her paintings on the back burner: She has a show going up in Wake Forest in March and another planned locally, for Pink Dog Creative in June. But the slower pace allows her to dedicate energy to other inspirations, such as her #HUMAN designs. “It deals with many global issues that need to be addressed,” she says of the project, which is still taking form. Singh produced the first run of her shirts at the end of December and at press time is thinking about her next moves. “I might be able to raise enough money and create jobs,” she muses. “I’m very interested in youth and microenterprise.” There is a throughline to these richly varied pursuits, beyond Singh’s own tireless imagination. As the artist puts it, “I’m very much about people being creative problem-solvers.” Learn more at tarahsingh.com. X

A & E CALENDAR ART ASHEVILLE FRINGE ARTS FESTIVAL • SU (1/19) through SU (1/26) - Performance arts festival with 100+ ticketed performances featuring cross genre fringe artists. See website for full schedule. $14-19. Held at Downtown Asheville FIBER ARTS EXPO • SA (1/25), 10am-3pm - Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists host fiber arts demonstrations and hands-on experience in multiple crafts. Free. Held at Historic Johnson Farm, 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville THE PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY • Fourth TUESDAYS, 10am - Volunteer to knit or crochet prayer shawls for community members in need. Free. Held at Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 6th Ave W., Hendersonville

ART/CRAFT STROLLS & FAIRS BREVARD’S 4TH FRIDAY GALLERY WALK • 4th FRIDAYS, 5-8pm - Brevard 4th Friday gallery walk with open galleries, art stores, restaurants, live music and refreshments. Free to attend. Held in Downtown Brevard SUN AND MOON MAKERS MARKET • SU (1/26), 1-5pm - Sun and Moon Makers Market features local artists a variety of mediums and styles. Proceeds benefit Helpmate Domestic Violence Advocacy. Free to attend. Held at Pleb Urban Winery, 289 Lyman St.

AUDITIONS & CALL TO ARTISTS CALL TO WNC ARTISTS • Until SA (2/1) - Call to WNC illustrators and narrative artists for the second annual juried open show in March. To apply email two jpgs to Lauren@zapow.com. Free. Held at ZaPow!, 150 Coxe Ave., Suite 101

DANCE LEARN HOW TO DANCE! BALLROOM, SWING, TWO-STEP & MORE (PD.) Enjoy learning with certified instructor: Richard & Sue, 828-333-0715, naturalrichard@mac.com, www.Danceforlife.dance FAMILY DANCE • 4th SUNDAYS, 3-5pm - Family contra/square dances for families with children ages 6-12. All ages welcome. Free. Held at Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE • TUESDAYS, 7:309:30pm - International folk dancing, dances from around the world. No partner needed. Info: 828-645-1543. Free. Held at Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road

MUSIC ACAPELLA - SINGING VALENTINE (PD.) Help out Cupid this Valentines Day! Quartet brings singing Valentines to your home, business, or restaurant. Order at www. ashevillebarbershop. com/singing-valentines 866.290.7269 AFRICAN DRUM LESSONS AT SKINNY BEATS SOUND SHOP (PD.) Wednesdays 6pm. Billy Zanski teaches a fun approach to connecting with your inner rhythm. Drop-ins welcome. • Drums provided. $15/ class. (828) 768-2826. www.skinnybeatsdrums. com THE VILLAGE SONG LEADER (PD.) Want to learn how to start and lead a Singing Group? Here’s your chance. Training will be held over two consecutive weekends beginning February 28. For more information, mypantssing@gmail.com. BACK TO THE BASSOONIVERSE • SU (1/26), 3pm - Back to the Bassooniverse: Adventures in Music for 4 Bassoons with Rosalind Buda, Jennifer Anderson,

Susan Cohen and Will Peebles. Tickets: panharmonia.org/shop. $25/$20 advance/$5 students under 26. Held at Biltmore United Methodist Church, 378 Hendersonville Road BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • WE (1/22), 3:30pm Ukulele jam, all levels. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville • WE (1/29), noon Ukulele jam, all levels. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville CANDLEMAS CONCERT • SU (1/26), 4pm - Elisabeth von Trapp performs at the Candlemas concert. $25. Held at St. James Episcopal Church, 766 N. Main St., Hendersonville SLY GROG OPEN MIC • SUNDAYS, 7pm - Open-mic for storytellers, poets, musicians and all kinds of performance artists. Sign ups at 6:30pm. Free to attend. Held at Sly Grog Lounge, 271 Haywood St. THE KRUGER BROTHERS • SU (1/26), 4pm - The Kruger Brothers, folk and bluegrass. $35. Held at Madison County Arts Council, 90 S. Main St., Marshall WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, COULTER BUILDING Cullowhee • TH (1/23), 7:30pm WCU recital by Anthony Taylor and Andy Hudson. Free. • TH (1/30), 7:30pm - WCU recital by Nick Kenney, horn. Free.

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD ARTHUR FLOWERS • TU (1/28), 7pm Literary Blues and the Hoodoo Way – In the Footsteps of MLK, performance and lecture by Arthur Flowers featuring music by Afro Music and Dance Ensemble. Free. Blue Ridge Room. Held

at Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Heights CRAFT FEATURING ADA CALHOUN • SU (1/26), 3pm CRAFT featuring Ada Calhoun, in conversation with Denise Kiernan discussing Why We Can't Sleep. Free to attend. Held at Little Jumbo, 241 Broadway CYNN CHADWICK BOOK RELEASE AFTER PARTY • SU (1/26), 5-7pm Cynn Chadwick book release after party, Things That Women Do. Free. Held at Sly Grog Lounge, 271 Haywood St. DARK CITY POETS SOCIETY • WE (1/29), 6pm - Dark City Poets Society group is forming. Join the inaugural meeting to discuss the vision for poetry and set a monthly date for meetings. Free. Held at Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOK CLUB • TU (1/28), 3pm Graphic Novel Book Club. Free. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 828-254-6734, malaprops.com • TH (1/23), 6pm - E. Patrick Johnson, PhD presents his book, Honeypot: Black Southern Women Who Love Women. Free to attend. • SU )1/26), 3pm - Cynn Chadwick presents her book, Things That Women Do with panel including Vicki Lane, Mildred Barya, Laura Hope-Gill, Jennifer McGaha and Ellen J. Perry. Free to attend. • MO (1/27), 6pm Cynthia Newberry Martin presents her book, Tidal Flats. Free to attend. • MO (1/27), 6pm - Nick Bruel presents his book, Bad Kitty Joins the Team. Free to attend. • MO (1/27) 7pm -

Science Fiction Book Club reads North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud. Free to attend. • TH (1/30), 7pm - Works in Translation Book Club reads Slave Old Man by Patrick Chamoiseau, translated by Linda Coverdale. Free to attend.

