Mountain Xpress 01.26.22

OUR 28TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 28 NO. 26 JA N. 26 - F E B. 1, 2022

H G I H IETYY

ANX The impact of ‘doomscrolling’ on our mental health

8 Local psychiatrist discusses psychedelic-assisted therapy 28

Former educators reveal why they left the classroom

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C ONTENT S

FEATURES

PAGE 20

NEWS

NEWS

EXTREMELY ONLINE 8

LIFE AFTER THE CLASSROOM Local educators find peace after walking away

12 LIFE INTERRUPTED Couples counseling flourishes amid COVID-19 pandemic

Doomscrolling — compulsively consuming negative social media or news — can create anxiety and sadness. People who doomscroll want to be better informed about a rapidly changing world, but local mental health providers say the behavior often becomes an unhealthy pattern.

FEATURE

22 Q&A WITH KELLY BRUCE Forest bathing guide takes Xpress on a walk through the woods

WELLNESS

COVER PHOTO iStock

24 CRAWLING THROUGH COVID Parents of toddlers navigate masks, day care and feelings

COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

A&C A&C

MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas Calder ASSISTANT EDITOR: Daniel Walton ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Thomas Calder OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose STAFF REPORTERS: Able Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Justin McGuire, Brooke Randle, Jessica Wakeman, Daniel Walton

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CARTOON: BRENT BROWN

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak

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NEWS

14 BUNCOMBE BEAT

20 WELLNESS 32 ARTS & CULTURE

46 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 46 CLASSIFIEDS 47 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

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JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2022

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OPINION

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

Huge benefits of vaccine outweigh low risks The week of Jan. 12, hospitals throughout our region were overwhelmed by staff shortages due to COVID, with ERs full of patients and surgeries being canceled. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported more than 1,100 deaths thus far in Western North Carolina due to COVID — and the Mountain Xpress publishes a lead article that local medical providers aren’t paying enough attention to side effects from COVID vaccination [“Side Effects: Local Handling of COVID Vaccine Troubles Breeds Medical Mistrust,” Jan. 12].

What awful timing. Vaccination is the single most effective tool to protect us from this deadly viral plague. It is not totally free of side effects, but the good it does far outweighs the risks. If your readers choose not to get vaccinated because of this article, their risk of having and spreading severe disease is hugely increased.

One of us (Dr. Margaret Word-Sims) is a dementia consultant whose work took her to numerous health facilities over these past two years of the epidemic. She has seen tragedy upon tragedy — patients dying, isolated

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for vaccination, the more we are able to make the right choice for ourselves.

— Jason Ference Swannanoa

Leave out coercion and ridicule in medical decisions

C A R T O O N B Y R AN DY M O L T O N from their families, staff overwhelmed by sadness and overwork, staff dying.

For her, the vaccine has been a godsend, allowing patients and staff some protection against this catastrophe. Not just for patients, but for all of us, especially those with vulnerable friends or family.

The other (Dr. Winfield Word-Sims) is a kidney specialist whose work involves caring for many people with immune compromise. He has seen several die. He has seen patients with long, drawn-out disability. His work also involves taking part in family conferences in which dialysis and other life support measures are offered to patients whose bodies are shutting down from COVID. Almost all of these conferences are about patients who have not been vaccinated. They are unbelievably sad occasions, all the more so because the tragedy could have been easily avoided.

Yes, some people get side effects from vaccination. Usually, they are minor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphatically states that the vaccines are safe and effective. The VAERS data cited in this article is misleading, as it is unfiltered and a great many things are thrown together that do not belong together — as is pointed out by the CDC.

We who have been up close to this tragedy say without hesitation: Get the vaccine. For yourself, for anyone you care about, for our society. The risks are low, the benefits huge.

— Margaret Word-Sims, M.D. Winfield Word-Sims, M.D. Asheville

Caution about vaccines is justified Thank you so, so much, Mountain Xpress, for your in-depth article [“Side Effects: Local Handling of COVID Vaccine Troubles Breeds Medical Mistrust,” Jan. 12].

There is evidence of mass suppression of this real information by most media outlets, and your willingness to help inform your readers about something so potentially dangerous is admirable and necessary.

I have personally chosen to not be vaccinated, and after seeing three people I know end up in hospitals soon after receiving their vaccines, my caution is justified. If more people knew about the very real dangers, they would not be so quick to condemn those of us wanting to preserve our health.

It is a choice to be vaccinated or not, and the better informed people are, and not just by the institutions pushing

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Kudos to the Mountain Xpress for its recent article addressing the elephant in the room (adverse reactions) as the rush to get everyone vaccinated and boostered continues full throttle [“Side Effects: Local Handling of COVID Vaccine Troubles Breeds Medical Mistrust,” Jan. 12]. Despite the daily mantra that the vaccines are “safe and effective,” they have proven to be otherwise for many individuals, as the article relates in heartbreaking detail.

Everyone is different. A “one size fits all” approach has never been standard medical practice. People should be free to consult with their physician and weigh risks versus benefits before making any medical decisions without being coerced and ridiculed. Stay safe and be well.

— Gardner Hathaway Asheville

Let’s really talk about homeless encampments Instead of city officials or community members making suggestions, I recommend the city host a community conversation. Not a listening board, not a charrette, but a real conversation structured by relevant questions.

Invite all the relevant stakeholders: 1. Government officials.

2. Representative group of homeless people. who work with 3. Those the homeless.

4. Those who provide services to the homeless.

5. Concerned community members.

Host the meeting with round tables that seat six-eight people max and make sure there’s a diversity of people at each table. Have groups engage in conversation/discussion around the kinds of questions that will support solutions.

It’s not enough to just ask for suggestions about “what to do with ‘these’ people.” We’re talking about human beings with diverse needs and circumstances. Some are homeless by choice, some are homeless for medical reasons, some are homeless because of their life circumstances. Some want a better or different option, some

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OPINION

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don’t care, some like it just the way it is. Some want help, some have given up on the system completely.

The city needs to get clear on the outcomes it is looking for: • Is it safety for homeless?

• Is it crime among the homeless?

• Is it beautification?

• Is it a tourist issue?

• Is it a place for the homeless to camp?

• Is it to get rid of the homeless population?

Once they know the outcomes they’re looking for, generative questions can be crafted for groups to explore — beginning with current strengths, then aspirations, opportunities and desired result. When more minds and hearts think together on these complex challenges, better and more lasting solutions occur. And never make decisions and do something about some group of people without that group of people being involved in the conversation.

That’s my opinion.

— Cheri Torres Asheville

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Time to face the homeless situation head-on. These folks have problems way beyond “homelessness.” We need a barracks arrangement outside of town, enclosed and secure. Individuals can be interviewed and classified by a level of needs, assistance, etc.

Cleanliness, hygiene enforcement and separation of hostility or risk to selves and others enforced.

Recognize that these folks are not part of regular society, nor are they contributing to society. They are a societal risk and danger to the well-being of a contributing society.

Perhaps a “boot camp” structure is needed to instill self-esteem and reintegration minimums, but rehab is necessary before release. A special hearing “court” can spell out the program — leave our community or be confined to boot camp. Stop dancing around this issue. Deal with it now!

There are many sources of revenue from expenses now being paid — all

the benevolent people who think this is unjustified (put their $ where their mouth is), Salvation Army, shelters, homeless surcharge at all the downtown establishments, parking revenues, etc., etc.

— Malcolm Miller-Jones Asheville

The value of abundant, walkable green space I read recent news in the Mountain Xpress Jan.12 edition [Green Roundup] of King’s Bridge offering 87 acres to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission — and related mentions of an award for Mountains-to-Sea Trail volunteer maintenance efforts, approval of the voluntary annexation of about 11 wooded acres adjacent to Carolina Day School, NC DOT strategies for increased bicycle and pedestrian opportunities, and expansion of the Old Fort Trails Project highlighting 42 miles of new trails.

This all brings to mind ideas and values expressed in a recent and remarkably relevant book, demonstrating with evidence from a wide range of sources the uncompromised value of abundant walkable green space and greenways in and around our communities.

The book is In Praise of Walking: A New Scientific Exploration by neuroscientist Shane O’Mara. I strongly encourage all readers to read it and put its recommendations into practice in the name of civic health — individual, interpersonal, social and ecosocial.

And if you have little time, consider at least the last three chapters titled: “A Balm for Body and Brain,” “Creative Walking” and “Social Walking.”

O’Mara writes at the conclusion of his book: “The core lesson … is this: walking enhances every aspect of our social, psychological and neural functioning. … Although walking arises from our deep, evolutionary past, it is our future too: for walking will do you all the good that you now know it does.” And we all know abundant green spaces and greenways are civic virtues and benefits by every measure.

Thanks sincerely for looking into this and similar books on behalf of the greening of our shared urban life.

— Guy Burneko Asheville

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Editor’s note

Series

In this year’s Wellness Issue, Part 1, readers will find several short Q&As featuring local residents offering insights about their individual approaches to maintaining their physical and mental health. Hopefully, the wide range of perspectives provide readers with ideas and tips for their own well-being. Be on the lookout for more of these “Health checkups” in next week’s Wellness Issue, Part 2.

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Biltmore Forest deserves shelter In regard to Dallas Triniti’s letter [“Shelter Has Created Crisis in East Asheville,” Jan. 19, Xpress], I will readily admit that there are more deserving neighborhoods than Oakley, such as Biltmore Forest and Beaverdam, but it is a fundamental indirect purpose of homeless shelters and housing projects, not only to shelter people directly, but to make the neighborhood more affordable by slowing gentrification and speculation, and yes, even with needles.

So I am also the first to ask: Has your house in Oakley actually depreciated since you bought it? Or are you a speculator?

Perhaps it would have been better for the city to buy and convert the Grove Park Inn than the Oakley Ramada in order to make that neighborhood affordable instead, but was this within their capabilities? Even if they had defunded the police? They certainly could have bought my farm as you suggested but would need a bus.

— Alan Ditmore Leicester

All across for crossword puzzle I understand that we all did what we had to do during the worst days of COVID and quarantine. The fact that you survived to continue to bring us all the local arts news, as well as fine investigative journalism and all the features we love, is a testament to your resilience, flexibility and fortitude.

However, one thing that was only occasional pre-COVID and constant throughout has reached its obsolescence and so must now go.

Please stop printing the crossword vertically. It makes life just that much more difficult for us bathroom solvers.

— Jeff Catanese Asheville Editor’s response: Thank you for your comments about Xpress and the crossword puzzle. We’ve also received feedback from other puzzle solvers who like the vertical orientation, which additionally works better for our Design team in laying out the paper. So at this time, we’re going to stick with a vertical format.

Editor’s note Due to changing health recommendations related to COVID-19, readers are encouraged to check with individual businesses for the latest updates concerning upcoming events.

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NEWS

Life after the classroom

Local educators find peace after walking away

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com In 2020, Katha Underwood was four years away from her target of retiring at age 70. She loved teaching family and consumer science courses at North Henderson High School but wasn’t as fond of the stress she’d experienced from multiple student suicides and school lockdowns due to guns on campus. Nor did she appreciate the seven-year salary freeze she’d endured in the wake of the 2008 economic recession.

“I loved teaching students how to be good parents and help their kids or future kids grow and learn — what I call ‘teacher on down,’ or what I had to do in the classroom and with the kids,” says Underwood, who lives in Saluda. “But ‘teacher on up?’ It was Stress City, with the school district, four or five different principals during my tenure and then the state of North Carolina’s disrespect towards teachers. It was very difficult.”

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TAKE IT EASY: Katha Underwood retired from teaching four years earlier than anticipated but doesn’t regret leaving.

“This is the best decision I’ve made for my life in years,” she says. “It was shocking how different it was after a month of being home. People visibly look at me and go, ‘Oh, you look different! You look great!’” Photo courtesy of Underwood The COVID-19 pandemic placed additional strain on her work. Like many systems, Henderson County Public Schools shifted to virtual learning in the spring. But when in-person teaching was slated to return in fall 2020, Underwood was faced with a difficult choice.

Being over 65, she qualified as “high risk” according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and was given the option to take a year off, without pay or benefits but with the guarantee of a teaching job — not necessarily the same one — upon her return. With months remaining before COVID-19 vaccines would become available, and not wanting to chance bringing home the virus to her husband, whose heart condition put him at even greater risk for severe disease, Underwood retired in November 2020.

Such departures from the classroom are becoming increasingly common across the U.S. A January 2021 study by the Rand Corp., a public policy research nonprofit, found that nearly 1-in-4 teachers were likely to leave their jobs by the end of the 202021 school year, compared with an average rate of 1-in-6 teachers prior to the pandemic.

And in March 2021, public policy nonprofit The Brookings Institution reported that 42% of teachers had

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considered leaving or retiring from their current position during the prior year. Of these respondents, slightly more than half said COVID-19 was the cause. Xpress talked with several local teachers who recently left the classroom to get a greater sense of how the trend is playing out in Western North Carolina.

‘A BOILING POINT’ Underwood’s decision resonates with Asheville-based educator Barbara Kenny, who earned a master’s degree in special education with a focus on students with social and emotional struggles. She went on to teach for nine years at a mix of private, public and charter schools and loved connecting with students, particularly helping timid or insecure youths feel confident and gain a sense of their true selves.

“There were some overarching, systemic problems in education that always were in the back of my mind.

But the good outweighed the bad for a long time,” Kenny says. “Then the pandemic really brought everything into focus.”

Already feeling overextended and underpaid, Kenny struggled with the demands placed upon her and teachers across the country as

administrators implemented hybrid approaches, which made it harder for her to balance her job with the human connection of working with children in a classroom.

During the pandemic, many of her former graduate school classmates visited Asheville and rented Airbnbs, from which they worked their remote jobs; Kenny had been the only member for her cohort to stay in education. Their flexibility to travel and financial ability to become homeowners despite working fewer hours served as a wakeup call.

“A good friend of mine left education and got a significant raise. She was making really good money sending marketing emails,” Kenny says of one of those classmates. “She’s behind a computer, sending emails all day, and making almost twice what I’m making. My whole life at this point is trying to plan lessons, take care of students’ social and emotional wellbeing during a pandemic and dealing with parents — all of these things that made it so incredibly hard.”

Meanwhile, Kenny didn’t have health insurance, was paying $500 a month in student loans and, despite a

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JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2022

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says THANK YOU Western Carolina Medical Society thanks HCA/Mission Hospital and the 700+ Project Access® physicians in the region for over $8 million of free care they provided to more than 2,600 Project Access® patients last year.

Thank you to all the Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, nurses, CMAs, CNAs and other medical staff at our participating practices.

Special thanks to Dr. Rivers Woodward for his dedicated service as the Project Access® Volunteer Medical Director.

Thank you to all the local Safety Net Clinics and our many Community Partners.

SPECIAL THANKS to Digestive Health Partners for the WNC Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative.

Find out more about the Western Carolina Medical Society’s Project Access® at (828) 274-6989 or www.mywcms.org/projectaccess or email projectaccess@mywcms.org To make a donation, visit us online: www.mywcms.org/donate 10

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N EWS master’s degree and nearly a decade of experience, took home less than $40,000 a year. “I was like, ‘What am I doing?’” she says. “And then a series of other things with the pandemic and other ways that teachers aren’t respected within the profession and then outside of the profession just kind of came to a boiling point.”

Noting that teaching is one of the few professions where it’s only acceptable to quit two months out of the year, Kenny resigned in February 2021.

“There was this idea that, not only are you a bad employee, but you’re a bad person. You’re abandoning the children,” she says of quitting outside the summer break. “That was a really hard decision to make, but it came to a point where I just knew, for my mental and financial and personal well-being, that I had to step away.”

Laura Martin, however, had long planned to stop teaching after 15 years in the profession. In the early stages of her career, the Asheville resident had been hired by a family in Haiti to teach their three children after the 2010 earthquake displaced them from school. The experience reshaped her vision for the future.

“I got back and thought, ‘I want to teach teachers and I want to teach them in other countries where they crave education and they just don’t have a lot of the resources that we have,’” Martin says.

