Mountain Xpress 04.28.21 by Mountain Xpress

OUR 27TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 27 NO. 39 APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

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NEWS

FEATURES 10 A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Smith Mill Works companies envision a resilient 2121 Asheville

12 BIG-TICKET ITEM Cooperative purchasing offers new ways to save

PAGE 22 ORIGINAL PEACE

PUBLISHER: Jeff Fobes

Mars Hill University professor of religious studies Marc Mullinax’s new book, Tao Te Ching: Power for the Peaceful, blends a scholarly awareness of the text’s original historical context with an accessible connection to the contemporary American experience.

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson

COVER PHOTO Ngamhuy Photography

FEATURE

COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

16 ‘SCORES OF SNAPSHOTS’ In Asheville Archives: WNC amateur photographers shoot for national recognition, 1936

3 LETTERS 3 CARTOON: MOLTON 7 CARTOON: BRENT BROWN

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15 BUNCOMBE BEAT 16 ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES

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30 ‘A NEW WORD FOR NEIGHBOR IS CALLED FOR’ Peggy Weaver wins 2021 Xpress Poetry Contest

22 WELLNESS 24 GREEN SCENE 30 ARTS & CULTURE

36 CLUBLAND 38 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

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28 EARTH DAY GIFTS Regional land trusts celebrate major donations

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MANAGING EDITOR: Virginia Daffron ASSISTANT EDITOR: Daniel Walton ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Thomas Calder OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose STAFF REPORTERS: Able Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Molly Horak, Brooke Randle, Daniel Walton COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Madeline Forwerck CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Mark Barrett, Leslie Boyd, Bill Kopp, Cindy Kunst, Gina Smith, Kay West ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson LEAD DESIGNER: Scott Southwick GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Olivia Urban MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Sara Brecht, David Furr, Andy Hall, Tiffany Wagner OPERATIONS MANAGER: Able Allen INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES & WEB: Bowman Kelley BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler-Tanner ADMINISTRATION, BILLING, HR: Able Allen DISTRIBUTION: Susan Hutchinson, Cindy Kunst DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS: Gary Alston, Tracy Houston, Henry Mitchell, Tiffany Narron, Kelley Quigley, Angelo Santa Maria, Carl & Debbie Schweiger

OPINION

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

‘I believe’ can be the start of advocacy Contrast is like a gold mine, always unveiling new riches if you keep digging. I acknowledge and appreciate the sentiment in Mr. Carl Mumpower’s letter [“‘I Believe’ Isn’t Real,” April 14, Xpress] and offer the suggestion that “belief” and “real action” are born of the same mother. Tangible action that is inspired by values instead of self-promotion is a pathway for authentic transformation and connection. That said, I’ll offer my own epilogue to that letter and also preface that I am not a trained psychologist but have lived 41 years soaking in the experience of life, both good and sorrowful. And, for what it is “worth,” I am a native of Asheville who loves this place, has seen the world beyond it and cares about our region’s future. ... I believe that we choose our own actions and that acting on these beliefs embodies an inspiration that shame and righteousness have no motor to catch. Words such as “I believe” can be the start of advocacy. Bumper sticker activism may not be proverbial “skin in the game” and may make us feel good selfishly, but can also reflect the beginning of awareness. We should take it for what it is and not shun this open door. This kind of judgment reflects the isolation and fragmentation we see in our world today. Anytime these feelings arise of judging, of self-righteousness, of “others,” I’d encourage anyone to start with curiosity and ask questions. Exhibit the bravery of vulnerability to understand that perspectives exist beyond our personal horizons. ... We may not always understand where others are coming from, but to assume they are “wrong” or “right” or “less than” without this curiosity is really to give ourselves short shrift in the delight of being connected in this world. In my experience with community work, I used to get aggravated with ribbon-cutters and 95-yard-line volunteers. After putting in hours and hours bringing a project or initiative to fruition, how dare these folks launch in for the feel-good photo-op at the end? Where was the recognition of all the boots on the ground putting in work by the midnight oil? Then I spoke with a wise organizer who reminded me in a gentle way that it takes all of us. How would our vision ever come to light if those volunteers didn’t rush in to provide all hands on deck to push across the finish line? How would they get there in the first place if it

C A R T O O N B Y R AN DY M O L T O N didn’t make them feel good? How would the political road be paved for the work itself if those ribbon-cutters had not glad-handed in the first place? How would we all be inspired to action if we didn’t “believe?” This all begs the question: What can those who feel they’re “in the know” do to facilitate opportunities for engagement? We are all interconnected and whether we choose to believe it or not, our destinies truly are intertwined. Ecology is undeniable. There has been a lot of profit made promoting the opposite. In the clear light of today, when we have the ability to know of events and information around the globe in a heartbeat, the notion that our differences contrast is self-evident. It’s what we choose to do with this knowledge that will impact our individual and collective experiences. It takes a village, and we are all in this together. I’d prefer to see our bumper sticker subculture as a heads-up instead of taking it as literal activism. Because, in the end, “Don’t postpone joy.” — Chip Howell Asheville Editor’s note: A longer version of this letter will appear at mountainx. com.

Many have stated their opinion that the monument should be repurposed. Indeed, that was one of the possibilities entertained by both the Vance Monument Task Force and Asheville

City Council. However, both by wide margins (11-1 and 6-1) agreed that its removal was the best solution. Yes, it is costly to make that decision, but if we ask why and really listen to the reasons for that decision by both groups, it should be clear that a lot of thought was put into it. Not everything can be measured by money. There are other costs that need to be factored in, particularly for those in our community who see the monument, whether named for a historical figure or having a different name, as one that would remain hurtful and even traumatic if it continues to stand. For those who disagree, you have every right to do so. We are lucky in this country to be able to have the right to do so, but please don’t ridicule others who don’t hold your opinion, especially our elected City Council and members of the Vance Monument Task Force. They took their responsibilities seriously. We should appreciate their service to our community and to make a difficult decision. — Ron Katz Asheville

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Yes to removing the Vance Monument There are a lot of people who have voiced their opinion about the removal of the Vance Monument. It is good to see an engaged community. MOUNTAINX.COM

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OPI N I ON

Will Asheville citizens close their laptops and take action?

Let us give you peace of mind

Xpress’ Sustainability series is measured, nicely expressed and crucially informative, precisely the type of information we require in order to help educate the AVL-area citizenry and, with any luck, prompt personal action plans while helping to boost and support those plans already in place. There’s a lot at stake in 2021, in case anyone missed the memo. Sometimes I fear, however, that upon reading impassioned reports such as yours or encountering them in other media outlets — I’ve worked most of my adult life in print or broadcast media, so there’s an outside chance I know what I’m talking about here — much of the citizenry will still neglect to actually do anything about whatever emotions they feel getting stirred up. Asheville is without a doubt a first-class destination for unreconstructed navel gazers. Complacency, though, can be a deadly sin masquerading as good intentions. Ultimately, it takes more than simply feeling empathy or entertaining thought exercises to genuinely make a material difference. You have to fold down your laptop screen, drive back from your beloved pooch’s dog park or your own fave java hangout and put some of your perennial “I really gotta get involved with some of these folks and orgs I’ve been hearing about” sentiments into immediate operation. As late ’60s poet James Morrison once growled somewhat inelegantly from a Miami stage, “What are you gonna do about it?!?” — Fred Mills Arden

The elephant in the room about affordable housing

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There is an elephant in the room. There is not affordable housing in our society, including the Asheville area, because there is not profit in affordable housing. This is a plain fact of life. It is a belief system that our society has evolved over time. This system has many names, and everyone is participating within it. The belief is that wealth is precedent above all. This is the essential need to accumulate wealth. This is the elephant. My intention is not to cast judgment on any individuals because everyone in our society has developed this need. This is a subject that is impossible to discuss with my friends and family, so I stopped bringing it up about four years ago. No one is at fault; this is

simply the way that our society has evolved over thousands of years. There is not affordable health care in the U.S. for the same reason. If curing disease was more profitable than treating disease, then there would more than likely be a cure for all disease. Concurrently, a specific portion of our society would not be able to afford the cure. There will not be affordable housing in our society until the basic need to accumulate wealth becomes diminished. In our system of free economy, we have the choice of what we buy and determine the price of what we sell. It is an individual’s choice. All real estate that is sold is at the price chosen by the owner. As a property owner, you also have a choice of whom you sell to. As a buyer, we all have the choice of whom we buy from. In conclusion, while economic freedom for all is improbable, absolutely nothing is impossible. The conclusion part is science, not my opinion. All the other stuff was my opinion. I heart WNC! — Robbie Pitts Green Mountain

Asheville area can learn from Coral Gables Handling development can be pretty simple. Rules need to be put in place that specify what is acceptable in differently zoned areas within the city. Things like density, traffic flow, architecture and historic preservation are examples of areas to be addressed by these rules. That structure usually helps folks who want to develop areas because they can base their investments on something solid. It also helps the citizenry because there are a lot less surprises! In addition to the rules, a committee needs to be in place for compliance and for any variance requests. The committee should have the power to decide on the variance. The city of Coral Gables, Fla., put this practice in place many years ago and has been very successful preserving its heritage as well as allowing for the growth that comes with a popular place to live. — Barry Shoor Asheville

Medicare for All makes economic sense for WNC The COVID-19 pandemic shines a bright light on the inadequacies of our current health care system. Affordable

CONTINUES ON PAGE 6

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APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

OPINION

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

health insurance does not mean guaranteed health care. What has become painfully clear is that we need a health care system that provides services regardless of income, background or job status. The best use of tax dollars (our money) is to adopt a single-payer improved Medicare for All (M4A) health care system like every other major industrialized country. They cover more people for less money and have superior average health outcomes compared to the U.S. In 2017,

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

the U.S. spent $3.3 trillion on health care. This equaled about 17% of U.S. gross domestic product, spending of about $10,000 per person. By contrast, peer countries spent between 9 and 11% of GDP on health care, averaging $3,400 to $5,700 per person. We pay more and get less. Twenty-two studies, from conservative to liberal, have documented that M4A would significantly reduce overall health care spending. M4A can only save money with a two-prong approach — cutting wasteful insurance industry

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bureaucracy and negotiating prices with hospitals, medical equipment companies and drug companies. Plans such as subsidizing COBRA, shoring up the ACA or adding a public option only add to the bureaucratic insurance industry, do nothing to decrease costs and do not guarantee care — a big waste of our tax dollars. How do we pay for M4A? While details are negotiable, with the proposed M4A Sanders bill, employees would pay a flat 4% payroll tax and employers a 7.5% payroll tax, with the first $1 million being exempt. The remainder would be funded by closing tax loopholes and adding progressive taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Ninety-five percent of American families would pay less than they do now for insurance, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Average savings per employer is estimated at $8,850. We would pay less and get more health care. According to the Chamber of Commerce, 96% of establishments in the Asheville metro area have 50 or fewer employees. With the first $1 million in payroll being exempt from proposed M4A taxation, our small businesses and local economy would benefit greatly with M4A. Local busi-

nesses would have a more level playing field and compete for talent on wages, quality and service. M4A would inject a new dynamism into the local economy. Workers could go where their skills and preferences best fit the job. Entrepreneurs, gig workers, artists, farmers, young people, part-time employees and retirees would all have health care. Wages and job quality would be boosted by employers redirecting health care costs. There would be no medical debt bankruptcies, drug rationing or skipped doctor visits, and continued coverage during job loss. M4A would also help eliminate racial inequities in health care and could be a beneficial part of Asheville’s reparations planning. Reimbursement rates under M4A could also be adjusted to incentivize providers to deliver services in communities with unmet medical needs, particularly in our rural and low-income urban areas. Asheville-area workers and families — regardless of race, gender or job status — would become a healthier, more financially secure local workforce. What about local government? Health coverage, the source of most labor disputes in this country, would be off the table in union negotiations.

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN Rising health insurance costs would no longer be passed onto employees, and M4A would eliminate future funding payments (other post-employment benefits) for retiree health benefits that are a huge financial strain on all government levels. Local governments will have more funds available for wages, infrastructure, capital improvements and public health. Medicare for All makes economic sense for WNC. Our tax dollars should pay for actual health care, not insurance. — Theresa Hash, Black Mountain Dr. Ellen Kaczmarek, Asheville Co-chairs of HealthCare for All WNC

Syringe exchange programs save lives In the fight to end the opioid epidemic and cure untreated cases of hepatitis C, North Carolina has been ahead of the curve through the effective implementation of harm reduction services. The states of greater Appalachia have seen surges of lives lost to overdoses and untreated hepatitis C, both of which are very preventable. Syringe service programs are the primary drivers behind the reduction of overdose and hepatitis C-related deaths. These programs provide naloxone, the overdose reversal drug, and

sterile syringes in exchange for used syringes to properly dispose of them. Properly disposing of syringes keeps community members safe and reduces new hepatitis C and HIV cases. Like many other nonprofit organizations, syringe service programs act as a junction to a variety of other services, including medical and rehabilitation centers. People seeking assistance with substance use, wound care or hepatitis C treatment can be directly linked to providers and are supported by fellow social service organizations to ensure clients reach their goals, whether it be curing hepatitis C or starting their journey to substance use recovery. Although our syringe service programs are far and few between, they have played the most integral role in ensuring North Carolina continues to lead the charge in saving lives. — Amanda Von Litolff Hep-C Ambassadors for Change Asheville

Correction In the box, “Wear, Wait, Wash — or Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?” in our April 21 issue, a figure for the number of face masks used by 49 Asian countries in the early months of the pandemic should have been more than 2.2 billion daily. MOUNTAINX.COM

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

OPINION

Soul medicine

“Together, we can help make these formerly rich ecosystems whole again.”

The green splendor of rich cove forests

BY TAL GALTON

A friend stopped by our house the other day. She was on her way to a forested cove in our community that we’ll call Ephemeral Holler. “Do you think the bloodroot is up?” she asked. She wanted to treat a wart on her finger. It was mid-March, and at our elevation I was confident that the bloodroot was still tucked under the leaf litter, safe from her medicinal needs. “Dunno, seems a bit early,” I replied, “but it should be nice up there in any case.” That set me thinking back to last April, during the peak of pandemic fear and uncertainty. While urban and suburban folks around the world were shut up in their dwellings, many in my mountain community took to the woods. And since it was spring, they were especially drawn to Ephemeral Holler. A normally obscure trail into the forest became more worn than ever before. This special place is locally renowned for its flush of early spring wildflowers, and people have been making annual pilgrimages there for generations. The lushest of local coves, it’s home to larkspur, bellwort, foamflower, Dutchman’s breeches and a veritable forest of trillium. It’s long been known that species of trees, shrubs and forbs (herbaceous plants) grow in particular assemblages, partitioned into distinct botanical neighborhoods. Ecologists have identified hundreds of such native plant communities in North Carolina. From the spruce-fir cloud forests and grassy balds that crown our mountains to the coastal plain’s longleaf pine and maritime forests, botanists around the state have their respective favorites. Many mountain botanists have a soft spot for the community type that’s found in Ephemeral Holler: rich cove forests. Western North Carolina boasts one of the great temperate forests of the world, and rich coves, found in swaths of various sizes, represent the Southern Appalachian forest at its finest. Some tree species found in rich coves are common throughout the Southern mountains: tulip poplar, sweet birch and red oak. Others, like basswood and shagbark hickory, are typically exclusive to rich coves. Still others, like the acid-loving sourwood, are entirely absent. The trees are what makes it a forest, but it’s 8

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the understory that sets these forest neighborhoods apart from acid coves and other Appalachian plant communities. The shrub layer in a rich cove is sparse — not a lot of rhododendrons and laurels — but the layer of herbaceous plants is as crowded and lush as in any landscape in the world.

DIGGING DOWN

Appalachian rich coves are among the most diverse plant communities in North America, home to three times as many rare plant species as are found in other forest types. Botanists, ecologists and naturalists have long puzzled over why these particular coves are blanketed in such a diverse array of herbaceous plants while others are relatively barren. It was long thought that the difference was due mostly to moisture and aspect: Dry, south-facing slopes host fewer species than moist, sheltered bottomland forests. But two decades ago Chris Ulrey, now a plant ecologist with the National Park Service, published a study demonstrating that some of the variance can be chalked up to soil chemistry. Ulrey’s paper, oft-cited in the N.C. Natural Heritage Program’s definition of rich coves, attempted to unearth the origins of what it called a rich cove’s “aesthetic lavishness.” He concluded that soil fertility is a significant factor in determining the plant species found in each forest type. The abundant rich coves of the Craggy Mountains and Big Ivy, for instance, are due to the particular geology of this outcrop’s western slopes. At the middle elevations, most rich cove wildflowers bloom in the weeks

TAL GALTON between mid-April and early May, when the strongest sunlight reaches the forest floor. Nearly all of these species have long-lived underground root systems (some as old as the trees above), but a few have above-ground parts so ephemeral that they’re evident for only six weeks each year. The ephemerals’ pace of leafing out, flowering and seed production is a race against the closing tree canopy and the growth of the larger full-season herbaceous plants: cohoshes, wood nettle and horse balm. By the end of May, the ephemerals are gone, and these “megaforbs” create a dense canopy 2-3 feet tall that lasts through the summer. Unlike many mountain forests, rich coves have a thick green carpet from April to September. There’s a small rich cove that I regularly visit on one of my guided hikes. Every time we passed through last June and July, a pair of black-throated blue warblers flitted about in the underbrush. After the fall migration when the foliage had waned, I found the nest, right in the three-pronged crux of a blue cohosh. These euphonious, colorful neotropical migrants are like precious gems forged in the crucible of dense tropical rainforests, and when they migrate north, rich coves are a preferred habitat. Scarlet tanagers, black-throated blues and cerulean warblers all favor rich coves for their summer breeding grounds. These songbirds clearly know an affluent forest when they see one.