Signups. Free to attend. Held at Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 850 Blue Ridge Road, Unit A-13, Black Mountain

TRUE HOME OPEN MIC NIGHT • TH (1/23), 6-8:30pm - Open mic night. 6pm -

• FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS (1/10) until (1/26) - Brilliant Traces, drama. Fri. & Sat.:

THEATER 'BRILLIANT TRACES'

7:30pm, Sun.: 2:30pm. $16. Held at 35below, 35 E. Walnut St. 'JEEVES SAVES THE DAY' • WEDNESDAYS through SATURDAYS (1/29) until (2/23) - Jeeves Saves the Day, comedy. Wed.-Sat.: 7:30pm, Sun.: 2pm with additional matinees (2/15) & (2/22). $28-$45/$10 students. Held at

NC Stage Company, 15 Stage Lane 'THE THIRTEEN CLOCKS' • FRIDAY through SUNDAY, (1/24) until (1/26) - James Thurber’s The Thirteen Clocks, fantasy. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm, Sun.: 2pm. $13. Held at Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville

Asheville WNC Ag Center June 26, 27 & 28, 2020 • A n A r t i s t i c E x p r e s s i o n i s m Fe s t i v a l •

CREATIVE ASHEVILLE! We are calling all Artists & Vendors! Join us in cultivating an amazing experience here in WNC!

3 Days All About Hemp & Art & Much More! • • • • •

Trade Show Conference Workshops Expo Marketplace Arts & Entertainment

Asheville WNC Ag Center June 26, 27 & 28, 2020 828-388-7400 • info@sahae.org SAHAE.ORG MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

SMART BETS

A&E

by Edwin Arnaudin | Send your arts news to ae@mountainx.com

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra A New York City transplant since Halloween, former Asheville-based steel pannist Jonathan Scales is closing in on 13 years with his eponymous Fourchestra and continuing to expand his already impressive skill set. Now featuring Maison Guidry (drums) and E’Lon JD (bass), the group released Mindstate Music shortly before Scales’ move, an exploration of six psychological states within the composer, realized with the help of a steel drum orchestra — a first for the band. Following a year in which the ensemble performed across the U.S., recorded a forthcoming Tiny Desk Concert with special guest Béla Fleck and played a pair of gigs in Kazakhstan, the Fourchestra stops by Asheville Music Hall on Saturday, Jan. 25. Scales’ first show in town since moving north starts at 10 p.m. $12 advance/$15 day of show. ashevillemusichall.com. Photo by Sandlin Gaither

REDIRECT Tiger Strikes Asteroid, a network of artist-run spaces in several U.S. cities, aims “to collectively bring people together, expand connections and build community through artist-initiated exhibitions, projects and curatorial opportunities.” Curated by Suzanne Dittenber, the Greenville, S.C., chapter’s REDIRECT show at Revolve’s RAMP Gallery furthers that goal with work that “critically or philosophically engages with technology” and finds each artist “examining the web, social media, mobile devices or other contemporary technology with a calculated sense of intentionality or caution.” Participating artists include Conrad Bakker, Victoria Bradbury, Ben Duvall, Janna Dyk, Benjamin Grosser, Jorge Lucero and Joyce Yu-Jean Lee, whose interactive “Firewall,” pictured, encourages conversation about censorship, internet freedom and disparities of access. The opening reception takes place Friday, Jan. 24, 6-8 p.m., and the exhibition will be displayed through Monday, Feb. 24. Free to attend. revolveavl.org. Photo courtesy of Tiger Strikes Asteroid

CRAFT: Authors in Conversation

The Devil Makes Three Hailing from Santa Cruz, Calif., Americana/bluegrass group The Devil Makes Three continues to tour steadily in support of its 2018 album, Chains Are Broken. Songwriter/ vocalist Pete Bernhard calls the latest collection “a much more personal album about what it takes to be an artist or writer of any kind — and what you have to do to make your dream possible.” Recently, that journey has included changes in band personnel, with vocalist/multi-instrumentalist MorganEve Swain (Brown Bird; The Huntress and Holder of Hands), a longtime friend and collaborator, taking over for member Lucia Turino (upright bassist and backing vocals). The new lineup is already hard at work on a record, slated for a release later in 2020, and will headline The Orange Peel on Sunday, Jan. 26. Fiddler/banjoist/vocalist Matt Heckler, a former Asheville resident, kicks off the evening at 8:30 p.m. $29.50. theorangepeel.net. Photo courtesy of the band

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM

Author of Malaprop’s all-time bestselling book The Last Castle, Ashevillebased writer Denise Kiernan is teaming with the bookstore for a new monthly literary series titled CRAFT: Authors in Conversation. For each installment, Kiernan and a guest author will discuss the latter’s latest work and the craft of writing at local bar Little Jumbo, whose staff will create a specialty cocktail or mocktail. The inaugural event takes place Sunday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m., when New York City-based author Ada Calhoun will join Kiernan to discuss Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis. The book-length expansion of Calhoun’s popular story for Oprah.com explores the distinct issues facing Gen X women. Future guests include Therese Anne Fowler discussing her novel A Good Neighborhood; graphic novelist Andre Frattino; and local novelist Wiley Cash. Free to attend. littlejumbobar.com. Photo by Mallory Cash

CLUBLAND

Local

FOLLOW THE SUN: As one of the largest renewable energy firms in the Southeast, Sundance Power Systems has collaborated with the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. The entities’ joint effort with local musicians Screaming J’s is in support and celebration of green energy for Western North Carolina and beyond. The Sundance Power New Year’s Boogie, featuring the local, high energy ragtime trio of (from left) Mike Gray, Jake Hollifield and Jonathan “JP” Hess, takes place at Wedge at Foundation on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 9 p.m. $10. wedgebrewing.com. Photo courtesy of the band

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7:00PM 185 KING STREET NC Songsmiths: Clint Roberts, 8:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Les Amis, (African Folk Music), 8:00PM ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Karaoke w/ Kari - Okay, 9:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR AGB Open Mic Showcase, 6:30PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Open Mic hosted by Mark Bumgarner, 7:00PM FLEETWOOD'S Bad Taste Cinema, 7:00PM FUNKATORIUM Grass at the Funk feat. the Saylor Brothers, 6:30PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Woody Wood Wednesday, 6:00PM ISA'S BISTRO Jay DiPaola, 5:30PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 The End of America & Highbeams, 8:30PM OLE SHAKEY'S Sexy Tunes w/ DJ Franco Nino, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 9:00PM

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Latin Dance Night w/ DJ Oscar (Bachatta, Merengue, Salsa), 9:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Acoustic Wednesdays, 6:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. FBVMA Mountain Music Jam, 6:00PM SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night hosted by Jason DeCristofaro, 6:30PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/ Caleb Beissert, 8:00PM STRAIGHTAWAY CAFE The Get Right Band, 6:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Kenji Kumara: Butterfly Transformation, 5:30PM Wednesday Night Hump Night Jam, 9:00PM THE GOLDEN FLEECE Scots-Baroque Chamber-Folk w/ the Tune Shepherds, 7:00PM WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Ryan Perry Acoustic Set!, 8:00PM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Pleasure Chest, 8:00PM AMBROSE WEST Worthwhile Sounds presents: Nicholas Jamerson, 8:00PM

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Cuban Night w/ Simón Y Las Reglas, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Will Ray and the Space Cooties, 7:00PM BROWN MOUNTAIN BOTTLEWORKS NC Songsmiths, Clint Roberts, 7:30PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Andy Ferrell, 7:00PM CAROLINA MUSIC MUSEUM The Phoebus Ensemble, 7:00PM CROW & QUILL Big Dawg Slingshots (western swing), 10:00PM FLEETWOOD'S Vinyl Nights, 8:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Jacob Johnson, 7:00PM Slim Gambill, Guitarist for Lady Antebellum: Fake Jazz & Theme Songs, 8:30PM LOBSTER TRAP Hank Bones, 6:30PM LOCAL 604 BOTTLE SHOP Vinyl Night: Free Tastings, 7:00PM ODDITORIUM Party Foul Drag Circus, 8:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/ DJ Franco Nino, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Mitch's Totally Rad Trivia Night, 6:00PM Seed Collective Reggae Jam Night, 10:00PM

ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Lenny Pettinelli, 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: One World Family Band Jam, 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL Who’s Bad Presents: The Evolution of Pop, 9:00PM PACK'S TAVERN Jesse Barry & Jeff Anders, 8:00PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR The Paper Crowns, 7:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Barnes Sanders & Rhodes, 7:00PM POLANCO RESTAURANT Pop Up DJ Dinners w/ DJ Phantome Pantone Collective, 10:00PM PURPLE ONION CAFE The End of America, 7:30PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Carrie Morrison, 7:00PM STATIC AGE RECORDS Asheville Fringe Arts Festival, (all day), 12:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE The Aftermath: Improv at the AVL Fringe Festival w/ Haley Cohen & Matt Peiken, 9:00PM Fringe Afterparty w/ Leeda 'Lyric' Jones & Friends, 10:00PM THE GREY EAGLE Jesse Malin, 9:00PM

DUSTBOWL REVIVAL WITH BIRDS OF CHICAGO

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TICKETS @ PARAMOUNTBRISTOL.ORG OR CALL 423-274-8920 MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

CLU B LA N D THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Live Music Thursdays, 9:00PM TWIN LEAF BREWERY Craft Karaoke, 9:00PM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND, 7PM

Super Bowl Watch Party

WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Acoustic Karaoke!, 10:00PM Acoustic Karaoke in South Asheville!, 10:00PM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Vince Junior Band, 9:00PM AMBROSE WEST Deep River Presents the Eagles’ 20 Greatest Hits in Songs and Stories, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY In Plain Sight (house music DJs), 9:00PM

@ SOUTH SLOPE

Come loung on our cozy couches and watch the Super Bowl on our 135 inch projector screen tv.

Why limit yourself ? Try 90 different breweries with 35 rotating taps!

24 BUXTON AVE • 210 HAYWOOD RD

ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Reverend Finster w/special guest Rooster, 7:30PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL SoDown Trilogy Winter Tour, 10:00PM BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah's Daydream (Gypsy jazz), 6:00PM BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS Reasonably Priced Babies Improv Comedy, 7:30PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Acoustic Swing, 7:00PM BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Jesse Barry & The Jam, 6:00PM CLUB ELEVEN ON GROVE Freaky Fridays AVL January, (21+, Kink Night) 9:00PM CORK & KEG Old-Time Jam, 8:00PM

URBANORCHARDCIDER.COM

CROW & QUILL Russ Wilson & His Kings of Jazz (10 piece jazz orchestra), 9:00PM

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JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

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STOP LIGHT OBSERVATIONS

W/ NATURAL BORN LEADERS

DJANGO REINARDT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

FT. MARK & MAGGIE O’CONNOR

DOWNTOWN BOOKS & NEWS Fringe Fest: Intimate Dinner by Lauren French, 5:00PM FLEETWOOD'S Punk / Indie Karaoke, 5:00PM FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Sidecar Honey (soul jam), 10:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Boo Ray, 7:00PM

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29 THU

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BILL KIRCHEN + REDD VOLKAERT

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LILIANA AND THE RELICS OF POWER

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BOOK RELEASE PARTY

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HOPEY & CO The Mic is Open hosted by Heather Taylor, 7:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Kasey Williams (singer, songwriter), 7:00PM Bumper Jacksons, 8:30PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB The Egg Eaters & Old North State, 9:00PM LAZOOM ROOM LaZoom Comedy: Kelly Collette, 9:00PM MAD CO BREW HOUSE Jesse Frizsell, 6:00PM NEW BELGIUM BREWERY KM Fuller, 5:30PM ODDITORIUM Honky Tonk Night w/ Vaden Landers, Brody Hunt, Gracie Lane, 8:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Friday After Work Concert Series, 5:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Fridays feat. members of Phuncle Sam (acoustic), 5:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Jake Burns, 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Emily Musolino Band, 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL Jake Shimabukuro & Brady Jacquin, 8:00PM PACK'S TAVERN DJ RexxStep, 9:30PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Taylor Pierson Trio, 8:00PM

OVER THE RHINE

W/ WILLY TEA TAYLOR

TOMBSTONE HIGHWAY + AISLES OF JANE DOE + THE SHRÜNKEN HEADS

THE ARCADIAN WILD W/ ANNA LYNCH

EMISUNSHINE (MATINEE SHOW - 2:30PM)

EMISUNSHINE (EVENING SHOW - 7PM)

Asheville’s longest running live music venue • 185 Clingman Ave TICKETS AVAILABLE AT HARVEST RECORDS & THEGREYEAGLE.COM

SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Progressive Alliance Postcard Parties, 4:30PM Mr Jimmy, 8:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE The Aftermath: Improv at the AVL Fringe Festival w/ Haley Cohen & Matt Peiken, 9:00PM THE BARRELHOUSE Sad Girl Music Club, 7:00PM

BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Matt Sellars, 7:00PM BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER OLM, 6:00PM CORK & KEG An Acoustic Evening w/ Andy and Ruthie Hunter, 8:30PM CROW & QUILL The Vaden Landers Band (local honky tonk), 9:00PM

THE GREY EAGLE Stop Light Observations w/ Natural Born Leaders, 9:00PM

FLEETWOOD'S Hug,Shadow Year, Computer Science & State Park Ranger, 9:00PM

TOWN PUMP Stephen Horvath, 9:00PM

FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Grass to Mouth (folk), 10:00PM

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN The Riccardis, 8:00PM WILD WING CAFE The Close Kin, 9:00PM WILD WING CAFE SOUTH A Social Function Friday Nights, 9:00PM

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Eleanor Underhill & Friends, 9:00PM AMBROSE WEST Aaron Burdett w/ Anya Hinkle & Tellico, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Dance Party w/ DJ Lil Meow Meow, 10:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Swing Step band followed by the Travelling Pilsburys of Asheville, 5:00PM

THIS WEEK AT AVL MUSIC HALL & THE ONE STOP!!!

