Mountain Xpress 03.14.18 by Mountain Xpress

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

C O NT E NT S

PAGE 18 LET’S FIX IT! Local kids and teens dazzled us again with their art, poetry and prose for our annual Kids Issue. On the cover: Asheville School 11th-grader Annabelle Yu raises awareness of domestic violence with her painting, “Contaminated Innocence,” which shows a young unicorn girl who has been scarred by witnessing domestic violence in her home. COVER ILLUSTRATION Annabelle Yu COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

C ONTAC T US

(828) 251-1333 fax (828) 251-1311

news tips & story ideas to NEWS@MOUNTAINX.COM letters/commentary to LETTERS@MOUNTAINX.COM sustainability news to GREEN@MOUNTAINX.COM a&e events and ideas to AE@MOUNTAINX.COM events can be submitted to CALENDAR@MOUNTAINX.COM

FEATURES

or try our easy online calendar at MOUNTAINX.COM/EVENTS

NEWS

food news and ideas to FOOD@MOUNTAINX.COM

WELLNESS GREEN

BOOK ONLINE www.ashevillesaltcave.com

50 CLIMATE TALKS Conference to showcase Asheville as a global climate hub

FOOD

Relaxation, deep tissue, energy work, couples massage, reflexology, hot salt stone, and salt body scrubs.

47 EDIBLE SUPERHEROES Superfoods provide health benefits — with a side of confusion

54 WEAVING THE WEB Diverse connections strengthen WNC’s local food network

A&E

We offer a variety of therapeutic massage services, all with a touch of salt.

wellness-related events/news to MXHEALTH@MOUNTAINX.COM business-related events/news to BUSINESS@MOUNTAINX.COM venues with upcoming shows CLUBLAND@MOUNTAINX.COM

60 SOUL FOOD Storytellers share tales to benefit Stories on Asheville’s Front Porch

A&E

Recharge with Self Care!

10 WATCHING OVER THE FLOCK WNC faith communities, law enforcement collaborate on security

63 NO KIDDING Ozomatli builds bridges to younger fans with ‘Ozokidz’ show

get info on advertising at ADVERTISE@MOUNTAINX.COM

5 LETTERS 5 CARTOON: MOLTON 7 CARTOON: BRENT BROWN 8 COMMENTARY 17 ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES 43 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 44 CONSCIOUS PARTY 47 WELLNESS 50 GREEN SCENE 52 FARM & GARDEN 54 FOOD 56 SMALL BITES 58 BEER SCOUT 60 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 66 SMART BETS 70 CLUBLAND 75 MOVIES 76 SCREEN SCENE 78 CLASSIFIEDS 78 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 79 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Mountain Xpress is available free throughout Western North Carolina. Limit one copy per person. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 payable at the Xpress office in advance. No person may, without prior written permission of Xpress, take more than one copy of each issue. To subscribe to Mountain Xpress, send check or money order to: Subscription Department, PO Box 144, Asheville NC 28802. First class delivery. One year (52 issues) $130 / Six months (26 issues) $70. We accept Mastercard & Visa.

12 Eagle Street • DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE 4

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

place a web ad at WEBADS@MOUNTAINX.COM question about the website? WEBMASTER@MOUNTAINX.COM find a copy of xpress JTALLMAN@MOUNTAINX.COM

WWW.MOUNTAINX.COM FACEBOOK.COM/MOUNTAINX follow us @MXNEWS, @MXARTS, @MXEAT, @MXHEALTH, @MXCALENDAR, @MXENV, @MXCLUBLAND we use these hashtags #AVLNEWS, #AVLENT, #AVLEAT, #AVLOUT, #AVLBEER, #AVLGOV, #AVLHEALTH, #AVLWX

OPINION

Send your letters to the editor to letters@mountainx.com. STA F F PUBLISHER: Jeff Fobes ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson MANAGING EDITOR: Virginia Daffron A&E EDITOR/WRITER: Alli Marshall FOOD EDITOR/WRITER: Gina Smith OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose WELLNESS EDITOR/WRITER: Susan Foster STAFF REPORTERS/WRITERS: Able Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Virginia Daffron, David Floyd, Max Hunt CALENDAR EDITOR:

CARTOO N BY RAN D Y M O LT O N

Abigail Griffin CLUBLAND EDITORS: Abigail Griffin, Max Hunt

Local government should better fund public transit Thank you for your recent article on the history of Asheville’s public transit system and present-day efforts to improve it [“There and Back Again: Future Transit Efforts, Concerns Mirror Asheville’s Past,” Feb. 28, Xpress]. At MountainTrue, the oldest grassroots environmental nonprofit in Western North Carolina, we appreciate your attention to the role public transit plays in reducing Asheville’s racial and economic inequality and improving environmental sustainability, as well as our ability to support a growing number of residents, commuters and visitors in our city. We’d like to encourage readers interested in taking the next step to support the Asheville Regional Transit Coalition. As part of this coalition, MountainTrue works closely with other local stakeholders, including Just Economics, Children First/Communities in Schools and AARP to promote the needs of bus riders who depend on Asheville’s transit system. We are calling for local government to ambitiously fund public transit in order to make our system run on time, all day and more often. Readers can sign on to support our vision at www.transit4all.com, and email Transit4all@gmail.com to join our work.

We also hope readers will come out this year for Strive Not to Drive, a monthlong series of events promoting walking, biking, busing or carpooling to work — any form of transportation that avoids a single person riding in a car for their commute — in Asheville and surrounding counties. Asheville’s Strive week will happen May 11-18, and a schedule for this year’s Strive activities will be posted soon at www.strivenottodrive.org. — Eliza Stokes Advocacy and communications associate MountainTrue Asheville

Keep Asheville clean I have lived in Asheville for eight years and have become exceedingly disgusted with the unsightly overgrowth of weeds and untrimmed trees. The amount of litter and cigarette butts strewn everywhere is not to be believed. It is especially horrific (where I live) near Patton Avenue and New Leicester Highway. Keep Asheville clean, people. — Sherrie Mirsky Asheville

MOVIE REVIEWERS: Scott Douglas, Francis X. Friel, Justin Souther CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Jonathan Ammons, Leslie Boyd, Liz Carey, Jacqui Castle, Cathy Cleary, Kim Dinan, Scott Douglas, Jonathan Esslinger, Tony Kiss, Bill Kopp, Cindy Kunst, Jeff Messer, Joe Pellegrino, Shawndra Russell, Monroe Spivey, Lauren Stepp, Daniel Walton

SLEEPWORLD of Asheville Largest Selection of Natural & Organic Mattresses in WNC

ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Norn Cutson, Scott Southwick, Olivia Urban MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Christina Bailey, Sara Brecht, Bryant Cooper, Karl Knight, Tim Navaille, Brian Palmieri, Heather Taylor INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES & WEB: Bowman Kelley, DJ Taylor

Serving Our Community for Over 20 Years

BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler-Tanner ADMINISTRATION, BILLING, HR: Able Allen, Lauren Andrews

$300 off Queen Latex Sets $400 off King Latex Sets

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER:

Adjustable Bases by

Jeff Tallman ASST. DISTRIBUTION MANAGER:

Traditional’ and ‘humane’ are excuses In response to Frank Salzano’s note on [the letter], “What Defines Ethical

Denise Montgomery DISTRIBUTION: Gary Alston, Russell Badger, Frank D’Andrea, Jemima Cook Fliss, Adrian Hipps, Autumn Hipps, Clyde Hipps, Jennifer Hipps, Joan Jordan, Desiree Mitchell, Laura Stinson, Thomas Young

Financing Available! No Credit Check!

700 Hendersonville Road Asheville NC 28803 • 277-2500

www.sleepworldashevillenc.com

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

OPINION

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

Slaughtering?” [Jan. 10, Xpress]: Since we began our campaign against Wild Abundance, they have been using the same excuses to justify the violence they perpetuate. Mr. Salzano’s comments are a prime example of this. The words “traditional” and “humane” are used as excuses. First, tradition never justifies violence. Traditions of violence and discrimination have long existed in our society, but that does not mean that they are acceptable. The use of the term “humane” is just as bad. The idea that you can “humanely” tie up a living being, cut their throat and let them bleed to death is outright absurd. … I’m surprised that Mr. Salzano still found the term [“humane”] appropriate to use. I am disappointed that any activists deemed it necessary to send Wild Abundance instructors threats, and I would like to see the harassment against them stop. However, I would like to point out that other activists and I received several death threats as well, but didn’t go running to the media for attention. Both sides of this campaign should remain peaceful and nonviolent through their words and actions. As Mr. Salzano requested, I would love nothing more than to leave Wild

Abundance alone. Unfortunately, as long as Wild Abundance continues to abuse and kill other beings, we will continue to fight for their freedom. We are all animals, and all have the rights to our lives. No flashy word like “humane” or “ethical” can change that reality. — Jeremy Sagaribay DxE (Direct Action Everywhere), Asheville chapter Asheville Editor’s note: Xpress contacted Frank Salzano of Wild Abundance with a summary of Sagaribay’s points. He offered the following response, which says in part: “Please know this: We do not experience harvesting animals as fun or light work. The same is true for harvesting vegetables, weeding gardens, felling trees, blacksmithing, using cars or computers, buying salt or garden amendments, flying to visit sick family members or participating in any subsistence or ‘basic needs’ that hurt any form of life. Jeremy, there is a deep grief and heaviness in surviving and thriving in this world of flesh, bone and stomach. Let’s all do our best to honor that grief and love life. We are not interested in debating semantics with you any longer. That

can too easily slip into an abstract and fundamentalist brand of political discourse. Please take a big step back and look at yourself. … I am genuinely confused by what you are doing. We know behind it all is a caring for life. We respect and appreciate that, but you can do better. This world needs you to flower, mature your political content and style, and create more strategic and helpful political ambitions. I am praying and cheering for you to step it up!”

Mentally ill defendants are too sedated to help in their defense Kudos to the Mountain Xpress article, “Debtors prison: Low-income defendants jailed for months awaiting trial for misdemeanors” [Jan. 24]! But that is only one thing wrong about how the criminal justice system treats the poor. Another thing wrong is the drugging of mentally ill defendants who are in jail awaiting trial! They keep them so heavily doped up, so heavily

drugged and so heavily sedated that they can’t help their court-appointed attorneys prepare a defense, nor defend themselves in court during their trial! The courthouse system keeps them heavily sedated in order to ensure victory for the state! Keeping jailed mentally ill defendants zonked out on tranquilizers in order to ensure victory for the state should be a national and local scandal! It should rank right up there with low-income defendants not being able to make unjust and unfair bail! If we at the local level would find a way to make bail for lowincome defendants, then our jails couldn’t drug low-income mentally ill defendants the way they do now, while they languish in jail unable to make bail! Of course, the criminal justice system will lie and tell us that the jailed mentally ill defendants are court-ordered by a judge to be medicated while in jail awaiting trial in order to “stabilize” them so they can help in their defense! But that’s a bald-faced lie! Have you ever seen the “stabilized” mentally ill help defend themselves in court? No! They sit there not able to move or speak, too tranquilized to do either! Which is just the way the criminal justice system likes it! And wishes to keep it! It’s another notch on their gun! — Richard D. Pope Hendersonville

Signs of hope in the Pit of Despair My heart felt heavy in my chest as I walked from Battery Park Apartments to Pack Library. I had made the mistake of checking Facebook for a few minutes before going to Spanish class. One post read that Social Security will be called benefit payments. Sounds like a government handout to me. Easier for the ultraconservatives to put an end to the program, I mused. Another post stated that the powers that be wanted to replace food stamps with a box of food like army rations. Good luck if one is a vegan or eats raw food, I thought. To top it off, there was another lunatic with a semiautomatic weapon who went on a rampage at a high school in Broward County, Fla. That county sits just south of where my daughter and her family resides. Trying to shake off the current state of the country, I hiked down 6

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

the asphalt hill to Haywood Street. I passed by two cute teenage boys, maybe 13 or 14 years old. They were sitting on top of the high wall at the back of the appropriately named Pit of Despair. It made me smile. … A big sign hung on the wall directly below them. It read “No Trespassing.” … They explained that the sign had been down in the corner and they had stuck it on the wall. If only I had my cellphone, what a fantastic picture this would make — a great act of defiance hurting no one. We need more of that. For some reason over the past week I have been obsessed with watching Beatles documentaries on YouTube. … These two boys reminded me of the cute, witty, irreverent lads from Liverpool. “Good for you,” I commended them as I continued my walk. Another Facebook post described how employees at the airport ripped a 5-year-old child from her parents’ arms; another woman, a U.S. citizen, was detained for 20 hours without food. Awareness is the first step in change. Instead of blindly following orders and being cruel to others, let us say, “No!” We will not be part of this current roundup. It is asking a great deal, I realize, for the employees who have families to feed and bills to pay. Yet, our world would be so much better if we all followed the

C A RT O O N B Y B R E NT B R O W N path of right livelihood, of empathy for humankind. … Hope rests with my grandchildren. I am a strong advocate for protecting the sanctity of childhood in our fast-paced society. All of the Fab Four were passionate about music, peace and wanting, believing that we could make the world a better place. We elders are at the stage in our lives where we need to share our wisdom to help future generations. Let us walk through the fear and be like those two cheeky boys who exuded such joy atop the prison gray wall in the Pit of Despair. — Anne Centers Asheville Editor’s note: A longer version of this letter will appear at mountainx.com

We want to hear from you! Please send your letters to: Editor, Mountain Xpress, 2 Wall St., Asheville, NC 28801 or by email to letters@mountainx.com.

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

The

Sustainability

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY 2018

Every week in April

Series

Enjoy the Chef ’s Table Experience! 5 courses that highlight cuisine from around the Mediterranean Sea. Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or just because...

Make your reservation today!

Make reservations at reserve.com Historic Biltmore Village 828.277.1510 rezaz.com

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

OPI N I ON

The great threat The Gospel According to Jerry BY JERRY STERNBERG Editor’s note: As this long-running series of essays on the history of Asheville’s riverfront winds down, the ninth installment takes a turn toward the satirical. The previous pieces were “The Birth of Asheville’s Industrial Riverfront,” “The Ballad of Old King Coal,” “Insurrection in the Kingdom,” “Ragtime and Ruin,” “Hard Times and Cheap Thrills,” “Cataclysmic Change,” “Kingdom at War” and “Thank God It’s Over!” The trains roared through the next four decades and on into the ’80s, quite often bypassing the businesses alongside the tracks en route to the powerhouse, the mighty fortress where Old King Coal was making his last stand. The demand for electricity had grown exponentially, and the generating plant made possible the region’s ever-increasing growth, both in population and in new and different job opportunities. The irony of the situation was that Prince Diesel had captured all the railroad engines. Thus, coal was no longer used to propel the very behemoths that delivered it. Prince Diesel had proved to be a much more popular regent, because he didn’t fill the air with smoke and soot. Gradually, the region began to lose its drab, gray look and get its color back. He was assisted in this big shift by the many coal-burning industries that either went out of business or converted to other fuels. As many of the old dilapidated and shuttered buildings in the River Kingdom were vacated, essential businesses such as auto wreckers, auto repair companies, fuel oil and bottled gas distributors, small manufacturing plants and recycling facilities moved in, taking advantage of the cheap rents and the heavy industrial zoning. Concentrated along the river corridor, they didn’t pose a threat or distraction to most of the residential, commercial and retail community. Meanwhile, the ever-present if physically deteriorating tobacco temples still thrived. But wait: For the first time, the drumbeat sounded by militant apostates began to challenge Prince Tobacco’s empire. Could it be that the health benefits of the sacred herb touted in these temples were now being questioned? Was it pos-

JERRY STERNBERG sible that the seductress Queen Nicotine had started to fall out of favor, just as Queen Vashti did in the Purim story? Could it be, as growing numbers of detractors claimed, that her paramour, the black knight A. Dick Shun, was indeed causing sickness and death? During this period, the Asheville Motor Speedway became an iconic destination. Every Friday night, a sold-out stadium would thrill to the roar of the engines and the skills of the incredible speedsters who navigated their motorized chariots over this very short and difficult track. These rabid fans enjoyed an indescribable feeing of belonging and identification as they cheered for their favorite drivers, many of them local heroes. Mostly they were good ol’ boys with day jobs who raced mainly for fun, and they were like family to the fans. The track also brought in out-of-towners, some of whom created successful businesses as part of what became the billion-dollar NASCAR industry. And then, in 1987, shazam!!!! A bolt of lightning struck, and when the smoke had cleared, a beautiful, brilliant and determined sorceress had appeared on the scene. It was rumored that she could wave her

magic wand in the direction of a political body or a charitable foundation and vast amounts of money would come pouring in. Her name was Karen, and her last name rhymed with linoleum. She became the high priestess of what the riverfront property owners initially saw as a dangerous new cult whose members had a frightening gleam in their eyes. The fact that these interlopers mostly came from faraway kingdoms only heightened those anxieties. The newcomers worshipped at the feet of the Right Rev. Wilma Dykeman, a local deity whose writings took on the prominence and influence of the Holy Grail. In pursuit of their vision they held a â&#x20AC;&#x153;clarinet,â&#x20AC;? a strange ritual where they all got down on their knees on the floor and drew pictures of how they thought the river corridor should develop. Although the property owners were invited to take part, they felt they were being condescended to by fanatics who believed their worthy goal justified any means of achieving it. After all, the attitude seemed to be, what did these loutish local people know? They merely owned the property in question. Were the carpetbaggers invading once again? These distressed business owners, who came to be known as the River Rats, reached out for a leader who was one of their own. They found their man: a handsome, brilliant and astute young knight with a reputation as a political gunslinger and fearless street fighter (see photo above). He had previously been president of the prestigious Buncombe County Garbage Haulers Association, where his dazzling handiwork had succeeded not only in protecting the commercial and residential garbage haulers but in helping them develop a franchise system that enabled them to make a decent living while ensuring that residents would receive great service at a fair price and be protected from unscrupulous operators. This tremendous knight was a very stable genius, and the River Rats elected him president for life. (No, his name was not Trump; I told you, he is pictured above.)â&#x20AC;&#x201A; X Next time: The battle is joined. Asheville native Jerry Sternberg, a longtime observer of the local scene, can be reached at gospeljerry@aol.com. MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

NEWS

WATCHING OVER THE FLOCK WNC faith communities, law enforcement collaborate on security BY DANIEL WALTON danielwwalton@live.com “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.” Attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of St. Matthew, these words outline a path of radical acceptance of the inevitable cruelties of the world. At its best, the commandment has inspired leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi to cultivate nonviolent resistance and bring about social transformation. Too often, however, communities of faith may find that Jesus’

SAFE SACRED SPACE: Concern for the safety of worshippers at religious services has increased in the wake of recent mass shootings and threats. Local law enforcement departments are working with faith communities to develop new security strategies. Photo courtesy of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office idealistic counsel rings hollow in the face of tragedy. Recent high-profile mass shootings, such as the 2015 attack on Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., that left nine worshippers dead, have caused faith leaders to ask what they can do to protect their congregations. While such incidents are rare — the nonprofit Center for Homicide Research found only seven shootings of four or more people at U.S. churches between 1980 and 2005, the most recent period for which data is available — they draw attention to the role of security in places of worship. For the Rev. Bill Michael of the Mountain Harvest Worship Center in Hendersonville, faith involves both idealism and a call to practical action to safeguard his parishioners. “We have to understand that there are different levels of teaching in Scripture; some of them are directed to an individual, and some of them are directed to society,” he explains. “As individuals, we’re taught to forgive. But in his Letter to the Romans, Paul talks about how those leading society are placed there for our security and have been given authority to exercise punishment when necessary.” And for faith leaders wondering what they can do to improve security, law

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

enforcement agencies across Western North Carolina offer assessments and training to help places of worship ensure the safety of those who gather under their roofs. MEETING DEMAND Perhaps the most popular of these partnerships has been the House of Worship Safety and Security Class presented by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Charles McDonald says he began offering the training two years ago in response to trends he’d observed in community violence. “It’s our obligation, as sheriffs over counties, to help make citizens aware of threats that we see coming, and what was going on at the time indicated that churches would be one of those highpriority targets for deranged people,” McDonald explains. “But you don’t want to sound the alarm and leave them sitting, so our next obligation is to help people be more prepared.” At first, attendance at the classes, which were offered roughly twice a year, ranged from 12 to 30 participants. After the November 2017 mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, however, demand surged. Beginning in December, more

than 70 people registered for each of four monthly classes, forcing McDonald to move the course from his office’s training room to the Henderson County Courthouse and schedule an additional session in late February. Other local law enforcement agencies, including the Asheville Police Department and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, also provide regular assistance to communities of faith. Over the past year, for example, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office has sent staff to evaluate the security of more than 30 churches. “One of our deputies or criminal investigators goes out to the church and does a full assessment, from physical areas of weakness in the building to staff vetting, working with children and internet safety,” says Lindsay Regner, the agency’s public information officer. “It’s not just security as far as the building is concerned — it’s more of a comprehensive process.” THE BIG PICTURE McDonald agrees that faith leaders need to take a wide-angle approach to safety. “Being safe really starts with having a security plan in place that doesn’t necessarily start or stop with

the worst-case scenario of an active shooter,” he explains. “It’s about how you prevent bad things from happening in the congregation that aren’t normally expected.” Public discussions of church security, McDonald notes, frequently jump to the extreme case of a mass shooting and debate the use of weapons among worshippers. “Some people find it unusual that we’re not teaching people to grab guns and arm everybody in the congregation,” he says. While he acknowledges that firearms can play a role in a security plan, his training program places a much higher priority on discouraging incidents from occurring in the first place. For many houses of worship, improving security can start with re-examining the common-sense practices that are part of normal operating procedure. Simply greeting newcomers with eye contact and a firm handshake often reveals people with negative intentions. “If somebody’s there to do bad things, there’s generally a demeanor that they’ll display, especially when confronted with someone who welcomes them,” McDonald points out. Michael, who took the sheriff’s class last year, appreciated the call for enhanced awareness. The class, he says, “covers a lot of things that you may not think of right off the bat as having to do with church security, such as lighting, parking areas and access into or out of the building. Most people tend to think in an honest manner — they’re not figuring out how to get in somewhere they’re not supposed to be.” Regner adds that many faith leaders have a blind spot for internet security, which has become increasingly important as houses of worship promote events and handle more business online. “A lot of folks see the internet as a way to positively connect with their community, but there are areas that can be left wide open in terms of security,” she says. “Financial scams and social media use on mission trips are two big concerns.” FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE After taking the House of Worship Safety and Security Class, Michael was inspired to formalize a security plan for the Mountain Harvest Worship Center. It didn’t need to be elaborate, he says, to give his congregation additional peace of mind. “Once service starts and people are focused on what’s going on in the building, the rear doors should be secured,” Michael explains. “You have somebody who can see the entire sanctuary monitoring for anyone acting in a suspicious

manner, and you designate someone to immediately grab their phone and call 911 if something happens.” Lael Gray, executive director of the Jewish Community Center in Asheville, also underscores the importance of awareness. In the wake of a false bomb threat in February 2017, she led the JCC through a review of its procedures and, aided by a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, made changes to improve the facility’s security arrangements. “There’s this message from Homeland Security: ‘If you see something, say something,’” notes Gray. “We stress that our staff shouldn’t be afraid to report any suspicious package, activity or person right away, because they know what’s typical for the site.” She also emphasizes the JCC’s close relationship with local law enforcement; being familiar with the facility, she says, will enable the police to respond better to any emergency scenario that might arise. “A lot of people are reluctant to call 911 because they aren’t sure what qualifies as an emergency and they’re afraid they’re going to be a burden,” adds Regner. “That’s absolutely not the case — we need people to report suspicious activity.” OUR BROTHERS’ KEEPERS But even with 911 on speed dial, McDonald points out, faith communities must also recognize their responsibility for their own security. “Law enforcement will almost never be there until after a phone call is made,” he says. “Citizen awareness in community safety is a force multiplier for overtaxed police and sheriff’s departments.” McDonald sees his safety and security class as a good foundation, but he also envisions the faith community organizing an independent security association to network, teach skills such as first aid and share solutions on a more regular basis. “To me, that’s a sign of a healthy community, when sheriffs and citizens come together to solve problems in common,” he observes. Michael, meanwhile, cites another quote from Jesus (in the Gospel of St. Mark): “Love your neighbor as yourself.” To prevent someone from doing harm, he says, is to honor one’s commitments under that commandment. “You wouldn’t let a child abuser into your house with your kids around,” Michael explains. “That doesn’t mean you can’t love that person and walk in the love of Christ and forgiveness, but you’re using wisdom to follow your responsibilities to your family and stand as a protector.” X MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

N EWS

tcalder@mountainx.com

by Thomas Calder

A TALE OF TWO WOMEN Fear of imminent death is Mayor Esther Manheimer’s earliest memory of Asheville. It was the summer of ‘88, and the Manheimer family had just arrived to the mountains of Western North Carolina by way of Washington, D.C. At the time, the city’s future mayor was en route to a dinner party on Sunset Mountain. Her father drove. She and her two siblings were in the back. “I had never been on narrow mountain roads,” she says. The family’s previous stints out west had conditioned her to wider pathways along the Rocky Mountains. In Asheville, she discovered tight turns without guardrails. “I just thought: We’re all going to die,” she says. For City Council member and native Ashevillean Sheneika Smith, her earliest recollection of the city isn’t quite as dramatic. “I remember Bele Chere,” she says. The annual music and arts street festival launched in downtown in 1979; the final celebration was held in 2013. “That was the big to-do in Asheville for years,” Smith continues. “People paraded down the streets … and kids were free to stay out late because everyone knew where their children would be.” On Wednesday, March 21, Manheimer and Smith will be the featured speakers at The Eclectic Lives of Two Asheville Women. The free community forum will take place in the Lord Auditorium at Pack Memorial Library, in celebration of Women’s History Month. Along with sharing their individual experiences as youths in Asheville, the two women will address their lives as mothers, professionals and what led them to enter public service. Zoe Rhine, the event’s organizer and North Carolina Room staff member, says she sees the talk as a chance to explore the city’s more recent past. “Anytime we have a chance to learn more about Asheville’s previous decades, it’s an important thing to document,” she says. “And here, we get to view it through two different lenses.” Rhine also hopes the event will give audience members a greater appreciation for the various paths to public service. “I think Sheneika and Esther are prime examples of how strong and honest women wear many hats and can be instrumental in shaping our city,” she says. “This program seemed like a good avenue to highlight this.” 12

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

Manheimer and Smith share the podium at Pack Library WINDING ROAD

STORIES OF ASHEVILLE: Mayor Esther Manheimer, left, and City Council member Sheneika Smith will offer personal anecdotes about growing up in Asheville at the upcoming talk, The Eclectic Lives of Two Asheville Women. Photo by Carolyn Morrisroe ‘LIKE LANDING ON MARS’ Manheimer’s life journey had many stops prior to Asheville. She was born in Denmark, where her father was working toward his Ph.D. in philosophy. By the age of 3, her family returned stateside for a brief stint in San Diego. This was followed by stretches in Olympia and Spokane, Wash., and later the nation’s capital before the family’s treacherous journey up Sunset Mountain. “Somebody asked me if I was an Army brat,” Manheimer says. “I was like, ‘No, I guess maybe more like a university brat.’” Meanwhile, Smith’s upbringing began in the mountains. Her great-great-great grandfather, born in 1899, arrived in Asheville from Orangeburg, S.C. The date of his arrival is unknown. “But he planted a church on the northside of Asheville, which was a very audacious thing for him to do as a black man in the 1950s,” Smith says. Both women attended Asheville High School. As a new arrival to the South, Manheimer remembers the cultural shock that marked her senior year. “It was like landing on Mars,” she says. Certain elements of this strange new experience were benign: Manheimer wasn’t used to strangers saying hello as they passed. Other aspects were unset-

MOUNTAINX.COM

tling. “Asheville High was a segregated school within a school,” she says. “I think for older folks who’ve lived through desegregation in the South … there’s a lot of things you assume as normal. … But when you’re just new to it, it’s very strange.” Manheimer graduated in 1989. Three years later, Smith entered her freshman year. “Being that Asheville High is the only [public] high school in the city limits, it brings a lot of different communities that are packed in Asheville together,” Smith says. Students from both thriving and struggling communities shared the same hallways, she notes, but the classroom dynamic was far different. “The AP classes and gifted students [were] somewhat isolated or segregated from the mainstream students,” she remembers. Neither Manheimer nor Smith claim that academics were a top priority for them. “I have to say, I really kind of stumbled through that whole year,” the mayor says. “It wasn’t enough time for me to totally understand what the hell was going on.” Still, both hold fond memories of Asheville High. Manheimer took up field hockey and joined the school’s sorority. Smith was a regular at football games and remembers “the pride that came with being a Cougar.”

The path to public service was not self-evident to either woman. The mayor describes her own experience as a multistep process. “I wasn’t class president; I wasn’t valedictorian,” she says. “It took me a long time to figure out that I had anything to contribute.” In 1993, after graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Manheimer returned to Asheville. At 22, she held the title of volunteer coordinator at Meals on Wheels. Part of the job involved delivering food to public housing throughout the area. The position, she explains, exposed her to parts of the community of which she’d previously been unaware. The experience also raised questions she hadn’t considered. “How does this happen?” Manheimer remembers wondering. “And how does it change?” Following graduate school at UNC Chapel Hill, Manheimer worked at the state legislature in Raleigh before returning to Asheville in 2002. Seven years later, she ran for and won a seat on City Council. “For a long time in my life, I felt like other people can do these things, but I can’t,” she says. “Even when I worked at the legislature and I’d look at these people who were elected to office and sitting on these committees and voting and changing laws, I’d think, ‘I’m definitely not qualified to do that.’ Even though, of course, I was advising them.” LEADING FROM A LIVED EXPERIENCE For Smith, interest in city government had never been a bright spot on her radar, but a passion for neighborhoods and communities had. After graduating from Asheville High School in 1996, she headed east to attend WinstonSalem State University. Following college, she spent several years in Charlotte, where she worked first in television and then at a behavioral health facility. In 2011, Smith returned home. What she discovered was a changed city. “Growing up here, there was still pronounced black communities and more black businesses that were visible and operative,” she says. That was no longer the case, and the noticeable shift inspired her to launch Date My

City in 2013. The social organization promotes cultural advancement of the area’s minority communities. From there, her community involvement continued, leading to her winning a seat on Asheville City Council in last November’s election. Lived experiences, says Smith, are just as valuable as learned experiences when helping shape a city. “Having a person who is part of the black community in Asheville will make a difference in some of the policy outcomes and how we approach conversations,” she says. Like Rhine, Smith believes the upcoming talk at Pack Library offers a unique opportunity to showcase the multiple paths toward civic engagement. “I look forward to having more conversations with young women who are politically savvy and on top of the issues, as well as individuals who are more community-oriented and deeply passionate,” she says. Smith notes it can be intimidating at first for those who fall into the latter category, especially when it comes to grappling with policies and the inner workings of local government. But both types of leaders, she adds, are necessary and influential, “not only in Asheville’s future, but in the future of female leadership.”

stems from a sense of responsibility to Asheville’s female youths. “I want to make sure that young women see opportunity in their life. Yes, I have a lot of academic credentials at this point in my life, but I feel like anyone can do this if they’re determined and if they’re interested,” she says. “Exploit your passions.” For Smith, a similar motivation exists. “I think there is a lot of momentum around females and people of color getting more involved in leadership positions,” she says. The forum, she states, “will hopefully just continue the conversation and will help other women make that decision to take things to the next level when it comes to their own community involvement.” X

WHO The Eclectic Lives of Two Asheville Women WHERE Lord Auditorium at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., avl.mx/4ji WHEN Wednesday, March 21 at 6 p.m. Free

‘EXPLOIT YOUR PASSIONS’ Manheimer says her interest in participating in the upcoming talk

COME SEE US TODAY!

Free alignment inspection with any service, just ask. WINTER SPECIAL

Mention Ad - Get 10% off labor!

FOR OUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS WE ARE NOW WORKING ON YOUR DOMESTIC VEHICLES! CHEVY • FORD • CHRYSLER

We Treat You Like Family!

STOLEN! SHIPMENT OF VIAGARA POLICE SEARCHING FOR GANG OF HARDENED CRIMINALS.

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

BRING YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR , AND YOUR ASIAN CAR—TOYOTA, LEXUS, HONDA, ACURA, SUBARU, NO EUROPEAN MODELS

MOSTLY AUTOMOTIVE • 253 Biltmore Ave. 828-253-4981 MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

B U N C O M B E B E AT

Community anger spills over during police advisory committee meeting

AN ERUPTION: An attendee at the Citizens Police Advisory Committee’s March 7 meeting points accusingly at the officials on stage. Photo by Carolyn Morrisroe A volcanic surge of outrage met members of Asheville’s Citizens Police Advisory Committee on March 7. During a meeting at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center, a packed room of Asheville citizens confronted members of the committee, government officials and members of the Asheville Police Department, including Chief Tammy Hooper, with personal stories and calls for reform. The CPAC meeting occurred about a week after the Asheville Citizen Times published leaked body camera footage showing former Asheville Police Senior Officer Chris Hickman, who is white, beating Asheville resident Johnnie Jermaine Rush, who is African-American. “The value of this process is allowing everyone here the opportunity to be heard,” Hooper said. “To express your feelings and your outrage and for us to take that and try to work toward making things better for our entire community as we move forward.” Officials on stage buckled under a torrent of emotion from members of the audience. Many citizens were visibly upset. Some were crying, and speakers frequently interrupted each other. At least one member of the audience called for the mayor, city attorney and city

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

manager to be fired, and another asked Hooper if she would resign. “I’m happy to resign if that’s going the solve the problem,” Hooper said. Resident DeLores Venable said the large crowd came to call out entrenched racism and structural racial bias in Asheville. “We have been here over and over and over again,” Venable said. She pointed to the stage, indicating the source of the blame. “Every single person on this stage is part of the system. “We’ve all been talked to like dogs, trash,” Venable said. “We’re not valued. We have no voice in this system. That is what Asheville is. They believe in tourism. They don’t believe in the people who make this city run.” Southside resident Priscilla Ndiaye said she has seen a pattern of response when the Asheville Police Department comes under fire. “I know there’s a lot of hurt, anger and pain in this room,” Ndiaye said, “but I just want to stand and say that I’m tired of coming to these types of meetings, and I’ll be here [and there’s] all this screaming and hollering back and forth and we leave out, and nothing is accomplished. Nothing. We go away until something else happens, and then we come back again.”

