Mountain Xpress 03.13.24

FEATURES PAGE 24

KIDS ISSUE, PART 1

8 HOUSE RULES

Second STR listening session planned for March 18

26

15 BUNCOMBE BEAT

Swannanoa Library to remain open amid community outcry

18 RELIABLE SOURCES

Students pursue journalism careers despite industry’s decline

44 AT THEIR OWN PACE

Adaptive sports serve youths with special needs

46 TALL TALES

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo recruits puppets for Grey Eagle show

For this year’s Kids Issue, Xpress asked local K-12 students to create art and writing around the theme “What do you dream about?” They responded by sharing their funniest, scariest — and sometimes most profound — dreams through drawings, photos, essays, poems and short fiction. About the cover: Aleena Burns, a 10th grader at Charles D. Owen High School, writes: “It takes me about 10-45 minutes to fall asleep. That gives me a good while to recap or think about whatever I want to. I mixed my minimalistic art style and my late-night ... thoughts to create this piece.”

COVER PHOTO

Aleena Burns

COVER DESIGN

Scott Southwick

4 LETTERS

4 CARTOON: MOLTON

5 CARTOON: BRENT BROWN

7 COMMENTARY

8 NEWS

46

48 THE CONSTANT GARDENER

Hannah Kaminer cultivates community on new album

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Mindi Friedwald, Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS:

Oby Arnold, Mark Barrett, Eric Brown, Carmela Caruso, Cayla Clark, Kristin D’Agostino, Brionna Dallara, Storms Reback, Kay West

PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Cindy Kunst

ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER:

Susan Hutchinson

ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER:

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GRAPHIC DESIGNERS:

Tina Gaafary, Olivia Urban

MARKETING ASSOCIATES:

Sara Brecht, Vicki Catalano, Jamie Knox, Scott Mermel

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES:

Hinton Edgerton, Jeff Fobes, Mark Murphy, Scott Southwick

WEB: Brandon Tilley

BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler

ADMINISTRATION & BILLING: Hinton Edgerton, Mark Murphy

DISTRIBUTION:

Susan Hutchinson, Cindy Kunst

DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS:

Ashley Alms, Corey Biskind, Tracy Houston, John McKay, Henry Mitchell, Courtney Israel Nash, Joey Nash, Carl & Debbie Schweiger, Gary Selnick, Noah Tanner

Crosswalk enforcement needed

Why even have crosswalks for Merrimon Avenue pedestrians if drivers refuse to observe them? Does a fatality have to occur before this issue is taken seriously?

— Tom Smith Asheville

Dreaming of Asheville’s Central Park

Can you envision Asheville with its own Central Park — a place free from a $299 annual fee, where everyone can gather for picnics, stroll with their labradoodles or gather wildflowers without resorting to taking them from Interstate 26 exit ramps? Picture our community-minded neighbors participating in AcroYoga or the latest Tie-Dye 101 class, observing our plant whisperers and seed library evangelists enjoying expansive community gardens. Perhaps even catching a glimpse of our congressman sunbathing.

Now, where could we find a sufficiently large area, low on investment, close to downtown and boasting significant conservation value? How about the Asheville Racquet Club’s golf course?

Consider the advantages: a nine-hole course — the perfect size for evening strolls, just six minutes from Pack Square, and towering trees providing a natural spectacle wherever you look.

The New York Times’ “After Shutting Down, These Golf Courses Went Wild” article elaborates on the transformation

of a few closed golf courses nationwide, purchased by land trusts, municipalities and nonprofits to become nature preserves, parks and wetlands.

The ongoing I-26 expansion offers a unique opportunity for our city to obtain something we all deserve — additional space for pickleball.

— Jorge A. Pradilla Asheville

Edwards’ option: resign in shame

[Regarding “‘The Math Keeps Getting Worse’: James Comer Admits He May

Have to Give Up on Biden Impeachment Probe,” Salon via Yahoo News, Feb 20:]

Wow, U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-11th District) must really feel stupid for having voted for the President Biden impeachment investigation now that the whole foundation for it has been revealed to have been Russian lies

Of course, it was always just his blatantly partisan waste of our tax dollars, but he’s now exposed as being too gullible to sit in Congress or, even worse, a Russian agent. Edwards’ only option is to resign in shame.

Buh-bye.

— Lawrence Turk Hendersonville

Opposed to Haw Creek rezoning

Unlike a previous writer, I actually live near the proposed Haw Creek project and am vice president of the Happy Valley Property Owners Preservation Association.

The project may create housing but also creates 13% more traffic on our two-lane road that already experiences bumper-to-bumper traffic during the school year; destroys a tree line and animal habitat; and offers no information about traffic disruption plans during the construction of town houses, let alone information about the protection of vehicles from construction debris, airborne or otherwise, during construction of the town houses. Even a proposed greenway on the property abruptly ends at the entrance to Happy Valley.

The developer has offered no solutions to community concerns so far. Public hearings to date have been widely attended and in opposition to the project as proposed.

I and those we represent oppose rezoning to accommodate the developer.

— Jeff Altman Asheville

Speak out for open government and libraries

I was surprised to see that Mountain Xpress hasn’t published any follow-up coverage since posting Buncombe County’s press release about the closure of the Swannanoa Library on Feb.13. I hope your reporters are working on a much fuller account of what’s happening here, because the story is about a lot more than a small library branch with a building in need of repairs. The process should concern every resident of Buncombe County.

The more I learn about how the library closure decision was made, the more urgent I believe it becomes to stand up and speak out for open government and open libraries. I say libraries, plural, because if the Buncombe commissioners allow this library closure to happen to Swannanoa, it can happen to any community that county management decides isn’t worth investing in.

Oakley, Black Mountain and every unincorporated community with a small library branch should be especially concerned.

Recall that the county commissioners unanimously passed a measure in November of 2021 directing county management not to close smaller branches, including Oakley, Black Mountain and Swannanoa — as had been proposed in a new systemwide plan being floated. The intent of the commissioners’ action in response to public outcry was clear: “We should give some predictability and clarity to these neighborhoods that have been really concerned about the potential closure of their libraries,” said board Chair Brownie Newman at the time.

But now, here we are, with the county manager’s office abruptly announcing the apparently unilateral decision to close Swannanoa’s branch, while Newman and our commissioners stand aside.

Decisions this consequential must be debated in public, with all the stake-

holders involved — especially county residents, who, let’s remember, sit at the top of the county’s organizational chart. That’s not what happened here.

This decision wasn’t deliberated; it was simply delivered.

It was handed down by county management and presented as a done deal, without the possibility of the library’s closure being mentioned to the community, the building’s nonprofit owner and possibly even the county’s own Library Advisory Board.

Did our commissioners vote for this closure? We don’t know! So far, they have provided conflicting answers when they are not ducking the question altogether.

Let’s stand up and speak out to remind our commissioners that we must have open government — and open libraries.

— Matt Barker Swannanoa

Editor’s note: See Xpress’ coverage of the latest development on this issue on page 15. X

The turbulent ’60s

A Jew in Asheville

BY JERRY STERNBERG

In my last column, I told about my experiences in Israel at the end of the Six-Day War and that, after giving a public talk upon my return, I received numerous invitations to speak at venues such as civic clubs, schools and churches — including a couple of small evangelical churches.

I recognized that many in those audiences, particulary in the outlying counties, had never even seen, much less spoken to a Jewish person before and certainly hadn’t had a chance to interact with one.

I always tried to keep the presentation short enough to allow time for the questions attendees were just itching to ask.

In most of the churches, the first question, which was always the same, had nothing to do with the Six-Day War. It was “What do you Jews believe about Jesus?”

For me, this was always a challenging moment. From early childhood, we Jews were taught to always put our best foot forward in attempting to cultivate relationships with people of other faiths — if for no other reason than that we were few in number and, in our sometimes hostile environment, needed all the friends we could get.

So in these situations my answer was guarded: I had no wish to offend the faithful in the audience. Our religious teachers, I would explain, didn’t have much to say about either Jesus or the New Testament, and I was speaking solely for myself. My best understanding was that Jesus was a practicing Jew who preached service, caring and tolerance to his fellow man. We did not believe that he was the Messiah and a supernatural being.

You can bet that I moved away from this topic as quickly as possible, since the purpose of my presentation was to give an update on the current status of Israel and my firsthand experiences there.

After many such meetings, there would be an informal meet-andgreet. Everyone was quite friendly and complimentary at these gatherings, but many of them expressed sincere concern about my future well-being in the hereafter.

WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR?

One of my more memorable presentations gives me the opportunity

to mention two outstanding Western North Carolina community leaders whom I was fortunate to call friends.

Paul K. Feree, better known as “P.K.,” opened a factory in Cherokee in order to provide meaningful employment opportunities for the Cherokees in the area, making moccasins and other Native Americanthemed souvenirs. P.K. was also a dedicated lay leader and supporter of the Montreat Conference Center.

I met him through my business, and we became great friends.

P.K. was very interested in Israel and invited me to come to Murphy to make a presentation to his Kiwanis chapter, which I did.

About six months later, just a few days before Christmas, I received a frantic call from P.K. saying that his scheduled Kiwanis speaker had to cancel and he desperately needed a replacement. He heaped praise on my first presentation, saying he just knew the club would love to hear an update on the status of Israel.

(Did I mention that P.K. was also an outstanding salesman?)

It was very inconvenient for me to make the trudge to Murphy, but I couldn’t turn down this great and generous man who did so much for his community and who was such a good friend.

When I arrived at the restaurant, however, I immediately noticed a big difference in the audience. On the previous occasion, I’d spoken to a couple of dozen male members in casual dress. This time, the room was packed. The ladies had been invited, and they were sporting their go-to-meeting attire; all the men wore jackets and ties.

For some reason, I hadn’t bothered to ask P.K. who the speaker was that I was replacing, so until he began introducing me, I had no clue that it was no less a personage than the Rev. Calvin Thielman, a revered and nationally recognized religious leader who served our community with dignity and humble care.

As a matter of fact, the reason he couldn’t speak that evening was that President Lyndon Johnson had sent him and other nationally known clergy on a fact-finding mission to Vietnam.

Well of course, I was gobsmacked but somehow managed to get through the speech.

I can’t imagine how disappointed the audience must have felt, having

“Several other Jewish businesses were also attacked, and one manufacturing company was burned to the ground.”

attended this event expecting to hear an inspiring Christmas message from the renowned pastor of the Montreat Presbyterian Church, where Ruth and Billy Graham frequently attended services. Instead, these poor people heard a talk by some Jewish guy who, many undoubtedly felt, had questionable religious beliefs.

Calvin, however, was also a good friend of mine. I’d met him when he was a chaplain at Appalachian Hall in Asheville. We used to see each other at the YMCA health club and had many wonderful discussions. I ran into Calvin shortly before he passed and this story came up. He graciously thanked me for filling in for him, and we had a good laugh about it.

NOT WELCOME HERE

Meanwhile, despite the new respect that worldwide Jewry received after the war, antisemitism continued to rear its ugly head in Asheville, as demonstrated by two stories that community members shared with me.

Sometime in the late ’60s, the local Jewish community included a tall, very attractive teenager who belonged to a local modeling club. The group had scheduled a fashion show at the Biltmore Forest Country Club, and she was listed as a participant.

Just before they were to leave for the event, the organizer received a call from the country club, which had spotted the young woman’s name on the performance roster, asking if she was Jewish. When the organizer said yes, they said she couldn’t participate because Jewish people weren’t allowed there. As a private club, it was free to decide who could and couldn’t be admitted.

It’s worth noting that her father was a World War II combat veteran who’d flown many missions over Europe. But it didn’t stop there. He owned a small mom and pop grocery store on Valley Street in the Black community and very generously extended credit to people in need, undoubtedly ensuring that children didn’t go hungry. Nonetheless, it was firebombed and had the windows broken several times. Several other Jewish businesses were also attacked, and one manufacturing company was burned to the ground. Antisemitism was not confined to white extremists.

Also in the late ’60s, Asheville High School (then known as Lee H. Edwards High School) held its prom at the Biltmore Forest Country Club. One of the graduates was a young Jewish girl whose mother and father had escaped the Holocaust in 1939 and settled in Asheville. Needless to say, she was very excited about attending the prom in her beautiful dress, arm in arm with her tuxedo-clad date.

But when they checked in at the front desk and gave her name, the receptionist asked if she was Jewish, and when she said she was, they insisted that the couple leave.

Yes, folks, this stuff really happened, and there is more to come. Stay tuned. Asheville native Jerry Sternberg, a longtime observer of the local scene, can be reached at gospeljerry@aol.com. An anthology of his columns is available from Pisgah Legal Services for a donation of $25 or more. To order your copy, visit pisgahlegal.org/jerry, or send a check labeled “Jerry’s book” to: PLS, P.O. Box 2276, Asheville, NC 28802. All proceeds support the nonprofit’s work. X

JERRY STERNBERG

House rules

BY BROOKE RANDLE

After its March 4 meeting, the nine-member Buncombe County Planning Board is one step closer to solidifying recommendations to update the county’s short-term rental regulations.

The proposed regulations, which were introduced in December as part of the Buncombe 2043 Comprehensive Plan, would ban new whole-house short-term rentals in the unincorporated parts of Buncombe County unless they were located within five commercial zones or in the county’s residential open-use zone. Existing short-term rentals would not be affected by the changes but would require a county permit.

Within the open-use district, the proposal would allow grouped complexes of between three and 10 STRs under a special-use permit but would not allow residents to operate a single STR. Short-term rentals would be prohibited in mobile home parks regardless of the district in which they are located.

The regulations also would change the definition of short-term rental to allow only single-family, detached units to be rented short term. Structures that are not approved for permanent habitation, such as travel trailers, recreational vehicles, sheds, vehicles or tents, would be banned from short-term rental use. Short-term rentals also would not be permitted within attached dwelling units, including but not limited to duplexes, townhomes or multifamily units.

Some board members asked that county staff modify the proposed lan-

Second STR listening session planned for March 18

guage to allow residents to rent out a portion of their primary residences or accessory dwelling units.

“My personal preference would be not to eliminate [accessory dwelling units] in any of the districts until we get to that conversation about homestays,” said board member John Noor. “One of the things, at least in my mind, that’s been very clear is [that] I don’t want to prohibit people who are living on a piece of property from having an ADU out back or in their house.”

County Planning Director Nathan Pennington said staff planned to address the issue of homestays, which may include accessory dwelling units and other potential types of STRs, after updating the language for whole-house rentals.

The City of Asheville does not allow whole-house short-term rentals but does permit homestays in which a resident can rent out a portion of their home. Renting an ADU short-term is not permitted in the city limits, however, Pennington emphasized that the county could create its own definition of a homestay that could include ADUs and other types of structures.

The new regulations would reduce the permitted size of STRs from 9,000 square feet to no more than 4,000 square feet, which drew concern from several board members who said that the restriction could have implications for families or people who rent STRs for weddings and other events.

“There are homes here that are used for vacation homes, and there’s certainly homes elsewhere that are used that are bigger than 4,000 square feet that are used for the purposes of wedding parties, et cetera,” said board Chair Nancy Waldrop . “Does that mean we’re eliminating the possibility of that?”

“When you start getting a larger house, the more people come, [there’s] more noise, more activity,” said Pennington. “This is an attempt to set a threshold.”

Board members reversed a previous staff suggestion that would not grandfather a permit upon the sale of a home. They settled on allowing existing STRs to continue to be grandfathered as long as they are

rented at least twice every 180 days. Otherwise, the permit lapses.

The work session was the third meeting since proposed amendments were released in December. Following the initial staff recommendations, the county held a listening session Jan. 22, which reached the meeting room capacity. At that meeting, opinions were sharply divided among residents.

The comments ranged from personal experiences depicting how short-term rentals negatively affect neighborhoods and contribute to Buncombe County’s housing crisis, to others who said income from short-term rentals allowed owners to build generational wealth or stay in their homes when experiencing economic hardships.

Public comment was not allowed at the work sessions. However, the Planning Board will hold a second listening session Monday, March 18, at A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium starting at 5:30 p.m., when residents can share their views.

After the listening session, the Buncombe County Planning Board will finalize language during its Monday, April 1, regular meeting. A public hearing on the issue will be held Monday, April 22. The board will then make its recommendation to the county Board of Commissioners, which is the governing body that will ultimately decide what changes, if any, to make to the county’s ordinances. X

brandle@mountainx.com

PLAN ON IT: After the listening session on March 18, the Buncombe County Planning Board will finalize its recommendation to the county Board of Commissioners, which will ultimately decide what changes, if any, to make to the county’s STR ordinances.

Photo by Brooke Randle

At your service

Food and beverage workers union eyes future growth

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN

jwakeman@mountainx.com

Bri Snyder left the coffee industry in January.

They had worked at half a dozen coffee shops in Asheville and found similar issues everywhere. (Snyder uses they/them pronouns.) Owners were “expecting a lot from very few people,” Snyder explains, citing examples such as requiring “two baristas to handle customers, make recipes, clean, stock everything and promise everyone great customer service.” Those workplace expectations were “unmanageable and stressful” and caused burnout among staff, they say.

Yet their biggest concern was how management at these various shops seemed to normalize burnout. “Whenever we as a staff raised concerns, [we were] absolutely invalidated,” Snyder explains. “‘Everyone else has done it, you can, too. You just need to toughen up. Care less.’”

Snyder’s experience propelled them toward the effort to shift the culture of the service industry in Asheville. They are now one of 48 members of Asheville Food and Beverage United, a coalition of service workers that affiliated with the nationwide union Restaurant Workers United in November. On Feb. 20, AFBU held its first member meeting.

AFBU seeks to interrupt “the abusive culture that just keeps being perpetuated,’” explains Jen Hampton, the union’s lead organizer.

Before joining Just Economics in 2023, Hampton’s work in the service

industry spanned over 30 years, with the last 16 in Asheville. Throughout her career, Hampton says she often felt guilty for taking time off when she was sick. Furthermore, sexual harassment was so common that “you [didn’t] even think twice about it after a while.”

Seeing a younger generation refuse to accept these conditions as the status quo gives her hope, Hampton continues. “People are realizing their worth, even though we get treated in the industry like we’re disposable and replaceable at any time,” she says.

UNITED BY PARKING WOES

Hampton learned about local organizing in spring 2021 on a thread on the Facebook group Food and Beverage Tribe. Intrigued, she continued to convene with local service workers in person. Her interest led her to the 2022 Labor Notes Conference in Chicago, where she learned the nuts and bolts of labor organizing. Workshops covered basics such as the importance of canvassing workers for input and identifying the most “widely and deeply felt issue” to focus on, Hampton explains.

Back in Asheville, Hampton learned service workers wanted fair scheduling and a livable wage. But above all, they bemoaned downtown parking rates At the time, remembers Hampton, “Everyone [was] feeling it, workers and owners included.”

Hampton began organizing workers to address these costs. Not yet a union, the Asheville Food and Beverage United was described then as a work-

UNITED WE STAND: Asheville Food and Beverage United seeks to interrupt “the abusive culture that just keeps being perpetuated” in the local service industry, explains lead organizer Jen Hampton. She worked for over 30 years in the service industry, with the last 16 in Asheville. Photo courtesy of Hampton

er-led coalition. Member Jack Paksoy says the parking campaign drew him to AFBU. At the time, he worked as a line cook and says if he was lucky, he could nab a $3 parking space for 12 hours. But those parking spots were hard to get, especially on weekend nights. Sometimes Paksoy paid $60$80 a week to park during work, calling it “a fair bit of my wages.”

Other workers in downtown Asheville could pay $15 per day for parking, or $85 per month to lease a parking space, according to a Sept. 6, 2022, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners presentation on affordable parking. That year, the commission approved a $40 monthly parking pass for 150 spaces downtown for service industry and retail workers; in August, the commission added 50 parking spots at a second location.

The parking campaign’s success was an early sign that unifying service workers in Asheville had legs: In spring 2022, AFBU sought legal status as a union and launched a membership campaign in November upon affiliating with Restaurant Workers United.

Although restaurant, bar and brewery employees compose most of the AFBU membership, service workers in retail and hospitality are also eligible, Hampton says. Members have the option of paying $10 per month in

dues for representation by the union on employment-related matters, but a oneyear waiver for dues is also available.

The affiliation with Restaurant Workers United provides AFBU with benefits from “pooled resources of funds and people,” Hampton says. AFBU contributes 20% of its dues to RWU for a nationwide strike fund.

‘EVERYBODY CARES ABOUT SOMETHING’

Hampton says she once believed unions were illegal in North Carolina. It’s an understandable mistake: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2023, only 2.7% of the state’s wage and salary workers were union members — the second-lowest in the nation. North Carolina is also a right-to-work state, meaning there are laws restricting union activity.

Much of her role as lead organizer of AFBU is providing education about workers’ rights, particularly existing federal protections. “If you take an action to address a workplace issue with at least one other co-worker, that is considered under federal law to be union activity, whether you are officially a union or not,” she says.

At the 2022 Labor Notes Conference, Hampton attended a workshop called “Beating Apathy” about how to

address barriers that people may have to labor organizing. “I learned apathy isn’t real,” she shares. “Everybody cares about something.”

Hampton says her role is to find that “something” by asking open-ended questions and then listening. “If you let people talk, they’re going to tell you what they care about,” she says. Then she’ll ask: “‘How do you think we could fix that? What would it be like if that was different?’”

Hampton encounters individuals who are interested in organizing but fearful of retaliation. “I don’t B.S. people — I say, ‘Unfortunately, that could happen,’” she says. “‘But if we do this strategically, and we keep it on the down-low, and we have enough people with us, it’s not so easy [to retaliate]. … They can’t fire everybody all at once.’”

LABOR LOCALLY

In March 2023, workers at Green Sage Cafe − South voted in favor of a union with Teamsters Local 61, the Western North Carolina branch of the nationwide labor union. AFBU helped Green Sage Cafe − South employees form an organizing committee, and it educated them on particular tactics management may use to discourage labor organizing, Hampton explains.

In a statement to Xpress, Green Sage owner Randy Talley says, “Green Sage Cafe and the Teamsters Local 61 have worked diligently and in good faith to find common ground over the last six months. Recently, the Teamsters Local 61 expressed appreciation for Green Sage management’s commitment to its employees and withdrew representation of the bargaining unit.”

Talley continued, “Green Sage values our employees and continues to work for what is best for our team, our company and our community.”