RICH COVE BEAUTY: Foamflowers count among the treasures of WNC’s rich cove forests. Photo by Tal Galton

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PAYING IT FORWARD

For millennia, people have been drawn to rich coves in search of wild foods (ramps! morels!) and medicine

(ginseng, cohosh and bloodroot). But these forests also fulfill another essential human need: a place to commune with nature in the deepest way possible. The original spring fever was a hungry search for new growth. As gray winter rapidly greened, humans gathered succulent greenbriar, nettles, pungent ramps and tangy wild mustards. Over generations, we trained our minds to seek out diverse plant communities, and in the process, our brains gradually became wired to appreciate the beauty of a lush carpet of green foliage. This aspect of biophilia is what enables us to appreciate rich coves’ “aesthetic lavishness.” Now, however, the powerfully medicinal goldenseal has been poached to near extinction, and ginseng, once abundant, is similarly rare. Even regionally adored ramps are at risk of overharvesting. So these days, we go to the forest to satiate our souls rather than our stomachs. And while some rich coves have been able to recover from two centuries of logging and other disturbances, many of the richest forest soils were converted first to pasture or tillage, then to subdivisions. Even some that were allowed to return to forest haven’t fully recovered yet. Together, we can help make these formerly rich ecosystems, many of them on unprotected private land, whole again. Both places I’ve lived during my life in the mountains are near former rich coves. As my wife and I learned the native flora, it became evident which species wanted to live there, and in each place we removed the multiflora rose and encouraged the trillium and mayapples; we’ve planted foamflower, squirrel corn and ramps and watched them thrive. On a sunny April day I can watch and listen to the teeming rush hour of native bees and flies pollinating spring beauties and wood anemone. The wildflowers have reclaimed their former indigenous ground, and the forest floor sounds happy. Like the summer songbirds, we should honor and protect rich coves for what they are: a fabulous storehouse of biological knowledge and wisdom. It’s time to recompense these treasures for all they have given us: The forest itself is medicine for our troubled souls. Burnsville resident Tal Galton runs Snakeroot Ecotours. X

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NEWS

A sustainable future

Smith Mill Works companies envision a resilient 2121 Asheville BY NASTASSJA NOELL noell.nastassja@gmail.com On a February day in 2014, Michael Klatt was driving near Spivey Mountain in West Asheville to look at a potential warehouse space for a medicinal and edible mushroom business. The appointment fell through, and he ended up in the driveway of a 28-acre property of derelict greenhouses with walnut trees growing through most of the glass roofs. He called his partner. “We can grow mushrooms in greenhouses, right?” Little did Klatt know that in seven years this property would become a bustling center of ideas rising out of the earth, some flowering and bearing fruit while others retreated back into the ground to wait for better times. Initially developed during World War II by Hyman Young Sr. to grow crops for the war effort, the facility was expanded in the decades that followed. Young added land and over 30 greenhouses and buildings to support a bustling ornamental plant supply business that operated until the spring of 2000. Today, many of the greenhouses have been partially restored, and Smith Mill Works serves as a hub for sustainability-oriented local businesses. It hasn’t been an easy process for Klatt, who trained

FULL FLOWER: Asheville Craft Cannabis operates its Demeter-certified biodynamic operation at Smith Mill Works. Working in the greenhouse are Taig Rehmel, Mike Sutton and Victor LoConti. Photo by Nate Burrows as an entrepreneur at Western Carolina University. Along the way he’s taught himself to do much of the work around the property, including restoring pond-fed water lines and cisterns, reworking rusted ventilation equipment and clearing the forests that had taken root in the greenhouses. Along the way, Klatt has also become intimate with the challenges affecting small-scale agriculture ventures. The profit margins for local farmers are so narrow that many are unable to make a profit using the greenhouse space, even at 15 cents a square foot. The companies that have flourished at SMW are resilient — and diverse. Current tenants include the Organic Growers School, Nutty Buddy Collective, Mother Earth Food, Asheville Craft Cannabis, Smart Feller Tree Works, Belle Decor and Mountain Flame Yoga.

EARLY DAYS: Hyman Young Sr. originally developed the property during World War II. After the war, he expanded it and built a business selling ornamental plants. Photo courtesy of Hyman Young Jr. 10

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A FATEFUL VISIT

I first went to Smith Mill Works last autumn to drop off 100 pounds of green walnuts at the Asheville Nuttery and ended up getting lost in reverie and awe. As I wandered around SMW, I wondered what a

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resilient Asheville would look like in 100 years, 500 years. Perhaps the future might not look like decay and entropy but rather the reverse — regeneration and resilience. “That’s what we’re here to do,” says Taig Rehmel, co-owner of Asheville Craft Cannabis. “The next 50 years here in Asheville are about getting to sustainability, the first step in regeneration.” ACC produced the first Demetercertified biodynamic hemp flower in the United States. Rehmel describes a cooperative approach that includes sourcing raw organic components from Mother Earth Food to nourish the cannabis plants. The growers also engineered a cannabis flower processor with the help of fabrication shops on the property. “It’s a miniature ecosystem we’re forming here, and Asheville is the place where this sort of thing can happen,” Rehmel observes. In over 15 years working in cannabis cultivation and breeding in the western U.S., he saw the industry move toward monopolization and conventional farming techniques. Asheville offered an alternative, he says: “This community has the people and the values to keep the bur-

geoning East Coast markets craft, sustainable and local. There’s no need for small cannabis operations to compete; we can all succeed by sharing our unique strengths.”

CONTINUITY THROUGH COMMUNITY

Janelle Tatum, CEO of Mother Earth Food, shares a similar vision. During a recent strategy session, she says, something felt “off” in plans for the local grocery home delivery company. Then she recognized what it was: a too-narrow perspective. “By definition,” she explains, “we have to take the scarcity concept out and focus on what we are trying to do as a collective of food people: growing food, making food and providing food — we have to work together.” Tatum says she experienced the power and potential of the collaborative approach during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, when MEF, kombucha maker Buchi, Farm to Home Milk and volunteers got together to distribute a surge of orders. Over 300 farms, dairies, bakeries and other food product makers kept operating as restaurants and farmers

“It’s going to be diverse, interconnected, never-beforeseen ideas and more consciousness in how people are interacting with each other and interacting with the land.” — Brandon Greenstein, Organic Growers School

UNDER CULTIVATION: From the entrance to the Smith Mill Works property, greenhouses stretch along the valley. Photo by Cindy Kunst markets closed. “Sustainable agriculture practices are a mirror of sustainability in our communities,” she says. Brandon Greenstein, sustainability consultant for the Organic Growers School, sees a future in which social dynamics and resource sharing will play key roles in a resilient future for Asheville. “It’s going to be diverse, interconnected,

never-before-seen ideas and more consciousness in how people are interacting with each other and interacting with the land.”

DEEP CONNECTIONS

Nutty Buddy Collective’s Justin Holt encourages regional folks to gather acorns, walnuts and hickory

nuts. The organization processes the bounty into nut meats, flours and butters at its Asheville Nuttery. He acknowledges and honors the Cherokee people who have lived on this land for generations and the native nut trees that are central to their diet. Holt hopes for a future when the Indigenous wisdom that allowed the Cherokee to thrive across WNC will be recognized and practiced. But he notes that it’s impossible to envision that possibility without also envisioning shifts in the political and economic systems. One hundred years from now, Holt hopes for a collaborative regional network of landowners, foragers and processing equipment. By 500 years in the future, he says, the concept of the commons — where land is commonly owned or accessible to the broader community — will be normalized. “People throughout all the eastern forests

have managed it that way, and many areas still do,” he says. At the upper portion of the SMW property, giant derelict greenhouses overlook the valley. From there, Klatt explains his vision of Asheville in the near future as a place for sustainability tourism, where tourists can take the best ideas incubating in Asheville back to their hometowns. He sees SMW as a potential hub for that type of generative sharing. “Just as the optimism at the end of World War II affected Hyman Young Sr. to create a massive vision of the future in which the entire valley was growing with beautiful flowers, so will the current crises that we face mold the visions of hope and sustainability for future generations,” Klatt muses. As he surveys the sprawling complex, it’s clear he’s seeing what was, what is now and what is yet to be. X

Making Solar Personal

“After meeting with and receiving bids from three local solar installers we chose to go with Asheville Solar Company. Prior to making our decision the owner Nate had left us with a very good impression with respect to both his company’s quality of installation and service as well as us mattering as customers. The solar array was installed when they said it would be and the installation crew was professional throughout. We are very satisfied with the quality of work and the outcome. Also of importance, Nate guides you through the Duke energy rebate process by providing a “script” ahead of time with all the necessary information to avoid any surprises which is critical considering the available rebate pool is usually exhausted in less than ten minutes. As an architect who has worked with many companies and subcontractors over the years I would highly recommend Asheville Solar Company for your solar needs.”

— Matthew Pavelchak

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APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

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COOPERATION STATION: The WNC Purchasing Alliance, with help from Mountain BizWorks, Asheville Independent Restaurant Association and the Asheville Brewers Alliance, coordinated the purchase of 239 heaters for around 75 users, including restaurants, breweries, churches and private individuals, despite nationwide product shortages. Photo from iStock

BY BROOKE RANDLE brandle@mountainx.com In early fall last year, with the COVID-19 pandemic in full force and temperatures beginning to drop, area restaurant owners began looking for ways to keep patrons warm as they dined in the open air. The demand for outdoor heaters across the country suddenly soared, turning the commodity into a vital and scarce resource. That’s when Zev Friedman, founder of the nonprofit Co-operate WNC, decided the time was right to officially launch the WNC Purchasing Alliance, a program aimed at buying a variety of products in bulk to reduce costs. “[The restaurant owners] needed someone to do a bulk purchase of heaters and get it from the manufacturer,” Friedman says. “We weren’t even ready, but we said OK. We were like, ‘This is going to be a stretch, but we want to make it happen and get some practice,’ and it actually went really well.” In its public debut, the Purchasing Alliance, with help from Mountain BizWorks, Asheville Independent Restaurant Association and the Asheville Brewers Alliance, coordinated the purchase of 239 heaters for around 75 different users, including restaurants, breweries, churches and private individuals, despite nationwide product shortages. “We were able to directly contact manufacturers, and because we were looking for more than 200 heaters,

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

MOUNTAINX.COM

they would answer our phone calls. If you weren’t, they wouldn’t even respond,” Friedman explains. “It got [local businesses] something that they couldn’t have gotten otherwise at an affordable cost.” For Friedman, it was the first step for the Purchasing Alliance’s longer-term mission: offering Western North Carolina residents a new way of buying — one that can lower costs and shift how consumers choose to spend their dollars. “It’s just a no-brainer when it comes down to it,” says Friedman. “When you buy in larger quantities, you can get more attention from whoever you’re buying from and more chances to negotiate prices with them.”

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

The concept of bulk purchasing to reduce costs has been around for centuries, says Chris Clark, the Purchasing Alliance’s head of research and coordination efforts. “Any grocery store that we walk into is using bulk purchasing. They are buying a bunch of products at a scale that an individual can’t purchase. And when they do that, they’re getting discounts on that price and they can earn some money and offer individuals an opportunity to get products,” he explains. One of the most common types of consumer-level bulk purchasing is grocery co-ops, such as Asheville’s French Broad Food Co-op, where costs for

food and goods are shared among consumers who pay membership fees and receive discounts on purchases. The Purchasing Alliance looks to expand that model by offering several purchasing categories for consumers, from bulk building materials and environmentally friendly cleaning products to farm equipment and garden supplies. And rather than serving individual needs, the alliance aims to go big by working with organizations, businesses, municipalities and other entities to harness the power of bulk purchasing on an even larger scale. Individuals can still buy products from the program, Friedman adds, though their prices will not be as deeply discounted as larger organizations. Membership in the purchasing alliance starts at $20 per month for a business or organization with an annual budget under $20,000 and can range up to $120 a month for those with an annual budget of $300,000 or more. GREEN ENERGY, GREEN SAVINGS But cooperative purchasing isn’t limited to physical goods, adds Don Moreland, who operates Solar CrowdSource, a platform that helps cities launch community-based solar energy campaigns. The platform’s latest project is Solarize Asheville-Buncombe, a community-based bulk purchasing program for solar energy and equipment. Led by a coalition of organizations that includes the city of Asheville, Buncombe County, Green Opportunities and the Blue Horizons Project, the program launched on April 7 and is open to all individuals, businesses and nonprofits in Buncombe County. “The No. 1 reason why people are considering or have gone solar is the fact that it was clean and renewable,” Moreland says. “People are really concerned about the environment and they want to do their part, and solar is a way for them to do that.” But, he adds, cost is among the main reasons people haven’t made the leap to clean energy. One of Solarize AshevilleBuncombe’s goals is reducing the costs associated with solar energy and solar panel installation by using the power of collective purchasing. Solarize Asheville-Buncombe can solicit competitive bids for solar equipment and pass those savings on to its members. The program then offers solar power on a tiered system that lowers the price as the number of participants grows. Solarize Asheville-Buncombe has set a goal of enrolling at least 58 solar panel installation projects to meet its lowest-cost tiered pricing of $2.45 per watt, which Moreland says should save members roughly 20% or more on the average cost of solar energy in WNC.

“We already have 306 signed up for the campaign and we’ve never seen this kind of enthusiasm for a campaign this early,” he notes. “Normally we might have 150 people signed up, but the folks in Asheville and Buncombe County really surprised us with how enthusiastic they are.”

BUYING POWER

With more dollars in play, bulk buyers also have expanded opportunities to align their purchasing choices with their values, points out Clark of the WNC Purchasing Alliance. By “voting” with their dollars, cooperative groups can emphasize supporting businesses owned by women or people of color or buying from companies that practice ethical or environmental methods of production or sourcing, he explains. “If I’m buying food every week and if I’m buying conventional, I’m voting for pesticides and herbicides and all of these things to be put on the land,” Clark continues. “And maybe I can’t afford to buy organic if I’m doing it on my own, but combining my purchases with other community members could potentially get that price down.” If a buying group is large enough, it might even have enough clout to influence how manufacturers create their products. “We can say, ‘I’ve got 1,000 people that are interested in this product, but we are actually really concerned about water use, because it’s tied to energy.’ That might influence them to change practices,” Clark says. “There’s a real beautiful possibility to influence things in a positive direction.” And while those goals are aspirational, Solarize Asheville-Buncombe is already putting the concept of ethical buying power in place. In addition to offering lower startup and operating costs, the program is partnering with local nonprofit Green Opportunities to offer job training opportunities and workforce placement to income-eligible residents of Asheville and Buncombe County.

ALL TOGETHER NOW

Solarize Asheville-Buncombe is currently enrolling new members; signups to receive a free evaluation for solar energy end in late September. “Sometimes having a deadline really motivates people. I know it does me,” Moreland maintains. “So for those procrastinators and people that are just kind of waiting, then the deadline is a way to motivate.” While the Purchasing Alliance is likewise still in its infancy, Friedman notes, it will soon make its second product available, this time organic

seed potatoes sourced by Living Web Farms in 5-, 25- or 50-pound increments and at a 20-cent-per-pound discount to alliance members. Plenty of details remain to be hammered out. “I think one of the challenges is [that] we’re trying to figure out how we meet needs across the different organizations,” Clark says. “We are working and open to working with a lot of different people and different types of organizations, so I think that’s going to take a little bit of finessing to figure out

what products are actually needed and wanted by the diverse organizations.” Perhaps an even bigger challenge will come from shifting the individual-focused mindset of many Americans toward the notion of working together for shared savings and a unified cause. We’re not necessarily used to thinking collaboratively, Clark observes.“[The Purchasing Alliance] is actually providing an opportunity to step into the juicy and challenging world and relating with other people to try and bring something into the world that we want to see,” he says. X

TAKING ACTION

Robert Eidus protects Appalachia’s medicinal plants Wild American ginseng, prized for centuries for its medicinal qualities as an anti-inflammatory and aphrodisiac, grows naturally on the mountainsides of southern Appalachia. “The main thing about ginseng is that it is the best plant for the human body to be rejuvenating,” says ginseng farmer Robert Eidus. “It has tremendous benefits to the human body.” But high international demand for the herb — which sells for about $550 per pound — has led to overharvesting and driven American ginseng perilously close to extinction. While the season for harvesting wild ginseng only lasts from September through December in North Carolina, the plant requires several years of growth to reach a harvestable size. Eidus started Eagle Feather Organic Farm more than 25 years ago to grow and protect the area’s natural ginseng. Today, Eidus grows and distributes ginseng roots, seeds and plants while practicing and teaching sustainable agriculture to fellow ginseng lovers at the botanical sanctuary in Marshall. Since the plants grow in their natural habitat, traditional farming methods are replaced with natural approaches. For example, the harsh chemicals that would otherwise be necessary to protect the ginseng’s valuable root systems against fungus aren’t necessary in the forest setting, Eidus says. Forgoing chem-

LET IT GROW: Robert Eidus says the mountains of Western North Carolina provide the perfect environment for American ginseng to grow. Photo by Carrie Eidson ical fungicides protects both the environment and the eventual users of the plants. “What happens, of course, is since this is a root crop, there’s all of that spraying going into the soil and the plant absorbs it,” he notes.