After teaching first and second grades at Estes Elementary School, Martin put in her notice with Buncombe County Schools in June 2021. Although the timing of her decision with the pandemic was a total coincidence, she thinks she probably would have stopped teaching regardless.

“It had changed a lot in 15 years,” Martin says. “Kids stay the same — kids are kids, and if [teachers are] in it for the kids, then we’re good. But I think that, as a whole, the community has forgotten that kids are kids, and therefore it’s changed the way that teaching has become and what we actually do.”

SUMMER BREAK: After leaving Buncombe County Schools in June, Laura Martin enjoyed working for the Asheville Tourists. Photo courtesy of Martin pursue her dream of international education, Martin is substitute teaching at Estes Elementary. She enjoys being in the classroom without the stresses of planning, meetings, calling

parents and filing endless paperwork.

In turn, her flexible hours allow for scheduling home repairs and other tasks that teachers typically have to save until weekends or the summer, and the decreased anxiety of her new routine has brought health benefits such as better sleep.

“Usually this time in the year, I’ve already had three massages because I hold a lot of tension, and I haven’t had a massage in a while,” she says.

“I feel well. I eat at normal times now. It’s not like I’m eating really early and then I’m eating lunch at 10:30 in the morning, then waiting until dinner time.”

Martin adds that many educators don’t realize their communication and organizational skills are applicable to other professions. Kenny, for example, found that her skills easily translated to her new job at Packback, a discussion board platform for higher education.

The remote position finds her working closely with college professors, keeping her in the world of academia and building on her passions for student learning and critical thinking. In less than six months, she’s already received promotions and has exciting opportunities ahead

of her — something she rarely experienced in teaching.

“If you want your career to advance, you have to leave the classroom. That’s why really good teachers leave, and unfortunately, that’s why our best and brightest of the future generation aren’t entering education, which I think is incredibly sad and going to have detrimental impacts moving forward,” Kenny says. “The pandemic really put a spotlight on what is wrong. A lot of my friends were teachers. Everyone’s left — we’ve all left.”

The Packback position includes unlimited personal time off, and the flexibility has provided Kenny with a pleasant shock. She no longer has to schedule doctor appointments for spring break, and since she’s trusted to get her work done by her supervisors, she can go hiking on a warm day with zero notice.

“It’s an unbelievable difference, as far as having just mental space for other aspects of self-care and relationships,” Kenny says. “And I think that’s unfortuante, because happy teachers are good teachers, and our system right now is making it really hard for teachers to be happy.” X

THE GREAT MIGRATION Once the school year ended, Martin took a summer job as a server with the Asheville Tourists. The position was a great fit for the personable baseball fan, who saw some familiar faces among her co-workers.

“It was amazing how many teachers work there,” she says of the ballpark.

“Most of their beer-pouring people who aren’t in college are teachers, because teachers don’t get paid over the summer. We are ‘doing’ people.

We are not ‘sitting around’ people.”

While she waits for pandemic-related risks to subside so that she can MOUNTAINX.COM

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Life interrupted

“People are just calling left and right,” says James Colvin, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Asheville. “Last week I must’ve had seven or eight calls. I hate turning anyone away but I had to do that.”

Relationships have always had to navigate disputes, both large and small. But in his 30 years of counseling couples and families, Colvin says “nothing even comes close” to the trauma and upheaval that his clients are experiencing.

If one could take a coronavirus tracker to map the emotional health of the country, symptoms would emerge; anxiety, stress, isolation, depression, uncertainty and COVID fatigue. Amid this murk, partnerships are being tested left and right from job losses, financial worries, illness, prevention of illness and lockdown isolation.

A survey of 1,2000 married and engaged couples who are co-quarantining, conducted by the wedding site The Knot, found that 40% of couples surveyed report spending more than 20 extra hours per week with their partners as a result of COVID-19.

This increase in time together can lead to more conflicts about communication, sex, money and other topics.

Difficulties of the new normal are bleeding into relationships.

“The fact is that everyone in the world right now is dealing with collective trauma and grief related to the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Stacey Curnow, a licensed clinical mental health counselor based in Asheville.

She opened her private practice less than a year into pandemic and now is juggling 20 clients a week and has a three-month waiting list.

“People are anxious, they’re scared,” says Curnow. “People are facing [uncertainty] without their normal coping strategies or support systems, and to make matters worse, the rules and the guidelines keep changing.”

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ANXIETY AND CONFLICT Unemployment and other changes to our working lives caused by consequences of the coronavirus have also shaken up couples. The unemployment rate in North Carolina jumped from 3.9% to 13.5% from March to April 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of

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FEAR FACTOR: Stacey Curnow, a licensed mental health counselor in Asheville, says anxiety often leads to conflict in couples. Photo courtesy of Curnow Labor Statistics. (The unemployment rate has steadily decreased since that spike and reached the pre-pandemic rate in November 2021.)

Remote work also became a fact of life for some families. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in July 2020 that 1-in-4 people teleworked or worked from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Full-time workers, as well as workers with higher levels of education, were more likely to have teleworked.

Couples who may be newly working from home together, or where one person is unemployed and the other works from home, are finding they have to adapt. “When people are in the house all day long hearing each other on the phone or Zoom, there isn’t that normal break and rhythm that couples used to have,” Colvin explains. “It creates more stress. We’re not used to living like that.”

Colvin says he has seen couples become short with each other. “The little habits that might have been cute are no longer cute if you see it repeated like a hundred times a week,” he says.

DIFFERENCES IN BELIEF Anxiety often leads to conflict, says Curnow. Ways of mitigating the COVID19 virus, including social distancing, mask-wearing, and vaccinations, can all be potential sources of anxiety.

“I’ve worked with couples who have argued about vaccines,” Curnow notes. “In one example, the husband felt concerned about the negative impact getting the virus could have on their personal health and the health of the community. The wife felt concerned about the impact the vaccine would have on her own health and felt confident that her immune system was

sufficiently strong to protect her from the virus.”

She helped the couple understand their partner’s viewpoint and accept it. “We have to define the problem first and find a collaborative solution that works for both of them,” she explains.

“In this instance, the wife realized that she’d feel awful if she learned that she had unknowingly infected someone else like her elderly parents.”

Ultimately, the wife in this scenario decided to be vaccinated, Curnow says.

Paula Zerfoss, a licensed psychotherapist specializing in couples therapy, says the majority of her clients are on the same page when it comes to vaccines, but there were clashes over social distancing in the early part of the pandemic.

“Issues like should we get together with family for the holidays — that brings out stress normally, but the pandemic exacerbated the situation,” she explains. Another relationship stressor Zerfoss witnessed was couples who jumped into a committed relationship hastily in order to form their own COVID bubble.

“Everything was being squeezed into a very hurried period of time,” she explains. “Couples were stumbling over how to adjust to their partner’s personality. … These kinds of conflicts are coming to the surface much more quickly, particularly among couples who moved in together after only two months.”

INTENSITY A 2020 report by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation states 1-in4 U.S. adults said worry or stress related to the coronavirus has had a major impact on their mental health.

Among women, Black adults and adults ages 18-29, that proportion rose to nearly 1-in-3.

Matt Vaughn, a licensed professional counselor in Asheville, says depression, anxiety and substance abuse are issues already he sees in his daily practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought those problems to the surface more quickly, he says.

“One thing I see is that the virus has increased the intensity of whatever you were struggling with,” he says.

“If you’re struggling with alcoholism, then these past two years have just increased the intensity of that struggle.

COVID is bringing things to a head, and forcing couples, families and individuals to confront their issues.”

The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on families, particularly with regard to paid work, has been sharp. Day care disruptions and remote learning have all put added pressure on caretakers. A 2021 report compiled by Zogby Analytics about North Carolina

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“I feel so sorry for families with two jobs and two kids in the pandemic and no extended family support,” says Colvin. “I have a number of couples like that, and the stress level is unbelievable.”

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HOW TO DEAL A couple’s decision to get counseling should be seen as a commitment to the relationship rather than as a negative, counselors say.

Zerfoss says she’s seen positive growth among the couples she counsels. “There is an increased commitment and appreciation of being able to spend more time together,” she explains. “They realize the importance of their relationship, which is really gratifying to see. … The whole COVID thing has put life on a more tenuous track.”

Vaughn concurs that seeking mental health support — whether as an individual, couple or family — is a good thing. “Therapy is not going to solve all your problems, but if you are more at peace with yourself, then whatever is thrown at us, we’re going to be able to navigate it better,” he explains.

Resiliency and gratitude are two of the positive effects Colvin has seen among his clients. “People say they appreciate life, friends and their religious community a lot more,” he notes.

But, he adds, relationships are still navigating the rough waters of the pandemic with no safe harbor in sight. “It’s like being in the middle of the ocean,” he says. “Even if you’re approaching the end of it, you’re still in 10 feet of water and you’re not on solid ground. We’re closer to the shore, but we’re not there yet.” X MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2022

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All things come to those who wait — especially if, as in the case of Mountain Xpress, one waits nearly nine months for public records that state statute requires be delivered “as promptly as possible.”

Xpress made a formal request on March 26 for “all planning materials, documents, emails, invoices and other records” related to Asheville City Council’s then-upcoming retreat, planned for March 31-April 1. And as the meeting approached, the paper and a coalition of other local media organizations sued the city over its plan to conduct much of that retreat in private, which had been announced March 19. (Just two days before the retreat, Buncombe County Superior Court Judge Steve Warren ruled that Asheville was violating state open meetings law and forced the officials to meet publicly.)

The city did not fulfill the records request until Dec. 15, turning over more

What are the top 3 issues facing women in WNC? For Xpress’ upcoming Women’s Issue, we’re asking our readers — and particularly women — for their thoughts on this question: What are the top three issues facing women in WNC today?

Please describe the issue, how it affects you or others you know in the community, and what ideas you might have for solutions. We’ll use that information to help shape our coverage for our upcoming special edition.

Please email news@mountainx.com with the subject line, “Suggestions for Women’s Issue,” by Friday, Jan. 28, to share your views!

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MOUNTAINX.COM

IN THE OPEN: The March 31 team-building session of Asheville City Council’s annual retreat was only opened to the public after Mountain Xpress and a coalition of other local media organizations sued the city. Photo by Molly Horak than 900 emails and dozens of other documents. (The full set of records is available at avl.mx/b4w.) The emails and documents suggest that, even as Council member Kim Roney raised concerns over transparency, other city officials either stayed mum or actively supported the closed-door plan.

Roney first objected to the private meeting in a March 8 email to Mayor Esther Manheimer, City Manager Debra Campbell and Jaime Matthews, an assistant in Campbell’s office. “I think we’re heading in the wrong direction if we’re attempting to find a way to remove ourselves from the public eye because we are a public body. If the intention is to address conflict, I think this will exasperate it and not be easy to mend,” Roney wrote.

Roney subsequently forwarded her message to all other Council members. The only recipient to respond to the email was Antanette Mosley, who replied, “Thanks, Kim.” Prior to Xpress asking about the closed session plan, the only other transparency-related exchange came March 19 in response to an email to all Council members from Patrick Conant, director of local governmental transparency project Sunshine Request. Manheimer, the lone member to respond, said the private meeting was “for team building, for lack of a better term, and no substantive issues will be discussed.”

City Attorney Brad Branham subsequently messaged Conant to

“provide my absolute assurances that neither the Council nor staff have any intention to evade the requirements of the open meetings laws.” Campbell then responded privately to Branham with two words of encouragement: “Go Brad!”

While the records provide little other insight into the city’s internal transparency discussions, they do show that logistical plans for the retreat itself were in flux prior to the event. As late as Feb. 25, Asheville staff members were looking to hold the retreat at an outdoor location, with some suggesting the rooftop of the Asheville Art Museum; according to Matthews with the city manager’s office, Manheimer “had some reservations about having it at a brewery.” Council was also exploring a rapid COVID-19 testing requirement for retreat attendees as late as March 17, but that plan was dropped by the time the meeting was announced.

And the emails demonstrate that Asheville staff spent a great deal of effort determining food for the retreat.

At least 110 messages from the records request included “catering” or “lunch” in the subject line. (Both Roney and Council member Sage Turner appear to prefer vegetarian options, Campbell dislikes onions and goat cheese on her salads, and Asheville Police Department Chief David Zack was the only attendee to order barbecued chicken with mashed potatoes.)

— Daniel Walton X

MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2022

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 3 For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, opt. 1.

Online Events = Shaded WELLNESS Yoga and the 12 Steps of Recovery (Y12SR) Addresses addiction as a mental, physical and spiritual disease.

WE (1/26, 2/2), 8:30am, Asheville Yoga Center, 211 S Liberty St Sparkle Time - Holistic Senior Exercise Aerobic, strengthening, balance and flexibilty.

Proof of vaccination and booster required.

WE (1/26, 2/2), MO (1/31), 10:30am, Avery's Creek Community Center, 899 Glennbridge Rd SE, Arden Pub Run Rain or shine, all ages and experience levels welcome.

WE (1/26, 2/2), 6:15pm, Archetype Brewing, 265 Haywood Rd

Montford Tai Chi Hosted by local acupuncturist Tyler White. All ages.

TH (1/27, 2/1), 9am, Free, Montford Recreation Center, 34 Pearson Dr Introduction to Tai Chi Taught by Roger Byrd TH (1/27, 2/3), 10:30am, Free, Asheville Community Yoga Center, 8 Brookdale Rd Queer & Trans Yoga Class For everyone who identifies outside the lines and hasn't felt comfortable in a traditional yoga space.

TH (1/27, 2/3), 6pm, avl.mx/b1t American Red Cross Blood Donation Drive Across from RH Outlet.

FR (1/28), 10am-3pm, Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Rd

2022

Kids Issues Publish 3/9 & 3/16

UNCA COVID-19 Testing Sites No appointment required. FR (1/28) 1-8pm, SA (1/29) & SU (1/30) 9am-5pm, Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Heights LGBTQ Sweat Your Prayers A safe space for the LGBTQ community to move their bodies with intention, love, in solidarity. All are welcome, sliding scale.

SA (1/29), 9:30am, Haw Creek Commons, 315 Old Haw Creek Rd Bipolar and Depression Support Group Contact Renee Bazile for more information 828.367.7660.

SA (1/29), 2pm, 1316 Ste C Parkwood Rd Yoga Taco Mosa Practice yoga, followed by tacos and mimosas.

SU (1/30), 11am, Suggested donation $5-10, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave Community Blood Drive In partnership with The Blood Connection. Each blood donor will receive a $20 Visa gift card as a thank you for donating.

MO (1/31), 3pm, Archetype Brewing, 265 Haywood Rd Quest4Life 5Rhythms Waves Class Weekly instructional classes based on Gabrielle Roth's work.

No dance experience necessary.

TU (2/1), 7pm, $12-22, Terpsicorps Academy, 1501 Patton Ave WNC Prostate Group Us TOO A forum for men, caregivers, family members, and partners.

For information: Eric 828.419.4565 or wncprostate@gmail.com .

TU (2/1), 7pm

ART

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WNC Fibers/ Handweavers Guild Exhibition Processes represented

THE RIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY: The Madison County Arts Council will host an exhibit and sale showcasing the paintings of artist and longtime Madison County homestead farmer Polly Gott through March 10. A meet-the-artist reception will be held Thursday, Jan. 27, 4-7 p.m., at 90 S. Main St., Marshall and will include a banjo performance by Gott’s husband, Peter. Photo courtesy of Madison County Arts Council include spinning, shibori, batik, silkscreen, weaving, natural dyeing, needle felting, knitting, and more.

Daily 10am-5pm.

Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Parkway Mountain Inspirations Through Jan. 31. Daily 11am-6pm.

Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave Time For Renewal Featuring works by three new gallery members: Kathy Goodson,

Margie Kluska, and Johnnie Stanfield. Daily 11am-6pm.

Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave Polly Gott: A Lifetime of Seeing An exhibit and sale of the watercolors of painter, sculptor, and Madison County farmer. Monday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm.

An opening reception will be held Jan. 27, 4-7pm, with Peter Gott playing banjo.