MOUNTAINX.COM

Rondell Lance, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police and a candidate for Buncombe County Sheriff, said the video is disgusting and broke his heart. “All I ask of the community, all I ask of you is don’t judge the rest of those officers there because of Chris Hickman,” he said. “Chris Hickman is the one that is at fault.” Recent City Council candidate Dee Williams said a small group of people runs Asheville — people who ostracize those who are not acquiescent. “I hate that this gentleman got beat, but he isn’t the first one and he won’t be the last,” Williams said. “Not unless we do something decisive. We have got to stop talking so much and start doing.” Nicole Townsend, another Asheville resident, told the committee she didn’t originally plan to speak but approached the microphone because she couldn’t help thinking about her nephew. “My nephew is 8,” Townsend said. “He loves chicken nuggets and firetrucks and ice cream and hugging me and being the cutest, sweetest little kid he could possible be. My nephew is also a little black boy.” She’s concerned about how police officers will see him as he grows older. She also told a story about her own run-in with Asheville police when

she was 19. Late at night, she sat in the car talking with a friend, an African-American man, outside her mother’s house. One of her mother’s neighbors called the police, and when officers arrived at the scene, they asked to check Townsend’s and her friend’s ID. “The officer said to me, ‘The next time y’all want to talk at 2 a.m., you can go to Denny’s,’” Townsend said. “For me, that moment was very clear that existing while black is a crime in Asheville.” Quentin Miller, a candidate for Buncombe County Sheriff this year and a sergeant in the Asheville Police Department, said during his time as an officer, he’s seen a lot things — both good and bad. “[The beating] did happen,” Miller said. “We can’t say it didn’t. … But what are we going to do now?” He also came to Hooper’s defense. “Before we even start giving her [Chief Hooper] the boot … we’ve got to come together and talk about this. OK? Because I’m just telling you, if we get someone else in here, guess what, they might be worse than y’all think Chief Hooper is.”

— David Floyd; reporting by Carolyn Morrisroe X

Commissioners express concern over APD video The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners celebrated an anniversary this week under a thick, gray cloud. “Since our last County Commission meeting, our community witnessed the release of one of the most disturbing incidents that has been captured on video in our community,” Chair Brownie Newman said in a statement at the beginning of the board’s meeting on March 6. Newman was referencing police body camera footage released on Feb. 28 by the Asheville Citizen Times that shows former Asheville Police Senior Officer Chris Hickman, who is white, beating Asheville resident Johnnie Jermaine Rush, who is AfricanAmerican. Police had stopped Rush on Aug. 24 for jaywalking and passing through the parking lot of a business that was closed.

“This incident is disturbing because of the level of violence inflicted on Mr. Rush,” Newman said. “It is also disturbing because of the corrosion of trust that it creates between law enforcement and citizens and the community and local government as a whole.” The meeting marked approximately one year since the Board of Commissioners voted to create the Isaac Coleman Community Investment Grants, a program intended to help level the outcomes associated with black and white residents of Buncombe County through targeted investment in local grassroots organizations. “I looked forward to this evening with great enthusiasm,” said Commissioner Ellen Frost. “And then last week we all witnessed that horrible video. Dr. [Martin Luther] King said we all die a little bit when we become silent about things that matter. And we can’t be silent. We

Commissioners unanimously denied a request to rezone a parcel at 1648 Brevard Road from residential low-density to commercial service, a move that was recommended by both county staff and members of the county Planning Board. Zen Tubing uses the property on a seasonal basis and wanted the rezoning so it could locate a shipping container on the land to act as a bar for alcohol sales, according to an analysis put together by Buncombe County’s planning and development department. “Staff’s main concerns with the rezoning request are that it represents a potential spot zoning and that the alcohol sales would represent an intensification of a commercial use surrounded by a rural, undeveloped area zoned exclusively residentially,” interim Planning Director Nathan Pennington said. Traffic was one of the overarching complaints expressed by citizens who stepped up to the microphone during the public hearing. Heath White, the petitioner and owner of Zen Tubing, told the board that the traffic issues along Highway 191 have nothing to do with Zen Tubing. “This is just an extension of what we’ve already been doing,” White said. Commissioners scheduled a joint meeting with Asheville City Council at 3 p.m. March 13 in the downstairs conference room at 200 College St. in downtown Asheville. The board will not hold a meeting on Tuesday, March 20, but will hold a workshop to discuss budget and affordable housing issues around noon in room 326 at 200 College St.

— David Floyd X

The

Sustainability

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY 2018

Every week in April

Series

Data paints a vivid picture of the disparity between white and black residents of Buncombe County. According to a presentation compiled in early 2017 by SYNEVA Economics, the life expectancy for babies born in Buncombe County between 2013 and 2015 is 5.9 years lower for black residents than white residents. There is also a stark difference in income. In 2015, black workers earned on average $1,135 less per month than white workers, a gap of about 32.8 percent. To attempt to narrow that gap, in June 2017, the county distributed a total of $635,426 to seven local organizations. The organizations have so far submitted two quarterly reports to the county detailing updates to their budgets and project outcomes. On March 6, the Board of Commissioners heard from representatives of those organizations about how they’ve been spending the money they received. Each spent a couple of minutes talking about their work. The YTL training program, for example, has hired two advocates to help students who are struggling academically. It has also trained its staff in mindfulness. “One of the things that we recognize is that the students we work with live with trauma on a daily basis,” Libby Kyle, the program’s executive director, told commissioners. This also extends to the parents. “So what we’ve tried to do is create

ZONE DEFENSE

IL L T I C K AV E T A IL S AB LE

MIND THE GAP

an environment where we’re supporting the family. Not just the students, but the family,” Kyle added. United Community Development, another recipient of grant funding, has started a training program in weatherization for low-income residents after hitting a bump with its planned masonry program. It has weatherized six homes since starting the program two months ago.

have to go forward with hope and drive and push.” For Commissioner Al Whitesides, the video conjured the memory of being pulled over by an officer in November 1988 while he was driving with his family. “That’s when I was reminded [of] what I went through in the ’60s — how it’s like to be driving being a black man,” he said. Thirty years later, he said he sees the same thing going on, and he worries about his grandkids. “It’s not all law enforcement officers,” Whitesides said. “But it’s like cancer. If you don’t take it out, it’ll just get worse.”

Celebrate Climate Action & Innovation

Identified by the EPA as a “climate saver”

Author Getting Green Done

Named a “global warming innovator” by TIME magazine

An Evening with Auden Schendler Climate Writer, Speaker & Activist

Highland Brewing Co. | March 20, 5:30 - 8pm Tickets: bit.ly/ColliderClimateInnovation MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

NEWS BRIEFS

N EWS

Morgan’s sheriff bid canceled in emergency meeting

I FOUGHT THE LAW: Michael Morgan, left, with supporter Matt Magoo after Morgan’s candidacy was canceled by the Buncombe County Board of Elections. The board said the state constitution prohibits former felons such as Morgan from serving as sheriff, though filing forms don’t make that clear. Photo by Able Allen With a formal apology, the Buncombe County Board of Elections canceled the candidacy of Michael Morgan for Buncombe County sheriff. The board met in a special session on March 6 to rule on the status of Morgan, who had filed as a Libertarian candidate in February; he had been campaigning publicly and actively since last year. Morgan is a felon who readily admits that he served time for a conviction for manslaughter, though he denies committing the crime. Article VII, Sec. 2 of the state constitution, passed in 2010, explicitly prohibits former felons from serving as sheriff, regardless of whether their rights of citizenship have been restored. In filing to run for office, board Chairman John Watson said, Morgan was not in the wrong, since neither of the filing forms made clear he would not be eligible to serve. “I want to apologize, to you, sir, that you got caught in this. There’s nothing on that form that would have alerted you,” Watson said. According to Watson, the staff of the county Board of Elections “came across” the constitutional passage that blocks Morgan’s candidacy and brought it to the attention of the board. 16

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

The Notice of Candidacy and Candidate Felony Disclosure forms Morgan filled out ask for felony disclosure, but both forms also state, “A prior felony conviction does not preclude holding elected office if rights of citizenship have been restored.” On the forms, Morgan declared he had been convicted of a felony. The board did not open the floor for public comment, nor did it allow Morgan to argue his case. When Watson asked if Morgan had any questions, Morgan noted that he thought the constitutional provision was “a bad law ... with the war on drugs we’ve disenfranchised millions of people, whether they went to prison or not.” In a written statement submitted during the emergency meeting, Morgan informed the local board of his intention to appeal the cancelation. As for the actions of the local board, Watson said, the decision was final. Morgan responded that he would try to appeal the decision with the state Board of Elections and pursue legal recourse. He also said he would continue a write-in campaign even if his name doesn’t appear on the ballot. Morgan’s filing fee of $1,302 is slated to be refunded, Watson said.

MOUNTAINX.COM

by Max Hunt | mhunt@mountainx.com NC MEDASSIST SCHEDULES MOBILE FREE PHARMACY EVENT NC MedAssist will hold a Mobile Free Pharmacy event on Saturday, March 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center in Asheville. The event will offer free health screenings, education and medicine-cabinet staples to any low-income individuals or families in need. Individuals are eligible for up to 10 medicinecabinet items for their home. Participants will also receive free health information on community resources available to them. Those interested in volunteering can sign up at medassist.org. More info: medassist.org BUNCOMBE PLANNING BOARD HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING MARCH 19 The Buncombe County Planning Board will hold a public hearing Monday, March 19, at 9:30 a.m. at 30 Valley St., Asheville. The board will consider an application to rezone two parcels at 1592 and 1598 Tunnel Road from residential to employment. A notice of the meeting can be found at avl.mx/4e1. More info: 828-2504830 or zoningquestions@ buncombecounty.org BUNCOMBE COMMISSIONERS PLAN WORKSHOP The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will hold a workshop

Tuesday, March 20, at noon to discuss budget and affordable housing issues. The workshop will take place at 200 College St., Room 326, Asheville. The board will not hold its regular 5 p.m. meeting that day. More info: avl.mx/4rr APPALACHIAN STORYTELLERS COME TO HENDERSONVILLE The Hendersonvillebased nonprofit Center for Cultural Preservation will host an Appalachian Storytelling Extravaganza celebration Thursday, March 22, at 7 p.m. in Blue Ridge Community College’s Thomas Auditorium. The event features a variety of Appalachian music, Jack tales, Cherokee legends and African-American stories from Western North Carolina. Scheduled performers include Frederick Park, Pat and Becky Stone, Lloyd Arneach and Ronnie Pepper, among others. The event includes adult and children-oriented music and stories. Tickets are $10; advance reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations and more info: saveculture.org or 828-692-8062 MADISON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFERS TWO SCHOLARSHIPS The Madison County Chamber of Commerce is offering two scholarships to Madison County students to help with their pursuit of higher

He also noted that the local board has requested that state forms be updated to reflect the constitutional requirement. The board will follow up with a written request, Watson said, commenting, “This is an issue that needs to be addressed in the form.” Morgan has previously run for state and federal office, but this is his first attempt for the sheriff’s office.

education. Through the Madison County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Endowment Fund, the scholarships, totaling $500 a piece, are open to all qualified students with a high school diploma or GED, with an emphasis on students who plan to return to Madison County to pursue careers. Application and more info: avl.mx/4ru CCCD, ASHEVILLE CHAMBER PARTNER ON ARTSPACE SURVEY The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design, in partnership with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Artspace Consulting, is conducting a survey to gather feedback from local artists and organizations on the need for affordable housing and studio space in Asheville. Campaign organizers hope to collect 1,200 individual surveys and 150 business/organization surveys completed by Monday, March 26. The survey is available online at keepavlcreative. com through March 26 and is open to residents who identify as an artist or creative. Survey participants are eligible to win $250 toward creative supplies of their choosing. Survey & more info: keepavlcreative.com X

Elsewhere in the state, similar issues are under discussion. In Davidson County, the former sheriff who inspired the constitutional amendment is attempting to run again this year. And in Swain County, election officials are considering whether an alleged dishonorable discharge might disqualify a sheriff from holding office.

— Able Allen X

KIDS ISSUE 2018

Welcome to Part I of Xpress’ 2018 Kids Issue, our annual extravaganza highlighting the creative work of area K-12 students. This year, we asked kids and teens to address the theme of “Let’s fix it!” We received 300 submissions from students who attend 26 local public, charter and private schools, along with a home-school and an afterschool arts program. These young people took the theme to heart, offering up heartfelt essays, poems and artwork about some of the concerns our community faces — and what they would do to solve these perplexing problems. From environmental issues to problems such as racism, homelessness, hunger and bullying, these kids and teens tackled a range of topics that show their awareness and concern. Their enthusiasm, energy and creativity can offer inspiration for us all. Be sure to check back next week for more engaging student art and writing in Part II of the Kids Issue — along with Xpress’ annual guide to area summer camps. We hope you enjoy! — Xpress staff X

Share your light Some people don’t know what it’s like to have friends. Many people have always had friends. You shine a light, and it’s your job to spread it. My parents have always told me emotions are contagious. No one determines your reactions. You carry yourself up. This does

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

around you. Then, just like a candle, spread the light as far as you can. Because when you do, you start a domino effect that might just change the world. — Annaclaire Vo Sixth grade Asheville Catholic School

Ignorance isn’t bliss

EQUALITY: Gracie Bolick, an eighth-grader at Charles D. Owen Middle School in Swannanoa, created this painting that features a strong message. not make you alone. Some of the strongest people I know carry more than one person. Think of your life as a candle. You bear your own light. Some people who have no friends may be the candles without light. Share your light. Our world would be better if we worked as a community. We spread our light. It’s not something you do for a day, it’s not something we do for a week, it’s something you do for a lifetime.

MOUNTAINX.COM

Making a difference is hard, but you can do it in your school, work or even your home. You don’t have to be famous to change the world. You can be 11, in school and just an average student. Notice the small things we may ignore when we are careless. Light someone’s candle, and that is a difference big enough to change the world in your own way. We all have talents and challenges. Be understanding to someone who may have other struggles than you have. Sometimes we find differences in other people’s personalities. This does not make them less than you. It makes them unique. I use these differences to make excuses. I judge people who may be different, and this is a problem we all have. Embrace others’ talents and struggles. Use your talents to strengthen others’ struggles. Do it anywhere you can. Your life is also like an eye. You see everything. This may make it seem as if you have no control, but just like an eye, you choose the amount of light that comes in. If you go through hard times, and you feel lost, open your eyes to see the light

One of the biggest problems I see is ignorance. Ignorance is everywhere. We go to school so we can not be ignorant, bookwise. We hardly have anything outside of school that will stop us from not being ignorant when it comes to world smarts. We live in a world where there are always new things to learn, and I don’t think you can ever learn everything, unless you are a robot. That said, a theme I have heard before is “ignorance is bliss,” but the truth is, it’s not, and people suffer from ignorance every day. Stereotypes, bigotry and prejudice are all a type of ignorance, and I refuse to accept these as any form of bliss. A stereotype is a widely held, but fixed, and oversimplified view of a particular type of person. Stereotypes form because of ignorance. People don’t like what they don’t know, and dislike turns into hate. The school systems don’t encourage discussion about things under the blanket of ignorance, and one of those things is race. We need to dig deeper into race-related issues to educate people on how the stereotypes and preconceptions are not true. We can educate ignorance in many ways if we are willing to make ourselves uncomfortable. The whole aspect of people being uncomfortable talking about a serious issue, in this case, ignorance, is preventing people from learning. We have “reproductive health” lessons to encourage abstinence, educate us on sex and suggest finishing school before having children. Why not treat ignorance the same way? It is just as important in shaping our decisions in adulthood. Coming from a student, sex ed class is uncomfortable, but we listen to those conversations, so why can’t we do the same for issues of societal ignorance?

Being book smart is different than being world smart. You can be the smartest kid ever and only know about what you see at school and on the news. That’s why we should try harder to eliminate degrading stereotypes and minimize ignorance by educating people, working through uncomfortable issues and encouraging everybody to be their best person all of the time. — Essence Copeland Eighth grade A.C. Reynolds Middle School

Food waste Munch, munch. Open, throw, close. This is how it goes Every morning and the night. All should be free to eat without a fight Food waste is not great. Go and fill someone’s plate Eat it up or when you’re through, compost it or give it to someone new! — Katie Conklin Fourth grade The Learning Community School

WHO: RISING GRADES 6 - 8 WHERE: MARS HILL UNIVERSITY WHEN: JULY 1 - JULY 6

A summer enrichment camp where you can laugh, learn, and make life-long friends!

WEEK T MINUS 1: BLASTOFF TO ADVENTURE! Since 1982, our motto has been “Learning is fun!” Last year, we launched this program just for Middle School aged campers, designed to focus on what students that age love: classes full of imagination, hands-on projects, self-expression, and the skills they need for their continuing academic lives. This program offers a variety of classes, giving campers the opportunity to explore new interests or expand their knowledge in areas they enjoy. This is a week of learning adventures that will take campers to new worlds!

SELF-PORTRAIT: Serenity Lewis, an eighth-grader at Evergreen Community Charter School, painted this self-portrait accompanied by an inspiring quote.

WEBSITE: APPALACHIANINSTITUTE.ORG EMAIL: AICLSUMMERCAMP@GMAIL.COM PHONE: 1-800-951-7442 MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

Every living thing has rights!

WATER SPIRIT VESSEL: Rainbow Community School fifth-grader Abraham Mailander sculpted this colorful ceramic figure, noting in his artist’s statement: “Water is life. If we protect our waters, we protect all life.”

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

Hispanic rights: Many Hispanics around the world are treated unfairly and have no freedom, such as people from Mexico, Cuba, Colombia and Spain. The Hispanic-American civil rights movement may not be as dramatic as the African-American civil rights movement, but the HispanicAmerican civil rights movement matters, too. Young immigrants put themselves at risk at the U.S border to stand up for each other. We the people shall never forget about people who have been deported and do not have freedom anymore. Black rights: Black leaders are counting on the rage and pain of the protesters to create a new civil rights movement. Black people aren’t asking for something big, they are asking for something simple. They just want to be treated the same as the whites and not be judged for being black. In today’s society, blacks and whites have equal rights as dedicated by the law. It is just that they are treated unfairly. Black lives matter!

MOUNTAINX.COM

TREE OF LIFE: Rainbow Community School sixth-grader Ingrid McCaffrey drew this colorful work that urges people to take care of all living things.

Animal rights: Did you know that there is a dog meat festival in Asia? The dog meat festival isn’t liked by everyone. About 11 million people signed to end the dog meat festival. Every animal has the right to live as long as they want. Many dogs have been kidnapped because the people who created the dog meat festival are animal traders. People have rescued about 500 dogs that were going to get killed. About 30 million dogs are killed in Asia every year for their meat. More than one-third of those dogs are from China, animal rights supporters say. Thousands of dogs will be killed for the festival, which starts June 21. How to help: Don’t treat people based on how they look or who they are; respect them. Take away kill shelters for animals and instead make no-kill shelters. Stick up for every living thing instead of bringing them down and care for everyone, even if it’s an animal. In conclusion, everything has rights, and everybody matters. — Sophia G. Gonzalez Fifth grade Oakley Elementary School

Create compost at school

Darkness into light A dark looming shadow, a hopeless gray sky where no light can reach you’ve lost your wings to fly. Loneliness spreads like fire, until the darkness swallows you whole. You’re falling through endless despair, an empty feeling in the depths of your soul. When all hope seems lost, you are struggling through the dark but then something catches your eye, like a bright, hopeful spark. The glimmer of joy dances in front of you, you latch on with all your might: maybe there’s a chance for a redo? You’re running, you’re chasing the light! The sun peeks out from the horizon, joy fills up the sky — hope rushes all over you, and it opens up your eyes. Now you have a sense of purpose A determination to start anew Maybe you’ll pay it forward And change someone else’s point of view … — Talia Weizman Sixth grade Hanger Hall

SUPERHERO: Hanger Hall School for Girls sixth-grader Talia Weizman writes in her artist’s statement for this work: “This is me as a superhero. I come with the sunrise and bring light and joy to the world. I have the power to fly and to make people truly happy. I am curing depression and putting a hopeful spark in everyone’s eyes.”

Why should we fix this? We throw away too much after lunch because we can only put cans in the recycling bins. But what if we had compost? We could put the food in it, and it would not get wasted. We could put food scraps, paper bags and cardboard in it, and that would decompose, and we would have soil for the school garden. We could have either a compost bin or something else that could work as the school compost. We could start with just putting fruit scraps before starting with something larger. We could have a better garden, and we would waste less food than putting it in landfills. We would attract more bugs like butterflies and bees to school, and we would waste less. It would help us and the animals. — Elena Ferguson Fifth grade Koontz Intermediate School

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

GUINEA PIG LOVE: Isaac Dickson Elementary School second-grader Asha Taylor, pictured, offers up concern for pets with this haiku and artwork.

Warmth and comfort for children in need In America, there are many societal issues being addressed. However, a problem that is often overlooked is children in hospitals or shelters without comfort. This is the problem I acted upon by volunteering for Project Linus and making a security blanket for a baby in need. This organization serves all across America, and the chapter I am donating my blanket to is in Buncombe County. I get to do something I love for someone in need, without leaving the comforts of my home! Soon, this blanket will be given to a baby in a hospital or shelter who is desperately craving comfort.

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

A security blanket soothes a child more than any random blanket. Once a child has made a psychological connection with their blanket, the feelings of security for a child without a mother present increases significantly. A security blanket is beneficial to a child in three main ways. A security blanket can soothe a child in a separation situation and when they are trying to fall asleep. Also, a security blanket can make a child more explorative, for a study showed that children explored their surroundings just as much with their security blanket present as they had with their mothers present. Interestingly, in the 1940s, it was believed that security blankets were unnecessary and even detrimental to a child. In the past, parents have apologized for and even hidden security blan-

kets from children when they would have been most beneficial. This has been a struggle that Project Linus has handled through teaching awareness. With help from the believers in security blankets, Project Linus and other organizations can eradicate these inaccurate beliefs once and for all! — William Gay Eighth grade Key School at Carolina Day School

Stopping racism There is a pretty big problem in Asheville. It’s racism. Racism is discriminating against someone because of their skin color.

Sometimes, people who are racist are called white nationalists. These people usually organize rallies and speeches based on their beliefs that white people should be supreme, and in some places, it is being used! In some prisons, black people have to do extra work. They are also sometimes arrested for no reason. But luckily, there are lots of movements trying to stop this. It will be a challenge because it is very hard to change a person’s opinion. — Adam Lee Aiken Third grade Evergreen Community Charter School

RACISM: Evergreen Community Charter School third-grader Adam Lee Aiken illustrates his essay above with a drawing of how racism can be hurtful while kids are playing sports.

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

A School of Global Leadership; Where Faith and Knowledge Meet the World.

Now enrolling Pre-K Through 8th Grade

Tidal waves Our ocean The one we praise; You know The one we love so much But yet we still destroy it Day after day Night after night We forget this unconditional love We litter like it means nothing, But does it? No It means everything; Because if we really cared, We wouldn’t do it So I’m asking you: To care. Just that, and that only. — Paiden Castelblanco Sixth grade Francine Delany New School for Children

Visit Us at AshevilleCatholic.org or Call for Your Personal Tour at 828.252.7896

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE EARTH: Rainbow Community School fourth-grader Adelyn Hanf, pictured, created this cheerful work of art. NO BULLYING: Lila, a kindergartner at Francine Delany New School for Children, drew this picture at the school’s afterschool program.

Earth Being alive is something special The feeling The freedom This is the world some dream of living in It’s part of your heart and soul Let your feelings fly to be a part of this world Try everything Never give up on your dreams. Our world. — Avery Ward Fourth grade Charles C. Bell Elementary School 24

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

Helping Nature Section 1: Planting trees instead of cutting them down with no reason. When you cut down trees without a reason, you think you may do whatever you please, even without a reason. Instead of cutting them down, plant them. Instead of leaving it on the ground, use it. Pocahontas says: “How high can the sycamore grow? If you cut it down, then you will never know.” If you plant a tree in Africa, you are keeping another animal family alive. If you plant a tree in North America, you are keeping another animal family alive. If you plant a tree in South America, you are keeping another animal family alive. Section 2: Landfills and what we can do about them. If you want to keep more nature, then follow all the advice that you have been given from Section 1, and the advice you are about to be

given from this section and Section 3. Here is the advice from this section: Reuse your trash instead of throwing it in a landfill! Animals could die because of people putting trash in a landfill. That is why I am asking you to do this. In the second and third books of a series called the Serafina series, characters are trying to protect nature. Section 3: Littering and what we can do about it. If you take your recycling to the recycling disposal, it’s OK because it gets reused. If you litter, then animals will eat it. For example: Did you know that sea turtles eat jellyfish? Because they do. Well, if you litter, then the wind blows it around. Let’s say the wind blew a piece of plastic into the sea, and a sea turtle found it. It would think it was a jellyfish and eat it. I hope you care about animals and that you follow this advice. Thank you a lot, —Sylvia Blackford Second grade Montessori Elementary School of Asheville

BACK IN MY DAY: Asheville School 11thgrader Addie Trivers created this work, noting in an artist’s statement: “This piece is an attempt to bring awareness to the abuse that happens in nursing homes.”

A summer of adventure... A lifetime of values.

PROTECT THE POLLINATORS: Rainbow Community School kindergartner Dagny Bernstein painted this colorful butterfly, a reminder that we need to take care of our pollinator friends.

Boys Overnight & Co-ed Day Camp Sessions Learn more: rockmont.com MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

Road safety for everyone Asheville is advertised as a biking-friendly town, but such advertisements are patently false. Though the trails of Western North Carolina make for a perfect riding environment, riding on the roads can be very treacherous. The common myths that “cyclists slow traffic, cause accidents and are a danger to the road” are all stigmas created from false information broadcasted against the cycling community. Though riders may slow the traffic marginally, their carbon footprint is much smaller than drivers’. Drivers need to become more aware and cautious when driving near cyclists, in order to create a safer community. Wear a helmet, anticipate conflicts, be predictable, be visible and follow the rules of the road. From a young age, my dad taught me how to be a safe cyclist. We started riding on the roads of Asheville when I was around 11 years old. He taught me hand signals, how to stay at the side of the

TO SHARE: Asheville School 12th-grader Ivana Xu drew this impressively detailed artwork. road and how to react when a car passes you. The main idea is to stay calm, and everything will be OK. Certain drivers in the Asheville area seem to disagree.

A family friend, recently riding on Sand Hill Road, was confronted by a driver and punched in the face. This kind of violence is unacceptable. In my opinion, motorists’ rage

is driven by their perceived superiority on the road. This myth is dangerous for cyclists because they are in a place of extreme vulnerability. “We don’t have bumpers or barriers around us,” Steve Taylor, the communications manager for the League of American Bicyclists, says [in a 2016 online article published by NerdWallet]. “Being assertive when you know you have the right of way is crucial.” Cyclists, being in a vulnerable position, reserve the right to feel safe. Drivers with road rage seem to disregard this fact, taking away that right. A practical solution is to educate the general public about how to be safe around cyclists. A possibility would be to include a biking safety test with driver’s education for new drivers. Asheville is a great town with lots of cyclists, so let’s make the roads safe for everyone! — Connor Smith Ninth grade Asheville School

Franny’s Farm Camp-Spring Break & Summer Sessions. Activities include: organic gardening, from scratch cooking, livestock care, homesteading skills and so much more!

Visit frannysfarm.com for more information!

Thanks for voting us one of the best outdoor dining, people-watching, kid-friendly pizza joints in Asheville!

50 Broadway • 236-9800 mellowmushroom.com/asheville 26

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

YOU SHOULD STOP SHOOTING: Isaac Dickson Elementary School second-grader DeMarcus King, pictured, created this haiku and artwork that speaks to a serious topic.

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

SELF-PORTRAIT: Evergreen Community Charter School eighth-grader Mason Arana painted this self-portrait accompanied by a thought-provoking quote.

A new world In our nation today there is no way we can all get along Everyone goes their separate ways and no one sees that wrong We yell we fight If only we could see the light Of a new world A world where girls are equal to boys … Where everyone enjoys seeing each other A world where love is like none other Love is love there’s no other name No one should be hiding in shame Where your race doesn’t matter When ideas shouldn’t shatter because of what one person thinks A world where no one stinks Everyone brings their own talent to this world No one should be curled up and thrown out

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

No one should just not care and go about their day We should go out of our way to help There are people in our community crying out with a yelp We have to, no, need to help No one needs to hear others whelp We can embrace each other’s differences and respect all Answer the call to appreciate all creation There should be no hesitation with how we show kindness No blindness to how we help out If we respect each other and love one another We can live in the world I believe in — Anna Corbitt Seventh grade Asheville Catholic School

Now Enrolling For The 2018-2019 School Year

BREVARD ACADEMY

ROCKET BOOTS FOR THE ELDERLY: Odyssey Community School third-grader Izze Brown offered up this invention to help older people get around without a cane.

Rocket boots for the elderly These are rocket boots. You don’t even need a helmet because they are secure and safe. And you can see so much, but you can only use

these boots if you’re old, so you don’t need to use a cane. So all you do is get into the boots and press the button on both of them and then hold onto the handlebars. — Izze Brown Third grade Odyssey Community School

A CHALLENGE FOUNDATION ACADEMY

A Free Quality Education

Serving Children From Kindergarten - 8 th Grade Call 828-885-BOOK Find out more information at brevard.teamcfa.school MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

Problem-solving, banana by banana My name is Evan Wilker, and I go to Francine Delany New School for Children. MANNA FoodBank taught me that one in six Americans are hungry, yet there is actually enough food for everyone. Since then, I have been concerned about the amount of food wasted in the U.S., and I have studied ways to prevent waste. “Americans waste an unfathomable amount of food,” says Adam Chandler, writing for The Atlantic. This sounds ridiculous, but he is not kidding. The U.S. wastes 33 million tons of food each year, and most is perfectly edible. The hunger epidemic in the U.S and the toll that food waste takes on the environment are among the reasons food waste is unacceptable. Hunger is one of the biggest issues that spawn from food waste. Almost 17 percent of Americans are hungry, yet most Americans dispose of extra food. Our supply of resources, like petroleum and water, is damaged as we waste food. Eighty percent of all fresh water we consume is used to produce food, so every time we discard food,

we discard water. Valuable petroleum is also wasted, for the typical food product travels 1,500 miles before it’s eaten. When food that a gas-extruding truck carried is wasted, the gas was unnecessarily used. Methane, a gas 30 times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide, is produced by rotting food. This means the more food we waste, the more food slowly is decomposing in landfills, and the more polluted the atmosphere grows. Food is a vital ingredient to human life, so it must be respected. Luckily, there are many easy steps we can take toward honoring food and curbing waste. The first is easy — don’t waste food simply because it’s past its expiration date, because it is probably still fresh. We can also reduce the size of our portions and save our leftovers. In addition, we can buy less food and plan our shopping to avoid buying extra food. By taking these steps, we can lessen the colossal amount of food America wastes, help save our environment and combat hunger. — Evan Wilker Seventh grade Francine Delany New School for Children

BE KIND TO ANIMALS: Charles D. Owen Middle School seventh-grader Carly Hancock offers up a solution to the problem of animal cruelty and overcrowded animal shelters.

Fixing a big problem Every time I go to the beach, I pick up five pieces of trash a day. Imagine how many pieces of trash would be picked up if everyone in the world did that. The oceans would be so much cleaner! It would be so much better for the world and for the environment, too. Imagine how beautiful the world would be. Today at school, we learned about Boyan Slat, a young engineer who is cleaning up the ocean through his nonprofit, The Ocean Cleanup. When people told him it was impossible to clean up the ocean, he wanted to try even more. Today we went on a hike; there was so much trash. We decided as a class that we were going to start a club, and we decided to name it “Let’s Fix It” because, like 30

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

Boyan, we wanted to fix a big problem. We got about 100 pieces of trash. We plan to pick up all of the trash around our school, the camp, and the even the ocean — everywhere in the world. You inspired us. Thank you! — Annabelle Unguris Third grade The Learning Community School

The NYAACP of Transylvania County “You must be bold, brave, and courageous and find a way ... to get in the way.” — ah, the wise words of John Lewis.

WATER IS LIFE: Asheville School 11th-grader Claire Hill created this artwork, explaining in an artist’s statement: “In 2016, The Standing Rock Sioux tribe and many people from around the country came together to protest the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. ... Protesters adopted the slogan ‘mni wiconi’ which means ‘water is life.’ This message stuck with me for I ... am a human who depends on clean water. .... My relationship with water taught me to revere and respect water as it is essential to all aspects of life and must be protected. I created my artwork ... to bring attention to the basic human need for water and to our shared responsibility to protect our precious water and, in turn, to protect life.” This wonderful man has influenced my life tremendously, and his novel March inspired me to join the NAACP. My name is Gabe Rood. I am 11 years old and attend Mountain Sun Community School as a sixth-grader in Brevard. I am also white and from the South. I got engaged in civil rights when I studied Rep. John Lewis for my Hero’s Journey project. I read his three graphic novels and got inspired to do more. I joined the NAACP, got to work with a youth group and I also got a cool plaque for being a life member! The NAACP was then working on The Time to Talk discussion series in Transylvania County. A classmate and I wanted to put the Y [for youth] in NYAACP. Though the Time to Talk had some success, there weren’t diverse political views within the attendees. Everybody talked about the same issues and how to solve them, but there was no movement forward.