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— Brooke Randle X

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

N EWS

TAKING ACTION

Miranda Williams fights for racial justice

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At 17, Asheville High School senior Miranda Williams knows her calling. “I can talk about racial justice and inequities for hours and not get tired,” she says. Since her freshman year, Williams has worked with a number of organizations addressing racial disparities and injustices within the community. Currently, she is one of 24 Racial Equity Ambassadors at AHS; the student-led group recently developed six strategies for culturally relevant teaching. In addition to her ambassadorship, Williams is a doula mentee at SistasCaring4Sistas, a community-based doula program at Mountain Area Health Education Center committed to social justice and reducing health disparities for women and infants of color. Her ongoing work for racial justice and equity is demanding and can be emotionally draining. “It can often feel like you are taking one step forward and going five steps back,” she says, citing the recent headlines of the police killing of Daunte Wright, a Black man fatally shot by a white officer in Brookyln Center, Minn., just 11 miles from where George Floyd was killed in 2020. Despite fatigue, Williams knows the work she is doing today has the potential to impact tomorrow. “I hope that people realize racism is taught and that as long as people are teaching their children what was taught to them, we will forever be a dog chasing

LEADING THE WAY: Miranda Williams has been socially engaged since her freshman year. Now a senior at Asheville High School, she continues to speak out for racial justice. Photo courtesy of Asheville City Schools Foundation its own tail,” she says. “I hope that the generations to come are more open-minded and resilient to the negative influences that came before them. And I hope they realize that everything begins with education.”

— Thomas Calder X

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BUNCOMBE BEAT

Commissioners vote to ban discrimination against protected groups As the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners prepared to pass a landmark nondiscrimination ordinance on April 20, news broke of the guilty verdict in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in last year’s killing of George Floyd. Commissioner Jasmine BeachFerrara took note of the moment. “I know that it’s on the hearts and minds of so many in our community and because it is tied in both spirit and substance in history into why we’re discussing a nondiscrimination ordinance tonight,” BeachFerrara said. With Commissioner Robert Pressley absent from the meeting after a minor surgery, the six remaining members of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance, which bans discrimination in employment and public accommodations based on 16 characteristics and lifestyles. Buncombe County joins seven other North Carolina communities, including Greensboro and Chapel Hill, that have passed similar ordinances. The agenda item drew more than an hour of public comment, with 20 speakers voicing their support for the law and 11 opposing it. Commission Chair Brownie Newman announced at the beginning of the meeting that speakers would have two minutes to speak, rather than the usual three, to allow more people to weigh in. He also said that public comment would be limited to one hour, which left some who had signed up unable to participate. Opponents of the law said it would put an unnecessary burden on business owners and questioned the costs to taxpayers of enforcing the ordinance’s provisions. Some speakers also said the law violated their religious freedom and noted fears about transgender people using public facilities aligned with their gender identity. Several commenters who identified as part of the LGBTQ community urged commissioners to pass the law and described their personal experiences of discrimination. Peyton O’Conner, a lifelong resident of Buncombe County, father of five and trans person, noted that the ordinance represented much-needed

attorney Ron Payne recommended the settlement amount for reasons discussed during the closed session; those reasons were not disclosed in the open session. Anderson also said that the settlement would be limited to the 2019 lawsuit only and would not impact other claims against Frost or former County Manager Wanda Greene. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of accepting the settlement.

— Brooke Randle X Spring 2021

Nonprofit issue

THE GOOD FIGHT: After years of advocating for a nondiscrimination ordinance in Buncombe County, Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara reads prepared remarks before casting her vote in favor of the new law. Photo courtesy of Buncombe County support from local officials for historically marginalized groups. “Not everyone in our community has had the same intersections of privilege that have allowed me to experience the security that I have in my own life,” O’Conner said. “This ordinance reflects the Buncombe County where I have chosen to raise my kids. It represents the values of a country that I have fought to protect, and it shows our children that we care enough about our community to make equity and inclusion something that is meaningful enough for us to have codified into our laws.” Commissioners Al Whitesides, Amanda Edwards and Parker Sloan also made comments supporting the measure during the meeting. The vote follows a public reading of the ordinance, as well as a community meeting with approximately 40 participants held last week. The law will go into effect Thursday, July 1. In the interim, county staff will develop systems for reporting and enforcement and share information about the law’s implementation with the community.

the 2019 suit, which involves the unauthorized use of public funds for equestrian facilities. He said he and

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IN OTHER NEWS

After the county board went into closed session during the meeting, commissioners voted to add to the agenda consideration of a $175,000 settlement resulting from a civil suit brought by the county against former Commissioner Ellen Frost. Attorney Philip Anderson is representing Buncombe County in MOUNTAINX.COM

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES

FEA T U RE S

by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

‘Scores of snapshots’ WNC amateur photographers shoot for national recognition, 1936 “Cameras! Action! Let ‘er Go!” declared The Sunday Citizen in a June 21, 1936, announcement about the paper’s first-time participation in the annual Newspaper National Snapshot Awards. “Here’s your chance to ride your hobby to fame and fortune,” the paper continued, noting that national winners could take home as much as $1,500 (roughly $28,600 in today’s currency). The contest officially launched in July and ran through Sept. 15. Residents were permitted to submit as many photos as they wished. All film types were eligible; glass plates were prohibited. The four categories included children and babies; sports/farming/animals; scenes and still life; and informal adult portraits. “Do not think that you need an expensive camera to win,” the June 21 announcement read. “Some of the most interesting and finest pictures have been taken with simple box cameras.”

In other news While Asheville Archives’ focus is on local history, researching these topics often reveals other interesting national and international headlines. Here are a few that appeared in the paper during the 1936 amateur photography contest. • July 5, 1936: Television Being Perfected • July 17, 1936: King Edward Has Close Call With Death in London • Aug. 30, 1936: Russia Opens Drive Against Stalin’s Foes: Many Celebrities Under Scrutiny of Soviet Secret Police X

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

Ultimately, the paper continued, the top four local selections would compete for national recognition that fall; former first lady Grace Coolidge and Amelia Earhart were among the final judges. “Scores of snapshots have already arrived,” The Sunday Citizen boasted on July 5, 1936. Throughout the summer the paper named four weekly winners, who received $2 (or $38 in today’s currency) for their winning entry. Along with the cash prize, each image was in the running for the final Grand Champion award, which included entry into the national competition. Meanwhile, the paper also published weekly noteworthy images, paying each of these photographers $1 for the honor. The first contest photo featured in print ran in the July 10, 1936, edition of The Asheville Citizen. It showed a baby slouched over asleep in her high chair, bib on and spoon in hand. Others soon followed. One amateur photographer captured a bear lounging on a cushion. “The cub bear seems to be taking the hot weather in a very relaxed and philosophical manner,” The Sunday Citizen observed. Another image, featured in the July 17 edition of The Asheville Citizen, showed the profile of a Black mountaineer seated at the doorway of a log cabin. The photo was taken by a Frank Clodfelter; unfortunately, the man featured was not identified. “The Old Timer makes baskets and mends chairs for a livelihood,” the paper wrote. “He was living during the Civil War.” Hopeful residents continued submitting their works: sailboats, young twins, Lake Junaluska, hospital patients, a child pulling a pig’s tail, a train conductor, a

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SNAPSHOT: In 1936, thousands of local residents submitted photos to The Asheville Citizen, hoping their images would be considered for the Newspaper National Snapshot Awards. This photo, circa 1935, shows George Masa with his camera in front of the Biltmore Estate. Photo from the George Masa file MA079-4, courtesy of Buncombe County Special Collections, Asheville woman on the phone, a toddler looking at his own reflection and a young man trying to hitch a ride while holding an encased bass fiddle were among those featured in print. “The big competition has been running for nine weeks during which time more than 6,000 snapshots have been received from every nook and corner of Western North Carolina, as well as a scattering from various other places,” The Sunday Citizen wrote on Aug. 30, 1936. Despite the impressive number of submissions, one man — J.L. Wright — won three of the four overall categories. Mrs. Harrison Pridham of West Palm Beach, Fla., claimed the fourth honor with a photo she entered during her summer retreat at Patton Farm in Pisgah Forest. The Asheville Citizen ran the four winning photos in its Sept. 11, 1936, publication. All three of Wright’s images appear to have been taken in rural WNC. One features an elderly mountaineer seated in a rocking chair. Another shows a young boy atop a barrel getting his hair cut. And the final image captures a young child seated on the steps outside a log cabin. Meanwhile, Pridham’s photo reveals a baby hummingbird feeding from a medicine dropper. In the following week’s paper, The Asheville Citizen published a feature on

Wright. A native to Asheville, the amateur photographer was a 37-year-old father of six, working as an electrician for the Southern Railway. “A remarkable feature of Mr. Wright’s camera experience is the fact that he never handled any kind of Kodak or camera until May, 1935,” the paper wrote. “He first made his own camera from pieces of other boxes.” Though the paper expressed great confidence in Wright’s chances of winning the national competition, the honor ultimately went to a Nowell Ward of Chicago. But Wright, the paper reported on Oct. 22, 1936, “was awarded a certificate of merit” for his entries. Editor’s note: Peculiarities of spelling and punctuation are preserved from the original documents. X

Finding J.L. Wright Xpress is hoping to learn if members of J.L. Wright’s family still live in Asheville and if additional photographs by Wright exist. If you are a family member or know anything about Wright’s story, please contact Arts & Culture editor Thomas Calder at tcalder@mountainx.com. X

COMMUNITY CALENDAR APRIL 28-MAY 7, 2021

OLLI Lunch & Learn: Non-Surgical Options for Treating Joint Pain Led by Dr. Christine Lehman. FR (4/30), 11:30am, Free, avl.mx/9ar

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

In-Person Events = Shaded All other events are virtual

ART AIGA Asheville: Adobe XD for Web Design Webinar led by Caitlyn Burke. WE (4/28), 12pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/98e Hendersonville Bee Mural Community Painting Day Register: avl.mx/9ak. Rain date: SU (5/2). SA (5/1), 10am, Free, Hands On! Children’s Museum, 318 N Main St, Hendersonville

LITERARY Malaprop's Book Launch Gavin Larsen presents Being a Ballerina, in conversation with Shannon Wheeler. WE (4/28), 6pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9aa Blue Ridge Books: Author Discussion Featuring Neal Hutcheson, author of The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton. Register to get Zoom link: blueridgebooks@ ymail.com. SA (5/1), 10am, Free

THEATER In the Middle of Nowhere Original drama written by Bret Murphy and directed by Katie Jones. Tickets: avl.mx/9af. FR (4/30), 7:30pm, $23, The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St Magnetic in the (Smoky) Park Outdoor variety show. Tickets: avl.mx/97f. TU (5/4), 7pm, $18, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr

ACTIVISM Reject Raytheon: Understanding the War Industry Teach-in with journalist and researcher Christian Sorensen. SU (5/2), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9aj

BENEFITS WNCAP: Dine IN for Life Proceeds benefit HIV prevention and care services. TH (4/29), All day, avl.mx/99e

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY Kanuga Conference & Event Center Job Fair Summer camp and administrative roles, plus hospitality positions. Details: avl.mx/9ae. TH (4/29), 12pm, Kanuga Main Campus, 130 Kanuga Chapel Dr, Hendersonville Western Women's Business Center: How to Stay Focused & Productive Tips for working from home with Sarah Benoit. FR (4/30), 10am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9am SBCN: Creating Landing Pages to Drive Business Digital marketing and sales webinar. TU (5/4), 5pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9ap Mountain BizWorks Orientation Session Information on lending and learning opportunities for small businesses. TH (5/6), 10am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9an Circle of Success: The Entrepreneurial Mindset Start-up assistance session 1 of 5, led by The Ice House. TH (5/6), 3pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9ao

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS WNC Historical Association: Drover’s Road & Sherill’s Inn Lecture by NC House Rep. John Ager. TH (4/29), 6:30pm, Registration required, $5, avl.mx/902 BPR: NPR’s Noel King in Conversation Discussion on the evolution of news coverage during the pandemic, election and insurrection. WE (5/5), 7pm, Registration required, $10, avl.mx/9ag

ECO & OUTDOORS Bonsai at NC Arboretum: More Than Meets the Eye Lecture by curator Arthur Joura. Registration required.

Steady Collective Syringe Access Outreach Free naloxone, syringes and educational material on harm reduction. TU (5/4), 2pm, Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd

Asheville GreenWorks: Sand Hill Nursery Workday Mulching, pruning, repotting trees, repairing the hoop house, tending to plants and more. Register: avl.mx/9a9 WE (4/28), 10am, Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apac Circle

US TOO Prostate Cancer Support Group Open discussion for patients, loved ones and caregivers. Register to get Zoom link: wncprostate@gmail.com. TU (5/4), 7pm, Free

American Red Cross Blood Drive Register with code AshevilleOutlets: avl.mx/8u7. FR (4/30), 11am-3pm, Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Rd

SPIRITUALITY Baha'i Holy Day Observance and Devotions Observance of the Ninth Day of Ridván with prayers, music and readings. WE (4/28), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/99w

FOND FOOLS: The Montford Park Players will kick off the 2021 season with a new twist on Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. Directed by Mandy Bean, the farcical comedy will offer a lighthearted look at the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918, with Savannah Gibson, Jason Williams, Sophia Blankenship and Matt Wade leading the cast. Friday, May 7-Saturday May 22, 7:30 p.m., Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre. Tickets: avl.mx/9aL. Photo courtesy of Montford Park Players TH (4/29), 4pm, $10, avl.mx/99x Arbor Day Celebration & Tree Planting Sponsored by Tree City USA. SA (5/1), 10am, The Park at Flat Rock, 55 Highland Golf Dr, Flat Rock Hemlock Restoration Initiative: Kitsuma Peak Hike-n-Bike Strenuous 4.5-mile hike and discussion on the role of hemlocks in the forest, the impact of hemlock woolly adelgid and control strategies. Register: avl.mx/9ah. TH (5/6), 10am, Free, Kitsuma Trail, Old Fort Sierra Club: Solarize Asheville-Buncombe Presentation on community-based solar energy opportunities for homeowners and business owners. TH (5/6), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9ai

FESTIVALS, MARKETS & FAIRS 2021 Spring Herb Festival & Fiber Farmers Day Culinary and medicinal herbs, extracts, oils and soaps, plus locally raised raw fleeces, yarn, dye plants and fiber art. SA-SU (5/1-2), 9am-5pm, WNC Agricultural Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd The Odd Community Flea Market Records, vintage decor, art, baked goods, tinctures and more. SA (5/1), 9am, The Odditorium, 1045 Haywood Rd Old Gold Record Swap & Sale Vintage vinyl vendor fair. SA (5/1), 11am-5pm, Fleetwood's, 496 Haywood Rd Jackson Arts Market Live demonstrations by local artists. SA (5/1), 1pm, 533 W Main St, Sylva

Wagbar Sunday Market Artisan craft market benefiting Blue Ridge Humane Society. SU (5/2), 12-4pm, 320 Merrimon Ave, Weaverville Meadow Market Local bakers, makers and artisans. SU (5/2), 12-5pm, Highland Brewing, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy Brews, Barks & Blooms Adoptable dogs from Mountain Pet Rescue, fresh flowers from Sun Dragon Farm and live bluegrass by Aubrey and Justin Eisenman. SU (5/2), 1-4pm, Catawba Brewing, 32 Banks Ave

VOLUNTEERING

Recipe for Serenity: Journey of Self Discovery How to reconnect with your inner joy and peace using the "Emotional Freedom" technique. Register: anancy08@ gmail.com. TH (5/6), 6pm, Free

NC Coop Extension: Lake James Cleanup Day Removing litter via boat or on foot. Register: avl.mx/9as. SA (5/1), 8am, Black Bear Boat Ramp, 6514 Lake James Rd, Marion Literacy Together Volunteer Orientation Sessions Information sessions for prospective language tutors. TU (5/4), 5pm & TH (5/6), 10am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9at

Local Craft Market Artisan vendor fair. TH-FR (5/6-7), 1-6pm, Burntshirt Vineyards, 2695 Sugarloaf Rd, Hendersonville Mother's Day Market & Drink Pink Night Fresh flowers, locally made goods, fermented foods, handcrafted jewelry and more. FR (5/7), 4-8pm, White Labs, 172 S Charlotte St

WELLNESS UNCA Philosophy: Trauma in Pandemic Times Research presentation and panel discussion. TH (4/29), 11:30am, Free, avl.mx/9aq

BUYING OLD PAPER MONEY 10 yrs WNC/ETN notes, bonds, maps, currency etc. Member SPMC, NCNA, SCNA, TNS

msg/ txt 865-207-8994 or email papermoneybuy@gmail.com

ISO Warehouse Space

You: 1,000-ish sq.ft. rough space with a roll-up door and possibly a loading dock Us: Local independent newspaper with a thing for purple Call to connect: 251-1333 x112

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APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

Mountain Xpress 27th Annual

r i o e g s e t a C t o l l A B All aboard!