In a statement to Xpress, Brian Ball from Teamsters Local 61 shared, “Our union has met with the employees and

management team at Green Sage over the past several months. Together we have improved communication, fixed issues and accomplished many goals. We wish Green Sage and their employees all the best in the future.”

Ball said Teamsters Local 61 filed a disclaimer of interest with the National Labor Relations Board, which stops its representation of Green Sage South.

In April, it will have been one year since the NLRB originally certified the union election for Green Sage South employees. At that point, employees could reengage with the Teamsters. (Green Sage union leader Ariana Lingerfeldt did not respond to multiple requests for comment.)

Tastee Diner executive chef and owner Steven Goff says his employees haven’t organized, but he would support it. He calls labor organizing “something much needed in our city, and I’m more than happy to see staff have a say.”

Goff appreciates that AFBU is a local union, adding, “My chef friends in California have not been huge fans of [unions], like once the Teamsters get involved.” (The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is the largest union in the U.S. and encompasses multiple industries.)

“That’s something that I’m not sure how I feel about — when an outside third party comes in, people that aren’t part of our industry,” Goff continues. “I just worry they’re also fleecing people in a different way than owners are.”

However, Goff says AFBU has done a “great job” so far and was particularly impressed with the parking campaign.

UPCOMING GOALS

AFBU’s broad goal is to change industry standards through a citywide coalition of service workers. A top priority to address is wage theft, a term that can refer to practices such as refusing to pay overtime or requiring employees to set up for their workday off the clock.

PAYING TO WORK: Former line cook Jack Paksoy says he got involved in AFBU’s campaign for affordable parking downtown. He says he sometimes paid $60-$80 a week to park during work, calling it “a fair bit of my wages.” Photo courtesy of Paksoy

AFBU can assist workers with issues by speaking to their employer on their behalf while keeping the employee’s identity anonymous.

For example, Hampton says a worker contacted AFBU because the employer deducted the cost of lost inventory from workers’ paychecks every week. (Hampton declined to name the employer.) Hampton contacted the employer on the worker’s behalf. Ultimately, that employer reimbursed the staff.

Health care benefits are also on the to-do list. Hampton is currently seeking a health care subscription plan at a discounted rate for AFBU members.

Other plans for AFBU include an upcoming sexual harassment prevention workshop and training on how to address drug-faciliated sexual assault, which will be held with Our VOICE, a nonprofit advocating for survivors of sexual violence. Hampton hopes for it to be part of a larger discussion about

sexual harassment against service workers. “Sexual harassment doesn’t get enough attention, and it’s just rampant,” she says.

It isn’t only customers who harass service workers, Hampton adds. “The majority of the time [sexual harassment is done by] managers and owners,” she explains. “And not just men. Female owners, too, think that they can go around groping any employee they want or making whatever comment they want.”

HIGHER WAGES

Advocating for livable wages is one of the reasons some AFBU members got involved, they tell Xpress

Just Economics of Western North Carolina recently updated its living wage rate for Buncombe County to $22.10. As a line cook, Paksoy says he usually earned $19-$20 per hour, and that was barely enough to scrape by.

He currently lives in UNC Asheville student housing, which he says is more affordable than renting here. “Anytime I apartment search in Asheville, they’re insane about what they want,” he says. When he graduates in May, Paksoy will have to move out of student housing. He anticipates still working in Asheville but says he will not being able to afford to live here.

Snyder, the former coffee shop worker, also advocates for higher wages. They’re troubled by the gap between what many people working in industries supporting Asheville tourism earn versus the region’s cost of living. They see service workers burning out from their jobs and new workers replacing them without a change in working conditions. “This constant cycle isn’t healthy for a community, and it’s not healthy for a workplace,” they say.

Labor organizing “is the avenue that I have chosen,” they say. “Because if I didn’t do anything, I think I would go crazy.” X

Susan Cohen, MD • Leigh Dodson, MD • Eleanor Martin, MD

Calvin Tomkins, MD • Peter Leimena, MD

Curiosity and obsession

Local high school student discusses organizing a TEDxYouth talk

BY LISA ALLEN

Mahayla Jones, an 11th grader at The Franklin School of Innovation, is matter-of-fact when discussing her leadership role in a recent TEDxYouth gathering put on by her school and hosted at N.C. Stage Company.

Jones, the co-executive director for the Feb. 20 event, shared responsibilities with fellow friend and classmate Sarah Williams. Like passing the Olympic torch, Jones says the school’s previous co-executive directors — students Brody Sandier-Williams and Kylee Roark — mentored the two throughout the process.

The conference featured eight speakers, whom Jones and Williams worked directly with on this year’s theme: curiosity.

Xpress spoke with Jones as she was preparing for the event.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Xpress: Tell me about some of the most memorable talks you’ve worked on for this year’s conference.

Jones: This year, we have a person talking about fixations and hyperfixations and how that leads to career paths. When you fixate on certain things, they can become obsessive, and you can turn that obsessiveness into passion. I deal with that. I think a lot of youth today have that issue with obsessing. I think it’s going to be really impactful to take that and move it into a career. I think that’s good advice.

What’s your fixation?

I am into history. I hyperfixate on certain historical events and I research them. I am writing my college essay on the Roman Empire and how that connects with my life.

How does it connect with your life?

I’m originally from West Virginia, and when I moved here, my entire

world fell like it did with the Roman Empire. I was left with a single brick, and that brick is my mother. And I built my entire new empire with this one brick. I’m forever grateful for that one experience. In this great kingdom, we’ve learned so many things.

Do you think this interest in history will lead to a specific career path?

I’m going to study biological anthropology, which will lead me into med school. I plan to be an OB-GYN.

Had you heard about TEDx before your friends got involved?

I had. We would watch them in school. But I never knew it was a nonprofit or that students could run it or that the speakers were just regular people. I had no idea.

What have you liked most about being co-executive director this year?

I’ve had to think a lot about myself because I’ve had to trust other people. If it goes badly, that reflects on me. So I’ve had to put trust in myself and in other people. That’s been really good for me as a person.

What’s been the most frustrating part?

People not turning their stuff in on time. I’ve been guilty of that myself.

Did you try and get friends involved in the event, and were you successful?

I have two of my friends speaking in this year’s event: Kathryn Dalton and Eamon McCorkle. Eamon is speaking about astrology. It’s going to be awesome seeing my friends talk about something they’re passionate about.

What else should people know about TEDxYouth?

It’s really important as a community that we come together. We have young people, we have adults of all ages and all walks of experiences. It’s really good

TAKING CHARGE: A longtime viewer of TED Talks, Mahayla Jones, a student at The Franklin School of Innovation, discusses her recent role in organizing a local TEDxYouth talk. Photo courtesy of Jones

for our community to have that opportunity to sit and listen. That’s how you grow as a person and as a community.

What other extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I’m on the community council where we plan school events. I’m head of the prom committee and fundraising for that. I’m also involved in yearbook and student government, and I’m looking to start my own nonprofit revolving around women’s health.

Do you have time for school?

Yes, I have eight classes and a couple at A-B Tech and I work on the weekends at Old School Subs on Sweeten Creek. It’s my parents’ restaurant. X

Randall@MountainCircusArts.com

Buncombe advances first-time candidates in March 5 primary

While the March 5 primary delivered few surprises at the top of the ticket, local races delivered some firsts for Buncombe County in an election that saw a far lower turnout than the previous presidential primary in 2020.

Jean Marie Christy won her primary election by nearly 10,000 votes over challenger Johanna Finkelstein, and is on track to become the first elected female clerk of court in Buncombe County. She will run unopposed in November.

“I can’t express my appreciation enough. This means so much to me. I really hope to make you all proud as a Democratic clerk,” Christy told a crowded room at the Buncombe County Democratic Party’s election night celebration, held at Hi-Wire Brewing Co.’s Biltmore Village event space.

“I think it’s time. Until recently, we hadn’t had a female superior court judge … We have yet to have a female county commission chair. I think Buncombe County deserves to see a diverse leadership,” Christy told Xpress after results from all 80 precincts were reported.

In the race for Buncombe County Commission District 1, Jennifer Horton pulled off a nearly 700 vote victory over Matt Kern, giving her a chance to become the first Black female to sit on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.

“We are starting a movement,” Horton said after the results were announced.

Horton thanked her family and supporters, including County Commissioner Al Whitesides, who became the county’s first Black county commissioner in 2016.

Whitesides, who was in attendance, said he was proud of how much work Horton put into her primary run, and

primary election than for the last presidential primary in 2020. Photo

said Horton’s youth — she’s 38 — will be a key asset on the commission.

Horton will go up against Paul Benjamin, who won the Republican nomination over Rondell Lance, a retired police officer and president of the Asheville chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Four first-time candidates for Asheville City Council also advance to the general election. Kevan Frazier, Bo Hess, Tod Leaven and CJ Domingo will join incumbent council members Kim Roney and Sage Turner on the November ballot.

Iindia Pearson and Taylon Breeden, who officially pulled out of the race on Feb. 20, were eliminated. The top three vote-getters in November will win election to City Council.

Frazier, who finished third in the primary, after Roney and Turner, said he went to 20 different polling sites throughout the day and was impressed with the presence at those locations of representatives from every campaign.

As results were still rolling in, Leaven, who finished fifth, told Xpress that he has grown to appreciate all the candidates running for City Council, and believes the city is in good hands no matter what happens in November.

The Buncombe County GOP did not respond to questions about an election night gathering March 5.

Including early voting and absentee-by-mail ballots, just under 60,000 ballots were cast in the March primary as of March 6, about 29% of the electorate. That is far fewer than the more than 82,000 ballots cast in the last presidential primary in 2020.

“I just want to thank all the voters who came out today to make their voices count. You are the people choosing who we will see on the ballot in November. Precincts across the county ran smoothly today with no issues,” said Buncombe County Elections Director Corinne Duncan in an election night press release.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

Winners in bold.

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 11 (REP) (VOTE COUNT INCLUDES ALL OF DISTRICT 11)

• Chuck Edwards 66,475 (69%)

• Christian Reagan 29,982 (31%)

N.C. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DISTRICT 6 (DEM)

• Robin Leigh Merrell 17,958 (58%)

• Emily Sutton Dezio 13,200 (42%)

N.C. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DISTRICT 7 (DEM)

• Meredith Pressley Stone 23,904 (76%)

• Todd Lentz 7,512 (24%)

BUNCOMBE COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 1 (DEM)

• Jennifer Horton 5,367 (53%)

• Matt Kern 4,687 (47%)

BUNCOMBE COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 1 (REP)

• Paul Benjamin 4,707 (63%)

• Rondell Lance 2,742 (37%)

BUNCOMBE COUNTY CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT (DEM)

• Jean Marie Christy 20,727 (66%)

• Johanna Finkelstein 10,787 (34%)

ASHEVILLE CITY COUNCIL

• Kim Roney 10,530 (20%)

• Sage Turner 9,781 (19%)

• Kevan Frazier 8,639 (17%)

• Roberto (Bo) Hess 7,287 (14%)

Buncombe County Election Services now enters the 10-day auditing process known as Canvass. Election results will become official at the conclusion of that process March 15. — Greg Parlier X

• Tod Leaven 6,354 (12%)

• Charles (CJ) Domingo 3,904 (8%)

• Iindia Pearson 3,536 (6.8%)

• Taylon Breanne Breeden 1,986 (4%)

ELECTION DAY: Fewer voters turned out for the 2024

by Greg Parlier

Swannanoa Library to remain open amid community outcry

The Swannanoa Library will remain open after an unexpected vote by Buncombe County commissioners on March 7 that reversed a previous decision to close the library branch.

The county announced last month that the lease for the Swannanoa Library would not be renewed when it ends in June. The announcement cited $635,000 in repairs needed for the facility. In 2021, the county reviewed 38 county facilities and ranked them on a scale from poor to excellent, and the Swannanoa Library ranked last. When the lease ends, the library’s resources would have been reallocated to other libraries in the county, according to the Feb. 13 announcement.

Community members organized in response, showing up to speak out against the closure during Thursday night’s Board of Commissioners meeting. The issue was not on the published meeting agenda, but during a briefing held earlier in the day, Chair Brownie Newman requested that a discussion about the library be added to the regular meeting agenda.

At the meeting, Commissioner Terri Wells made a motion to continue library services at the existing location while options are explored for continuing and improving library services in the Swannanoa Valley.

“Part of the intention of this motion is to create some additional runway out there for discussion around what library services in this part of the county can be,” Newman said. “I’m sure lots of folks who we’ve heard from and talked to who love the current library are also aware of its limitations and challenges. What we’re looking for is a good discussion about what can best serve this part of Buncombe County for the long term.”

Allen Dye, board chair of the Swannanoa Community Council, said during public comment, “I came with some prepared remarks tonight to try to implore this commission to do what I believe that you knew was the right thing, and you beat me to it. You did the right thing.”

While commenters were pleasantly surprised by the board’s decision to temporarily suspend the closure, many still expressed concern about the decision to close the library being made without public input. Twentyone people spoke about the matter during the public comment period

“We think the wider issue is how the decision was made,” said community member Matt Barker. “We think that ought to be a concern to everybody in Buncombe County.”

Other speakers echoed Barker’s concerns about a lack of public input and transparency in how the decision to close the library was made. Takira Rose, who identified herself as an employee of the Buncombe County library system, said during public comment that the announcement is representative of a lack of transparency and communication surrounding decisions made by the county. She described communication about decisions made by the county as “often sudden and surprising” and said it was hard to understand if there is a comprehensive vision for the future of library services and how this decision fits into that vision.

According to a press release sent out after the meeting, operations will continue at the current location until a new location in the Swannanoa Valley is identified. The current building will then be returned to the Swannanoa Community Council, the nonprofit organization that owns the building.

The county could receive up to $1 million to be used for low- to moderate-income housing. That could include purchasing, building or renovating property — anything that would expand the number of beds available in the community, according to Victoria Reichard , county behavioral health manager.

Specific details about how the grant would be used will be presented on Tuesday, April 2 as part of a draft application, but Reichard said the plan will be informed by the county’s recovery housing report that was paid for with funds received through the opioid settlement. Support for recovery housing is part of the county’s long-term strategy for using opioid settlement funds.

Reichard identified three specific expectations for any providers that would receive the recovery housing grant funds: the allowance of medication for treatment of opioid use disorder, certification through the N.C. Association of Recovery Residences and a focus on being culturally responsive to marginalized communities.

of the meeting. People talked about their personal ties to the library, the positive impact that the library has on the Swannanoa community and the dismay they felt at the sudden decision to close their local library branch.

“It is alarming that an already underserved community could be deprived of a vital resource without public input,” said Swannanoa resident Michael Hosford, reiterating several commenters’ concern about the process behind the decision.

Grant funding for recovery housing

Buncombe County will apply for a grant to fund housing for people recovering from substance abuse disorder. The funds are part of the federal Community Development Block Grant program managed by the N.C. Division of Commerce, of which $1,506,320 is set aside for the Appalachian region of North Carolina.

Commissioner Martin Moore asked if there is a rubric or metric that will be used to identify which project or provider would receive funding.

“Our biggest thing right now is timeline,” said Reichard. “The ideal situation would be potentially someone who is already in that recovery housing space and has property that they are interested in expanding.”

The application deadline is Friday, April 12, and the county will be notified in May if grant funds are awarded.

— Nikki Gensert X

THE RIGHT THING: Allen Dye, chair of the Swannanoa Community Council, commended the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners for doing “the right thing” after it voted to continue services at the Swannanoa Library. Photo courtesy of Buncombe County

BCS board rejects requests to remove nine books from district schools

One month after banning a book from all district high schools, the Buncombe County Board of Education unanimously agreed at its March 7 meeting to keep nine others available to students at Enka High School.

The decision follows the recommendations made by the district-level Media and Technology Advisory Committee after four parents appealed the school-based committee’s initial November ruling to keep the nine books — and one other — in the school. The district-level MTAC deliberated over several meetings in January before coming to a decision Feb. 6.

The books under review cover topics ranging from suicide, transgender identity, family tragedy, drug use and addiction to sexual exploration, sexual assault and police violence, according to district documents.

“We are not banning books — we’re simply asking that age-inappropriate books be removed from a library designed for minors,” Kim Poteat, one of the parents who appealed the school committee’s initial ruling, said during public comment. “Banning a book means it is not accessible. These books are still accessible in the public sphere. We are simply asking that parental rights be respected and parents be given the freedom to choose the timing of when their children are exposed to modern real world social issues based on their family beliefs, not the beliefs of educators.”

Mitchell Cohen, a junior at Martin L. Nesbitt Jr. Discovery Academy, disputed Poteat and others’ claims that removing a book from a library does not equate with a ban.

“You are here to educate us, you are not here to shelter us,” he said. “And to further address the claims that just removing books from school libraries is not banning them: This is blatantly untrue. Because removing a book from the school library means that countless students will not be able to read that book. Many students do not have access to free libraries, and many more students cannot afford to buy those books.”

Cohen added that he has learned a lot by reviewing books with difficult topics in a classroom setting and that removing them diminishes the power of teachers.

In all, 10 residents — including eight students from Nesbitt Academy — spoke out against the removal of

RIDICULOUS’: Buncombe County Board of Education Board member Kim Plemmons said the redistricting process was the most ridiculous thing she’s had to do as a school board member and the board should be spending its time on students being educated, not redrawing “arbitrary lines.” Photo by Greg Parlier

books from school libraries, while six spoke specifically in support of certain books’ removal.

“People will argue that book bans protect children from dangerous concepts,” said Paul Curran, a senior at Nesbitt. “They don’t want to see their kids see challenging content such as sexual themes, violence, discrimination and drug use. Is this not the point of these books to challenge difficult topics to expose people to the very real dangers present in our society?”

Poteat argued that not all children are ready to consume such sensitive material.

“Many [parents] are taking children to foster or adopt after they have been traumatized. For these children, the lines between right and wrong are blurred,” she said. “They do not know how to have honest communication. What about these parents? I represent these parents, I foster children and am currently raising two adopted children. It’s not easy. We need our schools to work with us.”

The books up for consideration at the March 7 meeting were: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, Go Ask Alice by Anonymous, Looking for Alaska by John Green, More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera, Shine by Lauren Myracle, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Board member Rob Elliot commended staff and members of the school and

Those three are still available at other high school libraries in the district, and several parents argued they should be removed districtwide at the March 7 meeting.

Board passes new electoral maps

Unanimous in its monthslong frustration with a process mandated by the N.C. General Assembly, the BCS board passed new electoral maps to be used in the November general election.

“I am very much against this,” said board member Kim Plemmons. “I want to put it on record that this is probably the most ridiculous thing that we have had to deal with since I’ve been on this board. We should be focusing on kids and our schools, not this kind of partisan politics.”

Out of three options designed by Adam Mitchell of Tharrington Smith LLC and Blake Esselstyn of Mapfigure Consulting, option C was chosen by the board because it created the least amount of change in the current district lines, Elliot said.

district MTACs for their careful consideration of parents’ objections.

“[It takes] hundreds of people volunteering their time in our community to respectfully handle these requests, respectfully listen to all sides, respectfully listen to the educators and experts in the room and come to reasonable conclusions,” he said. “That’s not easy. And it doesn’t all just fall on us. You know, it’s a big committee and community decision.”

Later in the meeting, the board heard a policy change allowing the board to remove a book from all schools if it removes it from one, as recommended by board member Amanda Simpkins at the February board meeting. That policy still has to go through a second reading before being passed.

So far, while BCS has banned one book districtwide — Tricks by Ellen Hopkins — three were removed from circulation at Enka High School in December. Those are Doing It! Let’s Talk About Sex by Hannah Witton, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, and Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.

Since 1975, Buncombe has elected one school board member to represent each of the county’s six attendance zones — Enka, Erwin, Owen, North Buncombe, Reynolds and Roberson — and one at-large member. Candidates had to run in the district they lived in on a nonpartisan basis, and residents could vote for all school board members, regardless of their address.

Voters who live in the newly drawn districts will vote only for the representative running in the district in which they live. The law doesn’t change where students will go to school, only school board representation.

The new maps had the biggest effect on the Reynolds attendance zone, where 27% of families will have different board representation after the maps are implemented.

“The unfortunate truth about this is that we are about to vote for or against a resolution that none of us think is right,” Simpkins said. “But ultimately, we’re put in a position where we have to follow the law.”

Despite the board’s reservations, the new maps passed unanimously.

— Greg Parlier X

Reliable sources

Students pursue journalism careers despite industry’s decline

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN

jwakeman@mountainx.com

Journalism looked different when Michael E. Gouge attended UNC Asheville in the 1980s.

The college offered classes in print, radio, television and public relations, and there were plenty of jobs available in each specialization. After Gouge graduated from UNCA, he worked at a series of daily newspapers, including Hendersonville Times-News

Today, UNCA mass communication students can take classes on podcasting, social media, the application of artificial intelligence in the media industry and even “personal branding.” They may never work at a daily newspaper during their career, let alone any newspaper. And Gouge, a senior lecturer of mass communication at his alma mater, sees a commonality among his students who are training to enter an industry that has changed so much: They’re adaptable.

“They grew up in this digital world where they’re accustomed to [newness],” Gouge says. “It’s not like the old way where you did an internship and then worked for 20 years at the same organization.” He thinks the expanded media landscape presents more avenues in which students can pursue a career. Up-and-coming journalists might make a podcast, a YouTube channel, a newsletter or a blog on WordPress.

Flexibility and creativity may be key for current media students: The news industry eliminated over over 2,600 jobs in 2023, according to a report from the job market analysis firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas Inc. In January alone, 528 journalists across print, broadcast and digital media were laid off, according to a more recent report.

“I don’t necessarily encourage people to go into [journalism], and I say that as a former reporter,” says Beck Banks, Warren Wilson College assistant professor of communications and faculty supervisor of the student newspaper The Echo. “If a student really wants to go into [the field], absolutely, I’ll support them. It’s just good to know how rocky the terrain is right now.”

POPULAR DESPITE PROBLEMS

Despite the bleak numbers, some young people continue to pursue the field. Warren Wilson College offers communications classes and is offering its first mass communications undergraduate degree program, led by Banks. “By the time the program starts in fall 2024, I anticipate communications will be on the path to becoming a very popular major at Warren Wilson,” he says. Ten students have already declared mass communications majors, he says.

At UNCA, the number of students with majors in mass communications increased from 83 to 94 in the previous year, Gouge says. The increase comes amid decreases in overall enrollment at UNCA, he notes.