I tried to start a youth group, but the kids were not interested and/ or not focused. The methods were not sustainable. About a year later, on Jan. 15, 2018, I went to the Martin Luther King March in Brevard, and I also went to the Women’s March in Asheville. These got me engaged once again. My hope is to have more sustainable NAACP meetings and start a youth group in Transylvania County again. If you are between the ages of 9-14 and want to make a difference in the world, please contact me [via daniels@mountainsunschool.org] for more details. People who want to join should be able to be come to meetings at some consistency. I would love to form a youth group and make an everlasting difference in the world before we come of age. — Gabe Rood Sixth grade Mountain Sun Community School

A packaging solution

From trash to crafts

Plastic is not good for the earth. It makes the ocean have no fish. It is horrible. If I had all of the power in the world, I would convince people to recycle and convince companies to use seaweed for their packaging instead. — Waylon Bird Second grade The Learning Community School

We use a lot of trash, and all of it goes to the dump, and it just stays there. It just sits there in a big pile of trash; it doesn’t go away — it sits and stays there. I would fix that by finding a way to reuse all of it. Some people throw trash on the ground, and it sits there until someone comes by and picks it up. I would reuse it by making arts and crafts. — Sophia Brown second grade The Learning Community School MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

must become unafraid of giving ourselves and our world to change, and we must remember that we are not and never have been alone. Our footprints may be washed away, but the landscape will never be the same. — Margaret (Maggie) Severtson 11th grade SILSA

A tiny solution for the homeless

STOP CUTTING DOWN TREES: Isaac Dickson Elementary School second-grader Ashley Feimster, pictured, created artwork and a haiku about her concern for the environment.

On the edge of a cliff I am lost when it comes to creating change; I feel like this world is too big and too old for my footprints not to be washed away. Yet I (and, I would argue, the majority of my peer group and indeed of my generation) know I must not submit to this fear — how else would anything be done? We are faced with looming issues of climate change, war, unsustainable economic practices and the general dissolution of faith in current social systems. We will walk into a future where things will be different, but when it comes down to it, I am not sure whether that difference will be the result of direct positive action by optimistic (and desperate) individuals or will instead be the cumulative outcome of humanity’s absent-minded destruction. I admit that I revel in this odd uncertainty, in the spirit of those who dance on the edges of cliffs or 32

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

leap jubilantly around the boundary of bonfires. Yet we cannot let ourselves fall. The burden of the future is not something I or any child can leave behind, so we carry on. We try to give back. These monstrous troubles — climate change, infirm governments, destruction of and by nature and humankind alike — are our debt of success, and we must pay. But it feels like so little in the face of so much. I give my time, energy, resources, strength and self to the causes I believe in, yet I do not know if I will ever have given enough. This hopelessness, this feeling that I am refilling a well with an eyedropper, is what allows my cheerful desperation for the end — even as I pass petitions or give blood or assist in science education. This is what we can fix. I know my efforts are not isolated, but I believe that we, as a country, as a people, need to feel that. Everyone has a cause they believe in, so I ask them to give to it. We

Why can’t everyone have a home — a nice, warm home to live in? I don’t know what it would be like if I was homeless and on the streets with nothing to eat and nothing to keep me warm. I have done my research, and living as a homeless person sounds very hard to do. I have noticed some homeless people would rather live on the streets then inside a homeless shelter. The reason for this is that many homeless shelters are just buildings with homeless people sleeping there. No nice beds. No nice buildings, according to a formerly homeless person during a 2012 NPR interview who said “many shelters are simply warehouses filled with homeless people.” Although, he added, many shelters are decent, and there are nice shelters out there. I have a solution for some people that are homeless: tiny homes. I know that this solution works because there is a tiny home community in Austin, Texas, called Community First! Village — Mobile Loaves & Fishes. This 27-acre tiny home community is great that is only for the homeless. I have a way to make this tiny home community more affordable. I can’t change this one, but I could make/start a community and instead of having plumbing in each house which, according to Tiny House Giant Journey will be about $30,000 dollars. I have a way to reduce all of those house costs by about $700 and make a few bathhouses that would cost just around $20,000 each. I believe in the long run this idea of a bathhouse will save much more money than plumbing in individual homes. I believe that tiny homes can be a way to combat homelessness. — True McCall seventh grade The Learning Community

HUNGRY JOE AND FRIENDS: At Roots + Wings Afterschool Community Design Lab, students are addressing the decline in pollinators by creating these pollinator “seedbomb” sculptures, which are ready to be placed outside to sprout and provide food for their pollinator friends. Hungry Joe, by third-grader Gavin Gentry, center, is joined by, from left, fifth-grader Sienna Gentry’s nest and flower, and far right, second-grader Kendal Moshier’s flower.

Extremists in our country and community White supremacy has always been present in our state of North Carolina and our country. People need to realize what a big issue this is. This is a very big problem specifically in our community (Buncombe County) and all around the country. It’s been happening for a pretty long time. It seems to me like most of the white supremacists and neo-Nazis have made their voices heard more since President Donald J. Trump was elected into office. We need a solution to stop these people from hating other human beings just because of their religion or race without ever meeting them or even seeing them. There is a ton of evidence of this enormous problem. Some examples of this are the white supremacist protests in Charlottesville, Va. There, a white supremacist supporter actually drove his car into a crowd of people, killed a woman and injured many others, and that just goes to show how insane these extremists can become and how hate-driven some of them are. The Southern Poverty Law Center also says that it’s tracking over 1,600 white supremacy and neo-Nazi extremist groups in our country.

Another example of this would be at most of the pre-election Trump-Pence rallies, where there were a lot of white supremacists and neo-Nazis who were yelling racist things during the rally. ... The problem must be put to an end. My solution is for people to understand the importance of this issue and to try to do something about it like protesting or making the issue even more known. I can’t do this all by myself, and neither can you. So we need to work together to get the word out. Make these white supremacist and other extremist parties obsolete. ... People who participate in KKK, neo-Nazi and other extremist activities have hate toward millions, maybe billions of people for absolutely no reason other than that someone may look different than them or believe in worshipping someone who they don’t believe in or understand. It just isn’t logical or becoming of anyone. In conclusion, we need to make this issue become more known throughout the community because this problem is making a lot of people feel unsafe in their own communities. Not a lot of people understand that, so please help get the word out to everyone about this serious issue. — Zeke Davis Eighth grade Evergreen Community Charter School Editor’s note: This essay was shortened for space considerations.

® NOW IN

ASHEVILLE!

Join us for a summer of forest fun, stream exploration, and mountain top discoveries! • Nature Camps for rising 1st-6th graders • Full day 9am-5pm • NEW! LEADERSHIP CAMP for rising 7th-8th graders • Led by knowledgable naturalist staff • Sessions also offered in Brevard, Hendersonville and Rutherfordton

For more information or to register visit us or call www.campmuddysneakers.org • (828) 862-5560 MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

Start with youths to decrease crime

Join the Friends of the

WNC Nature Center

for year-round family fun!

Every day is a new adventure at

Asheville’s Wildlife Park!

Open Daily 10-5 828-259-8092 www.wildwnc.com

The crime rate in Asheville was a major surprise to me. Asheville has one of the highest crime rates in the nation [according to NeighborhoodScout]. Crimes in Asheville include rape, murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Property crime as well occurs at a shocking rate in Asheville; crimes include burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson. The chance that you might become a victim of one of these crimes is one in 20. Since 2011 to 2016, crime rates have increased. In 2016, there were 480 violent crimes accounted for, involving homicide, rape, aggravated assault and robbery. Becoming a victim of a violent crime in Asheville is 1 in 190 to North Carolina’s average of 1 in 288. On top of the crimes, there is also a gang problem in Asheville. An immense problem is the “wannabes,” according to a veteran of the Asheville Police Department [as reported in Mountain Xpress]. The wannabes try to prove that they are something they are not so that they can impress other gang members. A way to decrease crimes is to start with the youth. It’s better to try and stop the crimes before they even happen instead of trying to fix the problem afterward. The legal age to drop out of school is 16 in Asheville. When you have nothing to do all day, and you are bored, you are more likely to do things you shouldn’t. Those who don’t graduate from school are more likely to commit crimes. Sixty-eight percent of state prison inmates did not receive a high school diploma [according to Bureau of Justice statistics]. Dropping out at 16 when things get hard sometimes seems appealing.

But if the legal dropout age is 18, it only makes sense to finish that last year. It’s common sense. You have already made it this far, so why not complete your last year? Doing one more year is very achievable. A study from the American Economic Journal that found high school dropouts are more than eight times as likely as graduates to be incarcerated. Based on these facts, it makes logical sense to complete 12th grade. — Kieren Coats Ninth grade Asheville School

STOP CUTTING DOWN TREES NOW!: Francine Delany New School for Children first-grader Luella offers a strong statement for tree protection in this drawing she created at her school’s after-school program.

Join us for Day Camp at Hanger Hall!

For Camp Details and Registration Info, Please Visit www.hangerhall.org/summercamp Coding Camp!

June 11-15 – 9am -1pm | Rising 5th- 9th grade

We will be teaming up with Marietta Cameron, Associate Professor of Computer Science at UNCA! We welcome beginners through experienced coders!

Asheville Creative Arts Theatre Camp Co-Ed! June 25-29 - 9am-5pm | Ages 8-11



Crafty Hoopla!

August 13 -17 – 9am - 4pm | Rising 5th- 9th grade

Girls should expect a week filled with crafting, nature exploring, and game playing. This camp is all about playing and having fun while creating beautiful nature inspired art.

Students will learn acting, creative drama, writing & puppetry adapting a folktale to present on the final day. With daily master lessons by local artists in music, improvisation or movement.

Registration/info: www.ashevillecreativearts.org or abby@ashevillecreativearts.org

Now enrolling for the 2018-2019 school year Open Houses for interested families: March 8th and April 11th | RSVP to daniellep@hangerhall.org or call 828-258-3600 to set up a tour! 34

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

Use opportunities to help others When I see someone asking for food on the side of the road, it reminds me of my privilege. It reminds me that I have so much more than they do. As a little kid, I would ask my parents for spare change to give. When I gave it to them, I would think of myself as a hero. I would think that I saved their life. Now, I look for something to give them, but I think it isn’t enough. I can afford to give, but there is still hesitation. I think that what I give them isn’t enough. My family has never had trouble with money. I don’t know what it is like. We get new shoes every four months, we get new clothes when our old clothes get too small. Is that not greedy? I know that I shouldn’t feel bad about having that, but I do. We take advantage of our money just because we have money.

SUPERSHERO: Hanger Hall sixth-grader Ivy Niemas-Holmes offers up this creative work, which she describes in an artist’s statement: “This is my supershero. She wants to stop inequality towards the LGBTQ community. She can open people’s minds to this idea by touching their hearts. Wherever she goes she is followed by a rainbow and gives people rainbows when she opens up their minds.”

As a teenager, I push my parents to spend money on me. I constantly want more and more, when in reality I don’t need anything. We waste our money on long showers. We waste our money when we don’t turn our lights off. We waste money on clothes. We waste our money on our phones. We waste our money on items that don’t really benefit our lives in any way. If we could cut down on all of the things that we don’t need, we would have more money to use on actual things that we do need or to benefit other people. We must become more aware of the advantage that we have, and as a community, we need to use the opportunities that are given to us to help other people in our society who are going through difficult times. We need to unite and develop into a community that those people can rely on. — Kate Wilson Seventh grade The Learning Community School

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

Show acts of kindness In America, we have more and more problems by the day. One of the problems I want to focus on is suicide. There are about 4,400 deaths each year, which can be caused because of bullying, stress and depression. There are many suicide attempts each year. Now, I really want to focus on the result that bullying starts. Now these days, adults don’t bother to check on their children because of their technology and work. Most of these people who get depression are teens in the ages of 15-18. There is so much cyberbullying now, with the more technology we get, that that we get more lost into the darkness of depression. Suicide is the 10thleading cause of death in America. Imagine, we kids are the future, the new generation, but still here we are bullying, abusing and just doing bad things to other people. I think that we as a community should get together to help others and to show acts of kindness. Even one of the smallest acts of kindness can make a person’s day.

In my personal life, I’ve noticed that when you’re kind to someone, you can change their whole life. I once had a friend in school, and a lot of kids would pick on her for being short and quiet. She was always alone, and kids would walk past her. But one day, I became her friend, and she became really happy. She always had a smile on her face, and she made more friends. By the year’s end, she had become more and more confident. But now sadly, we are in different schools, but we get to see each other when it’s soccer season and all of the kids go out to play outside. She, to this day, has taught me to be kind to everyone, because you may as well make their day. To this day, I would like that we would all be together as a family, that we may be nice to each other and that we can all be equal. — Vanessa Garcia Sixth grade Asheville Catholic

CONVENIENCE STORE MASSACRE: Asheville School 11th-grader Luke Mitchell painted this haunting portrait of Trayvon Martin. In his artist’s statement, he writes: “In my portrait of Trayvon Martin, I attempted to attack the issues of racial profiling and police brutality by giving the problem a face. … I believe that it is an artist’s job to bring mistreatments of people to the world’s attention. I hope that my piece leads to a greater overall discussion of these issues, and while we may never reach a tangible solution, acknowledging the problem will create a better society through eliminating ignorance.”

What’s wrong with the world He said — She said — Well, that’s not what I heard — Rumor and gossip always Flies like a bird Make a mistake To the whole world it’s known Yet they’re never quite so eager To have their own secrets shown Hurt you Hurt them back Well, they started it If someone does something You don’t have to be part of it

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

Insults, abuse The world needs to change We can stop being cruel What I’m saying isn’t strange If we stop If we are nice The world’s a better place Where it doesn’t matter If your face Isn’t perfect, Because no one is. Try opening your mind The world would be so much better if we were to just Be. Kind. — Liz Vaughan Eighth grade Asheville Catholic School

Earth Let’s focus on Earth Not on another planet Save this planet first — Finnen Marquis Fourth grade The Learning Community School

Ending hunger one meal at a time Hunger is a big problem in Western North Carolina, but to extinguish this monstrosity, we, as a community, need to take it one bite at a time. A heroic local nonprofit that copes with this is MANNA FoodBank. Over the years, MANNA has created programs to feed kids and families. One of these programs is “Packs for Kids,” a program that [in 2015], according to MANNA, fed 4,946 kids each Friday. But feeding kids in need does not end all hunger in WNC. MANNA also states that they serve 16 counties and distribute [17.3] million pounds of food every year. The reason MANNA can distribute so much food, and we still have

BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC OF NATURE: Rainbow Community School sixth-grader Elizabeth Lutkowski created this ceramic nature scene.

people going home hungry, is simple. According to Hunger Research, 14 percent of Buncombe County residents are food-insecure. This is 34,340 people who don’t know where their next meal is coming from; 10,600 of these are children who are eligible for getting free and reduced meals. One of the big problems is finding the people in need. Many don’t know when the person sitting right next to them is food-insecure. If we were to just ask if people need help, then we could make a major dent in this problem. You can help and be a part of the solution by volunteering at MANNA. Or, if you have a busy schedule, then just a dollar provides [3.5] meals. I acted on this problem and volunteered at MANNA for 10 hours. I enjoyed sorting breads. It can be tiresome at some points, but when you are done, it feels like a rock was lifted off your chest, and you know that you just helped people in need. Having that feeling can’t be beat. If you want to help the community and have the feeling of being whole, then volunteer at MANNA. — Nik Ramming Eighth grade Carolina Day School

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

Let’s fix it: bullying

BE NICE TO EVERYONE: Francine Delany New School for Children secondgrader Juniper used markers to draw this cheerful picture at her school’s after-school program.

Bullying is a big thing in our community, and we need to fix it. A bully (let’s say his name is Bob) at some point was a normal kid like you and me. Bob was probably bullied at some point, and he felt like he was being pushed down. The only way for Bob to feel better was to put someone else down and make him rise. So if everyone would stop bullying, then there would be less bullying in the world. The more bullies there are in the world, the more people they will bully, and the people they bully will become bullies (sometimes), and then the cycle repeats. If you are a bully, you aren’t necessarily a bad person at heart, it is just that you have a fixed mindset to do that, and you aren’t open to new ways in life. To be able to change someone from a bully back to a normal kid, it is like changing a werewolf back to a human. You need to stand up for yourself and when they are laughing at you, just laugh with them. — Samantha Lehman Fifth grade Charles T. Koontz Intermediate

Screens You don’t need a screen TV and phones aren’t real friends Go outside and play — Taleah Jackson fourth grade The Learning Community School

IMAGINE THE FOREST IN COLOR: Rainbow Community School first-grader Sascha Kneile created this vivid work of art.

A win-win situation I think too many people are cutting trees that are the animals’ habitat and mine, too. I will get some of my friends to help me make birdhouses, and we will try to preserve the forest next to my house. Bears are not knowing where to make a den, so they are going downtown, where they could get hurt, so I will tell my neighbors to plant trees in their yard and never cut them down. I cannot help the bears get to forests near me without getting hurt. Planting trees near the bears so they feel safe, and we do, too, is a win-win situation for us and the bears and birds. — Tessa Anderson Third grade Evergreen Community Charter School

No texts, no wrecks

THE TREE OF LIFE PROTECTS ALL: Rainbow Community School sixth-grader Adaiah Baquero drew this peaceful scene. 38

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

Some people ignore the law. It is extremely dangerous for any driver with a cellphone to text while operating a moving vehicle, which is why it is against the law to text while driving. Car wrecks, close calls and fender benders are always happening, and in Buncombe County, people texting while driving is one of the biggest reasons why. I think that no matter what is happening outside, texting while driving is never the appropriate solution. After all, your phone is just a 4-by-

6-inch flat bundle of glass and plastic. I will, without hesitation, always suggest to any driver to get off the blue-lighted screen. It is illegal in North Carolina to text and drive in a moving vehicle, but if you have kids in the back seat, then they can reply to your text messages for you — no law-breaking business now! In New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo pushed legislation forward to reduce distracted drivers by establishing important texting zones along roads and highways for people to safely text while traveling. If we can try harder to obey the law, then we can have a safer community, but by establishing safe zones along roads or having a passenger send your text for you, we could help prevent people from temptation to text while they drive. Today, a hands-free reader is available in most phones. Siri can even read your latest text messages and respond for you. I will, without a doubt, always suggest for any driver to get off the bluelighted screen and be a responsible driver. It puts them and all those nearby in great danger that could be prevented through designated text zones, car passengers or even Siri. We should all work to solve this growing issue! — Megan Kleive Fifth grade The Learning Community School

lenge will be to get people to listen to me. I can overcome this challenge by using strong words. — Stella Brunk Third grade Evergreen Community Charter School

Eliminate plastic drinking straws

LET’S FIX IT: Evergreen Community Charter School third-grader Stella Brunk offers up a heartfelt illustration to accompany her essay below.

Teach kids importance of trees, animals I have a problem. In our community, people are building a lot of who knows what, which means we are cutting down a lot of trees, which means animals such as birds, bears, rabbits, etc., homes are being destroyed, so they either die, live in the city or move. My plan to fix this is to start telling teachers and other people to teach kids how important trees and those animals are in the circle of life. A chal-

Straws are being thrown into oceans everywhere. This is a global problem, but we can help regionally. Scientists estimate that there are 5 trillion pieces of plastic waste floating around in our oceans. If you think that straw and plastic waste has gotten worse, you are right. The U.S. makes 30 percent of all of the world’s waste. When we throw away a plastic drinking straw, we may think it’s no big deal, but soon all the oceans will have straws instead of plankton, plastic bags instead of jellyfish and big mountains of trash as coral reefs. In England, if you forget your reusable bags at the grocery store, the government has made it a requirement to charge 5 cents to the customer who needs a plastic bag. This helped the

customer think about waste more, and it also reduced the number of bags wasted in England. This could also work for straws. The amount of straws that the U.S. uses in a day is the right amount to fit around the Earth 2 1/2 times! That’s a lot of straws. Straws do not biodegrade. They photodegrade into smaller and smaller pieces, which means that sea creatures will think they’re prey and eat them! All I’m asking we do is to use less straws; it’s very simple. We can easily buy reusable straws. In Asheville, some restaurants have corn-based biodegradable straws. We should find ways to encourage other restaurants to use these as well. We could do this by making a website that shows the restaurants that use biodegradable straws as a list. Asheville could advertise them more for their eco-friendly businesses, causing tourists to visit them more, and other restaurants would do the same thing. Please join me in the hope to eliminate plastic drinking straws from our daily lives. — Vivianna Hughey Fifth grade The Learning Community School

READ: Charles D. Owen Middle School seventh-grader Allie Trout tackles the problem of a low literacy rate and low access to books. MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

Gold garden could help hungry children There are homeless and hungry children struggling in school. Would you help these lonely children in need? In the world, there are homeless and hungry people in need, especially children. Children who are homeless are most likely to get hungry or sick during class. Children are most likely to struggle in school. They miss classes and maybe drop out of school. It affects children so much. It tends to be less visible, called hidden homelessness. Hidden homelessness means not living on the street, but instead moving from place to place, or it might be living with a family member or in a shelter. Many kids are homeless or hungry who go to school with us.

How can we stop hunger and homelessness? We can make a gold garden. A gold garden is a garden that grows foods like corn, carrots, tomatoes and stuff like that, and it’s free. We can do donations and raise a lot of money and food. We can also make bags of stuff that they need to get through life. We can give out clothes we don’t need and also shoes. We also can give out breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. In my school, there are five students we know are homeless, but around the world, there are millions of homeless and hungry children. The hunger is a big deal, but these children are hungry for friends, too. We should help them with food and friendships, too. Hunger is a big issue, and it is affecting children around the world. There are many ways to stop hunger and homelessness. The hunger is not just for food. How can we help the homeless and hungry children? I want to put a stop to this. Do you? — Tyzell Allen Fifth grade Oakley Elementary School

PUZZLE XPRESS

edited by Sarah Boddy Norris JUST KID-ING CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. SMAC-tivity on the greenway? 8. Moved like an airhockey puck 12. Pioneer Parks 13. 2017 Asheville City Council candidate Williams 14. “Out of the Blue” food truck country 15. Powers’ Doctor? 16. Local bus system, for short 17. Shakespeare’s river 18. Biltmore Park-toArboretum trajectory 19. Activi-toy for bears? 21. Sheeran and Sullivan 23. Tool for a WALK table? 24. What goes in Launch Socks first 27. Part of a magical Hog? 29. Short wedding sentence 31. Retired pro wrestler living in Asheville 32. Music for feeling all the feels 33. 12-across, in the history of civil rights 34. 24-across attachment 35. Numbers at the gym 36. Place in math 37. List on the Orange Peel stage 38. Part of a min. 39. Activit-eye for all ages at Asheville Pizza & Brewing? 43. Bee home 47. A fan of 48. Enjoy a 26-down at Early Girl Eatery 50. “American” show on WLOS

51. Lion King villain 52. Singer who’s in “Ctrl” 53. Little Mermaid villain’s minions 54. Comfort 55. Distinct

DOWN

1. Asheville Youth Rowing team 2. “___ Asheville, Go Local” 3. Haywood Road music hall 4. Type of dog or Falcon 5. Journalist B.Wells 6. Haywood Comics shopper (according to them!) 7. What to do with a drawbridge 8. Lookout Observatory realm 9. Jeans owner? 10. Flat____ Building 11. What goes with Dragons, at The Wyvern’s Tale 20. Acornucopia Project is named for one

SEE ANSWERS ON PG. 79

22. Characteristic of some (but not all) Hop flavors 24. Broadcast 50-across 25. Poetic form 26. One can be poached at Over Easy Cafe 28. Local org. for music industry 29. Ultimate ___ Cream 30. Quixote title? 33. More sensitive to poison ivy? 35. Chain outdoor store 37. Pinky-promised 40. Ancient civilization from 14-across 41. GPS guesses 42. Look at 44. Inkling 45. Electric car 46. Threat conclusion 49. Noisiest class at Center Stage?

participatorydemocrossy@gmail.com

The

Sustainability

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY 2018

Every week in April

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

Series

Hot Springs Health Program

SERVING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER FORTY-SIX YEARS

Hot Springs Health Program offers a full range of primary and preventative medical services for all ages — from Pediatric to Geriatric — at four convenient locations. HSHP has been providing primary care for over 46 years. Mashburn Medical Center

Laurel Medical Center

590 Medical Park Dr. Marshall, NC 28753-6807

80 Guntertown Rd. Marshall, NC 28753-7806

Phone: (828) 649-3500

Phone: (828) 656-2611

Fax: (828) 649-1032

Fax: (828) 656-9434

After Hours: (828) 689-9713

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 9am–7pm

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 9am–5pm

Mars Hill Medical Center

Hot Springs Medical Center

119 Mountain View Rd. Mars Hill, NC 28754-9500

66 NW Us 25 70 Hwy. Hot Springs, NC 28743

Phone: (828) 689-3507

Phone: (828) 622-3245

Fax: (828) 689-3505

Fax: (828) 622-7446

After Hours: (828) 689-9713

Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 9am–7pm Sun 1pm–7pm

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 9am–5pm Sat 9am–12noon

PHARMACIES

MADISON HOME CARE & HOSPICE

Each medical center has its own pharmacy so prescriptions can usually be filled at the same site where you saw your physician.

Helping families care for their loved ones at home. Most people prefer to be in their own homes to recover from illness or surgery, to take care of their chronic illnesses or to live out a limited life expectancy. Madison Home Care and Hospice provides quality health care in the homes of residents of Madison County as well as the surrounding areas including Buncombe and Yancey counties.

PHYSICAL THERAPY Physical therapy focuses on maximizing functional independence through the use of manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, balance training, gait training, and therapeutic modalities.

Phone: (828) 649-1775

Services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Phone: (828) 649-2705

For more information, please visit our website at www.hotspringshealth-nc.org. MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

Keep rivers and streams clean When you’re out in the wilderness enjoying a sunrise with mist hovering over the nearby river, or on a quest to find the quickly diminishing species of brook trout, spotting a piece of trash or a gorgeous trout belly up floating down the river or stream can ruin a truly beautiful moment. Pollution in the rivers and streams of the Appalachians is getting worse and worse. It is killing many different aquatic and amphibious animals. It’s all because of humans, but we can do something about it. Mountaintop removal mining practices continue to destroy biologically diverse mountains and streams every day. Since the 1970s, mountaintop removal has been responsible for killing aquatic species. Native brook trout, which once thrived in cold mountain streams across the region, have been severely impacted and are now found in less than 80 percent of their historic range. Many different species of fish, crawfish, frog and salamander have been experiencing pollution as well in their habitats, and it is killing them in more ways than one.

KEEP THE STREAM CLEAN: Rainbow Community School fifth-grader Michael Morrison drew this vibrant work that urges care for the environment.

New

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently lists 11 fish, seven mussels, two crawfish, four salamanders and five snails as federally threatened or endangered. The continued loss and decline of freshwater snails, mussels, fish, crawfish, amphibians and reptiles demonstrates that, despite significant water quality improvements made in the last 28 years since the passage of the Clean Water Act. Yet the quality of the rivers is not where it needs to be. For example, the hellbender salamander is nearly extinct because of habitat loss and pollution. These giant salamanders are extremely sensitive to pollution and only live in the cleanest rivers. There are things we can do to help these endangered animals, but we must work together. We can help by picking up trash along hikes near rivers, by not dropping energy bar wrappers on the ground and by making sure your waders, if you are fishing, are clean from the last use so you don’t spread disease. Rinse all mud and debris from equipment and wading gear, and drain water from boats before leaving the area where you’ve been fishing. The spores of the whirling disease parasite are known to adhere to these kinds of materials and can potentially be carried on gear from one stream to another. I don’t know about you, but I love the outdoors and spend a lot of time fishing and swimming in local rivers. It is really disappointing when you find a piece of trash floating down the river you are swimming in or when you find food wrappers choking trout. We need to fix this and we can. Do what you can, even if it’s just picking up some trash along the river. — Rowan Tanner Eighth grade Evergreen Community Charter School

Birthday Party Layout!

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

Watershed

It gives us clean water all the way Every person needs at least 20 liters of clean water every day. We need water to drink and We also need water to wash. So we don’t want that water to be trashed. Water that is dirty Kills almost 2 million people every year And that is why you should fear Not having clean water. We need clean water So we don’t all end up dead. And that is what I value about the watershed. — Scotty Anderson 10th grade Asheville School

COMMUNITY CALENDAR MARCH 14 - 22, 2018

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

ANIMALS BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • TU (3/20), 5:30-7pm - "WNC Bird Talk," presentation by ornithologist Simon Thompson hosted by the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network. Free. Held at West Asheville Public Library, 942 Haywood Road FIRESTORM CAFE AND BOOKS 610 Haywood Road, 828-255-8115 • 3rd FRIDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Animal Rights Reading Group. Free to attend.

BENEFITS APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT asapconnections.org, robin@asapconnections. org, 828-236-1282 • TU (3/20), 5-8:30pm - Proceeds from this fourcourse locally sourced meal with beer pairings from Hi-Wire Brewing, live music and presentations by ASAP benefit ASAP. $40 for hors d’oeuvres and meal/$50 for hors d’oeuvres, meal and beer pairings/$25 children under 11. Held at Farm Burger - South, 1831 Hendersonville Road ASHEVILLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL 12 Culvern St., 828-252-7896 • SA (3/17), 9am Proceeds from the “Shamrock Run,” 10K, 5K and fun run, benefit Asheville Catholic School scholarship fund. Registration: gloryhoundevents.com/event/ shamrock-5k10k/. $35 10K/$30 5K/$10 fun run. • SA (3/17), 6:30pm - Proceeds from the “Shamrock Jubilee,” fundraiser with local food, drinks, games, live and silent auction and live music by Whitewater Bluegrass Band and DJ Halfacre, benefit the Asheville Catholic School scholarship fund. Free to attend.

ASHEVILLE VEGAN SOCIETY meetup.com/TheAsheville-Vegan-Society/ • SA (3/17), 5-7:30pm - Proceeds from The MacMomma vegan mac 'n' cheese cook off benefit Asheville VegFest. Registration: macmomma.brownpapertickets. com. $10 tasting fee/$5 entry fee. Held at The BLOCK off biltmore, 39 South Market St. ASSAULT ON BLACKROCK discoverjacksonnc. com/event/ assault-on-blackrock/ • SA (3/17), 8am-5pm - Proceeds from the Assault on Blackrock seven-mile trail running event benefit of Shop with a Cop of Jackson County. $30/25 advance. DINE TO BE KIND ashevillehumane.org/ dine-to-be-kind • TU (3/20) - A portion of proceeds from meals purchased at over 80 area restaurants on this day benefit the Asheville Humane Society. See website for more information. ELIADA 828-254-5356, eliada.org, smcdonald@eliada.org • TH (3/22), noon Proceeds from donations at the Eliada Lunch of a Lifetime lunch event to learn about Eliada's continuum of care, history of service and to meet the new CEO benefit Eliada. Registration required: Eliada.org/rsvp. Free to attend. Held at Crowne Plaza Expo Center, 1 Resort Drive FRIENDS OF THE MOUNTAIN BRANCH LIBRARY rutherfordcountylibrary. org • TU (3/20), 11am-1:30pm - Proceeds from this book talk with author Carol Wall and a three-course lunch benefit the Friends of the Mountains Branch Library. Registration required. $25. Held at Lake Lure Inn and Spa, 2771 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure, GIRLS ON THE RUN 828-713-3132, gotrwnc.org • TU (3/20), 10am Proceeds from the

Girls on the Run WNC 5k benefit Girls on the Run. Admission by donation. Held at Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Road MARCH FOR OUR LIVES BENEFIT 828-254-9277, theblockoffbiltmore.com • FR (3/16), 7:30pm Proceeds at this event featuring live music by Cuddles in the Cosmo's and speeches by high school students benefit the March for our Lives. $10-$20. Held at The Block Off Biltmore, 39 South Market St. SAFE WATER NOW thegreyeagle.com • WE (3/21), 6pm Donations from this UN World Water Day benefit featuring Dorsey Parker's Big Benefit Band benefit Safe Water Now. Free to attend. Held at Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave.

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY A-B TECH SMALL BUSINESS CENTER 828-398-7950, abtech.edu/sbc • WE (3/14), 6-9pm "Advanced Internet Marketing," seminar. Registration required. Free. Held at A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Road, Candler • SA (3/17), 9am-noon - "How to Find Your Customers," seminar. Registration required. Free. Held at A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Road, Candler

CHEROKEE PAST AND FUTURE: Developed with Cherokee community input, the new exhibition Understanding Our Past, Shaping Our Future opens Tuesday, March 20, at the Rural Heritage Museum at Mars Hill University. The interactive exhibition is based on Cherokee language and culture and employs sound recordings as the basis for presenting a coherent Cherokee story in words, text and artifacts. The exhibit runs through May 27. The museum is open Tuesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. For more information, visit www.mhu.edu/museum. Photo courtesy of New Kituwah Academy (p. 43) Wednesdays 7:30pm. Aerial Conditioning on Thursdays 1:00pm. Flexibility on Tuesdays 7:30pm and Thursdays 2:15pm. EMPYREANARTS. ORG. 828.782.3321.

on integration, inclusion and equity in schools. Free.

NC CONCEALED CARRY HANDGUN COURSE (PD.) Held in a clean, comfortable, safe classroom and state-of-the-art shooting range. Mature, professional, friendly, and highlyqualified instructors. $85. (828) 575-0028. www. skylandtraining.com

ASHEVILLE GREEN OPPORTUNITIES 828-398-4158, greenopportunities.org • FR (3/16), noon-2pm Information session for the Kitchen Ready training program to learn skills to work in the restaurant hospitality session. Registration required: 828-398-4158 x. 107 or jlett@greenopportunities.org. Free. Held at Arthur R. Edington Education and Career Center, 133 Livingston St.

ART AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY mhu.edu • Through SU (5/27) Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future, interactive exhibition featuring words, text and artifacts regarding Cherokee language and culture. Free to attend. Held at Rural Heritage Museum at Mars Hill, 100 Athletic St., Mars Hill

BLUE RIDGE TOASTMASTERS CLUB blueridgetoastmasters.com/ membersarea/, fearless@ blueridgetoastmasters.org • MONDAYS, 12:151:30pm - Learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a supportive atmosphere. Free. Held at Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Ave.