2021

This year’s Best of WNC ballot is the ticket! It’s time to get back on track. As our local scene builds a head of steam, just waiting for the right conditions to throw the switch and see those wheels rolling on down the line again, we’re excited to get the voting underway for the 27th annual Best of WNC X-awards.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Artists, Crafters

• • • Music Events & Venues • • Local Music Festival • • Place to Hear Live Music • • Outdoor Music Venue • • Intimate Music Venue/ • Listening Room • • Open-Mic-Night Venue

Musicians & Bands • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

All-Round Favorite Band Acoustic/Folk Americana/Country Blues Funk Jazz Old-Time/Bluegrass R&B/Soul Hip-Hop Rock Singer-Songwriter World Music Busker/Street Group Lyricist (Writer) Vocalist (Singer) Guitarist Percussionist-Drummer DJ (Non-Radio)

Music Services

• Recording Studio • Music Instrument Repair Company • Music-Related Nonprofit

Arts & Crafts

• Arts/Crafts Fair or Event • Studio Stroll/Driving Tour • Craft School or Place to Learn a Craft • Local Art Gallery • Craft-Oriented Gallery • Nonprofit That Serves the Arts

Fiber Artist Jewelry Artist/Designer Glass Artist Woodworker Metal Artist or Metalworker Mural Artist Painter/Illustrator Photographer Potter/Ceramic Artist

Film, Stage, Dance & Writing

⊕ Socially Distanced or Digital Event/Series • Movie Theater • Local Filmmaker • Theater Company • Actor (any gender) • Performance Dance Company • Place to Dance • Place to Take Dance Classes or Lessons • Vaudeville Troupe or Performer (Burlesque, Aerial Arts, Jugglers, etc.) • Comedy Troupe or Series • Local Comedy Show/ Night/Event • Comedian • Trivia Night Emcee • Local Author • Local Poet

DRINKS Bars

• Bar That Best Represents the Spirit of Asheville • Neighborhood Bar Downtown (including South Slope) • Neighborhood Bar River Arts District • Neighborhood Bar - West • Neighborhood Bar - South

COVID-related category ⊕ = Special

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

MOUNTAINX.COM

This year’s ballot includes a dozen new categories inspired by the challenges of COVID-19. The Best of WNC ballot is long but it’s easy to navigate. Plus, it features a nifty • • • • • • •

Neighborhood Bar - East Neighborhood Bar - North Bartender Bar for Live Music Bar With a View Bar With Bar Games Family-Friendly Bar or Brewery • LGBTQ+ Friendly Bar • Hotel Bar • Dive Bar • Sports Bar • Bar: Local Beer Selection (excluding breweries) • Bar: Unusual Beer Selection (excluding breweries) • Upscale Bar • Bar or Brewery That Gives Back to the Community ⊕ Bar That Closed Permanently Due to COVID

Cocktails, Spirits & Wine • Wine Bar • Local Winery • Wine Store • Cocktails ⊕ To-Go Cocktails/ Cocktail Kits • Distillery • Bloody Mary • Margarita • Negroni • Mocktails or Nonalcoholic Options

Beer, Cider & Breweries

• Cidery • Local Cider • Local All-Round Brewery (for its beers) • Brewery (for its taproom & atmosphere) • Creative, Experimental Brewery • Local Beer (any style) • Local Dark Beer • Local Lager • Local Sour Beer • Local IPA

• • • • •

Seasonal Beer Brewmaster Favorite Local Beer Event Beer Store Homebrewing/ Winemaking Supplies

Coffee, Tea & Healthy Drinks

autocomplete function to let you vote quickly and accurately. You can even take a break fromvoting any time and return later. Just remember to save your ballot. • Restaurant in the River Arts District • Restaurant in West Asheville • Restaurant in South Asheville • Restaurant in East Asheville • Restaurant in North Asheville

Restaurant offerings

• Breakfast • Brunch • Lunch • Quick Meal • Restaurant Wine Selection • Restaurant Cocktail Selection • Restaurant Dessert Selection • Pub Grub • Takeout ⊕ Local Meal Delivery • Best Value EATS • Best Service • Barbecue Restaurant types • Ribs • Restaurant That Best • Burger Represents the Spirit • Veggie Burger of Asheville • Biscuits • Favorite Restaurant • Wings ⊕ Restaurant That Adapted • French Fries to COVID Restrictions • Fried Chicken ⊕ Restaurant That Closed Permanently Due to COVID • Hot Bar/Buffet • Hot Dogs • Restaurant to Take • Pasta Out-of-Towners to • Pizza • Restaurant With a View • People-Watching Restaurant • Sub Shop • Sandwich Shop • Outdoor Dining • Taco • Romantic Dining • Burrito • Fine Dining/Upscale • Sushi • Kid-Friendly Restaurant • Ramen • Diner/Homestyle • Salad • Late-Night Eats • Seafood • Food Truck • Special Diet Options • Catering Company (Gluten-Free, Lactose• Restaurant That Gives Free, etc.) Back to the Community • Vegan/Vegetarian • Green/Sustainability• Local-Food Emphasis Friendly Restaurant • Healthiest Food • New Restaurant (opened in the last 12 months) Cuisines • Restaurant Still Needed • French in Asheville • Italian • Greek Neighborhoods • Middle Eastern • Restaurant in Downtown • Mexican (including South Slope) • Coffeehouse for Its Vibe • Establishment With the Best Coffee • Coffee Roaster • Place to Drink Tea • Smoothies/Juices • CBD drinks/health elixirs • Kava Bar

• • • • • • •

Latin American Japanese Thai Indian Chinese Korean Southern

Desserts & Sweets

• Desserts • Ice Cream • Frozen Treats Other Than Ice Cream • Chocolate • Doughnuts • Locally Made CBD Treats

Bakeries

• Bagels • Bakery (Sweets/Desserts) • Bakery (Bread)

Miscellaneous • • • • • • •

Butcher Shop Cheesemaker/Cheese Dairy Local Food/Drink Product Chef Pastry Chef Local Food Festival or Event Nonprofit Helping With Hunger Issues

FARM, YARD & GARDEN • • • • • • • • • • • •

Tailgate/Farmers Market Roadside Farm Stand Farm to Visit for Events Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farm Orchard Community Garden Garden Supply Store Mulch Supplier Tree Service Nursery (Trees, Shrubs) Landscaping Service Nonprofit Supporting Farms/Farmland Preservation

HEALTH & WELLNESS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Physician (General Practice) Physician (Specialist) Pediatrician Cosmetic Surgeon Family Medical Practice Women’s Health Center Maternity Care/Service Counselor or Counseling Center Hospital Urgent Care/Walk-In Clinic Place to Get Medical Care When Under- or Uninsured Dental Practice Dentist Orthodontist Eye Care Specialist/Service Assisted-Living Community Nursing Home Hospice Mortuary/Funeral Services Pharmacy/Drugstore Place to Buy Supplements, Vitamins & Herbs Place to Buy CBD Products Place to Center Yourself

Alternative

• Homeopathic/ Naturopathic Practitioner • Chiropractor • Acupuncturist • Acupuncture Clinic

Physical Therapy • Physical Therapist • Massage Therapist

Fitness • • • • •

Gym or Place to Work Out Fitness Studio With Classes Physical Trainer Yoga Teacher Pilates Studio/ Center/Classes • Yoga Studio • Martial Arts Studio

KIDS Schools & Classes • • • •

School (Pre-College) After-School Program Preschool Child Care or Day Care Service • Art Education Program ⊕ Organization Helping With Home Learning ⊕ Story Time or Learning Session (online or in-person) • Music Teacher

Camps & Outdoors • • • •

Kid-Friendly Hike Overnight Camp Day Camp Nature Camp

Places • • • • • •

Daytrip for Kids Place for Indoor Fun Place for Outdoor Fun Playground Museum Place for Birthday Parties

• Bakery for Birthday Cakes • Place to Make Art • Teen-Friendly Place to Hang Out

Skill-Building • • • •

Dance Studio Gymnastics Program Martial Arts Program Team-Sports Program

Shopping

• Kids’ Clothes • Toy Store

Medical

• Pediatric Practice General Medicine • Pediatric Practice - Dentistry

Miscellaneous

• Parents Night Out Program

MEDIA • Local Radio Station (Commercial) • Local Radio Station (Noncommercial) • Local Radio Personality/ Announcer • Local TV Personality/ Announcer • Local Print Publication Other Than Xpress • Local Print Reporter • Local News Source • Local Events Information Source • Favorite Feature in Xpress • Local News Website • Local Podcast • Most Important Local News Story (in the last 12 months) • Most Over-Reported Story (in the last 12 months) • Most Under-Reported Story (in the last 12 months)

OUTDOORS Hiking

• Backpacking Trail/ Overnight Hike • Day Hike • Hiking Club or Group • Picnic Spot • Walk - In or Near Asheville

Biking

• Bicycle Club or Group • Bike Event/Race Mountain or Road • Mountain Bike Trail

Running

• Running Club or Group • Running Event/Race - Road or Trail

Camping

• Camping Spot • Place to Car Camp

Water & Rivers • • • • • •

Fishing Spot Waterfall Place to Relax on the Water Rafting Company Swimming Hole Whitewater Paddling Section

Miscellaneous • • • •

Canopy Tour/Zip Line Skate Park Ski Resort Outdoor Gear and Apparel Shop • Environmental or Conservation Nonprofit

PERSONAL SERVICES Cosmetic • • • • • •

Hair Salon Barbershop Hairstylist or Barber Aesthetician Nail Salon Nail Technician

Tattoo & Piercing • Piercing Studio • Tattoo Parlor • Tattoo Artist

• Alt Energy Sales and Installation • Plumbing Company • Electrical/Electrician Company • Heating/Cooling Company • Pest Control Service • Moving Company • House Painters • Roofing Company • Handy-Person • Equipment Rental Services • Cellphone Service Provider for the WNC Mountains • Print Shop • Home Cleaning Service • Dry Cleaner

Spa Tailor/Alterations Shoe Repair Local Body-Products Maker

Medical

Fashion

• • • •

Grooming Service Trainer/Training Center Pet Kennel Pet Day Care Facility

• Clothing: Dress-Up/Stylin’ • Clothing: Professional • Clothing: Used or Vintage (for-profit store) • Clothing: Used or Vintage (nonprofit store) • Asheville-Style Clothes • Shoe Store • Jewelry Store

Miscellaneous

Food

PROFESSIONAL & HOME SERVICES

Home

• Animal Shelter/Rescue Organization • Outdoor Place to Take Your Pet • Pet Supply Store • Pet-Friendly Bar • Pet-Friendly Restaurant

Financial

• Accountant/CPA Firm • Place to Get Your Taxes Prepared • Financial Adviser • Bookkeeping Services

General & Miscellaneous • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Law Firm Family Law Attorney Real Estate Attorney Criminal Law Attorney Real Estate Agent Real Estate Company Insurance Agent Architect or Architectural Firm Web Development Firm Computer Repair Car Repair Bike Repair Green Builder

Neighborhood Street for a Stroll Local Asheville Attraction Local City Tour Local Fundraising Event

mountainx.com/bestofwnc SHOPPING

Services

• • • • •

May 31

PETS • Veterinary Services • Veterinarian • Alternative Pet Health Care Provider

UNIQUELY ASHEVILLE

Vote now until

Miscellaneous • • • •

WORK & BUSINESS

• Adult Toys, Lingerie & Naughty Things Store • Bike Shop • Automobile Tire Store • Auto Dealer - New and/or Used • Motorcycle/ATV Dealer

• All-Round Grocery Store • Budget-Friendly Grocery Store • Health Food Store • International/Specialty Food Store • Convenience/Corner Store ⊕ Local Grocery Delivery or Curbside Pickup • New Furniture Store • Used Furniture Store (For-Profit Store) • Used Furniture Store (Nonprofit Store) • Bed and Mattress Store • Picture Framer • Antique Store

General & Miscellaneous

• Store That Best Represents the Spirit of Asheville • Pawn Shop • Florist • Bookstore - New • Bookstore - Used • Store for Comics, Collectibles and/or Games • Record/CD Store • Musical Instrument Store • Gift Shop • Head Shop • Vape Shop

• Place to Take Your Eccentric Friends • Place to Pretend You’re a Tourist • Place to Connect With Nature Within Asheville City Limits • Historic/Interesting Building • Venue to Book for a Party or Event • Place to Get Married • Hotel • B&B or Small Boutique Hotel • Holiday Event - Summer/Fall • Holiday Event Winter/Spring • Local Hero • Local Villain • Local Politician • Nonprofit That Improves Asheville • Nonprofit That Serves the Underprivileged • Activist Group for Civic/ Political Action • Bumper Sticker or Slogan About Asheville • Thing Downtown Asheville Needs • Thing the River Arts District Needs • Thing West Asheville Needs • Thing South Asheville Needs • Thing East Asheville Needs • Thing North Asheville Needs • Project You’d Like to See Local Government Do • Worst Thing to Happen to Asheville in the Last 12 Months • Best Thing to Happen to Asheville in the Last 12 Months • Biggest Threat to Asheville’s Uniqueness • Biggest Opportunity for Asheville’s Uniqueness

FAQs

In how many categories must I vote in order for my ballot to be counted? Each ballot must have at least 30 completed votes to be counted.

How are the votes counted? Mountain Xpress tallies the votes by hand, taking great care to understand each voter’s intent. We reserve the right to reject any ballot with inappropriate responses.

When does voting start and end? Voting officially begins April 21 and continues through May 31.

How do I get a category added or changed? The categories are set for this year, but to suggest a change for next year, email: bestofwnc@mountainx.com

Why do voters have to vote for 30 categories? We want meaningful results from people who are invested in and knowledgeable about the Asheville/WNC area.

• Business That Best Represents the Spirit of Asheville • Employment Sector to Work in • Business That Gives Back to the Community ⊕ Business Pivot/Innovation in COVID Times ⊕ Business That Closed Permanently Due to COVID (Excluding Restaurants and Bars) • Co-Op/WorkerOwned Business • Bank • Credit Union • Bank Services for Small Business • Support Organization for Entrepreneurs and New Businesses • Business With EarthFriendly Practices • Minority-Owned Business • Woman-Owned Business • Innovative or Entrepreneurial Business • Coworking Space • Business With Best Customer Service

REGIONAL

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Questions for the following regions: Brevard Burnsville Hendersonville/ Flat Rock/Mills River Hot Springs Marshall/Mars Hill Swannanoa/ Black Mountain Cullowhee/Sylva Waynesville/Maggie Valley/Canton Weaverville/Woodfin Business That Best Represents the Spirit of Your Town Breakfast Restaurant Lunch Restaurant Dinner Restaurant Coffee & Sweets Local Bar/Brewery/ Watering Hole Music/Entertainment Venue Retail Store Art Gallery Cultural or Arts Event Cultural or Historical Landmark Local Place to Enjoy the Outdoors Local Cause to Support Best Thing to Happen to Your Town in the Last 12 Months

How do you prevent voter fraud? Ballots examined for telltale signs of voter fraud or ballot stuffing. We disqualify all ballots that appear to be fraudulent. I hope my business wins. How do I get voting promotional materials? Call us at 828-251-1333. We can provide you with printable and digital materials, or contact your sales representative for information.

MOUNTAINX.COM

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

WELLNESS

Softening life’s hard places New translation of the Tao Te Ching applies ancient wisdom to 21st-century experience

BY GINA SMITH

ginasmithnews@gmail.com American author and translator Bill Porter, also known as Red Pine, has referred to the Tao Te Ching as “one long poem written in praise of something we cannot name, much less imagine.” Despite the elusiveness of its subject matter, the fourth-century B.C. Chinese text, celebrated as one of the foundations of Taoist thinking, has persisted over the millennia as a fundamental influence on Eastern philosophy and an inspiration to much Western creativity and thought. In early April, Mars Hill University professor of religious studies Marc Mullinax debuted his new book, Tao Te Ching: Power for the Peaceful, a translation and interpretation that blends a scholarly awareness of the text’s original historical context with an accessible connection to the contemporary American experience. In the book, Mullinax builds a framework for understanding each of the Tao Te Ching’s 81 verses through historical reflection and a thoughtfully curated selection of quotes and writings ranging from biblical excerpts to the observations of Walt Whitman, actor Mahershala Ali and Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. “My primary audience was my students,” he explains. “I wanted to do something that was an actual translation and not just an interpretation, and this was the result.”