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, 10:00PM

ODDITORIUM Bero Bero, Loved Ones, Utah Green (indie), 9:00PM

THE DWELLER Heather Taylor, (solo, folk, singer-songwriter), 7:00PM

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Oriented Music Group: Chuck Magid & Oxford Noland, 10:00PM

THE GREY EAGLE Django Reinhardt Birthday Celebration feat. Mark O'Conner, 7:00PM

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Free Flow Band, 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL Kid Hop Hooray! Indoor Dance Party, 10:00AM PACK'S TAVERN A Social Function, 9:30PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Ben Phan, 7:00PM

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Chinese New Year Celebration and Beer Release w/ music by Pleasure Chest, 3:00PM

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Bobby Miller & the VA Daredevils, 8:00PM

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Alien Music Club Presents “The British Are Coming”, 7:00PM The Woodshedders & Sugar Lime Blue, 8:30PM

SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Mama Danger, 8:00PM

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Abe Reid & The Spikedrivers, 9:00PM LAZOOM ROOM LaZoom Comedy: Rachel Fogletto, 9:00PM LITTLE JUMBO Saturday Night Vinyl Dance Party w/ DJ Jasper, 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Sean Mason Trio, 6:30PM MAD CO BREW HOUSE Meet & Greet w/ congressman Gina Collias, Baa'd Sheep Burritos & music by Sarah Tucker, 5:00PM

PURPLE ONION CAFE Life Like Water, 8:00PM

STRAIGHTAWAY CAFE Knotty G’s, 6:00PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Shane Parish, 9:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Biophilia Asheville at Asheville Fringe Arts Festival, 5:00PM The Pride of Pripyat: Tales from the Chernobyl Disaster (opera), 5:00PM CommUNITY Salsa at THE BLOCK off biltmore, 9:00PM THE BLACK CLOUD The Black Cloud 3rd Anniversary PreGame Party (show at Mothlight kicks off at 9PM), 7:00PM THE COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE Asheville Sister Cities Burns Night Supper, 5:30PM

SoDown

‘THE TRILOGY WINTER TOUR’ FRI, 1/24 - SHOW: 10 pm (DOORS: 9 pm ) TICKETS: $15.00

THE MAGNETIC THEATRE Shadow Puppet Show with live music - Lupita's Revenge, 9:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT The Black Cloud 3rd Anniversary! Paladin, Torch Runner, Basilica, 9:00PM

CAROLINA MUSIC MUSEUM Music Instrument History at the Sigal Presents: Age of Invention, 3:00PM DOWNTOWN BOOKS & NEWS Fringe Fest: Intimate Dinner by Lauren French, 5:00PM FLEETWOOD'S Comedy at Fleetwood's: Jeena Bloom, 8:00PM

FUNKATORIUM An Afternoon of Bluegrass Featuring Gary "Macfiddle" Mackey, 1:00PM

Fringe Fest featuring

Thu., 1/23 10pm

Afterparty

Nex Millen & Leeda LYRIC Jones

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 2:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 The Levins, 6:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Drew Matulich & Friends, 6:30PM

FREE Parking on Eagle/Charlotte Streets 39 S. Market St. • 254-9277

THE WEDGE AT FOUNDATION Sundance Power's New Year's Boogie feat. Screaming J's, 9:00PM TOWN PUMP Rossdafareye, 9:00PM

UPCOMING SHOWS:

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AARON BURDETT WITH ANYA HINKLE & TELLICO

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5 WALNUT WINE BAR The Get Right Band, 7:00PM

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THE EAGLESʼ 20 GREATEST HITS JAN IN SONGS AND STORIES 24

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ODDITORIUM The Pink Stones, GA Dish Boys, Garrett Hatch (country, rock), 8:00PM

THE GREY EAGLE Bill Kirchen & Redd Volkaert, 8:00PM THE MAGNETIC THEATRE Shadow Puppet show w/ live music - Lupita's Revenge, 1:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT Horse Jumper Of Love w/ Aunt Ant, Homestead, 8:00PM WILD WING CAFE NFL Sundays w/ DJ Razor!, 1:00PM

MONDAY, JANUARY 27 27 CLUB Monday Mayhem Karaoke, 9:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR CaroMia, Michael Martinez, & Maddie Shuler, 8:00PM ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Monday Movie Night, 8:00PM ARCHETYPE BREWING Old Time Jam, 12:00AM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Nerdy Talk Trivia, 6:00PM

ODDITORIUM Risque Monday Burlesque hosted By Deb Au Nare, 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Open Mic, 8:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Jazz Jam, 12:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Open Mic Night w/ It Takes All Kinds, 7:00PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Locals Night Showcase w/ Lo Wolf, 9:00PM THE GOLDEN PINEAPPLE Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 8:00PM THE GREY EAGLE Liliana and the Relics of Power: Local Book Release Party & Signing, 5:30PM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28 5 WALNUT WINE BAR The John Henrys, (hot jazz), 8:00PM ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Open Mic & Live Podcast, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB BluesDay Tuesday w/ Mr. Jimmy, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Django Reinhardt Gypsy Jazz Jam, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tuesday Night Funk Jam, 10:00PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Chris Jamison, 7PM FLEETWOOD'S Mister Earthbound, Rocky MTN Roller, Red Dwarf, 9:00PM HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB Turntable Tuesdays hosted by VTT, 10:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Tuesday Bluegrass Sessions hosted by Damn Tall Buildings, 7:30PM LOBSTER TRAP Bobby Miller & Friends, 6:30PM LOCAL 604 BOTTLE SHOP Synth Jam, 7:00PM ODDITORIUM Free Open Mic Comedy, 8:00PM

OLE SHAKEY'S Booty Tuesday, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tuesday Early Jam, 8:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Jack Pearson's Comedy Cosmos (stand-up), 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: FLOW, 8:00PM ORANGE PEEL Atmosphere w/ The Lioness, Nikki Jean & DJ Keezy, 8:00PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Rhoda & The Risers, 7:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Tacos & Trivia, 7:00PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Open Jam w/ Chris Cooper & Friends (sign up at 6:30PM), 8:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Swing AVL Dance w/ Community Jazz Jam, 7:30PM THE SOCIAL Open Mic w/ Riyen Roots, 8:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE The Trivia Factory, 7:30PM THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM AT HARRAHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHEROKEE CENTER - ASHEVILLE Indigo Girls w/ Sarah Shook, 8PM TWIN LEAF BREWERY Robert's Twin Leaf Trivia, 8:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 6:45PM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Les Amis (African folk music), 8:00PM ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Karaoke w/ Kari Okay, 9:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR AGB Open Mic Showcase, 6:30PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Open Mic hosted by Billy Owens, 7PM FLEETWOOD'S Bad Taste Cinema, 7:00PM FUNKATORIUM Grass at the Funk feat.the Saylor Brothers, 6:30PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Woody Wood Wednesday, 6:00PM ISA'S BISTRO Jay DiPaola, 5:30PM ODDITORIUM Larkin, Dane Page, Circle Verse (indie), 8:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Sexy Tunes w/ DJ Franco Nino, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Comedy Open Mic, 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Latin Dance Night w/ DJ Oscar (Bachatta, Merengue, Salsa), 9:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Acoustic Wednesdays, 6:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. FBVMA Mountain Music Jam, 6:00PM SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night hosted by Jason DeCristofaro, 6:30PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/ Caleb Beissert, 8:00PM THE GOLDEN FLEECE Scots-Baroque Chamber-Folk w/ the Tune Shepherds, 7:00PM THE GREY EAGLE Over the Rhine w/ Willy Tea Taylor, 8:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Live Music Wednesdays, 9:00PM

MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

MOVIE REVIEWS

Hosted by the Asheville Movie Guys HHHHH

= MAX RATING

EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com

BRUCE STEELE bcsteele@gmail.com

H PICK OF THE WEEK H

Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project HHHHS

DIRECTOR: Matt Wolf PLAYERS: Marion Stokes, Michael Metelits DOCUMENTARY NOT RATED Marion Stokes was, among many things, a black civil rights activist, a communist, a librarian, an Apple computer evangelist, a Trekker, a mother and a wife. It can also be argued that she was one of the greatest media analysts of modern times — though in secret. In the magnificent documentary Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project, we learn that, for more than 30 years, Stokes (assisted by a handful of household staff and occasionally her family) filled 7,000 VHS tapes with around-the-clock recordings of TV shows — mainly news programs, but pretty much anything that aired on Philadelphia channels. Her interest was sparked by the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, at which point “she hit record and never stopped,” recalls her son, Michael Metelits. Stokes was suspicious of the coverage, concerned about bias and mistruths from the government and the media, and, in Metelits’ words, keenly aware — to an obsessive degree — of TV’s power “to inform or misinform.” Director Matt Wolf (Bayard & Me) presents an expansive, fascinating portrait of a woman with a fearless, intractable, bludgeoning intellect, as well as the tension between genius and madness, collecting and hoarding, and whether a 36

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM

person who’s actually being tailed by the FBI — as Stokes once was — can really be considered paranoid. Now playing at Grail Moviehouse REVIEWED BY MELISSA WILLIAMS

Bad Boys For Life HH DIRECTOR: Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah PLAYERS: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens ACTION/COMEDY RATED R If you choose to see Hollywood’s latest sequel, my advice is not to revisit its previous installments. Just have a

THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS

Melissa Williams

Casey Ellis

mental check-in with yourself and the Bad Boys: Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. “Woosah.” Back for round three in Bad Boys for Life, detective Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) wants to play it safe and make it home alive to spend time with his family, while his partner Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) loves the thrill of the chase, whether it’s with the ladies or Miami’s many criminals. Even though they’re polar opposites, they both love justice — and they’ll be friends for life because they wrote that they would in each other’s high school yearbook. It’s better to have just a dull recollection of the humor and dynamic these two have shared in the past because all you’ll get here is a faint impression of what was once highly entertaining. I’m not saying the movie lacks any excitement, but you can almost feel the hot battery on your ear from all the phoning-in going on, especially from Smith. For every laugh-out-loud moment to be shared in the theater, there are 10 that go over like lead balloons. And while the direction has capable moments of flash — should I say it? — Bad Boys and Bad Boys II helmer Michael Bay probably would have done better than the Belgian duo of Adil and Bilall, although Bay’s best work is almost certainly behind him. I did enjoy some of the set pieces, and it’s always nice to see Miami on the silver screen in all its hot and sandy splendor. But even as a die-hard action fan, this one’s a tough sell, especially following the series’ two far superior predecessors. Bad Boys II remains my personal favorite of the three — an alleged “last ride”

Josh McCormack

Ali McGhee

Chris Maiorana

that really should have been Mike and Marcus’ final adventure. REVIEWED BY CASEY ELLIS C.DALTON.ELLIS@GMAIL.COM

Color Out of Space HHS DIRECTOR: Richard Stanley PLAYERS: Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Tommy Chong SCI-FI/HORROR NOT RATED Josh McCormack: Director Richard Stanley (Hardware; Dust Devil) has finally returned to direct his first feature film in over two decades with the H.P. Lovecraft adaption Color Out of Space. Starring Nicolas Cage, the film focuses on a family after a mysterious meteorite strikes their front yard and slowly begins contaminating anything and anyone that gets in contact with it. In typical B-movie fashion, things do not go well, and mutated monsters abound. Ali McGhee: I just want to add here that I think it’s important that the dad has brought his family to a house in the woods to escape the city and, presumably, give his wife (who it’s hinted at has cancer) a chance to heal — and it was not a decision that all of the family members are happy about. Cancer is a pretty apt leitmotif as the color starts to spread and infect the world, turning everything into itself.

XPRESS REVIEWERS’ TOP 5 FILMS OF 2019 PART FOUR Bruce Steele 1. Woman At War — This little-known Icelandic film was surprising, whimsical and deadly serious, addressing climate change and one determined woman’s covert environmental activism, and doing so with wit, sympathy, and wonderful writing and filmmaking. 2. Jojo Rabbit — The discomfort of the first half-hour of a comic take on Adolf Hitler gives way gradually to a rich

metaphor about a nation’s willful blindness to evil, and how to fight against it. Brilliant, original and relevant. 3. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood — Quentin Tarantino captures the spirit of Hollywood in 1969, as imagined in 2019, with his usual pop cultural flair and rich dialogue. The acting is terrific and several scenes are among the best he’s directed. 4. Marriage Story — A divorce saga without a bad guy, the film fea-

tures two of the year’s best performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, as well as Noah Baumbach’s sensitive, humane and eloquent writing and directing. 5. Uncut Gems — In this dark yet riveting journey of self-destruction, Adam Sandler gives a stunning performance, augmented by a fine supporting cast, intricately structured screenplay and kinetic direction by Benny and Josh Safdie.

Josh: Ali, since you’re the resident Lovecraft fan, what was your initial reaction? Ali: I have so many things to say about this movie. I’m used to ridiculous Lovecraft adaptations (and I frequently return to Stuart Gordon’s campy classics, like Re-Animator and Dagon), but with Stanley at the helm and with the same production team that was behind Mandy (which I love, full disclosure), I have to admit I was expecting something a little less silly. I keep waiting for someone to make a serious adaptation of Lovecraft — the silent Call of Cthulhu (2005) was a great but underviewed attempt. This latest effort was decidedly not that. “The Colour Out of Space” is also my favorite Lovecraft story, and I do think it deserves a serious treatment. Maybe one day. Josh: I agree that this is definitely no Mandy (a film that I, too, love very much) and, after viewing Color, I found it a little frustrating that the production company, SpectreVision, based a lot of its marketing on the clout they got from Mandy to make their follow-up film seem more prestigious. However, at the end of the day, it just kind of feels like a standard B-horror movie with Nic Cage chewing — er, devouring — the scenery, and I judged it as such. Read the full review at mountainx.com/movies/reviews Starts Jan. 24 at the Fine Arts Theatre

Dolittle HHHS DIRECTOR: Stephen Gaghan PLAYERS: Robert Downey Jr., Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen ADVENTURE/COMEDY RATED PG Demand for yet another Dr. Dolittle movie is admittedly low, but the fun, funny and visually rich Dolittle justifies its existence to a surprising degree. Directed by Stephen Gaghan (Syriana; Gold), the family-friendly period adventure gets off to a strong start with beautiful opening animation that, on its own, would be an Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Short Film. The sequence efficiently sets up Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.), his rise to prominence as a veterinarian who can speak to animals and his descent into seclusion. Dolittle’s economical storytelling likewise establishes the conflict that pulls him back into society — one involving a deathly ill queen (Jessie Buckley, Wild Rose), a nefarious plot to usurp the throne and the threat of him losing his home if she croaks.