CLASSES AT VILLAGERS (PD.) • Designing Your Tiny Home: Sunday, March 18. 5:30-7:30pm. $1550. • Basic Vegetable Fermentation: Sunday, March 25. 5:30-7pm. $35. Registration/information: www.forvillagers.com

ASHEVILLE CHESS CLUB 828-779-0319, vincentvanjoe@gmail.com • WEDNESDAYS, 6:30pm - Sets provided. All ages and skill levels welcome. Beginners lessons available. Free. Held at North Asheville Recreation Center, 37 E. Larchmont Road

EMPYREAN ARTS CLASSES (PD.) Intro to Sultry Pole on Sundays 6:15pm. Beginning Pole on Sundays 3:30pm, Mondays 5:15pm, and Thursdays 8:00pm. Floor Theory Dance on

ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES 85 Mountain St. • TH (3/22), 6pm - Choosing Equity: “Promoting Equity Today,” community series

BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • Through TU (4/17), 10am4pm - Free tax preparation for taxpayers with low and moderate income. Mondays & Wednesdays at Pack Memorial Library. Tuesdays at West Asheville Library. Thursdays at Weaverville Library. Free. • TU (3/20), 6pm - Drop-in yarn group for knitters and crocheters for all ages. Free. Held at Skyland/ South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road

ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM 175 Biltmore Ave., 828-253-3227 • SA (3/17), 8:30am-2:30pm - Professional development workshop in math for 6th-8th grade teachers. Registration required. Free. PARDEE HOSPITAL 800 N Justice St, Hendersonville • WE (3/14), 10am-6pm Certified nursing assistant job fair. Information: 828-696-4209. Free.

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS

HOMINY VALLEY RECREATION PARK 25 Twin Lakes Drive, Candler, 828-242-8998, hvrpsports.com • 3rd THURSDAYS, 7pm Board meeting. Free. LAND-OF-SKY REGIONAL COUNCIL OFFICES 339 New Leicester Highway, Suite 140, 828-251-6622, landofsky.org • 3rd FRIDAYS, 9-10:30am - Community Advisory Committee for Adult Care Homes, meeting. Registration: julia@ landofsky.org. Free. LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 828-774-3000, facebook.com/ Leicester.Community.Center • 3rd THURSDAYS, 7pm - The Leicester History Gathering, general meeting. Free.

Held at Camp Stephen, 263 Clayton Road, Arden N.C. ARBORETUM 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, 828-665-2492, ncarboretum.org • Through SU (5/6) - Roots of Wisdom: Native Knowledge, Shared Wisdom, exhibition showcasing the relationship between indigenous peoples and cutting-edge science. Admission fees apply. NORTH ASHEVILLE RECREATION CENTER 37 E. Larchmont Road • TUESDAYS until (5/15), 7:30-8:30pm - Peace Education Program, ten-week course of self-discovery

LENOIR RHYNE CENTER FOR GRADUATE STUDIES 36 Montford Ave., 828-778-1874 • WE (3/21), 5:30-7pm Open house with panel discussion of current students for prospective graduate school students. Free to attend. MOUNTAIN AREA GEM AND MINERAL ASSOCIATION 828-779-4501, americanrockhound.com, rick@wncrocks.com • FR (3/16) through SU (3/18) - Bi-annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show.

based on work by Prem Rawat. Free. OLLI AT UNCA 828-251-6140, olliasheville.com • FR (3/16), 1-2:30pm - "Beyond Privilege," workshop with the Rev. Michael Carter, interfaith minister and anti-racism trainer. Registration required: 828.251.6188. Free. Held at UNC-Asheville Reuter Center, 1 Campus View Road ONTRACK WNC 50 S. French Broad Ave., 828-255-5166, ontrackwnc.org • WE (3/14), 5:30-7pm & TH (3/22), noon1:30pm - "Budgeting and Debt," class. Registration required. Free.

6-Week Workshop in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self

Facilitated by James Navé Asheville

Mar. 20 - Apr. 24 Tuesdays • 7-9PM

JamesNave.com

nave@jamesnave.com

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

C O N S C I O U S PA R T Y by Edwin Arnaudin | earnaudin@mountainx.com

U.N. World Water Day Celebration You’re Invited! Open House

for Sellers and Homebuyers Ask a professional the how to for selling or purchasing a home

Come see us!

Sunday, March 18 th

Appalachian Realty, 23 Arlington Street

Drop in anytime between 11am till 2:30

828-255-7530

Antiques, Diamonds, Estate Jewelry, Coins, Coin Collections, Watches, Estates — Highest Prices Paid Period

WE BUY

WE SELL

Check out our Website & Indycar Race Team

www.Tiquehunterantiques.com 336 Rockwood Road, Suite 101 Arden, NC Next to the Cracker Barrel off Airport Road 44

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

828.767.5293

MOUNTAINX.COM

FULL HOUSE: Dorsey Parker’s Big Benefit Band plays a recent fundraising show for a nonprofit at Highland Brewing Co. The local all-star band reunites to promote the efforts of SAFE Water Now on March 21 at The Grey Eagle. Photo courtesy of Parker WHAT: A concert to benefit SAFE Water Now WHEN: Wednesday, March 21, 6 p.m. WHERE: The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. WHY: For 13 years, Asheville nonprofit SAFE Water Now has partnered with Tanzania-based Safe Water Ceramics of East Africa to produce a ceramic pot water filter that provides safe water at a rate of 3-4 liters per hour. “The filter itself costs $40 and lasts five years for a family, so that comes out to about $1 per person per year to provide safe water for people who do not have access,” says SAFE Water Now Executive Director Tracy Hawkins. She usually spreads the word about her organization’s work by setting up a booth at a local business, which is how she met Dorsey Parker in 2017 at Wedge Brewing Co. A frequent organizer of benefits for area nonprofits, the musician was already sympathetic to SAFE Water Now’s cause thanks to his environmental engineer father, who since the 1970s has been saying that access to clean water is probably the most important thing on which humans need to focus. “Without clean water, you can’t have health care, and if you can’t have health care, you really can’t have education or the core building blocks needed to build a more stable, safe, better society for the world’s progeny,” Parker says. In honor of the United Nations World Water Day, on Wednesday, March 21, at The Grey Eagle, Hawkins and Parker join forces for SAFE Water Now’s first big

benefit. Andrew Scotchie opens up the event at 7 p.m. with an acoustic set. He’ll be followed by acoustic sets from Devils and Dust and Alarm Clock Conspiracy, plus performances by Laura Blackley, Ian Harrod, David Zoll, Jaime Dose and Parker’s friend Hill Roberts, who’s bringing a three-piece band with him from North Atlanta. “They care and have a big heart and genuinely want to do something,” Parker says. “It amazes me every time I send out email, I say it may be just for a few songs, but there’s almost more people willing to volunteer than I can organize.” Then Dorsey’s Big Benefit Band takes to the stage, with, in Parker’s words, “as many guitar players, keyboard players and singers on stage as the sound guy lets us.” They’ll play upward of 10 waterthemed songs, plus original tunes from Blackley and Harrod, among others. Along with the plentiful music, attendees will have the chance to win door prizes, learn about how safe water relates to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and see how the filter works in person. “This event is for everybody,” Hawkins says. “We really want teachers, families, students, humanitarians, environmentalists, animal rights activists — everyone to come out because we can show really how safe water is important to all these causes and how together we can work to provide it.” The U.N. World Water Day Celebration takes place Wednesday, March 21, at 6 p.m. at The Grey Eagle. Admission by donation. thegreyeagle.com X

• SA (3/17) & SA (3/24), 9am-12:30pm - "Money Management and Credit," class series. Registration required. Free. • MO (3/19), noon-1:30pm - "How to Find Extra Income in Your Day-toDay Life," class through the Women's Financial Empowerment Center. Registration required. Free. • TH (3/22), 5:30-7pm "Understanding Credit. Get it. Keep it. Improve it." Registration required. Free. PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES pisgahlegal.org • Through FR (3/16) Open registration for an “Immigration Lunch & Learn,” lunch session to learn how changes to immigration policies and enforcement are affecting people. Registration: 828-210-3774 or nora@ pisgahlegal.org. $10. Held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 60 Church St. PUBLIC EVENTS AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY mhu.edu • SA (3/17), 11am-3pm - EXPO Madison, one-day showcase of local business, nonprofits and local government agencies. Event includes activities for children, facilitated by Woodson Branch Nature School and Hot Springs Early Learning Center. Free. Held in Chambers Gymnasium at Mars Hill University, 265 Cascade St., Mars Hill • TH (3/220, 4-7pm - Open house for prospective students interested in the R.N. to B.S.N. nurses program. Free. Held at Mars Hill University Center for Adult and Graduate Studies, 303-B Airport Road, Arden

DANCE For dance related events see our dance section in the A&E Calendar (p. 68)

FOOD & BEER ASAP COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE FAIR asapconnections.org/ events/csa-fair-2/ • TH (3/15), 3-6pm - Familyfriendly fair to learn about farmers' markets, meet area farmers, browse farmers’ CSA programs and products, and sign up. Free to attend. Held at New Belgium Brewery, 21 Craven St. BIG IVY COMMUNITY CENTER 540 Dillingham Road, Barnardsville, 828-626-3438 • MO (3/17), 5pm Community fundraising meal for spring and summer events. Admission by donation. FAIRVIEW WELCOME TABLE fairviewwelcometable.com • THURSDAYS, 11:30am1pm - Community lunch. Admission by donation. Held at Fairview Christian Fellowship, 596 Old Us Highway 74 Fairview LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER

BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • WE (3/21), 6:30-8:30pm - Democratic party precinct 22.2 meeting led by Precinct Chair Beverly Kimble. Free. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. NC DIDI ncdidi.com • TU (3/20), noon-2pm “Primed and Ready: NC DIDI Western Defense Contractors and Suppliers Town Hall,” North Carolina Defense Industry Diversification Initiative town hall to discuss solutions to the challenges being faced by businesses who contract or subcontract with the Department of Defense. Free. Held at Holiday Inn Biltmore East, 1450 Tunnel Road

KIDS ATTIC SALT THEATRE The Mills at Riverside, 2002 Riverside Drive, Suite 42-O • SU (3/18), 1-2:30pm - Dolphin Bum Bum, children's music album release party with puppetry and games. $5. BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • WE (3/14), 4pm - Art activities for school-aged children with the Asheville Art Museum. Free. Held at Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, Leicester • WE (3/14), 4pm - Teen "Pi Day Pie Party" to learn to make pie crust with BAKED Pie Company. Registration required: 828250-4720. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. • FR (3/16), 4-6pm - Read for 15-minutes with JR the therapy dog. Registration required: 828-250-4752. Free. Held at North

Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. • TU (3/20), 4pm - "Vernal Equi-Dots," spring equinox event with dots and a painting-party. Free. Held at Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain • WE (3/21), 4-5pm - "Catapult with Confidence," event for kids ages five and up to build mini-catapults. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. CAMP CEDAR CLIFF 5 Porters Cove Road • MO (7/30) through FR (8/3) - Open registration for Camp Cedar Cliff "Week of Joy" for children who have been touched by cancer. Sponsored by Mission Hospital. Registration: 929-450-3331. Free. FLETCHER LIBRARY 120 Library Road, Fletcher, 828-687-1218, library. hendersoncountync.org • WEDNESDAYS, 10:30am - Family story time. Free. HANDS ON! A CHILDREN'S GALLERY 828-697-8333, handsonwnc.org, learningisfun@ handsonwnc.org • WE (3/14), 4-5pm "Science on Wheels," science acitivities for kids. Registration required: 828-687-1218. Free. Held at Fletcher Library, 120 Library Road, Fletcher • WE (3/21), 4-5pm "Science on Wheels," science activities for kids. Registration required: 828-890-1850. Free. Held at Mills River Library, 124 Town Center Drive, Suite 1, Mills River HANDS ON! A CHILDREN'S GALLERY 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 828-697-8333 • FR (3/16), 10am-4pm "St. Patty’s Day Treasure Hunt," activities for all ages. Admission fees apply. HOT WORKS FINE ART SHOW hotworks.org/ artistapplications

• Through TU (5/1) Submissions accepted for the 2018 youth art competition. For ages 5-13. MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 828-254-6734, malaprops.com • WEDNESDAYS, 10am - Miss Malaprop's Story Time for ages 3-9. Free to attend. PISGAH CENTER FOR WILDLIFE EDUCATION 1401 Fish Hatchery Road, Pisgah Forest, 828-877-4423 • FR (3/16), 9-11am -"Nature Nuts: Owls," activities about owls for ages 4-7. Registration required. Free. RIVERLINK 828-252-8474, riverlink.org • Through MO (3/19) Submissions accepted for the RiverLink Art and Poetry Contest. Open to pre-kindergarten to 12th grade students. See website for full guidelines.

OUTDOORS CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK (PD.) This Ridge Hike on Saturday, March 24, from 9am-1pm, takes you off-the-beaten-path to places that you never knew existed at Chimney Rock. Preregistration required. Info: chimneyrockpark. com ASHEVILLE ON BIKES ashevilleonbikes.com • SA (3/17), 1:30-5:30pm - "Bike of the Irish," familyfriendly group bike ride, hangout and live music. Free to attend. Held at Wedge Foundation, 5 Foundy St. LAKE JAMES STATE PARK 6883 N.C. Highway 126 Nebo, 828-584-7728 • FR (3/16, 12:45pm Ranger guided boat tour. Registration required. Free.

• SU (3/18), 10am "Minnows, May Flies & Mud Puppies," ranger-led hike and exploration of Paddy's Creek. Free. • SU (3/18), 1pm - Rangerled, 2-mile, 2-hour, moderate hike along Paddy Creek. Free.

ANY JUNK PICKUP

This offer excludes our minimum charge.

we remove anything. . . from anywhere YES EVEN YOUR TRASH!

PISGAH CENTER FOR WILDLIFE EDUCATION 1401 Fish Hatchery Road, Pisgah Forest, 828-877-4423 • TH (3/15), 10am-3pm - "On the Water: Little River," fly-fishing workshop for ages 12 and up. Registration required. Free.

WHAT WE PICK UP IS 85% OFRECYCLED OR REUSED

828.707.2407

junkrecyclers1@gmail.com

PUBLIC EVENTS AT UNCA unca.edu • SU (3/14), 3:14pm - "Run and walk for Pi (and Pie)," 3.14-mile fun run with pie. Registration: unca.edu/ pi-run. $5. Held at Strauss Track

PARENTING

Outstanding Vintage NY State Road Sign

FIRESTORM CAFE AND BOOKS 610 Haywood Road, 828-255-8115 • SU (3/18), 1-3pm - Author Anne Centers presents her book, How to Provide an Environment that Nurtures Children. Free.

Booth 505 on Bourbon St.

PUBLIC LECTURES BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 180 W Campus Drive, Flat Rock, 828-412-5488, phoenixrisinghealing.com • TH (3/15), 11am-1pm - Discover Diversity Week Keynote: Lecture by Madeline Delp, Ms. Wheelchair USA 2017. Free. Held in the Blue Ridge Conference Hall BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • TH (3/15), 6-7:30pm - "Highland Hospital: Practices, Treatment, and Mental Health," lecture by Dr. Daniel Johnson

FREE BEer

SUNDAY!

2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 828-774-3000, facebook.com/Leicester. Community.Center • WEDNESDAYS, 11:30am-1pm - Welcome Table, community meal. Free.

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

$25 OFF

- 5p

TARHEEL PIECEMAKERS QUILT CLUB tarheelpiecemakers. wordpress.com/

• WE (3/14), 9:30am Monthly meeting with demonstration. Free. Held at Balfour United Methodist Church, 2567 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville

Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com

PUBLIC EVENTS AT UNCA unca.edu • TH (3/15), 7pm - Meeting to provide updates on the next phase of campus construction. Free. Held in Brown Hall at UNC Asheville

by Abigail Griffin

Mar ch

C OMMU N IT Y CA L EN D AR

26 Glendale Ave • 828.505.1108 Mon-Fri 10am-6pm • Sat 10am-7pm Sun 10am-5pm

MOUNTAINX.COM

TheRegenerationStation

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

COM M U N I TY CA LEN DA R

regarding psychiatric practices that took place at Highland Hospital during Zelda Fitzgerald’s era. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. • WE (3/21), 6pm - "The Eclectic Lives of Two Asheville Women," presentation by councilwoman Sheneika Smith and Mayor Esther Manheimer. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY OF ASHEVILLE 828-687-7759, aeu.org • SU (3/18), 2-3:30pm - “Coping Strategies in a Complex World,” lecture by Patricia Grace. Free. Held at Asheville Friends Meetinghouse, 227 Edgewood Road HENDERSON COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS lwvhcnc.org • TH (3/22), 4-5:30pm - Lecture by HopeRx and the Henderson County Sheriff's Office regarding substance abuse and addiction from alcohol to opioids. Free. Held at Henderson County Public Library, 301 N. Washington St., Hendersonville PUBLIC LECTURES AT MARS HILL mhu.edu • TH (3/22), 7pm Presidential Lecture & Performance Series: Lecture by Jessica Bandel of the N.C. Office of Archives and History. Free. Held at Mars Hill University, 265 Cascade St., Mars Hill PUBLIC LECTURES AT WCU bardoartscenter.edu • TH (3/15), 6pm "Land, Culture and Community: Native American Sovereignty and National Identity in an Era of SelfDetermination," lecture by Professor Rebecca Tsosie. Free. Held at Hf Robinson Administration Building, Cullowhee • TH (3/15), 7:30pm - "Astronomy for Everyone: Planets: What are They? The Inner Solar System," presentation and discussion. $15/$12 advance. Held at WCU at Biltmore Park, 28 Schenck Parkway, Suite 300

SENIORS ASHEVILLE NEW FRIENDS ashevillenewfriends.org • TU (3/20), 9:3011:30am - 2.7 mile group walk around west Asheville streets and neighborhoods. Free. Held at Grace Baptist Church, 718 Haywood Road

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • WEDNESDAYS (3/21), (4/4), (4/11) & (5/9), 1pm - Chair yoga class series for seniors. Free. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. COUNCIL ON AGING OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY, INC. 828-277-8288, coabc.org • FR (3/2), 5:307:30pm - "Medicare Choices Made Easy," workshop. Registration required. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF WNC, INC. 828-253-2900, jfswnc.org • WEDNESDAYS, 11am-2pm - The Hendersonville Elder Club for individuals with memory challenges and people of all faiths. Registration required: 828-253-2900. $30. Held at Agudas Israel Congregation, 505 Glasgow Lane Hendersonville

SPIRITUALITY ABOUT THE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION TECHNIQUE • FREE INTRODUCTORY TALK (PD.) Meditation is fully effective when it allows you to transcend—to effortlessly settle inward, beyond the busy or agitated mind, to the deepest, most blissful and expanded state of awareness. TM is a tool for personal healing and social transformation that anyone can use to access that field of unbounded creativity, intelligence, and wellbeing that resides within everyone. NIH research shows deep revitalizing rest, reduced stress and anxiety, improved brain functioning and heightened mental performance. Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm, Asheville TM Center, 165 E. Chestnut. 828-254-4350. TM.org ASHEVILLE INSIGHT MEDITATION (PD.) Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation. Learn how to get a Mindfulness Meditation practice started. 1st & 3rd Mondays. 7pm – 8:30. Asheville Insight Meditation, 175 Weaverville Road, Suite H, ASHEVILLE, NC, (828) 808-4444, www. ashevillemeditation.com.

by Abigail Griffin GROUP MEDITATION (PD.) Enjoy this supportive meditation community. Mindfulness meditation instruction and Buddhist teachings at Asheville Insight. Thursday evenings at 7pm and Sunday mornings at 10am. www.ashevillemeditation.com. AVALON GROVE 828-645-2674, avalongrove.org, avalongrove@gmail.com • SU (3/18), 3-4pm Celtic christian holiday service to honor the spring equinox. Held in a private home, contact for directions: 828-645-2674. Free to attend. CENTER FOR ART & SPIRIT AT ST. GEORGE 1 School Road, 828-258-0211 • 3rd SATURDAYS, 7:30-9:30pm - "Dances of Universal Peace," spiritual group dances that blend chanting, live music and movement. No experience necessary. Admission by donation. CREATION CARE ALLIANCE OF WNC creationcarealliance.org • MO (3/19), 8:30am "Catalytic Collaboration: Inviting People of Faith into Climate Engagement," faith leader breakfast. with Rev. Dr. John Frey. Event in collaboration with ClimateCon. Registration required online. Free. Held at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St. JUBILEE! COMMUNITY CHURCH 46 Wall St., jubileecommunity.org • THURSDAYS (3/22) until (4/19), 6:30-8:15pm - "Spirituality and the Unconscious," five-part series with Lawson Sachter and Sunya Kjolhede. Admission by donation. SHAMBHALA MEDITATION CENTER 60 N Merrimon Ave., #113, 828-200-5120, asheville.shambhala.org • THURSDAYS, 7-8:30pm & SUNDAYS, 10am-noon - Meditation and community. Admission by donation. SOKA GAKKAI ASHEVILLE 828-253-4710 • 3rd SUNDAYS, 11am - Introduction to Nichiren Buddhism meeting. Free. Held at Kairos West Community Center, 610-002 Haywood Road

SPORTS BUNCOMBE COUNTY RECREATION SERVICES buncombecounty.org/ Governing/Depts/Parks/ • Through MO (3/26) - Open registration for adult league kickball season beginning in April. Registration: kickball. buncomberecreation. org. $25.

VOLUNTEERING HAYWOOD STREET CONGREGATION 297 Haywood St., 828-246-4250 • 1st & 3rd THURSDAYS, 10amnoon - Workshop to teach how to make sleeping mats for the homeless out of plastic shopping bags. Information: 828-707-7203 or cappyt@att.net. Free. LITERACY COUNCIL OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY 828-254-3442, volunteers@litcouncil. com • TH (3/15), 9am Information session for those interested in volunteering two hours per week with adults who want to improve reading, writing, spelling and English language skills. Held at Literacy Council of Buncombe County, 31 College Place, Suite B-221 PROJECT LINUS 828-645-8800 • SA (3/17), 10am-2pmVolunteer to make blankets for Eliada children. Sewing skills not necessary. Held at Eliada, 2 Compton Drive CASTING FOR HOPE castingforhope.org • Through WE (4/11) Sign up to volunteer for the Casting for Hope fly fishing competition that benefits Casting for Hope. For more volunteering opportunities visit mountainx.com/ volunteering.

WELLNESS

EDIBLE SUPERHEROES Superfoods provide health benefits — with a side of confusion BY ELIZA PAUL eliza.paul36@gmail.com You’ve probably seen the word “superfood” emblazoned on products in grocery stores or bursting from the cover of health magazines in the checkout line. But what exactly makes certain food super? “Professionally, I think all food is super,” says Traci Malone, a registered dietitian in Asheville. “I don’t like to discriminate, but there are definitely foods that are more nutrient-dense.” Malone says there is no standard, clinical definition of a superfood, and it could mean different things to different people. But the most common concept of what makes some foods super is nutrient density. A superfood is “going to provide your standard carb, protein or fat as the main macronutrient, but also have good micronutrients [vitamins and minerals] and things like antioxidants and polyphenols,” says Malone. Antioxidants are defined by the National Institutes of Health as “manmade or natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage.” Antioxidants are thought to help slow down oxidation in the body, which contributes to aging, according to Michael Greger of the nonprofit website NutritionFacts. Polyphenols are a type of phytonutrient, which are unique compounds found in plants that fight disease. Elizabeth Pavka, an Ashevillebased registered dietitian, says a quick way to find foods that might be rich in these important nutrients is to pick foods that are brightly colored. “And I’m not talking about green Jell-O,” she cautions. Fruits and vegetables derive their vibrant colors from certain antioxidants. The key is to choose foods from each color group. “Each color group lends itself to its own unique phytonutrient makeup; each group has a slightly different role in fighting disease,” says Malone. The American Heart Association encourages people to “Eat the Rainbow” by making sure to eat a fruit or vegetable from every color group each week.

OFFER EXPIRES 04/14/18

Magical Offerings 3/15: Circle Round Presents: 3/16: 3/17:

3/18: 3/19:

SUPERFOOD SUPERPOWER: Stephanie Hein, herbalist at the French Broad Food Coop, advises customers on superfood herbal supplements. Photo by Eliza Paul FOODS THAT WEAR CAPES Ask three people which foods they consider to be superfoods, and you might get three different answers. That’s because lots of foods are rich in nutrients, and without a standard definition of superfood, it’s hard to know which to include. Walnuts, flax seeds and fatty fish like salmon top Malone’s list because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which decrease inflammation and help fight disease. She also includes broccoli, blueberries, kale, sweet potatoes and spinach for their antioxidant power. Pavka counts seaweed, liver and bone broth made from pasture-raised

animals and eggs from healthy chickens as examples of nutrient powerhouses. Herbs and teas can also be superfoods, according to Stephanie Hein, herbalist at the French Broad Food Co-op in Asheville. Hein defines superfoods as plants that are “wild, straight from the earth” and which “nourish not only your body, but your mind.” She recommends sipping on green tea as well as incorporating superfood supplements into your diet. Her personal favorite is chaga, a mushroom rich in antioxidants that has been found to inhibit cancer progression in laboratory and animal

CONTINUES ON PAGE 48

3/20:

Basics of Dowsing 6-8pm, Donations Psychic: Andrea Allen 12-5pm NEW MOON in Pisces Healing for Empaths Class w/ Meade of Renewed Spirit Healing 3-5pm, $20 Scrying with Angie 12-6pm SUN in Aries Cardologer: Ashley Long 1-5pm SPRING EQUINOX Psychic Mediumship Circle w/ Andrea Allen 7-9pm, $40

Over 100 Herbs Available! March Stone: Black Kyanite March Herb: Violet

(828) 424-7868

ashevilleravenandcrone.com

555 Merrimon Avenue Daily readers including Scrying, Runes, Tarot, & More! Walk-ins welcome!

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

WELLN ESS

Authentic Chinese Medical Treatment for Injury & Illness

Acupuncture Chinese Herbal Prescription

Our Team Brings 30+ Years experience in China to Asheville

learn more from our site walk in or schedule online

828-424-7415 / www.alternativeclinic.org 23 Broadway Street, Downtown Asheville

Do you Have Type 2 Diabetes? Mountain Diabetes & Endocrine Center is currently enrolling participants into a new study for Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). The study is evaluating investigational tablets compared to placebo that may help manage blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetics when combined with diet and exercise. Qualified participants will receive study medication, or placebo, Lantus insulin and care from an Endocrinologist and Certified Diabetes Educator at no cost for the study duration. Compensation may be provided for participation and travel to those who qualify.

You may be eligible to participate if you: • • • • •

Have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Are 18 years of age or older Have HbA1c levels between 7.5-10.5% Are taking long-acting insulin alone or with up to two oral anti-diabetes medications Additional eligibility criteria also apply

For more information contact Mindy Buford, RN, CDE at (828) 684-9588 Ext. 314

Ash Woods, CRC at (828) 684-9588 Ext. 326

http://www.mountaindiabetes.com/

675 Hour Massage Certification Program Spring 2018 Class • April 9 - September 26, 2018 DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE – APPLY ONLINE

AshevilleMassageSchool.org • 828-252-7377 Student Clinic

Schedule Now: 828-252-0058 “I have been to this school numerous times for massages and am never disappointed. These students are very professional and very informed about the body and the muscle groups. I have been helped tremendously here. I have some old injuries that flare up occasionally—you always make me feel much better!”

CenterForMassage.com 2 Eagle St. Downtown Asheville 48

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

studies, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Hein recommends brewing chaga into coffee or tea or adding it to soups. Some products advertised as superfoods can come from far away and have large carbon footprints, such as goji and acai berries or quinoa. But superfoods can be found right here in Western North Carolina, says Hein. Some of her favorite local superfoods are blueberries, sweet potatoes and wild nettles. PUT IT TO THE PLATE If you’re looking to improve your health through diet, go ahead and add in some superfoods, Pavka says. “If people begin to eat superfoods on a regular basis (85 percent of the time), they will optimize their nutrition,” she says. Just don’t forget to mix it up. “The foundation of my practice is based on carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamin and mineral diversity,” says Malone. “Variety is key.” Laurie Aker, spokesperson for Earth Fare supermarkets, says superfoods are about “getting optimal nutrition with minimal effort. It’s very easy to add a superfood to each meal, like broccoli or berries.” But superfoods aren’t the only aspect of a healthy diet. Pavka recommends thinking in terms of “FLOSS”: fresh, local, organic, seasonal and sustainable. “This is just another way of describing the healthiest foods you can eat,” she says. Although buying organic is more expensive, Pavka views it as an investment in our future as a people and a planet. Malone advises eating foods that are fresh and as minimally processed as possible. She also advocates putting fruits and vegetables front and center on the plate and incorporating them into most meals. And don’t forget healthy fats, Malone says. “For decades there was fat-phobia, but it has shifted, which

I’m glad about. It’s important to incorporate a wide variety of dietary fats, focusing mostly on unsaturated fat but leaving room for saturated fats,” she says. BE WARY OF MARKETING So is there a downside to relying on the term “superfood” to help guide your diet? There could be, says Malone, if the term is just used as a marketing tool. “At the end of the day, the terminology is being used to sell a product, and that can be misleading,” she says. “The assumption on the public’s part is that the information in marketing is true, and that if some is good, a lot must be better.” This can lead to overconsumption, says Malone, or even just wasting hard-earned dollars. To add to the confusion about the label “superfood,” tests conducted on ingredients may show evidence of health benefits in the laboratory but not outside of it. “Just because a research study on cells in a petri dish or on lab rats shows X, doesn’t necessarily translate into the same process in the human body,” says Malone. For instance, a study conducted at the University of Porto, Portugal, showed that blueberry extract slowed cell growth in breast cancer cells. Does that mean that if you have breast cancer and eat blueberries, then your cancer progression will slow? Not necessarily, says Malone. “The ingredients may be shown in the lab to slow tumor growth, and we assume that is the same in the human body, but we’re not absolutely sure that’s how it works. If eating blueberries does help prevent cancer, that’s great,” she says. But either way, blueberries are healthy — and delicious. Information about nutrition can be confusing to the layperson, but superfoods may offer an easy and yummy way to incorporate more nutrients into your diet. X

The

Sustainability

Series CELEBRATING EARTH DAY 2018

Each week in April

WELL NESS CA L E N DA R

WELLNESS SHOJI SPA & LODGE • 7 DAYS A WEEK (PD.) Private Japanese-style outdoor hot tubs, cold plunge, sauna and lodging. 8 minutes from town. Bring a friend to escape and renew! Best massages in Asheville! 828-299-0999. www.shojiretreats.com SOUND BATH • SATURDAY • SUNDAY (PD.) Every Saturday, 11am and Sundays, 12 noon. Experience deep relaxation with crystal bowls, gongs, didgeridoo and other peaceful instruments. • Donation suggested. At Skinny Beats Sound Shop, 4 Eagle Street.www. skinnybeatdrums.com

ARTHUR R. EDINGTON EDUCATION AND CAREER CENTER 133 Livingston St., 828-254-1995 • SA (3/17) - NC MedAssist mobile pharmacy event open to any low-income individual or families needing free health screenings, education and medicine cabinet staples. Free. BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • TH (3/22), 6pm “Coaching & Healing for the Living & Dying,” presentation regarding death by Sacred Passage Doula Maggie Purnell. Free. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION 828-505-1874, dmn261034@mac.com • WE (3/14), 10:15amnoon - "Hearing Loss and

Music: Understanding the Challenges, Working towards Solutions," general meeting and presentation. Free. Held in Seymour Auditorium at Care Partners Main Campus, 68 Sweeten Creek Road

RICEVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT 2251 Riceville Road • THURSDAYS, 6pm Community workout for all ages and fitness levels. Bring yoga mat and water. Free.

HENDERSONVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY 301 N Washington St., Hendersonville, 828-697-4725 • SA (3/17), 1-3pm - Big Pharma: Market Failure, documentary screening. Registration: 828-7027969 or kyra.28739@ gmail.com. Free.

THE MEDITATION CENTER 894 E. Main St., Sylva, 828-356-1105, meditate-wnc.org • 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 6-8pm - "Inner Guidance from an Open Heart," class with meditation and discussion. $10.

MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 828-2546734, malaprops.com • TU (3/20), 6pm - Kelly McNelis presents her book, Your Messy Brilliance: 7 Tools for the Perfectly Imperfect Woman. Free to attend.

WNC KETOGENIC LIFESTYLE SUPPORT GROUP 828-348-4890 • TU (3/20), 7pm "Intermittent Fasting with Ketogenic Diet," presentation by Chris Hnatin. Free to attend. Held at EarthFare - Westgate, 66 Westgate Parkway

Don’t wink in the dark. Not advertising is like winking in the dark. You know what you’re doing, but nobody else does. Reach 75k pair of eyes per week Free design services adver tise@mountianx.com

Nature’s Vitamins & Herbs (formerly Nature’s Pharmacy)

Offering professional advice & great products since 1996

Professional advice on CBD oil & supplements! Carrying 4 Top Brands:

Charlotte’s Web, Palmetto Harmony, Kingdom Harvest & Green Mountain CBD Available as: creams /salves • oral liquid • oral capsules liquid for vaping • chewing gum Owners:

Mike Rogers, PharmD Bill Cheek, B.S. Pharm

We stock great vitamin brands including:

Gaia, Pure Encapsulations, Thorne Research, Barleans, Professional Brands and more!