ANCIENT INSIGHT: In his new translation, Mars Hill University professor of religious studies Marc Mullinax builds a framework for understanding each of the Tao Te Ching’s 81 verses through historical reflection and a thoughtfully curated selection of quotes and writings. Photo courtesy of the author A graduate of Mars Hill University who went on to study under philosopher and political activist Cornel West at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, Mullinax first began teaching the text and learning classical Chinese characters in the 1970s when he was a young educator in South Korea. Since then, he notes in the book’s introduction, the gentle, unintrusive wisdom of the Tao Te Ching has been his “touchstone and spiritual magnetic north,” serving

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as a “return to clarity in frenetic or uncertain times.” “I’ve been reading the Tao Te Ching at all kinds of junctures in my life,” Mullinax says. “It’s sort of this interface between my life and times when things are pressured or things are hard or when things are going well. And it’s always been a good interpreter or translator for me, so I thought, well, now it’s time to return the favor.”

STAYING POWER

Mullinax attributes the enduring popularity and relevance of the text to its focus on what is inherently right and good about the world. Conversely, he points out, Western culture tends to be concerned with what’s wrong, lacking or broken. “What Taoism does is demonstrate that there is within creation itself an original harmony, original peace — you may want to call it original goodness — that is already built in, factory-installed. It’s already there, and all we have to do is access it,” he explains. “There’s nothing we have to prove, nothing we have to convert to; just breathe in with whatever’s there and leave your ego behind so that you can then hear and breathe with the situation you’re in.” Mullinax likens the power of the Tao to the persistent forces of moving water that shaped the visually stunning, softly swirling sandstone formations of Antelope Canyon in Arizona. “Water has carved that place so beautifully over eons and eons, and that’s what Tao does to the hard places of this world,” he says. Among the themes Mullinax highlights in his translation, including ideas of peace, going against the grain and leadership, is the transformative force of wu-wei, a concept he describes in the book as “wise, active, noninterfering cooperation with the Way of the Universe.” The literal translation of wu-wei he says, is “not doing.” “But it’s not really that. It’s becoming so wise or accustomed to the way Tao works that you sense what’s right to do almost subconsciously,” he says. He offers the analogy of driving a car and, without really needing to think about it, simply turning a corner at precisely the right time and in just the right place. In the book, he also compares wu-wei with tacking while sailing or jiggling a key in a sticky lock until it catches. In the 21st century, says Mullinax, wu-wei can be applied to everything from responding with appropriate public safety and health precautions to the COVID-19 pandemic to social justice efforts. “I’ve interpreted Tao as original justice. People who cooperate with Tao can bring justice to any situation that is unjust,” he says, noting that racial inequity, environmental

“There’s nothing we have to prove, nothing we have to convert to; just breathe in with whatever’s there and leave your ego behind so that you can then hear and breathe with the situation you’re in.” — Marc Mullinax degradation and income disparity are all violations of the Tao. “A person connecting with Tao can slowly, surely, bring change; we can change the course of that Titanic so it doesn’t have to hit the iceberg.”

‘GOOD TROUBLEMAKERS’

The opposite of wu-wei is focusing only on one’s self. The Taoist worldview, Mullinax says, is one of total interconnection among all beings and objects, like a huge, complex spiderweb. “If you pluck one part of the web, all the other parts are going to vibrate at some frequency. [If you’re] acting out of ego, acting out of competition, you’re plucking or destroying the web, and that web is what helps us all survive.” He notes that those in the West who follow the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching rather than the thought systems and beliefs of the prevailing culture tend to become social misfits with the potential for change-making leadership — what he says the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis might describe as “good troublemakers.” “You’re tuning in to another wavelength that’s always been there, and by

doing that, you engage in the unpopular thing that maybe is the just thing — you visit the people on death row, you give money away to people who really need it, you do these strange things like a Mother Theresa,” he explains. “You pretty much spend what capital you have — moral capital, life capital — to bring change to places that are hard and difficult. And that’s what becoming a misfit is: going outside the norm.” Looking at contemporary American culture through the lens of the Tao Te Ching would ask us to wake up to what’s happening around us and reconsider the foundations of our worldview. “I believe we were born awake and have gone to sleep,” says Mullinax. “We’re going to have to rethink capitalism, which is ‘grow, grow, grow,’” he continues. “We’re going to have to rethink individualism, which is ‘me, me, me.’ We’re going to have to rethink speciesism, which is always seeing only ourselves in nature, anthropocentrism. We’ll have to rethink a lot of things. But it’s nothing new — it’s been ‘thunk’ before. This is just a refinding of what is already naturally there.” For more on Marc Mullinax, to find his book and for details about his upcoming local Tao talks, visit marcmullinax.com. X

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APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

GREEN SCENE

Got trash?

As bears emerge from hibernation, animal-resistant receptacles are key

BY MOLLY HORAK mhorak@mountainx.com Folks moving to Asheville only need four things, jokes N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission biologist Justin McVey: a Subaru, a dog, an appreciation for craft beer and a bear-resistant trash can. For many Asheville residents, seeing a bear at their trash can is a bucket-list item, the pinnacle of mountain living. But as exciting as a bear sighting can be, interactions with the furry, four-legged natives can quickly spell problems for bears and humans alike. In November, Asheville City Council authorized the city’s sanitation division to provide bear-resistant trash cans for a $10 monthly fee on a first-come, first-served basis. An initial order of 340 cans (which the city calls “carts”) totaling $81,052.50, was placed shortly thereafter; the carts arrived and went out to 310 residents in early February. So far, the city has only heard about one instance of a bear getting into a bear-resistant cart, says Jes Foster, Asheville’s solid waste manager. But that doesn’t mean the bears are going away — if anything, their appetite may be growing.

BEARY BIG YEAR

2020 was a crazy year for everyone — bears included, says McVey. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commision received 421 nuisance calls about bears from Buncombe County residents in 2020, McVey says. That was a jump from the year before, which saw 289 calls, he notes.

ON THE PROWL: A hungry black bear looks for an easy meal, but a bear-resistant trash can yields unsuccessful results. Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission In past years, calls to both McVey and the NCWRC’s Human Wildlife Interaction helpline generally followed similar themes: Residents would report bears in their yards, getting into trash cans or eating from bird feeders. While many of the incoming calls still follow the same pattern, McVey says, some bear activity is different from what was observed in years prior. “More bears are breaking into houses and doing that really, really bad behavior that we’re concerned about, and I don’t have a reason for it,” he explains. “Perhaps the call volume is just because more people were at home and seeing bears, but I can’t explain why we’ve had more bears breaking into houses.”

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Asheville’s Animal Service Division does not delineate incoming wildlife calls by species, said city spokesperson Ashley TraynumCarson. If there was an increase in bear-related calls in 2020, department staff members speculate it may have been due to an increase in grocery deliveries and food scraps as residents spent more time cooking meals at home during the COVID19 pandemic. It’s still too early for McVey and his team to tell if Asheville’s bear-resis-

tant trash can program has had any impact on the dining habits of local bears. But data from other cities that have pushed for bear-resistant trash containers show a dramatic drop in human-bear interactions, he says. One such city is Durango, Colo. From 2011-16, Colorado Parks and Wildlife distributed 1,110 bear-resistant trash cans to residents in two sections of town, then compared the number of human-bear interactions in the neighborhoods with the containers versus two nearby control areas. After the bear-resistant containers were deployed, scientists found trash-related conflicts were 60% lower in neighborhoods with the cans. But a key piece of the puzzle is enforcement, says Bryan Peterson, the executive director of the nonprofit Bear Smart Durango. If the city doesn’t actively ensure the bear-proof containers are properly and consistently used, their presence does little to mitigate bear interactions.

EARLY SIGNS OF SUCCESS

Emily Keebler of Haw Creek is one of the 310 people who received a bear-resistant trash cart from the city. Her neighborhood is home to a large male bear the residents have

CONTINUES ON PAGE 26

Alternative solutions Don’t have a bear-resistant trash can? BearWise suggests the following tips to keep black bears away from tempting trash: • Keep trash and recycling indoors. Bears can pick up the scent of food from a mile away, and outdoor trash and recycling can be an easy snack. BearWise recommends keeping garbage cans inside a garage or indoor enclosure until trash collection day. If that’s not possible, consider keeping food scraps inside before adding it to an outdoor trash can the morning of garbage pickup. • Retrofit the trash can. If a new trash can is out of the question, a little work can transform a regular heavy-duty trash can into a bear-resistant container. BearWise offers free instructions to build a hasp lock at avl.mx/9a4. • Create bear-resistant barriers. Trash can enclosures and electric fencing can keep bears away from trash and recycling cans. Unwelcome mats, or sheets of plywood with nails sticking through, can also keep bears from coming close. • Don’t feed the bears. Many area residents feed black bears, McVey of NCWRC says, making the problem worse. “We start getting bears that are acclimated to people and have lost their fear of humans, and that’s when problems really start to arise.” X

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APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

GR EEN affectionately named “Bubba,” and Bubba has a taste for garbage. Keebler’s no stranger to creative solutions to keep bears like Bubba out of her trash. First, she tried putting ammonia in her trash cans to discourage Bubba, a makeshift move that had worked to deter bears in the Kenilworth neighborhood where she previously lived. In Haw Creek, it made no difference, she says. She then tried bungee cords, but after Bubba figured out he could pry the back of the lid up enough to grab the top trash bags, Keebler switched to ratchet straps. Those were successful at keeping the bears away, she says, but they made it difficult for her to throw garbage into the bin. When she heard that the city was offering bear-resistant trash cans, she jumped on board. Her new canister arrived in early February, and so far, she hasn’t had any trouble with hungry four-legged friends. “[The bear-resistant trash can] has a latch on the inside of it and you have to squeeze the two sides to open it up,” she says. “And it’s got a really heavy lid, because I think that’s the problem with the bungee cords and ratchet straps, that sometimes the

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

MOUNTAINX.COM

bears can pull the back of the lid up. I think it’s going to work better.” The city is still working out some of the bear-resistant trash can kinks, Foster says. It’s important to avoid overloading the carts to prevent bags from catching in the latch when the lids are closed. In some cases, sanitation drivers have had to manually unlatch the containers, she notes, an issue her team is addressing with the cart vendor. Buncombe County residents with Waste Pro contracts also have access to bear-resistant trash cans. According to Chip Gingles, Waste Pro’s divisional vice president, approximately 1,500 bear cans have been distributed to Buncombe County customers. There is a short waitlist, he noted in an email, but additional carts are back in stock and should be delivered within the next few weeks. Bear-resistant trash cans are a great step, says McVey, but longterm changes will require broad local buy-in. “I think it’s going to be one of those things where, if everyone is on board, there will definitely be a drop in human-bear wildlife interactions,” he says. “But it has to be a communitywide effort.” X

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APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

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JEWEL OF THE MOUNTAINS: Approximately 7,500 acres in the Roan Highlands will soon be under the stewardship of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. The land donation is the largest single gift in SAHC’s history, says Executive Director Carl Silverstein. Photo by Tim Sweeney

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APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

Earth Day is worth celebrating under any circumstance. But this year, the important date on the environmental calendar was extra momentous for two local conservation organizations, which both announced major donations to protect more than 7,800 acres in Western North Carolina. On April 22, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy shared news of a 7,500acre land donation in the Roan Highlands, the largest single gift in the land trust’s history. Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina announced a 332-acre donation along Wilson Creek, a key parcel in Caldwell County for recreational use and natural resource value. “We’re elated,” says Andrew Kota, executive director of Foothills Conservancy. He first identified the Wilson Creek parcel, which is bordered on three sides by Pisgah National Forest, as a “high-priority”

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property back in 2006. For 15 years, he’s waited for the land to become available for permanent protection. That moment finally arrived this year with a donation by conservation philanthropist Tim Sweeney. “In the back of my mind, I knew that one day, it would happen,” Kota says. “That’s one thing about land trust staff: We’re tenacious and we persevere.” For years, Wilson Creek has been a popular destination for fishing, swimming and whitewater boating. The donated river tract is home to several rare species, including the brook floater, an endangered species of freshwater river mussel; the Edmund’s snaketail dragonfly; and the seagreen darter freshwater fish. For fishing enthusiasts like Squeak Smith of Morganton, Wilson Creek is a special area. “The scenery is beautiful, the rock formations, the river — it was unbelievable,” Smith said in a press

release. “I’ve lived all over the world, I’ve fished all over the world, and I moved here specifically for the fishing. It’s a very unique place and it’s right in my backyard.” Foothills Conservancy plans to transfer the property to the U.S. Forest Service by 2022. Besides filling in a critical piece of the conservation puzzle, the procurement will give emergency management crews better access to the surrounding national forest and river to quickly conduct rescue efforts. ‘CONSERVATION HOME RUN’ The Roan Highlands donation lies at the southern end of the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area, a conservation zone designated by the N.C. General Assembly to protect the area’s natural features. It will officially come under SAHC’s ownership in about a year, after the

land is surveyed and a management plan has been created. “This is a conservation home run,” says Jay Leutze, SAHC’s senior board adviser. “It has everything that conservationists want to protect when we follow the science, and it’s spectacular scenery. It’s a reminder of what the landscape looked like for a very long time and sort of a wistful reminder of what’s been lost to development that breaks up wildlife habitat.” Prior to the Earth Day announcement, SAHC had preserved more than 78,000 acres in North Carolina and Tennessee. Sweeney, the founder and CEO of Epic Games and a longtime environmental steward, also deserves thanks for the new high-elevation property, which includes over 100 miles of waterways, the largest American chestnut restoration project in the

country and six federally endangered species, says SAHC Executive Director Carl Silverstein. The pending transaction comes during a regional real estate boom. Typically, SAHC procures land through purchases or conservation easements, which can take lots of time and money, Silverstein says. Sweeney’s gift enables the land trust to accomplish “something incredible in one fell swoop” that would have taken upward of 20 years to piece together on its own. “This is a chart-topping property because of the ecology, because it provides a corridor for wildlife and because the land is intact and hasn’t been fragmented by road building or timber cutting,” Silverstein says. “To be part of conserving this crown jewel of the mountains for the future feels really uplifting at a crucial time.”

— Molly Horak X

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PROTECTED: Foothill Conservancy’s recent land gift is the “missing puzzle piece” in the National Wild and Scenic Wilson Creek corridor conservation. Three sides of the tract are bordered by Pisgah National Forest. Map courtesy of Foothills Conservancy MOUNTAINX.COM

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

ARTS & CULTURE

LITERATURE

‘A New Word for Neighbor is Called For’

We are everything but the affliction. We press pause to play among the sunshine, the rain, the snow, the earth before us preserving every atom of every breathing, tangible vessel that encompasses what is life. We are no strangers among these mountains.

Peggy Weaver wins 2021 Xpress Poetry Contest The dog who died, the knee that failed, The pipes that froze, the son who moved, The roof that leaks, the tree that fell, The wedding lovely, pixelated on a screen. Some day we will be asked “What got you through?” I’ll say “Not ‘what,’ but ‘who.’” Those angels fate dropped near me Whose heart asked mine “How are you?” Across the shrinking social distance of our lives.

BY THOMAS CALDER tcalder@mountainx.com Over 30 poets submitted works to our annual Xpress Poetry Contest, held each April in celebration of National Poetry Month. This year’s competition asked writers to craft a work that examines the ways our connections with friends, family and community sustain us. Mildred Barya, award winning poet and UNC Asheville assistant professor of English, served as our 2021 judge. Tasked with selecting the top three poems, Barya chose “Close Quarters” by Nelson Sartoris as this year’s third-place finisher. “The perspective of this poem shines a spotlight on the fragility of intimate relationships and how life presents a blessing in disguise — a chance for couples to rediscover each other and reestablish connections,” Barya says. “Smiling Eyes” by Hannah Jarvis earned second place. “This poem asks ordinary yet provoking questions that I imagine we all could or have in fact asked at some point to remind ourselves of what’s essential in life,” Barya notes. And the contest’s top prize went to Peggy Weaver for her poem “A New Word for Neighbor is Called For.” Weaver, a 30-year resident of Asheville, retired in 2011 after working as a school librarian at two local public high schools, North Buncombe and Asheville High.

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“This poem states in a simple but profound way how the kindness of neighbors can get us through whatever challenges we might be grappling with,” says Barya. “It’s clever — as the title suggests — and reflective on what’s passing, present and will matter in the future when we’re asked: ‘What got you through?’ and this poet will gently correct: ‘Not what but who?’”