Madison County Arts Council, 90 S Main St, Marshall Gallery Group Show: Revanant A response to the pandemic and a “post-pandemic” world. Wednesday-Saturday, 11am-7pm.

Continuum Art, 147 Ste C, 1st Ave E, Hendersonville A Living Language: Cherokee Syllabary and Contemporary Art Highlights the use of the written Cherokee language. Daily 11am-6pm, til 9pm Thursday. Closed Tuesdays.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

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JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2022

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Ruminations on Memory On view in conjunction with A Living Language: Cherokee Syllabary and Contemporary Art. Daily 11am-6pm, til 9pm Thursday. Closed Tuesdays.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Walter B. Stephen Pottery: Cameo to Crystalline Features art pottery and functional vessels from each stage of Stephen’s career.

Daily 11am-6pm, til 9pm Thursday. Closed Tuesdays.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square A Hand in Studio Craft: Harvey K. Littleton as Peer and Pioneer A collection from the early days of the Studio Glass Movement and the height of the American mid-century Studio Pottery Movement.

Daily 11am-6pm, til 9pm Thursday. Closed Tuesdays.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Stained with Glass: Vitreograph Prints from the Studio of Harvey K. Littleton A wide circle of artists in a variety of media were invited

to Littleton’s studio in Spruce Pine to create prints using the vitreograph process developed by Littleton.

Daily 11am-6pm, til 9pm Thursday. Closed Tuesdays.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square ᎢᏛᏍᎦ ᏫᏥᏤᎢ ᎠᎵᏰᎵᏒ Weaving Across Time Showcases the works of nine Eastern Band Cherokee basket makers. Monday-Friday 10am-6pm.

Center for Craft, 67 Broadway Nocturne A collection of works in a variety of media that celebrates the drama and mystery of the night. Daily 10-6, Sundays 12-5.

TH (2/3), 10am, Momentum Gallery, 24 N Lexington Ave Small Work/Big Impact An annual exhibition that assembles intimately-scaled works in a variety of media by gallery artists and special guests. Daily 10-6, Sundays 12-5.

Momentum Gallery, 24 N Lexington Ave

ART/CRAFT STROLLS & FAIRS Mini Market Pop Up A variety of local

vendors highlighting some of the best in arts, crafts, and artisanal products from Asheville and surrounding areas.

SU (1/30), 11:30am, Highland Brewing Downtown Taproom, 56 Patton Ave

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD Mary Elizabeth Pope presents The Gods of Green County in conversation with Jill McCorkle The authors discuss Pope's book. Sponsored by Malaprop's.

TH (1/27), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/b3s Malaprop's Science Fiction Book Club Participants will discuss Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu.

MO (1/31), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/au7 Greg Howard presents The Visitors in conversation with Alan Gratz The authors discuss Howard's book. Sponsored by Malaprop's.

TU (2/1), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/b4l

Happy SMILES for kids of all ages!

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JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2022

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MOUNTAINX.COM

C OMMU N IT Y CA L E N D AR Malaprop's WILD (Women in Lively Discussion) Book Club Participants will discuss Transcendent Kingdom

by Yaa Gyasi.

TU (2/1), 6:30pm, Registration required, avl.mx/9or Miss Malaprop's Storytime Recommended for ages 3-9.

WE (2/2), 10am, Registration required, avl.mx/7b9 Malaprop's Book Club Participants will discuss Cannery Row by John Steinbeck.

WE (2/2), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/9s5 Dick Lehr presents White Hot Hate: A True Story of Domestic Terrorism in America’s Heartland The author discusses his book. Sponsored by Malaprop's.

TH (2/3), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/b4m Malaprop's Crime and Politics Book Club Participants will discuss White Hot Hate: A True Story of Domestic Terrorism in America's Heartland by Dick Lehr.

TH (2/3), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/ahj

THEATER Asheville Mind Reading Show Asheville mentalist, Jonathan Pritchard will perform a theatrical “mind reading” experience that explores the power of human imagination.

SA (1/29), 6pm, $30-40, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

BENEFITS ABCCM Annual Safe & Warm Campaign Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry will raise funds to provide heating assistance; as well as

collect blankets, coats, scarves, hats, gloves, etc. for area residents in need.

WE (1/26), 12pm, Carolina Furniture Concepts, 100 Airport Rd, Arden 32nd Annual Candlemas Concert The concert, featuring NC native Andrew Finn Magill, will raise funds for three local organizations working to alleviate hunger in Henderson County.

SU (1/30), 4pm, $25, St. James Episcopal Church, 766 N Main St, Hendersonville Asheville Outlets Hosts Healthy Food Drive with MANNA FoodBank Focusing on collecting healthy, nonperishable foods for distribution to those in need in WNC. Collection bins will be in the food court.

TU (2/1), Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Rd

CLASSES, MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS The Story of Plastic Join MountainTrue and partners Asheville GreenWorks, Environment NC, and WENOCA Group of the NC Sierra Club for a virtual film screening followed by a live Q&A. WE (1/26), 7pm, Free, avl.mx/b4z Citizen Scholar: The Beatles & Gender ft.

Lisette Gallaher An informative celebration of music history, sponsored by Blue Ridge Public Radio.

TH (1/27), 6:30pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave Swing Dance w/Swing Asheville Intermediate lesson 6pm, beginner lesson 7pm, 8pm dance - no partner needed.

FR (1/28), 6pm, $10-20, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave

Rescheduled: MLK Day of Service Join members of the community to bag rice and beans to help The Storehouse provide for food-insecure neighbors in Henderson County.

Donations of cash and non-perishable food items will also be collected.

SA (1/29), 1:30pm, St. James Episcopal Church, 766 N Main St, Hendersonville Figure Drawing 101 An introduction to drawing the human form, with Chip Mayes.

SA (1/29), 2pm, $30, Continuum Art, 147 ste C, 1st Ave E, Hendersonville Drink and Draw at Continuum Drink, draw, and socialize - hosted and instructed by Katie Montes. 18+ SU (1/30), 6:30pm, $10, Continuum Art, 147 Ste C, 1st Ave E, Hendersonville Grand Opening of Franny's Farmacy South Slope Samples, food, mocktails and a raffle.

WE (2/2), TH (2/3), 4pm, Free, 231 Biltmore Ave Sierra Club presents Hope from the 2021 UN Climate Summit: An Interactive Simulation Climate Interactive Co-Founder and Co-Director Andrew Jones will share the interactive workshop via Zoom.

TH (2/3), 7pm, avl.mx/977

LOCAL MARKETS River Arts District Winter Market Local produce, cheese, breads, meats and more.

WE (1/26, 2/2), 3pm, Pleb Urban Winery, 289 Lyman St ASAP Winter Farmers Market SA (1/29), 10am, A-B Tech Conference Center, 340 Victoria Rd

OUTDOORS Master Gardener Virtual Plant Clinic Email HaywoodEMGV@ gmail.com or call 828.

456.3575 and describe your home gardening issue. A Master Gardener will research and get back to you within a few days. Free 2022 Virtual Hiking Challenge The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Virtual Hiking Challenge sets a goal for you to complete 60 miles in 60 days at your own pace.

Sign up online before Feb. 1. avl.mx/az0

SPIRITUALITY Jewish Power Hour Weekly Torah class. All are welcome.

TH (1/27), 6pm, avl.mx/b0h Online Baha'i Sunday Devotional Friends gathering virtually for readings, music, prayers, and conversation. All are welcome.

SU (1/30), 10am, avl.mx/a4t

VOLUNTEERING Seeking Experiential Garden Volunteers Looking for people who are interested in landscaping, gardening, carpentry, and art.

Verner Center for Early Learning, 2586 Riceville Rd Womansong of Asheville Currently welcoming new members. Visit the website for more information. avl.mx/b50 Stitches of Love Asheville A group of dedicated people who create and donate handmade items to local charities. If interested, contact Janet Stewart 828.575.9195.

Facebook: Stitches of Love-Asheville.

MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2022

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WELLNESS

Extremely online

WNC mental health providers warn of ‘doomscrolling’

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN jwakeman@mountainx.com When Tiffany Schultz finally quit Facebook, it came after years of unease with the division and negativity she saw there. She joined the social network in 2006 but says she “had not been a very big fan of Facebook for a while. … I saw it as a necessary evil after moving from Wisconsin,” the now-Leicester resident and Franny’s Farm manager tells Xpress.

In summer 2020, racial justice protests broke out in Schultz’s former city of Kenosha following the police shooting of a Black man named Jacob Blake. She had friends who attended Black Lives Matters protests and livestreamed them on Facebook.

“I glued myself to my computer screen and watched these two people I know document and experience the very police brutality they were protesting against,” she recalls. When Kyle Rittenhouse came to a protest and killed two people, Schultz’s friends “were in the crowd running from the gunshots.”

Soon the whole world was talking about the Kenosha protests and shooting. “I read so many cruel and ignorant comments from highly opinionated people that weren’t there and probably only read a headline,” Schultz recalls. She realized she was doomscrolling — mindlessly consuming online content that creates “emotion-fueled reactions,” as she puts it.

So after 14 years on the social network, she quit Facebook in summer 2020.

UNROLLING THE SCROLL Doomscrolling, also called doomsurfing, isn’t a clinical diagnosis.

The term, popularized on Twitter

by Quartz reporter Karen Ho, refers to consuming social media or news, typically on a screen, that creates negative mental states like anxiety, fear or sadness.

ASHEVILLE G E T T H E A P P !

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JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2022

THE G.O.A.T: Tiffany Schultz used to see having a Facebook account as a “necessary evil.” Since quitting the platform, she’s more focused on Cuddles the baby goat. Photo courtesy of Schultz Doomscrolling usually stems from trying to be better informed, says Dr. Dominique Huneycutt, a psychologist at Asheville’s Mountain Area Health Education Center. People feel that by understanding something, they can minimize or mitigate its risks. “We will go to great lengths to avoid uncertainty,” she explains.

She notes how, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone was trying to understand what was happening (what psychologists would call an adaptive coping strategy). “I think in a very healthy way, we were trying to get answers,” Huneycutt says. “But not having

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answers was worse in the moment … almost an inertia.”

People struggled to accept not having answers from the medical community or from politicians, she continues, and the way they tried to assuage this was by consuming as much media as possible.

“As humans, we want to figure things out, and in many ways, we’re taught to figure things out: look around, ask the expert,” Huneycutt says.

“Wikipedia and TikTok are not the expert,” she continues. Under normal circumstances, most people know this. But in times of instability, people want to be soothed by answers — any answers — to their concerns.

HIGH ANXIETY “With doomscrolling comes altered brain function, decreased sleep, potential increased nightmares, increase in mood disorder

symptoms, decreased engagement in interpersonal relationships and decreased engagement in ‘fun’ or more productive activities,” says Katie Salmons, a licensed clinical social worker and clinical supervisor at Asheville Academy in Black Mountain, a therapeutic boarding school for tweens and teens.

Tim Bandell, a licensed clinical social worker with All Souls Counseling in Asheville, compares the effect of doomscrolling-driven anxiety on the body’s nervous system to an overactive motor. “The quicker that motor is going and the more is happening all at once, the more likely it is to feel out of control,” he says.

“That’s basically what’s happening in our nervous system — it’s running too much, that motor, and it’s more likely to bring harm to us.”

Anxiety alters health indicators like blood pressure and heart rate and can shift behavior as well, he continues. “We’re less able to use that thinking center in our brain where we can rationalize, regulate, think of the consequences ahead of time and take into consideration everything,” Bandell explains.

That can raise issues when doomscrolling requires the evaluation of information, like whether a news source is trustworthy. “It doesn’t help us adapt, actually, to the situation in front of us,” Bandell says.

“People may not even realize they’re stuck in this compulsive pattern.”

The word pattern is key: The effects of doomscrolling aren’t the same for everyone, Salmon notes.

One person’s daily doomscroll might look very similar to another person’s occasional trip down the social media rabbit hole. “Doomscrolling’s impact really just depends on the level that is used and how it impacts each individual’s ability to various capacities of their lives,” she explains.

Salmon compares the behavior to consuming true-crime podcasts.

Some people may be repulsed at their very first exposure, while others can — and do — consume multiple seasons of murder, cruelty and inhumanity without being distrubed.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD People can doomscroll anywhere from mainstream media websites to obscure message boards. The mental health providers who spoke with Xpress say they primarily see clients doomscrolling on social media, citing YouTube, TikTok and Facebook as the most common platforms.

A 2020 study of 7,000 adults published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found increased time on social media, as well

HEALTH CHECKUP

HOLDING PATTERN: Tim Bandell, a clinical social worker, says anxious doomscrollers “may not even realize they’re stuck in this compulsive pattern.” Photo courtesy of Bandell as the number of forms of traditional media consulted, was associated with higher levels of mental distress. And a 2021 study found that consuming only two to four minutes of pandemic-related news led to “immediate and significant reductions in positive affect and optimism.”

Bandell says part of human nature is being drawn to pain and suffering and notes how social justice-minded people may be especially drawn to the inequities of the world. Finding both collective and individual solutions to problems is essential, he continues, but social media research doesn’t always provide a “well-rounded perspective.”

But even as a mental health provider, Bandell isn’t immune to doomscrolling. “YouTube, in particular, I can sometimes get pulled in an hour later to be, like, ‘Wow, what am I doing here?’” he says.

BRAIN GAMES Being deluged with information can scratch the brain’s itch for self-preservation, but that’s not the only mental impact of doomscrolling: The technology is built to reinforce use through dopamine-fueled rewards.

“I don’t think everybody always separates that you’re getting an emotional onslaught from content, but you’re also getting a reward,” says Huneycutt, the MAHEC psychologist.

Simply seeing more “likes” on comments that one agrees with activates the brain’s reward system, creating a loop of reinforcement, she says.

The desire to doomscroll can be exacerbated by social media algo-

rithms that show people more content similar to what they’ve already consumed, notes Ellen Kathrein, a school-based social worker for MAHEC. In its most extreme form, doomscrolling can be compulsive, says Huneycutt. And Salmons adds that it can be a symptom of technology addiction. (Technology addiction and internet addiction have not been recognized as disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the reference of the American Psychiatric Association; nevertheless, the terms are commonly used to describe technology usage that impairs a person’s function.)

Anecdotally, some mental health providers tell Xpress the tone with which some media outlets package the news is associated with doomscrolling. Negative stories can get the most coverage or promotion through social algorithms, as can stories with all-caps or large-font headlines.

Low-self esteem from negative interactions on social media can be another side effect of doomscrolling.

Kathrein, who works in Asheville Middle School, says she’s seen tweens and teens doomscrolling over reactions to their own social media content.

“There’s a lot of unfiltered comments [that are] probably not developmentally appropriate for anybody to read,” she says, explaining comments can have “a lot of anger.”

Grappling with heated comments, especially if they come from adults, “can be really harsh and confusing,” Kathrein says.

Community support and emotional intelligence Jamie Brazell, a local certified sex therapist and group practice owner of Out of the Woods Therapy, shares her thoughts with Xpress on the perks of a rotating playlist, the need for community to combat loneliness and the importance of emotional intelligence.

What are some techniques you use for maintaining your mental health?

Taking care of my mental health is absolutely essential for me to keep doing what I’m doing. I feel very grateful to have built a solid support system of friends/chosen family, an absolutely fantastic therapist, a wonderful partner and all sorts of awesome relationships in the community. We live in such an individualistic culture, JAMIE BRAZELL and there is so much isolation and loneliness as a result of that. There’s a whole lot of talk about “self-care” — and yes, self-care is important. But it’s also important to have connections and community. This is the most important part of my mental health care. Otherwise, I also love writing, reading, meditation, playing games with my 8-year-old, coloring books, taking singing lessons, arts and crafts and hanging out with my cats.

What is your favorite way to approach your own physical health?

I like to mix up a variety of activities that I actually enjoy. I also aim to get at least 30 minutes of movement each day. I have an exercise bike at home (a Shcwinn — not a Peloton!) and I’ll listen to a different playlist each time while riding. I also enjoy Pilates, yoga, walking outside and I have recently started taking aerial silks classes to give myself an extra challenge. Otherwise, I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with the focus on nourishment, and I allow myself treats. I am not a superrigid person in general, and therefore my approach to physical health has room for flexibility.