Check out our natural remedies, aromatherapies (wild crafted & organic) and our new line of Exotic Teas 752 Biltmore Avenue • 828-251-0094 • www.naturesvitaminsandherbs.com MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

GREEN SCENE

CLIMATE TALKS

Conference to showcase Asheville as a global climate hub

BY JAMESON O’HANLON brewkitchen86@gmail.com In the two years since The Collider burst onto the Asheville scene to incubate the city’s nascent climate-related business sector, events in its sleek modern space overlooking Pritchard Park have ranged from an appearance by Chelsea Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign to movie nights to wonky scientific presentations. The Collider’s biggest splash yet is just on the horizon. ClimateCon, North Carolina’s first conference dedicated to the business of climate, could convince one or more of the 150 expected attendees to locate their businesses in Asheville, joining over 70 climaterelated companies that already call the area home, according to Collider Executive Director Megan Robinson. But the 10-day program — which runs March 16-25 — will do more than just attract new businesses: It will bolster Asheville’s growing reputation as a center for the climate industry, Robinson predicts. That’s a role the city is well-situated to play. Since the National Weather Record Center moved here from New Orleans in the 1950s, she says, Asheville has been an important National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration location. Today, the city holds the largest repository of weather and climate data in the world. FAITH IN THE FUTURE John Frey will arrive at ClimateCon fresh from an appearance at this year’s SXSW tech conference in Austin, Texas. While Frey, senior technologist and sustainability strategist for HewlettPackard, hasn’t been to Asheville before, he’s already got plenty in common with the town. An avid homebrewer, he says he’s looking forward to the event kickoff — Cheers to Climate City — on Friday, March 16, at Highland Brewing Co. The polymathic Frey is also an ordained minister. His connection to Western North Carolina sprang from his friendship with Scott Hardin-Nieri of the local nonprofit Creation Care Alliance, which 50

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

LOCAL LINEUP: Some of the locally based presenters for ClimateCon, scheduled for March 16-25, gathered in The Collider for a preconference photo. Pictured, front row from left, are Megan Robinson, The Collider’s executive director; Dayna Reggero and Carl Schreck. Back row from left, are Michael Shore, Aaron Mackey, Tom Barr, Isaac Pino, Drew Jones and Anne Waple. Photo by Kathi Petersen focuses on faith-based approaches to environmental activism, Robinson explains. While in town, Frey will be participating in a breakfast discussion with faith leaders at the First Baptist Church at 5 Oak St. A well-traveled speaker, Frey briefed the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations on sustainability. In 2009, he addressed both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. At his keynote address on Monday, March 19, at The Orange Peel, Frey says he’ll focus on the value of collaboration in solving the big challenges posed by climate change. “What I’ve heard of Asheville and the area is there’s a great diversity of passionate people with a whole lot of background in a very small area,” he says. “I really think we’re going to make some breakthroughs. I hope that some folks will be catalysts, and we’ll have exponential opportunities coming out of what happens at the event itself.” Frey’s talk is part of the main event, The Business of Climate Forum, which runs March 19-21 and is focused on professionals working in the climate industry. LOCAL VOICES Presenters at the conference include a mix of national leaders

MOUNTAINX.COM

and experts with local ties. “We are trying to make it ‘Asheville,’ which is pretty diverse,” explains Kathi Petersen, The Collider’s communications director. About half those speaking are from WNC, she says. A Wednesday, March 21, panel titled Optimizing Business for a Changing Climate includes two hometown climate leaders, Anne Waple and Tom Barr. Waple came to Asheville to work at NOAA in 2001. “Without the work that NOAA does, understanding when our climate crosses important thresholds or is likely to cause significant impacts would be much more difficult to determine,” she says. Now the leader of Studio 30K, which is located in The Collider, Waple says ClimateCon “will bring together local, regional and national participants and continue to connect and elevate good ideas, working solutions and networks of professionals and problem solvers.” Barr heads two companies, Infrastructure Services Group and Climate Optimize. The former Texas oil and gas man says the disruption caused by climate change can also create opportunities. Companies, he notes, can “change the way they deliver the product or buy the products, or change the demographics of their employees.”

While Waple and Barr came to Asheville from other cities, Liza Schillo’s path has taken her in the opposite direction. The T.C. Roberson High School graduate grew up here, going on to attend UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University. As product sustainability manager at Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco, Schillo says, “Business is the critical unlock to climate mitigation and resilience.” Environmentalism is no longer seen as antithetical to big business, she continues. “It is about how can we think more broadly, beyond shortterm profit, to the health and wellbeing of the communities of which we are a part. And there’s an element of creativity to it, too, that business is beginning to embrace. Constraint breeds innovation, and sustainable practices provide a wonderful constraint that leads to more resiliency, more efficiency, instead of simply reducing harm.” And, she notes, “Today’s customer is also much more likely to like you if you’re doing good things for the planet.” Schillo will participate in a panel on climate change’s impact on reputation, branding and perception on March 21. She says she’s looking forward to the return to her roots. “My office calls me the one-woman Asheville Chamber of Commerce,”

she says, “but I am exceptionally proud of where I’m from, and I see this as a huge opportunity for us to put our stake in the ground.”

occupations. After graduating from UNC Greensboro in 2016, she says, Mackey volunteered to staff the nonprofit’s front desk two days a week. The connections he made in that humble role eventually led to a job at NASA, where he’s leading one climate-related project in the Arctic and one in California. Based on his own success in breaking into the climate industry, Mackey says, “Whenever new people come in, I preach the gospel of networking. Talk to everyone, get to know them. They might seem like they don’t have anything to offer you, but you don’t know.”

FROM ACCESS TO UNDERSTANDING Edward Kearns, NOAA’s chief data officer and a presenter at the conference, says technological change has shifted some aspects of his organization’s role. Through collaborations with companies like Amazon and Google, much of the agency’s massive collection of climate data is now available online, eliminating the need for researchers and businesses to visit Asheville solely to access climate information. “Now, access isn’t the problem: understanding is,” Kearns explains. “And Asheville has a critical mass of NOAA experts that understand these data better than anyone else. For industry and the public to make the most of this treasure trove of data, they also need to take advantage of the most valuable resource that NOAA has to offer — its scientists and data experts that are right here in town.” Amanda Rycerz, project lead for Asheville-based Acclimatise, agrees. “The production of information is not necessarily tied to its application,” she says. “Someone may have access to an abundance of information but not know how to use it.” Rycerz says many companies and individuals don’t fully appreciate their climate risks. “They may recognize that they have a problem but don’t know the right questions to ask to fix it,” she says. “Or they may recognize one aspect of the problem but not another. Climate change is interdisciplinary and complex — if you can’t formulate your question, you are going to have trouble finding the answer.” In Rycerz’s view, the promise of ClimateCon lies in bringing different parts of the climate industry together in one place. “To the extent that ClimateCon brings together federal data providers, service providers and folks who need to have their questions answered, this has the potential to be a very fruitful conference,” she says. NEXT GENERATION Newcomers to the climate industry will also get a chance to learn more about opportunities in the growing field at the Summit for Emerging Leaders on March 19. Targeted at

ON A LIGHTER NOTE

TEMPS, THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’: Asheville City Council member Julie Mayfield, left, presents The Collider’s Megan Robinson with a proclamation declaring March 19-25 to be Asheville Climate Week in advance of the ClimateCon event. Photo by Carolyn Morrisroe college students and new graduates, the summit will include information sessions, networking and even a pitch competition for new business ideas. Local universities, Robinson says, are excited about the summit’s promise for connecting students with jobs in the industry. It’s all part of The Collider’s efforts to “continue

to build that pipeline and have students make some connections with industries that are here or events that are happening,” she says. Robinson relates the career trajectory of Aaron Mackey, who will be a panelist at the summit, as an example of The Collider’s potential to boost the prospects of those hoping to work in climate-related

All hail Climate City THE BUSINESS OF CLIMATE FORUM

THE CLIMATE CITY EXPERIENCE

March 19-21 Full pass $799; Tickets available separately for An Evening Celebrating Climate Action and Innovation on March 20 at 5:30 p.m. at Highland Brewing Co. 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville $25.

March 16-25 Events and activities independently organized and hosted by local businesses and organizations. Offerings range from a special Environmental Pale Ale brewed by Highland Brewing Co., for which $1 from every pour will be donated to The Collider (beer launches March 16) to climate-related exhibits at several art galleries to drink and food specials at area restaurants and a free Asheville Climate Week Trail Run at Bent Creek. Cost varies Full event information available at www.climatecon2018.com

THE SUMMIT FOR EMERGING CLIMATE LEADERS March 19 Event pass $95

In addition to businessfocused talks, ClimateCon will also include the Climate City Experience, a series of community events designed to highlight the best of Asheville. Through art, food, music, film, free public lectures and — naturally — beer, the diverse lineup means there’s something for just about everyone in the conference’s schedule. On Feb. 27, Asheville City Council declared March 19-25 Climate Week in the city of Asheville in recognition of ClimateCon. “It’s great for folks in Asheville to know that this is taking place in their city,” says Josh Dorfman, who leads the efforts of the Economic Development Coalition of AshevilleBuncombe County to promote high-growth entrepreneurship. “It’s exciting. It’s seeped in that we are Beer City, and it can seep in that we are Climate City, too. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.” And attendees can have a beer while talking about climate. “What,” Dorfman asks, “can be better than that?” X

The

Sustainability Series

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

Every week in April

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

FARM & GARDEN

MADE IN THE SHADE BY VIRGINIA DAFFRON vdaffron@mountainx.com Gardeners overlook a big opportunity when they ignore the potential of shaded places, says Fairview resident and landscape architect Sieglinde Anderson. In a Tuesday, March 20, presentation at the Henderson County Public Library, Anderson hopes to dispel what she describes as a myth: that options for plants that flower in the shade are limited to a few varieties, including the ubiquitous hosta.

ECO ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS ashevillegreendrinks.com • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 6pm - Informal networking focused on the science of sustainability. Free to attend. Held at The BLOCK off biltmore, 39 South Market St. CREATION CARE ALLIANCE OF WNC creationcarealliance.org • MO (3/19), 8:30am “Catalytic Collaboration: Inviting People of Faith into Climate Engagement,” faith leader breakfast. with Rev. Dr. John Frey. Event in collaboration with ClimateCon. Registration required online. Free. Held at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St. HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY 12 Old Charlotte Highway, 828-299-3370

• FR (3/16), 5-10pm “Toast to Climate City,” official kickoff and social event of The Climate City Experience, part of ClimateCon 2018. Free to attend. • TU (3/20), 5:30-8pm “Celebration of Climate Action & Inspiring Innovation,” event in conjunction with ClimateCon with presentation by Auden Schendler and networking. Sponsored by The Collider and the Economic Development Coalition of Asheville Buncombe County. $20. LAKE JAMES STATE PARK 6883 N.C. Highway 126 Nebo, 828-584-7728 • SA (3/17), 8:30am-2pm Volunteer to help clean-up along the shoreline at Lake James. Registration: 828-594-6948. LENOIR RHYNE CENTER FOR GRADUATE STUDIES 36 Montford Ave., 828-778-1874

Especially in the Blue Ridge, which is one of the world’s most diverse plant habitats, Anderson says, gardeners can choose from a bounteous array of colorful, interesting specimens that thrive in shaded spots. “We have incredible availability here, and there’s lots of interest. Many people like to collect plants,” she says. What’s more, early spring is prime time to enjoy the show. To hear Anderson tell it, “The gardening year begins as early as January in shaded areas,” since soil doesn’t freeze as easily there. The

• TU (3/20), 7-8:30pm “Innovation in Climate Resilience: Ideas, Strategies, Examples,” lecture by Kif Scheuer, climate and energy program director at the Local Government Commission. Free. MOUNTAINTRUE 828-258-8737, mountaintrue.org • TH (3/15), 6-7:30pm - “The Future of the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests,” expert panel discussion. Free. Held at Jackson County Public Library, 310 Keener St., Sylva OLLI AT UNCA 828-251-6140, olliasheville.com • TU (3/20), 7pm “Is There Hope for Hemlocks?” Presentation regarding hemlocks by the Hemlock Restoration Initiative. Free. Held at UNC-Asheville Reuter Center, 1 Campus View Road

TRANSITION ASHEVILLE 828-296-0064, transitionasheville.org • MO (3/19), 6:308pm - Film screening of Leonardo diCaprio’s film, Before the Flood, and social event. Free. Held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 337 Charlotte St. TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY LIBRARY 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, 828-884-3151 • TU (3/20), 6:308pm - Conserving Carolina Speaker Series: “Sustainability at Sierra Nevada,” lecture by Leah Cooper, sustainability coordinator at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Free.

FARM & GARDEN ASHEVILLE GREENWORKS 828-254-1776, ashevillegreenworks.org • TU (3/20), 4:30-6pm - “Tree Care Basics,”

year’s earliest flowering plants — bulbs and ephemerals like trillium — grow in woodland settings, Anderson explains, and can almost be observed pushing up through the leaf litter in the days before the vernal equinox. From March to May, before sun-loving flowers have spread their petals, the delicate shade-dwelling species deliver a welcome first peek at the growing season ahead. Anderson’s talk, which is sponsored by the Hendersonville Tree Board, will introduce attendees to the different types of shade and

workshop. Registration required: 828-232-7144. Free. BUNCOMBE COUNTY EXTENSION MASTER GARDENERS 828-255-5522, buncombemastergardener. org, BuncombeMaster Gardeners@gmail.com • TH (3/15), 10am-noon “Planning Your Vegetable Garden,” workshop with master gardener, Mary Alice Ramsey. Registration required. Free. Held at Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Office, 49 Mount Carmel Road BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library • WE (3/14), 6pm - “AgroForestry and Silvopasture Systems,” presentation by agro-forester and educator Geoffrey Steen. Free seedlings for attendees. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St.

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE cityofhendersonville.org • THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS until (5/13) - Seasonal mulch and composted leaves giveaway. Thurs. & Fri.: 3:307pm. Sat.: 8am-noon. Free. Held at the old Waste Water Treatment Plant, 80 Balfour Road, Hendersonville DR. JOHN WILSON COMMUNITY GARDEN 99 White Pine Drive, Black Mountain • TUESDAYS through (4/24) - Organic gardening class series on all aspects of growing: planning, planting, production and pests. Taught by Diana Schmitt McCall at a different location every week. Registration required. $35 per pair of classes/$90 for the series.

how they correspond to markings on plant labels. Many spots that are shady in summer — those canopied by deciduous trees — are actually bright and sunny for six months of the year, Anderson points out. Planting species that require deep shade in such spots, she says, can result in unhappy specimens that fail to thrive. In addition to sharing some of her favorite “true woodlander” plant selections, Anderson will also present shade-friendly options for “lazy gardeners” who want a less laborintensive approach to landscaping.

HAYWOOD COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS 828-456-3575, sarah_scott@ncsu.edu • Through FR (3/16) Proceeds from this plant sale featuring edibles, native plants and perennials benefit plant sale fund education-related horticulture projects in Haywood County. To order: 828-456-3575 or mgarticles@charter.net. LIVING WEB FARMS 176 Kimzey Road, Mills River, 828-505-1660, livingwebfarms.org • TU (3/20), 6-8pm - “Is Your Homestead Climate Ready? Cultivating Climate Resilience at Home,” workshop with author Laura Lengnick to learn how to identify critical climate threats to homesteads. $10. POLK COUNTY FRIENDS OF AGRICULTURE BREAKFAST polkcountyfarms.org

Mountain Xpress Xpress

• 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 7-8am - Monthly breakfast with presentations regarding agriculture. Admission by donation. Held at Green Creek Community Center, 25 Shields Road, Green Creek KUDZU CULTURE kudzuculture.net, kudzuculture@gmail.com • FR (3/16) through SU (3/18) - Kudzu Root Camp event to learn to harvest and process kudzu roots for their highly edible and medicinal starch and exploring various other uses of the vine. Admission by donation. TRYON THEATRE 45 S Trade St, Tryon, 828-859-6811, tryontheatre.com/ • MO (3/19), 6-9pm Farmers for America, documentary screening sponsored by GRO. Registration requested: patrick@growrural.org. Free.

BEST OF WNC 52

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

THE WOODS ARE LOVELY, DARK AND DEEP: Landscape architect Sieglinde Anderson has created an extensive woodland garden at her Fairview property. She and photographer Ruthie Rosauer will invite attendees at a March 20 talk in Hendersonville to consider the possibilities and beauty of trees and the shaded areas they create. Photo courtesy of Sieglinde Anderson Hendersonville photographer Ruthie Rosauer will share images from her recent book, These Trees, at the March 20 presentation. “I love trees because I think they are beautiful,” Rosauer says. But if more reasons to value and preserve trees are needed, she adds, there are many from which to choose, including increased property value, lower utility bills in summer and cleaner air. Studies suggest areas with mature tree canopies may even experience less crime, she says. For those who have always lived in Western North Carolina, Rosauer says, “the landscape of their lives has been covered with the green brush strokes of shade trees in summer, multicolored palettes of deciduous trees in the autumn and evergreens in the winter.” But those, like her, who have lived in less temperate places (in her case, western Texas

and Venezuela) “will never be able to take this glorious plethora of trees for granted.” X

Talking trees For the Love of Trees: How to Create a Garden in the Shade WHEN Tuesday, March 20, at 6 p.m. WHERE Henderson County Library Auditorium, 301 N. Washington St., Hendersonville Free and open to the public

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

FOOD

WEAVING THE WEB Diverse connections strengthen WNC’s local food network BY DANIEL WALTON danielwwalton@live.com

nightly specials sun: $1 off draft beer & burgers mon: $6 mule cocktails tue: $5 wine by the glass wed: kids’ meals half off 828.505.7531 coppercrownavl.com

Downtown & Taproom Cafe, Wine Room, Butcher Shop

As early as their kindergarten days, schoolchildren learn the concept of the food chain. This series of links between prey and predator provides an easy shorthand for understanding an ecosystem: In Southern Appalachian forests, for example, acorns feed squirrels, which feed foxes. But as they grow in biological knowledge, children come to understand that any ecosystem comprises many different food chains joined together in a greater food web. Individual organisms can act as both predator and prey depending on perspective — the same squirrel consumed by a coyote is itself an avid hunter of small insects. The same is true of the Asheville area’s human food web, explains Molly Nicholie, local food campaign program director for the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. “When people think about the farm-to-fork scene, they envision a farmer showing up with product and a chef putting it on the table,” she says. “But when you consider the system holistically, there’s not always that direct beeline. Food can take a lot of different paths.” Western North Carolina’s flourishing local food movement has given businesses the opportunity to define niches for themselves outside of that traditional producer-consumer dynamic. The complex interrelationships that result between enterprises bring stability in the face of agriculture’s unpredictable challenges.

Featuring a brand new taproom, extensive alcohol selection & salad bar Check out other locations:

Biltmore & Black Mountain

www.hopeyandcompany.com 54

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

CONNECTING THE DOTS: Pepper grower Joel Mowrey of Smoking J’s Fiery Foods, left, and jam producer Walter Harrill of Imladris Farm discuss their partnership at the recent Business of Farming Conference. Harrill had never produced a pepper preserve until working with Mowrey, but he now makes one that he sells exclusively to Sunny Point Café, which markets it under the brand name Oh, Hot Jam. Photo courtesy of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project FLEXIBLE LINKS Nicholie points to ASAP’s annual Grower-Buyer Meeting at the Business of Farming Conference, held this year on Feb. 24, as indicative of this evolution in the industry. A decade ago, most of the connections that took place were simple sales from farmers to buyers such as restaurants and wholesalers. Now, networking is just as likely to take place between buyers, and in many cases, the definition

Mountain Xpress

of buyer has expanded to overlap that of farmer. Consider meeting participant Walter Harrill of Imladris Farm in Fairview, which distributes jams and jellies throughout the Southeast. “When we started, our pitch was that this was my great-grandparents’ old farm and we would grow the fruit here to make the jam,” he says. “But at some point, we realized that we couldn’t grow enough fruit ourselves to keep up with our potential demand.” Imladris still produces 3 acres of its own fruit, but Harrill now also purchases raw materials from multiple other area farms, such as Stepp’s Plants, Etc. in Flat Rock and Creasman Farms in Hendersonville. Those additional inputs have allowed Imladris to meet the needs of large grocery accounts, including Earth Fare and Whole Foods Market. “I’m both a grower and a buyer, and at the meeting, it was pretty much as fast as I could switch hats,” Harrill says. “I’d finish a conversation with a potential grower, then turn around and see a potential customer for my jam at the table next to me.”

For Jennifer Perkins of Looking Glass Creamery in Columbus, expansion ran in the opposite direction. As a cheesemaker, she’d long been a buyer of local milk, but in early 2017, she took the leap into production through the purchase of her main supplier, Harmon Dairy. “It was a big financial commitment, but it opens up a lot of avenues for our business that we didn’t have access to before,” Perkins says. “We’re excited about getting people out to the farm and being able to tell the whole story.” MANY EGGS, MANY BASKETS Both Harrill and Perkins find that broadening their roles in the local food system gives them greater economic stability. Harrill notes that the grocery store accounts made possible by his grower partners help him weather the seasonal cycles of the Asheville economy. “They’re my smallest profit margin, but when everything else shuts down in early January, those grocery orders are still coming in,” Harrill says. “That steady stream of income tides me over until late spring when the tailgate markets open again and summer when the restaurants pick back up.” Harrill has even expanded his product line by becoming a buyer: Imladris didn’t produce a pepper preserve until partnering with Joel Mowrey of Smoking J’s Fiery Foods in Candler. He sells the spicy jam directly to Sunny Point Café, which markets the product under its own brand as Oh, Hot Jam. Perkins recently announced a partnership with Amy Pickett of Asheville’s Sugar and Snow Gelato, agreeing to produce gelato base for the shop using Looking Glass Creamery’s own herd of pasture-based cows. Each batch will yield 100 gallons of base, a volume with business benefits for both companies. “It’s a way for us to use a lot of the milk that we’re producing without having to expand our own distribution network,” Perkins explains. “[Pickett] can focus more of her time on selling product, and because we’re making the gelato base in a licensed dairy manufacturing facility, she can now sell to wholesalers and grocery stores.” Moving forward, Perkins hopes to work out similar arrangements with other businesses for private-label cheeses. Just as Sunny Point now sells Imladris jam under its own name, an organization such as The Biltmore Co. or the Tryon International Equestrian Center could use its own brand to drive sales for Looking Glass.

“We have layers of our business, from our cheese shop retail to direct restaurant sales to our distribution network,” says Perkins. “We can diversify the risk from production through these different channels that all feed into our business model.” TIGHTENING THE WEB Asheville’s food entrepreneurs have made great progress toward establishing a resilient web of business, but obstacles still remain. Smithson Mills, interim executive director of Blue Ridge Food Ventures in Candler, emphasizes the importance of physical infrastructure in opening economic possibilities. “Folks can sell fresh vegetables in season, but what can they do the rest of the year?” Mills asks. “We need to grow manufacturing capacity so we can compete on a regional or even national scale with value-added products.” Mills identifies distribution challenges as another gap in the food ecosystem, particularly for animal products. “There’s a dearth of cold storage in the area, and our meat producers are struggling to find freezer space for their products so they can hold them to sell throughout the year,” he says.

Startup businesses may also have trouble plugging into the food web to find buyers for their wares. Bryan Hudson, owner of Asheville Direct, attempts to solve that problem by curating a collection of food, skin care and herb brands manufactured within 30 miles of his downtown storefront. The visibility of that prime retail location, he explains, often generates new opportunities for producers. “I was the fifth customer for Waynesville Soda Jerks after they started bottling,” Hudson recalls. “Because people could find them in my window and taste samples, they went from five accounts to 70 without having to work at it.” He says that other brands have found outlets through Ingles and Blue Mountain Distributors through their exposure at Asheville Direct. Sometimes, Hudson adds, increasing the strength of the local food web is as simple as another ecology term: symbiosis. “If I don’t have Roots and Branches Crackers made in Swannanoa, I don’t sell the goat cheese made in Mars Hills,” he says. “All of these different pieces are really essential for each other.” X

LADIES NIGHT

plant Half-price wine bottle Wednesdays, classic cocktail Fridays, & vegan verve all the time 165 merrimon avenue | 828.258.7500 | www.plantisfood.com

Happy Hour every day 4 to 6pm Join us for our specials including Oysters, Shrimp Cocktail and Charcuterie menu! Manic Monday ALL OYSTERS $1.50 Wine Down Wednesday 1/2 PRICE BOTTLES Flight Friday $9 (Reg. $15)

THUR. 3/29 4:30-7:30 pm Enjoy Live Music & Enter a Gift Basket Drawing

Please come early, Seating is Limited

Available in bar & patio areas only.

(828) 398-6200 • 26 All Souls Crescent, AVL

LIVE MUSIC Friday: Adi the Monk on guitar Saturday: Gypsy Jazz 2 HENDERSONVILLE RD • BILTMORE STATION • 828.676.2700 MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

SMALL BITES

FOOD

by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

Fractals Coffee Shop and Cafe opens in West Asheville giant version of Connect Four and a Lite Brite wall. The front parking lot will also hold a life-size game of chess for patrons to play. “I want [customers] to come in and feel like they stepped into a different dimension,” he says. “I want them to feel a sense of awe.” Fractals Coffee Shop and Cafe is at 547 Haywood Road. The grand opening is Thursday, March 15. Hours of operation are yet to be determined. For details, visit fractalscoffee.com.

When Nicholas Altman tells people about the concept for his new business, Fractals Coffee Shop and Cafe, folks tend to respond in one of two ways. “They either nerd out,” he says, “or they look at me like I’m insane.” Fractals is set to open on Haywood Road in West Asheville on Thursday, March 15. In many ways, it’s your typical cafe. The drink menu offers a full array of caffeinated beverages, from coffee to espresso to café au lait, with beans sourced from Penny Cup Coffee Co. Meanwhile, Fractals’ food menu offers an assortment of salads, soups and panini sandwiches, along with a kids menu

HENDERSONVILLE RESTAURANT WEEK

GEEKING OUT: Fractals Coffee House and Cafe owner Nicholas Altman, left, and colleague Daniel Stonestreet show off the eatery’s time travel machine/virtual reality booth, inspired by the television show “Doctor Who.“ Photo by Thomas Calder

1478 Patton Ave

ACROSS FROM SKY LANES

Serving craft cocktails with locally distilled spirits OPEN AT NOON WEEKENDS 56

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

with favorites such as grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and mac and cheese. Then, of course, there’s the time machine parked in the main dining area. Well, it’s not a real time machine, but a replica of the TARDIS featured in the television show “Doctor Who.” The blue police telephone box, built by Altman himself, will be accessible to guests. “We’re going to have a [virtual reality] system in here,” he explains. “You’ll walk in, slip on the VR headset and have an experience.” And this is just the tip of this iceberg. The 2,500-square-foot building, a former accountant office, has two main areas. Along with the dining room, there is a separate side room,

MOUNTAINX.COM

which Altman describes as his “museum of oddities.” In it, adults and children alike will be able to interact with a variety of items, including the world’s smallest violin, Vantablack paint, a polygraph machine and a functioning light saber. Altman happily demonstrates the final item on the list, holding up a piece of paper through which the bright blue beam burns a hole within a matter of seconds. “Don’t put your hand in front of it,” he cautions. “It hurts. I made that mistake.” Similar demonstrations will be offered to guests. Altman’s vision for Fractals is a playscape for all ages, filled with “the most unusual things you’ve ever seen, with coffee.” Plans include a

Black Rose Public House, Bold Rock Hard Cider, Brooks Tavern, Flat Rock Wood Room, Hannah Flanagan’s, Mezzaluna, Never Blue, Old Orchard Tavern, Postero, Season’s at Highland Lake and The Dugout Taproom & Grill are all slated to participate in the inaugural Hendersonville Restaurant Week, a 10-day celebration running March 15-24. In a press release, organizer Laura Huff says, “The dining scene in Hendersonville is growing, so this is the restaurants’ time to shine.” Eateries will offer prix fixe lunch and dinner menus, priced at $10-$35. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Dandelion, a job-training program of Safelight in downtown Hendersonville. To learn more, visit HendersonvilleRW.com. AFRICAN FRIENDSHIP DINNER Folkmoot will host a community African Friendship Dinner on Friday, March 16, with Western Carolina University’s Organization of African Students. The evening will include food, dance and activities representing Nigeria, Liberia, Congo, Zambia, Kenya, Togo, South Sudan, Ghana and Ethiopia. Menu highlights include chicken jollof rice as well as puff-puff (a fried dough ball sprinkled with powdered sugar) for dessert.

The African Friendship Dinner at Folkmoot runs 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Ave., Waynesville. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and $40 for families of four. For details and tickets, visit folkmoot.org. THE MACMOMMA The Asheville Vegan Society and THE BLOCK Off Biltmore will cohost the inaugural Vegan Mac ‘n’ Cheese Cook-Off on Saturday, March 17. Competitors are asked to bring prepared dishes that feature some type of pasta and vegan cheese sauce. Recipes must not contain meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, honey or gelatin. The event is $5 to enter, $10 to sample and judge. All proceeds will benefit Asheville VegFest: A Celebration of Vegan Food and Drink. Competitors and attendees are asked to bring their own utensils and plates. Dishes must be prepared before arrival; no cooking is allowed on-site. The MacMomma runs 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at THE BLOCK Off Biltmore, 39 S. Market St. For tickets, visit avl.mx/4rd.

ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY HOSTS 15TH ANNUAL DINE TO BE KIND On Tuesday, March 20, over 80 Asheville area restaurants will participate in the 15th annual Dine to Be Kind organized by Asheville Humane Society. Premier restaurants, which will donate 25 percent of daily sales to the nonprofit, include: Ambrozia Bar & Bistro, Avenue M (participating Wednesday, March 21), Baked Pie Co., Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar, Blue Sky Cafe, Crêperie & Cafe, Copper Crown, Cucina 24, Glass Onion, The Grey Eagle Taqueria, Juicy Lucy’s Burger Bar and Grill, Native Kitchen and Social Pub, Posana, Roux, Smoky Park Supper Club, Sunny Point Café, Urban Burrito, Wicked Weed Brewing and The Wine and Oyster. Additionally, there are over 40 other eateries that will donate 15 percent of their daily proceeds to the nonprofit. Dine to Be Kind 2018 runs 6 a.m.midnight Tuesday March, 20. For a full list of participating restaurants, visit avl.mx/4rc. X

Mountain Xpress

tarts soon! voting s MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

BEER SCOUT

FOOD

by Edwin Arnaudin | earnaudin@mountainx.com

Going to Jackson Its total number of breweries may be fewer than the count on a single block in Asheville’s South Slope, but Sylva has already seen its share of change within the local industry. Over the past year, Heinzelmännchen Brewery — which in 2004 became the town’s first such establishment — and The Sneak E Squirrel Brewery have closed, while Balsam Falls Brewing Co. has set up shop a short walk down Main Street from Innovation Brewing. Now two more breweries are joining the Jackson County beer scene and seek to tap into the appeals that first attracted Nicole Owen, who co-owns Innovation with her husband, Chip Owen. “We had been searching for a location to open our brewery for a year when we found Sylva, and we instantly knew it was the place for our business and to raise our family,” she says. “It met all of our criteria as it was within an hour of Asheville — which had been our home for the previous five years — and it was a community-oriented and extremely authentic group of people and businesses.” Though Balsam Falls proprietor Corey Bryson has lived “all over the country over the years,” his family is from Sylva, and he’s always considered the town home. He views Jackson County breweries as distinct from others in Western North Carolina, primarily for their focus on the local market. “We’re not intent on building a national following or sending our beer out of the area. We want to make great beer for the great people

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

New breweries in Sylva and Cashiers expand county’s beer scene

DIETER RETURNS: Whiteside Brewing Co. owner Bob Dews, left, and brewmaster Dieter Kuhn will open Jackson County’s newest brewery in Cashiers this spring. Photo courtesy of Whiteside Brewing Co. who work and live here, and for the visitors who love our mountains. It’s our home,” Bryson says. “Our patrons are diverse. We have folks from all walks of life and various political persuasions, but with a pint of fresh local beer, we’re all family.” THE OUTPOST The sense of neighborhood unity also appeals to Joe Rowland, founder of Bryson City’s Nantahala Brewing Co. Rowland has plans to open an “outpost” taproom and pilot brewery in downtown Sylva at 5 Grindstaff Cove Road, just a few blocks from Balsam Falls. When Nantahala opened in 2009, its first account was at Nate and Nick’s Pizza in Sylva, and the brewery continues to sell the majority of its wholesale beer from Waynesville to the western border as opposed to the Asheville market. The Sylva location allows the brewery to better serve the local population, which Rowland notes is significantly larger than Bryson City — even before factoring in the Western Carolina University community — and has less of a seasonal drop-off in business. “It’s a tough sell sometimes to get folks that live over in Sylva to drive

MOUNTAINX.COM

the 25 miles from there to our brewery on a regular basis. And obviously, none of us condone drinking without having a designated driver,” Rowland says. “For us, it really is a way to become a bigger part of that community and to make ourselves more accessible to the folks that have been supporting us since day one.” Rowland has yet to estimate a completion date for the Sylva location but says that since the pre-existing building is structurally sound, he’s hoping for a quick turnaround. The new taproom will feature Nantahala’s flagship, seasonal and special-release brews and have much in common with the Bryson City location. Its interior will likewise offer a music venue and televisions for watching sports, while the exterior is also set beside water, has a grassy space for Nantahala’s Brewball dodgeball league and is connected to the original taproom by the same railroad line. DOWN SOUTH Opening in spring at the southern end of Jackson County is Whiteside Brewing Co. While the Cashiers establishment will be the county’s newest brewery, owner Bob Dews rooted his business in

local beer history when he hired former Heinzelmännchen brewer Dieter Kuhn to craft its offerings. “He’s a very intuitive brewer. He knows how to brew a beer like some people know how to play a piano by ear,” Dews says. “Heinzelmännchen had some outdated equipment, but he was still pumping out some fantastic brews. We have some very nice precision equipment from American Beer Equipment, so I’m really excited to set him loose on that, and that way we can refine his craft even more.” Dews and his wife, Lise, moved to Cashiers in 1995 and have owned and operated the Laurelwood Inn ever since. When the adjacent facility became available, they purchased it and set about turning it into a brewpub. Dews says Whiteside will make Cashiers even more of a destination and strives to be a catalyst for downtown economic growth and tourism. And as beer tourists make a larger circuit beyond breweries in Buncombe and Henderson counties, he sees his taproom as “a great tying point” to help complete potential regional loops. Whiteside will have six yearround house beers available exclusively on-site, though Dews would like to have taps in a few of the many Cashiers country clubs. The brewery’s output will focus on hearty ales that, in keeping with Kuhn’s strengths, will slant to the German characteristics of beer. But in line with the brewery’s slogan, “Mountain Life in a Glass” — to be reflected through the taproom’s primarily outdoor setting that incorporates green spaces, a garden, an open patio, covered porches and an old barn that contains the brewhouse — it will also feature one or two new beers each season that incorporate indigenous edible plants, fruits and starchy roots. “In the spring, it [might be] some kind of flower,” Dews explains. “In the summer, it’s a berry of some sort. In the fall, it’s a chinquapin nut in a brown ale, and in the winter, we can find a starchy something. It’s really going to be fun to do that. Most of the edible materials that are up here are fairly bitter or tart — it’s not a lot of sweet stuff. I think that will play well into the profile of different beers.” X