At North Buncombe High School, English teacher Jenny Zimmerman is watching student media classes grow. Five years ago, Zimmerman and some students taught themselves about video production and revived an old broadcast show focused on school news called “Black Hawk Broadcasting.” (Episodes can be viewed at avl.mx/dfq.) Her students produce news segments for an eightto 10-minute broadcast, which has two co-anchors. A new show is completed every two to three weeks, and faculty members are asked to play it during their first-period classes.

Working on “Black Hawk Broadcasting” production and yearbook production are combined into one class called Broadcast Journalism and Yearbook. (North Buncombe does a more journalistic-style yearbook, Zimmerman says, containing articles and interviews in addition to photographs.) But this year, she began teaching a Journalism 101 class about news writing, features and reviews. Zimmerman will reprise the class next year. And the school is in the process of launching North Buncombe Now, a news website that it hopes to debut this spring.

‘A CALLING’

UNCA junior Sarah Booth was drawn to journalism in college after taking a news writing class and says she wants “to do something meaningful with my writing.” She’s an arts

writer for the school’s newspaper, The Blue Banner

“One of the things that [professor] Gouge tells us is ‘seek the truth and report it,’” she says. “When I see people that are being oppressed, then I have to uplift those voices.” For her, it meant writing about the drag community, which she’s connected to through a lifelong friend.

Alexandra Gore, a Warren Wilson College freshman and assistant editor at The Echo, explores her interest in sociology through journalism. She’s written about political activism, minority groups and voting rights. “If I’m going to have a public platform to publish things, I want to be doing good in the world,” Gore says.

She’s interested in reporting on international issues. “People on the border, who are being put in camps and put in cages and starved for days is something that doesn’t [get enough attention],” Gore says. “I would feel like I’m not doing what I need to be doing if I’m not showing the world what needs to be shown.”

‘I’M WILLING TO SACRIFICE’

In the past three decades, the traditional media business model fell apart as the internet took most of its advertising and people began getting their news through ever-splintered social media.

Once upon a time, many towns had competing newspapers that “were all trying to scoop each other,” Banks recalls. Now, he says, millions of Americans live in a news desert.

According to The Expanding News Desert, a project by the Knight Foundation and UNC, in 2020 over half of the counties in the U.S. had only one newspaper, and 200 counties had no newspapers at all. In 2004, North Carolina had 198 newspapers — 47 daily, 151 weekly. The state lost one-fifth of its newspapers by 2019 when 154 newspapers — 43 daily, 111 weekly — were still running.

Students studying journalism who spoke with Xpress say they understand that jobs in the media industry don’t pay well. Evannes Edmonson, a senior majoring in mass communications at UNCA who writes for The Blue Banner, says, “Definitely it has been tricky to navigate what journalism would be like as I graduate — finding a job that pays the bills but is also fulfilling.”

Cody Ferguson, a junior at UNCA, writes for The Blue Banner and is starting a podcast with an editor. He wants to become a radio host, although “you don’t hear the best things about long-term career jour-

nalism. It’s really a difficult area to be in. ”

Gore says she accepts that journalism probably won’t be remunerative or stable. “Of course, this could change, but I’m willing to sacrifice being a little bit all over the place and maybe I’ll be freelancing or job-hopping or having two jobs in order to be a journalist,” she says.

BIG DREAMS: “A lot of young people want to be civically involved,” says Beck Banks, Warren Wilson College assistant professor of communications. “The call that people have to go into journalism, it’s usually coming from a phenomenal place.” Photo courtesy of Mary Bates

a reporter — even though I definitely faced issues.”

Gore hasn’t experienced harassment writing for The Echo, but she has gotten “hate comments” when writing about racial justice topics. To her, pushback is an indication of a story’s impact. Gore explains, “It’s been cool to see that people are reading and caring enough to leave hate comments.”

She acknowledges that journalism can be a dangerous field. In 2022, a reporter in Las Vegas was murdered by a government official he had been investigating. The International Federation of Journalists, a worldwide coalition of media workers, reports 94 journalists had been killed in 2023, with the majority killed in Israel and Gaza, followed by Central and South America. Worldwide, nearly 400 journalists were imprisoned last year, IFJ reports.

“We have journalists in Gaza right now covering the genocide happening,” Gore says. “That is truly putting your life on the line in the name of representing the truth and what’s going on in the world.”

‘PUMPED UP AND FIRED UP’

Ada Lambert, editor-in-chief of The Echo at Warren Wilson, says she realizes she may need a second job if she pursues journalism as a career. But that’s not her only concern about working in the media. “It’s hard to catch people’s attention these days — the attention economy, it’s very intimidating,” she says. “I love to read, but I know not everyone does.”

Ferguson, like many students who spoke with Xpress, is undeterred. “Everything’s a challenge,” he says. “This is just a challenge that I’m good at.”

A TURBULENT CAREER

Banks wants young people thinking of going into journalism to be aware of the psychological risks and safety concerns of the work. “I make sure to talk to students about the amount of reported harassment that’s been on the rise or at least has been on the rise since it’s been studied,” he explains.

Banks cites 2022 research from The International Center for Journalists, a nonprofit that supports journalists worldwide, that found two-thirds to 75% of women working as reporters worldwide face online harassment. “We expect reporters to protect us and [keep] us in the know, but there isn’t a whole lot that’s coming from the audience for helping them,” Banks says. “It kind of breaks my heart a bit, just because I loved being

Zimmerman, the North Buncombe High teacher, has had several students continue with journalism in college.

“Even if the state of [the media industry] is rough or in flux, they love it so much,” Zimmerman says. “Like teaching, I think journalism is a calling. And it’s something that if you have that passion, it doesn’t matter.”

Zimmerman says guest speakers who work in journalism may bring up challenges within the media industry, but she doesn’t, explaining, “We want to encourage them and be pumped up and fired up about what they do.” But she suspects her students are aware; they’re bright and attentive to the world around them.

Although Banks cautions about the difficulties of the industry, he knows firsthand that “the payoff you get from being a reporter is tremendous.” He makes sure students understand that journalism skills — research, listening, writing — can be applied to other careers with higher pay and better quality of life.

He’s seen an increase in “a desire to do good in the world” since he first taught a journalism class in 2015, he explains.

“A lot of young people want to be civically involved,” Banks says. “The call that people have to go into journalism, it’s usually coming from a phenomenal place.” X

WINNER, WINNER: The Echo Editor-in-chief Ada Lambert holds an award the Warren Wilson College student newspaper won for best online news publication at the 2024 N.C. College Media Conference in February. Photo courtesy of Lambert

MARCH. 13 - MARCH. 21, 2024

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-only events

 More info, page 51

 More info, page 54

 More info, page 56-57

WELLNESS

Therapeutic Recreation

Adult Morning Movement

Active games, physical activities, and sports for individuals with disabilities ages 17 and over. Advanced registration at avlrec. com required.

WE (3/13, 20), 10am, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Community Yoga & Mindfulness

Free monthly event with Inspired Change Yoga that will lead you into a morning of breathwork, meditation and yoga. Bring your own mat.

WE (3/13), 11:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Tai Chi for Balance

A gentle Tai Chi exercise class to help improve balance, mobility, and quality of life. All ages are welcome.

WE (3/13, 20), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Free Zumba Gold

Fitness program that involves cardio and Latin-inspired dance. Free, but donations for the instructor are appreciated. For more information please call

(828) 350-2058.

WE (3/13, 20), noon, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Tai Chi Fan

This class helps build balance and whole body awareness. All ages and ability levels welcome. Fans will be provided.

WE (3/13, 20), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Kitten Yoga

Bring your yoga mat and recharge your energy while being assaulted by adorable, adoptable kittens.

WE (3/13), 6pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Tai Chi for Beginners

A class for anyone interested in Tai Chi and building balance, whole body awareness and other health benefits.

TH (3/14, 21), MO (3/18), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Nia Dance Fitness

A sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts.

TH (3/14, 21), 9:30am, TU (3/19), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

CELTIC ROCK CONCERT: Folkmoot in Waynesville hosts Celtic rock group Eireann’s Call on Thursday, March 14, at 7 p.m.

The ensemble will perform “traditional Celtic tunes with amazing grooves and sizzling arrangements” that invoke the spirit of Ireland and Scotland, promises Folkmoot,. Photo courtesy of Folkmoot

Qigong for Health

A part of traditional Chinese medicine that involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind and spirit.

FR (3/15), TU (3/19), 9am, SA (3/16), 11am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Yoga for Everyone

A free-in person yoga class for all ages and abilities that is led by alternating teachers. Bring your own mat and water bottle.

Registration required. SA (3/16), 9:30am, Black Mountain Presbyterian, 117 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Magnetic Minds: Depression & Bipolar Support Group

A free peer-led meeting for those living with depression, bipolar, and related mental health challenges. Email depressionbipolarasheville@gmail.com or call or text (828) 367-7660 for more info. SA (3/16), 2pm, 1316 Ste C Parkwood Rd

Yoga Nidra

A deeply restorative healing state that will release tension, enhance your vital life source, and leave you with a greater sense of peace and wellbeing.

SA (3/16), 8pm, Asheville Salt Cave, 16 N Liberty St

Yoga Taco Mosa

Donation based yoga with Clare Desmelik. Bring your mat, a water bottle and an open heart.

SU (3/17), 10am, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

Advanced Mobility Seminar

An informative mobility basics seminar, during which you will be put through different mobility techniques.

SU (3/17), 2pm, Black Mountain YMCA, 25 Jane Jacobs Rd Black Mountain Barre Fusion

A high energy low impact practice that shapes, sculpts, and tones the body like a dancer. No experience necessary, open to all

levels.

MO (3/18), 10am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

ART

Spark of the Eagle

Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson

This exhibition celebrates the legacy of Lambert Wilson, a passionate collector of contemporary Native American art. Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through June 28, 2024

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

Agony & Ecstasy: Images of Conscience by Janette Hopper

These linoleum prints show the agony and ecstasy of human life. The love, sorrow, conflict, beauty, enjoyment of nature, contemplation of what is, was and could be and political commentary. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 11am and Sunday, 1 pm. Exhibition through May 31.

Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 850 Blue Ridge Rd, Black Mountain

Asheville’s Naturalist: Watercolors by Sallie Middleton

This exhibition features a selection of botanical and wildlife prints by renowned watercolor artist Sallie Middleton.

Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through June 10.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Mandala Madness III

A third biannual showcase of Mandala artwork that features collections of hypnotizing, meditative and geometric pieces. Open daily, noon. Exhibition through May 5.

Foundation Studios, 27 Foundy St

Julieta Fumberg: Of Chaos & Peace, Beauty in Both Fumberg's most recent exhibit portrays darkness to see the light and the contrast of things. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, noon. Exhibition runs through May 5.

Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St

Sov·er·eign·ty: Expressions in Sovereignty of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

This exhibition educates visitors about the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ autonomy, its relationship with the federal government, and how the tribe has defined its own relationship with its land, people, and culture.

Gallery open daily, 9am. Exhibition through Feb. 28, 2025.

Museum of the Cherokee People, 589 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee

Vera B. Williams: Stories

This retrospective will showcase the complete range of award-winning author and illustrator Vera B. Williams' life and work. It will highlight her time at Black Mountain College, her political activism in addition to her work as an author and illustrator. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through May 11, 2024.

Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St American Art in the Atomic Age: 1940–1960

This exhibition features works created during the 1940s–1960s. Much of the art during this time expressed the uncertainty of the era, often relying on automatism and biomorphic forms. Gallery open daily,

11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through April 29, 2024.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

The New Salon: A Contemporary View

A modern take on the prestigious tradition of the Parisian Salon with the diversity and innovation of today’s art world. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through Aug. 19. See p57

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Western North Carolina Glass: Selections from the Collection

Western North Carolina is important in the history of American glass art. A variety of techniques and a willingness to push boundaries of the medium can be seen in this selection of works. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through April 15, 2024.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

2024 Western North Carolina Scholastic Art Awards

The Museum works to facilitate regional judging of student artwork and to recognize our community’s burgeoning artistic talent. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through March 25.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Counter/Balance: Gifts of John & Robyn Horn

A presentation of important examples of contemporary American craft, including woodworking, metalsmithing, fiber and pottery by renowned American artists. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through July. 29, 2024.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Daily Craft Demonstrations

Two artists of different media will explain and demonstrate their craft with informative materials displayed at their booths, daily. These free and educational opportunities are open to the public. Open daily, 10am. Demonstrations run through Dec. 31.

Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Pkwy

Focus Gallery Exhibit: Art of Detailing

The Southern Highland Craft Guild opens its first focus gallery exhibition of 2024 with Art of Detailing, featuring both traditional and contemporary craft by five members of the Guild. Open daily, 10am. Exhibition through May 20, 2024. Folk Art Center, 382 Blue Ridge Pkwy

Rob Yamabushi Presents: The Chimera Art Show

The show will feature never before seen originals, custom canvas prints, and much more. The Chimera is a reference to the multi-headed poly-crisis reality of our modern world. Gallery open Monday through Sunday, noon. Exhibition through March 31.

Push Skate Shop & Gallery, 25 Patton Ave

56th Annual Juried

Undergraduate Exhibition

This exhibition is an extraordinary opportunity for WCU undergraduate students to share their artwork with a larger public and to enhance their skills in presenting artwork in a professional gallery setting. Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through March 22, 2024.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts

Exhibition

Featured in this exhibit are Arrowmont’s nationally and internationally recognized practicing artists and university workshop instructors. Open daily, 10am. Exhibition through May 1, 2024.

Folk Art Center, 382 Blue Ridge Pkwy

Chris Jehly: The Soil's Gaze

An exhibition of pleinair watercolor paintings by Chris Jehly, unveils the artist’s serendipitous moments painting outdoors where nothing ever stands completely still. Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through April 14.

Tyger Tyger Gallery, 191 Lyman St, Ste 144

Emerging Artists

View a display of the work of award-winning artist and instructor Bob Travers and his students in this annual Emerging Artists exhibit. Gallery open Monday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through March 22.

Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

Third Thursday: Open Studio Social

Third Thursdays are opportunities for artists to network, share ideas, and create together with extended gallery hours.

TH (3/21), 5pm, Foundation Studios, 27 Foundy St

Public Tour: Discovering Art in Asheville

A volunteer educator led tour of the Museum's Collection through the featured exhibition Intersections in American Art. No reservations are required.

TH (3/21), 6pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

COMMUNITY MUSIC

Citizen Swing w/ Connor Law & Kelle

Jolly

The fun starts with some cool, old jazz vinyl, and then continues with live sets by Connor Law and Kelle Jolly.

WE (3/13), 6pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave

Christine Havrilla

Philly musician brings her own special style for a super psychedelic evening of singing and guitar playing.

WE (3/13), 7:30pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr

Folkmook Presents: Eireann's Call

A powerful ensemble performing traditional

Celtic tunes with amazing grooves and sizzling arrangements.

TH (3/14), 7pm, Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Ave, Waynesville

Banrigh Celtic Harp Ensemble w/Sue Richards

Specializing in Celtic music; jigs, hornpipes and airs of Ireland and Scotland, and they play in duo's, trios, and full ensemble.

TH (3/14), 7:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Leeda Lyric Jones

A community conversation, followed directly by live music from Leeda Lyric Jones, a singer-songwrier and musician.

FR (3/15), 6:30pm, LEAF Global Arts, 19 Eagle St

A Musical Celebration of Yeshua (Jesus)

Local Gospel men's choir perform a special musical celebration of Yeshua also known as Jesus.

FR (3/15), 7pm, First Baptist Church of Weaverville, 63 N Main St, Weaverville

ACMS Presents: Aris Quartett

Celebrate all things string quartet at this performance that captivates audiences with virtuosic musicianship on violin, viola and cello.

FR (3/15), 7:30pm, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place

Asheville High School Jazz Band

This special concert is not just an opportunity to revel in the magic of live jazz but also a chance to contribute to the growth and development of the ACS Bands. Proceeds from the event will directly support the ACS Bands.

FR (3/15), 7:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Drum Major Instinct

With Arnal on percussion and Cloninger on modular synthesizer, the Asheville-based duo have honed in on a sound that encompasses waves of energy.

SA (3/16), 2pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave

Free Planet Radio w/ Jake Wolf & Reggie Headen

A dynamic and genre-defying band that blends elements of jazz, world music, and improvisation into a gorgeous and exciting musical experience.

SA (3/16), 7:30pm, AyurPrana Listening Room, 312 Haywood Rd

Hot House Holler

Asheville’s own super group Hot House Holler brings sexy Django Rhinehardt-inspired jazz swing with a touch of bluegrass to mesmerize audiences. See p56

SA (3/16), 7pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O’Henry Ave

Celtic Hymns of Ireland: the Holy & Unholy

An afternoon of sacred and bawdy tunes in keeping with the humor, hilarity, and holiness of the nation of Ireland.

SU (3/17), 2pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

SuperWoman Sundays

Each week will highlight powerful female artists who will perform for an hour before opening the stage for collaboration and open mic.

SU (3/17), 2pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

Asheville Community Band Presents: Bernstein Meets Gershwin

The Asheville Community band celebrates the work of American composers Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin with a selection of high energy favorites.

SU (3/17), 3:30pm, Erwin High School, 60 Lees Creek Rd

Asheville Jazz Orchestra

An evening of big band music featuring tunes from the swing era to the present day.

SU (3/17), 7:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Local Live Series: Jay Brown

A bi-weekly local live series featuring a variety of talented local musicians.

MO (3/18), 7pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Wise Words: Open Mic You can rhyme or not, tell a story, sing a song, or even get something off your chest in a creative way.

TU (3/19), 6pm, Dr Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St

LITERARY

The Language of God: Book Study A testament to the power of faith in the midst of suffering without faltering from its logical stride. .

TU (3/19), 10am, Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 6th Ave W, Hendersonville

Asheville Storyslam: Dazzled

Prepare a five-minute story of a time you sparkled. Share your

shiniest, knock out memories that no one believes or the moments that prove that all that glitters is gold.

TH (3/21), 7:30pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

THEATER & FILM

Film Screening:

Assemblage (1968) w/ Merce Cunningham & Richard Moore

A screening of Assemblage, a film created in 1968 by BMC faculty member Merce Cunningham and renowned KQED producer Richard Moore.

TH (3/14), 7pm, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St

The Campfireball: Fate A storytelling show involving the audience and created spontaneously out of whatever stories and lives happen to be gathered together at that moment in time.

TH (3/14), 7:30pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd

Southside Family Movie Night

Enjoy family-friendly blockbusters with freshly popped popcorn and drinks.

FR (3/15), 6pm, Dr Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

The best-selling book series comes to life in this electrifying musical featuring mythical creatures, gods, demi-gods, and a thrilling quest.

See p51

FR (3/15), SA (3/16), 7:30pm, SU (3/17), 2pm, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville

Jen Silverman: Witch

A charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes.

See p51

FR (3/15), SA (3/16), WE (3/20), TH (3/21), 7:30pm, SU (3/17), NC Stage Co., 15 Stage Ln

Rainy Night Theatre

Presents: The Irish Inquisition

Adult comedy night, featuring 10 comics from the Southeast.

SA (3/16), 6:30pm, Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 850 Blue Ridge Rd, Black Mountain

Asheville Fringe

Arts Festival: Poetry Cabaret

A troupe of poets, dancers, and musicians creating wild and intelligent shows that challenge norms and enlighten minds.

TH (3/21), 7pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave Asheville

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Asheville Fringe Arts Festival: Toybox Theatre

Fan Favorite Toybox Theatre returns to The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival with a hilarious and bizarre new puppet play.

TH (3/21), 9pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave Stroke of Genius: Pantomine Masturbation

Throughout Performing Arts History

An award-winning satire of academia and art tours that is coming to Asheville Fringe Fest.

TH (3/21), 9pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

Etowah Library

Speaker Series: Are You Bearwise?

Tanya Poole of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will discuss the natural history of black bears in western North Carolina and how you can use that information to safely coexist with them.

WE (3/13), 10:30am, Etowah Public Library, 101 Brickyard Rd Tot Time

Take an express tour of the galleries, then go on an adventure with art, music, or storytelling in the Museum’s interactive Art PLAYce.

WE (3/13), 11:30am, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Youth Beginner

Climbing

A three-week instructional climbing class designed for beginners. Advanced registration is required for participants.

WE (3/13, 20), 12:30pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Eightfold Path Study Group

A group will gather to study the Eightfold Path Program. Kris Kramer will host the group as a fellow participant and student.

WE (3/13, 20), 3pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

pants of all ages and all abilities are welcome.

WE (3/13, 20), 4pm and 5:30pm, Amethyst Realm, 244 Short Coxe Ave

Dungeons & Drafts

Enjoy drinks, adventure, and company to play D&D with premade characters for you to choose from when you arrive so you can jump into the action.

WE (3/13), 6pm, Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr Toddler Craftin' Through the Season

Learn to make toddler-friendly crafts designed for spring days. Light snacks provided, but advance registration required.

WE (3/13), 6pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

ABBC Networking Event w/Focus on Leadership A networking meeting featuring a monthly Guest Speaker. For March, Jennifer Maneely discusses overcoming addiction.

TH (3/14), noon, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Kids & Teens Kung Fu

Learn fighting skills as well as conflict resolution and mindfulness. First class is free to see if it’s a good fit for you.

TH (3/14, 21), MO (3/18), TU (3/19), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Intro To Belly Dance w/Diana Stone

This intro class is intended to help us connect deeply with and love our bodies and to find freedom of movement and improved health and expression. It is for all ages, abilities and bodies.

TH (3/14, 21), noon, The Well, 3 Louisiana Bingo-nasium

Bring your friends for a night of bingo in the gym.

TH (3/14), 2pm, Asheville Parks and Recreation, 70 Court Plaza

The Autism Consultant: What You Wish Your Doctor Knew About Autism?

A free presentation about the medical issues that we see in people on the autism spectrum and how to advocate for screenings from your primary care doctor.

WE (3/13), 4:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Aerial Silks Foundations

Learn how to properly ascend, descend, and create stunning shapes on the silks while emphasizing safety and proper form. Partici-

cheeseboard skills for you to use at home.

TH (3/14), 6:30pm, Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr

Dharma Talk: Paul Linn Meditation followed by a Dharma talk on Buddhist principles applied to daily life. Beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome.

TH (3/14), 6:30pm,

Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Nerd Nite Asheville

Each month, a rotating cast of knowledgeable characters talk about a topic they are uniquely educated in.