What is one book, podcast, documentary or article related to mental or physical health that you’d recommend, and why?

This one is tough because it’s hard to pick just one! I really love Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive

by Marc Brackett, director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. This book explains why emotional intelligence is incredibly important, dives into the nuances of emotional experiences and gives a very practical and research-based approach to how we can improve our emotional intelligence. I heard the author speak on Brené Brown’s podcast, “Unlocking Us,” and I just had to order the book immediately. I also added it to the syllabus for a course I teach on family resilience. X

FALSE CONNECTIONS Isolation from quarantines, lockdowns and stay-at-home orders has affected many people, as have sharply polarized ideological and political divisions. Kathrein says she’s seen remote learning in particular lead to young people feeling isolated and spending more time on their phones.

Social contact is a baseline human need, and modern technology can facilitate its fulfillment. But Huneycutt also warns about users developing “a false sense of connection” with Twitter followers, media figures or internet influencers.

For Schultz, who quit Facebook, connection comes through more traditional methods: picking up the phone or writing a letter. And, crucially, she says she’s now interacting with the world in ways that are more positive for her mental health.

Gardening, she says, “is way more satisfying than reading arguments in the comments on posts about COVID or politics.” X

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WELL NESS

Q&A with Kelly Bruce, forest bathing guide When Kelly Bruce takes people out for a walk in the forest, she speaks slowly and clearly, in an almost hypnotic fashion. She invites participants to close their eyes and take in the smells and textures of the woods. They listen for animal sounds, taste the difference in the forest air, feel the wood of a log or the dirt on the ground.

This isn’t just an average hike.

Bruce practices forest bathing, an originally Japanese exercise intended to cleanse the mind and provide an outlet from the stresses of modern life. And she is a professional, certified as a forest therapy guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Guides.

Once upon a time, Bruce worked as a journalist, but she’s more comfortable now helping people reconnect with nature ­ — something she says is often lost in the constant hum of big cities, corporate office jobs and long commutes. She owns her own

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company, Natural Wanders, and also guides with Asheville Wellness Tours.

Bruce spoke with Xpress about her approach to the work and what people can expect from a bath in the forest.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Why is forest bathing different from a traditional nature walk?

We don’t identify plants or birds — in fact, the idea is to quiet our analytic brains. We start by awakening our senses one by one, then go on a slow wander through the forest to explore what’s in motion. There’s also a standard sequence of invitations, optional activities that provide an opportunity for enhanced nature connection. Lastly, I host a tea ceremony as a way of celebrating the end of the experience. I forage a plant from the area, often white pine, blackberry leaves, dandelion or something else I know is safe and abundant in the area we’re walking.

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SIT, SIP, LISTEN: Kelly Bruce, second from right, serves tea at one of the ceremonies she uses to conclude her forest bathing walks. Photo courtesy of Bruce It’s a time to pause and reflect on the gifts we’ve received from nature, drink them in and allow these gifts to come alive within. This is a beautifully restorative practice, and the more you do it, the more deeply you can connect and drop in.

How did you get into this work?

In 2016, I was working in Colorado at an adaptive sports program. I’d have people from the Colorado School for the Blind, and we’d end up snowshoeing through the woods together. I wanted them to understand where they were, to fully immerse all their senses, and since they couldn’t see, I’d kind of narrate: have them smell the pines, touch the bark of the trees, listen for the birds. It was a really great experience.

I somehow learned about forest bathing, I think through a magazine, and I started Googling. I did a one-week training followed by a six-month practicum with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. The ANFT model of forest bathing is much more than a walk in the woods. It’s about remembering our relationships with the world, ourselves, each other and nature.

What role do you play in the experience?

As a guide, it’s important to make a differentiation between a therapist and a guide: The forest is the therapist, and a guide is just opening the door. We’re creating a deeper connection with ourselves and with our community, to the other people who come on these walks.

People have some really beautiful moments on these. We listen from the heart; we speak from the heart. It’s an opportunity to be witnessed, to be fully heard.

What’s the most difficult part about doing this?

I think sometimes it might be the elements. I always want to make sure everyone is very comfortable. We do a good job helping people prepare for our mountain weather by dressing in layers and getting rain gear.

It’s really quite lovely to play in the rain, to be quite honest. A big part of this practice is awakening our sense of wonder and awe. As children, we have that so innately, but as we become adults, we have responsibilities and we’re adulting. We kind of lose that sense. So to see adults play in the rain or lie on the ground and look at the leaves of a tree, it’s lovely.

What do people usually take away from forest bathing?

They report feeling stress relief, feeling less anxious. This is a way of letting go, giving ourselves permission to immerse ourselves in a forest atmosphere, which science proves is very healthy. It helps to lower our blood pressure and our heart rate.

One of the coolest things is that trees emit phytoncides. When humans breathe in these volatile organic compounds, they increase our natural killer cells, a type of white blood cell that helps fight illness and boost immunity.

In a pandemic, it’s a really lovely, natural way to improve your health.

And people will never look at nature quite the same. It deepens their attention; they’re noticing things they never noticed before. I call it like a superhero sense.

For me, it looks like noticing wildflowers, finding joy in seeing little mushrooms along the trail, hearing the birds. But I find it carries on through their daily lives, which is a lovely thing to share with friends and loved ones.

What’s something you’d like to try on your tours that you haven’t done yet?

I’m also a paddler and an equestrian, so I would love to offer forest bathing and nature therapy via stand-up paddleboard, canoe, kayak or horseback. I enjoy helping people deepen their appreciation for this amazing planet by any means: land, water or with the help of some horsepower!

— Larry Griffin X

HEALTH CHECKUP

HEALTH CHECKUP

Getting outdoors

Meditation and cognitive therapy

Danny Bernstein, an avid hiker, hike leader and outdoor writer speaks with Xpress on the benefits of maintaining a schedule, setting goals and healthy eating that benefits the body and brain.

What are some techniques you use for maintaining your mental health?

I look ahead, not back. I don’t look back on how I was raised or what my parents believed and did.

Part of being a successful adult is getting over your childhood.

I have goals, activities and a schedule that I try DANNY BERNSTEIN to keep to. I am active in Carolina Mountain Club, which provides much of my social life and sense of purpose, as well as my need to be outdoors.

What is your favorite way to approach your own physical health?

Exercise: I do yoga twice a week, weight work twice a week and hike twice a week.

Yes, I no longer punch a clock, but I have many writing and volunteer responsibilities. When I did have a regular 9-to-5 schedule, I only hiked once a week on the weekend; otherwise, my exercise routine was the same.

Eating: I eat well and don’t touch certain foods — no chips, no fried foods, no beer.

What is one book, podcast, documentary or article related to mental or physical health that you’d recommend, and why?

I don’t read many self-help books, but I was drawn to Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age by Sanjay Gupta. The book is about specific actions you can take to lessen your chances to get Alzheimer’s. Nothing in it is earthshaking: Eat right and exercise. But Gupta says that Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. And genetics are just a small part of the cause. You can control the odds of getting Alzheimer’s. X

Gary Ray, a retired Asheville resident, first spoke with Xpress in 2017, for the article “Invisible in Plain Sight: Living with Disabilities in Asheville.” Diagnosed with macular degeneration in the late 1960s, he was declared legally blind in 1980 when his vision fell to 20/200. Since 2016, Ray has been completely blind.

Xpress recently caught back up with Ray, who shares with readers his efforts at keeping himself centered and the perks of revisiting old books.

What are some techniques you use for maintaining your mental health?

I try to maintain a spiritual practice to keep myself GARY RAY centered. I try to do this once every day. When I can, I meditate. I was once diagnosed as clinically depressed, and it took years of work and therapy to finally become centered. The major focus of this work now is dealing with the fear of our current COVID-based world. The other focus is learning to accept my becoming totally blind.

What is your favorite way to approach your own physical health?

I approach this in two ways. First, I have a regimen of doing floor exercises every day. I do 250 modified push-ups, 250 sit-ups and 250 Superman extensions.

Next, I go to the YMCA twice a week and do 15-minute sets on three machines.

I use a step machine, a recumbent bike and a treadmill. During the beginning of the shutdown, I started using an old treadmill I had at home. After the Y opened back up, I returned to going there two days a week. I started adding one day of using my treadmill at home and got up to a single set of 20 minutes.

What is one book, podcast, documentary or article related to mental or physical health that you’d recommend, and why?

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David Burns. I discovered this book in the early 1980s. It talks about cognitive therapy. Essentially, it discusses how to change the way one feels by changing the way one thinks about what is going on.

I reread this book regularly and have found a practice of applying it to myself. X

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WELLNESS

Crawling through COVID Parents of toddlers navigate masks, day care and feelings

BY LINDA RAY lindarayaccess@gmail.com When Katie Ford decided to cancel her 3-year-old’s small birthday party due to a COVID-19 exposure, she and her son, Tasman, talked about other ways they could celebrate, like bringing food and a card to his sick friend.

“While all these cancellations and changes certainly have the potential to increase anxiety and fear, they are also providing lots of opportunities to talk about ways in which we can support other people,” says Ford. “In an effort to try and find a silver lining, perhaps these conversations also have the opportunity to provide an increase in compassion and interest in supporting others.”

Like many Western North Carolina parents of little ones, Ford is concerned about her son’s social development during the pandemic, as well as messages about safety and fear of people. Ford, a family therapist and owner of Asheville-based Katie Ford Counseling & Consulting, says it’s too early to tell if the societal shifts spurred by COVID-19 will have longterm effects on children born into this world. But she stresses that it’s more important than ever to validate kids’ feelings and let them know they’re not alone.

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Kids younger than 3 usually don’t have trouble wearing masks. In many cases, that’s all they’ve ever known. Jillian Kelly, founder of Asheville Child Therapy and a psychotherapist for children ages 3-10 and their families, is also the mom of a 1 1/2-year-old.

“He was born six months into the pandemic; now he feels like one of the bunch wearing a mask,” Kelly says of her son. “I tell him that we’re wearing our masks to protect ourselves, just like we put on our coats to protect our bodies from the cold and wear shoes to protect our feet.”

Dr. Rebecca Baum, a pediatrician with the Mission Health system, reports that while kids miss many facial expressions due to masking, they still get cues from the unmasked portion of faces and the important messages conveyed through tone and word usage. “Some toddlers may not

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SERIOUS PLAY: Jillian Kelly, founder of Asheville Child Therapy, often uses props and puppets when speaking with kids about hard topics, such as family losses due to COVID-19. Photo courtesy of Kelly have had as many opportunities to interact with other children due to social distancing. While they may have had fewer opportunities to learn some of the social ‘rules,’ we wouldn’t expect significant delays in their development,” she says.

Kelly emphasizes that it’s important for parents and caregivers to focus on circumstances within their circle of control, such as making a big deal about hand-washing, and not be preoccupied with what other people are doing. “This is no time to be a perfectionist,” she says.

DAY BY DAY Ford, the family therapist, works with children ages 6-8 who aren’t used to wearing masks, staying away from their friends and missing time with extended family members. They exhibit anxiety and fear in new situations; to them, masks represent sickness and death.

Those are the kids who may need a little extra help at this time, Ford says.

But mental health staffing shortages

and a huge demand on therapists’ time have made getting an appointment difficult, if not impossible.

The same goes for day care. Marie Eller, an Asheville grandmother with full custody of two young children ages 3 and 1 1/2, knows that kids are resilient. She strives to maintain a sense of normalcy in her home and does her best to keep it stress-free.

And while she agrees that children are missing out by not getting sufficient social interactions, she’s run into more immediate concerns for kids and their families as the pandemic stretches on.

“I’m really lucky that I at least found part-time day care,” says Eller, who works at A-B Tech. “But the kids get really upset when it has to close if someone comes up positive for COVID or just doesn’t show up to work, which happens all the time now.” She hears from other parents and caregivers that finding day care today is their biggest challenge, with many running into long wait lists.

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WELLN ESS Eller says that raising kids during the pandemic is much more difficult compared to when her own children were young a decade ago. “Today, if one of the kids gets the sniffles, I have to keep them home and get them tested and then wait three days for the results.” But she appreciates that she can do her job online and that her employer allows her to work from home during the inevitable bouts of common toddler illnesses.

Through it all, Eller remains adamant that she’s not going to add pressure to her already stressful life.

“I’m not going to freak out about how these kids are going to be affected by the pandemic,” Eller says. “We try to keep it easygoing and laid-back at home. I just accept what I have to do each day, do my best and let go of the things I can’t control.

A PARENT’S ROLE The world may be in chaos, but it’s on parents to provide a sense of stability and sanity in the home, says Barbara A. Simone, a children’s book author, life coach and teacher who now lives in Hendersonville.

“Parents are the primary educators,” Simone says. “A toddler’s mind is a sponge, absorbing the feelings and attitudes of the parents. Fear, anger, resentment, political polarity — it goes right into the child’s mind.

And 0 to 3 is the most important time to develop a child’s mind.”

Simone says the most important thing parents can do is take care of themselves, both physically and emotionally. “The more health they bring into the home, the better. Leave everything at the front door when you get home, and it’s all normal again,” she says.

If it’s not a big deal to wear a mask and miss big birthday parties for the parents, then it’s not a big deal for the little ones, Simone continues; after all, they wear masks at Halloween.

“Kids are innocent. We are the ones who put meaning into everything.”

Simone, who facilitated parenting classes for nearly a decade, says that parents need to work through their emotions and ease up on themselves.

“Parents need to go to bed thinking, ‘I did the best I could today.’ And then let the rest go,” she says.

“The most important interactions toddlers have are with their parents or caregivers,” agrees Baum.

“Thankfully, families typically have unmasked time at home.”

She adds that if parents are concerned about their child’s development, they should talk to their pediatrician about it. “Sometimes, all they need is reassurance,” Baum says.

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KNOW YOUR ROLE: Barbara A. Simone, a Hendersonville-based children’s book author, life coach and teacher, says parents can provide stability and sanity for children during chaotic times. Photo courtesy of Simone AGE-APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE It’s not easy talking to young kids about serious issues and medical terminology. Explaining a pandemic and its associated consequences can be daunting for many caregivers and teachers.

In her family practice, Ford says she regularly hears parents “grappling with how to explain these changes to toddlers in a way that is both honest and developmentally appropriate.” And she hears that medical themes have become more prevalent in toddlers’ play.

“It’s common for young kids to work through things through play, as play is their language,” Ford says.

“Play also can be a great learning and healing tool for our toddlers, in which we can try to help them understand what is happening in their lives through their own language of play.”

Kelly uses props and puppets when she works with young kids and says that the pandemic provides opportunities to talk to them about hard topics like safety and loss. “All the kids in your family need to be included in conversations about loss, death and grief,” she says, and encourages parents to use videos like those presented on SesameStreet.org.

She’s also authored a book on the subject, I Didn’t Get to Say Goodbye: A Story for Grieving Children During Coronavirus, with separate versions for kids 3-6 years old and children ages 6-12. Both are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with all proceeds going toward local food banks. X

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WELL NESS

Q&A with Dr. Tiffany Sauls, psychiatrist providing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy Medical school did not teach Dr. Tiffany Sauls anything about psychedelics. “Not at all, other than to stay away,” she says with a laugh.

But as she moved into her career as a psychiatrist, Sauls began to wonder about effective alternatives to exclusively treating mental health symptoms with pharmaceuticals.

Over time, she became interested in the possibilities of psychedelic-assisted treatments.

Today, Sauls provides ketamine-assisted psychotherapy at her integrative psychiatry practice in Asheville. The federal Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration describes the drug as “a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects.”

Researchers in the early 2000s found the drug works quickly to reduce symptoms of depression without any side effects. (Pharmaceutical antidepressants can take days or weeks to begin working and may have unpleasant side effects.)

Sauls is also trained to provide therapy with MDMA — sometimes used recreationally as ecstasy or molly — for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder through the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.

