OUR 27TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 27 NO. 41 MAY 12-18, 2021
C O NT E NT S
OPINION
FEATURES 10 RAMPANT TOURISM OR TRUE PROGRESS? A commentary on the role of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority
NEWS
12 MORE SPACE, NEW PLACE Transformative donation will fund new MANNA FoodBank facility
PAGE 38 CHOW CHOW IS BACK Reimagined as a summerlong series of culinary events, Chow Chow returns this year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the young festival to take a break in 2020. The hiatus, organizers say, allowed for reflection and realignment as a more inclusive and diverse celebration of the local food community. COVER PHOTO iStock
WELLNESS
COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick 30 OUT OF DARKNESS Light a Path helps incarcerated people take the next step
GREEN
34 NONPROFIT ROUNDUP American Chestnut Foundation, EBCI plan long-term restoration work; more environmental news
4 LETTERS 4 CARTOON: MOLTON 7
CARTOON: BRENT BROWN
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CARTOON: IRENE OLDS
10 COMMENTARY 12 NEWS 16 BUNCOMBE BEAT 22 NEWS BRIEFS 25 ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES
A&C
42 THE CREATIVE THREAD CONTINUES Local Cloth celebrates move to River Arts District
26 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 30 WELLNESS 34 GREEN SCENE 38 ARTS & CULTURE
Announcing our NEW, expanded line of
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44 THE TIME AND AGE OF RENEGADES Saint Disruption, vigilance deadname and Clint Roberts release new albums
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54 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 54 CLASSIFIEDS 55 NY TIMES CROSSWORD
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OPINION
Send your letters to the editor to letters@mountainx.com.
Nondiscrimination ordinances are important step As someone born and raised in Asheville, I was happy to see the Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners adopt LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination protections last month. These protections are an important step in the right direction for our city and county. I’m proud to be from Asheville because of the city’s beauty, thriving small-business community and long-standing commitment to inclusion. As a queer woman, I did not feel safe in many parts of North Carolina following HB2’s passage in 2016. But I always felt welcome when I returned home. I can’t overstate the significance of seeing rainbow flags or signs that read “Y’all Means All.” And yet, until last month, discrimination was still permissible in our area. I’m grateful that local leaders have worked to make the feelings of inclusion I’ve experienced now a legally prescribed reality for all LGBTQ+ people. As queer people,
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LGBTQ+ visitors that Asheville is a safe community to visit and will make LGBTQ+ residents feel valued. I’m excited to celebrate this progress and keep pushing forward. — Delaney James Asheville
Pratt & Whitney plant is no great deal for community
C A RT O O N B Y R AN DY M O L T O N we often must check whether a destination is safe for us to explore. Will my partner and I be safe if we hold hands walking down the street? Will the hotel cancel our reservation if
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they realize two women booked a one-bed room? I’m glad that Asheville and Buncombe County have taken action. These inclusive ordinances show
The argument in favor of having the Pratt & Whitney project here always begins (and ends) with the jobs. First of all, let’s be clear about the job schedule proposed by P&W in the $27 million tax incentive agreement given to them by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. P&W laid out — for illustrative purposes only (no guarantees) — a 10-year plan that would add a few hundred jobs each year, up to [800] jobs, the [minimum] of which would be $55,000/year. Pretty good for our tourist economy, but still not great. And not necessarily to be
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MAY 12-18, 2021
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OPINION
Send your letters to the editor to letters@mountainx.com.
filled by locals. And one of the big reasons P&W is moving here from Connecticut is because the jobs here will not be union jobs. I am angry about the lack of jobs in this country also. And the desperation that this puts people into. What I see is that this precarity is intentional on the part of the ruling class and corporations because it means they can keep wages low — except where they use the lure of good jobs to ensure a welcome reception for their destructive industries. The
end result is the greater and greater wealth inequality that we see now as the 1% lords it over all the rest of us. The game is rigged to exploit us, and the promise of jobs for a few is the currency to get communities to comply. But, unsurprisingly, “defense” contractors lie. In truth, they don’t offer a great deal at all, especially if you realize, for example, that the $27 million could actually have created many more jobs if the incentives were given to the local economy
in areas of education, health, clean energy or just given to people for personal consumption. Research from Brown University’s Cost of War project confirms this. And also not such a great deal if you factor in the costs to our community that P&W conveniently externalizes — the inevitable pollution to our river, the traffic snarls and, of course, the loss of trees and habitat in the private domain of Biltmore Farms. But what if the starting place were not the promised jobs, but the cli-
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mate emergency that we are facing right now, which is headed toward our own extinction. Would the measly number of jobs — in the ravenous fossil-fuel-consuming aeronautics industry — warrant contributing to our own demise? And what if the starting place were with the suffering, death and threat we pose to humanity, including ourselves, with our endless wars (for oil) and arms dealing around the world? Are these jobs worth the trade-off for the lives of so many others? And what if the starting place were about the ravages that our ultracapitalist system wreaks upon us as a normal way of operating? Would we be so eager to gobble up jobs offered by Raytheon, the second-largest war profiteer in the world? I realize all too well that I may be tilting at windmills, that this is a done deal, and there is no way to stop it. And that I will continue to be considered anti-jobs and childishly naive. But the question for me is whether I just watch this all going down and shrug that it’s just the way of the terrible world we live in, or whether I will take a public stance against it and act in the hope for a better world, for now and for all of our children and grandchildren. I choose the latter. I want a sustainable, just and peaceful world for them. — Ken Jones Swannanoa
Clamp down on illegal fireworks As we are slowly approaching another Fourth of July, I am remembering last year’s awful experience here in Asheville and I’m sure around the country. The pandemic had shut down local celebrations, and so those residents who just couldn’t live without the bright bursts and loud bangs went out and purchased what to my mind were commercial-grade fireworks. The noise went on for days before, during and after the Fourth. They were louder than any neighborhood fireworks than I have ever heard in my entire life. It was frightening! Not only to me, but my pet and from what I hear, many others and their pets as well. I can imagine that for many of us, it was really quite traumatizing. This type of fireworks is supposed to be illegal, isn’t it? The general public is not supposed to possess those heavy-duty, commercial-type fireworks, are they? And so I ask the Asheville police and Buncombe
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CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN
MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 12-18, 2021
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OPI N I ON
Send your letters to the editor to letters@mountainx.com.