TH (3/14), 7pm,The

River Arts District Brewing Co., 13 Mystery St

Monthly Belay Clinic

This hour long clinic covers the basics of knot tying, gear checks, and belaying using the PBUS technique. You are encouraged to bring someone to climb with, but it is not a requirement.

FR (3/15), 6pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Teen Egg Glow Hunt

A night of adventure, glowing eggs, and prizes. Afterwards, the fun continues in the gym with teen bounce houses, inflatables, and pizza to burn off any extra energy.

FR (3/15), 6pm, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

Teen Night: Pizza & Trivia

Teen Trivia features questions on history, movies, television shows, sports, and science with cool and unique prizes as well as pizza.

FR (3/15), 6:30pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

competition with the community.

SA (3/16), 1pm, Dr Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St

Bingo

Small prizes awarded to winners of each game.

SA (3/16), 1pm, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Huntington's Disease Coffee Meetup

A casual coffee meetup where HD Reach Family Advisory Member, Jess, meets with people impacted by Huntington's disease.

SA (3/16), 2pm, Camden's Coffee House, 40 N Main St, Mars Hill

The Kootie Lounge Presents: Wingman Night

An epic night of connections and laughs as you bring your A-game and your biggest cheerleader to a one-of-a-kind wing night.

SA (3/16), 7pm, Haiku AVL, 26 Sweeten Creek Rd

Women's Hike: Strawberry Gap Trail

An outdoor meetup for women, people who identify as women, and nonbinary folk who want to connect with and celebrate each other. No hiking experience is required.

SU (3/17), 9:30am, Asheville Recreation Park, 65 Gashes Creek Rd

Weekly Sunday Scrabble Club

Weekly scrabble play. All scrabble gear provided. SU (3/17), 1:30pm, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Instructions for Living a Life

Green Drinks: Sustainability Initiatives for Hendersonville Hendersonville

Sustainability Manager

Caitlyn Gendusa will discuss various sustainability initiatives the city is working on, including updates on zero and low emission transportation, waste management, energy efficiency, and more.

TH (3/14), 5:30pm, Trailside Brewing Co, 873 Lennox Park Dr, Hendersonville

Charcuterie Workshop

101: Intro to Building your own Board

A special beer release and charcuterie workshop that will have you leaving with the best

Opioids in the Black Community: Removing the Silence Event Participants can look forward to a presentations from local medical experts, panel discussion with those with lived experiences, and training to address the rising Opioid Crisis.

SA (3/16), 9:30am, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, 40 Coxe Ave

Popcorn Creation Bar

Start with freshly-made traditional popcorn and then make every kernel a work of art. Craft your own popcorn delicacy with an array of gourmet toppings and seasonings.

SA (3/16), SU (3/17),11am, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Bid Whist

Make bids, call trumps, and win tricks. Every Saturday for fun

Learn how to elevate your moral imagination, creativity and moral courage as we seek to act more ethically in society.

SU (3/17), 2:30pm, Ethical Humanist Society, 227 Edgewood Rd Women's Sovereignty

Circle

A donation based group for women that explores topics such as boundaries, discernment, feminine power, identifying needs and desires, and more.

MO (3/18), 10:30am, The Well, 3 Louisiana Ave

Wildlife, Natural Disturbance & Forest Management in the Southern Appalachians

An overview of research results addressing effects of wind disturbance, wildfire, prescribed fire, repeated burns, and regeneration harvests on breeding birds, reptiles and amphibians in southern Appalachian hardwood forests.

MO (3/18), noon, Bent

Creek Experimental Forest Training Center, 1577 Brevard Rd

Sketchbook Club

A bi-monthly gathering for sharing inspiration and collaborating on drawings while developing a consistent sketchbook.

MO (3/18), 6pm, Foundation Studios, 27 Foundy St

Therapeutic Recreation

Adult Crafting & Cooking

A variety of cooking and crafts for individuals with disabilities, ages 17 and over.

Advance registration at avlrec.com is required.

TU (3/19), 10am, Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd

The State of Downtown

This year's event promises an in-depth look into the heart of Asheville's Downtown, offering valuable insights into the community's views and visions for the future.

TU (3/19), 11am, Burial Beer Co., 40 Collier Ave

Women for Women

Spring Social

Come learn about the Women for Women philanthropic giving circle and enjoy an evening out with like-minded women.

TU (3/19), 5pm, The Hound Lounge, 2 Tunnel Rd

History Hour: The Rumbling Mountain of 1874

In the mountains of the eastern edge of the Hickory Nut Gorge it began to thunder and shake. Many locals supposedly panicked, thinking the world was ending or a volcano was set to erupt. Register at avl.mx/dgx. See p57

TU (3/19), 6pm, Online

Spring Equinox Color Magick Tie Dye Class

The Moth Queen will lead a small intimate class where you'll get your hands dirty in the magick to learn someting new. Materials are included.

TU (3/19), 6pm, Canopy Gallery in Art Garden, 191 Lyman St, Ste 316

Asheville Women’s Ways Circle

A new local chapter of the Women’s Ways Circle is reviving the ancient tradition of women gathering together for support and spiritual exploration.

TU (3/19), 7pm,The Well, 3 Louisiana Ave

Change Your Palate Cooking Demo

This free lunchtime food demonstration is open to ALL but tailored towards those with type 2 diabetes or hypertension and/

or their caretakers. Our featured host is Change Your Palate's very own Shaniqua Simuel.

WE (3/20), noon, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Greenway Walking Club

All ages, sizes, and cultural backgrounds welcome to connect neighbors while walking as a group to better health. Advance registration required.

WE (3/20), 5:30pm, Weaver Park, 200 Murdock Ave

The Foxy Chef: A Night of Vegan Cooking

Two local chefs create a night of delicious vegan cooking.

TH (3/21), 5:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Empowerment

Collective Presents: Kahlani Jackson & Trina Gragg-Jackson

Connect with like-minded women and engage in empowering conversations that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted.

TH (3/21), 6pm, Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr

WNC Past & Present: Eastern Cherokee Women in Resistance & Activism; Challenges

Met Dr. Susan Abram's compelling presentation is set to delve into the formidable hurdles encountered by Eastern Cherokee women.

TH (3/21), 6pm, Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain

Dharma Talk: Michael Scardaville

Michael will give a Dharma Talk, a teaching on Buddhist based wisdom. After the talk, there will be time to share and ask questions.

TH (3/21), 6:30pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Spring Equinox Movement Ritual

Inviting the wisdom of our own bodies, we will set the intention to break out of old habits that are holding us back, bringing forth new beginnings, and dancing it into being.

TH (3/21), 6:30pm, Asia House, 119 Coxe Ave

Transcend w/Tarot

A three-part series to learn about the world of tarot from a professional teacher. Advance registration required.

TH (3/21), 7pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

LOCAL MARKETS

RAD Farmers Market

Winter Season

Browse 30+ local vendors all winter long with fresh produce, pastured meats, baked goods, honey, and more. Safely accessible by bike or foot on the greenway, plus free public parking along Riverside Drive. WE (3/13, 20), 3pm, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr

Art & Craft Supply

Bazaar Browse art & craft materials, tools from sewing & quilting, jewelry making, printmaking, candle making, floral design, knit & crochet and more. See p57 FR (3/15), SA (3/16), SU (3/17), 11:30am, plēb urban winery, 289 Lyman St

Plant Club Pop-Up Market

Each month will feature 6-10 different growers and makers offering a wide array of plant products. SA (3/16), 11am, Canopy Gallery in Art Garden, 191 Lyman St, Ste 316

Makers Market

Discover a vibrant gathering of talented artisans showcasing their one-of-a-kind creations. SA (3/16), 1pm, Archetype Brewing, 265 Haywood Rd

Lingerie Soirée: Spring Awakening

Celebrate spring with an aphrodisiac bar, a private budoir photo booth, a VavaVooom raffle basket, and more. SA (3/16), 8pm, Asheville Beauty Academy, 28 Broadway St

Ashevile Punk Flea

A pop-up flea market featuring vendors from local and surrounding areas with cool art, records and more. SU (3/17), noon, Fleetwood's, 496 Haywood Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Pie for Pi Day

Enter your best pie to win prizes or join to sample and vote for the best tasting pie. Registration required for pie bakers. TH (3/14), 6pm, Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St

St. Patrick’s Nightmare

A weekend long celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Don thy green attire, summon thy friends, and join the fun for a weekend of luck and special drinks.

FR (3/15), SA (3/16), SU (3/17), 1pm, Dssolvr, 63 N Lexington Ave

St. Waggy's Day

Refreshments provided for canines and humans with giveaways, music, festive decor, and the chance to win prizes for best dog costume.

FR (3/15), 5pm, Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St

M.A.G.M.A: Land of Sky Gem Show

Browse vendors specializing in minerals, moldavite, rocks, handmade silver jewelry, trinitite, meteorites, fossils, old collections, lapidary equipment and more. Free and open to the public.

FR (3/15), SA (3/16), SU (3/17), 10am, 9am, Land of Sky Shrine Club, 39 Spring Cove Rd, Swannanoa

National Quilt Day: Quilt Show 2024

A quilt show of challenge quilts made by guild members. This year is a magazine challenge and viewers will be the judge.

SA (3/16), 10am, Blue Ridge Mall, 1800 Four Seasons Blvd, Hendersonville

Spring Equinox: Mini-Fly

This experience shares a taste of everything that Firefly is known for: earthskills, expert instructors, live music, local flavors and ample time for a dance party.

SA (3/16), 4pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

St Patrick's Day Bar Crawl

The ultimate St. Paddy's Bar Crawl in Asheville. Grab your leprechaun, Shamrock, pot of gold, and crazy St. Patrick's Day costumes for a fun night of drinks, beads and partying.

SA (3/16), 4pm, Catawba Brewing Co. S Slope Asheville, 32 Banks Ave

St. Paddy's Party w/ Burnt Reputation Duo Burnt Reputation will play an acoustic set of rock and pop covers to celebrate St. Paddy's Day.

SA (3/16), 6pm, Mad Co. Brew House, 45 North Main St, Marshall

9th Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration

Celebrating Irish traditional music featuring The Southern Highlanders, The Belfast Boys, Bob Hinkle, and the White Horse Irish Session group with two shows.

SA (3/16), 6:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl

Urban Orchard will be offering fun St. Patty's Day specials and hosting pub crawls over the weekend.

SU (3/17), Urban Orchard Cider Co. South Slope, 24 Buxton Ave

St. Patrick's Day Celebration

Annual St Patrick's Day celebration featuring traditional Irish food, drinks and live Irish music all day. See p54 SU (3/17), 10am, Jack

Of The Wood Pub, 95 Patton Ave

Mimosa Fest

Enjoy a live DJ, brunch food menu, themed mimosa flavors and more.

SU (3/17), noon, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

St. Patrick's Day Party w/Los Gun Show & Lyndsay Pruett Express

Celebrate with local supergroup Los Gun Show & Lyndsay Pruett Express as well as DJ sets. There will also be an adult and pet fashion show, coin-hole game and Irish jig dance contest.

SU (3/17), noon, The Outpost, 521 Amboy Rd

Turgua Brewing’s 7th Anniversary Party

Celebrating seven years of Turgua Brewing with live music by classic rock band, Karma Dogs

and food from Sabora and Wicked Good Pretzels.

SU (3/17), noon, Turgua Brewing Co., 3131 Cane Creek Rd

St. Patrick’s Day w/AL “StumpWater” Lyons

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with Irish/Celting tunes, along with a eclectic blend of acoustic covers, originals, and classical themes.

SU (3/17), 2pm, Blue Ridge Beer Garden, 402 S Church St, Hendersonville

St. Patrick's Day Treasure Hunt: Walking Team Scavenger Hunt

Use your treasure map to follow clues, solve puzzles, and crack codes on this unique themed scavenger hunt in Downtown, Asheville.

SU (3/17), 3pm, Dssolvr, 63 N Lexington Ave

Asheville Fringe Arts Festival Preview Party

The 22nd year for Asheville Fringe, who returns again to present a hand-picked selection of strange and wonderful work that lies outside the mainstream.

WE (3/20), 6pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave

Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

Celebrating 22 years of experimental, unusual, and out-of-the-box art. Featuring more than 60 performances, including dance, theater, puppetry, music, film, and things that defy definition. One World West is a venue for performances and after party this date.

TH (3/21), 7pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

Divine Intervention:

The Game Show

A 90-minute game show that channels the spirit of the classic Family Feud but with a fabulous twist. This event is a fundraiser with all profits being donated to Our VOICE.

TH (3/14), 7pm, New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St

Bowl For Kids' Sake: Cherokee County

Each bowler is asked to donate or raise a minimum of $50 in donations. The theme for this year is Support Your Sport with the opportunity to dress in your favorite sports

gear, team jersey or sports hero.

SA (3/16), 9am, UltraStar Multi-tainment Center, 777 Casino Dr, Cherokee

Empty Bowls Benefit for Food Pantry

This grassroots movement by artists and craftspeople has grown to cities and towns around the world to raise money for food related charities to care for and feed the hungry in their communities.

SA (3/16), 4pm, Marshall High Studios, 115 Blanahassett Island Rd, Marshall

Asheville Drag Brunch:

St. Patty's Day Edition

Indulge in the festive spirit with dazzling performances and delightful brunch by The Sweet Monkey. All proceeds go to the Tzedek Social Justice Fund.

SU (3/17), 1pm, The Hideaway, 49 Broadway St

SPARC After Dark

An annual fundraiser party hleping to bring focus to a shared vision of a healthier, safer, and stronger community.

TH (3/21), 6pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd Ste 10

Kids Issue2024

What do you dream about?

We are excited to share Part 1 of this year’s Kids Issues, our annual feature showcasing the creative talents of our local K-12 students. We asked kids and teens to submit art and writing around the theme of “What do you dream about?” We received more than 400 entries from students around the region who attend area public, charter, private, parochial and home schools. Some of these young artists and writers took the question literally and shared their weirdest, funniest and scariest dreams. Others expressed their personal aspirations for the future or their poignant dreams for a better world. Though space limitations prevent us from sharing all the work we received, we hope you enjoy the engaging collection of colorful art, poems, essays and short fiction on the following pages. And be sure to check back next week for more adventurous student art and writing in Part 2, along with our annual guide to area summer camps.

— Xpress Staff X

Another world

I had a dream that every time I went into my closet, there was a whole other world in there. There was a big pool, a rotating restaurant and a bathtub that is made out of glass. And there was an aquarium under it so it looks like you’re in the ocean! There was also a trampoline park, a bowling alley and a basketball hoop. I would only go in there when my parents were not home.

– Isamu

Koufacos, third grade, The Learning Community

Senior season

I dream of my sister, she’s leaving off on her own, without me. I’ll be alone and there will be nothing left to hear but a whisper. There won’t be a scream or a yell, no one to fight and no one to tell.

I dream that when she leaves she won’t really leave me. That she’ll come back for me.

I dream that she won’t forget the moments we had, I dream I won’t get left behind. She takes place in a lot of my dreams good and bad, So sometimes I scream knowing she’ll be gone.

My biggest dream is that I was there for my sister

That I realized sooner how soon she would leave, and how much I truly needed her.

6 is her favorite number ironic,

6 years she lived without me, 6 months left till she’s gone I dream she’ll come back, that she won’t abandon me entirely I dream of life with her every day and I pray every night it stays that way.

–

Alia

Vorbe, sixth grade, Polk County Middle School

My dream

I guess you’re supposed to say something like, I want to have a big house or perfect life and a happy ever after. That’s nice, but my dream is to have my kids never know the weight of a full suitcase and have to unpack the trauma. They’ll know what peace is, they’ll believe in love and respect that love is given freely, not earned, and that respect goes both ways. I want to give them what I never had. I don’t need a big house or a garden, but just a house full of love and laughter, not sorrows and cries. That’s what I want to give them, what we never had. That’s “my dream.”

–

Charity

Collins, seventh grade, FernLeaf Community Charter School

The Christmas Tree Farm

In the future, I see myself working at my family’s Christmas tree farm in Leicester. This means I will be a farm-

er. I will be taking care of the growing trees and land. This is hard work. I will be planting saplings, watering the trees and making sure the trees have lots of sunlight and good soil.

Christmas trees can be expensive, and some people cannot afford Christmas trees. One way I can be helpful to my community would be to give Christmas trees to families for free. By doing this, I could give Christmas spirit and joy to my community.

Another way I could help my community is by teaching others how to farm. I could teach people how to grow a garden. I like to grow tomatoes, berries, corn, radishes and beans. By teaching people how to farm, they can learn how to grow food and become independent. My future self will be a great farmer and teacher to help all the people of Western North Carolina.

– Paddy O’Connell, second grade, Rainbow Community School

LIVING IN THE LIGHT: Kendall Todd, a 10th grade digital photography student at IC Imagine Charter School, created this photo using different types of lights and light wands to create light movement.

WNC’s

NOW ENROLLING

i dream for the soul

I dream about the things I love I dream about the past

I dream about the present I dream about moments that were stolen

I dream about the things that will never will last

I dream about things that are good I dream about childhood

I dream about adulthood

I dream for the soul

– Aliyah Klepac, 10th grade, The Franklin School of Innovation

Guinea pig vs. bad guy

I dreamt about a guinea pig fighting a bad guy. I peeked to see the bad guy. He was like telling us he was going to do something bad. Destroy the world! He disappeared. Oh yeah, I forgot a part of the story. He tried to find him and then he was like, “Oh, no!” and then he disappeared.

– Journey, kindergarten, Francine Delany New School for Children

A dream to pursue

Roses are red Violets are blue

I have a dream only I can pursue It’s where i can make people happy when they are sad; I would say you are really rad

That is my dream i want to pursue Even if i don’t pursue my dream

I will try to

– Aya Taylor, fourth grade, The Learning Community

A great woman

When I grow up, I want to marry a great woman that can work and take care of the kids. I want to have one or two kids. I hope my future wife is independent, brave and smart. I’m going to work and take care of the kids by getting them food and a bunch of other stuff. I can be and will be a good father. That’s my dream when I grow up.

– D’Marcus Blaze Dixon, fifth grade, Isaac Dickson Elementary School

Things never said

Some people say dreams tell of your deepest desires, While others say they are a way to speak to the dead,

But could it really be to endeavor into what was never said?

– Sofia Corda, eighth grade, Polk County Middle School

Helping people

I see my future self as a firefighter. I love the thought of saving lives. My grandfather is a fire chief at a local fire department. He has been a firefighter for over 10 years. He loves his job. He is a good person and he loves saving lives. He is my hero, I love him so much, and I know firefighting can be dangerous. I never want something to happen to him. I want to put out fires with him. He tells me about putting on his gear. He says that it is so easy but

probably not for me. I want to try it sometime. One time he went on a fire, and he told me that this is going to be a bad one. He told me to stay up so he could tell me about it when he got home.

I want to be the best firefighter ever. I want to be a firefighter to save lives and meet new people and help people get out of fires. It might be a hard job, but I am ready for a challenge. I love challenges. I also love going on adventures. Firefighting seems adventurous. By being a firefighter, I can help my mom and my dad when they need it. I am also going to help people in need and help homeless people by giving them food and money. Someday I will be a firefighter.

– Wyatt Robinson, fourth grade, Fairview Elementary School

FOUR THINGS: “I dream of a rainbow, a house and two bunnies,” says Rowan Stevens, who is in second grade at Francine Delany New School for Children.

When I close my eyes

I dream about a world where no one gets sick, where everyone is safe and can live a long and happy life. I know from experience how hard it is when a person you know and love is struggling with a mental health issue or a sickness. So when I close my eyes to think, or when I go to bed, I dream about what life would be like if all the trauma I have gone through in my life never happened, and I wonder if I would be who I am today without it, if it had shaped me into the person I am today, and if so in a good or a bad way. I dream that my autistic twin brother wouldn’t have to go through all the bullying and medical procedures, I wish that I could help him carry that load so he wouldn’t have to do it all on his own. I dream a lot of things every day, I just hope one day that this dream comes true.

– Campbell Carriker, seventh grade, Carolina Day School

The restaurant three blocks down

My mom really loves to cook. I like to help her. I’m hoping that in the future, I can start my own restaurant. I could sell deviled eggs, meats of all kinds, vegetables, sandwiches, drinks and desserts. I would call it “Mama May’s Everything Eatery,” and many people would visit, curious. I’d stand behind the counter with a smile on my face. It would all be freshly cooked, and no one would complain about it being gross or disgusting. Everything would be reasonably priced to encourage more visitors.

I want to be a small business, not a rich, self-righteous place that earns money too quickly. It would be a friendly business, one that cares about every customer’s experience. Not to get more money, but to be kind. My hope is that the restaurant would be

MY DREAMS: “I draw a lot about my feelings and dreams,” writes Ari Huber, a ninth grader at Community High School. “I dream about having a better life than what I do now, and my artwork shows the struggles I go through in life.”

the kind of place you would go to if you wanted to have warm, comforting food, for a good price, to soothe you for the rest of the day. I want everything there to be from different states around the world, with tables and chairs made from bamboo. I want there to be plants everywhere, with luscious leaves and thick stems. I want them to be beautiful and majestic, with their leaves or blooms spreading every which way, to make a beautiful environment for my restaurant. I want this eatery to exist because I want to spread joy throughout the world with food so I can see the smile on people’s faces when they taste the delicious dish. I want to make this world a better place and try to start to end bad feelings. I want people to know that this can happen, that the world can be better. I want the world to know the power of food.

– Adira Wimsett, fifth grade, IC Imagine Charter School

Space

I want to be a space scientist, but I don’t want to go up to space. I want to prepare the people to go to space. I will make their outfits and do everything to help them have a great journey up to space!

– Laela Krisel, third grade, The Learning Community

Hoop dreams

I had a dream that my friend Tucker and I went to the YMCA to play basketball one day. We had so much fun that we went to other places around Asheville and played basketball there. This gave us the best idea of creating a map of all the fun places in Asheville

Come to Cam’s place, because Coffee with friends tastes so much better!

to play basketball and distribute this to kids in the area. We could create an app, called the “Basketball Map,” and it would tell us where the basketball courts are and if kids were there. If we got more kids playing basketball, then maybe the city would make basketball courts everywhere, like in parking garages, on rooftops, in every school, at the mall and shopping stores and hotels. The kids could play while their parents shopped. Basketball is a sport that can be played alone or with others. Next, we will work on scoreboards.