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T

SOUL FOOD

Storytellers share tales to benefit Stories on Asheville’s Front Porch

BY LAUREN STEPP lstepp98@gmail.com Considering he’s not a chef or food blogger, Ray Christian talks a lot about regional fare. “There’s tons of good food out there, and every town has its own flavor,” he says. “Asheville, though, is its own dish.” But when Christian, a history professor at Appalachian State University, mentions nosh, he’s not referring to Rhubarb’s legendary buttermilk cornbread soup or the new Thai food truck. Instead, he’s talking victuals for the soul — stories. Though humble and refreshingly down to earth, Christian is nothing less than a tour de force in the national storytelling scene, having traveled with The Moth Mainstage, regularly rocked Asheville’s Moth StorySLAMs and, he casually mentions, won the 2016 slam competition at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tenn. That same year, he also launched “What’s Ray Saying?,” a podcast series that unpacks tough issues like cultural assimilation and police brutality. On Sunday, March 18, Christian will join three other renowned tellers — David Novak, Elena Diana Miller and Donna Marie Todd — in presenting A Patchwork of Stories at the Folk Art Center. Hosted by Stories on Asheville’s Front Porch and sponsored by the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, the storytelling concert benefits SAFP’s free summer programming. Though Christian is tight-lipped about what he’ll be spinning, his

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

DISH IT: A former paratrooper and current history professor, Ray Christian describes himself as a bridge between ghetto, battlefield and classroom. Hear his narrative during A Patchwork of Stories, a storytelling concert including David Novak, Elena Diana Miller and Donna Marie Todd. Photo courtesy of Christian

MOUNTAINX.COM

pieces typically speak of the “oddly eccentric life” life he leads. As a child, he grew up in Richmond, Va., where his parents were illiterate. “I was a marginal student at best,” he shares. Wanting out of what he describes as the “ghetto,” he joined the Army at 17 and spent the next 20 years as a paratrooper in combat. The latest leg of his journey has been spent in academia, both as a student and teacher. Storytelling, Christian notes, is a way of bridging ghetto, battlefield and classroom. “I’m the only common denominator here,” he says. “Career soldiers can’t relate to civilians, academics can’t relate to folks in the ghetto, you get the idea.” Though he originally intended to make waves using the written word — to actually write a life story — his pitches were received with a resounding “no.” Even when he switched to sound bites five or six years ago, a decision spurred by the resurgence of talk radio, he got 25 to 30 rejections. Fed up, he decided to submit the deepest, ugliest story he could think of. “Comfortable in the Water,” a sobering yet chillingly hilarious dialogue on pigeons, rape culture and “damn near drowning” in the James River, was quickly accepted by Kevin Allison’s “RISK!,” a podcast with more than 2 million downloads per month. “That got me going,” says Christian. “The first thing led to the second thing.” He’s now known by most, if not all, of Asheville’s storytelling giants, including veteran Becky Stone. A member of the Asheville Storytelling Circle, Stone regular-

The

ly bumps elbows with the scene’s biggest movers and shakers: ASC founder Sandra Gudger; poet, playwright, artist and professor David Holt; and local presenter and spoken-word event organizer David Joe Miller. She also chairs the SAFP steering committee that organizes concerts throughout the year. When picking storytellers, she and her colleagues seek variety in style, personality, background and ethnicity. They look for folks “who will capture the imagination and leave you wanting to see more of this art,” says Stone. Christian fits the bill. “He brings intelligence and sensitivity to his personal stories and invites the listener to experience life with him,” she says. “We willingly and joyfully join in.” Over the past two decades, Stone has watched Asheville’s telling scene ebb, flow and evolve. A transplant, she relocated to North Carolina in 1978, back when spoken-word performances only happened at dinner tables and church revivals. Though Tennessee’s first National Storytelling Festival had been held five years earlier, it would take roughly until 1995, when Gudger established ASC, for storytelling to really take off in Asheville. At some point — Stone can’t quite remember when — presenters in Western North Carolina moved from lore to personal narratives. Traditionalists fought the change, arguing old wives’ tales and Greek myths would be lost with dying generations. Asheville listeners welcomed the smattering of old and new nonetheless, lending their ears to 19th-century Danish lore as well as modern monologues bemoaning instant messaging. “We are a city that enjoys listening to stories of all kinds — the stories of others, improvised stories, scripted stories, retellings of our own stories,” Stone says. Each teller has his or her reason for showing up, too. Christian, for one, suffered a stroke last July. Though he returned to the game not long after, the health scare made him reconsider the importance of his art. “Storytelling gives people the opportunity to get together and bond. It’s like the post office, water cooler or coffee pot,” he says. “It’s a chance for us to get those words off the page — to work our magic.” Or, in his case, to feed the community some stick-to-your-ribs soul food. X

WHAT A Patchwork of Stories brownpapertickets.com/ event/3326075 WHERE Folk Art Center Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 382 WHEN Sunday, March 18, 2-4 p.m. $12 advance/$15 at the door

Sustainability

Series CELEBRATING EARTH DAY 2018

Each week in April

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

A&E

by Edwin Arnaudin

earnaudin@mountainx.com

SOPHOMORE JUMP

Hannah Kaminer showcases artistic growth and a new album at The Grey Eagle

Looking back on Acre by Acre, her first professional recording, Hannah Kaminer is quick to admit that she didn’t know what she was doing. To craft the eight-song Americana collection in 2015, the Asheville-based singer-songwriter recruited friends whom she considers stronger musicians to help produce it, and she learned a lot in the process. “I had a really positive experience, but it also felt like being under a microscope. Everything that I needed to work on kind of came to the surface, but also some good things came to the surface. I realized, ‘Oh, I can sing,’ which people had been telling me, but now I heard myself,” Kaminer says. “Realizing I really wanted to improve my guitar skills and my understanding of music theory, I kind of came out of that first process, thinking, ‘OK, I think I’m a little more ready to stand on my own and I don’t know that I need to depend on other people to help me

TEAM EFFORT: Hannah Kaminer calls her new album, Heavy Magnolias, “a big collaboration.” Without co-producer Julian Dreyer at Echo Mountain Studios, her band Heartbreak Highlight Reel and her Kickstarter backers, she says the project “wouldn’t exist as it does now.” Photo by Shonie Kuykendall produce the album — and I need to get to work.’” In approaching her full-length follow-up, Heavy Magnolias — launching Sunday, March 18, at The Grey Eagle — Kaminer volunteered and took classes through Warren Wilson College’s Swannanoa Gathering, where she met multi-instrumentalist Josh Goforth. She says she’s still processing the year of knowledge gained from Goforth’s lessons, but that his guidance has greatly helped the self-described “intuitive writer” regarding music theory. She also started taking upright bass lessons with Aubrey Eisenman from The Clydes. “That really helped improve my guitar, oddly enough, because I was starting to understand the bass lines and a little bit more about rhythm and dynamics that I had kind of just not ever been aware of before, so it really opened up a whole world,” Kaminer says. “As an adult learner of music, sometimes it helps to go [with] an indirect method. You’re not able to be so analytical. You’re like, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m just playing 62

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

bass,’ and then you realize later, ‘No, actually, that made me better.’” Prior to entering and winning the Brown Bag Songwriting Competition in 2013, Kaminer had never really performed. Through the aforementioned educational efforts and a growing number of gigs, she learned what works and doesn’t work onstage, all of which made a significant impact on her art. “I realized I want to write songs that have more energy to them and are more fun to perform, and learning upright bass played into that,” she says. Acre by Acre was written after Kaminer’s parents’ divorce, when she had copious questions about home and family. Feeling more settled, she began writing one of the first songs for Heavy Magnolias right after the first album was completed, while also figuring out romantic relationships. “I got some really hard answers about, like, sometimes people aren’t who you think they are. Or there’s so much shame and fear involved with being vulnerable and being willing to sign up for, ‘Yes, I will allow someone

to know me.’” she says. “There’s a lot going on besides just boy meets girl or girl meets girl or whatever.” By grasping the high risks involved in embarking upon a relationship, Kaminer realized she doesn’t blame people who “numb out” from a desire not to feel anymore. By asking, “Is this going to work?” she also found herself wondering, “Is there something beyond that?” as a response to feeling like modern culture is obsessed with everyone finding his or her one true love. The conclusion she came to is that there is definitely more to life, an epiphany that she addresses in the last two songs she wrote for Heavy Magnolias. “‘Old Heart’ basically was me being like, ‘I don’t want to allow heartbreak to rule my life, to debilitate me for months at a time,’” she says. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m disappointed, but I’m going to keep going.’” Album closer “Set a Table” came out of talking with a friend who was struggling with how she could contribute to society. The two got to speaking about hospitality and figuring out how to live with their neighbors, especially those with whom they disagree. Kaminer says she still has many questions about this difficult topic, but discussing the difference that can be made by opening one’s home and table to others led to what she calls the transcendent piece of the album. “I think the unconditional welcome is something that I’m marveling at. I’ve experienced it before in my life where people open their home to me and that has been a really transformational force,” she says. “I’m really excited about writing things like that and not just broken-heart songs — but I have a lot of those, too.” X

WHO Hannah Kaminer and Heartbreak Highlight Reel with Doss Church WHERE The Grey Eagle 185 Clingman Ave. thegreyeagle.com WHEN Sunday, March 18, 8 p.m. $10 advance/$12 day of show

by Bill Kopp

bill@musoscribe.com

NO KIDDING

Ozomatli builds bridges to younger fans with ‘Ozokidz’ show

PLAYGROUND: Not content simply to blend hip-hop, rock and Latin musical flavors, Ozomatli has a creative sideline making music for the younger set. The band brings its Ozomatli Presents Ozokidz matinee to The Orange Peel March 18. Photo courtesy of Ozomatli Genre-blurring band Ozomatli has long been recognized for its socially and politically conscious music. Combining rock, Latin music and hip-hop with positive messages, the Los Angeles-based collective has earned both commercial success and critical plaudits. And an important part of the group’s work continues to be its outreach to young listeners. In many cities on Ozomatli’s current tour, the group has scheduled additional matinee Ozokidz concerts aimed squarely at its youngest fans. On Sunday, March 18, Ozomatli brings both shows to The Orange Peel. A decade ago, Ozomatli was selected to take part in the U.S. State Department’s cultural ambassador program. The request came as a surprise to the band members; they didn’t think their brand of progressive politics lined up well with the goals of the George W. Bush administration. “It was kind of strange,” says Ulises Bella, Ozomatli’s saxophonist and clarinetist. “We were like, ‘Are you sure you really want us?’” Bella says that the request “demonstrated that, in any government, there are going to be tons of different opinions; not everybody is gonna toe the line.” The band enjoyed the experience. “The people who chose us to do this work really wanted to represent some beautiful things that came out of this country,” Bella says. “We got to demonstrate that, and we also created our own story, connecting with people through the language of music.” One characteristic of the project with the State Department influenced the band’s future direction. “When we were doing cultural ambassador work, we

were playing for kids all the time,” Bella recalls. “We’d go to schools, orphanages and homes. And we noticed that some of our material really resonated with kids.” Back in the U.S., Ozomatli was asked to open several dates on the kid-focused Yo Gabba Gabba tour. Bella says that the band began to realize that its fan base was getting older, and many fans now had children. “We thought, ‘Let’s create an album that will not only be cool for kids — with subject matter that’s appropriate for them — but at the same time, we’ll make the music quality enough where the parents don’t want to stick things in their ears after a hundred listens,’” he says. The idea bore fruit, and in 2012, the band released Ozokidz, a collection of songs about germs, skateboarding, spelling, the environment and the benefits of exercise. As hoped, the lyrics connected with young listeners, and the music showcased Ozomatli’s winning multicultural/multigenre sound. “It was really fun making that album,” Bella says. “Having had lots of songs that are really heavy on sociopolitical things, now we were writing songs about washing our hands and how important trees are.” He says that the move “lightened things up stylistically, too. We were doing things [musically] on the Ozokidz album that we probably wouldn’t have done on a regular Ozo record.” On the heels of Ozokidz’s success, the band began scheduling concerts aimed specifically at children. But Ozomatli experienced a few minor missteps while finding its way with the younger audience. “I remember once, at an Ozokidz show, we didn’t play ‘Moose on the

Loose,’” Bella says. “And this kid started crying. We thought, ‘Is this important?’” The band quickly changed its set list. “We expanded our stage presentation, costumes and things like that,” Bella says. The saxophonist explains that Ozokidz shows are high-energy. “A regular Ozomatli show is like 90 minutes long, but an Ozokidz show is 35-50 minutes, tops,” he says. “We’re trying to give the kids a bang for the buck.” Through its outreach to young listeners, Ozomatli has expanded, not changed, its focus. And the social themes that characterize much of the band’s music remain at the collective heart of

the group. At first glance, the band’s all-covers, Spanish-language 2017 album Non-stop: Mexico to Jamaica might seem a retreat from the gritty street perspective of earlier Ozomatli songs like “Vocal Artillery” from 2001’s Embrace the Chaos. Not so, says Bella. “We weren’t thinking about it from a political or social standpoint,” he says. “But there’s a song on there, ‘De Paisano a Paisano,’ that narrates and documents the struggles of the immigrant.” Bella says that the album’s existence is, itself, a kind of political statement: “Here’s this band from LA, taking music that’s classic from Mexico, and giving it a Jamaican spin. It demonstrates the beauty of multiculturalism.” Describing the album as “very multiculti,” Bella sees Non-stop as Ozomatli’s response to the recent rise of xenophobia. “There’s this whole ‘build the wall’ vibe. And the last thing we want to do is build walls, you know?” With its twin focal points of socially conscious music for adults (“the politics on next album will be more inyour-face,” Bella promises) and fun, positive music for its younger fans, Ozomatli prefers to puts its emphasis on building bridges. X

WHO Ozomatli presents Ozokidz with David Kwizera and LEAF Schools and Streets WHEN Sunday, March 18, 3 p.m. $9-10 WHO Ozomatli with The Get Right Band WHEN Sunday, March 18, 8 p.m. $20-25 WHERE The Orange Peel 101 Biltmore Ave. theorangepeel.net

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

T H E AT E R R E V I E W by Jeff Messer | upstge@yahoo.com

‘Madagascar Jr.’ at HART ! N O

O S 8e NG 201 I M CO on diti

! ow 3 n se 33 i t r e 1-1 v d a 8-25 82

2018-2019

WILD THINGS: Scene-stealing animals help make Kids At HART’s production of Madagascar Jr. a delight. Photo courtesy of HART Theatre It’s only been in existence for about a year, but the Kids at HART program at Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville is going strong. The latest production, Madagascar: A Musical Adventure Jr., runs through Sunday, March 18. The show is based on the popular Dreamworks animated movie series about Central Park Zoo animals who escape and wind up tranquilized and shipped back to Africa. Mischievous penguins sabotage the boat, and the animals go overboard and wash up on the island of Madagascar, where they meet other animals in the wild for the first time. Program and show director Sheila Sumpter’s background in dance helps the production transcend typical expectations of children’s theater. Aided by HART’s lights, sets and sound system, the show looks polished and professional. This is no easy feat with 30 kids in animal costumes onstage — often at the same time — dancing, singing and moving set pieces into place. It is clear that they have put a lot of effort into making this show shine. As the core cast of escaped animals, teen actors Ella Ledford

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

(Alex the lion), Andrew Delbene (Marty the zebra), Lily Klinar (Gloria the hippo) and Sydney Lyles (Melman the giraffe) show exceptional talent as they sing, dance and act their way through the high jinks. As the squad of superspy penguins, an even younger group of kids (Harrison Ray, Josie Ostendorff, Abby Welchel and August Menck) practically steal the show with their comedic waddling and timing. The jungle is filled with exotic animals, including the loony lemurs, led by King Julien. Even though he is still in elementary school, Henry Blackburn shows incredible talent as the monarch of the lemurs. He gets to lead the song “I Like to Move It” and the massive dance number swirling around it. Blackburn is a standout among a skilled cast, all of whom deserve praise for their dedication and hard work. HART has a hit on its hands, and, according to Executive Director Steven Lloyd, the cast of this production makes up only about half the enrollment of Kids at HART. There’s a clear desire and need for this type of theater program in the community, and HART deserves major kudos for recogniz-

ing that and turning it into a massive outreach program that is building both an audience and young talent base. Madagascar Jr. is not only well done on all fronts, it is also downright adorable and a joy to watch. Families with kids should not wait to make reservations, though, as these shows are playing to capacity crowds, and tickets are pretty scarce at the door.â&#x20AC;&#x201A; X

WHAT Madagascar Jr. WHERE HART Theatre 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville harttheatre.org WHEN Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18, at 2 p.m. $5-10

Mountain Xpress

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

SMART BETS

A&E

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

Lyric Kicking off a big spring that will see her band open for George Clinton and ParliamentFunkadelic at Salvage Station in May, Asheville-based R&B artist Leeda “Lyric” Jones debuts the music video for her new single, “Focus on Us,” at The Social on Thursday, March 15. The song is off her forthcoming new solo project and will also be performed live in a multisong set. The video is produced by Cory Short, who co-directed it with Jess Norvisgaard and in collaboration with the cinematography team of Anthony Harden, David Santangelo, Jim Long, Chris Neumann and Gary Kuykendall Jr. Jones wrote the song, which features production by DJ Audio, also from Asheville. It will be available on a range of digital media platforms the same day. The premiere starts at 8 p.m. Free to attend. facebook.com/pg/thesocialasheville. Xpress file photo

The Principles of Uncertainty Author/illustrator Maira Kalman’s The Principles of Uncertainty has enjoyed several lives since it debuted in May 2006 as a New York Times online column. Published as a book in 2009, it’s now been adapted into an evening-length dance-theater work in collaboration with choreographer John Heginbotham. Described by the two artists as an “absurdist travelogue,” the piece brings Kalman’s 2D drawings to life through sets, props, projections and costumes, all of which she’s overseen. She’ll be joined onstage by the seven-member Dance Heginbotham troupe, actor Daniel Pettrow and members of the chamber music ensemble The Knights. The 2017 work makes its Southeast premiere at Diana Wortham Theatre on Friday, March 16, and Saturday, March 17, at 8 p.m. $20 for adults/$12 for students and ages 18 and younger. dwtheatre.com. Photo by Adrienne Bryant

Songwriters in the round

Weekend storytelling workshop

Known for their collaborations with an ever-growing roster of musical friends, Melissa Hyman (cello) and Ryan Furstenberg (banjo/guitar) of local folk/ soul band The Moon and You continue to share the wealth on Friday, March 16, at 185 King St. in Brevard with a songwriters-in-the-round event. The duo’s guests that night will be fellow locals Amanda Anne Platt of The Honeycutters and Mary Ellen Davis, an in-demand bassist and backup singer who performs solo under the name Mimi Bell. “We’ll be trying out some new songs, adding instrumentation and harmonies to one another’s tunes and just generally having a relaxed and intimate evening with two of our favorite songwriters,” Hyman says. The show begins at 8 p.m. $12 members/$15 nonmembers. 185kingst.com. Photo of Davis courtesy of the artist

Area storytellers looking to hone their craft this weekend need only travel to Black Mountain’s Earthaven Ecovillage for a trio of opportunities with local teacher and artist Eric Wolf. On Saturday, March 17, “Finding Your Voice as a Storyteller” (9 a.m.-noon; $30, optional $15 lunch) aims to build confidence in one’s ability to perform through one-on-one and group work, while the afternoon session “Making a Thousand-Year-Old Story from Scratch” (1:30-4:30 p.m.; $30) focuses on story development. Both sessions are open to all levels. Then, on Sunday, March 18, a maximum of six people may partake in an allday master class (9 a.m.-5 p.m.; $80$160 sliding scale, lunch included) in which each participant’s material will receive an hour of workshopping within the group. blackmountainnt.com/ workshops. Photo from a previous workshop courtesy of Wolf

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

A&E CA LEN DA R

by Abigail Griffin

ing and basket making demonstrations. Free to attend. IKENOBO IKEBANA SOCIETY 828-696-4103, blueridgeikebana.com • TH (3/15), 10am "Shoka Shimputai: Focusing on Tropical and Local Materials," class by Emiko Suzuki and general meeting. Held at First Congregational UCC of Hendersonville, 1735 5th Ave. W., Hendersonville

THE CENTER FOR CRAFT, CREATIVITY AND DESIGN 67 Broadway, 828-785-1357, craftcreativitydesign.org/ • TH (3/15), 9am-11:30am - "Capture & Convey: Telling Your Story Through Images," entrepreneur's workshop in conjunction with Mountain Bizworks. $20-$40. THE GALLERY AT FLAT ROCK 702-A Greenville Highway, Flat Rock,

828-698-7000, galleryflatrock.com/ • THURSDAYS through SUNDAYS until (3/31) Artist demonstrations. Thurs.-Sat.: 1-5pm. Sun.: 1-3pm. Free to attend.

ART/CRAFT STROLLS & FAIRS SPRING HOW & TELL MINI-POP (PD.) 3/15-25, 8am-7pm @ TRADE & LORE COFFEE. Shop this

curated mini-pop up shop feat. local/indie craft, design, and vintage. showandtellpopupshop. com • 37 Wall St., 28801.

AUDITIONS & CALL TO ARTISTS ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM 828-253-3227, ashevilleart.org • Through SA (3/31) Submissions accepted for Appalachia Now! An

MEET THE THAYERS: Montana Repertory Theatre makes its Asheville debut on Sunday, March 18, at 7 p.m., with a performance of On Golden Pond at Diana Wortham Theatre. Ernest Thompson’s beloved play about Ethel and Norman Thayer was popularized by the Academy Award-winning film adaptation starring Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn and Jane Fonda, and continues to resonate with audiences in its original live stage form. “This play has endured because it deals with a family in crisis in a humane, poetic and often very funny way,” says MRT’s artistic director, Greg Johnson. “We all have mothers and fathers, we all cope with aging and we have all experienced being lost — and hopefully found.” Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for students and $20 for children. For more information, visit www.dwtheatre.com. Photo by Terry Cyr (p. 69) ART ASHEVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL 828-258-0710, ashevillearts.com • MONDAYS through (4/30), 10am-1pm "Explorative Fibers," fiber workshop for veterans.

Registration required: 828-258-0710. Free. Held at Local Cloth, 207 Coxe Ave. • MONDAYS until (3/26), 2-5pm - Weaving class for veterans. Registration required. Free. Held at Local Cloth, 207 Coxe Ave.

CAROLINA’S NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION asheville.cnpa-regions.org/ • SU (3/18), 5pm - "Winter Photo-Op Critique," general meeting and critique opportunity. Free. Held at Hazelwood Baptist Church, 265 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville

frugalframer

custom picture framing since 1975

What would you like to fram e?

FOLK ART CENTER MP 382, Blue Ridge Parkway, 828-298-7928, craftguild.org • TH (3/15) through SA (3/17), 10am-4pm - Top of the Morning, exhibition of quilts by Southern Highland Craft Guild member Connie Brown. Event features quilt mak-

Thank you for voting us #1!

Downtown

95 Cherry Street North 828.258.2435

Arden

2145 Hendersonville Rd. 828.687.8533

www.frugalframer.com

frugalframer.com

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

by Abigail Griffin

A &E CA LEN DA R

Interdisciplinary Survey of Contemporary Art in Southern Appalachia, exhibition. See website for full guidelines. FLETCHER AREA ART FAIR director@ fletcherartsheritage.com. 828-691-1255 • Through SA (3/31) Vendors accepted for the Fletcher Area Art Fair taking place on Saturday, April 7. TRYON ARTS AND CRAFTS SCHOOL 373 Harmon Field Road, Tryon, 828-859-8323 • Through TH (3/15) - Art vendor submissions accepted for the Spring Arts & Flowers Festival. See website for application.

DANCE 2 HOUR DANCE WORKSHOP (PD.) Saturday, March 24, Country Two-Step 1-3pm. Asheville Ballroom. $20/person, $15 Early Registration by March 17. 828-333-0715, naturalrichard@mac.com • www.DanceForLife.net EXPERIENCE ECSTATIC DANCE! (PD.) Dance waves hosted by Asheville Movement Collective. Fun and personal/community transformation. • Fridays, 7pm, Terpsicorps Studios, 1501 Patton Avenue. • Sundays, 8:30am and 10:30am, JCC, 236 Charlotte Street. Sliding scale fee. Information: ashevillemovementcollective.org STUDIO ZAHIYA, DOWNTOWN DANCE CLASSES (PD.) Monday 8am Bootcamp 12pm Bootcamp 12pm Barre Wkt 5pm Teen Dance Fitness & Technique 6pm Hip Hop Wkt 6pm Bellydance Drills 7pm Bellydance Special Topics 7pm Irish Level 1 7pm Sassy Jazz 8pm Fusion Bellydance 2 8pm Lyrical 8pm Raks Azure Pro Bellydance Troupe • Tuesday 9am Hip Hop Wkt 6pm Intro to Bellydance 7pm Bellydance 2 8pm Creating a Solo • Wednesday 8am Bootcamp 10am Hip Hop 12pm Bootcamp 5pm Flow and Glow Yoga 6pm Bhangra Series 6pm Hula 7pm Tap 1 7pm Classical Ballet 8pm Tap 2 8pm Modern • Thursday 9am Hip Hop Wkt 3:15pm Kids Hip Hop and Creative Movement 4pm Kids Hip Hop and Creative Movement 5pm Teens Hip Hop 6pm Stiletto Sculpt Dance 7pm Liberated Ladies 8pm West Coast Swing 8pm Show girl choreography • Friday 8am Bootcamp 12pm Bootcamp • Saturday

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

MOUNTAINX.COM

9:30am Hip Hop Wkt 1pm Hip Hop • $14 for 60 minute classes, Wkt $8. 90 1/2 N. Lexington Avenue. www.studiozahiya.com :: 828.242.7595 ASHEVILLE BUTOH COLLECTIVE ashevillebutoh.com • MONDAYS, 6:308:30pm - "Aspects of Butoh," butoh dance practice. $15-$20. Held at 7 Chicken Alley BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE MUSEUM & ARTS CENTER 828-350-8484, blackmountaincollege.org • FR (3/16) & SA (3/17), 8pm - The Principles of Uncertainty, dance performance choreographed by Dance Heginbotham with author and illustrator Maira Kalman. $20/$12 youth. Held at Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave. OLD FARMER'S BALL oldfarmersball.com • THURSDAYS, 8-11pm - Old Farmers Ball, contra dance. $7/$6 members/$1 Warren Wilson Community. Held in Bryson Gym Held at Warren Wilson College, 701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa SOUTHERN LIGHTS SQUARE AND ROUND DANCE CLUB 828-697-7732, southernlights.org • SA (3/17), 6pm "Wearin' of the Green," themed dance. Advanced dance 6pm. Early rounds at 7pm. Plus squares and rounds at 7:30pm. Free. Held at Whitmire Activity Center, 310 Lily Pond Road, Hendersonville

MUSIC AFRICAN DRUM LESSONS AT SKINNY BEATS DRUM SHOP (PD.) Saturdays 5pm, Wednesdays 6pm. Billy Zanski teaches a fun approach to connecting with your inner rhythm. Drop-ins welcome. • Drums provided. $15/ class. (828) 768-2826. www.skinnybeatsdrums. com 35BELOW 35 E. Walnut St., 828-254-1320, ashevilletheatre.org • FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS until (3/18) - Putting it Together, musical revue featuring the works of Steven Sondheim. Fri.-Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2:30pm. $22.

A CAPPELLA ALIVE wbellnc@yahoo.com • THURSDAYS, 7-9pm A Cappella Alive! womens choral group practice. Free. Held at Givens Gerber Park, 40 Gerber Road ASHEVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 828-254-7046, ashevillesymphony.org • SA (3/17), 8pm "Rachmaninoff's 2nd," concert featuring Nicholas Hersh conducting and Itamar Zorman playing violin. Featuring works by Beethoven, Leshnoff, Queen/Hersh and Rachmaninoff. $24 and up. Held at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, 87 Haywood St. BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS blackmountainarts.org • SA (3/17), 7:30pm - A Broadway Romance, musical performance by Broadway performers Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey. Tickets: . $30/$25 advance. Held at Owen High School, 99 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain OLLI AT UNCA 828-251-6140, olliasheville.com • FR (3/16), 7pm & SU (3/18), 3pm - "A Blast From the Past," concert by The Reuter Center Singers celebrating their 20-year anniversary. Free. Held at UNCAsheville Reuter Center, 1 Campus View Road TRANSYLVANIA COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL 349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, 828-884-2787, tcarts.org • SU (3/18), 4-6pm - "Men of the Mountains," concert featuring the Pretty Little Goat Stringband and reception in conjunction with the Men of the Mountains art exhibition. $20/$10 students & seniors/Free for children.

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD ASHEVILLE TOASTMASTERS CLUB 914-424-7347, ashevilletoastmasters.com • THURSDAYS, 6:157:45pm - General meeting to develop leadership, communication and speaking skills within com-

munity. Free. Held at YMI Cultural Center, 39 South Market St. BLUE RIDGE BOOKS 428 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville • SA (3/17), 2-4pm - Polly and Tom Davis sign their respective novels, Stumbling Towards Enlightenment: A Wife’s Thirty-Year Journey With Her Green Beret and The Most Fun I Ever Had With My Clothes On: A March from Private to Colonel. Free to attend. BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • TH (3/15), 2:30pm - Skyland Book Club: Above the Waterfall by Ron Rash. Free. Held at Skyland/South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road • TU (3/20), 7pm - Black Mountain Mystery Book Club: The Ex by Alafair Burke. Free. Held at Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain • TU (3/20), 7pm Fairview Evening Book Club: Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. Free. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview • WE (3/21), 1-2pm Marla Milling presents her book, Legends, Secrets and Mysteries of Asheville. Free. Held at Skyland/ South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road CULTURE'S EDGE 828-669-1965, culturesedge.net, culturesedge@earthaven. org • SA (3/17), 9am-noon "Finding Your Voice as a Storyteller," workshop. $30. Held at Earthaven Ecovillage, 5 Consensus Circle, Black Mountain • SA (3/17), 1:30-4:30pm "Making a Thousand-YearOld Story from Scratch," workshop. $30. Held at Earthaven Ecovillage, 5 Consensus Circle, Black Mountain FIRESTORM CAFE AND BOOKS 610 Haywood Road, 828-255-8115 • 4th THURSDAYS, 1pm - Words and Actions Writing Group. Free to attend. FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER 2160 US Highway 70, Swannanoa, 828-273-3332, floodgallery.org/ • SUNDAYS, 2-5pm - Halcyone Literary Magazine meeting for writers, reviewers, poets and artists interested in reviewing submissions, reading and submitting their own works and helping with the formation of the magazine. Free.

GALLERY DIRECTORY JACKSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 310 Keener St., Sylva, 828-586-2016, fontanalib.org/sylva/ • TH (3/15), 6:30pmHolly Kays presents her book, Shadow of Flowers. Free to attend. MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 828-254-6734, malaprops.com • WE (3/14), 6pm Maira Kalman presents her books and illustrations. Free to attend. • TH (3/15), 6pm - Chris Bohjalian presents his book, The Flight Attendant. Free to attend. • FR (3/16), 6pm "Zelda Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age Literary Karaoke," event with readings by Tom Downing, Michael Crosa and Allison Stinson. Free to attend. • SU (3/18), 3pm - "Writers at Home," monthly reading series featuring work from UNCA’s Great Smokies Writing Program and The Great Smokies Review. Free to attend. • MO (3/19), 6pm Young adult author panel with Amber Smith, Brenda Rufener and Amy Reed. Free to attend. • WE (3/21), 6pm Frank Morell presents his young adult novel, No Sad Songs. Free to attend. • TH (3/22), 6pm Susan Harlan presents her book, Luggage. Free to attend. THE CENTER FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION 828-692-8062, saveculture.org • TH (3/22), 7pm - "Appalachian Storytelling: An Evening of Music and Stories," storytelling and music from Frederick Park, Pat and Becky Stone, Lloyd Arneach and Ronnie Pepper. $10. Held at Bo Thomas Auditorium, Blue Ridge Community College Hendersonville

THEATER ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE 35 E. Walnut St., 828-254-1320, ashevilletheatre.org • FRDAY through SUNDAY (3/16) until (3/18) - Wind in the Willows, performed by the youth production classes. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm. Sat. & Sun.: 2:30pm. $7. ASHEVILLE VAUDEVILLE facebook.com/ AshevilleVaudeville/ • SA (3/17), 9pm Vaudeville show featur-

ing original music, stand up comedy, burlesque, puppetry, magic, clowning and juggling with emcee Valerie Meiss. $20. Held at Isis Music Hall & Kitchen 743, 743 Haywood Road CAROLINA DAY SCHOOL 1345 Hendersonville Road, 828-274-0757, alawing@carolinaday. org • WEDNESDAY through SATURDAY (3/14) until (3/17), 7-9pm - The Madwoman of Chaillot, student production. $10/$5 seniors. DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE 18 Biltmore Ave., 828-257-4530, dwtheatre.com • SU (3/18), 7pm Montana Repertory Theatre presents On Golden Pond. $40/$35 student/$20 children. FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE 2661 Highway 225, Flat Rock, 828-693-0731, flatrockplayhouse.org • THURSDAYS through SUNDAYS until (3/25) - Seussical the Musical. Thurs. & Fri.: 7:30pm. Sat.: 11am. Sat. & Sun.: 3pm. $14-$28. MAGNETIC 375 375 Depot St., themagnetictheatre.org • THURSDAY through SATURDAYS (3/15) until (3/31), 7:30pm - Luna Gale. $16. NC STAGE COMPANY 15 Stage Lane, 828-239-0263 • WEDNESDAYS through SUNDAYS (3/14) until (4/8) - Other Desert Cities. Wed.-Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2pm. Additional matinees: Saturday, March 31 & April 7, 2pm. $16-$34. THEATER AT UNCA 828-251-6610, drama.unca.edu • THURSDAY through SUNDAY (3/22) until (3/25) - Really Really, student produced drama regarding sexual assault. Thurs.-Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 3pm. $20/$15 seniors. Held at The WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Drive

ART AT UNCA art.unca.edu • Through FR (3/23) Exhibition of the artwork of the late James Spratt. Friday, March 23, 6-8pm. Held at UNC Asheville Owen Hall, 1 University Heights • Through FR (3/30) Spheres of Influence, exhibition of abstract paintings by Linda Gritta. Held at UNC Asheville - Ramsey Library, 1 University Heights • TU (3/6) through FR (3/30) - Celebrating Middle School Success, exhibition of works of art by middle school students from four Buncombe County schools. Held at UNC Asheville Sherrill Center, 227 Campus Drive ART AT WCU 828-227-2787, bardoartscenter.wcu.edu • Through FR (5/4) - Lining: Sheathing, interactive installation and exhibition of work by Denise Bookwalter and Lee Emma Running. Reception: Thursday, April 19, 5-7pm. Held at The WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Drive • Through FR (3/30) - 50th Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition. Held at The WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Drive ART COUNCIL OF HENDERSON COUNTY 828-693-8504, acofhc.org • Through FR (3/16) Artists of Tomorrow, featuring artwork by Hendersonville County secondary students. Held at First Citizens Bank, 539 N. Main St., Hendersonville ART IN THE AIRPORT 61 Terminal Drive, Fletcher • Through (4/22) Exhibition of artwork from kindergarten through 12th grade students in five western North Carolina counties. ASHEVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL 828-258-0710, ashevillearts.com • Through FR (3/30) AAAC Juried Members Show, group exhibition. Held at The Refinery, 207 Coxe Ave. ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM ON THE SLOPE 175 Biltmore Ave. • Through SA (5/12) Crafting Abstraction, exhibition exploring fluidity between the fine arts and craft media. Reception: Friday, April 6, 5-8pm. AURORA STUDIO & GALLERY 828-335-1038, aurorastudio-gallery.com

Thursday, March 22, 6-8pm. PUSH SKATE SHOP & GALLERY 25 Patton Ave., 828-225-5509, pushtoyproject.com • Through FR (4/13) - Garden Party, exhibition of new art works by Alli Good, Hannah Dansie and Maxx Feist. Reception: Friday, March 16, 7-10pm. THE HAEN GALLERY 52 Biltmore Ave., 828-254-8577, thehaengallery.com • Through SA (3/24) Wintertide 2018, group exhibition. TRANSYLVANIA COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL 349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, 828-884-2787, tcarts.org • Through FR (3/30) Men of the Mountains, invitational exhibition.