Though the arc of tween Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett, Dunkirk) as a reluctant Dr. Dolittle’s apprentice, tagging along on the perilous voyage to obtain a mythical antidote, is a weak addition, it works as a means of shaking the vet from his hermit ways and more firmly reconnecting him with the human world. In that relationship and elsewhere, Dolittle appears headed toward disaster but saves face nearly every time. Never is this threat more apparent than in the film’s depiction of Dr. Dolittle communicating with a range of animals in their own languages. Rather than sticking with subtitled grunts and clicks and hoots — a mind-numbing proposition — Gaghan quickly shifts to fully English cross-species communications and never looks back, allowing the film’s humor, thrills and slick CGI to take full control. After months of seeing shoddy animal special effects in the film’s trailers, the final products are shockingly polished and elevated by a Who’s Who of vocal talent, each of whom earns a share of laughs. Emma Thompson classes up the joint as parrot narrator Poly, and Craig Robinson (Darryl from “The Office”) is a riot as revenge-minded squirrel Kevin, but Jason Mantzoukas (Dennis Feinstein from “Parks and Recreation”) is arguably the funniest of the bunch as clumsy, lovesick dragonfly James, who’s tasked with missions beyond his capabilities, yet performs admirably. With the above creatures and more operating in comic harmony, the main weakness plaguing Gaghan’s script (with writing assists from “How I Met Your Mother” scribes Dan Gregor and Doug Mand) is an excess of potty humor — but it’s a PG-rated family film with talking animals, so butt/fart jokes are to be expected. Still, for every blocked colon, there’s a hilarious, rattled octopus witness who

FILM ‘ALWAYS IN SEASON’ • WE (1/22), 7pm - Always in Season, documentary on the history of lynching in America. Free. Held at Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Heights BOOK-TO-MOVIE PROGRAM: ‘THE GLASS CASTLE’ • FR (1/24), 3pm - Bookto-Movie Program: The

Glass Castle, PG-13. Free. Held at West Asheville Public Library, 942 Haywood Road ‘COME HELL OR HIGH WATER: REMEMBERING THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1916’ • TH (1/23), 5:30pm - Proceeds from the screening of Come Hell Or High Water: Remembering The Flood Of 1916, documentary of the

squeaks, “Snitches get stitches,” making the juvenile yuks easily forgivable. REVIEWED BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN EARNAUDIN@MOUNTAINX.COM

The Song of Names HHHS

DIRECTOR: François Girard PLAYERS: Clive Owen, Tim Roth, Eddie Izzard, Catherine McCormack DRAMA RATED PG-13 If you’re in the mood for a fast-food flick, a two-hour drama from a FrenchCanadian auteur may not be what you need. But if you’re craving the film equivalent of a steaming light repast with wine, The Song of Names is sure to suit your particular fancy. It’s a film about boys, responsibility and tradition — not exactly controversial themes these days, but certainly not popular ones, either. Director François Girard (The Red Violin) carefully navigates those topics and delivers a satisfying piece of cinema. We see the film’s characters develop from adolescents to adults, carrying the weight of circumstances outside their control — namely, the Second World War and attendant miseries. For a movie about music, Tim Roth’s performance as grown-up Martin at times feels monotone, but it soon develops into more varied expressions. Clive Owen, who must have had limited availability during shooting, enters the film at practically the last minute and gives a somewhat static performance as adult Dovidl. Among The Song of Names’ cinematic achievements, you may enjoy some of its excellent photography, which interposes almost seamlessly computer-augmented environments meant to transport the viewer to historic London, Warsaw and various other locales. The film’s nonlinear plot cuts back and forth from past to present, aided by

history of the flooding of Asheville and Swannanoa benefits the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County. $10. Held at Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St. ‘THE GREAT BEAUTY’ • SU (1/26), 1pm - The Great Beauty, 2013 Italian art drama film cowritten and directed by Paolo Sorrentino. Free.

Held at Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte St. WORLD CINEMA FILM • FR (1/24), 8pm - Late Autumn, drama/ romance, follows the attempts of three older men to help the widow of a late friend to marry off her daughter. Free to attend. Held at Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 850 Blue Ridge Road, Unit A-13, Black Mountain

superior film editing. Making the jumps in time seems effortless, and the viewer will not be left playing catch-up with the story. All in all, The Song of Names demonstrates how the language of film is a lot like music, mixing disparate parts to form a cohesive symphonic whole. It registers emotion while avoiding kitsch, captures the brutality of 20 century fascism without devolving into sermonizing — and is definitely worth a watch. Starts Jan. 24 at Grail Moviehouse REVIEWED BY CHRIS MAIORANA STANORDAN@GMAIL.COM

STARTING FRIDAY Color Out of Space (NR) HHS The Song of Names (PG-13) HHHS JUST ANNOUNCED The Gentlemen (R) Guy Ritchie (Snatch) returns to the world of London crime with a cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell, Henry Golding and Hugh Grant. The Turning (PG-13) A modern take on The Turn of the Screw, starring Mackenzie Davis (Tully), Finn Wolfhard (“Stranger Things”) and Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project).

CURRENTLY IN THEATERS 1917 (R) HHHHS 63 Up (NR) HHHHH Bad Boys For Life (R) HH A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (PG-13) HHHH Dolittle (PG) HHHS Ford v Ferrari (PG-13) HHHHS Frozen II (PG) HHS The Grudge (R) S A Hidden Life (PG-13) HHHHS Hustlers (R) HHHS Jojo Rabbit (PG-13) HHHHH Joker (R) HHHS Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13) HHHS Just Mercy (PG-13) HHHHS Knives Out (PG-13) HHHHH Like a Boss (R) HHH Little Women (PG) HHHHH Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood (R) HHHHS Pain and Glory (R) HHHH Parasite (R) HHHHH Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project (NR) HHHHS (Pick of the Week) Spies in Disguise (PG) HHHH Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (PG-13) HHHHS Uncut Gems (R) HHHHH Underwater (PG-13) HHS

MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) declared that English writer Lord Byron (1788–1824) was the greatest genius of the 19th century. Here’s an interesting coincidence: Byron regarded Goethe as the greatest genius of the 19th century. I bring this to your attention, Aries, in the hope that it will inspire you to create a similar dynamic in your own life during the coming months. As much as possible, surround yourself with people whom you think are wonderful and interesting and enlivening — and who think you are wonderful and interesting and enlivening. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus-born Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) was a renowned German composer who lived most of his life is Germany and Austria. He became so famous and well-respected that England’s Cambridge University offered him an honorary degree if he would visit the campus. But Brahms was too timid to risk crossing the English Channel by boat. (There were no airplanes and Chunnel in those days.) He declined the award. I beg you not to do anything even remotely like that in the coming weeks, Taurus. Please summon the gumption necessary to claim and gather in all you deserve. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the coming weeks will be one of those rare times when you can safely engage with influences that might normally rattle you. You’ll be protected as you wander into the unknown and explore edgy mysteries. Your intuition will be highly reliable if you make bold attempts to solve dilemmas that have previously confounded and frustrated you. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to get a bit wild and exploratory, this is it. CANCER (June 21-July 22): J. M. W. Turner (1775–1851) is regarded as one of England’s greatest painters. He’s best known for his luminous and imaginative landscapes. His experimental use of light and color influenced the Impressionist painters who came after him. But the weird thing is that after his death, many of his works were lost for decades. In 1939, a famed art historian found over 100 of them rolled up like tarpaulins in the basement of an art museum. Let’s apply this event as a metaphor for what’s ahead in your life, Cancerian. I suspect that buried or lost elements of your past will soon be rediscovered and restored. I bet it will be fun and illuminating! LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In my early adult life, I lived below the poverty line for many years. How did that impact me? Here’s one example: I didn’t own a mattress from ages 23 to 39, but rather slept on a 2-inch thick foam pad that lay directly on the floor. I’m doing better now, thank you. But my early experiences ensured that I would forever have profound empathy for people who don’t have much money. I hope this will serve as inspiration for you, Leo. The next seven weeks will be the Empathy Building Season for you. The cosmos will reward you if you build your ability to appreciate and understand the pains and joys of other humans. Your compassion will be tonic for both your mental and physical health. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Ancient Greek author Theophrastus was a scientist before the concept of “scientist” existed. His writings on botany were influential for hundreds of years after his death. But some of his ideas would be considered unscientific today. For example, he believed that flute music could heal sciatica and epilepsy. No modern research suggests that the charms of the flute can literally cure physical ailments like those. But there is a great deal of evidence that music can help relieve pain, reduce anxiety, reduce the side effects of drugs, assist in physical therapy and even make you smarter. And my reading of the current astrological omens suggests that the therapeutic effects of music will be especially dramatic for you during the next three weeks.