C AR T O O N B Y IRE N E O L D S County Sheriff’s Department to please issue some type of warning to those who plan to repeat last year’s Fourth of July at-home fireworks extravaganza. They are dangerous, inappropriate and illegal. Please join me in contacting local law enforcement offices if you agree on this issue and ask them to issue a warning statement and hold those possessing and discharging illegal fireworks accountable: • Asheville Police Department Chief of Police David Zack: dzack@ ashevillenc.gov; 828-259-5813. • Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller: quentin.miller@ buncombecounty.org; 828-250-4503. — Joan Cope Asheville
Gaining a better perspective through dowsing I would like to thank Mountain Xpress for running the recent article exploring the world of dowsing [“Human Antennas: Local Dowsers Harness Intuition to Find Water, Personal Empowerment,” April 7]. Everyone is invited to our free Zoom webinar on Saturday, May 15, 1-3 p.m. Access code is on our website, appalachiandowsers.org. Former national President Roxanne Louise of 8
MAY 12-18, 2021
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Virginia will be offering a talk, Creepy Energies Through Dowsing. Dowsing can help one gain a better perspective on everyday concerns and questions. Dowsing is a method of accessing and gaining entrance into one’s intuition. It is like having a wise companion by your side whose reservoir of knowledge is far more vast than our conscious mind. You can ask it any question, from which auto mechanic, plumber or surgeon to use, to which vitamins to take or which home to buy or rent. It is also there for clarifying interior, life questions. Health is another area of dowsers’ focus. Dowsers have long been aware that living, especially sleeping, or having one’s workstation above subterranean running water can detrimentally affect one’s health. ... Try moving your bed or have a dowser check your home to find out. — Bill Muerdter Maggie Valley
How about the public good? [Regarding: “‘I Believe’ Isn’t Real,” April 14, Xpress]: Why does Carl Mumpower care about what people say on signs and stickers? How about he gets to the business of the public good and stops whining about the small stuff? Say, helping the homeless. … — Gil Borrero Charlotte
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MAY 12-18, 2021
9
OPINION
Rampant tourism or true progress?
Buncombe commissioners must rein in the TDA BY BEN WILLIAMSON The Buncombe County commissioners have a chance to make a huge difference in the lives of many local residents while addressing critical community needs. Daniel Walton’s summary of the Tourism Development Authority’s March 25-26 retreat (“TDA Projects Roaring Year for Buncombe Visitation,” March 31, Xpress) made it painfully clear that the only way to rein in this broken entity is for the commissioners to use their power to repeal the occupancy tax that funds the authority’s efforts. This would put pressure on state lawmakers to rewrite the enabling legislation to allow the use of future occupancy tax receipts to meet pressing local needs.
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Although both the TDA and Explore Asheville, which implements the authority’s strategies, have had their share of vocal critics for years, I’ve felt that abandoning the tax outright might be a step too far. There’s been no shortage of complaints about how these millions of dollars are spent on relentless marketing campaigns aimed at attracting still more tourists even as we struggle to manage current levels and to find the money to address more urgent concerns. Surely, I thought, this consistent, multiyear chorus of community pushback would eventually be heard. That hasn’t happened — but then, why would it? The TDA’s board members are appointed, not elected, and thus aren’t accountable to voters. As hospitality professionals charged by law with boosting tourism in Asheville, they’re not about to ask for a reduction in their access to millions of marketing dollars that benefit their own bank accounts. Just consider these statements from Walton’s report: • Unchecked growth. According to TDA board Chair Himanshu Karvir, scaling back tourism in Asheville is “not what we want to do: Our goal is to get more visitors here.” Vic Isley, Explore Asheville’s CEO, sounded a similar note, saying, “Our role is not constricting growth.” She’s right: Managing the many negative impacts of rampant growth is our elected leaders’ job. • Local input. “If we start a conversation with locals,” argued Karvir, “it would start by saying, ‘We’re already maxed out; let’s pull back.’” Countless surveys, listening sessions, op-eds, protests, forums and hotel moratoriums have depicted a city that’s weary of tourism’s negative impacts. Karvir clearly understands this: He just doesn’t agree. • Community disconnect. Consultant Rodney Payne asked the group to consider “How much is enough?” and “How many people is too many for our place?” Isley admitted that Payne was asked to take part in the retreat because of his “provocative” opin-
BEN WILLIAMSON ions. But is promoting sustainable growth really controversial? It seems more like conscious leadership to me, and not doing so is clearly reckless and irresponsible. Walton wrote that the TDA wants to attract a more diverse range of tourists. But during a public forum I moderated a couple of years ago, Stephanie Brown, who was then Explore Asheville’s CEO, explained the total lack of people of color on her agency’s staff by saying they looked for “a certain skill set” in potential employees. This disturbing answer suggested an organization out of touch with and not representative of the community. Many months later and despite new leadership, the group’s website still shows no people of color on staff. • Resistance to funding community needs. To address homelessness, Isley first suggested using federal COVID funds, then proposed a new downtown tax. But why do we need to look elsewhere for money to address a problem that’s clearly