She is the co-principal investigator at a site in Waynesville that will soon treat two patients with MDMA, among the first in the United States to do so legally.

Sauls spoke with Xpress about research on MDMA, what happens during a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy session and how she explains her work to her children.

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This interview has been condensed and lightly edited.

Researchers are exploring how MDMA, which promotes the release of dopamine and serotonin, can treat people with PTSD. It’s been used to increase relaxation and decrease fear in patients working through painful memories. What can you share about the MDMA-assisted psychotherapy research that you’re leading?

The expanded access site that I am a co-principal investigator at is the first approved site in the country, in Waynesville. We are only approved to start seeing two clients at this point, because our group is still completing training. Two clients from Western North Carolina will be able to access that. Then, maybe in the future, we’ll be able to open up and start seeing some more.

What does “expanded access” mean?

If a drug shows such promise that it’s going to be effective for the population, then in phase 2 or phase 3 clinical trials, the [federal Food and Drug Administration] can approve its “compassionate use” — if not allowing it to be used would be even more harmful than the risk of its use before full approval by the FDA. It’s kind of a gray zone of “No, MDMA is not rescheduled [removed from the federal list of dangerous drugs with no medical use] yet. But we see that it’s effective and healing for so many people with PTSD, so it would be a shame not to offer it if we can.”

And we are still collecting safety data. We’re still really focused on the safety of it.

What’s the difference between pharmaceutical-grade MDMA and the ecstasy or molly that someone might use recreationally?

MDMA used in a research setting is pure MDMA. When you’re getting ecstasy or molly, [3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine] could be a component of what you’re receiving, but a lot of times things can be mixed with other drugs.

What sparked your interest in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy?

I was working in residential treatment here in Asheville and I worked with adolescents, the majority of whom had some form of trauma.

I was seeing the research about MDMA-assisted psychotherapy [in adults] and how around 70% of

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SAFE TRAVELS: Dr. Tiffany Sauls provides ketamine-assisted psychotherapy at her integrative psychiatry practice in Asheville. Photo courtesy of Sauls participants who went through the studies were coming out no longer having PTSD. It was curative, and that’s unheard of in psychiatry. We don’t have cures; we have symptom management with medications and things that might help people cope. It just was kind of astonishing. I was like, “Whoa, I need to learn more about MDMA.” And then I started looking into the whole field of psychedelic-assisted therapies, which includes ketamine and psilocybin [the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms].

Are there common misunderstandings you hear about psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies?

No, I haven’t come across that too often. I feel like Michael Pollan really opened the door with the book How to Change Your Mind. So many people have read that book and have some understanding about psychedelic-assisted therapies. And it’s just been in the news so much lately.

There is a buzz about, “Hey, this is really effective and can be really helpful and healing.”

I feel like there’s a big opportunity to educate our community, specifically rural areas, around this. There’s a lot of veterans, first responders and victims of trauma in rural areas that don’t have any idea what I’m talking about.

Your practice provides ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

Patients prepare by connecting with nature, then receive oral ketamine and are guided by the psychotherapist through the hallucinogenic experience. What is that like for the patient?

With psychedelic therapies, for the most part, people are lying down with eye shades on and listening to music, either on headphones or just in the room. In general, you don’t want people moving around, because they can be unstable or unsteady. So it’s a lying-on-thecouch kind of thing. A therapist sits with them, takes notes and is there to guide and make sure the person is safe, and to prompt like an explorer if things come up.

What are the common therapeutic goals for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy?

Treatment-resistant depression is one, as well as anxiety, trauma, life transition, obsessive-compulsive disorder. Improvement in their level of functioning, reduction of symptoms or resolution of those symptoms would be the ultimate goal.

What excites you about the future of clinical research on psychedelics?

The work with MDMA right now is still with adults, 18 and up. I’ve spent most of my career in child and adolescent psychiatry. I am excited to be able to do research with adolescents who have either severe trauma or attachment issues related to adoption and using MDMA to address those issues. I can see preventing years of distress from those issues if you can treat them while they’re still in adolescence.

How do you explain your job to your 8-year-old and 13-year-old?

I talk openly about this, and they’re pretty up to speed on what I do. I think they understand that we’re using new medicines to really help people feel, and feel better.

— Jessica Wakeman X

HEALTH CHECKUP

HEALTH CHECKUP

The power of therapy

Cleansing the heart and mind

Clarissa Donnelly-DeRoven, rural health and Medicaid reporter with North Carolina Health News, says that therapy can be an effective tool for managing mental health. She also encourages the therapy-curious to listen in to real life therapeutic sessions.

What are some techniques you use for maintaining your mental health?

Therapy! I’ve struggled with mental illness my whole life — anxiety, OCD, C-PTSD and some sprinkles of depression. But I didn’t start therapy until I was 21. It was really hard for me to reach out to a therapist. I assumed others had it worse than me and I just needed to toughen up, but it’s been the best choice I’ve ever made. I go once a week for an hour, process what’s going on in my life, cry a bit and then return to the world. I love it. I also take CLARISSA DONNELLYanti-anxiety medicine, and in less clinical practices, DEROVEN I try to do things that make me feel good: embroider, read fiction, stop scrolling and pet my dog.

What is your favorite way to approach your own physical health?

I think a lot of modern life prides us on being out of touch with what our bodies are asking for — we get rewarded for working when we’re sick, for not taking breaks, for being thin even if we’re unhealthy, etc. So, when it comes to my physical health, I’m trying my best to be in touch with what my body wants. For me, this means trying to make exercise and eating vegetables easy parts of my routine. Generally, I go to two exercise classes a week (a spin class and a sort of barre/Pilates fusion situation) and I make green smoothies most afternoons. The routine gives me space to check in with myself and add or take away things as needed.

What is one book, podcast, documentary or article related to mental or physical health that you’d recommend, and why?

I’m going to die on this therapy hill. I recommend the podcast “Where Should We Begin” with Esther Perel. Each episode is a real, one-time couple’s therapy session. You get to know the people in the session — who they are, what they struggle with — and you almost always see parts of yourself reflected back. If you don’t have insurance, can’t afford therapy or just don’t feel ready to start, the podcast is great because it demystifies the therapeutic process. Listening to other people think out and process issues can really help you reframe things in your own life. X

Nicolina Ruiz, a Latina herbalist, energy healer and owner of Casa Alchemista Botanica, tells Xpress that a healthy body begins with a clear mind.

What are some techniques you use for maintaining your mental health?

Cleansing practices are key for maintaining my mental well-being. The pandemic has turned my living space into my office, my workshop, my creative space, my sanctuary to recharge — basically where I do everything. In order to prevent my mental state from getting bogged down from the daily hustle, it’s important that I keep all areas of my life energetically and physically tidy.

As a Latina herbalist, I practice a traditional cleansing ritual used in Mexican curanderismo/ NICOLINA RUIZ folk medicine and other Indigenous cultures called limpia, a Spanish word meaning “to clean.” This practice uses plants, prayers and intentions to clear energetic “junk” from the aura and physical spaces. Some of my favorite herbs for cleansing are rue, rosemary or mugwort as a smudge or in a bath. I also love burning copal resins.

What is your favorite way to approach your own physical health?

I love heading to the water to harmonize my physical body. A couple of my favorite ways to spend time in water is soaking in a hot tub or bath to help melt away tension and stress or taking a plunge under a cold waterfall to reset and invigorate my nervous system.

What is one book, podcast, documentary or article related to mental or physical health that you’d recommend, and why?

I am inspired by the writings of herbalist, educator, author and North Carolina native Lucretia VanDyke who has a soul stirring ability of sharing stories of African American herbalism and healing through honoring the plants with ancestral connection. I am excited to see the culmination of her work and collection of stories come together in her upcoming book, African American Herbalism: A Practical Guide to Healing Plants and Folk Traditions.

“The Art of Forest Bathing” by VanDyke is a beautifully written article about the healing properties of spending time in nature and working with plant medicine to bring about balance holistically in mind, body and spirit from a culturally relevant lens. I love this article because it is a reminder of how spending time in the forests of WNC became the catalyst for deepening my connection with my own health, well-being and what ultimately led me to becoming an herbalist many years ago. X

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HEALTH CHECKUP

Staying active and taking control Antwon Small, a classically trained dancer who moved to Asheville in 2018, speaks with Xpress about meditation, journaling and podcasts.

What are some techniques you use for maintaining your mental health?

Techniques I use for mental health are meditation and journaling. I do my morning meditation and words of affirmation every day to boost my mental health. I also journal my thoughts and feelings.

What is your favorite way to approach your own physical health?

I approach my physical health by staying active.

Every morning I go for a quick run around the neighborhood and have a hearty breakfast. I also make sure I drink a gallon of water a day.

What is one book, podcast, documentary or artiANTWON SMALL cle related to mental or physical health that you’d recommend, and why?

“The Mindset Mentor” is a podcast I love that really promotes direction toward taking control of mental and physical health. It motivates me to be my best self and it gives me a sense of direction. X

HEALTH CHECKUP

Mind, body connection Lisa Lefler, Western Carolina University’s director of culturally based native health programs, tells Xpress that physical health is intrinsically tied to nature, spirit and relationships with others and ourselves.

What are some techniques you use for maintaining your mental health?

Mind and body are connected, just as we are connected to everything around us. I’m reminded by my Kituwah or Cherokee friends who say that tohi, or health, is the ability to walk upright and forward and see with our eyes and hear with our ears what is going on around us. We can appreciate our health by always looking outward toward others and their needs. They LISA LEFLER remind me that tohi comes from being grateful and thinking outward, not inward.

Another Kituwah concept is duyuk’ dv’ I, which is the right way or path, one that reflects balance in all our relationships — with others, with the natural world, with the spirit world and with ourselves. Behaving in a way that is of a human being is living to serve, laugh and enjoy life with gratitude which brings peace of mind and heart. I don’t think these are far from my Appalachian ways of being and knowing as well. Place can be important in healing and in allowing us to be whole.

What is your favorite way to approach your own physical health?

I, like many, work daily to keep check on blood pressure, blood sugar levels, weight and other aspects of physical health. It isn’t easy, and the older we get, we are reminded of our mortality as old athletic injuries or years of hard manual labor are reflected in movement limited by pain or discomfort. So, the way I prefer to address some of these issues is to get outside and let my body and mind be comforted by a walk along the river or through the mountain forests. The beauty of nature is therapeutic and allows for healing in many ways.

What is one book, podcast, documentary or article related to mental or physical health that you’d recommend, and why?

One of my favorite texts, and one I use in some of my classes, is by my good friend Eduardo Duran — Healing The Soul Wound: Counseling With American Indians And Other Native Peoples. Eduardo has worked with Indigenous populations most of his life and has learned through his experiences to value their understanding of becoming whole. I also have learned from my Native friends and colleagues about how trauma impacts us mentally, physically and spiritually, even transferring from one generation to another if not addressed. The new interdisciplinary movement of epigenetics verifies how biology and history/environment intersects in our bodies and can manifest in chronic disease and/or mental health issues. X

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WEL L NESS

Q&A with Henry Begner of Smoky Mountain Counseling Born and raised in Atlanta, Henry Begner still considers himself a city boy. But years ago, after visiting a friend who worked as a whitewater guide in Asheville, Begner was hooked.

“I was not exposed to a lot of wilderness growing up, and I fell in love with everything about river guiding, particularly the community around it,” he says.

While studying philosophy at Georgia State University, Begner spent several summers in Western North Carolina working as a guide and camping along the river. “It became apparent to me that group dynamics were superimportant as a river guide, which gave me insight to human relationships and thinking about connection and psychology,” he explains.

After receiving a master’s degree in transpersonal counseling psychology with a focus in wilderness therapy from Naropa University, Begner worked for an adolescent addiction treatment center just outside Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes, Colo. “I would basically take the kids out on wilderness trips anywhere from seven-21 days a month. We’d do a lot of river stuff, rafting, climbing and backpacking. We’d also volunteer at a local wolf sanctuary and make those connections.”

In 2017, Berger and his wife, Rhianna Appel, relocated to Asheville, where she launched Smoky Mountain Counseling. Berger joined the practice last year. The organization offers outpatient mental health services to individuals, couples and families, as well as wilderness therapy through customized wilderness and adventure programs.

Xpress spoke to Begner about treating anxiety and depression through connection, mindfulness and wilderness therapy.

This interview has been condensed for length and edited for clarity.

What differentiates your practice from conventional therapy?

Our background in mindfulness and in transpersonal psychology is unique. There are a lot of counselors trained in mindfulness and semantic therapies, but these approaches form the core of our training as opposed to being supplementary. The kind of mindfulness meditation we use therapeutically is focused on the connection between the mind and the body. Transpersonal is unique in that it takes into account spirituality and our personal connection to what is sacred as part of our mental health.

IN THE WILD: Henry Begner, who first came to Asheville as a whitewater guide, practices wilderness therapy through Smoky Mountain Counseling. Photo courtesy of Begner Did you see an uptick in requests for therapy during the pandemic?

The pandemic shined a light on mental illness and has really facilitated a lot of growth in the field that was inevitable. Being isolated in lockdown really forces us to look at our mental health. The local therapist community across the board saw a significant rise in the need for mental health services. People were suffering from anxiety, depression and stress.

Do anxiety and depression go hand in hand?

The connection between depression and anxiety is stress. What we have seen is an increase in is stress, which exacerbates symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Connection — whether that is with a therapist, our body, a higher power or in my case with nature — is really the alternative to anxiety, depression and stress. The pandemic created so much disconnection it was not surprising mental and emotional health issues followed.

It has been widely reported that there was also an increase in use of sleep aids, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. Where are you on the use of medication?

The Western medical system is built on treating symptoms, which means you have a disease or a disorder where symptoms present themselves, you go in and attempt to treat

the symptoms, and once these symptoms are alleviated, you’re fixed.

From an Eastern perspective, it becomes more preventive. Instead of alleviating symptoms, we talk about things like balance and homeostasis.

So the approach is a little different in that it’s not necessarily geared toward fixing problems as much as an insight into how we have been affected and impacted by things we go through. Symptoms are the visible manifestation of something. I look to see what underlies those symptoms.

What I am always gauging is “What is within my ability to treat and what is outside my ability to treat?” That is an ongoing discussion with the client. If we come to a place where the therapy and mindfulness and wilderness aren’t helping the client feel as stable as they would like, I am open to referring out to good medication providers I work with who share my philosophy on wellness.

What is the difference between adventure therapy and wilderness therapy?

Adventure therapy is about doing something. It’s about going out and having an experience that in some way, shape or form changes us. A lot of adventure therapy is good for anxiety and depression, but it’s better for things like self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-confidence, motivation — things that overlap and touch on depression and anxiety but not necessarily therapy in the formal sense.

Wilderness therapy is about focusing on connection. Wilderness therapy is not about doing. Sometimes it’s about not doing. A wilderness intervention I utilize with clients is what’s called a sit spot. If we’re working on anxiety and depression, I might say, “I want you to go out in your neigh-

borhood, your community, someplace that is easily accessible, and find a spot in nature. That spot could be a park, an empty lot, a trail you enjoy. I want you to go to that spot at least once every two weeks and sit for at least 30 minutes. You are not to do anything: you’re not going to be on your phone, or journaling and hopefully you’ll not be thinking a lot about the past or future; the point is to focus on just being in relationship to that place.”

Doing so builds a form of intimacy and connectiveness with place.

Wilderness therapy is all about connection. And people are very much in need of connection.

Ideally, I want my clients to explore and identify resources in their lives and ways they can experience connection. A lot of therapy, health and wellness happens not necessarily with a professional but with meaningful relationships in our lives — family, loved ones, friends, nature and animals.

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ARTS & CULTURE

The ties that bind

Local veteran finds purpose through music and friendship

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com Local musician Kevin Rumley understands the challenges veterans face after leaving the armed forces.

“I always tell civilians when I talk about the Marines that it’s all about violence and destruction. It is how to kill another human being,” Rumley says.

“There’s no ‘how to be a good human and love your neighbor’ — any of that.”