– Holden Lannon, second grade, Rainbow Community School

Adolescence

I see myself as abstract any little accident meaning the world wanting for any and everything hoping to do something astonishing building on things previously destroyed

In the future I hope I’m always interested never annoyed

– Cameron Cook, 10th grade, The Franklin School of Innovation

My Dream for the World

In my dream, there would be no more racism to Black people. And there never would have been people being unfair to Black people and trying to enslave them. Black people deserve better. In my dream, I wish there would be world peace, no more wars and no more people would have to die. Black people could be in more companies so they can give more ideas. All people all around the world can be anything they want and even a president or CEO. If a kind person was president, they could try and make world peace by deciding there would be no more wars or fighting. No one will ever have to get hurt again or die in any wars. In my dream I wish

people would never make fun of somebody because of how they look or how they dress or where they are from, or where they live. You should never make fun of anyone, because you never know what someone is going through on the inside. Someone could have lost a relative or a pet or even their best friend. So we should always be nice to people and never judge or ever be rude. In my dream I also wish people would feed the poor and stop being greedy. Try to share some love with people. It will put a smile on their face or make their day just a little bit better! In my dream I also wish people would start giving to charity more. Giving to charity would just make somebody feel good or make their day just watching the kids playing with the toys. Children are the future.

– Aliza Gittens, fifth grade, Isaac Dickson Elementary School

What I dream of

I have a dream for my future and that’s to be an artist. I love to draw all kinds of people. One day I want to hang my art up in the museums for the world to see and inspire them to be better people.

I once had a dream where I was walking along a cliff, and I slipped and fell and instead of falling down I fell up and started to fly and I flew all the way to the ocean. Then I started to walk on the water.

I also once had a weird dream where I was my mom and my mom was me and I had to take care of my mommy. I also sometimes have the same dream over and over again where I think I’m awake

CONTINUES ON PAGE 30

DREAMING IN COLOR: Parker Wilkes, a 12th grader at The Franklin School of Innovation, created this colorful dreamscape.

HORSING AROUND: Sophia Smith, a sixth grader at Polk County Middle School, painted this scene.

TEA PARTY: Zachary Rose, a 10th grader at The Franklin School of Innovation, dreams of a tea party with some colorful guests.

doing normal stuff but then I’m dreaming.

– Natalia Authier, second grade, Rainbow Community School

Looking out

One day I looked into a tree as I was playing and saw a hawk looking at me and I knew it was watching over me. My dream is that one day all people know that there are others looking out for them, whether it may be family or friends or the creatures around you, like the eagle soaring in the sky. My dream is that even if you don’t have a mother or a dad or even friends to look out for you, there are others on your side, whether it may be a fox or a deer or the hawk or a tree in your yard. It is that you have relatives all around you.

–

Roan

Hannon, sixth grade, Mountain Sun Community School

Again and Again, A Horrifying Scene

I open my eyes to a pure grassy field. I feel as light as a feather blowing in the breeze, but I am really running through a cloud of mist. I find myself by the foot of a mountain. I breathe sweet soft air. I try to step upon the mountain trail, but the world around me starts to spin. I find myself in an old abandoned graveyard. It gives me creepy crawlies and heebie jeebies. I notice that I am standing on the same moonlit grave as the night before. I bite my lip remembering the horrifying night before. I go to run but something is holding me, pulling me down to the grave. Horrified, I scream, but no one is there. Suddenly, I can’t speak. My body freezes in a silent scream as I slowly let the monster drag me down

Ki d s Cooking C a m p s

into his grave. I wake up covered in sweat. I roll over and take a deep breath. Phew! It was just a dream. I close my eyes and ... The end ... or is it?

– Kalina Hastings, fourth grade, Woodson Branch Nature School

A cleaner world

I have a dream that we stop pollution. Like we make electric cars and use solar-power houses. What I’m trying to say is stop pollution!!! We are making the world die. And by the way, please stop cutting down trees and start planting them. I can’t stand it. So just stop pollution!!! Just try to make the world a better place.

– Avi Sethi-Brown, second grade, The Learning Community

See the world

I dream that one day I can travel the world. I dream of seeing everything from the volcanoes of Hawaii to the cherry blossoms of Japan. I dream of climbing mountains and scuba diving in the ocean’s reefs.

I love nature, although I don’t tend to stop and look at it, but I enjoy hiking, swimming and also taking photos of the trees and wildlife. The only thing I want most when I grow up is to see the world and record what I see through pictures. My biggest obstacle is going to be getting the money for the travels.

Another dream of mine is to collect things like video game boxes and Funko Pops. I like collecting things, and I love video games, and I just

CONTINUES ON PAGE 33

Camp Dates: 6/10-6/14

6/24-6/6/28

7/22-7/26

8/5-8/9

Week-long camps take place in downtown Asheville and combine excursions to various food destinations that are a short walk from our venue on 19 Eagle Street 9:30am - 2:00pm | Ages 9 to 14 ashevillemountainkitchen.com/events/cooking-camp-2024-06-10/

CAT NAP: “I dream of my cat,” writes Veda Thomas, a first grader at Francine Delany New School for Children.

PEACE ON EARTH: Dylan Lamm, a seventh grader at Valley Springs Middle School, writes: “I dream about peace on Earth, a place where everyone is happy and where we can focus on the future to improve the Earth along with the people. A place where money doesn’t matter, but instead kindness and being a good person matters.”

think Funko Pops are cool. Same as the traveling dream though, that will cost a lot of money.

My final dream I want to talk about is my dream job. When I grow up I want to be a marine biologist. I think it would be awesome to swim around in the ocean and observe and study all of the fish around me. I plan to record what I see and discover in a book. I also want to take videos of what I see in the ocean. I have always been interested in the ocean and figured I could maybe seek a career in the sea.

– Caleb Young, seventh grade, Polk County Middle School

fresh moments

Once I lived for juice boxes and jam toast.

I lived for carefree feelings and innocence easy to come by I lived for the water and the sand Softer times that brought simple thoughts and quick happiness I miss the feeling of hot concrete and wet feet.

– Zeb Gray, 10th grade, The Franklin School of Innovation

Flight of fancy

My favorite dream was when I could fly! I actually flew over a tsunami! It was very exciting. The waves were as big as a skyscraper, but I was not scared even though I was about 300 feet away from them.

Also in this dream, I was playing with my friends on a warm day at sunset, and I began floating up a building. I was with five of my friends, and none of them could fly. I was the only one! As I began floating up, suddenly, I started to fall down, down, slowly, but I wasn’t scared about that either. I was having so much fun.

One of the coolest things about this dream was that after I fell down the building, I saw Star Wars characters fighting. I saw Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, stormtroopers, and Lando Calrissian. I even saw a starship.

When I woke up, I was fantastically excited!

– Remi Mool, second grade, Rainbow Community School

Too many choices

Choices choices choices

They sound like little voices

Quietly whispering in my head

“No, don’t do that, do this instead”

They make it kind of hard

When I’m sitting in the yard

Trying to make up my mind

About which future to which I will be confined

What dreams will I fulfill

With my wondrous freewill

I could be a pro football player scoring touchdowns

Or I could be a royal jeweler, making fancy crowns

One Weekend a Year

Affirming foster homes give LGBTQ+ youth a safe place to learn and grow. Every child deserves to live as their authentic self without fear.

year.

MY WEIRD DREAMS: Jacob Flores, a fifth grader at Charles C. Bell Elementary School, dreams of Fred Flintstone, Bart Simpson and other cartoon characters.

PURPLE DREAM: Gabi, a second grader at Francine Delany New School for Children, writes: “In my dream, there’s a rainbow and water fairy whose wings are purple because that’s what a fairy would have. There’s some grass and a little bunny.”

Or maybe a snowboarder, shredding up the gnar

Or a bird watcher, observing from afar

I could be a scientist, creating an amazing cure

Or a fancy cook, making crab du jour

All these amazing possibilities, and they’re all mine to choose from But who knows what will be the outcome

I guess I will just have to see

What I will do with me

But for now I just have voices

Telling me my marvelous choices

– Braeden Dontchos, seventh grade, Rainbow Community School

My many dreams

When I grow up, I hope I live near the beach. I hope I work as an artist

painting portraits. I hope I get to travel around the world because I like long vacations. I hope I have a Tesla. I hope I have one boy, who loves cars, and one girl, who loves making art just like me. I hope I get to be a grandma. I hope I have two dogs, named Cleo and Flower, and a cat named Lilly. I hope I spend my time playing with my kids and my brother, Max. I hope I have a two-story white house with a black roof. Most of all, I want to live there with my mom, my dad, Max and his family.

– Juliette Granda, second grade, Rainbow Community School

My hopes and dreams

My hopes for the community are that we actually help each other, that

AWAY:

we don’t fight each other. We can support each other no matter what and not to force others to do your stuff. I don’t really have dreams so I don’t have a weird or best one. But a few months ago, I daydreamed about pollution and about the damage that we cause. But my hopes and dream have one same thing in common. We need to help the community.

– Robin Fisher-Tranese, third grade, North Buncombe Elementary School

The strange dreams of my mind

My strange dreams are funny. Bizzare, baffling, mystical, perplexing It can be all about money

Or two ripe bananas, battling I could be fighting paper towels

And Shakespeare starts reciting a peculiar book

“The Magic of our Earth’s Waterfowl’

Then, I play some chess, with a rook I then wake with a shock

Inhaling and exhaling extremely fast

Then, ding, dong goes the timepiece, saying “Two o’clock!”

While I’m rapidly forgetting the dreams of the past

Getting sleepy again, I close my eyes

Teleported to a whole new world

Formed fully of blueberry pies

And a tiger comes over, and said he was LaCurld

I was starting to get peckish

I walked over and grabbed a chunk of pie to eat

Then the building collapsed with a “Ker-Plishhhh!!!”

And launched a massive shockwave of burning heat

Again, I suddenly woke up

Went through my ordinary typical day

“Accidently” shattered an expensive china cup

And slept, waiting for another dream today

– Bailey Wallace, seventh grade, Polk County Middle School

LOCKED

“It is about dreams being locked away and the frustration brought by that,” says Owen High School 11th grader Camden Teske of this work.

Be creative

I dream for people to be more creative. You can use toys to see how creative you are. You can be creative outside, like in parks. I feel happy when people are creative.

– Sova, first grade, Odyssey School

my dreams

i dream of a time, when joy wasn’t worth a dime, when the world was at peace and freedom never ceased i dream of the days, when evil was at bay, when love was true and simple through and through i dream of those years, of little to no tears, when life was simple delight and the now dull colors were bright i dream of that place, where time is slow paced, where the waves call me home to their pearly white foam i dream of the town, where the grass was often brown,

where i was born and somewhat raised and i’ll remember till my dying days i dream of that city, where i learned to be gritty, where i’s taught to be brave and where i’ll make my grave i dream of a friendship, not based off a script, one lacking competition with flourishing ambition – Lilly Shores, eighth grade, Carolina Day School

Dreaming big

I dream about being an airplane pilot and flying a big airplane like the A380, one of the biggest planes in the world. I want to help people travel. I am 9 years old and have traveled a lot with my family. I have traveled to Czech Republic, Miami, Amsterdam, Nashville, Charlotte, Georgia, New York, Costa Rica and Detroit.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS: Asheville Middle School sixth grader Neva Sheeran dreams of a more equitable world.

IN THE SKY:

where children love to learn

Register

SUMMER ACADEMY:

Two Weeks: June 22-July 4

Math Camp: July 29-Aug. 2

Join us for two weeks of learning and fun! Our Summer Academy reinforces writing and reading skills through structured literacy lessons designed to both review and reinforce skills as well get a jump start on the school year. Morning academics and afternoon art classes, swimming, and woods play!

MATH CAMP: Morning lessons + STEAM activities with afternoon art, swimming, and woods play

• Two Weeks: June 22-July 4

$1,100

• Math Camp: July 29-Aug. 2

$350

DAY CAMP WEEKS:

June 3, June 10

June 17, June 24

July 1, July 8

July 15, July 22

With outdoor activities and games, arts and crafts, and water activities, come have fun with us!

K-5th graders. $300 / week

CITY

Asheville Middle School seventh grader Delia Gantz-Hoag created this dreamlike cityscape.

ROCKING CHAIR: Asheville Middle School seventh grader Soleil Naylor drew this dreamlike picture.

I like to travel because I get to see the world and my family and it is fun to fly long plane rides.

When I travel, it is to see my family members who live in other places. My favorite destination is Detroit to the Czech Republic because in Detroit there are a lot of big airplanes and airplane models. My dad buys them for me to collect.

As a pilot, I can help people travel from place to place and see the world. The best airline in the world is Singapore airlines. I would rather be an airliner pilot because I get to carry passengers.

NATURE’S CHILDREN PRESCHOOL

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•

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If I am the rank to be an airline pilot I could also fly small planes like the Cessna so then I can carry my family. I can keep a small plane like the Cessna at home and fly it when I like. It’s a good airplane to afford. That’s why I want to be a pilot.

– Alesh Chudomel, fourth grade, Fairview Elementary School

What if we don’t know?

When you’re growing up, everyone has so many questions about what you’re thinking of doing with your life when it’s barely even started. Their questions are extremely intimidating: What do you want to do for the remainder of your years? Do you know where you want to live all by your lonesome self the second you

leave the home you’ve been in for so long?

But the majority of people ask: What is your dream? When we are young, we will say we want to be a mermaid or ride a unicorn on top of the rainbow, though now we all know that that is unrealistic and we have to figure out what we want. But what if we don’t know what we want? We are only human after all.

The truth is, we don’t always know what we want to do. Some days, we might want to be a marine biologist, others we may want to be the world’s best neurosurgeon. But my question to the world is, why do we need to know what we want to do? I know many successful people who had no clue what they wanted to do, have owned many completely different businesses, found their passion, and now have a terrific family living in multi-million dollar houses or, in other words, are very successful. But on the other hand, so many teenagers waste those years stressing over what’s to come. So, do we need to have our dreams set in stone from the very beginning, or should we live life day by day and do what makes us happy while experiencing things many would dream of?

– Olivia Loheac, eighth grade, Polk County Middle School

Box turtles

My dream is to help box turtles. What I’m going to do is feed them

DREAMING OF LOVE: Georgia Odom, a third grader at Evergreen Community Charter School, created this sweet picture.

LOLLYLAND: Aaliyah Corona, an 11th grader at The Franklin School of Innovation, created this bizarre dreamscape.

and make piles of leaves because they like it. I’m going to put tiny bowls of food and the food is lettuce and carrots. I’m going to do it in my backyard.

– Sienna, second grade, Odyssey School

A dreamy land with hope

I had an amazing dream where everyone was living in peace and harmony, where everyone was kind and not a single person was cruel.

I had a dream where no one was mean, where no kids at school got bullied, where everyone could just sleep happily, where no one had nightmares or bad dreams. I only dream that one day everyone is equal but those things are near to impossible, and I still have this small bit of hope where we aren’t going to die from pollution and we can all just be kind and work together.

– Cora Danh, fifth grade, Isaac Dickson Elementary School

A beautiful place

Sleep is the place where dreams are made, Anything can happen in that place.

Fall into a dimension where you can do anything, A sort of cloudy place, Up in the sky.

Dream of a beautiful place, With everything you ever loved, Anything you ever dreamed of. It is your imagination, filled with wonder.

Your dreams can contain so much fun,

It can bring you back to when you were just a kid, When you played outside all day, with your best friend, When your best friends were your parents.

When you could only stay up until 8 but wished it was 9, Where you didn’t have to worry about bills or work, When everything was just easy.

Dreams can take you anywhere, Any place you can imagine. Real or not, Anything you could want. Just you and your dreams, Your own dimension, A safe place. Someday I hope to be in a place, With just me and my dreams.

– Carver Redding, eighth grade, The Learning Community

I wasn’t really sick

This is one of my dreams that happened:

I dreamt about me being sick, but I actually wasn’t sick.

And then I woke up, and it was literally like 6 a.m., and I was like, ‘Oh, I am NOT sick.’

And I also dreamed about going to my mom’s room and telling her that I was sick. When I woke up, I was not in my mom’s room. I was in my room.

Like, who would go to their mom’s room in the middle of the night?!?!?

It was a school day, so I started eating breakfast. My mom woke up, and we got ready for school. And I didn’t have to take any medicine. Like, at all. Yay.

– Isaac Laird Barclay, second grade, Rainbow Community School

What about in my dream?

What i dream about is hard to explain I dream about peace

And i dream about pain

About things i have done before

Could have done differently

Could have done more I dream about wild things

Things that have never happened

And never will

Fun things rewritten

Weird things

Things that can’t possibly happen

And if they couldn’t,

Then, What about in my dream?

– Charles Erdesky, sixth grade, Polk County Middle School

DREAMING IN CIRCLES: Hayleigh Angel, a fourth grader at Charles C. Bell Elementary School, created this clever flowchart of her dreams.

IT WAS AMAZING: Pema Pizzo, a first grader at Francine Delany New School for Children, writes: “I dreamed I was a dinosaur. It was amazing. I was in a dinosaur costume. All of the dinosaurs thought I was a dinosaur. They did not eat me.”

Equal rights matter

My dream for the world is that women and men are equal, treated the same, paid the same, respected the same and even feared the same. Gender nor race should not define who you are or what you can do. If you don’t believe me that women are mistreated and overlooked, just watch the movie Hidden Figures and see how many people in it are women and or Black. My dream for the world is that I can be me, without being made fun of or put down. Anyone can be whatever they want, and that is my dream.

– Anna Stein, fifth grade, Isaac Dickson Elementary School

Make your dreams true

When your eyes are closed, is it really dark?

Or does color come, images from sparks?

Can you imagine anything you read? A prince with power, or a king with greed?

Anything can happen,

When you close your eyes.

Dream your dream, live your life

Be yourself, drop your knife

No one tells you otherwise

– Mia Shem, eighth grade, Rainbow Community School War

I hope in the next ten years there will be peace, no fighting, and no

war. That one day when we are all safe everywhere. That one day will happen if we make peace and work together. That starts when we make peace treaties. There’s a two-year war right now that needs to stop. To stop it we need to know the problem and make it equal like with kids. We need people to stand up like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malala Yousafzai.

War is two countries or states fighting with guns, tanks, bombs, fighter jets and submarines. They invade cities, towns and neighborhoods, they kill people that did nothing like moms, dads, kids, salesmen and more! They bomb stuff like schools, homes, parking decks, movie theaters, museums and food places. That’s why war should stop and what happens in a war.

If there was no war I think everyone would feel safe and be safe. No people will have to risk their lives in war. Kids won’t have to worry about their home or school being bombed. We would live in peace.

– Milo Smith, fourth grade, ArtSpace Charter School

Dreams

Dream for something big, small, or anything at all

Dream about changing the world

Dream about what you want to be What do you want to do with your life, think about it

A SHATTERING DREAM: “This painting is inspired by the destruction of the Great Mosque of Aleppo and many other structures in Syria in 2013,” writes Miranda Wang, a 12th grader at Asheville School. “I dream of a peaceful world, where innocent people no longer suffer from cold and hunger, and where children are not forced to leave their families at a time when they need the most care.”

SOMATIC BLOOMING: Anna Yu, an Asheville School 11th grader, writes: “This self-portrait invites viewers to contemplate their own inner gardens — what dreams germinate and sprout beneath the surface of their conscious life.”

work hard to do what you want or else you will not get done If you want to do something with your life work hard harder than anyone else

Put your mind to it

– Peirce Herman,

fourth grade,

Charles C. Bell Elementary School

Dreaming of a different dimension

inside my mind for long-lasting peace, and as I started to fall asleep I felt as if I was one with my surroundings and environment.

PROTECTING CHIMPS: “I dream that someday I can work at the Jane Goodall Institute,” writes Liatres Keene, a fourth grader at ArtSpace Charter School.

three-layer cake. I looked at the cake and suddenly I was starving. I picked up the plate, took off the cake, and shoved it in my mouth. I thought for a moment, I could be a chef and make gourmet meals. While I was thinking I shrunk to half my size and the door flew open.

Love your dreams

Dreams flow

Like a crow

In the sky Hunting for its prey Hold tight to your dreams For if you lose grip

AROUND THE REGION

I slumped on my firm bed and withdrew my eyes from the present world. I longed for sleep. I focused

A vision of a veterinarian helping a pup – perhaps this could be my future. But the minute I looked away, the room started to fill with water, rising higher and higher. Soon I’d be trapped inside the exam room. I slowly started making my way to the door. I was already too late. The water filled to the height of my neck and faster it came. I shut my eyes before the water reached my head. Instead, it stole my breath.

When the water drained, I was in a tiny space with a small door and a

Do you run a business in a local town outside of Asheville? Advertise in Xpress’ once-a-month recurring feature!

Past the door was an open space with burned-up forests and the remains of skeletons because the animals couldn’t break free. I watched in terror of what became of this world. Could this happen in the future? Will I be there to help? Will it be stoppable? The smoke rose and removed my eyesight. Still standing in the smoke, I wonder, and I think. I wonder, will I ever change the world? I think, how will I change the world? I know I could make a difference in the world. Finally, I awake, curious. What will I be? What will you be?

– Quinn O’Donnell, seventh grade, Francine Delany New School for Children

It is a forgotten trip

To a place that can’t quite be described as imaginary Love your dreams because they will stay with you But don’t let go

Or they will fade

– Max Dionne, seventh grade, The Learning Community

To be enough

When you ask a person what they dream about, they seem to have a constant answer: I want to be happy, I want to be healthy, I want to be rich or famous. I feel as though, as a soci-

A BALANCED WORLD: “My dream is for women to be recognized, celebrated, respected and included. We are powerful,” writes Zoe Gillett-Hockman, an eighth grader at Evergreen Community Charter School. “We are creative. We are resilient. We are tenacious. We are kind. We are bright. We are what this world needs more of — not less of.”

ety, we have made these the dreams, or even the goals, of life. It may be what you look for in yourself, but it could also be something that has become a socially acceptable ’dream’ or even an expectation of how to live. I have made it my dream to be able to dig deeper to a more personal dream that I push myself to one day achieve. When I wish upon a star or blow out the candles on my birthday, I wish to be able to look at myself in a mirror or a photo and believe “She is enough, she can do what she wants, she is believed in by herself and others and she is loved.” I want to be able to walk down the street and not think everyone is staring at me and judging me for what I look like. I wish that when I put on clothes I don’t feel as though I have to hide myself. I want to see myself as a beautiful

person who is deserving to succeed. So when I get asked “What is your dream,” I will always say I want to be enough for myself.