associated with tourism? The massive influx of tourists strains our infrastructure and accelerates gentrification — which, in turn, reduces the supply of affordable housing. Why not simply revamp the occupancy tax in a way that would benefit the entire community? Meanwhile, back in February, City Council unanimously approved asking state legislators to authorize a quarter-cent sales tax increase to support expanded public transit, another key local need that could help tourism industry employees get to work while freeing up city funds for other purposes. But this, too, would mean sticking locals with a higher tax bill to fund something that would be a better use of occupancy tax receipts than letting hoteliers continue to profit from a publicly funded, multimillion-dollar marketing campaign. Addressing our essential needs would benefit all economic sectors, including tourism. But the commissioners must stop allowing econom-
ically stressed workers and families to subsidize this bloated, self-serving industry. Repealing the occupancy tax and forgoing the more than $27 million it’s projected to bring in next year would take courage. Yet it’s precisely because the amount is so big that the commissioners have a chance to spark real change. Let’s be clear: Turning off that money tap won’t signal the end of tourism here. Asheville is already firmly on the tourist map, and those businesses that most benefit from it have their own marketing budgets. But canceling the tax would at least send a strong signal to Raleigh that might get state lawmakers’ attention, while allowing for an authentic conversation about how future occupancy tax revenues should be allocated and what type of body should oversee those decisions. Without bold action by the commissioners, the most we can hope for is a token bump in allocation percentages within the confines of the existing law. But the time has come for a fundamental overhaul, not a minor adjustment. Other cities have used their occupancy taxes to direct millions to infrastructure and social programs while still
“Turning off that money tap won’t signal the end of tourism here.” supporting vibrant tourism industries. Why can’t we? COVID-19 has plainly underscored the tourism sector’s vulnerability, highlighting the need for greater focus on sustainable social and economic improvements that are more resistant to economic downturns. The TDA’s $5 million donation last year to address COVID-related job losses is commendable, but that money could have done so much more. Are advertisements really more important than helping those suffering from the pandemic’s fallout — particularly considering how many of them struggled due to the decline of the very tourism market the TDA promotes? Isley’s $245,000 salary alone could potentially pay for a half-dozen school social workers or teacher assistants to address our opportunity gap. Which seems like a better use of those funds? Wouldn’t addressing homelessness and making improvements in affordable housing, public transit and education also benefit tourism? Wouldn’t a healthier, safer, more economically inclusive Asheville be a better place to visit? Why not use those moneys to
help develop a workforce trained to pursue careers in trades, manufacturing and technology that offer full-time, living-wage jobs with benefits versus the part-time, below-living-wage, lowor no-benefit jobs often found in the tourism and hospitality industries? According to state and federal statistics, more than half of the 36,000-plus jobs lost in Asheville during April 2020 due to COVID were in those sectors. Why continue to spend this money promoting a fragile industry that, at its best, doesn’t give low- and middle-income workers the social mobility and opportunity that other professions can? It’s time for the commissioners to cancel the occupancy tax and call for a rewrite of this legislation to better benefit most of the folks who live here. It’s time for county leaders to send a message that people and diversity are more important than profit for a few. Let’s stand up for what’s left of our city’s character and make a difference in the lives of those pushed aside. Ben Williamson is the interim executive director of Green Opportunities, an Asheville-based nonprofit. X
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NEWS
More space, new place
SPRING
Nonprofit Issue
Transformative donation will fund new MANNA FoodBank facility BY MOLLY HORAK mhorak@mountainx.com The unexpected, life-changing phone call came in November. Hannah Randall, MANNA FoodBank’s CEO, picked up. On the other end of the line was an employee working for philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, informing Randall that a $9 million, no-strings-attached donation to support the Asheville-based nonprofit’s work was on the way. “I hung up the phone and cried,” Randall says. In December, when she was finally able to share news of the gift from the billionaire ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos with MANNA’s staff, the team just about fell to the floor in shock, Randall says with a laugh. “We’ve never received a gift of this magnitude,” she continues. “We all were just overwhelmed with joy.” The transformative donation comes not a moment too soon. The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched the region’s biggest food bank thin, pushing its facility’s limits during a sudden rise in food insecurity. “There were times, especially early on in the pandemic, where I didn’t know how we were going to be able to afford to feed people, and I definitely
TRAFFIC JAM: MANNA FoodBank’s parking lot on Swannanoa River Road wasn’t built to accommodate tractor-trailers, says Executive Director Hannah Randall. Traffic flow in and out of the current facility is a major safety concern for the nonprofit. Photo courtesy of MANNA didn’t know how we would be able to sustain ourselves in the long term,” Randall says. “This gift is making the idea of a MANNA that will be here to serve our mountain people a real possibility.”