SPRING FORWARD: Push Skateshop and Gallery celebrates the changing of the seasons with Garden Party, an exhibit featuring new works by Alli Good, Hannah Dansie and Maxx Feist on Friday, March 16, 7-10 p.m. The collaborative event will, according to a gallery statement, “bring together their styles of lowbrow art, gothic folk and comic illustration.” Painting by Dansie courtesy of Push Skateshop and Gallery • Through SA (3/31) Exhibition of works by artists who have been impacted by mental health issues, addiction or homelessness. Reception: Saturday, March 10, 11am. Held at Trackside Studios, 375 Depot St. BLUE SPIRAL 1 38 Biltmore Ave., 828-251-0202, bluespiral1.com • Through FR (4/27) Exhibition of new work by Dana Brown. DISTRICT WINE BAR 37 Paynes Way, Suite 9 • Through MO (4/30) Exhibition of paintings by Asya Zahia Colie. Reception: Saturday, March 10, 5-7pm. FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER 2160 US Highway 70, Swannanoa, 828-273-3332, floodgallery.org/ • Through SA (4/7), Recent Paintings, exhibition of works by David Hopes.

HABITAT TAVERN & COMMONS 174 Broadway, habitatbrewing.com • Through SA (4/7) Exhibition of paintings by Sheri Cross. HAYWOOD COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL 86 N Main St., Waynesville, 828-4520593, haywoodarts.org/ • Through SA (4/28) Watercolor & Wax, group painting exhibition. MOMENTUM GALLERY 24 North Lexington Ave. • Through SA (4/28) Hall/Sykes and Burchard/ Galloway, exhibitions featuring printmaking works of Bill Hall paired with graphic works of Maltby Sykes and landscape paintings of Drew Galloway paired with wood sculpture by Christian Burchard. POSANA CAFE 1 Biltmore Ave., 828-505-3969 • TH (3/22) through TH (5/31) - Storms, group art exhibition. Reception:

TRYON ARTS AND CRAFTS SCHOOL 373 Harmon Field Road, Tryon, 828-859-8323 • Through FR (3/16) Red-Carpet Artist of the Year, group exhibition. UPSTAIRS ARTSPACE 49 S. Trade St., Tryon, 828-859-2828 • SA (3/17) through FR (4/27) - Guided Light: Masters of Contemporary Photography, exhibition curated by Ben Nixon featuring nine prominent photographers of the past half century. Reception: Saturday, March 17, 6-7:30pm. • SA (3/17) through FR (4/27) - junk & disorderly, exhibition featuring mixed media assemblages by Bobbie Polizzi. Reception: Saturday, March 17, 6-7:30pm. • SA (3/17) through FR (4/27) - Perceptions and Reflections, exhibition featuring abstract painting by Joel Edwards and Ani Magai, drawing by Christopher Charles Curtis and papier colle collage by Mark S. Holland. Reception: Saturday, March 17, 6-7:30pm. WEDGE FOUNDATION 5 Foundy St., wedgebrewing.com/ location-wedgefoundation/ • Through SU (4/1) Exhibition of works by mother and daughter Bee Sieburg and Molly Courcelle. ZAPOW 150 Coxe Ave., Suite 101, • Through SA (3/31) - Innuendo, group exhibition. Held at ZaPow!, 150 Coxe Ave., Suite 101 Contact the galleries for admission hours and fees

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

CLUBLAND WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 185 KING STREET Vinyl Night, 6:00PM

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Evil Note Lab, 10:00PM

BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Open mic w/ Billy Owens, 7:00PM

POLANCO RESTAURANT 3 Cool Cats, 8:00PM

DOUBLE CROWN

5 WALNUT WINE BAR Les Amis (African folk), 8:00PM

Western Wednesday w/ Brody Hunt & The Handfuls & DJ Dave Gay, 9:00PM

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Brad Hodge & friends, 7:30PM

FLEETWOOD'S

SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY French Broad Mountain Valley Acoustic Jam, 6:30PM

Blank Spell, Poor Excuse & Red Bait, 9:00PM

SLY GROG LOUNGE Weird Wednesday Jam, 8:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Spoiler Alert (comedy, film screening), 9:00PM THE GREY EAGLE Pisces Party w/ Dave Desmelik, 6:00PM THE IMPERIAL LIFE The Berlyn Jazz Trio, 9:00PM

The MacMomma Vegan Mac ‘n’ Cheese Cookoff

Hosted by the AVL Vegan Society

Benefits Asheville VegFest, Sat. 3/17 • 5-7:30pm

For Tickets and Entry, visit: macmomma.brownpapertickets.com 39 S. Market St. • theblockoffbiltmore.com THU

15 FRI

16 SAT

17 SUN

18 MON

GROWING UP: Since forming in 2010, Austin, TX indie-pop ensemble Wild Child has become known for its vivacious melodies. On their latest album, Expectations, the group decided to branch out — utilizing an array of producers and musician friends from around the globe, Wild Child’s latest work ranges from lo-fi melancholy musings to brushstrokes of Baroque grandeur, while maintaining its compelling, singular sentiment throughout. Immerse yourself in the many shades of Wild Child at Asheville’s Orange Peel on Saturday, March 17 beginning at 9 p.m. Photo courtesy of event promoters.

THE REVELERS

TUE

JOHN KADLECIK BAND

WED

OF FURTHER, DSO

FOUR LEAF PEAT

THU

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION

HANNAH KAMINER

FRI

FLYING BUFFALOES W/ ROSS LIVERMORE

DORSEY PARKER’S BIG BENEFIT BAND SAFE WATER NOW BENEFIT

FRONT COUNTRY W/ CIRCUS NO. 9

JARED & THE MILL

W/ DOSS CHURCH

SAT

OPEN MIC NIGHT

AN EVENING WITH

PRETTY LITTLE GOAT

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

FUNKATORIUM John Hartford Jam w/ Saylor Bros (bluegrass), 6:30PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Woody Wood Wednesdays (rock, soul, funk), 5:30PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Brian Dunne w/ Trio (Americana, folk rock, singer-songwriter), 7:00PM Sammy Miller & The Congregation, 8:30PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Open Jam Session, 5:00PM

THIS WEEK AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Bingo Night w/ Bag O' Tricks, 7:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT An Improvised Live Score to House (Hausu), 9:00PM THE PHOENIX & THE FOX Jazz Night w/ Jason DeCristofaro, 7:00PM

WILD WING CAFE Paint Night, 7:00PM

THURSDAY, MARCH 15 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Pleasure Chest (blues, rock, soul), 8:00PM AMBROSE WEST Grateful Dead Night w/ Phuncle Sam, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Will Ray & The Space Cooties, 7:30PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Kung Fu, 9:00PM BLACK MOUNTAIN ALE HOUSE Bluegrass Jam w/ The Big Deal Band, 8:00PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Erin Kinard, 7:00PM CAPELLA ON 9@ THE AC HOTEL Capella on 9 w/ Jordan Okrend, 8:00PM COFFEE CARTS STUDIO Family Fun Night, 6:00PM

LAZY DIAMOND Killer Karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 10:00PM

THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Zapato, 9:30PM

CROW & QUILL Carolina Catskins (gritty ragtime jazz), 9:00PM

LOBSTER TRAP Cigar Brothers, 6:30PM

THE SOUTHERN Disclaimer Comedy Open Mic, 9:00PM

DOUBLE CROWN Sonic Stew w/ DJ Alien Brain, 10:00PM

TIMO'S HOUSE Open Mic w/ JJ Smash & Genetix, 8:00PM

FLEETWOOD'S Spower, Cadavernous & Cannonball Jars, 9:00PM

MG ROAD Salsa Night w/ DJ El Mexicano Isaac, 8:00PM NOBLE KAVA Open Mic (sign-up at 7 p.m.), 7:00PM ODDITORIUM Synergy Story Slam, 7:00PM The Boobies, The Velvet Wolves & Shutterings (rock), 9:00PM

TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES JJ Kitchen All Star Jam (blues, soul), 9:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Lenoir Sax & Rhythm (jazz), 7:30PM

FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Circus Mutt (folk, jam), 9:00PM FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Matt Walsh (blues, rock), 6:00PM

THIS WEEK AT THE ONE STOP:

DO CA $

THU 3/15 Josh Blake Organ Trio FRI 3/16 Dirty Dead SAT 3/17 St. Patty’s Day Party w/ Demon Waffle

NA H TIO N$

UPCOMING SHOWS - ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL:

KUNG FU THU 3/15 - S HOW 9 pm (D OORS 8 pm ) - adv. $12 70

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

LOSE YOURSELF TO DANCE w/ DJ Marley Carroll

JON STICKLEY TRIO + HORSESHOES & HAND GRENADES

w/ Heather Taylor & Sean Jerome FRI 3/16 - S HOW /D OORS : 10 pm $5 suggested donation SAT 3/17 - S HOW 8 pm (D OORS 7pm ) - adv. $14 MOUNTAINX.COM

3/21 3/24 3/29 3/30 3/31

Experience Music Showcase: Youth Rock Bands Sunsquabi w/ Exmag & Litz Fruition Charlesthefirst, Goopsteppa, Supertask & Potions Emma’s Lounge w/ The Groove Orient

Tickets available at ashevillemusichall.com @avlmusichall

@OneStopAVL

GOOD STUFF Jim Hampton & friends perform "Eclectic Country" (jam), 7:00PM HABITAT TAVERN & COMMONS Red Rover Third Thursday, 7:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Roots & friends open jam (blues, rock, roots), 6:30PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Michael Braunfeld, 7:00PM An evening w/ Ms. Adventure (Americana, bluegrass), 8:30PM Sherman Ewing (CD release), 8:30PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB The Clydes pre-jam, 7:00PM Bluegrass Open Jam Session, 9:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Hip Hop Night w/ A Mac, Mr. 1ne 5ive, DJ Lil Meow Meow, 10:00PM

ODDITORIUM Party Foul: A Tasteful Queer Troupe (drag), 9:00PM

SLY GROG LOUNGE Brennan Carroll, Jack Victor & Eggshell Emily, 8:00PM

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Mitch's Totally Rad Trivia, 7:00PM Josh Blake Organ Trio w/ Jonathan Cole & Chris Cooper Project, 10:00PM

STRAIGHTAWAY CAFE Open Mic, 7:00PM

ONE WORLD BREWING Brie Capone (singersongwriter), 9:00PM

THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Latin music & dance night w/ Liley Arauz, 9:00PM

ORANGE PEEL SoMo w/ Caye & Kid Quill, 9:00PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Red Leg Husky (Americana), 6:00PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Russ Wilson’s Swing Band, 7:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY The Paper Crowns Band, 6:30PM

SUMMIT COFFEE ASHEVILLE Open Mic w/ Dylan Moses, 6:00PM

THE GREY EAGLE The Revelers, 8:00PM THE IMPERIAL LIFE The Burger Kings, 9:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT The Moth: True Stories Told Live (Theme: "Tests"), 7:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Gypsy Grass Trio, 9:30PM

TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Jesse Barry & The Jam (blues, dance), 9:00PM UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Anya Hinkle (singersongwriter), 7:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Marcel Anton, Artimus Pyle, Michael Filippone & Rhoda Weaver (rock n' roll, Southern soul), 7:30PM WXYZ LOUNGE AT ALOFT HOTEL WXYZ unplugged w/ Sarah Tucker, 8:00PM

FRIDAY, MARCH 16 185 KING STREET Songwriters in the Round w/ The Moon & You, Amanda Anne Platt & Mimi Bell, 8:00PM

LOBSTER TRAP Hank Bones, 6:30PM

PURPLE ONION CAFE Carrie Morrison w/ Andrew Thelston, 7:30PM

TIMO'S HOUSE Thumpin Thursday w/ DJ Drew, 8:00PM

5 WALNUT WINE BAR Alarm Clock Conspiracy (indie rock), 9:00PM

NATIVE KITCHEN & SOCIAL PUB Saylor Brothers, 7:00PM

SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Karma Keg w/ Ellen Trnka, 6:00PM

TOWN PUMP M.T. Sullivan (church choir, punk rock), 9:00PM

AMBROSE WEST Reasonably Priced Babies (comedy), 8:00PM

Open daily from 4p – 12a

THURSDAY 15 MAR:

RUSS WILSON'S SWING BAND 7:00PM – 10:00PM

FRIDAY 16 MAR:

DAVE DESMELIK TRIO 7:00PM – 10:00PM

SATURDAY 17 MAR:

DOSS CHURCH

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY! 8:00PM – 11:00PM

MONDAY 19 MAR:

ASHLEY HEATH

7:00PM – 10:00PM

309 COLLEGE ST. | DOWNTOWN | (828) 575-1188

w w w. p i l l a r a v l . c o m MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

CLU B LA N D ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR AGB Band Friday Dance Party, 7:30PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Lose Yourself to Dance Party w/ DJ Marley Carroll, 10:00PM BEN'S TUNE UP Vinyl Dance Party w/ DJ Kilby, 10:00PM

COMING SOON WED 3/14

7PM–BRIAN DUNNE W/ TRIO

BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Daddy Rabbit, 6:00PM

THU 3/15

CAPELLA ON 9@THE AC HOTEL Capella on 9 w/ DJ Zeus, 9:00PM

8:30PM–SAMMY MILLER AND THE CONGREGATION

Featuring Largest Selection of Craft Beer on Tap 8 Wines

7PM–MICHAEL BRAUNFELD AND SHERMAN EWING CD RELEASE

8:30PM–MS ADVENTURE

TUE: Free Pool and Bar Games

FRI 3/16

WED: Music Bingo

7PM–ANDREA BEATON AND TROY MACGILLIVRAY

FRI & SAT 5 -9pm: Handmade Pizzas from Punk Rock Pies

SAT 3/17

2 Hendersonville Road P o u r Ta p R o o m . c o m Tue - Thu 4pm-10pm • Fri & Sat 2pm-11pm

7PM–ALEXA ROSE 9PM–ASHEVILLE VAUDEVILLE SUN 3/18

5:30PM–JAMES RUFF – EARLY CELTIC

7:30PM–TALL TALES TUE 3/20

7:30PM–TUESDAY BLUEGRASS SESSIONS WED 3/21

3/14 wed an improvised live 3/15 thu

score to house (hausu) the moth: true stories told live

7PM–LAURA RABELL AND GRACIE LANE

9PM–RANDOM RAB W/ PUSH/PULL THU 3/22

7PM–CARRIE MORRISON W/ SPECIAL GUESTS MATT AND AMANDA GARDNER

(theme: tests)

8:30PM–RIPE W/ LOS ELK

3/16 fri soft kill

FRI 3/23

w/ choir boy, secret shame

3/17 sat white oak splits w/ the hot knives, the buzzards

7PM–HANNEKE CASSEL AND MIKE BLOCK 8:30PM–AMY STEINBERG W/ HEATHER MAE SAT 3/24

3/19 mon snail mail

7PM–JACOB JOHNSON 9PM–SOL DRIVEN TRAIN

free!

w/ shame, bex

SUN 3/25

3/20tue courtney marie

5:30PM–PAUL BROCK BAND

andrews

Yoga at the Mothlight

Tuesdays and Thursdays- 11:30am Details for all shows can be found at

themothlight.com

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

7:30PM–JESSE BARRY SINGS

CAROLE KING’S TAPESTRY

w/ matt dorrien

BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Gypsy Grass, 7:00PM

MOUNTAINX.COM

ISISASHEVILLE.COM DINNER MENU TIL 9:30PM LATE NIGHT MENU TIL 12AM

TUES-SUN 5PM-until 743 HAYWOOD RD 828-575-2737

CORK & KEG Soul Blue (soul, rock, blues), 8:30PM CROW & QUILL Daydream Creatures (dreamy folk, honkytonk), 9:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Rock 'n' Soul Obscurities w/ DJ Greg Cartwright, 10:00PM FLEETWOOD'S White Buffalo Woman w/ Obsidian Eye, Jagger Mouth & The Spiral, 9:00PM FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER Classic World Cinema, 8:00PM

NOBLE KAVA Marcel Anton Trio, 9:00PM ODDITORIUM J. Atkinson, Lo Wolf, RGH. & Joshua Glenn (rock, folk), 9:00PM OLIVE OR TWIST Paula Hanke & The Perfect Mix, 8:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Fridays w/ members of Phuncle Sam, 5:30PM Dirty Dead (Grateful Dead/JGB tribute), 10:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING Will Franke, 9:00PM Kendra Warren & Friends (singer-songwriter), 10:00PM ORANGE PEEL SOJA w/ RDGLDGRN (reggae rock), 8:00PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Matthew Carroll (alt. rock), 6:00PM PACK'S TAVERN DJ MoTo (dance hits, pop), 9:30PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Dave Desmelik Trio (folk, singer-songwriter), 7:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Special Affair, 8:00PM

FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Unihorn (funk), 10:00PM

SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Todd Hoke, 4:00PM Tyler Herring, 8:00PM

FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Rhyan Sinclair & All the Little Pieces (Americana), 6:00PM

SLY GROG LOUNGE Kavalactones, 9:00PM

FUNKATORIUM Tellico, 8:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Winter Drum Circle, 6:00PM The Outside Voices (rock), 7:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Andrea Beaton & Troy MacGillivra, 7:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Mama Said String Band, 9:00PM JARGON The Mike Holstein Trio (jazz), 10:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Hot n' Nasty w/ DJ Jasper & DJ Chrissy (rock 'n' soul vinyl), 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Rob Parks & friends, 6:30PM MOE'S ORIGINAL BBQ WOODFIN Kevin Fuller, 6:00PM

THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Cuddles In The Cosmos (fundraiser for "March For Our Lives"), 7:30PM Krish Mohan & Andrew Frank (socially conscious comedy), 10:00PM THE GREY EAGLE The John Kadlecik Band, 9:00PM THE IMPERIAL LIFE Select DJ sets, 9:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT Soft Kill w/ Choir Boy & Secret Shame, 9:30PM TIMO'S HOUSE Fame Douglas (hiphop), 8:00PM TOWN PUMP Endelouz (R&B, soul), 9:00PM TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Lenny Pettinelli (live music), 7:30PM Jordan Okrend Experience (soul, dance), 10:00PM

UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY The Northside Gentlemen (soul, R&B, blues), 8:30PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN The Asheville Jazz Orchestra, 8:00PM WILD WING CAFE SOUTH A Social Function! (80's, 90's and today), 10:00PM WXYZ LOUNGE AT ALOFT HOTEL WXYZ electric w/ Phantom Pantone, 8:00PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 17 185 KING STREET St. Patty's Day Funk Party w/ Supatight, 9:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Special Affair (R&B, soul), 9:00PM AMBROSE WEST Jessica Lea Mayfield w/ T. Hardy Morris, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Weekend Cafe, 10:30AM Typical Mountain Boys, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Jon Stickley Trio and Horseshoes & Hand Grenades w/ Heather Taylor & Sean Jerome, 8:00PM BLACK MOUNTAIN ALE HOUSE Matt Walsh (blues, rock), 7:30PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Ben Phan, 7:00PM CAPELLA ON 9@THE AC HOTEL Capella on 9 w/ Jesse Barry & The Jam, 9:00PM CHESTNUT Jazz Brunch, 11:00AM COFFEE CARTS STUDIO St. Patty's Daytime Party, 12:00PM CORK & KEG Zydeco Ya Ya, 8:30PM CROW & QUILL Eposoto Quartet (swing jazz), 9:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Soul Motion Dance Party! w/ DJ Dr. Filth, 10:00PM FLEETWOOD'S Yung Life w/ Shaken Nature & GENDRE, 9:00PM FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Grass to Mouth (soul, jam), 10:00PM

FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Leigh & Corey (Americana), 6:00PM FUNKATORIUM Jounce, 8:00PM GOOD STUFF Three Strands, 8:00PM HABITAT TAVERN & COMMONS Saturday Improv, 9:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Lyric, 7:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Alexa Rose, 7:00PM Asheville Vaudeville (March 17th edition), 9:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB St. Patrick's Day Celebration w/ Aulden McGray Band & Sirius.B (Celtic music, folk, punk), 6:00PM JARGON The Michael Libramento Trio (jazz), 10:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Sonic Stew w/ DJ Alien Brain, 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Sean Mason Trio, 6:30PM MG ROAD Late Night Dance Party w/ DJ Lil Meow Meow, 10:00PM NATIVE KITCHEN & SOCIAL PUB Honey Magpie, 7:00PM NOBLE KAVA Comedy Night w/ Tom Scheve, 9:00PM ODDITORIUM Vic Crown, Thundering Herd, Mantia & Built On The Ruins (rock, metal), 9:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL St. Patty's Day Party w/ Demon Waffle, 10:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING Mountain Bitters (Celtic folk), 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL Wild Child w/ Family & friends (indie-pop), 9:00PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Pickxen (Americana), 6:00PM PACK'S TAVERN Grand Theft Audio (rock 'n' roll), 9:30PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Doss Church, 8:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY The Werks w/ The Snozzberries, 9:00PM

PURPLE ONION CAFE Gigi Dover & Big Love, 8:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Yoga w/ Pets, 10:00AM St. Patricks Day w/ Fin Dog, 8:00PM SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. The Get Right Band, 6:00PM SLY GROG LOUNGE Saint Paddy's Day celebration w/ Voice of the Sidhea & Hope Huntington, 9:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Saturday Salsa & Latin Dance Party w/ Ms. DJ Motta, 9:00PM THE GREY EAGLE St. Patrick's Day Celebration w/ Four Leaf Peat (Irish music), 9:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT White Oak Splits, The Hot Knives & The Fuzzards, 9:30PM THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM Romanticism Through The Ages w/ Asheville Symphony, Nicholas Hersh & Itamar Zorman, 8:00PM TIMO'S HOUSE Get Lucky w/ DJ Deacon, 8:00PM TOWN PUMP Dry Surf (indie surf), 9:00PM TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Josh Singleton & Patrick Dodd (blues, country), 7:30PM Free Flow (funk, soul), 10:00PM UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Asheville Sport & Social Club's Sham Rocked w/ Take the Wheel, 6:00PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 18 185 KING STREET Sunday Sessions Open Electric Jam, 4:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Laura Blackley & The Wildflowers (folk, blues), 7:00PM AMBROSE WEST California Guitar Trio (acoustic guitar), 8:00PM ARCHETYPE BREWING Post-Brunch Blues w/ Patrick Dodd, Ashley Heath & Joshua Singleton, 3:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Musicians Jam & Pot Luck, 3:30PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Chris Jamison (Americana, alt. country), 7:00PM BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Eric Congdon (Americana), 2:00PM COFFEE CARTS STUDIO Creekside Crawfish, 12:00PM Carolinabound, 5:30PM CORK & KEG The Canote Brothers & Julia Weatherford (Americana), 4:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Killer Karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 10:00PM FLEETWOOD'S Twen, Fashion Bath & The Power, 9:00PM FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER True Home Open Mic (5 p.m. sign-up), 5:30PM

GOOD STUFF Open Mic w/ Fox Black & friends, 6:00PM

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN New Southern Highlanders w/ Joshua Messick & Bob Hinkle, 7:00PM

HABITAT TAVERN & COMMONS Beer 'N Bhangra, 12:00PM Three Strands Music, 4:00PM

WILD WING CAFE Karaoke, 9:00PM

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 1:00PM

WXYZ LOUNGE AT ALOFT HOTEL WXYZ live w/ Queen Bee & The Honeylovers, 8:00PM

Downtown on the Park Eclectic Menu • Over 30 Taps • Patio 14 TV’s • Sports Room • 110” Projector Event Space • Shuffleboard Open 7 Days 11am - Late Night

Over 35 Beer s on Tap !

FUNKATORIUM Gypsy Jazz Sunday Brunch, 11:00AM

WEDGE FOUNDATION Bike of the Irish, 1:30PM

WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Hannah Styles (country), 9:00PM

TAVERN

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 James Ruff (Celtic music), 5:30PM Tall Tales (singersongwriter, jazz), 7:30PM

FRI. 3/16 DJ MoTo (dance hits, pop)

SAT. 3/17 Grand Theft Audio (classic hits, rock ‘n roll)

20 S. Spruce St. • 225.6944 packStavern.com MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

The

CLU B LA N D

Sustainability Series

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY 2018

Every week in April

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Traditional Celtic Jam, 3:00PM JARGON Sunday Blunch w/ Mark Guest & Mary Pearson (jazz), 11:00AM LAZY DIAMOND Punk Night w/ DJ Chubberbird & Frens (killer punk vinyl), 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Phil Alley, 6:30PM ODDITORIUM Karaoke w/ DJ Baby Bear, 9:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Bluegrass Brunch, 10:30AM ORANGE PEEL Ozokidz w/ David Kwizera, 3:00PM Ozomatli w/ The Get Right Band, 8:00PM

FLEETWOOD'S The SWITCH, 9:00PM GOOD STUFF Bingo Wingo Thingo, 6:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Game Night, 4:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo Trivia Night, 7:00PM Open mic, 9:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Bobby Miller & friends, 6:30PM

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Sunday Travers Jam, 6:00PM

ODDITORIUM Risque Monday Burlesque w/ Deb Au Nare, 9:00PM

SLY GROG LOUNGE Sly Grog Open Mic, 7:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Chuck Lichtenberger's Piano Hang & Student Recital, 1:00PM The Mountain Chamber Jazz Ensemble w/ Michael Jefry Stevens, 7:00PM

THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN Bob Zullo (pop, rock, jazz, blues), 7:00PM TIMO'S HOUSE Bring Your Own Vinyl w/ Squad CTRL, 8:00PM TOWN PUMP The Fuzzards (psych, blues rock), 9:00PM UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Yoga in the Taproom, 1:00PM Cinema Sunday: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, 7:00PM

MONDAY, MARCH 19 185 KING STREET Open Mic Night, 6:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Siamese Sound Club (R&B, soul, jazz), 8:00PM

MOUNTAINX.COM

DOUBLE CROWN Country Karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 10:00PM

MG ROAD The Living Room Series, 7:30PM

THE IMPERIAL LIFE Select DJ sets, 9:00PM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Classical Guitar Mondays, 7:30PM

OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Trivia Night, 5:00PM

THE GREY EAGLE Hannah Kaminer w/ Doss Church (album release), 8:00PM

ARCHETYPE BREWING Old Time Jam, 6:00PM

OLE SHAKEY'S Karaoke From Muskogee w/ Jonathan Ammons & Take The Wheel (live band karaoke), 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING Open Mic Night (7:30 p.m. sign up), 7:30PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Mountain Music Mondays, 6:00PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Ashley Heath, 7:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Murder Ballad Monday, 8:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Bach in a Bar w/ Brittnee Siemon & Pan Harmonia, 7:30PM

TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Ryan Barber's RnB Jam Night (R&B, jam), 9:00PM

ONE STOP AT

UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Monday Bluegrass Jam w/ Sam Wharton, 7:00PM

10:00PM

WEDGE FOUNDATION Monday Night Movies: The Commitments, 7:00PM

Twin, 8:00PM

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN MidKnight Thunder & Jay Brown, 7:00PM

Taco and Trivia

WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Family Fun Night, 5:30PM

TUESDAY, MARCH 20 5 WALNUT WINE BAR The John Henrys (hot jazz), 8:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Gypsy Jazz Jam Tuesdays, 7:30PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tuesday night funk jam, 11:00PM BEN'S TUNE UP Ben's Live Hip Hop Cypher, 9:00PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Mark Bumgarner, 9:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Groovy Tuesdays (boogie without borders) w/ DJs Chrissy & Arieh, 10:00PM GOOD STUFF Old time-y night, 6:30PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Dr. Brown's Team Trivia, 6:00PM

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Turntable Tuesday,

PULP Many A Ship & Better

SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Tuesday, 6:00PM SLY GROG LOUNGE Mike Kane (benefit evening), 7:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Lucid Sound Project: Spring Equinox Sound Meditation, 5:00PM Swing Asheville & Jazz-n-Justice Tuesday (dance lessons @ 7 & 8 p.m.), 9:00PM THE GREY EAGLE Flying Buffaloes w/ Ross Livermore, 8:00PM THE MARKET PLACE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE Rat Alley Cats, 7:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT Courtney Marie Andrews w/ Matt Dorrien, 9:00PM TOWN PUMP Crystal Fountains (blue-

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Tuesday Bluegrass Sessions w/ Stig & Friends, 7:30PM

grass duo), 9:00PM

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Cajun/Creole jam w/ Trent Van Blaricom & Joy Moser, 7:00PM

AND BLUES

LAZY DIAMOND Rock & Metal Karaoke w/ DJ Paddy, 10:00PM

9:00PM

LOBSTER TRAP Jay Brown, 6:30PM

BREWING COMPANY

TIMO'S HOUSE Industrial Goth Night w/ Gunnels, 8:00PM

MG ROAD Keep it Classic Tuesdays w/ Sam Thompson, 5:00PM

Arrow Sound, 6:30PM

TOWN PUMP The Matthew Carroll Band (alt-rock), 9:00PM

ODDITORIUM Free Open Mic Comedy w/ Tom Peters, 9:00PM

MOUNTAIN

THE GREY EAGLE Open Mic Night, 6:00PM THE IMPERIAL LIFE Ghost Pipe Trio, 9:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT Snail Mail w/ Shame & BEX, 9:00PM THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN Bob Zullo (pop, rock, jazz, blues), 7:00PM

TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ Early Tuesday Jazz & Funk Jam (jazz, funk),

UPCOUNTRY Open Mic Night w/

WHITE HORSE BLACK Irish jam & open mic, 6:30PM

MOVIES

REVIEWS & LISTINGS BY SCOTT DOUGLAS, FRANCIS X. FRIEL & JUSTIN SOUTHER

HHHHH = H PICK OF THE WEEK H

Pretty girls face an ugly world in writer/director Cory Finley’s sardonically sadistic teen neo-noir, Thoroughbreds.