Rumley, who was injured in 2004 by an improvised explosive device while serving on the Iraq-Syria border, underwent 32 surgeries over the course of 18 months at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.

Told he would never walk again and in chronic physical pain, he developed an opioid and heroin addiction.

But Rumley defied the odds, getting back on his feet in 2005 and achieving sobriety in 2010. Over the last five years, he’s worked as the program director for the Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court, a rigorous two-year program for veterans facing felony charges.

“Instead of sending vets to prison where nothing changes, we focus on treatment and healing and connection,” Rumley says. “And we help each veteran find what their passion is. If someone asks me what I do, that would be it — helping someone find their passion.”

For Rumley himself, that passion is music, and its role in his journey has proved inspirational to folks in the program, as well as those outside of his work.

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Throughout most of Rumley’s life, drums have been a constant. But along with creating beats, the instrument proved a healing force amid his recovery from surgery. While on a weekend home pass from Walter Reed, his friends helped set up his kit in his parents’ living room and wheeled him over.

“I hadn’t played drums in 2 1/2 years,” Rumley says. “But that was that moment where I was like, ‘Oh! Here it is.’ It was that reconnection, even though I hadn’t experienced it in so long.”

In 2006, Rumley, with those very same friends — Alex Keena, Ricky Powderly and Tim Shull — relocat-

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CIRCLE OF TRUST: From left, Kevin Rumley, Billy Sheeran, Jeremy Boger, Joshua Carpenter and J Seger have been playing music together in various permutations since the mid-1990s. Photo by Counch Mornganton ed to Asheville and formed the rock group Bandazian.

Jeremy Boger, a local bassist, was in attendance at their first local performance.

“I was like, ‘I’ve got to figure out how to get in a band with this guy.

That’s the best drummer I’ve ever seen,’” Boger says. “And the next year, we were in Cobra Horse.”

Boger’s friendship proved essential for Rumley as the drummer dealt with addiction and struggled with unaddressed post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Rumley says Boger played an active role as a constant cheerleader, friend and ally as he sought to escape his destructive cycle.

“I attempted recovery probably eight or nine times, and each time I would get a little further and then I’d backslide. I had a lot of shame and stigma about myself,” Rumley says. “I just had beat myself up so much, and eventually I was in the VA hospital. I was inpatient — just one day at a time.

“And here I am, so many one-days later, having 11-plus years of recovery.

There was no magic bullet. Everything

had to happen as it did, but if a veterans court was there, it probably would have moved things along a lot quicker.”

Rumley adds that, as many people in early recovery from addiction discover, once they begin to change their lifestyle for the positive, many friends fall to the wayside. Different pathways in life emerge, and people grow apart.

“Despite this happening in my life, Jeremy [Boger] was always a constant force of encouragement and support,” he continues. “He never stopped supporting my recovery and keeping me engaged through music. Be it Cobra Horse or just recording with different projects he was working on, Jeremy was always there for me as a friend.”

GARAGE BAND GRATITUDE Cobra Horse disbanded in summer 2011 when Boger moved halfway across the country to pursue a degree in civil engineering from the University of Kansas. But missing music after nearly a decade’s hiatus — during which he completed the KU

program, moved back to Asheville and began work as a general contractor — Boger started writing and recording original solo material. In 2019, he recruited Rumley to play drums. While laying down tracks for Golden Eagles and the Friends and Covers collection in the cozy studio that Boger built in his backyard, he saw how important the camaraderie was for his longtime friend.

“Kevin would come over or we’d go rehearse, and that’s his therapy,” Boger says. “He does therapy [for other people] all day, and then he needs to recharge. He lives in this very binary [professional] world, and then he comes to play music and there’s an infinite variety of options.”

Boger’s latest solo project, The Race to Mars, was released in early January as a digital album. To celebrate the occasion, he, Rumley and bandmates Billy Sheeran, Joshua Carpenter and J Seger are performing at The Grey Eagle on Thursday, Jan. 27.

That night, sales of all three Boger albums, screen-printed concert posters featuring his original artwork and the band’s cut of ticket sales will be donated to the nonprofit Western North Carolina Veterans Treatment Court Foundation, which was formed in 2018 to fill the gaps for needs not being met by county funding.

“I thought I could give the money to [the foundation], because I’ve seen what it’s done for Kevin, and I know what it’s doing for other people,” Boger says. “I think I was just wanting to say thanks to Kevin for being awesome for so many years.”

Rumley is immensely thankful for what he feels is a “selfless” act from his friend and emphasizes the program’s benefits to those who have served the country but have experienced difficult times readjusting to civilian life.

Stable housing, employment, health care through the VA system, being reunited with their children and having a sense of purpose are among the opportunities the program provides.

In tandem with producing positive results, it’s also cost-effective.

According to Rumley, $1,500 puts a veteran through the entire program, compared with nearly $80,000 to send them to prison for the same duration. Buncombe County and the Governor’s Crime Commission provide funding for 30 participants at a time, but the foundation helps make an even greater difference.

“This includes housing support for homeless veterans, food, transportation, dental, mental health and more,” Rumley says. “The nonprofit arm supports all justice-involved veterans in Western North Carolina, not just those in the VTC.” Along with funds raised from The Grey Eagle show, Boger will continue to donate sales to the foundation from all three of his albums through the end of January. And for community members who can pony up $1,500 to put a veteran through the program, Boger, Rumley and their bandmates will record a cover song of the donor’s choosing. In turn, the cycle of friendship and support will continue with music as its guiding force.

“I love this idea that you can only give from your overflow. You can’t give from your reserves, and if I didn’t have music and I didn’t have all those outlets, I’d be depleted,” Rumley says.

“It’s energizing to play music together live, and it’s energizing to listen to the album.” X

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ARTS & C U L T U R E

BEER

Cheers?

BY KAY WEST kwest@mountainx.com

When it comes to adult socializing, much of it is done with an alcoholic beverage in hand. Which is why many people in recovery, or those who simply abstain from alcohol, often avoid meeting friends at bars, breweries and clubs. But for individuals in the hospitality industry who live a sober lifestyle, it’s more complicated due to the very nature of their workplace.

Andrew McLeod, executive chef at Avenue M, recalls the steps he took when he first committed to sobriety five years ago. “I had to leave the restaurant job I was in and not see any of those people for a good stretch of time during those first couple of months,” he explains. “The hospitality industry and alcohol are really intertwined — people celebrating a successful day together, buying each other drinks and decompressing at the end of a

The rise of craft-styled nonalcoholic beer offer alternatives and risks for those in recovery shift. That ritual was part of my life for years, so that had to be part of the separation for me.”

Cookie Hadley, executive chef at RosaBees, has been in the industry for 30 years and clean for the last 20. “When I started cooking, professional kitchens were very much the Anthony Bourdain model: a motley crew of pirates — that was real,” he says. “I got clean four months before my daughter was born; she was definitely a motivator. I came to work, did my job and went home.

Especially once I started taking on higher chef positions, it didn’t serve me to go out with the crew every night.”

Instead, he sought out “hellions,” albeit sober ones, who shared his love of concerts and outdoor activities. “I felt safe in those environments that used to be accompanied by drugs and drinking, because I was surrounded by people who were also abstaining.”

Still, the decision for many in the food and beverage industry to forgo alcohol poses challenges when it comes to socializing. For some, the recent boom in the nonalcoholic beer industry, which began in earnest in 2018 with the launch of Athletic Brewing Co., provides a tasteful way to participate in a beer-saturated city.

But for others, the new nonalcoholic brews and their near identical taste to the real thing are viewed as too tempting to try.

MIXED BAG Xpress posed the question about the role of nonalcoholic beer for those in recovery on a local hospi-

2022

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tality member Facebook group. The responses varied. One participant, for example, wrote, “Nonalcoholic beer is for nonalcoholics. I’m a proud member of AA, and NA beer is a slippery slope.” Another replied: “I’m in active recovery and love my NA beer. I keep a close eye on myself as to WHY I’m choosing to drink one.”

Having been sober for 20 years, Hadley notes that he missed a significant part of the craft beer revolution. Still, he appreciates the taste

of a good brew and will occasionally indulge in a nonalcoholic round.

These outings go especially well with his penchant for cigars, though he admits the concept and taste of these beverages sometimes rub him the wrong way. “I still find a little bit of weirdness to nonalcoholic beer,” he says. “Though there are some good ones.”

Don Paleno, chef and co-owner of DJ’s Pickles, has been sober for two years, after a 20-year stint as a self-described “functioning alcoholic.” He opts for nonalcoholic beer primarily for social purposes.

“When I go out with friends and family — all three of my sisters are huge beer drinkers — I may partake in a nonalcoholic beer,” he says. “I like the taste, and it helps me fit in with the drinkers. It doesn’t trigger me, though that is not the case for all recovering alcoholics.”

Renee Minx, clinical director at Oasis Recovery Center in Asheville, which provides outpatient substance abuse treatment and community care housing, cautions against the use of nonalcoholic beer by people trying to maintain sobriety for that very reason.

“I know many people in recovery enjoy the nonalcoholic ginger beers, but I would be concerned with the newer nonalcoholic beers,” she says. “The way the brain works with addiction, my concern with a beverage that tastes, looks and is named like beer — that is basically beer except no alcohol — is that it could be a trigger to drink beer with alcohol. In my professional opinion, I don’t think it’s the safest option.”

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SOBER LIVING: Cookie Hadley, executive chef at Rosabees, enjoys an occasional nonalcoholic beer but admits it’s not a choice for everyone in recovery. Photo by Marisel Vicente

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ARTS & CU L T U R E McLeod, who along with his role at Avenue M is also a lead organizer of the Asheville branch of Ben’s Friends (a support group for members of the hospitality industry in recovery), says the subject often comes up at meetings.

“Usually, it’s a person newly in recovery who will ask if people find nonalcoholic beer beneficial or worth trying,” he explains. “If those are the questions, you probably know the answer. You’re looking for somebody else to validate you and help you feel less scared about doing something you know is probably not a good idea. Which isn’t to say it might not be a good idea somewhere down the road. There is a person in the group who has a good relationship with nonalcoholic beer.”

PRO CHOICE For two local entrepreneurs, sobriety and socializing should not be mutually exclusive.

Jason Pedrick, who moved to Asheville in March 2020, has been sober since 2011.

“I moved to New York City about six months into my sobriety, and it turned out to be pretty impossible to make friends without going to bars,” he remembers. “When I would tell my colleagues I didn’t drink, they’d look at me differently. Back then, there was no nonalcoholic beer except O’Douls, and you feel like a child drinking soda in a bar.”

Meanwhile, Ron George, a bartender in Asheville for nearly a decade, says he loves the craft of what he does but also sees the downside of alcohol. Two years ago, he stopped drinking, following the birth of his first child.

Creating options for those living sober lifestyles is what both Pedrick and George want to bring to Asheville.

George, who continues to tend bar part time, is currently in the development phase of a new business, Edge Bar, which he intends to open by the end of the year.

With his sights set on a location in either West Asheville or the River Arts District, his hope is to create a safe, fun, welcoming space for those seeking a place to socialize without alcohol.

“I would like to go to a bar and have a couple of [nonalcoholic] cocktails or beers and not get inebriated or be surrounded by people who are,” he says. “That is the inspiration for Edge: to create a space you can come, socialize and drink nonalcoholic adult beverages. There is no place to do that in Asheville, especially late night, that does not also serve alcohol or that is not a coffee shop.”

Pedrick, on the other hand, is taking a broader view. He is in the process of opening NoLo bottle shop in the River Arts District, which will carry exclusively nonalcoholic beer, wine and spirits.

Currently, his products are available online.

“My ultimate goal for NoLo is to provide the means to allow every restaurant, hotel, bar, music club and venue where alcohol is served in Asheville to have more than cucumber water and Diet Cokes,” he says. “To provide choices for people who want to go out and enjoy adult beverages without the alcohol and socialize with people who do drink — that is my goal.”

A recent pop-up he and George partnered in at Uncommon Market was encouraging for both.

“We did over $3,000 in sales,” Pedrick says. “We did a mix of nonalcoholic craft cocktails that Ron made and retail bottles of nonalcoholic wine, beer and spirits. The overwhelming response from locals and tourists we talked to was that this is an alternative people want.” X

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AR T S & C UL TU R E

FOOD ROUNDUP

What’s new in food

900 Degreez Artisan Pizza heats things up in Asheville

SIZZLING HOT: Drew and Anne Soifer, owners of 900 Degreez Artisan Pizza, are heating up the Asheville pizza scene with a food truck unlike any other in town. Photo by Blake Becker There’s a new food truck in town, and it looks noticeably different from the others. A shipping container with an entire wall of glass siding stacked atop the bed of a 17-ton Freightliner, 900 Degreez Artisan Pizza serves 12-inch personal pies from a wood-fired brick oven.

Previously based in Orlando, Fla., owners Drew and Anne Soifer first launched the company in 2013. But over the last two years, following the birth of their son and amid the onset of the pandemic, the husband-andwife team put the business on hold.

Asheville’s food culture, however, inspired the culinary couple to reignite the oven and haul the shipping container to the mountains.

The business’s unique setup, notes Drew, was no accident. “When we first opened around nine years ago, food trucks were just starting to take off,” he explains. “We wanted to design something unique where nothing was hidden from view. I had seen some homes that were made out of shipping containers, so I thought why not put a kitchen in one?”

Though his background is in bread, Drew pivoted to pizza once he discovered just how fast wood-fired ovens could crank out a pie. “I started making pizza while waiting for a 38

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new bread-making position to open up and I remember thinking, ‘You mean to tell me I can make a pizza in 90 seconds?’ Bread takes two days. It was a no-brainer,” he says.

And fortunately, Drew continues, the community response has been positive. “Asheville really seems to get behind their local businesses,” he says. “I could feel that even after just our first week. To feed others and see that they’re happy and appreciative … it’s a real sense of satisfaction.”

900 Degreez Artisan Pizza is parked at 20 Stoner Road, near Biltmore Village. Hours are TuesdaySaturday, 4-8 p.m. For information on menu items, including weekly specials, visit avl.mx/b44.

Oyster roast For seafood fans eager to warm up during these cold winter months, Echo Mountain Inn plans to bring a taste of the coast up to the mountains with its second annual oyster roast on Saturday, Jan. 29, 5-8 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person and include allyou-can-eat oysters, supplied by the Charleston Oyster Farm, hush puppies, and cornbread; beer and wine will also be available for purchase.

Live music will be played throughout the event. And a large tent with tables and heaters will cover the dining area, just in case the roast’s billowing flames aren’t enough to warm guests.

Echo Mountain Inn is at 2849 Laurel Park Highway, Laurel Park.

To purchase tickets, visit avl.mx/b48.

DIY food dehydration Dehydrated backpack meals are a perfect way to restore all those calories burned amid a hike, but the price of these tasty trail treats is continuously on the rise. For those interested in cutting costs and trying a hand at their own dehydration experimentation, the Blue Ridge Hiking Co. and instructor Nancy East, a Southern Appalachian Naturalist, will host a special two-hour workshop exploring do-it-yourself food dehydration on Sunday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. East will be diving deeply into the kitchen tools participants will need to get started, the foods most suitable for dehydration and proper storing techniques.

She’ll even be bringing a few of her favorite homemade samples for participants to enjoy as well.

The workshop takes place at Blue Ridge Hiking Co., 70 College St.

Tickets are $70 per person. For more details, visit avl.mx/b49.

Blue 42, set, hike!

On Thursday, Jan. 27, at 5:30 p.m., Metro Wines will present Hope Chest for Women, a local nonprofit organization providing financial assistance to women battling breast cancer, with a check for nearly $8,000 as part of the Metro Wines Fantasy Football for Charity fundraiser, co-sponsored

by Ken Nelson of Blue Delta Energy.

Valeri Eidson, a team manager for the nonprofit, represented the organization in this year’s fantasy football competition.

“Hope Chest for Women is humbled and honored to be the recipient of this generous donation,” says Debby Burchfield, the organization’s director.