A MUCH-NEEDED INFUSION
Driving up to MANNA’s Swannanoa River Road headquarters on any given
ASHEVILLE RUGBY IS LOOKING FOR MORE PLAYERS
morning is akin to navigating rush hour in a major city. Vehicles dart in and out of the crowded parking lot, dodging forklifts that tote pallets of food between warehouse buildings. Traffic is often blocked on both sides of the road as 53-foot tractor-trailers navigate a space that wasn’t designed for regular deliveries of the scope the food bank needs. And that’s just on the outside of one building, Randall says. MANNA
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is already leasing an additional warehouse in Swannanoa for dry good storage, meaning some food must travel between three different buildings before it goes out for delivery. The nonprofit’s ability to operate safely and efficiently is at “critical mass,” she says, and its Swannanoa River Road space is completely landlocked with no room to expand. A new facility was already at the top of MANNA’s pre-pandemic prior-
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ities, but high food demand has only increased its importance. Between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, MANNA and its partner agencies served an average of 41,700 households monthly, a 102% increase over pre-pandemic numbers. Over that same period, the food bank provided 23.8 million meals to WNC families. Supply chain disruptions in the pandemic’s early months meant MANNA had to spend significantly more money than usual on food purchases, says Mary Nesbitt, MANNA’s chief development officer. Staff members knew their best shot to raise the funds for a new facility was a new capital campaign, but they felt they couldn’t turn to community members already digging deep to offset the growing price of food. Then came the fateful phone call. MANNA’s board of directors approved the use of Scott’s $9 million gift to purchase a 24-acre parcel in Swannanoa for a new, sustainable facility. The nonprofit is currently completing a 120-day due diligence period before the deal is finalized. “It’s going to affect people’s lives and the region as a whole for years to come,” Randall says.
ROOM TO GROW
The new headquarters is still a few years out from completion, but the MANNA team is starting to brainstorm ways to make the space work for the organization’s many needs. Staff members are working with partner organizations and volunteers to solicit ideas; a series of listening sessions will be held once the project is a bit farther along, Nesbitt says. The new space will maximize efficiency, Randall says. All donations will be housed under one roof to prevent unnecessary handling. The team is also looking into environmentally friendly building materials, backup generators to keep refrigerated food cool during power outages and a covered loading dock to keep deliveries dry on rainy days. Other partner organizations have requested a communal space where they can host trainings and share best practices, Randall adds. And she thinks there may be room to start a community garden. Mike Mulry, a longtime MANNA volunteer, is excited to see the new facility come together. Right now, the Volunteer Center on Swannanoa River Road where he spends several hours each week gets crowded, making it difficult to sort items and pack boxes. He’s ready for more room to spread
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Redecorate
& love the planet
N EWS out, and as the driver of a MANNA delivery truck, he’s ready to finally get a bigger parking lot. Because it’s so early in the process, cost estimates and construction plans are far from finalized, Nesbitt says. The team will soon begin identifying strategic partnerships with area organizations and foundations to help fill the missing financial pieces.
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HUNGER HERE TO STAY
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many families over the edge, Nesbitt says, but the region’s widening gap between cost of living and incomes made conditions ripe for a socioeconomic storm — especially for employees trying to make ends meet through low-paying seasonal jobs in the tourism industry. One-in-4 children and 1-in-6 adults in the region were food insecure before the pandemic, but if the lines queueing up to receive packages from MANNA are any indication, those numbers have only grown higher. Mulry says he sees those challenges each week as he delivers food boxes to rural communities. Food drives that used to attract 40 to 50 families have doubled in demand, he says, and many
people are seeking out assistance for the first time. “A lot of the people I talk to don’t know what the process [to receive assistance] is, or tell me they never thought they’d have to ask for help in their lives,” Mulry says. “I hate to see the numbers increase, but I’m glad that we’re able to get out there and do something to help.” With more than 50% of North Carolina’s adult population at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19, many residents are hopeful that the worst of the pandemic is over. But higher hunger numbers aren’t going to suddenly disappear, Randall says. March 2021 was among MANNA’s busiest months yet, with 2.2 million pounds of food distributed across the community, a 12% rise over March 2020. “This has been an unbelievably challenging year, but I think it inspires us even more to make sure we’re here for our neighbors when they lose a job, when someone in the family gets cancer, when a divorce happens, or if they’re a senior who can’t get out of their home,” Randall says. “And we’re going to be there, for years to come.” X
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MAY 12-18, 2021
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BUNCOMBE BEAT
Buncombe flags Sandy Mush, Broad River for broadband expansion Calling the data used by the Federal Communications Commission to assess the availability of broadband internet “horrendous,” Buncombe County’s Tim Love unveiled new research conducted by the county to identify underserved areas. After Buncombe staffers checked thousands of individual addresses for availability of broadband service at 100 megabits per second or better, the county’s director of economic development and governmental relations told the Board of Commissioners at a May 4 briefing, Sandy Mush in the northwest and Broad River in the southeast had emerged as the two biggest pockets of need. Those areas will now be prioritized as Buncombe moves forward with a request for proposals from internet providers to expand broadband access. Although some addresses in Asheville also lack access, Love continued, providers will likely expand
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THE RED ZONE: Recent analysis by Buncombe County staffers found that Sandy Mush in the northwest and Broad River in the southeast were the county’s two biggest areas of need for expanded internet infrastructure. Graphic courtesy of Buncombe County service in the middle of the county without government intervention due to the area’s denser population. Companies bidding for the RFP will be asked to deliver download speeds of at least 25 Mbps, increasing to at least 100 Mbps within three years and 1 gigabit per second within a decade. Love gave a timeline that would place a contract before the commissioners sometime in July. The county has yet to commit a specific amount of funding toward the project or identify what pot of money would be used. Buncombe is slated to receive more than $51 million over the next year from the American Rescue Plan COVID-19 relief package, and federal guidelines specifically mention broadband infrastructure as an authorized use. But North Carolina state law, Love said, currently prohibits counties from spending federal dollars for that purpose. That situation could change with Senate Bill 689, which has both Democratic and Republican sponsorship in the General Assembly. Love called passage of the bill a “critical point” in broadband efforts and said county staff had communicated with the local legislative delegation in support of the measure. He also mentioned Senate Bill 547, bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Buncombe’s Democratic Sen. Julie Mayfield, as another way to give counties more flexibility in their efforts to promote broadband access.