– Eli Zickerman, eighth grade, Carolina Day School

The midnight snatcher

Taking all his jars, Sneaking through their yards. Tip-toeing through the street, Making sure they’re still asleep. Before night turns to day, He calmly sneaks away. Over rivers, across streams, Stealing away all their dreams.

– Rhilynn Castruao, seventh grade, Polk County Middle School

At their own pace

Adaptive sports serve youths with special needs

BY JENNIFER A. SHEFFIELD

jennifershef@gmail.com

The rock walls at The Riveter in Fletcher are a daunting mosaic of challenging holds. For any climber, they require agile footing and sheer determination to reach the next step on the route to the top. But this is especially true for athletes who need extra support or individual modifications to accommodate a disability as they ascend.

Adaptive sports (also known as parasports) are competitive or fitness activities that utilize alterations of able-bodied rules and unique equipment to create an equitable playing field for people with disabilities. For youths who might be introduced to a sport for the first time, a number of adaptive sports programs in Asheville can help encourage those with different abilities.

Noel Russell, 13, of South Asheville discovered adaptive climbing two years ago at the Reuter Family YMCA, which has a climbing wall. Noel was born in China and is deaf; she also has severe cognitive delays from her early years. Part of her occupational therapy has included climbing, says her father, Marc Russell

Noel attends the Riveter’s monthly Adaptive Sends indoor climbing events sponsored by the Asheville chapter of Catalyst Sports, a nonprofit that serves people living with physical disabilities in the Southeast. She’s also active on the Special Olympics Buncombe County’s gymnastics and swim teams. She one day hopes to climb Mount Everest, like her heroes Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger (Unger was the first deaf woman in the world, and Lehmann was the first Deaf American, to summit in 2023.)

Both Catalyst Sports and Special Olympics Buncombe County offer volunteer training and lend specifically designed apparatus, such as handcycles. The equipment allows participants with a range of physical or intellectual differences to explore their interests with a fun, therapeutic intention rather than a competitive focus.

Adaptive sports for youths are also important for their parents. “We need each other,” says Stacie Hildenbrand of Mills River. “Representation is something we advocate for for our own children. Together, we can problem-solve and create opportunities that don’t exist yet.” Her daughter Layla, 13, has been blind since birth, due to a condition called leber congen-

ital amaurosis. Layla is a climber, says her mom, explaining that “lack of sight is her only limitation but that does not slow her down.”

Lori Long, Asheville Parks and Recreation’s therapeutic recreation coordinator, says “99% of our participants are autistic or diagnosed with a developmental disability, but we don’t omit any child from our rosters because they don’t have a documented diagnosis.” She says the program can tailor opportunities to each child’s needs. For example, some sports build on behavior management plans provided by a service provider or school. Caregivers are welcome to participate alongside the athletes.

“Our approach is to give everyone the opportunity to play at their own pace,” says Kelly Sullivan, Asheville

so [the sport] really lends itself to adaptive participants,” she says.

FROM CLINICS TO THE COURTS

In addition to climbing, tennis is another popular adaptive sport for youths in Asheville.

On Saturdays in the spring and fall, an Omni Grove Park Inn tennis pro leads an adaptive sports clinic for children as well as adults. They practice groundstrokes, volleys and overheads in a low-stakes setting. The Asheville Tennis Association partners with Abilities Tennis of North Carolina to sponsor the program; sessions are free. (Abilities Tennis of North Carolina also sponsors skills clinics in Hendersonville, one of its 32 statewide locations.)

Leslie Grotenhuis brings her son Oliver, who has Down syndrome and attends Asheville High School, to the Omni Grove Park Inn courts. “Players don’t get frustrated, because the way it is set up is a fun way to play the game,” she says. “Plus, he makes friends.”

Using the U.S. Tennis Association’s fundamental format for youths under 10 years old helps kids in the adaptive program set achievable goals. Much like the Special Olympics, short- and full-court tournaments are structured so athletes compete with others of similar ability. This year’s round-robin competition will be held locally at Lake Junaluska on Saturday, June 15.

Another program called Wheel Serve, which is based out of Charlotte, has been made possible by the Asheville Tennis Association at the Asheville Racquet Club since 2021. Past Asheville Tennis Association President Debbie Southern says the group was able to purchase sport wheelchairs — four for adults and one for a child, thanks to a $5,000 grant from Mission Hospital.

‘HOW CAN WE MODIFY IT?’

Parks and Recreation therapeutic recreation program leader. “We have a baseball program because we want participants to know what it feels like to swing at a ball in front of a crowd.” The therapeutic recreation department recently wrapped up winter basketball and is opening registration for upcoming hiking trips, a summer camp and its baseball program — all of which are adaptive for youths.

At the Riveter, a suspension system consisting of a chest harness and pull-up bar gives climbers who don’t have use of their lower extremities more control. But Adaptive Sends volunteer Acacia Houle notes that any climber who is more comfortable seated can use that adaptation.

“Even able-bodied climbers climb the same route in very different ways,

Parents, health care and recreational professionals can confer on how to make sports more adaptive.

For example, Jenna Dowers, 13, of Candler, has spina bifida; her orthopedic doctor suggested incorporating climbing into her physical therapy options. Her mother, Robyn Dowers, says sports has changed her perspective on what her daughter can and can’t do. “I now look at a sport to see how can we modify it,” Robyn says.

To help schools and communities build more inclusive spaces, the nonprofit Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA) offers online materials that provide guidance on policy and athlete engagement. Learning manuals include those on risk reduction, lesson plans for educators and recommended ways to reach out to diverse

REACH FOR THE STARS: On the fourth Saturday of every month, volunteers from Catalyst Sports help coach and belay any climbers with disabilities at the Riveter, a climbing gym in Fletcher. Photo courtesy of Catalyst Sports

communities based on nationally available and state-specific demographics.

Sullivan points out that not all adaptive activities require specific indoor facilities or extensive planning. For some activities, it’s only a matter of getting outside. Adaptive trails around Asheville that Parks and Recreation uses include Bill Moore Community Park, Moore Cove Falls and Laurel River Trail.

The payoff for kids in adaptive sports is tremendous, says Dani Felix, a volunteer with the Abilities tennis clinics. She found out about adaptive sports when she helped with a Parks and Recreation summer camp. “[Therapeutic Recreation] changed my relationship with sports,” says Felix. “I was made fun of as a kid; instead, as an adult, I’m learning that no one is going to judge me if I can’t run or catch a ball.” She adds, “It’s made sports fun in a way it never was before.”

BELONGING ON THE BASES

For more than a decade, Asheville Parks and Recreation has worked with T.C. Roberson High School’s baseball team, the Rams, to host an adaptive league. A majority of its participants are a part of Buncombe County Schools’

HOME RUN: Asheville Parks and Recreation and T.C. Roberson High School’s baseball team host an adaptive league. A majority of its participants are a part of Buncombe County Public Schools’ Progressive Education Program, serving students with moderate to severe physical and intellectual disabilities. Ana Lyons is at bat with Stevie Byrd pitching. Photo courtesy of Asheville Parks and Recreation

Progressive Education Program serving approximately 150 students with moderate to severe physical and intellectual disabilities. Sign-ups are open to the public, too, and prior to the COVID pandemic, baseball seasons had 70-80 players, Long says.

Working with an established team eliminates a common barrier within adaptive sports of whether there are enough buddies to pair one-on-one with

kids, she continues. Some programs, like swimming and archery, even pair kids up on a three-on-one basis to maintain a safe, encouraging environment.

For eight weeks on the Holmes-Smith field at Roberson High School, Rams players mentor and befriend their special needs peers. Before every home game, a PEP student throws out the first pitch, then watches from the dugout.

Eric Filipek, head coach for the Roberson Rams baseball team, says kids in the PEP program “bring joy to our journey as a team.”

He continues, “The smiles on their faces are immeasurable. The interactions give us motivation and keep our players’ feet on the ground.”

Editor’s note: The author is a freelance journalist and former volunteer with Catalyst Sports, Asheville. X

Tall tales

BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE

Cactus, the Asheville-based hiphop children’s artist also known as Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, doesn’t remember exactly when he first encountered the Street Creature Puppet Collective. He figures he must have spotted the group at a local festival or parade.

“They’re pretty hard to miss when they have 20-foot-long dragons and whatnot,” he says with a laugh. “I’ve known people in the puppetry and the circus community in this town, but I had never collaborated with Street Creature.”

The Grammy Award winner saw an opportunity to do just that when he started planning his new character-based story songs for the stage. On Saturday, March 23, at noon, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo will partner with the collective at The Grey Eagle, where the groups will perform a family-friendly hip-hop storytelling show.

“This seems inevitable, and I’m glad it’s finally happening,” Cactus says. “We’re both really interested in the same type of wildly imaginative storytelling for kids that has a grown-up vibe to it. I think that proper family entertainment makes everybody feel like a kid again. And Street Creature 100% does that.”

The show’s rap songs, Cactus continues, are inspired by Aesop’s Fables, One Thousand and One Nights and Chinese folk tales, among others. The featured puppetry will act out the stories.

“To have these things onstage that kids can look at is just going to be this amazing sort of multimedia presentation, and I think it’s going to be really magical,” Cactus says.

‘NOT LITTLE PUPPETS’

Melanie Brethauer, the puppet collective’s team leader for The Grey Eagle show, says the nonprofit group will feature over a dozen members operating 40 or so puppets during the performance.

“People hear puppets, and they think of marionettes or hand puppets,” she says. “Well, we have a red dragon ... that requires four people and a pretty solid middle person to hold the body, the head and each wing. So it’s not little puppets.”

Formed in 2012, The Street Creature Puppet Collective is a familiar sight around Western North

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo recruits puppets for Grey Eagle show

Carolina due to regular appearances at LEAF Global Arts, the Asheville Holiday Parade, Asheville Mardi Gras, Marshall’s Mermaid Parade and Festival, Black Mountain’s Lake Monster Parade and more.

In 2022, it collaborated with musician Josh Fox on The Earth is Alive!, a family musical and puppet show celebrating the medicine and magic of Appalachian plants.

When Cactus first broached the idea of collaboration, the puppet collective invited him to their “puppet clubhouse” at the Asheville Mall, Brethauer says. From the outside, the space is unmarked and nondescript.

“And then we opened the door, and he gasped,” she says with a laugh. “It’s quite a sight. All the way to the left we have completed puppets that are stacked up on

FEATURED CREATURE: The Street Creature Puppet Collective’s red dragon puppet, which takes four people to operate, will be part of the group’s March 23 performance at The Grey Eagle. Photo courtesy of the Street Creature Puppet Collective

Photo by Mike

high shelves. And then on the right we have boxes of fabric and sewing machines and tables we can take up or down. It’s great to have that reaction from anybody.”

Working together, they chose puppets to go with songs and developed the show.

“A lot of times when you’re dealing with storytelling, you end up dealing with archetypes,” Cactus explains. “So whether it’s them creating puppets to tell those stories or me creating stories through a hip-hop medium, we end up landing on the same archetype. So it was really easy to match it up and make this thing happen.”

SHOW TIME

During the first part of the show, Cactus and his fellow Secret Agent 23 rappers Debrissa McKinney and Ryan “RnB” Barber will perform seven to eight story songs. “I’m curious to see what’s going to happen with the storytelling because it’s all happening to a beat,” Cactus says. “It’s all pretty energetic. People might be watching these stories and dancing at the same time. Or they might be completely hypnotized by the puppets and sit there.”

The second part of the show will unfold as a less structured dance party.

“We call it surprise and delight,” Brethauer says. “It’s not choreographed, we just kind of mingle within the audience. And it’ll be a really big party.”

Brethauer thinks The Grey Eagle event will lead to additional collaborations with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, who won a Grammy for Best Children’s Album in 2017.

“It sounds kind of trite, but we’re very excited to work with him and just see the next thing this collaboration breeds,” Brethauer says. “One idea leads to the next, and it’s not like there’s any kind of plan and progression. So after we do the 23 Skidoo show, we’ll have a thousand ideas, and one of them will take root, and we’ll go with that one.”

Cactus is equally excited about the collaboration.

“I already know what the vibe of The Grey Eagle is gonna be,” he says. “I have hung out with these puppeteers, and I know what their vibe is, and I know what our vibe is. Asheville has always had a very unique creative magic. Sometimes people say that they miss old-school Asheville and what it used to be. I know that that thing is still alive, it’s just you have to look for it a little bit more. And I know that this event is going to be very much that.”

The Grey Eagle is at 185 Clingman Ave. For more information to to buy tickets, go to avl.mx/des. X

Sustainability Series The

The constant gardener

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN

Hannah Kaminer didn’t plan on taking six years between albums. But in a lot of ways, she appreciates the extra time — even if it meant restarting some hard-earned momentum.

The Asheville-based singer-songwriter’s Heavy on the Vine, released Jan. 5, finds her back in the groove she was in following her 2018 LP, Heavy Magnolias . In the interim, Kaminer weathered the numerous challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s her personal growth as an individual and artist that’s most evident on the new collection — including shedding parts of herself that had long seemed vital to her existence.

CONFLICT RESOLUTIONS

Kaminer played as much as possible during the pandemic. And when touring again became a reality, she hit the road as the opener for Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters in spring 2022. Throughout, she kept writing while also freeing herself of student loan debt and a crisis of faith.

“I went through a big personal evolution of like, ‘I don’t think I’m a church person anymore. I think I need to figure out a different way to exist in the world.’ And that just took a lot of energy,” says Kaminer, who confronts religion directly on the track “Everlasting Arms.”

“The songs that ended up on the album span 2019-22,” she continues. “I was still writing at our first rehearsals and that was very uncomfortable. But it was good, too.”

The last-second additions encouraged the bracingly topical album opener “Asheville.” The song pays tribute to the area’s natural wonders and some of the quirky artists — including Abby “The Spoon Lady” Roach — and residents who give the city its distinct creative flavor. But Kaminer’s lyrics also bluntly criticize the forces that are threatening nature, pushing artists out of town and making it difficult to earn a living.

Despite these difficult times for local creatives, Kaminer believes that artists are going to make art regardless of circumstances. “We have to, or else we’ll go crazy,” she says. “It’s a vocation. You sort of feel like that’s what you can give the world.”

She’s also confident that there will always be people in Asheville who value art and do what they can to aid that community, be it cheaply renting out their basement to an artist in need or loaning out a spare car. However, she notes that such generosity isn’t a long-term solution. “You can’t have a huge population of artists sustained on the kindness of a few people. And so I think in terms of working-class artists, we need to do something very quickly about affordable housing and on a very large scale. If we don’t, I don’t think that Asheville is going to retain its flavor,” she says.

Already, Kaminer feels that some of the city’s weirdness has been lost. “I still love it,” she says. “It’s still a beautiful place to live. I feel like I have the best artist community that I could have anywhere. But I think the amount of creativity that it takes to survive economically is pretty tremendous.”

WE ARE FAMILY

Funding Heavy on the Vine involved a successful Kickstarter campaign. Kaminer also recruited some of her key supporters to flesh out her latest songs. Contributors include Kevin Williams (piano/keys), Melissa Hyman (bass), Jackson Grimm (banjo), Olivia Springer (fiddle), Jackson Dulaney (pedal steel guitar) and Ross Montsinger (drums).

“I took that feeling of wanting this to be a group effort ... and took it into [rehearsals],” Kaminer says. “I basically said, ‘I want this to be haunting, because I have some grief that I want to write about. But I also want it to be fun and playful because I get to play with you guys.’ They’re some of the best around and they’re just funny, kind, interesting people, too.”

Such support emboldened Kaminer to take the leap and produce

the record on her own. Returning to Echo Mountain Recording and reuniting with Julian Dreyer, who co-produced Heavy Magnolias with Kaminer and has engineered all three of her albums, she told him her thoughts about taking the reins.

He said the decision made sense and that she was ready for that role.

“To hear that from him was awesome,” she says. “But I also knew that if I got over my head, I could go to him and say, ‘How do I learn this?’”

literal nod to the beauty of that particular blossoming tree, inspired by her time at West Asheville’s community Peace Garden, where she contemplated her life beyond the church.

She says gardening nurtured her in ways other activities could not. She became transfixed by the need to cull ripening fruit and vegetables during summer in order to encourage a healthy fall harvest. That sense of impending seasonal change and its parallels with human relationships greatly informed the song “Heavy on the Vine.”

“Time keeps going, and there are these moments where you just really want to pause and stay there. I felt frustrated by that for a long time — they’re beautiful moments and you can’t stay there. And even if you did, it would go stale and there would be some kind of problem with it,” Kaminer says.

The results are another sonically rich Hannah Kaminer collection — as well as another album title that starts with the word “Heavy” and concerns flower references and metaphors. Kaminer says the title track from Heavy Magnolias is a

“I’m fascinated by that, and I think that the plant language is the easiest for me to reach for because I’m more in touch with it now, being more of a gardener. I’m not a great gardener, but I have fun with it.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/d9w. X

term “shared humanity.”

All poems should be no longer than one typed page in a 12-point font. Again, only previously unpublished poems will be considered. No A.I. generated poems are allowed.

The contest is currently open for submissions and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20. Email your poem in the body of the message to tcalder@mountainx.com The subject line should read “Xpress 2024 poetry contest.” Include the author’s name and contact information in the email. Only one submission per person. There is no cost to enter.

A winning poem will be determined by local poet and essayist Brit Washburn. The winner will be published online and in print in the fnal issue of our annual Sustainability series on Wednesday, April 24. The contest is not open to Xpress employees or their families, or freelance contributors.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Hannah Kaminer, second from left, recruited members of her tightknit music community to play on her new album, Heavy on the Vine. Also featured, starting left, Kevin Williams, Ross Montsinger, Jackson Dulaney and Melissa Hyman. Photo by John Dupre

Playbill picks

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN

If you’re a fan of local theater, Western North Carolina offers plenty of options. Below are some highlights of productions hitting various stages across the region.

BACK TO REALITY

Playwright Del Shores’ Sordid Lives heads to Hendersonville Theatre, Thursday, March 21-Saturday, March 30. The beloved comedy chronicles the fallout of an elderly matriarch’s accidental death and the plentiful truths it unearths in a small Texas town. The theater website lists a PG-13 rating for adult language, themes and situations.

“Anytime you have a show that is a cult classic with so many comedic elements, the tendency is to try and play to the comedic elements first,” says director Guillermo Jemmott Jr. “In our first read-through of the show, I told all our actors that I did not want them to do that. These are real people in a strange, sad, albeit funny situation. The more serious they are in a comical situation, the more accurate it seems to us in the audience, and that is what makes it funny.”

Aiding those efforts, assistant director River Spade feels it’s “important to emphasize the sincerity in portraying the characters’ struggles and relationships throughout the comedy.” That process involved guiding the actors to fully embody their roles and connect with the story’s emotional core. And Spade has also been mindful of stage choices to help the audience’s understanding of each character, utilizing set design, sound design and lighting to underscore key moments of revelation or conflict.

“As a Black performer and assistant director, I have a unique way of portraying a tale. As such, the goal throughout rehearsals was to create an inclusive and collaborative environment where all cast and crew members felt supported in their creative exploration,” Spade says. “If any of the actors brought up questions or concerns about their characters, we would employ a range of techniques to aid in the character development process. I’m glad I was able to work with Guillermo to be able to share this story with the audience.”

The directorial team’s approaches resonated with Jorja Ursin, who’s

March local theater highlights

striving to transcend the stereotypes inherent in playing barfly Juanita.

“I am attempting to bring a fresh take on this character by downplaying her drunkenness and emphasizing her multidimensional personality instead,” Ursin says. “I’m digging into Juanita‘s personality to find some believable behaviors that are surprising to the audience and genuinely hilarious — ‘genuine’ being the key word here.”

And while it would be easy to play the broad comic character of Brother Boy simply for laughs, Sean Smith likewise seeks to bring depth to his role.

“Giving Brother Boy more than just that drag [queen] veneer is challenging,” Smith says. “I compare him to Don Quixote. He too lived in an alternate reality that ’normal’ people did not understand. But that did not make his reality any less real. I find Brother Boy in that ’surreal’ world, too.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/dgg.

ALL GREEK TO ME

For its next trick, Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville stages The Lightning Thief, Friday, March 15-Sunday, March 24. The rock-infused musical quest is based on Rick Riordan’s best-selling young adult book series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

The thrilling story follows teenage demigod Percy and two pals on an epic journey as they attempt to find

angst of it all,” she says. “[I’m] using the choreography to really express the inner turmoil of these teenagers.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/dgh.

COVEN HOME

Following the immense success of its February production, the broad comedy Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, N.C. Stage Company sustains its commitment to humor, albeit with a dark, existential twist.

Running Friday, March 15-Sunday, April 7, Witch comes from the brilliant mind of playwright Jen Silverman, whose The Roommate was a highlight of the theater company’s 2022-23 season. In this latest production, former Roommate co-lead Callan White plays Elizabeth, who’s been labeled a witch and cast out by her town of Edmonton. Alone, she becomes a seemingly easy target for the devil (Arusi Santi) to obtain her soul. But she proves far more slippery to Old Scratch, and as he ramps up his efforts, unexpected passions arise, alliances are formed and the village is forever altered.

Zeus’ master bolt before it’s put to destructive use. Appropriate for all ages, the tale is filled with humor, mythological marvels and plenty of catchy tunes.

“What I love about this show is that even though it is a fantastical storyline with demigods, gods, creatures and larger-than-life items, the story is very real,” says director Javan Delozier. “These are very real teenagers trying to navigate growing up without a parent. They have anxieties and learning disorders — they want to make friends and fit in. It’s a very relatable story while still being out of this world.”

Such emotions have likewise inspired choreographer Jessi Hoadley. “I’ve been really enjoying getting these actors to tap into the

Maria Buchanan, N.C. Stage’s marketing and communications manager, describes the play as “a very bold, very loose, very funny” retelling of the 1621 Jacobean play The Witch of Edmonton. The production is directed by Angie FlynnMcIver, with stage management by Amelia Driscoll. Though not family-friendly due to strong language, mature content and staged violence, the show is recommended for theatergoers ages 15 and older.

“Witch is a surprisingly funny look at what happens when we’re asked, ‘What would you sell your soul for?’” says Flynn-McIver. “The characters in this play all have different answers, and you might see yourself in one of them.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/dgi. X

IN LIKE A LION: As the weather turns warmer, the cool of area theaters beckons. Photo by iStock

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BY LISA ALLEN

lallen@mountainx.com

Emery Fischer-Schmidt found the right fit in the fifth grade.