JAN. 22 - 28, 2020

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Learning to love is difficult, and we pay dearly for it,” wrote the serious and somber author Fyodor Dostoevsky. “It takes hard work and a long apprenticeship,” he added. All that’s true, I think. To hone our ability to express tenderness and warmth, even when we’re not at our best, is the most demanding task on earth. It requires more courage than that of a soldier in the frenzy of battle, as much imagination as a poet and diligence equal to that of an architect supervising the construction of a massive suspension bridge. And yet on the other hand — contrary to what Dostoevsky believed — sometimes love is mostly fun and inspiring and entertaining and educational. I suspect that the coming weeks will be one of those phases for you. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): How well do you nurture yourself, dear Scorpio? How diligent are you in providing yourself with the sustenance that ensures your body, mind and soul will thrive? Are you imaginative in the ways that you keep yourself excited about life? Do you take strong measures to avoid getting attached to mediocre pleasures, even as you consistently hone your focus on the desires that lead you to joy and deep satisfaction? The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to meditate on these questions. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Seven books of the Bible’s Old Testament refer to a magical place called Ophir. It was a source of exotic finery and soulful treasures like gold, peacocks, jewels, frankincense and precious sandalwood. One problem: No one, not even a Biblical scholar, has ever figured out where it was. Zimbabwe? India? Tunisia? Its location is still unknown. I am bringing this to your attention because I suspect that in 2020 there’ll be a good chance you’ll discover and gain access to your own metaphorical Ophir: a fount of interesting, evocative resources. For best results, be primed and eager to offer your own skills and riches in exchange for what this fount can provide to you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn filmmaker Steven Soderbergh says it’s crucial for us to have a well-developed story about who we are and what we’re doing with our lives. It’s so important, he feels, that it should be the trigger that flings us out of bed every morning. We’ve got to make our story so vivid and interesting that it continually motivates us in every little thing we do. Soderbergh’s counsel is always good to keep in mind, of course, but it will be even more so for you in the coming months. Why? Because your story will be expanding and deepening, and you’ll need to make the necessary adjustments in how you tell your story to yourself. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I’m a big fan of self-editing. For example, every horoscope I write evolves over the course of at least three drafts. For each book I’ve published, I have written but then thrown away hundreds of pages that I ultimately deemed weren’t good enough to be a part of the finished text. And yet now and then, I have created a poem or song in one rapid swoop. My artistic artifact is exactly right the first time it flows out of me, with no further tinkering needed. I suspect you’re now entering a phase like that, Aquarius. I’m reminded of poet Allen Ginsberg’s operative principle: “first thought, best thought.” PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Who don’t you want to be, Pisces? Where don’t you want to go? What experiences are not necessary in your drive to become the person you were born to be? I encourage you to ask yourself questions like those in the coming weeks. You’re entering a phase when you can create long-term good fortune for yourself by knowing what you don’t like and don’t need and don’t require. Explore the positive effects of refusal. Wield the power of saying NO so as to liberate yourself from all that’s irrelevant, uninteresting, trivial and unhealthy.

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REA L ESTATE | REN TA L S | R O O M M ATES | SER VI C ES JOB S | A N N OU N CEM ENTS | M I ND, BO DY, SPI R I T CL A SSES & WORKSH OPS | M USI C I ANS’ SER VI C ES PETS | A U TOMOTI VE | X C HANG E | ADULT Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 landrews@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds EMPLOYMENT GENERAL FULL-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR A-B Tech is currently taking applications for a Full-Time position Executive Director, Research and Planning. For more details and to apply: abtcc.peopleadmin.com/ postings/5304 JOB OPPORTUNITY Job Opportunity for Section 3, Low-Income Persons Minority Participating Commercial Contractor seeking to offer Section 3, Low-Income and Very-Low Income eligible Businesses, Vendors, Subcontractors, or individuals economic opportunities of job training, employment, and contracting work to promote local economic development and individual self-sufficiency. We will provide economical units to allow for minority participation as well as provide assistance for bonding and insurance for Section 3 businesses. Also, quick payment policies to help minority suppliers and contractors participate will be available. We are committed to satisfy Section 3 obligations and our goal is to provide opportunities for Section 3 Businesses throughout this entire housing project. If you are a Section 3 Business or resident in the County area and seeking work, please contact us at 828548-3675, email to ad938@ bidsec3.com, or via fax at 828-548-3682 to become part of our HUD-assisted project and help promote quality housing and community development in this area. Plans are available at: https://parker.box.com/v/ Amaranth-Section-3. NAVITAT CANOPY ADVENTURESHIRING ADVENTURE & SALES GUIDE One of the nation's leading outdoor adventure companies is seeking hardworking, customer serviceoriented team members. Spend 2020 working with a group of talented and passionate outdoor enthusiasts! Visit www.navitat.com/ asheville-nc/jobs TROLLEY TOUR GUIDES If you are a "people person," love Asheville, have a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and clean driving record you could be a great Tour Guide. Full-time and seasonal parttime positions available. Training provided. Contact us today! 828 251-8687. Info@GrayLineAsheville.com www.GrayLineAsheville.com

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SALES/ MARKETING

TEACHING/ EDUCATION ADJUNCT POSITION A-B Tech is currently taking applications for an adjunct instructor position Instructor, High School Equivalency (HSE) Prep in Correctional Institution . For more details and to apply: abtcc.peopleadmin.com/ postings/5310