IN OTHER NEWS
During its regular meeting on May 4, the board unanimously approved adding Juneteenth as a paid holiday for Buncombe employees, to be observed on June 19 or the immediately preceding Friday. That date marks the anniversary of an 1865 announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation by Union soldiers to enslaved people in Texas and “signifies freedom and liberation for African Americans in the United States,” according to a presentation by county Human Resources Director Sharon Burke. Commissioner Parker Sloan noted that his employer, Ashevillebased solar firm Cypress Creek Renewables, had made Juneteenth a paid day off in 2020. He said he hadn’t previously been aware of the date’s significance and called its celebration a great educational opportunity for the county. Al Whitesides, the board’s only Black member, said Juneteenth had long been widely acknowledged in the Western U.S. but hadn’t caught on east of the Mississippi River until recent years. “I think it should be celebrated by our staff and the county, because it is an important date in history,” he said, before moving to approve the holiday.
— Daniel Walton X
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BUNCOMBE BEAT with your beer and enjoy whatever is happening there,” he explained. Turner did not mention any legislation to change the local occupancy tax distribution, which was requested by Asheville City Council in February. But at a February CIBO meeting, Republican Sen. Chuck Edwards told participants that changes to the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s tax allocation were off the table.
HCA executive cites nursing shortage as biggest concern From applause for front-line workers during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic to local discounts and gifts of “chocolate bars and chicken fingers,” proclaimed Greg Lowe, 2020 was the year of the nurse. The president of HCA Healthcare’s North Carolina division, which manages Asheville’s Mission Health, says the system has relied on its nursing team to get through the pandemic largely unscathed. But Mission’s eight hospitals are now gearing up for a major nursing shortage, Lowe told members of Asheville’s Council of Independent Business Owners during a May 7 meeting. While an “exciting” announcement about a new way to approach and augment hiring is coming soon, he said, finding enough skilled nursing staff is currently HCA’s biggest challenge. In 2020, Mission’s hospitals saw more than 2 million patients, treated over 1,600 COVID-19 patients and conducted more than 51,000 telehealth calls, Lowe said. No employees faced furloughs or layoffs resulting from the coronavirus-driven postponement of elective surgical procedures, and workers deemed nonessential were instead given “pandemic pay” at 70% of their normal wages in exchange for staying home. When asked by Xpress about the status of ongoing negotiations between HCA staff and representatives from the newly formed Mission Hospital chapter of the National Nurses United union, Lowe said the parties were currently in the bargaining stages. In September, more than 70% of 1,400 Mission Hospital nurses voted to unionize, the
— Molly Horak X
HEROIC EFFORTS: Signs displayed at Mission Hospital’s Asheville campus celebrate front-line workers during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Cindy Kunst largest hospital union win in the South since 1975. “They’ve been moving things along, and we’re hearing positive feedback with the bargaining process that’s occurring right now,” Lowe said.
MATTERS OF STATE
In the second half of the virtual CIBO meeting, N.C. House Rep. Brian Turner, D-Buncombe, shared an update on a series of bills making their way through the state’s General Assembly. The last week has been a “whirlwind of votes” as members prepare for the legislative crossover deadline of Thursday, May 13, by which bills must pass a floor vote to move to the other governing chamber for consideration. Bills are coming at members “fast and furiously,” Turner said. On May
5-6 alone, House members had passed over 70 pieces of legislation, he said, with more likely to pass as the deadline nears. Local legislation of note includes House Bill 400, which would change the composition of the Asheville City Board of Education from a five-member appointed body to a seven-member elected board. The bill passed a House vote on May 6; Turner gave no indication when the Senate would discuss the item or take a vote. House Bill 781, which would designate “social districts” where people can openly carry alcoholic beverages, is expected to go up for a House vote next week. Turner, who is among the bill’s co-sponsors, said he sees it as a possible business driver for downtown restaurants. “Imagine going somewhere like Pack’s Tavern, getting a beer, and if there happens to be a festival in the city and county plaza, you could walk over
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THE CHOPPING BLOCK: Staff numbers at Asheville High School and across the Asheville City Schools system are likely to go down as the district strives to rein in spending. Photo by Nathan Standridge The money isn’t gone. But it’s close to running out. At a special called meeting on May 6, school administrators laid out the stark facts for the Asheville City Board of Education. Under current projections, even if the system taps into the entirety of its available reserves to cover expenses for fiscal year 2021-22, the board would still face $865,000 in cuts to balance its budget. And if expenses and revenue trends continue on the same path, the necessary cuts for fiscal year 2022-23 could exceed $2 million. As previously reported by Xpress (see “Failing arithmetic,” Jan. 27), ACS ranks among North Carolina’s most generously funded school sys-