CLOSE QUARTERS by Nelson Sartoris

Like strangers, we step into the unknown. Like strangers, we come to know the matters that once were trivial, that once were trivial in times when life was a second thought, and that second thought is all we now know of. Did we ever notice how it felt to be embraced by their smiling eyes? Did we ever notice what it meant when our children needed us? Like strangers, we were unaware of what it meant to be alive, never unknown to those that lived before us. We relinquish the familiarity of what’s nipped us in passing, blotting away our rebuke of humanity, its goodness inherent in the soil we enrich with our actions.

Escape from each other had held them together, work, friends, dining, shopping not shared, both busy with individual agendas. Home contacts civil but brief, conversations more like reports, home meals seldom as a couple, mattress usually cold between the warm spots. From outside, appearance of togetherness, within their walls personal spaces void of intimacy, more partnership than pairing. Then COVID lurks outside forcing them inside, now both work from home, closeness inescapable, outside attractions, distractions now nullified. Their only hope, or hell, now resides in one another, slowly, quietly, they pause, listen to each other, slowly, quietly, they rediscover each other. Candles come out for mutually prepared dinners, conversations become spiced with humor, eye contact, the cold mattress space slowly warms. With vaccines imminent each anxiously awaits the time their separate worlds reopen, each ponders what immunity will bring. X

RUNNER UP: Hannah Jarvis earned a second-place finish in this year’s competition. Photo courtesy of Jarvis

FINALIST: Poet Nelson Sartoris finished third in our 2021 poetry contest. Photo courtesy of Sartoris

AND THE WINNER IS ... Peggy Weaver is this year’s Xpress Poetry Contest winner. “Lately, I’ve decided that the only sane way to view this unusual time we are living in is through the eyes of a poet — sometimes my own poetic lens and sometimes by reading and rereading poems that have crossed my path,” she says. Photo courtesy of Weaver

SMILING EYES by Hannah Jarvis

A NEW WORD FOR NEIGHBOR IS CALLED FOR by Peggy Weaver

Together in the abyss, an intimacy has grown. Lights paint the darkness between our houses by night, Unhurried conversations hum over the asphalt by day, As reassuring as sunrise, As relaxing as sunset. We matter to each other. Erstwhile chance acquaintances are now the essential ingredient In my recipe for hope. We share great fears and woes sprinkled with The normal and banal:

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MUSIC

Survival tactics

Local bands persevere through pandemic shakeups

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BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com Gov. Roy Cooper’s recent relaxing of occupancy restrictions for North Carolina performing arts venues means live music is back on at indoor stages for the first time in over a year. But during that span, the hurdles of sticking together, staying active and keeping conversations going about their music have proved challenging for local bands. To combat the hardships imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to sustain momentum surrounding their music, Asheville-based groups Gold Rose, Krave Amiko and Chilltonic have taken different paths, each befitting their distinct situations.

SECOND CHANCE

Like many area bands in 2020, Gold Rose was primed for its biggest year yet. Frontman Kevin Fuller says the alt-country trio was opening for national acts that toured through Asheville and was ready to play more prestigious venues — beginning with multidate treks to North Carolina’s Triangle area and Charleston, S.C. — under the strength of its debut album, Dust. All was going according to plan for the group through the Feb. 23 record release show at The Mothlight. “Two weeks later it was, ‘All of your gigs are canceled indefinitely, probably for the rest of the year,’” Fuller says. “It was the worst time in the history of humanity to release an album — literally. Leave it up to me to pull something off like that.” In need of a break after the taxing run-up to the long-in-the-works album release and Mothlight gig, Fuller used the forced hiatus to “take a deep breath” and think about what Gold Rose would do once the pandemic ended. Though he missed performing and felt an odd sense of ennui with a brand-new LP out that wasn’t getting much exposure, he wasn’t tempted by the sudden rise in livestreaming among musicians around the world. Then, two months later, his friend Anya Hinkle invited him to her house for a “song swap” livestream under the direction of her videographer partner, Gen Kogure. The well-lit, multicamera approach — a

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significant upgrade over many peers’ smartphone or laptop setups — convinced Fuller to give it a try. “It was such a long period of time — I hadn’t played any music at all that it was such a good thing for me,” Fuller says. “I was like, ‘Damn! Even when I sing my songs to nobody or the internet, it still feels good.’ So that’s when I decided to start doing them on my own.” Fuller’s Friday night livestreams allowed him to share Dust’s songs on a regular basis and attracted a steady following from loyal and new fans alike, who also shelled out generous digital tips in lieu of ticket fees. A decent number of people who discovered him through the livestreams were at Fleetwood’s on April 17 when Gold Rose played its first show in nearly 14 months — a sold-out performance, no less, which Fuller, Jackson Dulaney (pedal steel guitar) and C Scott Shaw (drums) will look to build on as the year progresses.

COCOON CREW

Local entrepreneurs who’ve started businesses during the pandemic have earned their share of quizzical looks and questioning comments from the public, many of whom

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APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

TAKING ACTION

Live on Linden Avenue

STEP OUTSIDE: Brushfire Stankgrass performs on the front porch of drummer Micah Thomas, far right. The group launched Live on Linden in 2020 amid COVID-19. Also pictured, from left, are Ben Saylor, Danny Iannucci, James Schlender, Ben Colvin and Caleb McMahon. Not pictured is bandmate Will Saylor. Photo courtesy of Thornwell May Following a winter hiatus, Live on Linden Avenue, a weekly porch concert series, resumed this month with a three-hour set from local band Brushfire Stankgrass. The series originally debuted last year as a Mother’s Day event but quickly grew into a regular happening for a community deprived of art and culture during COVID-19. “We started the porch shows to give back to the neighborhood,” says Micah Thomas, the band’s drummer and concert host. “We’re just using the gifts we have to bring people joy in the community,” Thomas continues. “During the pandemic, these shows were our saving grace, and the neighborhood loved it. They literally begged us, ‘Please keep playing your shows!’” Linden Avenue, a neighborhood in North Asheville, has its own musical history. Legendary guitar-

ist Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers and Gov’t Mule grew up in the house right across the street from where Thomas lives. As with all aspects of life, COVID-19 has forced musicians to reimagine how their work is shared. “The game has changed,” says Ben Saylor, Brushfire Stankgrass’ singer and banjo player. “And hopefully in a positive direction, around a more open format, like pop-up outdoor shows. … It’s nice to have that one-on-one connection with fans.” Live on Linden will continue through the fall with a heady lineup of local musicians, providing North Asheville residents live music outdoors every Sunday, 3-6 p.m. To learn more, follow @MicahLeighwoodThomas on Instagram.

— Thornwell May X

A R TS & CU LTU R E view such moves as overly risky. As the members of Krave Amiko have discovered, launching a band in these unusual times elicits comparable reactions, though the artistic freedoms afforded by the pandemic could see the electronic rock quartet thriving long after many of their brick-and-mortar counterparts have closed. Primary songwriter Robby Walsh and fellow vocalist Stef Barcelona recruited guitarist Nestor Teran just before the pandemic, recorded the group’s debut album, Before the Words, and released it on May 5. A few months later, they added bassist Joseph Allawos, an opportunity that the newest member doubts would have arisen in non-COVID times, since the then-trio would have been on the road to support the new record. “What [not touring] ended up actually giving us was an opportunity to kind of figure out — with the four band members — what the sound of the band was going to be like without having to expose people to bad versions of that,” Walsh says. Allawos believes that the extensive woodshedding — conducted outdoors on warm winter days and into spring — made Krave Amiko “a better, cohesive band.” The extra time also afforded Walsh the opportunity to build up the ensemble’s online profile via SoundCloud, Bandcamp and Instagram, despite a reticence for such promotion. “Social media is this weird, three-faced monster where you don’t want to care about it, but you need it, and then it doesn’t always suit your needs,” Walsh says. “It’s a mistress that you just can’t kick, unfortunately.” The bandmates identify getting played on 103.3 FM as a turning point in reaching a wider audience, but Walsh also covertly shared the tunes during a few socially distanced, backyard parties. He feels that “the best measure of new music that nobody’s heard of is if you put it on in a crowd and nobody asks you to turn it off,” and by those standards, Before the Words was a rousing success. The lack of gigs has also resulted in prolific songwriting from Walsh. Allawos is serious when he says his bandmate “can write a song a day,” a dedication that’s already yielded a second album (currently being mixed at Echo Mountain Recording and slated for a late August release), plus half of a third album.

BANDWAGON FANS

In a time when traditional stages were difficult to come by, Chilltonic 32

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

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circumvented norms and brought music directly to the people. The rock trio of Teso McDonald (guitar/vocals), Michael Dunham (bass/vocals) and Dempsey Jones (drums/vocals) had slowly been building momentum since forming in 2016 and was landing more shows when the pandemic nixed those opportunities. But as summer approached, McDonald’s metalworker friend Eric Velleca proposed a solution: convert a flatbed truck into a mobile stage — complete with a PA system plugged into a generator, and chairs and equipment strapped and bolted down — and drive Chilltonic around town for impromptu performances. “The other guys were wary at first. They were like, ‘You want to do what?’” McDonald says. “Eventually, they came around and were superexcited to have that opportunity.” Thus was born The Bandwagon, an experiment that was met with a handful of complaints from the occasional person uninterested in a surprise mini-set, but overall largely positive responses — and a spike in Instagram followers — from a public thirsty for live music. Among Chilltonic’s accomplishments was playing the inaugural show at Rabbit Rabbit, an opportunity that arose when co-owner Mike Rangel saw The Bandwagon outside the venue’s gates, which were then opened for the truck to ease its way in and entertain guests who’d gathered for the soft opening. Such moments provided the talented trio with merited attention that had been hard to come by pre-pandemic. “When nobody was doing anything, it didn’t matter who you were. It balanced things a lot,” McDonald says. “Today, it’s not about skill as much as your numbers on the internet or tickets you can sell. It’s difficult, but it’s beautiful to experience people appreciating music — it brings people together.” Though such performances were understandably sparse over the winter, and McDonald fears that the city’s currently tabled noise ordinance could spell the end for The Bandwagon, he and his bandmates — which, following Jones’ recent move to Florida, now include Logan Jayne on drums — are actively building on the connections forged during the pandemic. “It gave us a lot of time to focus on what we wanted people to hear, and center our sounds, voices and tones,” McDonald says. “We’re constantly redefining our sound, but we’re in a constructive phase so we can be ready for the summer.” X

FOOD

Growth spurt CSA membership surged in 2020 and is holding steady in 2021 BY KAY WEST kwest@mountainx.com

At the end of 2019, farmers Krista Fayette and Stephen Rosenthal, owners of New Roots Market Garden in Marshall, decided to discontinue the community supported agriculture program they started in 2017 to focus on sales at three local tailgate markets. “We really didn’t have a lot of year-to-year returns and had to seek new members each spring,” Fayette says. Then COVID-19 hit, dramatically compromising traditional food supply systems and putting tailgate markets into turmoil just as they were preparing to reopen for the season. Almost overnight, Fayette and Rosenthal turned to Plan B — or Plan CSA 2.0/2.0. “We had been planning and planting solely for markets, and then no one knew if we would have markets,” Fayette recalls. New Roots began hearing from former CSA members as well as potential customers who were totally new. “We got to nearly 40 members almost right away, so we started planting for a CSA.” At that time, small farms all over the country experienced a similar surge in demand. Those with established CSAs scrambled to meet an influx of members; those who grew exclusively for weekly markets or restaurants pivoted to create the systems and product diversity needed to support CSAs. A year later, as the world returns to some sense of normalcy, the desire for the reliability and convenience of a CSA is holding fairly steady, and Western North Carolina growers have refined systems and made adjustments accordingly.

NEW OPTIONS

Every farm creates its own CSA model, but in general, members pay in advance to receive one box of fresh produce a week or every other week for a set number of weeks. CSA members don’t want a box filled with just sweet potatoes and turnips or zucchini and yellow squash, so offering a wide array of products is key. To expand its range of offerings, New

Roots began partnering last spring with Black Trumpet Farm to add mushrooms to its CSA. Fayette and Rosenthal also decided that with the pandemic causing so much general uncertainty, they would operate the CSA on a monthto-month basis rather than offering a 36-week share. “People really appreciated that option, and we ended up with a waiting list. It gave us a lot of flexibility, which everyone needed last year,” says Fayette. In addition to the word “pivot,” “flexibility” was a heavily used addition to the pandemic lexicon. Danielle Keeter and Mark McDonagh, who operate Mighty Gnome Market Garden on three-quarters of an acre in Madison County, started their CSA in 2017 and love the one-on-one weekly connection with members, says Keeter. Client feedback soon inspired the pair to add an online shopping option for CSA customers who prefer to choose their own produce. By 2019, they had a thriving CSA of about 20 members, were doing a couple of weekly markets and had erected five hoop houses to grow more produce and help extend their season. That investment proved prescient in spring 2020, Keeter says, when an instantaneous jump in demand nearly doubled Mighty Gnome’s CSA membership. “People were terrified about going into grocery stores, markets were uncertain, people were really concerned about food security and wanted to lock in fresh food for the season,” she explains. “It really bolstered our CSAs, which was comforting to us because it was superscary for a while.” Melissa Harwin and John Kunkle established Highgate Farm in Madison County as a market garden and homestead in 2006 with 4 acres under cultivation. In 2019, they invested in infrastructure that helped meet the demands of a crisis no one saw coming. “We put up a barn with a loft, and that made it possible for us to go from 24 members of our CSA in 2019 to the 73 we ended up with in 2020,” says Harwin. “For the first time since we started our CSA in 2016, we had indoor space for processing produce and packing boxes, and that made all the difference.”

VEGGIE TALES: Highgate Farm co-owner Melissa Harwin and crew member Rodrigo Nunez pack the farm’s winter CSA boxes for pickup at the River Arts District Farmers Market. Photo courtesy of Highgate Farm The barn also provided storage space for the produce boxes themselves, another unexpected challenge. “We had always reused the boxes we pack the produce in, but with COVID, we couldn’t do that anymore,” Harwin recalls. “We went from 24 members reusing boxes to 73 members with new boxes each week.” Highgate ordered eight pallets worth of ¾-bushel waxed boxes and stored them in the barn.

SWITCHING GEARS

Aside from supply chain concerns and safety anxiety, farmers say restaurants being closed and people working from home led to more people cooking, and many of those home chefs were not living by vegetables alone. In March 2020, Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview had 140 members in its meat-based CSA; within two months, that figure leapt to over 400 members. “We had to create a whole new inventory space in our walk-in freezer to accommodate the numbers,” says CSA director Jennifer White. “Our butchery switched gears to build a CSA inventory, and an online subscription process was created to make payments easier.” White says that this year, as the world tentatively makes steps toward “normalcy,” membership numbers have dropped somewhat but are still well above pre-pandemic numbers at 335. The farm has contracted with Leading Green Distributing to deliver shares and plans to purchase a refrigerated truck to take CSA boxes to markets this summer. New Roots, Mighty Gnome and Highgate also planned — and planted — for an anticipated healthy tailgate market season and for maintaining

the continued consumer embrace of CSAs in 2021. Harwin says that in mid-April, Highgate still had spots open for its CSA, but inquiries were coming in every day. And she is ready for tomato fans. “This year we will double the growing space and number of plants for slicing tomatoes, because people love them,” she says. Keeter says this spring is not quite as frantic and stressful for Mighty Gnome as in 2020, and she intends to cap CSA membership at 40, up from 34 last year. “Our highest goal has always been to make the best CSA, so until we get more land — which we’re working on — we’ll keep our numbers at a level to achieve that.” New Roots will be back at three markets this year and has delayed its previous plan to suspend its CSA, which is capped at a membership of 30. “Our members were so grateful in 2020, we felt guilty even considering dropping it,” Fayette says. To find a local CSA program, check out ASAP’s Full Share guide at avl.mx/936. X

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APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

ARTS & CU L T U R E

FOOD ROUNDUP

What’s new in food Crawfish boils, fundraisers and more

In February, chef Paul Cressend, who serves as Asheville co-leader with Avenue M chef Andrew McLeod of food and beverage industry recovery support group Ben’s Friends National, posted barebones thoughts on his Facebook page about a possible fundraiser for the organization. A native of New Orleans, Cressend envisioned a crawfish boil. “So many people immediately jumped in wanting to know what they could do and how they could help that I had to hit pause for a minute to organize the idea into a plan,” he says. Among the event’s many friends are Carrasco Catering and Pacha Mama 5 at 10 N. Market St., where the inaugural Ben’s Friends Low Country Boil will be held Sunday, May 2, 2-6 p.m. Twisted Laurel’s Sean Ashbridge and The Marketplace’s Josh Ambruster will assist Cressend in cooking over 150 pounds of mudbugs being shipped up from Louisiana the day before. Additionally, Mother Ocean Market will provide South Carolina shrimp, and Rosetta’s Kitchen, Sand Hill Kitchen, Baba Nahm, Devil’s Foot Beverage, U.S. Foods and the Asheville Independent Restaurants Association will provide other food and drink items for the event. Pre-sale tickets for the event are sold out, but crawfish or shrimp by the pound and a $40 package that includes crawfish and/or shrimp, corn, potatoes and choice of three sides will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on site May 2. Quantities are limited,

so Cressend advises those without tickets to arrive early. For more information, visit avl.mx/99d.