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ANNOUNCEMENTS LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, MADISON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Edward A. Wilson and M. Patricia Wilson dated June 11, 2015, recorded on June 18, 2015 in Book 591, Page 456 of the Madison County Public Registry conveying certain real property in Madison County to FNC Title Services, LLC, Trustee, for the benefit of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc., as nominee for American Advisors Group. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on February 6, 2020 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to

the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Madison County, North Carolina, to wit: BEGINNING AT A POINT IN THE CENTER OF SUGAR CAMP ROAD (S.R. 1164), SAID POINT BEING THE NORTHERNMOST CORNER OF THE EDWIN E. JOHNSON PROPERTY AS RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 58, PAGE 413 AND A COMMON CORNER OF ERIC AND SUSAN LANE AS RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 169, PAGE 618, MADISON COUNTY REGISTRY, THENCE FROM SAID BEGINNING POINT THUS ESTABLISHED AND WITH THE CENTER OF STATE ROAD THE FOLLOWING SIX COURSES AND DISTANCES: NORTH 29 DEG. 23 MIN. 20 SEC. EAST 24.72 FEET, NORTH 14 DEG. 8 MIN. 18 SEC. EAST 134.12 FEET, NORTH 28 DEG. 5 MIN. 28 SEC. EAST 73.62 FEET, NORTH 41 DEG. 1 MIN. 33 SEC. EAST 47.44 FEET, NORTH 50 DEG. 37 MIN. 48 SEC. EAST 244.0 FEET AND NORTH 68 DEG. 40 MIN. 8 SEC. EAST 58.31 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE LEAVING SAID ROAD SOUTH 28 DEG. 25 MIN. 33 SEC. EAST 158.94 FEET TO AN IRON PIN AT A 4 INCH WALNUT; THENCE SOUTH 37 DEG. 14 MIN. 30 SEC. EAST 322.17 FEET TO AN 8 INCH BUCKEYE: THENCE SOUTH 50 DEG. 59 MIN. 56 SEC. EAST 1133.82 FEET TO AN IRON PIN ON A RIDGE; THENCE WITH SAID RIDGE THE FOLLOWING THREE COURSES AND DISTANCES: SOUTH 42 DEG. 22 MIN. 37 SEC. WEST 130.27 FEET TO AN IRON PIN, THENCE SOUTH 42 DEG. 22 MIN. 37 SEC. WEST 282.48 FEET TO AN IRON PIN END SOUTH 37 DEG. 5 MIN. 11 SEC. WEST 255.97 FEET TO A LOCUST POST AND FENCE CORNER, COMMON CORNER OF JAMES C. PRICE AS RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 167, PAGE 675 AND EDWIN E. JOHNSON AS RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 111. PAGE 505, MADISON COUNTY REGISTRY; THENCE WITH A RIDGE LINE AND FENCE THE FOLLOWING TWO COURSES: NORTH 31 DEG. 37 MIN. 22 SEC. WEST 277.15 FEET TO AN IRON PIN AND NORTH 26 DEG. 5 MIN. 51 SEC. WEST 412.53 FEET TO A NAIL SET IN A LOCUST FENCE CORNER; THENCE PARTIALLY WITH THE RIDGE LINE AND A FENCE LINE NORTH 51 DEG. 59 MIN. 18 SEC. WEST 947.7 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. CONTAINING 18.082 ACRES. MORE OR LESS, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY J. RANDY HERRON, RLS AND BEING A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 132, PAGE 96, MADISON COUNTY REGISTRY. BEING the same property conveyed unto Edward A. Wilson and Wife, M. Patricia Wilson. by Warranty Deed from D. Wayne Griffith and

T H E NEW Y O R K T IM E S C R O S S W O R D P UZ Z L E

ACROSS

1 One walking sideways 5 High in the Andes Wife, Wanda E. Griffith, dated October 19, 1993, recorded October 20, 1993, as/in Book 208, Page 721. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 887 Rock House Road, Hot Springs, NC 28743; tax parcel 18244 A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, payable to Bell Carrington Price & Gregg, PLLC, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 45-21.30, if the highest bidder at the sale, resale, or any upset bidder fails to comply with its bid upon the tender of a deed for the real property, or after a bona fide attempt to tender such a deed, the clerk of superior court may, upon motion, enter an order authorizing a resale of the real property. The defaulting bidder at any sale or resale or any defaulting upset bidder is liable for the bid made, and in case a resale is had because of such default, shall remain liable to the extent that the final sale price is less than the bid plus all the costs of any resale. Any deposit or compliance bond made by the defaulting bidder shall secure payment of the amount, if any, for which the defaulting bidder remains liable under N.C. Gen. Stat.

9 Crew team member 14 Muscle car engine § 45-21.30. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to any and all superior liens, including taxes and special assessments. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/ are the heirs of Edward A. Wilson and M. Patricia Wilson. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 45-21.29, in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the

15 Like most dorms nowadays 16 Old enough time the tenant provides the notice of termination. The notice shall also state that upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination [N.C. Gen. Stat. § 45-21.16(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Cape Fear Trustee Services, LLC, Substitute Trustee ___ _________________________ ______, Attorney Aaron Seagroves, NCSB No. 50979 W. Harris, NCSB No. 48633 5550 77 Center Drive, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28217 PHONE: 980-201-3840 File No.: 19-41297 NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA BUNCOMBE

edited by Will Shortz 17 Start of a longwinded musing from an author 20 Oregon Ducks’ home 21 –– ––– . – . ... . 22 Beginner’s knitting project 23 Polite term of address 25 Ones calling the shots, for short? 28 “By all means” 29 Rimes of country music 31 Public walkway 33 Craze 34 Down-home and unpretentious 35 Musing, part 2 38 Precipitated 39 ___-dink 40 Had the rights to 41 ___ bear 42 Animated picture file 45 Outlaw 46 Julie Andrews or Helen Mirren 47 Harry’s foil in Harry Potter 49 Modern marketing tool

puzzle by Margaret Saine 52 It may be gasor oil-fired 53 End of the musing, which could simply have been the shaded squares 57 Appropriate 58 Word before sauce or truck 59 “___ story” 60 Wastes time feeling sad 61 Unrealistic part of many statues 62 Wire or cable

DOWN

1 Cheap and inauthentic 2 Catchword in waste management 3 Some Spanish friends 4 Dangerous dog 5 Undesirable marks? 6 Fuel for a fire 7 Hot cupful 8 One who’s “out” 9 Crowd noise 10 Does a hit on

No. 1218

11 Article of equipment akin to a wakeboard 12 “S.N.L.” cast member Nwodim 13 Call, as a game 18 Blown up 19 ___-com 23 Common street name 24 Illustration for an ill tourist? 26 Storied Prohibition agent 27 Word before sauce or milk 30 Heroine of Tennyson’s “Idylls of the King” 31 Like the pattern on Minnie Mouse’s dress 32 Confederate 33 ___ en place (putting in place: Fr.) 34 ___ for oneself 35 East Coast 7-Eleven competitor 36 Jack Nicklaus, in 19 major golf championships 37 Chalice filler

38 Corn on the ___ 41 Appreciation of taste 42 Aplenty 43 Rapid breakup of a frozen stream in the spring 44 Gave shape to 46 Like most craft projects, in brief

48 Breaks in relations 50 ___ mortals 51 Natural barrier that Hannibal surmounted 52 Frat members 53 It all adds up to this 54 G.I. entertainers 55 Dissenting vote 56 High/low card

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE

COUNTY In the General Court of Justice, Superior Court Division Case No. 19-CV-04481 Bank of America, N.A., Plaintiff, v. Emma Lue B. Robinson; Any Spouse of Emma Lue B. Robinson; Harvard Home Mortgage, Inc.; World Alliance Financial, LLC; The United States of America, by and through its agent, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Defendants. To: Emma Lue B. Robinson and Any Spouse of Emma Lue B. Robinson: Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the aboveentitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Reformation and Declaration of Validity of Deed of Deed of Trust and Judicial Foreclosure of Deed of Trust. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than forty (40) days after the date of the first publication of this Notice, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This, the 2nd day of January, 2020. J. Martin Page, Esq. Bell Carrington Price & Gregg, PLLC 339 Heyward Street Columbia, SC 29201 803.509.5078 Attorneys for Plaintiff BCPG No. 19-43710

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