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tems per capita; at just over $13,000 per pupil excluding child nutrition, Asheville spends more than all but seven of the state’s 115 public school districts. That spending includes over $5,800 per student in city and county taxes, the second-highest allotment in the state. To bring those numbers down, suggested ACS Chief Finance Officer Georgia Harvey, the school board must examine the district’s staffing, which accounts for $23.5 million of the projected $30.2 million to be funded by local money next year. “You have to make hard decisions, and they’re generally with people,” she said. “Cutting supplies
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might help with hundreds of thousands of dollars, but not millions.” “The people in the room today did not get us here. This has been a historical trend. It’s not something that happened overnight,” Harvey added. (Shaunda Sandford, who had served as the board’s chair since 2015 until being replaced by James Carter on April 26, was the only member to attend the meeting virtually and asked no questions during the budget presentation.) Superintendent Gene Freeman stressed that he would do everything possible to avoid recommending furloughs of current employees. As a first step toward reducing the personnel budget, he said, ACS should avoid rehiring some nonessential positions as staffers retire or resign. Mark Dickerson, the district’s assistant superintendent of human resources, said he aimed to freeze hiring for at least 25 locally funded positions and had identified 18 to date, which together would eliminate about $1 million in costs. Although he did not name specific roles on the chopping block, citing confidentiality rules around personnel decisions, he noted that vacancies currently
existed among music, technology and special education staff. At least three of the recommended hiring freezes, Dickerson added, were in the district’s central office. The ACS administration is particularly large for the system’s size, with 19 “official administrators and managers” for an average daily attendance of about 4,100 students, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. By comparison, Buncombe County Schools employs 17 administrators for an average attendance of 22,560 students. If staff attrition doesn’t deliver the needed savings, however, Freeman said he would advocate for cutting the district’s local supplement before furloughing employees. That money, paid from local taxes on top of state-mandated minimum salaries, averages about $4,600 per year for ACS teachers. “Then you would have a minor riot,” remarked Carter. “Well, if you start furloughing a lot of people, you’re also going to have a riot,” Freeman responded. “There’s no good choice, at least to me.”
— Daniel Walton X
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Roughly 240 runners gathered for the inaugural Mighty Four Miler race in Waynesville on April 3, organized by Glory Hound Events to celebrate the life and legacy of Riley Howell. The 21-year-old Waynesville native became nationally recognized in 2019 after he tackled a gunman at UNC Charlotte to protect his classmates and was subsequently killed. “When something like the shooting at UNC Charlotte occurs, most of us feel helpless,” said Glory Hound Events director Greg Duff in a press release. “Unlike Sandy Hook, Columbine or the seemingly countless others that have happened, this one hit close to home. I know the Howells and remember seeing Riley as a child. I also know how to put on races, so doing one to honor Riley was an easy decision.” The event raised $6,860 for the Riley Howell Foundation Fund, which makes grants to organizations that support victims of gun violence. The fund is administered by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.
A year of free pet food The Blue Ridge Humane Society is celebrating a year of free pet food giveaways. The initiative, begun in May 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated economic downturn, has fed 4,885 pets to date. Upcoming pet food giveaways will be held Saturday, May 22, 10 a.m.1 p.m., at the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County at 304 Ashe St. in Hendersonville; and on Tuesday, May 25, 3 p.m.-6 p.m., at the Interfaith Assistance Ministry at 310 Freeman St. in Hendersonville.
Hemp for veterans Brevard-based Gaia Herbs has partnered with Veterans Healing Farm by donating 2,100 bottles of hemp extract and over 5 kilograms of raw herbs for natural remedies. Hemp has been shown to relieve stress, anxiety, aches and pains, said John Mahshie, the co-founder and executive director of Veterans Healing Farm, in a press release. His organization offers herbal counseling from a naturopathic physician at no cost to veterans transitioning back to civilian life; Gaia’s donation of raw ingredients such as turmeric, kava and astragalus roots will be used in herbal tonics made by returning service members. Gaia has also donated 1,500 bottles of hemp extract to Veterans to Farmers
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RUN WITH YOUR HEART: Glory Hound Events director Greg Duff presents a check for $6,860 to members of the Howell family. Proceeds from the Mighty Four Miler race went to the Riley Howell Foundation Fund, which supports victims of gun violence. Photo courtesy of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and Farmers Assisting Returning Military, nonprofits based in Colorado and Texas, respectively.
New and notable
• Asheville-based nonprofit investigative newsroom Carolina Public Press is celebrating 10 years in business. The organization first launched as a digital media outlet covering Western North Carolina; CPP expanded its coverage area to the entire state in 2018. • FIND Outdoors welcomed three new employees to its team. Richard Coadwell will serve as retail operations director; Dan Woodall is the new regional facilities and operations director; and Christy Ralston will be the new manager for the Cradle of Forestry site in Pisgah National Forest. • Cindy Smith is the new executive director of the Jewish Family
Services of WNC. Smith comes to Asheville from Seal Beach, Calif., where she served in various roles for the Jewish Federation of Orange County.