Thoroughbreds HHHH DIRECTOR: Cory Finley PLAYERS: Anya Taylor-Joy, Olivia Cooke, Anton Yelchin, Paul Sparks THRILLER RATED R THE STORY: Two wealthy teenage girls in a Connecticut suburb reconnect after years apart, but their strange friendship leads to a murder plot. THE LOWDOWN: A pitch-black satire wrapped in the trappings of teen angst and film noir. Have you heard this one? A narcissist and a sociopath walk into a mansion... Many a media pundit would have us believe that millennials will be the downfall of Western civilization as we know it — and writer/director Cory Finley has made the fears of the upper crust manifest in his directorial debut,

Thoroughbreds. Finley’s neo-noir, based on his own play, is effectively the realization of the worst nightmare of every absentee parent who pawned their kids off on nannies or boarding schools so that they could have successful lives without the baggage of family weighing them down — that nightmare being that maybe, just maybe, their kids needed something from them that money couldn’t buy. Finley paints this portrait with a deft hand, producing a sense of empathy that his characters sorely lack. His story follows two maladjusted teens in a wealthy Connecticut enclave who reconnect after time apart, and the circumstances surrounding that separation slowly unfold over the course of the first act. Lily (Anya Taylor-Joy) is the picture of privilege and polish, while her friend Amanda (Olivia Cooke) clearly has a screw loose and an

ugly incident in her past. Both girls eventually prove to be deeply disturbed, and the superficiality of their introduction gives way to something much darker and stranger growing between them, a bond that builds toward an insidious act. It plays a bit like Heavenly Creatures meets Rope, or maybe Strangers on a Train by way of Heathers. But Thoroughbreds is far more than the sum of its influences and marks Finley as a talent to watch, not only for his remarkable dialogue work — to be expected of a playwright — but also for his visual acuity and his knack for making interesting choices in sound design. Finley frames his picturesque shots of luxurious mansions with a forced perspective that deepens the sense of dread and unease commensurate with the spatial dilation between his characters, as a bizarre, quasi-tribal score pulses beneath the surface and diegetic sounds are heightened to an almost comical degree. The effect produced is one of both menace and surreality, giving way to comedic undertones that peek out around the corners in some deeply unexpected places. Despite Finley’s razor-sharp script and surprisingly mature directorial style, Thoroughbreds could still have failed without strong performances — fortunately, Taylor-Joy and Cooke carry the film admirably, with ample support from the late Anton Yelchin in his final role. Yelchin gets a fitting, if tragically early, sendoff with an impressive turn as a small-time drug dealer who finds himself ensnared in the girls’ murderous plot à la Fred MacMurray in Double Indemnity. The fact that Yelchin’s social-climbing loser turns out to be the only character in the film with anything resembling a moral compass underscores Finley’s point, namely that appearances are just that and nothing more. The filmmaker has turned a mirror on a culture of consumption that excuses corruption if it’s profitable and reveals that all the trappings of success mean nothing if the core is rotten. Beauty is only skin deep, but Thoroughbreds cuts to the bone. Rated R for disturbing behavior, bloody images, language, sexual references and some drug content. Now playing at the Fine Arts Theatre and Regal Biltmore Grande. REVIEWED BY SCOTT DOUGLAS JSDOUGLAS22@GMAIL.COM

M A X R AT I N G Xpress reviews virtually all upcoming movies, with two or three of the most noteworthy appearing in print. You can find our online reviews at mountainx.com/movies/reviews. This week, they include: BEFORE WE VANISH GRINGO

HHHS

HAPPY END

THE HURRICANE HEIST OH LUCY

HHHS

THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT

HHHH

THOROUGHBREDS (PICK OF THE WEEK) HHHH A WRINKLE IN TIME

HHH

Before We Vanish

(Sanpo suru shinryakusha)

HHHS DIRECTOR: Kiyoshi Kurosawa PLAYERS: Masami Nagasawa, Ryuhei Matsuda, Atsuko Maeda, Hiroki Hasegawa, Yuri Tsunematsu, Mahiro Takasugi, Masahiro Higashide SCI-FI RATED NR THE STORY: Aliens staging an invasion of Earth attempt to understand the human experience so they can more efficiently take over the planet. THE LOWDOWN: Sci-fi meets black comedy in a bizarre film that somehow manages to blend its tones effectively as it meanders through a lengthy narrative.

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

SCREEN SCENE

MOVIES Most Western audiences are probably most familiar with Japanese horror icon Kiyoshi Kurosawa through the American remake of his 2001 film Pulse (Kairo) — which is truly unfortunate. Kurosawa (no relation to Akira) is one of the most prolific filmmakers working today, having directed damn near a movie a year — not counting his extensive TV work — since he began his career in 1975. While his latest, Before We Vanish, is probably unlikely to build a substantial audience base stateside, at least it’s getting shown in Asheville — a feat that, to my recollection, none of his other films have achieved. The reason that Vanish is unlikely to draw heavily, beyond the usual stumbling block of being a subtitled arthouse release, is that it’s a particularly strange film. Kurosawa seems largely unconcerned with pacing and characterization, focusing instead on atmosphere, subtext and tonality. What the film lacks in terms of a dramatic throughline, it more than makes up for in off-kilter charm, eschewing the polished sterility of a standard Hollywood screenplay for something far more eccentric. Kurosawa is drawn to moments rather than being distracted by the momentous, though there are certainly some big ideas at play in Vanish. From a narrative standpoint, the film follows three alien beings, a reconnaissance party scouting Earth in advance of an extraterrestrial invasion. These visitors possess the bodies of three earthlings in an effort to understand the culture that their race will soon wipe out and replace, but they seem somewhat confounded by their attempts to understand their prey. To remedy this, they recruit “guides,” including amoral journalist Sakurai (Hiroki Hasegawa) and devoted housewife Narumi Kase (Masami Nagasawa) to help them navigate our world. It may sound like a straightforward pod-people story in the vein of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but it goes to some very odd depths that nei-

FILM BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty. org/governing/depts/ library • SA (3/17), 2pm - Movies at Pack: The Secret of Roan Inish, film screening for all ages. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St.

FILM AT UNCA 828-251-6585, unca.edu • MO (3/19) & TU (3/20), 7-9pm - F-Word (Feminist) Film Festival featuring the documentaries Love the Sinner and Deep Run on Monday, March 19, and Whose Streets? on Tuesday, March 20. Free. Held at UNC Asheville - Karpen Hall, 1 University Heights

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

ther Don Siegel nor Philip Kaufman ever plumbed. If Siegel’s film was about the Red Scare of the McCarthy era and Kaufman’s focused on the grotesque sense of entitlement that would define the ensuing “Me Decade,” Kurosawa has turned his tale of surreptitious alien usurpation toward a similarly imminent threat — that of the growing emotional disconnect impelled by our culture of constant connectivity. The aliens investigating Earth steal complex conceptions such as “work” or “family” by touching their victims on the head, thereby removing the concept from the human’s mind while absorbing it into the alien consciousness. The results are often comical, such as a boss who suddenly forgets to take himself seriously in the office, or a bratty teen who becomes even more dismissive of her older sister’s benevolent concern than would normally be expected. To Kurosawa, these losses become a laughing matter, albeit a particularly dark one. Kurosawa’s film suffers at times from its laconic pacing and bifurcated narrative structure, but it’s to his credit that he’s cast such compelling leads to play his protagonists in Hasegawa and Nagasawa. It’s also laudable that he addresses a very compelling and important topic without the sense of self-seriousness many other filmmakers would have adopted in trying to elevate the film to some loftier “high concept.” Vacillating between moments of black comedy, horror and sentimentality, Kurosawa seems to be struggling to understand these big ideas just as diligently as his alien invaders — and what could be more human than that? Not Rated. Japanese with English subtitles. Now Playing at Grail Moviehouse. REVIEWED BY SCOTT DOUGLAS JSDOUGLAS22@GMAIL.COM

FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER 2160 US Highway 70, Swannanoa, 828-2733332, floodgallery.org/ • FR (3/16), 8-10pm Classic World Cinema: Film screening of Volver by Pedro Almodóvar. Free to attend. HENDERSONVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY 301 N Washington St., Hendersonville, 828-697-4725

MOUNTAINX.COM

• SA (3/17), 1-3pm - Big Pharma: Market Failure, documentary screening. Registration: 828-7027969 or kyra.28739@ gmail.com. Free. TRYON THEATRE 45 S Trade St, Tryon, 828859-6811, tryontheatre.com/ • MO (3/19), 6-9pm Farmers for America, documentary screening sponsored by GRO. Registration requested: patrick@ growrural.org. Free.

by Edwin Arnaudin | edwinarnaudin@gmail.com

AMPLIFIED: Pictured is a still from the 2017 documentary Whose Streets? The film, about the response to the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., closes out the two-day F-Word (Feminist) Film Festival at UNC Asheville. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures • Asheville documentary filmmaker Rod Murphy recently reached a deal with Ananda Media to distribute his feature El Chivo, about Barnardsville resident and ultramarathoner, Will Harlan. The French action and adventure sports company will distribute the 78-minute feature through Amazon Prime, On-Demand and through other streaming and broadcast online platforms. Spanish for “the goat,” El Chivo is the name given to Harlan by the indigenous Tarahumara people of Mexico’s Copper Canyon after he won their 50-mile ultramarathon. rodmurphyjr.com • The Mothlight, 701 Haywood Road, screens Nobuhiko Obayashi’s 1977 psychedelic ghost story House (Hausu) on Wednesday, March 14, at 9 p.m. The experience includes an improvised score by Michael Flanagan and other musicians, who’ve previously live-scored such films as Eraserhead, No Country for Old Men and El Topo. Free. themothlight.com • On Wednesday, March 14, and Thursday, March 15, at 7 p.m., Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co., 675 Merrimon Ave., will be showing The Princess Bride to celebrate the company’s 20th birthday. Prizes, cake and rodents of unusual size are promised. Tickets are $3 and available online and at the main bar. ashevillebrewing.com • Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., celebrates St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, March 17, at 2 p.m. with a screening of The Secret of Roan

Inish. Popcorn and snacks will the provided. Free. avl.mx/250 • UNC Asheville, 1 University Heights, begins its 17th annual F-Word Film Festival on Monday, March 19, at 7 p.m. in Karpen Hall’s Laurel Forum with Love the Sinner. The 17-minute personal documentary is by queer filmmaker Jessica Devaney and investigates the relationship between Christianity and homophobia in the wake of the 2016 shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. The short will be followed by Hillevi Loven’s Deep Run, a feature-length verité portrait of trans life in rural North Carolina that focuses on young trans man Cole Ray Davis. The slate of feminist films concludes Tuesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. with Whose Streets? Sabaah Folayan’s and Damon Davis’ documentary about the response to the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., is made with footage from people involved in the protests. Folayan will introduce the film and lead a post-screening discussion. Free. unca.edu • On Monday, March 19, at 7 p.m., The Bywater, 796 Riverside Drive, continues its monthlong series of films about outlaws with a screening of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Free to attend. bywater.bar • Wedge Brewing Co. will show The Commitments on Monday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at its Foundation location, 5 Foundy St. Free to attend. wedgebrewing.com X

STA RTI NG F RI DAY

Love, Simon

Gay teen romance directed by Greg Berlanti and based on a novel by Becky Albertalli. According to the studio: “Everyone deserves a great love story. But for 17-year-old Simon Spier, it’s a little more complicated: He has yet to tell his family or friends he’s gay and he doesn’t actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing.” Early reviews positive. (PG-13)

Tomb Raider

Reboot of the cinematic adaptations of the once popular video-game franchise directed by Roar Uthaug, The Wave. Alicia Vikander stars as Lara Croft, whose quest to find her missing father in defiance of his wishes places her in perilous situations on a mysterious island. Early reviews mixed. (PG-13)

SP E CI AL SCREENI NGS

Cinema Paradiso HHHHS

DIRECTOR: Giuseppe Tornatore PLAYERS: Philippe Noiret, Marco Leonardi, Salvatore Cascio, Jacques Perrin, Roberta Lena DRAMA Rated R Unabashedly sentimental and nostalgic, Giuseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso (1988) is one of those rare subtitled art-house movies that — at least in its shorter crowd-pleasing version (the one being screened) — managed to enter the broader public consciousness. People who normally say things like, “I don’t go to the movies to read,” have been known to adore this one. The film is more than a little inspired by Fellini’s Amarcord (1973), though it’s in a different key altogether and some of its echoes of that earlier film don’t feel as if they belong here. Overall, though, it’s a nice little movie. See for yourself. This excerpt was taken from a review by Ken Hanke originally posted on Jan. 17, 2012. The Hendersonville Film Society will show Cinema Paradiso on Sunday, March 18, at 2 p.m. in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Last Man on Earth HHHHS

DIRECTOR: Ubaldo Ragona , Sidney Salkow PLAYERS: Vincent Price, Franca Bettoia, Emma Danieli, Giacomo Rossi Stuart, Christi Courtland HORROR Rated NR The first of three attempts to adapt Richard Matheson’s novel I Am Legend — and easily the most successful — The Last Man on Earth stars Vincent Price as the lone survivor of a plague that turns the afflicted into vampiric ghouls. A far more faithful adaptation of Matheson’s story than The Omega Man or the more recent Will Smith version (which kept the book’s title but not its ending), this one isn’t a perfect film, but it may be the perfect role for Price. The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen The Last Man on Earth Tuesday, March 20, at 7:00 p.m. at Grail Moviehouse, hosted by Xpress movie critic Scott Douglas.

Volver HHHHH

DIRECTOR: Pedro Almodóvar PLAYERS: Penélope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas, Blanca Portillo, Yohana Cobo DRAMA-COMEDY Rated R World Cinema revisits Pedro Almodóvar’s Volver (2006) — perhaps the filmmaker’s most accessible and mellow work. It should be noted, however, that mellow is a relative term. The film contains child abuse and no fewer than three murders (understandable murders), but when put up against such Almodóvar fare as Bad Education (2004) or The Skin I Live In (2011), this is like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. Clearly, Almodóvar was in a nostalgic frame of mind — possibly because the film marked the return of Carmen Maura to his roster of performers after 18 years — and it paid off with one of his sweetest movies. Even though it’s in typical Almodóvar form — that’s to say its plot stays within the supercharged soap opera concept — Volver is a comparatively lighthearted work, but not a lightweight one. This excerpt was taken from a review by Ken Hanke originally posted on Sept. 15, 2015. Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Volver on Friday, March 16, at 8 p.m. at Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 2160 U.S. 70, Swannanoa.

ti di

! w o 33 n e 13 s i rt 1e v -25 d a 8 82

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): The British science fiction TV show Dr. Who has appeared on BBC in 40 of the last 54 years. Over that span, the titular character has been played by 13 different actors. From 2005 until 2010, Aries actor David Tennant was the magic, immortal, time-traveling Dr. Who. His ascendance to the role fulfilled a hopeful prophecy he had made about himself when he was 13 years old. Now is an excellent time for you, too, to predict a glorious, satisfying or successful occurrence in your own future. Think big and beautiful! TAURUS (April 20-May 20): New York City is the most densely populated city in North America. Its land is among the most expensive on earth; one estimate says the average price per acre is $16 million. Yet there are two uninhabited islands less than a mile off shore in the East River: North Brother Island and South Brother Island. Their combined 16 acres are theoretically worth $256 million. But no one goes there or enjoys it; it’s not even parkland. I bring this to your attention, Taurus, because I suspect it’s an apt metaphor for a certain situation in your life: a potentially rich resource or influence that you’re not using. Now is a good time to update your relationship with it. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The iconic 1942 movie Casablanca won three Academy Awards and has often appeared on critics’ lists of the greatest films ever made. That’s amazing considering the fact that the production was so hectic. When shooting started, the script was incomplete. The writing team frequently presented the finished version of each new scene on the day it was to be filmed. Neither the director nor the actors knew how the plot would resolve until the end of the process. I bring this to your attention, Gemini, because it reminds me of a project you have been working on. I suggest you start improvising less and planning more. How do you want this phase of your life to climax? CANCER (June 21-July 22): If all goes well in the coming weeks, you will hone your wisdom about how and when and why to give your abundant gifts to deserving recipients — as well as how and when and why to not give your abundant gifts to deserving recipients. If my hopes come to pass, you will refine your ability to share your tender depths with worthy allies — and you will refine your understanding of when to not share your tender depths with worthy allies. Finally, Cancerian, if you are as smart as I think you are, you will have a sixth sense about how to receive as many blessings as you disseminate. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): How adept are you at playing along the boundaries between the dark and the light, between confounding dreams and liberated joy, between “Is it real?” and “Do I need it?”? You now have an excellent opportunity to find out more about your capacity to thrive on delightful complexity. But I should warn you. The temptation to prematurely simplify things might be hard to resist. There may be cautious pressure coming from a timid voice in your head that’s not fierce enough to want you to grow into your best and biggest self. But here’s what I predict: You will bravely explore the possibilities for self-transformation that are available outside the predictable niches. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Cultivating a robust sense of humor makes you more attractive to people you want to be attractive to. An inclination to be fun-loving is another endearing quality that’s worthy of being part of your intimate repertoire. There’s a third virtue related to these two: playfulness. Many humans of all genders are drawn to those who display joking, lighthearted behavior. I hope you will make maximum use of these qualities during the coming weeks, Virgo. You have a cosmic mandate to be as alluring and inviting as you dare.

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I suggest you gaze at exquisitely wrought Japanese woodcuts . . . and listen to jazz trumpeter Miles Davis collaborating with saxophonist John Coltrane . . . and inhale the aroma of the earth as you stroll through groves of very old trees. Catch my drift, Libra? Surround yourself with soulful beauty — or else! Or else what? Or else I’ll be sad. Or else you might be susceptible to buying into the demoralizing thoughts that people around you are propagating. Or else you may become blind to the subtle miracles that are unfolding and fail to love them well enough to coax them into their fullest ripening. Now get out there and hunt for soulful beauty that awakens your deepest reverence for life. Feeling awe is a necessity for you right now, not a luxury. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the Sikh religion, devotees are urged to attack weakness and sin with five “spiritual weapons”: contentment, charity, kindness, positive energy and humility. Even if you’re not a Sikh, I think you’ll be wise to employ this strategy in the next two weeks. Why? Because your instinctual nature will be overflowing with martial force, and you’ll have to work hard to channel it constructively rather than destructively. The best way to do that is to be a vehement perpetrator of benevolence and healing. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In 1970, a biologist was hiking through a Brazilian forest when a small monkey landed on his head, having jumped from a tree branch. Adelmar Coimbra-Filho was ecstatic. He realized that his visitor was a member of the species known as the golden-rumped lion tamarin, which had been regarded as extinct for 65 years. His lucky accident led to a renewed search for the elusive creatures, and soon more were discovered. I foresee a metaphorically comparable experience coming your way, Sagittarius. A resource or influence or marvel you assumed was gone will reappear. How will you respond? With alacrity, I hope! CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The Velcro fastener is a handy invention that came into the world thanks to a Swiss engineer named George de Mestral. While wandering around the Alps with his dog, he got curious about the bristly seeds of the burdock plants that adhered to his pants and his dog. After examining them under a microscope, he got the idea to create a clothing fastener that imitated their sticking mechanism. In accordance with the astrological omens, Capricorn, I invite you to be alert for comparable breakthroughs. Be receptive to help that comes in unexpected ways. Study your environment for potentially useful clues and tips. Turn the whole world into your classroom and laboratory. It’s impossible to predict where and when you may receive a solution to a long-running dilemma! AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed to the top of Mount Everest. They were celebrated as intrepid heroes. But they couldn’t have done it without massive support. Their expedition was powered by 20 Sherpa guides, 13 other mountaineers and 362 porters who lugged 10,000 pounds of baggage. I bring this to your attention, Aquarius, in the hope that it will inspire you. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to gather more of the human resources and raw materials you will need for your rousing expedition later this year. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Although her work is among the best Russian literature of the twentieth century, poet Marina Tsvetayeva lived in poverty. When fellow poet Rainer Maria Rilke asked her to describe the kingdom of heaven, she said, “Never again to sweep floors.” I can relate. To earn a living in my early adulthood, I washed tens of thousands of dishes in restaurant kitchens. Now that I’m grown up, one of my great joys is to avoid washing dishes. I invite you to think along these lines, Pisces. What seemingly minor improvements in your life are actually huge triumphs that evoke profound satisfaction? Take inventory of small pleasures that are really quite miraculous.

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARKETPLACE

BY ROB BREZSNY

REA L ESTATE | REN TA L S | R O O M M ATES | SER VI C ES JOB S | A N N OU N CEM ENTS | M I ND, BO DY, SPI R I T CL A SSES & WORKSH OPS | M USI C I ANS’ SER VI C ES PETS | A U TOMOTI VE | X C HANG E | ADULT Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 x111 tnavaille@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember the Russian proverb: “Doveryai, no proveryai,” trust but verify. When answering classified ads, always err on the side of caution. Especially beware of any party asking you to give them financial or identification information. The Mountain Xpress cannot be responsible for ensuring that each advertising client is legitimate. Please report scams to ads@mountainx.com REAL ESTATE

HOMES FOR RENT

REAL ESTATE SERVICES SUSTAINABILITY PROPERTIES We specialize in offering land and/or homes in Western North Carolina or East Tennessee with sustainability features such as: natural water sources, alternative power potential, conditions conducive to growing one's own food, and properties located in close proximity to National Forest land or Appalachian Trail. Licensed NC & TN real estate brokers. Let us know what you are looking for or what you may have to offer. E-mail SustainabilityProperties@ yahoo.com. Text or call (828) 575-6792.

RENTALS APARTMENTS FOR RENT

AMAZING DOWNTOWN LOCATION! 1BR and Efficiency apartmensts. Newly renovated with nice kitchen appliances, updated bathroom fixtures and fresh paint. Water included. One off-street parking spot. $795 or $1050/ month. Year lease. No pets. Gas heat; no a/c. (828)252-6664 rentals@rawlingsrem.com www.RawlingsProperties. com

CONDOS/ TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2BR CONDO DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE 2BR, 2BA condo available 4/1. Second floor, 40 foot deck. Views! Use of community pool. W/D, off-street parking. $1,485/month, $1,485 security deposit and $30 credit check. On Windswept Drive on Beaucatcher Mountain. Sorry, no pets, no smokers. Call 828-2423088. 828-242-3088. NORTH ASHEVILLE TOWNHOUSES 2BR, 1BA: $845 • 3BR, 1BA: $945 • 1 mile from downtown. • Hardwood floors. • (no pets policy). (828) 252-4334.

3BR 1BA WEST ASHEVILLE Fully-renovated West Asheville House, large flat backyard/off street parking. On quiet street, house has full unfinished basement for storage and is 5 minutes to heart of West Asheville, 5 minutes to I40, 10 minutes to heart of downtown. House is 1204 sf. Nice size laundry room and mud room. Central Air/ Heat - Washer/dryer. One year lease. Rent: $1395 Deposit: $1,395. Application/Background check: $45. Non-smoking house Dog(s) considered with non-refundable deposit of $350-$500. Depending on animal size. 828 808-0244.

COMMERCIAL/ BUSINESS RENTALS MOVIE THEATRE FOR RENT Vintage Event Space for Rent, 1947 Movie Theatre perfect for private Movie Screenings, Corporate Events, Birthdays and Anniversaries. Complete Sound System, Video and Facebook Live Broadcasting. 828-273-8250. shelleyhughes@gmail.commarshillradiotheatre.org.

SHORT-TERM RENTALS 10 MINUTES TO ASHEVILLE Separate entrance apartment vacation/short term rental in Weaverville, pets allowed/pet deposit. Complete with everything including internet. $100/day (2 day minimum, $650/week, $1500/month. duffwhazzup@gmail.com 15 MINUTES TO ASHEVILLE Guest house, vacation/short term rental in beautiful country setting. • Complete with everything including cable and internet. • $150/day (2-day minimum), $650/week, $1500/ month. Weaverville area. • No pets please. (828) 6589145. mhcinc58@yahoo. com

EMPLOYMENT GENERAL TROLLEY TOUR GUIDES If you are a "people person," love Asheville, have a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and clean driving record you could be a great Tour Guide.

Full-time and seasonal parttime positions available. Training provided. Contact us today! 828 251-8687. Info@GrayLineAsheville.com www.GrayLineAsheville.com

SKILLED LABOR/ TRADES LEAD PRESSMAN WANTED Community Newspapers Inc. seeks a lead pressman for our regional printing facility in Franklin, NC. Five years hands-on experience, preferably operating a Goss community press desired. Performs standard set-up, maintenance, operation of press, assists in engaging and disengaging units, formers, and slitters, locks plates in the proper order, makes necessary quality control adjustments during the run for proper ink and water balance, performs preventative maintenance and repair. Email resume, salary history and three references to: vtrivett@ thefranklinpress.com.

ADMINISTRATIVE/ OFFICE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE ASSOCIATE Helpmate, a domestic violence agency in Asheville, seeks a parttime Accounts Payable Associate. Responsibilities include entering data in QuickBooks, invoice processing and payment, managing vendor records, and assisting with payroll preparation. Requirements for this position include experience in accounting, Excel, QuickBooks or comparable accounting system, and data entry skills. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. Email resume and cover letter to cshore@helpmateonline.org. www.helpmateonline.org. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT • OFFICE MANAGER Manage a busy, one-person consulting office and provide support to owner. Conduct all business, financial & admin functions. Strong computer skills, with attention to detail for quality document production; with proficiency in Word, Excel, Quick Books & Database (ACT! preferred). Good verbal & written communication skills; organized & detail-oriented. Able to function both independently and within established structures. Prior experience required. 20-30 hrs/wk, salary based on experience. Send resume and cover letter to askall@askier.com

RESTAURANT/ FOOD KITCHEN STAFF Looking for experienced Baker/ Prep cook and Line cooks with potential to grow in craft beer inspired kitchen. Experienced candidates send resume to info@lexavebrew.com or walk in at 39 N Lexington. LINE COOK Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Taproom & Restaurant has an opening for an experienced fulltime Line Cook. TO APPLY: Please visit our website at www.sierranevada.com/ careers.

MEDICAL/HEALTH CARE Front Desk Receptionist needed for Chiropractic Office Would you like a fun, fast-paced job with great benefits? We need a new front desk receptionist! We want a healthy, sweet person on our team. Email deanachirorockstar@ gmail.com.

HUMAN SERVICES DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE This position is responsible for creating and overseeing the implantation of a strategic approach to fundraising which includes major gifts, corporate donations, event development/management, and recording of donations. This is a 20 hour a week position. thrive4health.org/ about-us/working-at-thrive/ QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL • HENDERSONVILLE Turning Point Services is looking for a full-time dedicated Qualified Professional. Must have a 4 year human services degree and 2 years post-grad experience working with the IDD population. If interested, please apply online at turningpointhires.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

PROFESSIONAL/ MANAGEMENT FUNDRAISER Development pro with 3+ yrs exp. engaging individual donors. Candidates should have commitment to equity, inclusion and social change. EOE/FT/ Health/Dental/401K and more. Learn more/apply: unitedwayabc.org/ employment-opportunities. VICE PRESIDENT FINANCE AND OPERATIONS Advances our organization's mission through leadership in the areas of financial management and accounting, human

resources, general administration and facilities management. Learn more/ apply: unitedwayabc.org/ employment-opportunities

TEACHING/ EDUCATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ArtSpace Charter School in Swannanoa, NC seeks an Executive Director who will advance the school’s vision as a national benchmark in educational excellence through an integrated K-8 curriculum utilizing the visual and performing arts. • The Executive Director will shape and strengthen ArtSpace’s culture of collaboration among staff, faculty, students, parents, board, and surrounding community. • Apply by April 15, 2018. For application requirements please visit http:// www.artspacecharter.org/ engage/employment/ IMMEDIATE OPENING ArtSpace Charter School in Swannanoa has an immediate opening for a part-time (29 hours) Title One Reading Program Teaching Assistant. Minimum educational requirement is an undergraduate degree. Experience working with children and knowledge of instructional strategies for teaching reading is required. • Please send resumes and cover letters to: resumes@ artspacecharter.org with a subject heading that indicates the position for which you are applying.

applicants will bring to the position a deep knowledge of the local community and its history. And they must be willing to educate themselves in ways that will strengthen their ability to place current events in perspective. A solid grounding in AP Style, or a willingness to learn it, is essential. Photography, web-posting and editing experience are plusses. This is a staff position based in our Asheville office. Email cover letter, resume and clips to employment@mountainx. com

XCHANGE MEDICAL SUPPLIES EMF EMF electromagnetic biomat 7000mx. Used a few times. With suitcase. Paid $1,500, sell $850. 407 3420630.

SERVICES ENTERTAINMENT DISH NETWORK-SATELLITE TELEVISION SERVICES Now over 190 channels for only $49.99/ month! HBO-Free for one year, Free Installation, Free Streaming, Free HD. Add Internet for $14.95 a month. 1-800-373-6508. (AAN CAN)

HOME KILL BED BUGS AND THEIR EGGS! Buy Harris Bed Bug Killers/KIT Complete Treatment System. Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com (AAN CAN)

T H E N E W Y OR K TI M ES CR OSSWOR D PU ZZLE

ACROSS

1 Prince in “Frozen” 5 Doohickey 10 DVD remote button 14 Home of the historic Desolation Canyon 15 Hamburger helper? 16 Voiceless consonant like “b” or “p” 17 Network 20 Fairy king in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 21 Started to downsize? 22 Event at which spectators may sit on straw bales 23 Afternoon gathering 26 Jalopy 27 A miss is as good as one, they say 28 Words with “fast one” or “muscle” 30 Mlle., over the Pyrénées 31 “Tarzan” actor Ron 32 Radar of “M*A*S*H” 34 Wagner’s “___ Fliegende Holländer” 35 Where the Ringling Bros. circus began: Abbr. 36 H, on a fraternity house

37 Start to function? 40 Ushered out 42 “Time ___ …” 45 Pro ___ 47 Ulnae neighbors 48 Pack (down) 49 Classic gas brand with a red, white, blue and black logo 51 Bros’ hellos 52 Fun, for one 53 Very different thing (from) 55 Continues 56 Shared beliefs … like this puzzle’s circled four-letter words? 60 Bring home 61 Board runner 62 Sedgwick of Warhol films 63 Old “Happy Motoring” brand 64 Food sweetener 65 Blacken, in a way 1 2 3 4

edited by Will Shortz

5 Mob henchman 6 Bucolic hotel 7 Certain red wine, informally 8 “Calvin and Hobbes” bully 9 How a lot of music got sold in the 1990s and early 2000s 10 Electrician’s tool 11 Ballerina’s wear 12 Actress Bening 13 Marriage agreement? 18 Whisper sweet nothings 19 Nervous twitch 23 What the “Mardi” of Mardi Gras means 24 ___ Lilly (Fortune 500 company) 25 Actor who played Grandpa Munster 28 Inquisitive one 29 Asia’s ___ Mountains 32 Fly-by-night sort? DOWN 33 “Huzzah!” “Just try it” 37 Involuntary soldier Seething 38 Some keyboards Sans clothing and motorcycles Whitfield of “The Real Housewives of 39 Warehouse workers Atlanta” 41 Ballyhoo

No. 0207

PUZZLE BY STU OCKMAN

42 Edge of a road 43 Major component of Windex 44 High roller 46 Bank ID: Abbr.

48 Ancient city on the Nile

55 Personal aide to Selina Meyer on “Veep” 50 “Either she goes 57 Starz competitor, for short ___ go!” 58 Color of coffee 52 Spoil ice cream 54 “Ick!” 59 Rush

LEGAL INTERESTED IN WORKING AT A-B TECH? FullTime, Part-Time and Adjunct Positions available. Come help people achieve their dreams! Apply for open positions at abtcc.peopleadmin.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Previous residential properties now zoned to be used for commercial purposes. It’s a new day! Live & work from the same location! E-mail SustainabilityProperties@ yahoo.com. Text or call (828) 575-6792. Let us know your interests. Sustainability Properties--licensed NC & TN real estate brokers (taxes are lower in TN!)

ARTS/MEDIA

NEWS REPORTER Mountain Xpress is seeking an experienced reporter who is committed to the values of fair, balanced and multisourced reporting, has a passion for locally focused journalism and loves good writing. Candidates should have a demonstrated ability to handle tight deadlines and should be comfortable writing stories ranging from government meetings to long-form features. You must be able to craft stories that respect the perspectives of all sides, engage readers and empower them to think critically, take part in meaningful civic dialogue and effect change at the local level. Ideally,

DENIED CREDIT? Work to repair your credit report with the trusted leader in credit repair. Call Lexington Law for a Free credit report summary and credit repair consultation. 855620-9426. John C. Heath, Attorney at Law, PLLC, dba Lexington Law Firm. (AAN CAN)

HOME IMPROVEMENT HANDY MAN HIRE A HUSBAND • HANDYMAN SERVICES Since 1993. Multiple skill sets. Reliable, trustworthy, quality results. Insured. References and estimates available. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.

HEATING & COOLING MAYBERRY HEATING AND COOLING Oil and Gas Furnaces • Heat Pumps and AC • • Radiant Floor Heating • • Solar Hot Water • Sales • Service • Installation. • Visa • MC • Discover. Call (828) 658-9145.

ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS 2 TVs 150 CHANNELS With locals. $44.84/month. Call now 704-405-8949 or 336378-5070. $200 Visa gift card. MAKE THE CALL TO START GETTING CLEAN TODAY Free 24/7 Helpline for alcohol & drug addiction treatment. Get help! It is time to take your life back! Call Now: 855-732-4139. (AAN CAN)

LEGAL NOTICES Public Notice for ThirdParty Comments The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Allied Health Division’s Nursing Department is pursuing preaccreditation candidacy status from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20037; phone 202-909-2500. Interested parties are invited to submit third party comments in writing directly to NLN CNEA, attention Betsy Frank, Associate Director NLN CNEA no later than April 9, 2018.

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT BODYWORK $60 TWO-HOUR MASSAGE AT YOUR HOME Please check out my FaceBook page[Transformational Massage Therapy through Frank Solomon Connelly:LMBT#10886] for information. Practicing professionally since December 2003. (828) 707-2983. Creator_of_Joy@Hotmail. com. ALL OF LIFE COMES TO ME WITH EASE & JOY & GLORY Access Consciousness Bars® can clear the limitations you have in your life and body. Want a different relationship to money, aging, sexuality, health and other areas? Call Rebekah 828-348-4925. www.pleasureevolution.com

SPIRITUAL

ANSWER TO PUZZLE XPRESS (PG. 40)

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE

IF YOU CAN SEE THE FUTURE... ...you can change it! Call Julie King, licensed Minister, Teacher and intuitive Healer. A gifted psychic for 35 years, internationally known on TV and radio. Mentoring and Courses available. (831) 601-9005. www.AcuPsychic.com

FOR MUSICIANS MUSICAL SERVICES MUSICIANS HEARING PROTECTION We offer custom fitted earplugs that enable you to hear while playing, yet filters harmful decibals. Lots of color and style options! (828) 713-0767. thehearingguync@gmail.com

AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES WE'LL FIX IT AUTOMOTIVE • Honda and Acura repair. Half price repair and service. ASE and factory trained. Located in the Weaverville area, off exit 15. Please call (828) 275-6063 for appointment. wellfixitautomotive.com

ADULT ADULT LIVELINKS Chat Lines. Flirt, chat and date! Talk to sexy real singles in your area. Call now! 1-844-359-5773 (AAN CAN).

The

Sustainability Series

Paul Caron

Furniture Magician • Cabinet Refacing

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY 2018

• Furniture Repair

Every week in April

• Seat Caning • Antique Restoration • Custom Furniture & Cabinetry (828) 669-4625

MOUNTAINX.COM

• Black Mountain

MARCH 14 - 20, 2018