That’s when he and his classmates were introduced to a number of instruments — from flutes to saxophones — and given five minutes to play around with each. When Fischer-Schmidt came across the clarinet, everything changed.

“Clarinet parts are at the forefront of many pieces of music,” FischerSchmidt explains. “You’re playing a lot of notes quickly, so it’s fun. Conversely, a tuba player plays a long, sustained note.”

Now a senior at Asheville High School, the clarinetist has been performing in school bands since the sixth grade. The reed instrument has led him to be both section leader for the instrument and drum major for this year’s marching band at Asheville High School.

Soon, Fischer-Schmidt and 99 of his fellow musicians will be traveling by bus to New York City to play at Carnegie Hall as part of the National Band and Orchestra Festival. The Asheville band will

take the stage on Saturday, March 30, at 8 p.m.

Band director Rodney K. Workman notes several students will have solos across the four pieces they are playing. “Emery is featured for sure. The entire first movement of the ‘Give Us This Day’ is a clarinet solo,” Workman says.

Fischer-Schmidt tells Xpress what he has learned about himself and others through his time in band.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Xpress: How did you wind up going to Carnegie Hall?

Fischer-Schmidt: Our band director, Mr. Workman, has wanted us to go on a trip for years. Mr. Workman sent in audition tapes a couple of years in a row for the National Concert Band Festival. They’re looking for bands with longevity, both for the members and the length of time the band has been around.

Why do you like being in band?

The band community is really strong. It’s a supportive, noncompetitive environment. The mentorship between students and between students and teachers is really important. The teachers don’t treat us like

adults exactly, but they treat us like responsible people. The community is why I’ve stuck with it.

What activities are you involved in outside of band?

I play baseball and I love to be outdoors — hiking and mountain biking.

How has being in band helped you in school?

It’s about being a team player versus an individual. You have to blend your sound with others. It’s the same with baseball. You’re one member of a team.

How did band teach you leadership skills?

You can think people are not born leaders, but one becomes a leader through time and experience. As a drum major, I was managing 160 students at the same time. You try to be a leader and a student at the same time. If you’re a tyrant, people aren’t going to respond to you. If you remain one of them, they will.

What are your plans after graduation from AHS?

I plan to go to a four-year college, but I won’t major in music. I’ll still play, but I plan to study politics or economics. X

IN COMMAND: Emery Fischer-Schmidt takes the baton as drum major of the Asheville High School marching band. Photo courtesy of Fischer-Schmidt

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the U.S. typically include green beer, Irish music and lots of revelry. The Asheville area also offers several options for those wishing to delve into the culinary traditions of the holiday — ranging from a five-course whiskey pairing at a traditional Irish pub to premade feasts made with local ingredients.

IVORY ROAD

On Sunday, March 17, 10 a.m., Ivory Road’s Ladies Who Brunch series will feature an Irish-themed menu by chefs Michelle Gentile, Terri Terrell and Beth Kellerhals. Brunch will begin at 11 a.m., following a social hour with welcome bites and sparkling wine. The menu offers cabbage rolls, bubble and squeak, soda bread, doughnuts and more. The $55-per-person ticket includes tax and gratuity, plus coffee or hot tea. An optional $18 pairing with beverages including mimosas, a local rosé cider, a Croatian white wine and more is also available.

Ivory Road is at 1854 Brevard Road, Arden. For more information, visit avl.mx/dg9.

GOLDFINCH COCKTAILS & KITCHEN

In Black Mountain, Goldfinch Cocktails & Kitchen is offering both a vegan, gluten-free shepherd’s pie and a traditional meat shepherd’s pie for the week before the holiday — Tuesday, March 12-Saturday, March 16, 4-10 p.m. Also available that week will be vegan, gluten-free bread pudding with apples and Irish whiskey sauce; vegan, gluten-free mint dark chocolate ganache tart; Irish coffees; and alcoholic and nonalcoholic Guinness beer. All food

Culinary celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day

SLÁINTE IS TÁINTE: On Sunday, March 17, downtown’s Irish-style pub, Jack of the Wood, will open at 10 a.m., with traditional music sessions from noon-7 p.m. At 8 p.m., local trio Stonehen will play fiddle tunes with percussion and guitar.

items are made in-house with local meats and produce.

Goldfinch Cocktails & Kitchen is at 122 Cherry St., Black Mountain. For more information, visit avl.mx/dga.

RED FIDDLE VITTLES

Another option is ordering a St. Patrick’s Day meal to take home. Red Fiddle Vittles is taking orders for pickup on Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., for Hickory Nut Gap corned beef and traditional sides. Items are sized to feed two to three adults and will be chilled for pickup with full reheating

instructions. Side options include Lusty Monk mustard-glazed roasted carrots and parsnips from Clem’s Organic Gardens; colcannon with cabbage and bacon featuring potatoes from Tater Hill Farm in Monroe and bacon from Colfax Creek Farm in Bostic; and a dark chocolate stout cake with cream cheese icing using flour from Farm & Sparrow in Mars Hill, dairy from Homeland Creamery in Julian, and eggs from Dry Ridge Farm in Marshall.

Red Fiddle Vittles is at 1800 Hendersonville Road. For more information, visit avl.mx/ba5.

JACK OF THE WOOD

Jack of the Wood, an Irish-style establishment that has been serving downtown since 1997, will offer a menu featuring Irish food and drink specials throughout the weekend. On Tuesday, March 12, patrons can purchase tickets for a St. Paddy’s Dinner & Irish Whiskey Tasting that begins with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. The five-course, gourmet Irish feast will be paired with curated Irish whiskeys and a dessert cocktail, and will be accompanied by live Irish music. Menu items created by chef Earl Moe include smoked salmon, oysters on the half shell, Scotch egg, short ribs and a chocolate Guinness cake with bourbon brown-butter frosting.

“The St. Paddy’s dinner and whiskey tasting was inspired by two of our greatest loves (our third greatest love, music, will also be involved),” says Annabel Eckert, general manager. “We wanted to create an event for the people who want a taste of Irish culture in a calmer and more intimate atmosphere.”

On Sunday, March 17, the pub will open at 10 a.m., with traditional music sessions from noon-7 p.m. At 8 p.m., local trio Stonehen will play fiddle tunes with percussion and guitar.

Jack of the Wood is at 95 Patton Ave. For more information, visit avl.mx/dg8.

NOLA pop-up dinner

On Saturday, March 23, 6 p.m., local private chef Paul Cressend will partner with Samantha Rose, owner and pastry chef at Stay Glazed Donuts and Café, for a pop-up, multicourse dinner at the downtown doughnut shop. The menu will feature Cressend’s favorites from his hometown of New Orleans.

The name of the event, Cucina del Rifugio, translates to “shelter kitchen.” “I’m calling it that because if someone is hungry and needs food, they’re not going to be turned down for lack of funds,” says Cressend.

Rose reached out to Cressend with the idea for the event. The two will col-

Photo courtesy of Jack of the Wood

laborate on the menu, with Rose creating the amuse-bouche and dessert and Cressend the appetizer and entree.

Cressend, who became a private chef in 2020 after working for local establishments such as RosaBees and Isa’s Bistro, first moved to Asheville in 2017. His business logo reads the same as the tattoo across his throat: “Create it and plate it.” He recalls getting the tattoo around the same hour as famed television chef Anthony Bourdain died on June 8, 2018. It was then that Cressend decided that the saying was meant to be more than a tattoo, and he started putting it on stickers, T-shirts and trucker hats as a logo. Shortly after, he also put together a business plan for his private chef company.

Stay Glazed Donuts and Café is at 22 S. Pack Square. For more information, visit avl.mx/dg6.

AVL Food Series kicks off

A monthly food series showcasing area chefs and dishes that reflect the diversity and creativity of the culinary scene will kick off Thursday, March 14, 5:30 p.m. Produced by Shay & Co. in partnership with Devil’s Foot Beverage Co., the AVL Food Series will feature burgers, wings, tacos, pizza and more at Devil’s Foot’s tasting room, The Mule.

The inaugural event on Thursday is a dinner with Michelle Bailey, former executive chef of Smoky Park Supper Club, rescheduled from Feb. 22. Bailey will cook on her Santa Maria fire table, Jolene, custom-built by John Haney of Alveron BBQ World in Summerville, S.C. Menu items will be locally sourced and include three courses, snacks and a smoked peanut butter pie for dessert. Bailey has selected Our VOICE, an Asheville nonprofit that works against sexual violence and human trafficking, to receive a portion of ticket sales. Entertainment will be provided by musicians Jon Corbin and Hank Bones, along with poet Eddie Cabbage

On Saturday, March 23, over 10 chefs will present all styles of burgers at the second event in the series, Burger Bliss. Live music will play, and children will be able to choose from a variety of activities.

Cocktails, beer and nonalcoholic options will be provided by the host at all events.

“The AVL Food Series isn’t just about food and drink,” says a press release from Shay & Co. “It’s about coming together as a community.”

The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage is at 131 Sweeten Creek Road. For more information, visit avl.mx/dg5.

Healthy breakfast options for students

As part of a statewide initiative to expand healthy breakfast options for students, Gov. Roy Cooper announced that Buncombe County Schools will receive an N.C. Innovative School Breakfast Grant.

“I am so grateful for this investment in nutritious school breakfast for students across Buncombe County,” says N.C. Rep. Lindsey Prather, D-District 115. “Children in Buncombe County Schools will be less hungry and more ready to learn. Every child deserves to have a healthy meal, and this is just one of the many valuable things our public schools provide to students.”

According to a press release, the grants are going to “school districts and charter schools that implement innovative school breakfast models to encourage student participation in school breakfast” — including Breakfast in the Classroom, Second Chance Breakfast and Grab and Go Breakfast.

For more information, visit avl.mx/dfz.

Eating out in Jackson County

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce published its 10th annual “Eating Out in Jackson County” dining guide this month, along with its annual relocation and community guide “Our Town.”

“We’re excited to offer these two popular guides, which are incredibly useful tools for visitors as well as new residents,” says Julie Donaldson, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce executive director, in a press release.

The 32-page dining guide contains feature stories and advertorials for

chamber-member food and beverage establishments.

Both publications are available for locals and visitors to pick up at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, as well as at kiosks throughout the county.

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is at 773 W. Main St., Sylva. For the online guide, visit avl.mx/dfy.

Sovereign Remedies Exchange closes

Charlie Hodge, owner of Sovereign Remedies, announced the closing of Sovereign Remedies Exchange, its Leicester location, via social media at the end of last month.

“Leicester, the last year serving you has shown how special this community is and has helped us realize that now is not a time for an expansion but for a concentration to our roots. We have decided that we cannot give the SRX space the care and attention that it deserves to operate at its utmost potential.”

The café originally planned to reopen in March, but Hodge says he and his team will instead focus their attention on the original Sovereign Remedies downtown — working on new menus and new hours and expanding the Saturday and Sunday brunch.

“We are so grateful for the time we had with you, and we sincerely hope we find the perfect buyer for the space that will bring your community exactly what will serve you best,” says Hodge, in the same social media post.

The downtown Sovereign Remedies is at 29 N. Market St., Suite 105. For more information, visit avl.mx/cs5.

Around Town

New mural says ‘take a deep breath’

West Asheville got a new inspirational mural last month, courtesy of The Booth Fairy Project’s mission to spread positivity.

Painted on the exterior back wall of Universal Joint, the mural features a mountain range painted in deep colors against a night sky. The message, which reads “take a deep breath” in white, lowercase letters, seems to be floating among celestial lights.

Elle Erickson, also known as The Booth Fairy, partnered with local artist Peter Parpan, who also painted the first mural she sponsored in downtown’s Chicken Alley. Erickson says she thinks the new mural will encourage people to literally take a deep breath. “We all could use a reset, and this mural will help people’s nervous system and also reduce road rage. My goal is to have every major city get one of their own.”

Erickson created The Booth Fairy Project around 10 years ago, inspired

by the annual Burning Man festival. She calls her project “a social enterprise that is dedicated to spreading good vibes, connection and inspiration to the world.” The nonprofit organization began with a traveling advice booth, like Lucy’s booth in the “Peanuts” cartoon series. “People approach and are delighted to engage and tap into their inner child — and also often find themselves surprised to be sharing and getting deep connection that they didn’t realize they even needed,” she says.

The advice booth can be found at The Booth Fairy’s local vintage clothing pop-ups, which occur monthly when Erickson isn’t traveling.

Erickson also organizes Bliss Mobs. “This is basically like a protest but with all positive and uplifting signs,” she says. “I gather groups of people, and we post up in cities and spread smiles and silliness.” Other events include community trash cleanups and nursing home visits, where participants are encouraged to wear tutus and other costumery while playing music. She spreads signs around Asheville with messages such as “this is a positive sign” and “you’re on the right track.”

Erickson says she has always been outgoing, as well as passionate about volunteer work. “My mom was a clown when I was growing up, and I was encouraged to be creative and expressive. I love to perform and entertain, and with my work in the world I can do that — plus inspire people.”

MOVIE REVIEWS

DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS: Ethan proves he’s the wackier Coen Brother with this hilarious lesbian road comedy, which he directed and co-wrote. Grade: A-minus

— Edwin Arnaudin

THIS IS A POSITIVE SIGN:

Universal Joint is at 784 Haywood Road. For more information on The Booth Fairy Project, visit avl.mx/dfw.

Hot House Holler debut

A new band composed of wellknown local bluegrass and jazz musicians will debut at Citizen Vinyl on Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m. Hot House Holler will deliver jazz standards, obscure swing tunes and originals from local songwriters, says Jenny Bradley, vocalist.

Bradley says the band members met and became friends at the weekly bluegrass jam hosted by guitarist Drew Matulich at Jack of the Wood pub. Matulich, who has toured with Grass is Dead and Billy Strings, joins Bradley along with fiddle player James Schlender of Songs from the Road Band and bassist Norbert McGettigan of the Larry Stephenson Band.

Bradley returned to the area in 2021 after many years in New York City and formed the duo Moon Water with daughter Blu Belle. She says she is looking forward to introducing the Asheville community to Hot House Holler’s sound — “swing with a tinge of bluegrass virtuosity.”

Citizen Vinyl is at 14 O. Henry Ave. For more information, visit avl.mx/dfv.

Fringe Festival turns 22

The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival returns for its 22nd year, with over 60 performances of “experimental, unusual and out-of-the-box art” at various venues around town, Sunday, March 17-Sunday, March 24.

The festival will feature acts including dance, theater, puppetry, music, film and “things that defy definition,” according to a press release. Attendees can see up to 12 shows for one $16 ticket. There will also be free events, referred to as Random Acts of Fringe.

Highlights include the return of local artist and toymaker Edwin Salas, who will present a dark retelling of Grimm’s classic fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel”; the free event “Drip, Drop Splash Picasso Here,” in which three dancers will perform with paint on a canvas; and a sensory meditation on grief from New Orleans performing artist Synamin Vixen

Also back after two years is the LaZoom Fringe Bus Tour, which will make multiple stops around the River Arts District while passengers experience onboard entertainment.

For more information and tickets, visit avl.mx/a91.

Tales of the rumbling mountains

The Asheville Museum of History will hold “The Rumbling Mountain

Elle Erickson, also known as The Booth Fairy, sponsored the painting of a new mural in West Asheville. Photo by Andy Hall

of 1874” via Zoom on Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m. The event airs live and will be recorded.

WNC native Trevor Freeman, the museum’s public programs director, will discuss a historic event in which the mountains surrounding the eastern edge of Hickory Nut Gorge shook and then rumbled for several months — causing panic among locals who thought the world was ending. News of the occurrence spread nationally, and 150 years later, many stories — both true and tall tale — have developed in local lore. Freeman says he will examine the different facets of regional stereotypes, as well as shed light on the real story.

“The geologic activity that happened ... generated so much fervor because it continued for so long and because of the eager eyes ready to write about the Appalachian region at the time,” says Freeman. “That combination of scientific exploration and mystery contrasted with stereotypes of superstitious moonshiners and preachers in a ’backward’ place served as a fantastic source of inspiration for writers such Frances Fisher Tiernan.” Tiernan, who went by the pen name Christian Reid, wrote Land of the Sky.

Tickets are $5 for museum members and $10 general admission. Community-funded tickets are also available.

For more information and registration, visit avl.mx/dfu.

A bazaar for creative supplies

Makers seeking materials for their projects can visit Show & Tell’s Art & Craft Supply Bazaar at plēb urban winery Friday, March 15-Sunday, March 17, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Available items include new and used tools for sewing and quilting, knitting and crocheting, floral design, printmaking, jewelry-making and candle-making.

Pan pizzas will be available for purchase from Mean Pies Pizza daily, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. On Sunday at 4 p.m., Robert Bennett will host a pop culture edition of Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia.

plēb urban winery is at 289 Lyman St. For more information, visit avl.mx/dft.

A contemporary art salon

The New Salon: A Contemporary View, an exhibition that embodies the rebellious spirit of the salon in art history and applies it to new contem-

porary art, opened March 8 at the Asheville Art Museum. On display through Monday, Aug. 19, the show is guest curated by New Orleans-based contemporary artist Gabriel Shaffer.

The exhibition showcases artists working in pop surrealism, street art and graffiti and will feature a broad range of work including surrealist paintings from Robert Williams, medieval-inspired works by Daniel Diaz, and the robot-like deities of Kumkum Fernando. Los Angelesbased artist Lauren YS, “known for their mystical creatures and psychedelic style,” will contribute a site-specific mural.

“If there was one question I could ask the majority of these artists who have been around since the nineties, it would be, ‘Where were you when you read your first copy of Juxtapoz [Magazine]?’” says Shaffer in a press release. “Multiple subgenres of art have blossomed out of its countercultural foundation, giving rise to countless artists furthering the styles it once championed. Jux helped make it possible for cartoon imagery, illustration, craft, graffiti, fantasy and good old-fashioned art mayhem to have a diverse and broad audience.”

The Asheville Art Museum is at 2 South Pack Square. For more information, visit avl.mx/dfi.

Congressional Art Competition

The office of U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards is accepting submis -

sions for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition from high school students living in North Carolina’s 11th district. The winner of the competition will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

“The annual Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity for high school students ... to showcase their talent, creativity and passion,” says Edwards in a press release. “After seeing the incredible artwork from WNC’s budding artists during last year’s competition, I’m even more excited to see the art that this year’s contestants will create for all the visitors at the Capitol to see.”

After the Congressional Art Competition winner is selected, Congressman Edwards will hold a Facebook Favorite competition, posted on his official Facebook page, for the public to vote for their favorite piece of art. The Facebook Favorite winner’s artwork will be displayed in Edwards’ Hendersonville district office, and the runner-up’s artwork will be displayed in his Washington, D.C. office.

Artwork submissions are due to the Hendersonville district office by Wednesday, April 24.

For more information about the competition requirements, visit avl.mx/cm5 or contact the Hendersonville district office at 828-435-7310.

For

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13

12 BONES BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

27 CLUB

Moon Tokki, Call the Next Witness, Hi Helens & YAWNi (alt-indie, rock), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO.

Trivia Night, 6:30pm

BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA

Trivia Night w/PartyGrampa, 7pm

EULOGY

The Hypos w/Wagging (Americana, rock), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER

BREWERY

Saylor Brothers & Friends (jamgrass), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING

CO.

Bluegrass Jam w/Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

WEST

Latin Night w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8:30pm

PULP

Lurky Skunk, The Bins & GabrielKnowsEverything (folk, alternative), 8pm

SHAKEY'S

Sexy Service Industry Night, 10pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Poetry Open Mic, 8pm

THE DRAFTSMAN BAR + LOUNGE

Trivia Nights, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Josh Ward & Braxton Keith (country), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Rod Sphere (soul, rock), 6:30pm

THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN

Dan's Jam (bluegrass), 7pm

URBAN ORCHARD

CIDER CO. SOUTH

SLOPE

Trivia, 6:30pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Irish Music Session, 7pm

THURSDAY, MARCH 14

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

Santiago y Los Gatos (indie-rock, pop, soul), 7:30pm

BLK MTN PIZZA & ALE HOUSE

Billy Presnell (folk, Americana), 6pm

CROW & QUILL

The Red Hot Sugar Babies (jazz), 8pm

DIFFERENT WRLD

Lamplight, Sina Vessel & Claire Whall (Appalachian, country, indie-rock), 9pm

EULOGY

Joyce Manor w/Powder Horns (alt-indie, punk, rock), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S March Queer Night (dance party), 9pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER

BREWERY

Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

LAZOOM ROOM BAR & GORILLA

LaZoom Room Comedy w/Nathan Owens, 7pm

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE

Wayne Buckner (Southern-rock, Americana, country), 6pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING

CO.

Marley's Chain (rock, country, blues), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

J.T. Horne. (rock, folk), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

WEST

Marvelous Funkshun (Jimi Hendrix tribute), 9pm

OUTSIDER BREWING

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

PULP

Mission Accomplished (rock, blues), 8pm

SALVAGE STATION

The Four Horsemen (Metallica tribute), 8pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Karaoke Night, 8pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Django & Jenga Jazz Jam, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Kashus Culpepper (pop, rock, country), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Hope Griffin (folk, acoustic), 7pm

THE ODD

Shun & Sunbearer (heavyrock, stoner-metal), 8pm

THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN

Moonshine State (multiple genres), 7pm

THE STATION BLACK

MOUNTAIN

Mr Jimmy (blues), 6:30pm

URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE

Bachata Thursdays, 8:30pm

FRIDAY, MARCH 15

27 CLUB

VRAS, Antiquity, Nox Eternus & Ahh (metal), 9pm

MEXICAN AMERICAN HONKY-TONK: On Friday, March 15, Virginia-based band Ramona and the Holy Smokes perform at Jack of the Wood Pub, starting at 9 p.m.