Mark your calendar • The Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders will hold its fifth annual awareness and fundraising breakfast on Thursday, May 20, at 7:30 a.m. RSVP for the virtual livestreamed event at avl.mx/9cp. • Thrive Asheville will host an affordable housing panel discussion and networking event on Sunday, May 16, at 6 p.m. The free event is open to all community members; register at avl.mx/9cq. • Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha will headline Pisgah Legal Services’ annual Justice Forum, held this year on Thursday, Oct. 7. Hanna-Attisha is the author of What the Eyes Don’t See, a firsthand account of the water crisis in Flint, Mich. • The Kiwanis Club of Hendersonville will hold its inaugural Sneaky Scavenger Race on Saturday, May 22 (which is, not so coincidentally, National Scavenger Hunt Day). Participants will complete eight interactive outdoor activities designed to challenge the body and mind. Register at avl.mx/9cv.
Take it for granted GOOD BOY: A dog at a Blue Ridge Humane Society pet food giveaway gets a treat for coming along. The organization has provided free food to 4,885 animals since May 2020. Photo courtesy of BRHS
• The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina awarded $541,300 to support Latino communities and youth mental health services across the region. Both were identified as areas of particular need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NATURE HEALS: Gaia Herbs has donated 2,100 bottles of hemp extract to Veterans Healing Farm in Hendersonville. The nonprofit, which helps veterans transition back to civilian life by offering gardening workshops, also grows and donates produce to veterans. Photo courtesy of Gaia Herbs • The Junior League of Asheville awarded $1,000 each to Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, Project Dignity, Helpmate, Babies Need Bottoms and Homeward Bound. The grants were supported by the JLA’s Be the Change Challenge 5K/10K fundraiser held in April. • The Black Mountain-Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $48,800 to 13 area nonprofits, including Asheville
Area Habitat for Humanity, Black Mountain Counseling Center, Bounty & Soul, Food Connection and Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry. The full list of awardees can be found at avl.mx/9cr. • Henderson County-based Western Carolina Community Action was awarded a five-year, $14 million federal grant to expand Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties. The funds are expected to serve an additional 99 infants, toddlers and pregnant women; up to 50 early childhood educators will also be hired. • The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership awarded $185,000 to fund 15 projects supporting “craft, music, natural heritage, Cherokee culture and agricultural traditions.” View the full list of recipients at avl.mx/9cu. • The Dogwood Health Trust has given $100,000 to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s Janirve Sudden and Urgent Needs fund to support nonprofits delivering COVID-19 vaccines across the region. Nonprofits can apply for the funding at avl.mx/9cw.
— Molly Horak X
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FEA T U RE S
ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com
‘Poor man’s country’ In October 1920, amid the often forgotten, yearlong economic depression that lasted until July 1921, Asheville Power & Light Co. submitted a petition to the State Corporation Commission in Raleigh to increase local streetcar rates from 6 to 8 cents per ride. The move did not go unnoticed by the public. “The people of Asheville have nothing but friendship for their public service corporations,” noted an editorial in the Jan. 8, 1921, edition of The Asheville Citizen. “They do not wish these companies to serve them at a loss.” But a 2-cent increase in price, the paper deemed, was an “oppressive” figure. A few days later, The Asheville Citizen reported that the state commission had postponed APL’s hearing. By February, the commission ordered APL to allow city officials to appraise the company’s properties. The corporation refused. In a letter to Mayor Gallatin Roberts, which the paper published in its Feb. 9, 1921, edition, APL’s general manager, H.W. Plummer, wrote, “We cannot see our way clear to opening our books for inspection … for the reason among others, that it would likely result in further adjournment of a case already too long delayed.” The move did not sit well with the public. Over 11,000 residents signed a petition asking the state commission to deny the rate increase. “The Asheville Power and Light company prejudiced its case seriously with the people of Asheville when it refused to grant … the City free access to its books and records,” The Asheville Citizen wrote in its Feb. 10 edition. “It raised a strong presumption in the minds of many people that the company was trying to conceal from the City its true financial status[.]” On April 29, 1921, the paper reported APL’s decision to withdrawal its application. Plummer offered no explanation to reporters about the move. Two days later, in a letter to the editor, Asheville resident Thomas J. Rickman cheered the decision. Within the same missive, he also proactively outlined reasons why APL should refrain from ever raising its gas rates, a move that was also being pursued by the company.
Residents protest proposed rate increase on streetcars, 1921 Asheville, that their pocketbooks are in no wise bulging. It is a source of great pride, as well as one of the greatest benefits, that we have some wealthy citizens, but not enough, if they cared to do so, to supply the street railway company with sufficient patronage to make its wheels turn.