The check presentation will take place at Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte St. For more information about Hope Chest for Women, visit avl.mx/b46.

Lucky N0. 3 Itto Ramen Bar & Tapas owner Tony Lin recently opened his business’s third location at 335 Airport Road in Arden, joining the original space at 630 Haywood Road in West Asheville and the 3 Biltmore Ave. extension, which opened downtown in 2020.

“I’ve been here for over 16 years and have always felt a sense of community,” Lin says. “I’m excited to continue providing traditional ramen and tapas dishes to even more of our community with our new location.”

For more information, including hours and menu options, visit avl.mx/b45.

Forestry Camp reopens Burial Beer’s Forestry Camp location will reopen Friday, Feb. 4, after taking much of January off to “pause with a renewed vision,” the bar and restaurant announced earlier this month on its website and social media platforms. Diners can expect new seasonal menu items,

new cocktails and the launch of its latest offerings from Visuals — the brewery’s wine, cider and vermouth line. Continued conversation with customers and internal feedback from Burial’s management and crew helped pave way for this decision to “fully embrace a new Burial Beer experience at our Forestry Camp property,” the announcement states.

For more information, visit avl.mx/5sc.

Zadie’s Market Supper Club Zadie’s Market will host its inaugural supper club Thursday, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m. The gathering adds a new facet to Zadie’s vision of connecting shoppers with local farmers. “This showcase really combines everything Zadie’s Market and the Old Marshall Jail have to offer,” says co-owner Emily Copus in a press release. “It’s history, craftsmanship, and culinary vision coming together to create something new in this destination on the banks of the French Broad River.”

Tickets are $150 per person and include a Normandy Farmhousethemed five-course meal prepared by award-winning chef Ronnie Collins. The evening also includes wine pairings as well as an intimate tour of the recently renovated Old Marshall Jail.

Zadie’s Market is at 62 S. Main St., Marshall. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 48 hours before the event is required to attend. For more, visit avl.mx/8jh.

Where the cookie crumbles

field guide

Asheville to

Cheers to a better New Year from your friends at Smoky Park

Crumbl Cookies lands in Asheville on Friday, Jan. 28. With over 170 original cookie recipes, Crumbl has opened over 300 new bakeries across 42 states since the family-owned business’s founding in 2017. Sweettooth fanatics will find the sugary treats at 5 Westgate Parkway in the Westgate Shopping Center.

For store hours and the latest cookie offerings, visit avl.mx/b4a.

— Blake Becker X

SMOKYPARK.COM

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Asheville artists bring signs of hope to former Vance Monument site

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NEW PERSPECTIVE: Casey Vandergrift was among several Asheville artists who created murals to display at the base of the former Vance Monument to encourage love, unity, hope and community. Photo by Vandergrift The former Vance Monument has long been a source of conflict among area residents. Prior to being dismantled last year, many in the community viewed it as a symbol of hate, due to the racist views promulgated

by Zebulon Vance, the Buncombe County native, former governor and white supremacist whom the obelisk honored.

With ongoing litigation over the ultimate fate of the Vance Monument, the column’s granite base remains intact at Pack Square. In response, a group of Asheville artists recently reimagined the space, hanging a series of murals around it with positive messages such as “2022 Our Dreams Come True.”

The display, however, did not last long. Just as the artists finished screwing in the final mural on Jan. 7, an Asheville city employee approached and informed them that they would have to take the pieces down due to the continuing legal dispute.

But according to participating artist Casey Vandergrift, she and her fellow creatives Dave and Amanda Anderson, Ernesto Borges and Tyler Ladd are in talks with the city about getting the murals back up as part of a public art program.

Though no decision has been made by officials, Vandergrift remains hopeful. “The controversy of this display in the middle of downtown

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made it a perfect place to display artwork that encourages love, unity, hope and community,” she says.

Welcome to ARTSVILLE ARTSVILLE Collective, a joint partnership of Sand Hill Artists Collective and Crewest Studios/LA, is now open to the public at Marquee in the River Arts District.

The gallery, Booth D-11 at Marquee, features pop animation from artist Daryl Slaton and mixed media from Louise Glickman. It will also welcome three carefully curated guest artists each quarter, Glickman says.

ARTSVILLE will host small gatherings and discussions on art, architecture and film, and sponsor a podcast series featuring interviews with artists in the River Arts District.

“Bringing ARTSVILLE Collective to Marquee is very exciting, allowing us to have both gallery and meeting space in one safe and lively venue,” Glickman says. “Anyone coming here in the next few months can view all kinds of art and craft in a warm, inviting space.”

Among Slaton’s work at the gallery will be images of his newest character, Gallagher, a tiger cub inspired by 1930s cartoons and 1950s comic

books. “In many ways, Gallagher is an extension of the artist, a caring and trusting character, pure of heart but also a risk-taker,” Glickman says.

Marquee is at 36 Foundy St. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, go to avl.mx/b4e.

Looking for a sign The Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center will offer the workshop Planting by the Signs in Appalachia on Saturday, Jan. 29, 1-3 p.m. The Zoom event is one of three winter workshops held by the museum.

The session will examine the history of planting crops by the astrological signs in Appalachia. It will look at how the practice migrated to and fully blossomed in the region, and how people can employ the ancient gardening technique themselves.

“Though antiquated, this interesting historical practice held sway, and still does, throughout the mountain South,” the museum says in a press release.

The workshop will be taught by Rebecca Beyer, who writes about and researches Appalachian folk magic, traditional witchcraft, prim-

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ARTS & CU L T U R E itive skills, homesteading, foraging and more.

Tickets are $10-$15. Participants will receive an informative PDF from the instructor. To register, go to avl.mx/b4f.

Spring forward The Asheville Gallery of Art’s February show, Time for Renewal, will run Tuesday, Feb. 1-Monday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. The show will feature works by three new gallery members: Kathy Goodson, Margie Kluska and Johnnie Stanfield. An event to meet the artists will be held at the gallery on Friday, Feb. 4, 5-8 p.m.

“This show represents a seasonal reset,” the gallery says in a press release. “What is to come will be better. We have had our time to pause, and now it is time to refresh.

For the earth, this is spring, a time for new growth. In February, the light begins to change, and shadows shift. Underlying it all is the promise of our renewal.”

The Asheville Gallery of Art is at 82 Patton Ave. For more information, go to avl.mx/b4g.

Barn raising The Appalachian Barn Alliance was established in January 2012 when a group of community members met to brainstorm how to preserve local agricultural heritage for future generations.

The effort began modestly with the idea of documenting local historic barns and placing that information on a website. Over the last decade, it has grown to the point where the alliance has a relationship with the town of Mars Hill to restore and maintain barns on the Smith Farm Heritage Farmstead at the Bailey Mountain Preserve.

The Appalachian Barn Alliance will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a drop-in open house on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 5-7 p.m., at the Cooperative Extension Office, 258 Carolina Lane in Marshall. Also part of the anniversary commemorations will be a campaign to raise money to restore a second barn on the Smith Farm to be part of a public park.

Organizers are asking for donations of $10 or more. To donate, send a check to ABA, P.O. Box 1441, Mars Hill, NC 28754 or visit avl.mx/94b.

Library love Shamella Cromartie, associate dean of library services at Western

Carolina University, is a winner of this year’s I Love My Librarian Award from the American Library Association. She was selected from more than 1,300 nominations from library users across the country.

“Cromartie has centered equity, diversity and inclusion in her programming and service efforts at Western Carolina University, notably in her development and implementation of the library’s Faculty Fellows program,” the ALA says in a statement. “Designed using a competitive application process, the program coaches faculty members in employing inclusive pedagogy in their courses through continuous learning and revision to their approach to teaching, and rewards successful applicants with a stipend for their work and funding for inclusive classroom materials.”

Cromartie and this year’s nine other honorees will each receive a $5,000 cash prize, a $750 donation to their library and complimentary registration to ALA’s LibLearnX. The virtual award ceremony will take place during the conference on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 2:30 p.m., and will be available to stream live at avl.mx/b4h.

— Justin McGuire X

MOVIE REVIEWS Local reviewers’ critiques of new films include: PARALLEL MOTHERS: The latest stunner from Pedro Almodóvar applies his usual distinct style of soap-opera entertainment to an engrossing tale of two women whose lives become intertwined.

It might be his best collaboration yet with star and frequent muse Penélope Cruz. Grade: A-minus —Edwin Arnaudin

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CHEERS TO THE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES!

Happy New Year!

FLEE: Director Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s documentary about the intense trauma experienced by his friend, Afghan refugee Amin Nawabi, is a tough but rewarding sit that’s made significantly more palatable thanks to beautiful animation.

Grade: A-minus — Melissa Myers

Voted one of the BEST OF WNC for 16 years in a row.

Thank you!

Find full reviews and local film info at ashevillemovies.com patreon.com/ashevillemovies

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The featured icon indicates which venues or artists require proof of vaccination for upcoming shows. Due to the evolving nature of the matter, the list may not be comprehensive.

Before heading out, please check with all venues for complete information on any vaccine or negative COVID-19 requirements.

For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm 185 KING STREET Trivia Night, 7pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Asheville's Best Karaoke, 8pm ARCHETYPE TAP LOUNGE + VENUE Locals Night, 4pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Beauty Parlor Comedy: Carlos Valenciak 7pm • Aquanet Goth Partyk 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand Up Comedy (open mic), 8pm BIG PILLOW BREWING Live Music Wednesdays, 6pm CASCADE LOUNGE Wednesday Bluegrass Jam, 5pm

ICONIC KITCHEN & DRINKS Marc Keller (acoustic), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 An Evening with Nellie McKay (singer-songwriter)k 7:30pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm ONE WORLD BREWING Pingo: Pop Culture Trivia Bingo, 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Latin Night Wednesdays, 7pm RENDEZVOUS Albi (vintage jazz), 6pm SILVERADOS Open Mic, 7pm SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jason DeCristafaro's Weekly Wednesday Jazz Night & Jam, 5:30pm

CITIZEN VINYL Open Folk, 6pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

FLEETWOOD'S Terraoke! Karaoke w/KJ Terra Ware, 6pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Open Mic Hosted by Kid Billy, 8pm

HI-WIRE BREWING BIG TOP Free Weekly Trivia Night, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE Ryley Walker (singer-songwriter)k 8pm

HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Well Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith (singer-songwriter), 6pm

TRISKELION BREWING CO. TriskaTrivia, 7pm TURGUA BREWING CO Trivia Night w/Pub Trivia Nerds, 6pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 7pm

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27 131 MAIN Aaron LaFalce (soul, rock, pop), 6pm 185 KING STREET Keturah Allgood & Friends (Americana), 7pm 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Open Mic w/Lincoln, 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Classic Beauties Drag Showk 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Dirty Logic: A Tribute To Steely Dan, 9pm ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO. GameRoom Standup Comedy Show, 7:30pm BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm DOUBLE CROWN Gospel Night w/ Provisionk 9pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Gluten-Free Comedy (open mic), 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Drag Music Bingo w/ Divine the Bearded Lady, 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Asheville Sessions w/ Reggie Headen (soul, funk, jazz), 7:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Josh Dunkin (acoustic), 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Matt Waters & The Recipe (acoustic, soul, songwriter), 7pm

A LAUGHING MATTER: Kansas City-based comedian Aaron Naylor will do a stand-up show at Asheville Beauty Academy on Saturday, Jan. 29, 7-9 p.m. Naylor has performed at the San Francisco Sketchfest, 10,000 Laughs and other festivals and was named best local comic of 2021 by Kansas City Magazine. Photo courtesy of Aaron Naylor OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Trivia Night w/Nick Pearl, 6pm POLANCO RESTAURANT SENSE - DJs and Dancing, Presented by AMG Late Nights, 9pm THE 2ND ACT Russ Wilson & The 2nd Act Orchestra (swing), 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Karaoke Jackazz, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Jeremy Boger and The Golden Eagles (rock) k 8pm THE ODDITORIUM Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 8pm THE ORANGE PEEL Railroad Earth (Americana)k 8pm

TRISKELION BREWING CO. Jason's Krazy Karaoke, 6:30pm

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 185 KING STREET The Get Right Band (psychedelic indie rock), 8pm AMERICAN VINYL CO. Slow Packer & Nostalgianoid (rock)k 7pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Duffrey, Somatoast, Pathwey, Trinity Justice & Druid (dance, electronica), 9pm BREWSKIES Karaoke, 10pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. Mike Pauer (folk, Americana), 7pm FLEETWOOD'S Dark Prophet Tongueless Monk, Sleep Number, & Matty Garau (experimental), 8pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Doctor Delia (old-time new-time), 7pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Rainbow Girls (rock, folk, funk)k 7pm • Bluegrass w/Kristy Cox, 8:30pm

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SALVAGE STATION Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band w/DJ set

by Dr Ock and Goldenbeats (funk)k 8pm SILVERADOS Contagious (rock), 9pm Karaoke w/DJ Steph, 9pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Getaway Comedy: Max Fine, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE El Ten Eleven w/Sego (rock)k 9pm THE ODDITORIUM Perversions (play party) k 8pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Sly Sparrow (rock, pop), 7pm WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT Andrew Thelston (rock, blues, folk), 7pm

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29 185 KING STREET Skunk Ruckus w/Call the Next Witness (hillbilly gutrock), 8pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Asheville's Best Karaoke, 8pm ARCHETYPE TAP LOUNGE + VENUE The AVL Jazz Workshop, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB The Utility Players (blues, funk, rock, country), 8pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Beauty Parlor Comedy: Aaron Naylor, 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Wyatt Espalin (Americana), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Supatight w/Random (funk, indie soul), 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Guided by Pigs (jam), 7pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah's Daydream (gypsy jazz), 5:30pm

BREWSKIES Pool Tournament Saturdays, 7pm

ARCHETYPE TAP LOUNGE + VENUE Trivia Sundays, 4:30pm

BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Marc Keller (acoustic), 2pm

BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Roots and Dore (roots), 2pm

BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS CHIMNEY ROCK Roots and Dore (roots), 2pm

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Soul Jazz Sundays w/ Taylor Pierson Trio, 3pm

CITIZEN VINYL Saturday Spins, 1pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. The Bucket List (classic rock, R&B), 7pm GUIDON BREWING Laurel Mountain Duo (acoustic), 5pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. • Putts and Pints, 1pm • Pimps of Pompe (pop, hip-hop)k 7pm HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Ben Phantom (singer-songwriter), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 An Evening of Lynyrd Skynyrd w/The Artimus Pyle Band (Southern rock), 8:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Supper Break (bluegrass), 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Sly Sparrow (rock, pop), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Lady Couch (rock, jam), 8pm

HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Blues and Brews w/ Hollywood Johnny Cosgrove, 1pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Bluegrass w/the Mike Mitchell Band, 7:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Brunch w/ Supper Break, 12pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Sunday Jazz Jam w/The Fully Vaccinated Jazz Trio, 1pm SALVAGE STATION Red Wanting Blue w/ Jon Tyler & His Virginia Choir & Meaghan Farrell (rock)k 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Justin Golan & Patrick Duffy's Piano Comedy Tourk 7pm

MONDAY, JANUARY 31

OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Marc Higgins w/Don McGraw & Wilson Warren (rock), 2pm

DOUBLE CROWN Country Karaoke, 10pm

SUNNY POINT CAFÉ Albi (vintage jazz), 6pm THE 2ND ACT Seth Brand (acoustic), 6:30pm THE GREY EAGLE Ward Davis w/Ricky Valido (singer/songwriter, country)k 9pm THE ORANGE PEEL Town Mountain (bluegrass)k 8pm THE POE HOUSE Josh Dunkin (pop'n'roll), 7pm WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT DJ Molly Parti, 7pm

SUNDAY, JANUARY 30 185 KING STREET Open Electric Jam w/the King Street House Band ft. Howie Johnson, 5pm

HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Aunt Vicki (retro rock, folk), 6pm MILLS RIVER BREWING Trivia Night, 6pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Grateful Family Band Tuesdays, 6pm UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY BREVARD Games & Grub, 5:30pm