Fronted by Ramona Martinez, the singer-songwriter pulls from her Mexican American roots to compose and perform traditional mariachi music with a country-western flair. Photo courtesy of Tristan Williams

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY

ACADEMY

Friday Night Karaoke, 9pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

Mr.Jimmy's Southside Chicago Blues, 7:30pm

CATAWBA BREWING CO. SOUTH SLOPE

ASHEVILLE

• Comedy at Catawba: Martin Urbano, 7pm

• Irish Nonsense: Wee Silly St. Patrick's Day Comedy Show, 9pm

CITIZEN VINYL

Krave Amiko w/Stephen Evans & the True Grits (indie-pop, rock), 7pm

CORK & KEG

The Old Chevrolette Set (country), 8pm

CROW & QUILL Motel Pearl (country), 8pm

EULOGY

Cold Choir Presents: Vault w/Dreamkill (post-punk, dark-wave, EDM), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S Sherwoods Florist, Aunt Vicki & Puppy & the Dogs (alt-indie, psych-rock, electronic), 9pm

GINGER'S REVENGE

CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Keturah Allgood (soul, Americana), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Clean-Up Crew (funk, rock), 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

DOWNTOWN

TAPROOM Will Hartz (Appalachian), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Ramona & the Holy Smokes (country, honkytonk), 9pm

LA TAPA LOUNGE

Open Mic w/Hamza, 8pm

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE

Kevin Dolan & Paul Koptak Duo (acoustic), 6pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING

CO.

Jesse Velvet (rock, blues, honky-tonk), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Eli Kahn (jazz, lo-fi), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

The Late Shifters (Southern-rock, Appalachian, Americana), 8pm

SALVAGE STATION

Late Night Radio & Maddy O'Neal (electronic, soul, hip-hop), 8pm

SHAKEY'S Big Blue Jams Band (multiple genres), 9pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Stetson's Stink Bug Bourbon Band (country, Americana), 9pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Nature Looms (electronic), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Eric Hutchinson (rock'n'roll, Americana, soul), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Sal Landers’ Party Rx (rock'n'roll), 7pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Scott Stapp w/Echostone (rock), 8pm

THE RAILYARD BLACK

MOUNTAIN

Jon Cox & Ginny McAfee Duo (Americana), 6:30pm

THE STATION BLACK

MOUNTAIN Vaden Landers (country), 6pm

URBAN ORCHARD

CIDER CO. SOUTH

SLOPE

• Trippin' Up the Stairs (Celtic, Irish, old-time), 6pm

• EDM Hard Techno w/Kri Samahdi, Perlin Boy, Leo Vaan, Dayowulf & Oneiric, 9:30pm

WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT

Muddy Guthrie (rock, Americana), 8pm

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

27 CLUB

Caged Affair w/Hex Wizards & Self-Made Monsters (alt-rock, pop), 8pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB

Mr Jimmy (blues), 6pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

40.20.10s (Americana), 7:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Ashes & Arrows w/Hustle Souls (country, Americana), 8:30pm

CORK & KEG

Soul Blue Rocks (soul, blues, R&B), 8pm

CROW & QUILL

Meschiya Lake & The Moodswingers, 8pm

EULOGY

Serendipitous Productions & Musashi Xero Present: Pathwey, Musashi Xero, Yellgnatz & Snarz, 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S

Kult Ikon, We Follow The Earth & Sunbearer (stoner-doom, metal), 9pm

GINGER'S REVENGE

Modelface Comedy

Presets: Gluten-Free Comedy, 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Threesound (multiple genres), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm

• Deke Dickerson (rockabilly, honky-tonk), 9pm

LA TAPA LOUNGE

Karaoke, 9pm

LAZOOM ROOM

Karaoke, 9pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Ol Sap (folk, rock, Americana), 2pm

SALVAGE STATION

Fireside Collective & Dangermuffin (bluegrass, funk, Americana), 8pm

SHAKEY'S

• Friday Late Nights w/DJ

Ek Balam, 12am

• Trash Talk Queer Dance Party & Drag Show, 10pm

SHILOH & GAINES

East Coast Dirt (psychrock), 9pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Polly Panic (rock), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE Loving w/Fog Lake (alt-indie, lo-fi), 9pm

THE ODD

Party Foul Drag: Saturday Night Tease, 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

The Breakfast Club (80's tribute), 8pm

THE STATION BLACK MOUNTAIN

Live Music Saturday Nights, 7pm

VINTAGE KAVA

The Candleers (country), 8pm

WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT

DJ Molly Parti, 7pm

WORTHAM CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING

ARTS

Cathy Ladman, 8pm

SUNDAY, MARCH 17

27 CLUB

Burn Absolute w/Sink

With Me, Autumn Lies

Buried, Omenkiller & Until They Bleed (metal, nu-death), 7pm

ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO.

Slice of Life Comedy Show, 6:30pm

CATAWBA BREWING

CO. SOUTH SLOPE

ASHEVILLE

Comedy at Catawba: Tyler Groce, 6:30pm

FLEETWOOD'S

The Silver Doors, Dream Machine & Cadavernous (garage-psych, indie-rock), 9pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER

BREWERY

Reggae Sunday w/Chalwa, 3pm

GINGER'S REVENGE

CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Jazz Sunday's, 2pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Nordmoe & Crow (multiple genres), 2pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING

CO.

Jason Merrit (Irish), 2pm

ONE STOP AT

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Julia (funk), 9pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

WEST

Kid Billy (Americana, blues, indie-folk), 6pm

S&W MARKET

Mr Jimmy (blues), 1pm

SHAKEY'S

• It's Trivial: Free Group

Trivia w/Divine, 4pm

• St Paddys Party w/DJ Grimmjoi, 10pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Dark City Kings (garagerock, country, indie), 7pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Cosmic Appalachian Soul Sundays, 7pm

THE DRAFTSMAN BAR

+ LOUNGE

Karaoke Nights, 7pm

THE ODD

The Obsessed, Howling Giant, Gozu & Tombstone Highway (stoner, Southern-metal, doom), 6pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Less Than Jake w/ Strung Out & The Raging Nathans (Ska, punk, reggae), 7:30pm

PLĒB URBAN WINERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 4pm

MONDAY, MARCH 18

27 CLUB

Karaoke Monday, 9pm

5 WALNUT WINE BAR

CaroMia, Rahm, Iannuci & Jaze Uries (dream-pop, soul, R&B), 8pm

DSSOLVR

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

FLEETWOOD'S

• The Hot Seat (comedy), 7pm

• Best Ever Karaoke, 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Andrew Scotchie & Friends (multiple genres), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING

CO.

Takes All Kinds Open Mic Nights, 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Open Mic Night, 7:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

WEST

Mashup Mondays w/The JLloyd Mashup Band, 8pm

PULP

Acid Jo & Mary Metal (psych-rock, punk, alt-indie), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Turnover w/MSPAINT, Drook & Lawn Enforcement (indie-rock, dream-pop, punk), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Mr Jimmy & Friends, 7pm

THE RIVER ARTS

DISTRICT BREWING CO.

Trivia w/Billy, 7pm

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

27 CLUB

Clifford the Band, Sequela & Trust Blinks (rock), 9pm

ARCHETYPE BREWING

Trivia Tuesday, 6:30pm

DIFFERENT WRLD

Psymon Spine, May Rio & Rugg (indie-rock, electronic, experimental-pop), 9pm

EULOGY

Palomino Blond (poppunk, goth-rock, shoezae), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

NEW ORIGIN

Trivia, 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Team Trivia, 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

The Grateful Family Band

Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm

PULP

McKinney w/Savannah Page & Malynne (multiple genres), 8pm

SHAKEY'S

3rd Bootys w/ DJ Ek Balam, 9pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Open Mic, 7pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Tuesday Night Open Jam, 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

The Lads (rock, blues), 6pm

TURGUA BREWING CO

Open Jam: Americana

Song Circle, 5:30pm

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

12 BONES BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO.

Trivia Night, 6:30pm

BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA

Trivia Night w/PartyGrampa, 7pm EULOGY

Bitchin Bajas (alt-indie, electronic), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S Friend & Impending Joy (punk, psych), 9pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Saylor Brothers & Friends (jamgrass), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING

CO.

Bluegrass Jam w/Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

SuperBassic (funk, bass, soul), 10:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

WEST

Latin Night w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8:30pm

PULP Rich Nelson Band (rock), 8pm

SHAKEY'S Sexy Service Industry Night, 10pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Poetry Open Mic, 8pm

THE DRAFTSMAN BAR + LOUNGE

Trivia Nights, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE

The Minks, Future Crib & The Medium (psych-blues, rock, pop), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Rod Sphere (soul, rock), 6:30pm

THE ODD

This, That & The Third: Yeah, We Noticed (rap), 9pm

THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN

Dan's Jam (bluegrass), 7pm

URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE

Trivia, 6:30pm

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

12 BONES BREWING

Tobey Walker (blues), 6pm

27 CLUB

Cyberdelics, Hit Dogs & Second Wind (alt-rock, stoner-rock, Southern-rock), 8pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

The MGBs (acoustic), 7:30pm

BLK MTN PIZZA & ALE

HOUSE

Billy Presnell (folk, Americana), 6pm

CROW & QUILL

Ramona & the Holy Smokes (country, honkytonk), 8pm

DIFFERENT WRLD Underwear Comedy Party, 8pm

EULOGY

Charlie Parr (folk), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S DD Island, Charlie Boss & Sean O'Hara (shoegaze, psych, pop), 9pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Tammy Pescatelli, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING

CO.

Billy Litz (Americana, blues, indie-folk), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Ash Chambliss & Laura Blackley (blues, Americana, rock), 8pm

OUTSIDER BREWING

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

SHAKEY'S

Comedy Showcase, 8pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Karaoke Night, 8pm

THE ODD

High Crime, Crystal Spiders & Sunbearer (stoner-metal, psych), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Sold Out: Hermanos Gutierrez w/DJ Malinalli (Latin, folk), 8pm

THE RIVER ARTS

DISTRICT BREWING CO.

Peggy Ratusz & Kelly Jones (blues), 6pm

THE STATION BLACK MOUNTAIN

Mr Jimmy (blues), 6:30pm

URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE

Bachata Thursdays, 8:30pm

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I will never advise you to dim the flame of your ambition or be shy about radiating your enthusiasm. For the next few weeks, though, I urge you to find ways to add sap, juice and nectar to your fiery energy. See if you can be less like a furnace and more like a sauna; less like a rumbling volcano and more like a tropical river. Practically speaking, this might mean being blithely tender and unpredictably heartful as you emanate your dazzling glow.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Some spiritual traditions tell us that the path to enlightenment and awakening is excruciatingly difficult. One teaching compares it to crossing a bridge that’s sharper than a sword, thinner than a hair, and hotter than fire. Ideas like these have no place in my personal philosophy. I believe enlightenment and awakening are available to anyone who conscientiously practices kindness and compassion. A seeker who consistently asks, “What is the most loving thing I can do?” will be rewarded with life-enhancing transformations. Now I invite you to do what I just did, Taurus. That is, re-evaluate a task or process that everyone (maybe even you) assumes is hard and complicated. Perform whatever tweaks are necessary to understand it as fun, natural, and engaging.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Do you have a relative your parents never told you about? If so, you may find out about them soon. Do you have a secret you want to keep secret? If so, take extra caution to ensure it stays hidden. Is there a person you have had a covert crush on for a while? If so, they may discover your true feelings any minute now. Have you ever wondered if any secrets are being concealed from you? If so, probe gently for their revelation, and they just may leak out. Is there a lost treasure you have almost given up on finding? If so, revive your hopes.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian poet Pablo Neruda wrote this to a lover: “I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.” That sounds very romantic. What does it mean? Well, the arrival of spring brings warmer soil and air, longer hours of sunlight, and nurturing precipitation. The flowers of some cherry trees respond by blooming with explosive vigor. Some trees sprout upwards of 4,000 blossoms. Maybe Neruda was exaggerating for poetic effect, but if he truly wanted to rouse his lover to be like a burgeoning cherry tree, he’d have to deal with an overwhelming outpouring of lush beauty and rampant fertility. Could he have handled it? If I’m reading the upcoming astrological omens correctly, you Cancerians now have the power to inspire and welcome such lavishness. And yes, you can definitely handle it.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Speaking on behalf of all non-Leos, I want to express our gratitude for the experiments you have been conducting. Your willingness to dig further than ever before into the mysterious depths is exciting. Please don’t be glum just because the results are still inconclusive and you feel a bit vulnerable. I’m confident you will ultimately generate fascinating outcomes that are valuable to us as well as you. Here’s a helpful tip: Give yourself permission to be even more daring and curious. Dig even deeper.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Unexpected mixtures are desirable, though they may initially feel odd. Unplanned and unheralded alliances will be lucky wild cards if you are willing to set aside your expectations. Best of all, I believe you will be extra adept at creating new forms of synergy and symbiosis, even as you enhance existing forms. Please capitalize on these marvelous openings, dear Virgo. Are there parts of your life that have been divided, and you would like to harmonize them? Now is a good time to try. Bridge-building will be your specialty for the foreseeable future.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Many of you Libras have a special talent for tuning into the needs and moods of other people. This potentially gives

BY ROB BREZSNY

you the power to massage situations to serve the good of all. Are you using that power to its fullest? Could you do anything more to harness it? Here’s a related issue: Your talent for tuning into the needs and moods of others can give you the capacity to massage situations in service to your personal aims. Are you using that capacity to its fullest? Could you do anything more to harness it? Here’s one more variation on the theme: How adept are you at coordinating your service to the general good and your service to your personal aims? Can you do anything to enhance this skill? Now is an excellent time to try.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Psychologist Carl Jung said, “One of the most difficult tasks people can perform is the invention of good games. And this cannot be done by people out of touch with their instinctive selves.” According to my astrological assessment, you will thrive in the coming weeks when you are playing good, interesting games. If you dream them up and instigate them yourself, so much the better. And what exactly do I mean by “games”? I’m referring to any organized form of play that rouses fun, entertainment, and education. Playing should be one of your prime modes, Scorpio! As Jung notes, that will happen best if you are in close touch with your instinctual self—also known as your animal intelligence.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Can Sagittarians ever really find a home they are utterly satisfied with? Are they ever at peace with exactly who they are and content to be exactly where they are? Some astrologers suggest these are difficult luxuries for you Centaurs to accomplish. But I think differently. In my view, it’s your birthright to create sanctuaries for yourself that incorporate so much variety and expansiveness that you can feel like an adventurous explorer without necessarily having to wander all over the earth. Now is an excellent time to work on this noble project.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You picked Door #2 a while back. Was that the best choice? I’m not sure. Evidence is still ambiguous. As we await more conclusive information, I want you to know that Door #1 and Door #3 will soon be available for your consideration again. The fun fact is that you can try either of those doors without abandoning your activities in the area where Door #2 has led you. But it’s important to note that you can’t try both Door #1 and Door #3. You must choose one or the other. Proceed with care and nuance, Capricorn, but not with excessive caution. Your passwords are daring sensitivity and “discerning audacity.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): My second cousin has the same name as me and lives in Kosice, Slovakia. He’s a Slovakian-speaking chemical engineer who attended the Slovak University of Technology. Do we have anything in common besides our DNA and names? Well, we both love to tell stories. He and I are both big fans of the band Rising Appalachia. We have the same mischievous brand of humor. He has designed equipment and processes to manufacture products that use chemicals in creative ways, and I design oracles to arouse inspirations that change people’s brain chemistry. Now I invite you, Aquarius, to celebrate allies with whom you share key qualities despite being quite different. It’s a fine time to get maximum enjoyment and value from your connections with such people.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): My Piscean friend Jeff Greenwald wrote the humorous but serious book Shopping for Buddhas. It’s the story of his adventures in Nepal as he traveled in quest of a statue to serve as a potent symbol for his spiritual yearning. I’m reminded of his search as I ruminate on your near future. I suspect you would benefit from an intense search for divine inspiration — either in the form of an iconic object, a pilgrimage to a holy sanctuary, or an inner journey to the source of your truth and love.

MARKETPLACE

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REAL ESTATE

CONDOS FOR SALE

BEAUTIFUL CONDO

DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE

The home features the comfort and convenience of downtown living plus easy access to outdoor recreation.

The meticulously kept and maintained unit features long range 180-degree mountain views with spectacular sunsets. A deeded indoor parking space is included. MLS # 4106887. Preferred Properties, Jim Reid. 828-606-0590. JimReid@ PreferredProp.com.

EMPLOYMENT

GENERAL

UNITED WAY IS SEEKING A COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR: ENKA INTERMEDIATE Discover your place at UWABC as a Community School Coordinator at Enka Intermediate. Work closely with the school principal, parents, and community leaders to elevate student success. Tackle service barriers, drive family and community engagement, and streamline resource utilization. Deadline to apply is March 21, 2024. For more information, and to apply, visit avl.mx/dgo

UNITED WAY IS SEEKING A COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR: HALL FLETCHER ELEMENTARY

Join UWABC as a Community School Coordinator at Hall

Fletcher Elementary, collaborating with the school principal, parents, and community leaders. Enhance student achievement by addressing service barriers, fostering family and community engagement, and optimizing resource utilization. Deadline to apply is March 21, 2024. For more information, and to apply, visit avl.mx/dgo

SKILLED LABOR/ TRADES

TK ELECTRIC IN ARDEN IS HIRING ELECTRICIANS

Seeking Qualified Individuals with 4+ Years of Experience in the Residential Electrical Field! We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including a sign on bonus! Contact 828-450-0287 to apply. Serious inquiries only.

HOME IMPROVEMENT HANDY MAN

HANDY MAN Ex Professional Brewer has 25+ years experience in the trades, with every skill/tool imaginable for all trades with the exception of HVAC. $20- $30 an hour Carl (828) 551-6000 electricblustudio@gmail. com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

$10K+ IN DEBT? BE DEBT FREE IN 24-48 MONTHS! Be debt free in 24-48 months. Pay nothing to enroll. Call National Debt Relief at 844-977-3935 (AAN CAN)

24/7 LOCKSMITH We are there when you need us for home & car lockouts. We'll get you back up and running quickly! Also, key

reproductions, lock installs and repairs, vehicle fobs. Call us for your home, commercial and auto locksmith needs!

1-833-237-1233. (AAN CAN)

AGING ROOF? NEW

HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-292-8225 Have zip code of property ready when calling! (AAN CAN)

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES

In as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months!

Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-977-4240. (AAN CAN)

BEAUTIFY YOUR HOME WITH ENERGY EFFICIENT NEW WINDOWS They will increase your home’s value & decrease your energy bills. Replace all or a few! Call now to get your free, no-obligation quote. 866-366-0252

BUYING ALL SPORTS CARDS FOR INSTANT

CASH BUYING ALL SPORTS CARDS FOR CASH. VINTAGE - MODERN. CALL BIG ANDY 631-871-2992 - 7 DAYS A WEEK. WWW.ITSBIGANDY. COM FREE EVALUATIONS/ APPRAISALS.

DIRECTV SATELLITE TV SERVICE STARTING AT $64.99/MO For 24 mos, Free Installation! 165+ Channels Available. Call Now For The Most Sports & Entertainment On TV! 855-401-8842 (AAN CAN)

FREE AUTO INSURANCE

QUOTES for uninsured and insured drivers. Let us show you how much you can save! Call 833-976-0743. (AAN CAN)

GOT AN UNWANTED CAR? Donate it to Patriotic Hearts. Fast free pick up. All 50 States. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans find work or start their own business. Call 24/7: 844-8756782. (AAN CAN)

NEED NEW WINDOWS? Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energy efficient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & FREE quote today. 1-877-248-9944. You will be asked for the zip code of the property when connecting. (AAN CAN)

PEST CONTROL Protect your home from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-237-1199

(AAN CAN)

TOP CA$H PAID FOR OLD GUITARS! 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D'Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. 877-589-0747. (AAN CAN)

WATER DAMAGE CLEAN-

UP & RESTORATION A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home's value! Call 24/7: 1-888-2902264 Have zip code of service location ready when you call! (AAN CAN)

YOU MAY QUALIFY For disability benefits if you have are between 52-63 years old and under a doctor’s care for a health condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. Call now! 1-877-247-6750. (AAN CAN)

MOUNTAIN XPRESS is seeking a City Reporter

Are you passionate about covering local city government meetings and city-led initiatives? Do you enjoy crafting stories that convey important, timely information and empower readers to take part in meaningful civic dialogue? Are you a communityminded writer familiar with Asheville and WNC? If so, apply for the city reporter position today.

Email: mmurphy@mountainx.com

Will Shortz

ACROSS

1 One who might call you out

7 ___ pepper

12 Prez featured in “Annie”

15 Enthusiastic fan

16 ___ Air, electric vehicle that was named Motor Trend’s 2022 Car of the Year

17 Grassy expanse

18 Refrain in a 1970 hit by the Kinks

20 Crop revered by the Abelam people of Papua New Guinea

21 Casual vodka order

22 Muscat native

23 Some reactions on Slack

24 “Yep, noticed that”

26 “Oh, you wanna fight!”

28 Refrain in a 1971 hit by David Bowie

34 ___-owned (merchandise designation)

35 One of over 140 in an Ironman triathlon

36 Serbian American inventor

37 Hindu god embodying virtue

39 Everlasting, poetically

42 Flatbread that can be served with dal

43 What offers worldwide protection?

45 State boldly

46 “hahahaha”

47 Refrain in a 1965 hit by the Who

52 Corporate department

53 Privy to

Longtime TV singing series, to fans

56 Places for evil geniuses

59 Thing with a ping 63 Sandwich you really need two hands to eat

64 Refrain in a 2008 hit by Lady Gaga

66 What makes most moist?

67 Fleece seeker

68 “War and Peace” character who determines through numerology that he is destined to assassinate Napoleon

69 East Asian currency

70 Things dragged uphill

71 Trade mag for marketers

DOWN

1 “www” addresses

2 Defense from some attackers

3 Short-sleeved shirt

4 Like a type that leans right?

5 Enjoy with gusto

6 Big Band ___

7 $1 bill, in slang

8 Dance with a festive skirt

9 Like Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans” or “Marilyn Diptych”

10 Frasier’s ex-wife on “Frasier”

11 State west of Wyo.

12 Going it alone

13 The “D” in CODA

14 Head-butts, e.g.

19 Tackle at the knees, e.g.

23 One who’s finished

25 Zenith

27 Took a load off

28 Outrageous

29 Substance that makes blood red

30 Fair and honest

31 Actor ___ Villechaize of “Fantasy Island”

32 John from England

33 Whiz (through)

34 Big dance

38 Sweetheart

40 Surefire

41 Actor McGregor

44 Something a person with an ovomucoid allergy cannot eat

48 Female friend, informally

49 Go by

50 Hot, hot, hot

51 Shortly

54 “Oho!”

55 Novel with the desert planet Arrakis

57 Tech product officially discontinued in 2022

58 Carter of jazz and Perlman of film

60 Take the leap

61 Land unit

62 Raise a big stink

64 Slumber duds

65 Org. with an Office of Water