In and/or out

In 2020, Western North Carolina AIDS Project’s annual fundraiser Dine Out for Life was restructured to Dine In for Life in response to the state-mandated closing of North Carolina restaurants. Recognizing the financial challenges imposed on the hospitality industry by the pandemic, WNCAP suspended its requirement that participating DOFL restaurants donate a portion of the day’s proceeds, and instead encouraged supporters to order takeout and buy gift certificates. Though many of the fundraiser’s 2021 participating restaurants have resumed indoor dining in some capacity, WNCAP is repeating the DIFL model. Diners can take part on Thursday, April 29, in whatever way feels comfortable, then make a donation directly to WNCAP until Friday, April 30, to qualify for one of three grand prizes. For a list of DIFL restaurants and to donate, visit avl.mx/99e.

How now, Chow Chow?

COVID-19 canceled Chow Chow 2020, but it didn’t kill the buzz generated by the culinary festival’s successful debut in September 2019. The yearlong breather proved pro-

BFF: Twisted Laurel chef Sean Ashbridge, left, will lend chef Paul Cressend, right, creator of the Ben’s Friend’s Fundraiser Low Country Boil, a pair of hands in making a mess of crawfish on May 2. Photo courtesy Paul Cressend ductive. Organizers used the time to gather community feedback and examine ways to make the event’s mission — to celebrate and enrich the unique foodways of the Southern Appalachian region — more diverse, equitable and inclusive. They also took care in planning a festival structured to accommodate ongoing pandemic protocols and policies. Chow Chow 2021 will launch Sunday, June 27, with the Appalachian Pride Brunch at Smoky Park Supper Club featuring chefs Michelle Bailey, J Chong, Silver Cousler and Ashleigh Shanti. Over the subsequent three months, a ratatouille of virtual classes, demos, workshops and in-person events will take place, ending on Sunday, Sept. 26, with a multicourse, multichef dinner at the Funkatorium. The full schedule and tickets, which range from $15-$200, can be found at avl.mx/99f.

New Rhubarbians Rhubarb chef/owner John Fleer says he and his new chef de cui-

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sine, Glenn Osterberg, share a passion for vegetables and woodfired cooking. Fleer jokes that once Osterberg becomes more immersed in Appalachian culture, “He’ll be a well-rounded CDC, ready to keep pushing Rhubarb forward.” Osterberg was most recently at St. James Seafood Restaurant in Durham, and before that, he was sous chef at Café Altro Paradiso in New York City. Meanwhile, in the wake of Kaley Laird’s departure for Charlotte, Becca Schiller assumes the role of pastry chef at Rhubarb and The Rhu, joined by pastry sous (and Rhubarb returnee) Bella Cremer. Fleer says he is still seeking a lead baker for Rhubarb and The Rhu’s bread program. Rhubarb, 7 SW Pack Square avl.mx/8na

Wading in

Jamie Wade, the perennially positive chef and owner of Sand Hill Kitchen, has more reason to put on a happy face these days. Having battled through 2020, the 4-year-old eatery has expanded its hours to Wednesday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Wade credits her staff and loyal customer base who supported her through the trying past year, not to mention the menu’s perennially popular fried chicken and Buffalo chicken sandwiches. Sand Hill has also added more desserts to its weekly rotating menu of cakes, pies, cookies and parfaits. Breakfast and lunch service are still takeout only. Sand Hill Kitchen 491 Sardis Road, avl.mx/99g

— Kay West X 34

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

MOUNTAINX.COM

ROUNDUP

Around town

Hide and Seek

In the early days of COVID-19, local filmmaker Kira Bursky reconnected with an earlier medium and love — drawing. Seeing it as a type of meditation, her intention was to step away from the more analytical side of her brain and embrace the subconscious. The result is Hide and Seek, the multidisciplinary artist’s first print collection. Inspired by “the beauty, playfulness and joy of the infinite present moment,” Bursky says, “I hope people get lost in a meditative game of hide and seek with the art; how many faces and bodies can you find?” Along with her new print catalog, Hide and Seek has evolved into a series of collaborative projects with other creatives, including Lightform, a San Francisco-based company that works in projection mapping. “I feel like my brain has been rewired to automatically see the multitude of different forms a creation can take,” says Bursky. “A design becomes a tapestry, which then becomes the focal point of a projection-mapping collaboration, which then turns into a musical experimental film. Hide and Seek went on an unexpected journey, and I enjoyed every second of it! Any art piece can truly take on a life of its own.” To learn more, visit avl.mx/99k

‘In the Middle of Nowhere’

The Magnetic Theatre will host its first indoor performance in over a year with its latest production, In the Middle of Nowhere. Written by Burnsville playwright Bret Murphy, the play examines the unexpected relationship between a retired art professor and a young man recently released from prison. “The story asks us to consider our worst secrets and to wonder how it’s possible to find a way toward forgiveness,” says Katie Jones, the theater’s artistic director. “My hope is that audiences will be moved to look at the people around them differently.” Seating is limited to 30 people. Masks are mandatory, and social distancing is required. Performances run Saturdays at 2 and 6 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., May 1-16. To learn more, visit avl.mx/983.

Potter, the gallery’s marketing and events coordinator, “but upon reflection, represents powerful messages regarding racial disparity, the question of innocence and wrongful incarceration.” Potter notes that 50% of the exhibit’s monoprint portrait sales will benefit the Innocence Project, an organization that works to exonerate the wrongly convicted and reform the criminal justice system. Flood Gallery Fine Art Center is located at 850 Blue Ridge Road, Black Mountain. Hours are MondaySaturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. To learn more, visit avl.mx/99p.

Daydream Motel Hustle Souls celebrates the release of its latest album, Daydream Motel, with a live, seated and socially distanced performance at The Grey Eagle on Friday, April 30, at 8 p.m. In a press release, the new EP is described as a “genre-jumping mashup of new school second-line funk and old school vintage soul.” The Grey Eagle is located at 185 Clingman Ave. Tickets are $15. To purchase, visit avl.mx/99r.

LitNotice

Spring into Dance The Asheville Ballet presents its latest production, Spring into Dance: An Artistic Bouquet, with two live performances, Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1, at 7 p.m. at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre. In a press release, director Ann Dunn calls the event “a perfect opportunity for young people to encounter professional classical and contemporary dance in a wonderful collection of artistic visions, from funny to powerful, in a real theatrical experience.” The Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre is located at 100 Gay St. Tickets are $20 for up to two guests; $30 for three. Masks are required. Participants are asked to bring their own chairs and blankets. Purchase tickets at avl.mx/99s.

Undiscovered Dinosaur After a 20-year career as a musician and songwriter, Mick Lee retired to Asheville in 2016. Reflecting on his past escapades with fellow musicians — including Gladys Knight, Sting and Paul McCartney — he began work on a memoir. Undiscovered Dinosaur: Adventures with Rock Legends of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s came out in the midst of the pandemic and offers a close and personal look at some of the biggest names in the music industry. “I hope it entertains people,” Lee says, “while also giving them a sense of what it’s like to be a working musician — from the early days of getting established … through the ups and downs that most, if not all, musicians have to contend with.” To learn more, visit avl.mx/99m.

LOST AND FOUND: Local artist Kira Bursky recently released her first print series, Hide and Seek. The design, available in various forms, including T-shirts, invites people to get “lost in a meditative game of hide and seek with the art,” the artist says. Photo by Bursky

Luke Hankins, founder and editor of Orison Books, a local nonprofit literary press focused on the life of the spirit from a broad and inclusive range of perspectives, is establishing a new digital platform called LitNotice. The platform will offer customizable submission opportunities for creative writers. A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign is currently underway to finance the project. To learn more, visit avl.mx/9a2.

— Thomas Calder X

Do You Know Me Local Asheville artist Linda Larsen has teamed up with her son, Adam, for a new multimedia exhibit, Do You Know Me—Maybe all we can see is the shadow of what may be, on display at Flood Gallery Fine Art Center through Saturday, June 19. At first glance, much of the work “may seem ordinary,” says Cynthia

MOVIE LISTINGS Bruce Steele’s and Edwin Arnaudin’s latest critiques of new films available to view via local theaters and popular streaming services include: MORTAL KOMBAT: This surprisingly well-made video-game adaptation is no flawless victory (sorry), but if you enter the arena with Sub-Zero expectations (sorry again), a grisly good time awaits. Grade: B. Rated R

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

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

CLUBLAND WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night w/ Jason DeCristofaro, 5:30pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm THE 2ND ACT Open Mic w/ Letters to Abigail, 6pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia Night, 6:30pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 29 ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Chelsea Lovitt & Boys (bluegrass, rock), 5pm HAZEL ROBINSON AMPHITHEATRE Mipso w/ River Whyless members (folk), 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Crafted Singer Songwriter Series w/ Matt Smith & Jesse Langlais, 6pm

SALVAGE STATION Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers w/ Proxima Parade (Americana), 6pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL Country Pour (honkytonk), 7pm ODDITORIUM Party Foul Outdoor Drag Show, 7pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Open Mic, 6pm

SUNDAY, MAY 2

RABBIT RABBIT • Sunset Rooftop Standup Comedy, 6pm • Silent Cinema: Anchorman, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE • Patio Show w/ Brunch of Jokers (comedy), 11am • Mary Fahl (formerly of October Project), 6pm

185 KING STREET The Neverwhere Sisters (acoustic duo), 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Mr Jimmy (blues), 7pm

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 HARRAH'S CHEROKEE CENTER - ASHEVILLE Encore Dance Competition, 5pm SALVAGE STATION Eric Gales w/ Marvelous Funkshun (blues, rock), 5pm

FOLK HERO: Michigan-based rock band Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers takes both spiritual and secular approaches to writing music. With elements of folk, Motown and funk, its songs aim to ask listeners the questions at the heart of the human experience. The band will play a show at Salvage Station Thursday, April 29, 6 p.m. Tickets: avl.mx/9az. Photo courtesy of Salvage Station

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Roots & Dore (blues), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO. The Get Right Band (psychedelic, indie), 6pm

FROG LEVEL BREWERY Elysium Park Band (blues, alternative), 6pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST The Greenliners (bluegrass), 6pm

RABBIT RABBIT Silent Disco: 80s vs. 90s, 6:30pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL Seth Walker (Americana), 7pm

FLEETWOOD’S Fortezza w/ Dude Babe (garage punk, power pop), 7pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Woody Platt & Graham Sharp of Steep Canyon Rangers (bluegrass), 7pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7:30pm 185 KING STREET Supatight (funk, indie), 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. The Last Full Measure (folk, blues), 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Hustle Souls EP Release Show (rock, soul), 8pm

SATURDAY, MAY 1 BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Ben Phantom (pop, bluegrass, jazz), 2pm

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

MOUNTAINX.COM

WEHRLOOM HONEY MEADERY Music & Mead w/ Phantom Pantone DJ Collective, 4pm BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah’s Daydream (jazz), 5pm ISA'S FRENCH BISTRO James Hammel (solo acoustic), 5pm SALVAGE STATION Travers Brothership w/ Abby Bryant & the Echoes (soul, funk, jam), 5pm THE GREY EAGLE The Orange Constant (vintage rock), 6pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST JLAD (psychedelic, jam), 6pm HARRAH’S CHEROKEE CENTER - ASHEVILLE Encore DCS (Dance Competition Series), 7pm HOMEPLACE BEER CO. J.C. Tokes (rockabilly, Southern rock), 7pm

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night w/ Jason DeCristofaro, 5:30pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 2pm

THE 2ND ACT Open Mic w/ Letters to Abigail, 6pm

BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Gene Holdway (bluegrass), 2pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Chalwa (reggae), 3pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL Tom Prasada-Rao (folk), 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Blues Brunch w/ Blake Ellege & Travis Corcoran, 3pm

THE GREY EAGLE The Travis Book Happy Hour w/ Sierra Hull & Justin Moses (bluegrass), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST The Mid Majors (soul, pop), 5pm HARRAH'S CHEROKEE CENTER - ASHEVILLE Encore DCS (Dance Competition Series), 7pm ISIS MUSIC HALL Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (bluegrass), 7pm

MONDAY, MAY 3 HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Totally Rad Monday Night Trivia, 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. It Takes All Kinds Open Mic Night, 7pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Blue Monday w/ Mr Jimmy, 7pm

TUESDAY, MAY 4 RABBIT RABBIT Outdoor Movie: Star Wars IV, A New Hope, 6pm

THURSDAY, MAY 6 THE GREY EAGLE Patio Show w/ The Deathbots (punk), 5pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Crafted Singer Songwriter Series w/ Matt Smith, 6pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Duo of the Decade (rock ‘n roll), 6pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Open Mic Night, 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL Lawn Concert w/ The Wooks (bluegrass), 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Josh Dunkin (solo acoustic), 7pm RABBIT RABBIT Silent Cinema: Kill Bill, Vol. 1, 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL The Company Stores w/ The Mighty Good Times (Appalachian folk), 7pm

MOUNTAINX.COM

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): Poet Allen Ginsberg despairingly noted that many people want MORE MORE MORE LIFE, but they go awry because they allow their desire for MORE MORE MORE LIFE to fixate on material things—machines, possessions, gizmos, and status symbols. Ginsberg revered different kinds of longings: for good feelings, meaningful experiences, soulful breakthroughs, deep awareness, and all kinds of love. In accordance with astrological potentials, Aries, I’m giving you the go-ahead in the coming weeks to be extra greedy for the stuff in the second category. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In her poem “Mirror,” Taurus poet Halina Poświatowska wrote, “I am dazed by the beauty of my body.” I applaud her brazen admiration and love for her most valuable possession. I wish more of us could genuinely feel that same adoration for our own bodies. And in accordance with current astrological omens, I recommend that you do indeed find a way to do just that right now. It’s time to upgrade your excitement about being in such a magnificent vessel. Even if it’s not in perfect health, it performs amazing marvels every minute of every day. I hope you will boost your appreciation for its miraculous capacities, and increase your commitment to treating it as the treasure that it is. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini poet Buddy Wakefield writes that after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of 2004, “the only structure still standing in the wiped-out village of Malacca [in Malaysia] was a statue of Mahatma Gandhi. I wanna be able to stand like that.” I expect you will indeed enjoy that kind of stability and stamina in the coming weeks, my dear. You won’t have to endure a metaphorical tsunami, thank Goddess, but you may have to stand strong through a blustery brouhaha or swirling turbulence. Here’s a tip: The best approach is not to be stiff and unmoving like a statue, but rather flexible and willing to sway. CANCER (June 21-July 22): No educator had ever offered a class in psychology until trailblazing philosopher William James did so in 1875. He knew a lot about human behavior. “Most people live in a very restricted circle of their potential being,” he wrote. “They make use of a very small portion of their possible consciousness, and of their soul’s resources in general, much like a person who, out of his whole bodily organism, should get into a habit of using only his little finger.” I’m going to make an extravagant prediction here: I expect that in the coming months you will be better primed than ever before to expand your access to your consciousness, your resources, and your potentials. How might you begin such an adventure? The first thing to do is to set a vivid intention to do just that. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Someone in me is suffering and struggling toward freedom,” wrote Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis. To that melodramatic announcement, I reply, good for him! I’m glad he was willing to put himself through misery and despair in order to escape misery and despair. But I also think it’s important to note that there are other viable approaches to the quest for liberation. For example, having lavish fun and enjoying oneself profoundly can be tremendously effective in that holy work. I suspect that in the coming weeks, Leo, the latter approach will accomplish far more for you than the former. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo novelist Agatha Christie sold hundreds of millions of books, and is history’s most-translated author. While growing up, she had few other kids to associate with, so she created a host of imaginary friends to fill the void. They eventually became key players in her work as an author, helping her dream up stories. More than that: She simply loved having those invisible characters around to keep her company. Even in her old age, she still consorted with them. I bring this to your attention, Virgo, because now is a great time to acquire new imaginary friends or resurrect old ones. Guardian angels and ancestral spirits would be good to call on, as well. How might they be of assistance and inspiration to you?

APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “To hurry pain is to leave a classroom still in session,” notes Libran aphorist Yahia Lababidi. On the other hand, he observes, “To prolong pain is to miss the next lesson.” If he’s correct, the goal is to dwell with your pain for just the right amount of time—until you’ve learned its lessons and figured out how not to experience it again in the future—but no longer than that. I suspect that such a turning point will soon be arriving for you. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In her poem “Every Day,” Scorpio poet Denise Levertov wrote, “Every day, every day I hear enough to fill a year of nights with wondering.” I think that captures the expansive truth of your life in the coming weeks. You’ve entered a phase when the sheer abundance of interesting input may at times be overwhelming, though enriching. You’ll hear—and hopefully be receptive to—lots of provocative stories, dynamic revelations, and unexpected truths. Be grateful for this bounty! Use it to transform whatever might be stuck, whatever needs a catalytic nudge. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I hope you’re not too stressed these days. There has been pressure on you to adjust more than maybe you’d like to adjust, and I hope you’ve managed to find some relaxing slack amidst the heaviness. But even if the inconvenience levels are deeper than you like, I have good news: It’s all in a good cause. Read the wise words of author Dan Millman, who describes the process you’re midway through: “Every positive change, every jump to a higher level of energy and awareness, involves a rite of passage. Each time we ascend to a higher rung on the ladder of personal evolution, we must go through a period of discomfort, of initiation. I have never found an exception.” CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): We can safely say that Anais Nin was a connoisseur of eros and sensuality. The evidence includes her three collections of erotic writing, Delta of Venus, Little Birds, and Auletris. Here’s one of her definitive statements on the subject: “Sex must be mixed with tears, laughter, words, promises, jealousy, envy, all the spices of fear, foreign travel, new faces, stories, dreams, fantasies, music.” In response to Nin’s litany, I’m inclined to say, “Damn, that’s a lot of ambiance and scaffolding to have in place. Must it always be so complicated?” According to my reading of upcoming cosmic rhythms, you won’t need such a big array of stuff in your quest for soulful orgasms—at least not in the coming weeks. Your instinct for rapture will be finely tuned. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “One is always at home in one’s past,” wrote author Vladimir Nabokov. I agree. Sometimes that’s not a good thing, though. It may lead us to flee from the challenges of the present moment and go hide and cower and wallow in nostalgia. But on other occasions, the fact that we are always at home in the past might generate brilliant healing strategies. It might rouse in us a wise determination to refresh our spirit by basking in the deep solace of feeling utterly at home. I think the latter case is likely to be true for you in the coming weeks, Aquarius. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “Not everything is supposed to become something beautiful and long-lasting,” writes author Emery Allen. “Not everyone is going to stay forever.” Her message is a good one for you to keep in mind right now. You’re in a phase when transitory boosts and temporary help may be exactly what you need most. I suspect your main task in the coming weeks is to get maximum benefit from influences that are just passing through your life. The catalysts that work best could be those that work only once and then disappear.

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARKETPLACE

BY ROB BREZSNY

RENTALS APARTMENTS FOR RENT WOODRIDGE APARTMENTS in Asheville is now accepting applications for the waiting list for 1, 2, 3 & 4 BR units. Accessible units designed for persons with disabilities subject to availability. Section 8 vouchers accepted. $25 appl fee, credit/criminal check reqd. Visit us at 61 Bingham Road on Mon-Th 7:30am-6pm, Fri 8am-5pm, or by appt. Call 828-250-0159 for more info. Equal Housing Opportunity. This institution is professionally managed by Partnership Property Management, an equal opportunity provider and employer.

EMPLOYMENT GENERAL

KAYAK ASSEMBLERS AND MOLDERS BIG Adventures is seeking full time Kayak Assemblers and Kayak Molders to start ASAP. All shifts. Email: jobs@bigadventures. com. 210 Old Airport Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732.

SKILLED LABOR/ TRADES F/T & P/T MAINTENANCE WORKERS WANTED IN THE ASHEVILLE AREA! Seeking reliable people with basic repair, plumbing, and carpentry knowledge. Duties include routine maintenance, preparing vacant units, cleaning common areas & vacant units, etc. Ideal candidate will be well-organized, pro-active, knowledgeable in troubleshooting maintenance needs and coordinating contractor services. Skilled trade replacements and extensive repairs are made by third party service contractors. Must have reliable transportation and provide your own hand tools. Must be on-call for after-hours emergencies. Credit and criminal checks required. Equal opportunity provider and employer. Please mail letter of interest to Attn: M. McLaughlin at Partnership Property Management, P.O. Box 26405, Greensboro, NC 27404-6405, or email to mmclaughlin@ partnershippm.com.

ADMINISTRATIVE/ OFFICE FT CLIENT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED! HEALTHCARE & RETIREMENT BENEFITS! You are the initial point of contact with our clients. Desire to serve disadvantaged populations. 40hrs/week; 8-5pm, $15.80 per hour Deadline: 5/10/21 Submit resume at: www.ontrackwnc.org/ hireme

FRONT OFFICE & LISTINGS COORDINATOR Mountain Xpress is seeking an organized, multitalented, high-energy, person ready to handle a variety of tasks from connecting incoming callers to the resources they need, to helping develop routines, to simple accounting and collections work. Skills needed are a friendly, professional demeanor, attention to detail, strong verbal and written communication skills, broad computer literacy, including social media and office software tools as well as the ability to self-organize, engage with repetitive data entry and multitask under pressure. Must have a knowledge of Asheville/ WNC and be community-minded. Experience in customer service (especially using point-of-sale systems) and/or publishing preferred. This position is full time; somewhat flexible hours and some benefits are available. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to xpressjob@ mountainx.com.

ARTS & MEDIA

NEWS REPORTER WANTED Mountain Xpress is seeking an experienced reporter to join our team. You should have the chops to cover a wide range of issues of community concern, including local government and politics, the environment, community activism, education, economic issues, public safety, criminal justice and more. You must be able to craft stories that convey important, timely information and empower readers to take part in meaningful civic dialogue and effect change at the local level. Qualified applicants will have experience in news-writing, have social-media skills, write efficiently and enjoy a fast-paced news-gathering environment. Must have knowledge of Asheville and WNC, be community-minded, have a keen sense of fairness with respect for differing points of view and be committed to Xpress’ mission of community-based journalism. Flexible availability required to cover some after-hours meetings and weekend events. This is a full-time position with benefits. Send cover letter, resume and clips/links to xpressjob@mountainx.com.

SALES/ MARKETING BUSINESS SALES MANAGER ReSource is a trade network for businesses & freelancers. Help local businesses trade their surplus goods & services to increase sales, lower costs, & strengthen the regional supply chain. Ashley@ resourcenetwork.com • resourcenetwork.co/.

CULINARY WORKERS NEEDED - SAGE DINING SERVICES Full-time and part-time. Cooks ($15-16/ hr), Prep Cooks ($14-15/ hr), Dishwashers ($13-14/ hr). Benefits for FT. Career growth. Uniforms/shoes/ masks provided. Scratch kitchen! Get paid every Friday. Call/text 443-342-3639 or email jhand@sagedining. com for interview!

DRIVERS/ DELIVERY

MOUNTAIN XPRESS DELIVERY Mountain Xpress is seeking an energetic, reliable, independent contractor for part-time weekly newspaper delivery. The contractor must have a safe driving record, a reliable vehicle with proper insurance and registration, and be able to lift 50 lbs. without strain. Distribution of papers is on Tuesday afternoons and typically lasts about 7-8 hours per week. Occasional Wednesday morning delivery is is sometimes needed or an option. E-mail distro@mountainx.com. No phone calls or walk-ins please. Central Downtown Asheville route.

MEDICAL/ HEALTH CARE HOME INSTEAD IS HIRING CAREGIVERS! We are looking for individuals in the Asheville and surrounding areas who want to help us change the face of aging by helping seniors age at home. No certification required! 828274-4406 • Homeinstead. com/159. MEDICAL POSITIONS AVAILABLE Medical - $20/ hr for C.N.A.’s on L.T.C and behavioral units in Black mountain. All shifts, full time. Call Emily at Worldwide Staffing, 866-633-3700, extension 118. WILDERNESS FIELD INSTRUCTOR/GUIDE SEASONAL SUWS of the Carolinas is hiring Seasonal Wilderness Field Instructors for the summer season. We are a wilderness/outdoor therapy company that operates in the Pisgah National Forest, 30 minutes east of Asheville, NC, and serves youth and adolescents ages 10-17. This is an eight days on and six days off shift schedule. Duties and responsibilities include; safety and supervision of students, assists field therapist with therapeutic outcomes, lead backpacking expeditions with students and co-staff, teach student curriculum, leave no trace ethics and primitive skills to students. Must be able to hike in strenuous terrain with a backpack. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and have a valid driver's license. Current CPR and First Aid preferred, college degree or higher education preferred. If you are selected as a qualified candidate, you will receive

an invite to an Informational Seminar. This is a 3-day prehire evaluation period, which imparts crucial information about the Instructor role and allows for a thorough evaluation of your skills, while you explore the SUWS program. Apply online at: suwscarolinas.com/about/ careers.

HUMAN SERVICES AURA HOME WOMEN VETERANS IS LOOKING FOR A GRANT WRITER! We are dedicated to serving homeless women veterans. Payment is negotiable based on experience, please respond to aurahome.alyce@ gmail.com. FULL-TIME POSITION: COMMUNITY MENTOR Onsite position at treatment center for LGBTQ+ folx struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues. Exp req/33-36k. Contact info@ elevatewellnessandrecovery. com. FULL-TIME POSITION: SHIFT SUPERVISOR Onsite shift work position at treatment center for LGBTQ+ folx struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues. Exp req/40-43k. Contact info@ elevatewellnessandrecovery. com. HELPMATE SEEKS OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Helpmate, a domestic violence victim service provider in Asheville, NC, seeks a full-time Operations Coordinator. Required skills include: effective written and verbal communication, organizational system development/management, time management, data analysis and advanced technological skills, including the ability to quickly learn new systems. The Operations Coordinator oversees development and maintenance of data tracking systems, maintains and improves technological infrastructure, performs selected human resources functions, crafts grant reports, and supports daily operations. The Operations Coordinator is responsible for a rotating on call back up shift that may require night and weekend work. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 2 years' experience in administration, social work, human services, or related field. Send resume and cover letter to hiring@ helpmateonline.org by 5pm on May 5. Please specify the title of this position in the subject line of your email. No phone calls or email inquiries, please.

TEACHING/ EDUCATION A-B TECH IS HIRING A-B Tech is currently taking applications for a Part-Time position Lab Assistant Instructor, Small Animal Clinical. For more details and to apply: https:// abtcc.peopleadmin.com/ postings/5580

T H E NEW Y O R K T IM E S C R O S S W O R D P UZ Z L E 1

21 24

43 45

ACROSS

13 “Is that ___?”

1 Catch 4 Onetime Volvo competitors 9 Title character of a John Irving novel

14 Alternatives to windows?

BILINGUAL HOME VISITOR - EARLY INTERVENTION SPECIALIST $16.46 - $20.58 / HOUR. This position educates and coaches ten - twelve families in the areas of parenting, health, nutrition, and child development through weekly 90-minute home visits to assist parents/guardians in becoming more effective educators of their children. https://wcca.org/careers/ CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP COORDINATOR $38,052.00 - $47,565.00 / Year. The position is responsible for the establishment, compliance and training of EHS Child Care Partners (CCP) in Family Child Care Homes in Transylvania County and for the ongoing monitoring of existing CCP sites. Please apply at https:// wcca.org/careers/ EARLY HEAD START TEACHER This position provides high-quality, responsive caregiving and educational experiences to enhance school readiness that comply with the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education requirements and Head Start Performance Standards in an Early Head Start setting. $14.82 - $18.52 / Hour • https://wcca.org/careers/ FULL-TIME SCHOOL COUNSELOR ArtSpace Charter School has an immediate opening for a full-time school counselor for grades K-8. This position begins as soon as possible. Applicants must have a current North Carolina Professional Educator’s License as Counselor and be willing to work in a collaborative, integrated, experiential environment. Knowledge of the arts and arts integration strategies is preferred but not required. The counselor

16 Diva’s delivery 17 … Donald Duck or Popeye? will be expected to work with students individually and in small groups, collaborate with classroom teachers, and coordinate social emotional learning and bully prevention programs. Send a resume to resumes@artspacecharter. org with a subject heading "School Counselor." NC PRE-K TEACHER $16.46 $20.58 / HOUR. This position involves providing high-quality, educational experiences to enhance school readiness that comply with the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education, Head Start Performance Standards and NC Pre-K program requirements. https://wcca.org/ careers/

HOTEL/ HOSPITALITY HIRING FOR ALL HOTEL AND RESTAURANT POSITIONS Pisgah Inn located at 408.6 Blue Ridge Parkway is hiring for the 2021 season. Our season is April 1 to October 31. We are hiring for all Restaurant and Hotel positions. Housekeepers, Cooks, Servers, Bussers and more. Some Housing/rooms available if needed. To apply, go to https://www.pisgahinn.com/ employment-application.

XCHANGE YARD SALES MARION BUSINESS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GIGANTIC SIDEWALK YARD SALE Annual Gigantic Sidewalk Yard Sale. Over 60 participating merchants & individuals. Saturday, May 1, 7:30 AM - Noon. Historic Downtown Marion Business District.

edited by Will Shortz

22 Ready to roll 24 … Minions or 16 Mario? 19 27 Hand down 29 “Goodness 23 gracious!” 30 Danger for Indiana Jones 31 Pick up 34 Locale of the 34 35 36 37 annual Nobel Peace Prize 41 ceremony 44 38 Question asked regarding two 49 red-carpet photos of those named in the italicized clues? 57 58 59 42 First name among late-night 63 TV hosts 66 43 “Boo-hoo” 44 Wrestler Flair 69 45 Should that be the case 19 One of Jacob’s 12 48 San Diego suburb sons 50 … Michael Darling or Baby 20 Writing sister of Smurf? Charlotte and Emily 55 “It’s almost my turn!” 21 What doesn’t go a long. way? 56 Judo ranking WANTED

HOME

BUYING OLD PAPER MONEY Asheville, WNC, ETN over 10 years. Fair, open, and responsive. Buying currency, bonds, maps, documents, etc. Email papermoneybuy@ gmail.com, or call/text 865-207-8994. Member SPMC, NCNA, SCNA, TNA.

4G LTE HOME INTERNET NOW AVAILABLE! Get GotW3 with lightning fast speeds plus take your service with you when you travel! As low as $109.99/mo! 1-888519-0171 (AAN CAN)

FEMALE PIT BULL PLAYMATE Male Pit Bull; 10 years old; Needs female companion for play dates. Your dog can play in my fenced backyard or we could go on walks together. I am in my 70's and live in N. Asheville. Please call Joan at 706.323.4670

SERVICES AUDIO/VIDEO CABLE PRICE INCREASE AGAIN? Switch To DIRECTV & Save + get a $100 visa gift card! Get More Channels For Less Money. Restrictions apply. Call Now! 877-6930625 (AAN CAN) DISH TV SPECIAL $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 7/21/21. 1-855-380-2501 (AAN CAN) HUGHESNET SATELLITE INTERNET Finally, no hard data limits! Call Today for speeds up to 25mbps as low as $59.99/mo! $75 gift card, terms apply. 1-844-416-7147 (AAN CAN)

BATHROOM RENOVATIONS EASY, ONE DAY updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Beautiful new walk-in showers with no slip flooring. Also, grab bars and seated showers available. Call for a free in-home consultation: 877-752-6295 (AAN CAN) NEVER PAY FOR COVERED HOME REPAIRS AGAIN! Complete Care Home Warranty COVERS ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE. $200.00 OFF + 2 FREE Months! 1-877-673-0511 | Hours Mon-Thu, Sun: 9:30 am to 8:00 pm Fri: 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (all times Eastern) (AAN CAN)

OUTDOOR RECREATION WILDFLOWER AND BIRDING WALKS Wildflower and Birding Walks guided by local experts Scott Dean and Bill Sanderson. Stories and expert knowledge on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Promo code OUTSIDE2021 for $20 tickets. Visit AshevilleHikingTours.com.

No. 0324

57 ___ card, part of a wedding invitation 60 On a magnet they’re called poles 61 … Inspector Gadget or McGruff the Crime Dog? 64 Happening now 65 More slick 66 Big ___ (praise, slangily) 67 Duchamp’s art movement 68 Monopoly stack 69 Bear in a 2012 comedy

DOWN 1 Org. with Perseverance 2 ___ Kim, 7-yearold star of the Golden Globewinning “Minari” 3 Driver’s danger 4 ___ Paulo 5 Runway model? 6 Silk center of India

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MIND, BODY, SPIRIT

36 Luau loops 37 Subject of the 2013 documentary “Blackfish” 39 Body of water in northern Russia 40 Like tightrope walkers and household budgets, ideally 41 Semihard Dutch cheese 46 Manipulate the outcome of 47 Scrap 49 Podcaster Maron 50 Sphere

51 “Labor ___ vincit” (Oklahoma’s state motto) 52 Available for home viewing, in a way 53 “Rolling in the Deep” hitmaker 54 Title girl with a gun in an Aerosmith hit 58 Use a Juul, say 59 Affliction for many a vet 62 Cleansed (of) 63 They’re made of mins.

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE B O A R D I N D I E T E D D A N D O H O T T O W A D O R N D O R A P M I C H A T I R R I P P I A M I D S T J A N E T Y A M A R E H A T E R S N A G S

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Spring 2021

Nonprofit issue

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APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021