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 185 KING STREET Trivia Night, 7pm ARCHETYPE TAP LOUNGE + VENUE Locals Night, 4pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Queer Comedy Party: Storhm Artistek 7pm • Aquanet Goth Partyk 9pm

CASCADE LOUNGE Wednesday Bluegrass Jam, 5pm HI-WIRE BREWING BIG TOP Free Weekly Trivia Night, 7pm HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Well Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith (singer-songwriter), 6pm ICONIC KITCHEN & DRINKS Marc Keller (acoustic), 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Latin Night Wednesdays, 7pm RENDEZVOUS Albi (vintage jazz), 6pm SILVERADOS Open Mic, 7pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Open Mic Hosted by Kid Billy, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE The Weather Station w/ Cassandra Jenkins (folk) k 8pm THE ODDITORIUM Bumpin' Uglies Presents Stay Golden: A Tribute to Betty White, 8pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. TriskaTrivia, 7pm

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3 12 BONES BREWERY Musical Bingo w/DJ Bar-One, 7pm 131 MAIN Aaron LaFalce (soul, rock, pop), 6pm 185 KING STREET Redd (Americana, folk), 7pm 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Classic Beauties Drag Showk 9pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Gluten-Free Comedy Open Mic, 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Drag Music Bingo w/ Divine the Bearded Lady, 6pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Carrie Morrison (singer-songwriter), 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Mike Dillon & Punkadelick w/Brian Haas & Rory Dolan (punk-jazz, jam), 8pm OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Trivia Night w/Nick Pearl, 6pm POLANCO RESTAURANT Sense: DJs and Dancing, 9pm THE 2ND ACT The John Henry’s (Gypsy jazz), 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Karaoke Jackazz, 8pm THE ORANGE PEEL Gaelic Storm (Celtic) k 9pm THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM Fortune Feimster (comedy), 8pm

BREWSKIES Open Jam w/Tall Paul, 7:30pm CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Musicians in the Round, 6pm

SALVAGE STATION Red Clay Likes Brass (funk, rock, soul)k 8:00PM

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand Up Comedy (open mic), 8pm

5 WALNUT WINE BAR Freshen Up Comedy Showcase, 7pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Town Mountain (bluegrass, Americana) k 8pm

POLANCO RESTAURANT Sauxe on Saturdays: Djs and Dancing, 9pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Drag Bingo w/Calcuttak 8pm Downtown Karaoke w/ Ganymedek 9pm

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Totally Rad Trivia w/ Mitch Fortune, 6pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7pm LITTLE JUMBO Jay Sanders' Sinfonietta (jazz)k 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Monday Mashup, 7pm SILVERADOS 8 Ball Tournament, 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Trivia by the River w/ James Harrod, 8pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7pm

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 185 KING STREET Tuesday Casual Collaborations w/Andy Buckner and Friends, 6pm 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm

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FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): Author Helen Hunt Jackson said that one component of happiness is “a little less time than you want.” Why? Because you always “have so many things you want to see, to have, and to do” and “no day is quite long enough for all you would like to get done before you go to bed.” I propose you experiment with this definition in the coming weeks. According to my astrological analysis, you will have even more interesting assignments and challenges than usual — as well as a brimming vitality that will make it possible for you to accomplish many but not all of them. Your happiness should be abundant!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Born under the sign of Taurus, Dame Ethel Smyth (1858–1944) had considerable skills as a composer of music, an athlete, an author, a passionate lover and an activist working for women’s rights. She was successful in all of them. I propose we make her one of your role models for the coming months. Why? First, because she did more than one thing really well, and you are now primed to enhance your versatility, flexibility and adaptability. Second, because she described a formula for high achievement that would suit you well. She said, “Night after night I went to sleep murmuring, ’Tomorrow I will be easy, strong, quick, supple, accurate, dashing and self-controlled all at once!’” (PS: I suggest you make “supple” your word of power in 2022.)

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): According to author Olivia Dresher, “Feelings want to be free. Thoughts want to be right.” Well, then, what about intuitions? In a sense, they’re hybrids of feelings and thoughts. They’re a way of knowing that transcends both feelings and thoughts. When intuitions come from the clear-seeing part of your deep psyche rather than the fear-prone part of your conditioning, they are sweet and fun and accurate and humble and brisk and pure. They don’t “want” to be anything. I’m pleased to inform you, Gemini, that in the coming weeks, your intuitions will be working at peak efficiency. It should be relatively easy for you to distinguish between the clear-seeing and fear-prone modes of intuition.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “If you are going to do something wrong, at least enjoy it,” wrote humorist Leo Rosten. I offer his counsel to you right now because I want you to have fun if you wander away from your usual upstanding behavior.

But may I make a suggestion? As you depart from normal, boring niceness, please remain honorable and righteous. What I’m envisioning for you are experiments that are disruptive in healthy ways, and dares that stir up interesting problems, and rebellious explorations that inspire beauty and truth. They’ll be “wrong” only in the sense of being mutinies against static, even stagnant, situations that should indeed be prodded and pricked. Remember Bob Dylan’s idea: “To live outside the law, you must be honest.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo actor Anna Kendrick bragged, “I’m so humble it’s crazy. I’m like the Kanye West of humility.” I’d like to see you adopt that extravagant approach to expressing your magnificence in the coming weeks. I hope you’ll add another perspective to your repertoire, too — this one from Leo actor Mae West. She exulted, “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!” Here’s one further attitude I encourage you to incorporate, courtesy of Leo author Rachel Pollack: “To learn to play seriously is one of the great secrets of spiritual exploration.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–1990) was multi-talented: an actor, singer, comedian and dancer. One critic described him as “the greatest entertainer ever to grace a stage.” He didn’t think highly of his own physical appearance, however. “I know I’m dreadfully ugly,” Davis said, “one of the ugliest men you could meet. But ugliness, like beauty, is something you must learn how to use.” That’s an interesting lesson to meditate on. I think

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it’s true that each of us has rough, awkward, irregular aspects — if not in our physical appearance, then in our psyches. And yet, as Davis suggested, we can learn to not just tolerate those qualities, but use them to our advantage.

Now is a favorable time for you to do that.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “It is the nature of love to work in a thousand different ways,” wrote the mystic Saint Teresa of Ávila. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you’re due to discover new and different ways to wield your love magic — in addition to the many you already know and use. For best results, you’ll have to be willing to depart from old reliable methods for expressing care and tenderness and nurturing. You must be willing to experiment with fresh approaches that may require you to stretch yourself. Sounds like fun to me!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “If you are drilling for water, it’s better to drill one 60-foot well than 10 six-foot wells,” advised author and religious scholar Huston Smith. He was using well-drilling as a metaphor, of course —as a symbol for solving a problem, for example, or developing a spiritual practice, or formulating an approach to psychological healing. The metaphor might not be perfectly applicable for everyone in every situation. But I believe it is vividly apropos for you and your current situations.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A well-worn proverb tells us, “All good things come to those who wait.” There’s a variation, whose author is unknown (although it’s often misattributed to Abraham Lincoln): “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left behind by those who hustle.” I think that’s far more useful advice for you in the coming weeks.

I’d much rather see you hustle than wait.

Here’s a third variant, which may be the best counsel of all. It’s by author Holly Woodward: “All good things come to those who bait.”

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Author Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote, “To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization.” I agree, which is why I authorize you to add “Saint” to the front of your name in the coming weeks. There’s an excellent chance you will fit the description Stowe articulated. You’ll be at the peak of your power to elevate the daily rhythm into a stream of subtle marvels. You’ll be quietly heroic. If you’re not fond of the designation “Saint,” you could use the Muslim equivalent term, “Wali,” the Jewish “Tzadik,” Buddhist “Arhat,” or Hindu “Swami.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Since the iconoclastic planet Uranus is a chief symbol for the Aquarian tribe, you people are more likely to be dissenters and mavericks and questioners than all the other signs. That doesn’t mean your departures from orthodoxy are always successful or popular. Sometimes you meet resistance from the status quo. Having offered that caveat, I’m happy to announce that in the coming weeks, your unique offerings are more likely than usual to be effective. For inspiration, read these observations by author Kristine Kathryn Rusch: “Rebels learn the rules better than the rule-makers do.

Rebels learn where the holes are, where the rules can best be breached. Become an expert at the rules. Then break them with creativity and style.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean author Juansen Dizon tells us, “Don’t find yourself in places where people have it all figured out.”

That’s always good advice, but it will be especially germane for you in the coming weeks and months.

You need the catalytic stimulation that comes from associating with curious, open-minded folks who are committed to the high art of not being know-it-alls. The influences you surround yourself with will be key in your efforts to learn new information and master new skills. And that will be an essential assignment for you throughout 2022.

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SALES/ MARKETING

SALES PROFESSIONAL Mountain Xpress is looking to add a new member to our sales team. This is a full-time position with benefits. Ideal candidates are personable, organized, motivated, and can present confidently, while working within a structure.

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RESTAURANT/ FOOD $2,000 SIGN-ON BONUS BISTRO & KITCHEN TEAM MEMBERS Dining Team Members $2000 Sign-On Bonus 0136 Deerfield Bistro & Cafe. Start a new career with a 5 Star Retirement Community. $2000 Sign-On Bonus Paid out in increments over the first six months.

Starting Pay $14.00 for Bistro Servers, Cafe Attendants, Cooks, Dishwasher, Cold Prep & Dietary Full-Time and Part-Time positions Hours to suit your busy schedule. Customer Service/food service experience is preferred but not a requirement. Please apply at: https://deerfieldwnc.org/careers/ DISHWASHERS PT & FT: SIERRA NEVADA BREWING $1,000 SIGN ON BONUS + BENEFITS The Dishwasher, who reports to the BOH Supervisor, is a member of the kitchen team who will receive and organize products; wash and sanitize equipment, plates, utensils, and spaces; stock equipment as needed in order to maintain proper BOH operations for the continuity of the guest experience. https:// sierranevada.com/careers/ LINE COOK: SIERRA NEVADA BREWING $1,000 SIGN ON BONUS + BENEFITS The Line Cook is a member of the kitchen team, who will work closely with all other positions in the Back of the House operations to prep, cook, and expedite food to the guests ordering onsite, delivery, and to-go.The Line Cook, who reports to the BOH Supervisor Team, operates grills, fryers, broilers, and other commercial cooking equipment to prepare and serve food. https://sierranevada.com/careers/

MEDICAL/ HEALTH CARE HOLISTIC VETERINARY TECHNICIAN/ASSISTANT Veterinary Technician/ Assistant. Holistic, Sunvet Animal Wellness. Downtown Asheville. Needed ASAP.

Train $15 x 5 weeks. $16 start. Motivated, efficient, great blood draws. Inventory: supplements/pharmaceuticals. We welcome you in!

Email resume & cover letter to careers@sunvetanimalwellness.com. No calls or walk-ins.

NOW HIRING COOKS & DIETARY AIDES, (1 DIETARY MANAGER) VERY GENEROUS SIGN ON BONUS $3,000 SIGN ON BONUS!!! *(After 150 Days of Continuous Employment) Next Level Hospitality Services takes the quality and service of Dietary Departments in health care facilities to the next level.

RN / LPN / CNA / FULL & PART-TIME W/ SIGN-ON BONUS RN / LPN / CNA / Full & Part-Time with Sign-On Bonus $5000 RN/LPN's Full Time $2500 RN/LPN's PartTime $3000 Full-Time CNA's $1500 Part-Time CNA's Low patient ratio per employee Paid out in increments over the first six months and other Incentives We offer a generous benefits package including Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, 403b, Scholarship Program & PTO Plus, other great benefits! https:// deerfieldwnc.org/careers/

HUMAN SERVICES CHILDREN FIRST COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS IS HIRING AN AFTERSCHOOL & SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM MANAGER Duties include management and oversight of Children First/Communities In Schools afterschool and summer enrichment, including supervision of assigned staff, AmeriCorps members and volunteers. They also provide direction to program coordinators/specialists regarding related function, involvement and scope including 21st Century Community Learning Centers requirements.

The Afterschool & Summer Enrichment Program Manager will represent and assist with community outreach, engagement and serve on community collaborations related to the mission. Send cover letter & resume to employment@childrenfirstbc.org.

LEAD LEARNING CENTER ASSISTANT This position

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FATHER AND SON

Home Improvement Billy & Neal Moxley

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THE N EW Y OR K TI M ES C ROSSWORD P UZ Z LE will assist the after school & Summer Enrichment Program Manager in planning and implementing after school and summer enrichment programming in Learning Centers and other community based sites. https://childrenfirstcisbc.org/

TEACHING/ EDUCATION OUR VOICE IS SEEKING A FT COMMUNITY PREVENTION EDUCATOR Our VOICE is seeking a full-time Community Prevention Educator! Please visit ourvoicenc. org for more information! https://www.ourvoicenc. org/employment-opportunities/

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edited by Will Shortz | No. 1222 MIND, BODY, SPIRIT COUNSELING SERVICES ASTRO-COUNSELING 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, LCMHC. (828) 258-3229.

ACROSS 1 “Darn it!”

5 In base eight 10 “Resident Alien” channel

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15 Tennis champ Osaka

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16 City with a beef

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17 Jovial seasonal mood

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40 Fist bump 41 Walkie-talkie band, briefly 44 Place to catch up over a hot drink 48 When repeated, slangy sound of eating 51 Why everyone loves a good train wreck

56 Title woman in a classic 1973 breakup tune 57 Uniquely American cleverness 60 ___ homo 61 Rest atop 62 Cheeseboard choice 63 Quizzical Quebec questions?

64 “I ___ know” (common excuse)

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31 Like many a go-getter

36 NASA endeavors whose vehicles can be found at the ends of 17-, 22-, 51- and 57-Across

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21 Take a snooze, with “out”

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Reclaimyourself2022@gmail.com • 720-329-1868

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54 Fish also known as a bluegill

“Bridget created a safe container for me to reflect on my life.”

PUZZLE BY NOKI TRIAS AND LAWRENCE BARRETT

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14 Sound heard in a long hall

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20 ___-Seltzer POSITIVE HYPNOSIS | EFT | NLP Michelle Payton, M.A., D.C.H., Author | 828-681-1728 | www.MichellePayton.com | Mind Over Matter Solutions books, online and in-person education, workshops and sessions. Positive Hypnosis—re-learning thru positive reinforcement, Emotional Freedom Technique, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Birth Mix Personality Assessment, Past Life Regression.

RECLAIM YOURSELF

“It is a yoga class for your soul.”

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DOWN 1 College app element 2 “___ Tannenbaum” (16th-century folk song that inspired a carol) 3 Avid skateboarder, in lingo 4 Gardeners’ orders, at times 5 Straight out of the barrel 6 Nanny ___ 7 Ode words 8 Morning hrs.

9 Composer of the piano piece played

by Bugs Bunny in “Rhapsody Rabbit” 10 Lose the suit, say 11 Certain designer dog 12 Clarice Starling’s employer in “The Silence of the Lambs,” in brief 13 Nevertheless 18 Hershey toffee confection 19 Fit of sullenness 22 Fertile ground

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23 “___ vez” (“Again,” in Valencia)

45 Timing of the Mercutio/Tybalt duel in “Romeo and Juliet”

24 Bother

46 Unfixable

25 “Hamilton” actor Leslie ___ Jr.

47 Home to the deepest lake and river gorge in the U.S.

26 Indian flatbread 27 Cousin of a gull 28 Gabs

48 Cold rice topped with wasabi and raw fish

33 Like hay on a farm

49 Likely cause of a cranky toddler’s ear-tugging

34 “Same here” 37 Eventually 38 ___ Islands, Polynesian archipelago

50 “Ridiculous!”

52 Soaks up the hot sun

41 Awkward farewell

53 Ignores 58 Days gone by, in bygone days

42 Poet who coined the term “carpe diem”

59 Fangorn Forest dweller

43 Kind of kiss

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE

A R A B A C T A S

L O C A L P R I D E

L O R D I T O V E R

S O J U L O M A T O Y

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S T H E A I N V N E A O N W A O S L A V I C E R A R R Y I A N I E D

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E D I T

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