PACKED SQUARE: In 1921, over 11,000 residents signed a petition to the State Corporation Commission objecting to Asheville Power & Light Co.’s proposed 2-cent increase on streetcar fare. Photo from the John D. Caldwell file B140-8, courtesy of Buncombe County Special Collections, Asheville “It may not be as well known to the entire management of this most highly appreciated corporation, as it is to some of us natives that this Western North Carolina, the garden spot of the world, is nevertheless in the main ‘a poor man’s country,’” Rickman wrote. “It is perhaps as easy a place as may be found in America for a man to till a small acreage and get an abundant living for himself and family,” Rickman continued, “but such an husbandman cannot become in the ordinary three scores and ten years of his life, either a Vanderbilt, or a Rockefeller.” Rickman concluded his letter with a detailed account of the city’s haves and have-nots, writing: “Hence our argument, the boarding-house keeps are not rich, the carpenters must economize, so of all the other craftsmen — the clerks and the salespeople must live economic lives — the doctors can live as they please, but we can vouch for about 100 lawyers in
“So, Mr. Street Car and Mr. Gas and Electric Company, we are a common people, with common income — we are good patrons of your company, but we are forced to economize, we need as low fares and as low gas and light rates as possibly can be given us, and when you give us such rate we will give you so much greater patronage that you will make more money than if you charge the higher restricted rates. This will be found to be the truth and it is now no secret that the railroads have well nigh killed the goose that lays the golden eggs, by excessive freight and passenger rates. The people can only stand so much and they have been overtaxed.” Editor’s note: Peculiarities of spelling and punctuation are preserved from the original documents. X
‘The necessities of life’ Not long after Thomas J. Rickman wrote his May 1, 1921, letter to the editor concerning the economic hardships most Asheville residents faced, another community member offered additional insight into the financial struggles the everyday citizen experienced. Below is the anonymous writer’s May 7, 1921, letter to the editor. It was signed, “Working Man.” “The people of Asheville were delighted to learn this evening that the cost of living has ‘been slashed 50 per cent.’ The headlines over an article in the afternoon paper carried this welcome information to its readers. A perusal of the article following the headline, however, brought sad disappointments, for therein it was found that the afternoon paper evidently expects people to live on bread, potatoes, canned tomatoes, grits, rice, and coffee. At least these are the articles of food given as ’the basic necessities in food.’ “In some of the homes I know, people have to pay house rent, buy coal and wood, drugs, fresh meats, bacon, fruits, fish, milk, butter, and many other articles that are absolutely necessary, and should be counted in the cost of living. Then clothes, shoes and ‘suchlike,’ and school books, and doctor’s fees, and street car fare, and gas, and electric lights, and one thing and another, are also necessary to one’s living. So I am at loss to understand just how the afternoon paper figures that living costs have been reduced 50 per cent. It would be interesting, to say the least, to see a full list of life’s necessities given in comparative prices, instead of giving bread, canned tomatoes, grits, rice and coffee as constituting the necessities of life.” X
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAY 5-14, 2021 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 Slow Art Friday: Where Have All the People Gone? Discussion led by touring docent Sylvia Horvath at Asheville Art Museum. FR (5/14), 12pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9c1
LITERARY Malaprop's Author Discussion Featuring Heather Frese, author of The Baddest Girl on the Planet, in conversation with Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle. WE (5/12), 6pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9bw Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance: Reader Meet Writer Featuring Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, authors of Blood and Treasure: Daniel Boone and the Fight for America's First Frontier. TH (5/13), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9bv
WNCHA 2020 Outstanding Achievement Award Ceremony Presented to Ann Miller Woodford for her work preserving and promoting the history of African American people in WNC. TU (5/18), 6:30pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/98g LGRWC Public Readings: Rick Bragg, Silas House and Paisley Rekdal Looking Glass Rock Writers’ Conference faculty, Rick Bragg, Silas House and Paisley Rekdal, give public readings. FR-SA (5/21-22), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9dc
THEATER In the Middle of Nowhere Original drama written by Bret Murphy and directed by Katie Jones. Tickets: avl.mx/9af. FR-SU (5/14-16), 7:30pm/7:30pm/4pm, $23, The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St
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Montford Park Players: A Comedy of Errors Shakespeare production directed by Mandy Bean. Tickets: avl.mx/9aL FR-SU (5/14-167), 7:30pm, $10, Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay St Variety Show: Magnetic in the (Smoky) Park Outdoor variety show featuring music, dance, comedy, storytelling, magic, fire breathing and mime. TU (5/18), 7pm, $18, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr
ACTIVISM Virtual Event to End Homelessness Updates from Executive Director Meredith Switzer, a film by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Katie Damien, and more. WE (5/12), 12pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/prvx
ANIMALS Owen Park Bird Walk Free bird walk led by Ventures Birding guides at Owen Park. Limited to 12 people. SA (5/15), 8am, Registration required, Jackson Park, 801 Glover St, Hendersonville
BENEFITS Eblen Charities: 20th Anniversary Walk, Run or Roll Walk, run or cycle anywhere you want, any time you want between May 8-15 to support the work of Eblen Charities. Proceeds will provide emergency housing assistance. SA-SA (5/8-15), Registration required, avl.mx/9b7
Zoom Yoga Benefitting Water4Her Zoom class taught by Greta Kent-Stoll in partnership with Girl Up Asheville. All levels. WE (5/12), 5:30pm, Registration required, $5, avl.mx/9dd Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders: Fundraising Breakfast Livestreamed fundraiser open to the general public in support of NC non-profit. TH (5/20), 7:30am, Registration required, avl.mx/9cp
BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY SBCN: How to Start a Business 101 Start-Up Assistance webinar with Holly Yanker. TH (5/20), 10am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9b2 The Collider & Color of Science: Celebration of Science Speaker Series TH (5/20), 5pm, Free, avl.mx/90f
CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS Perspectives: Onicas Gaddis A conversation with Onicas Gaddis, featured artist in the exhibition I AM A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD and student of BMC alumna Sarah Carlisle Towery. WE (5/12), 1pm, avl.mx/9de Introduction to Medicare: Understanding the Puzzle The Council on Aging of Buncombe County, in conjunction with the N.C. Department of Insurance’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), presents webinar. WE (5/12), 5:30pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9df
Autistic Adults United Monthly Adult Support Meet & Greet All adult autistics are welcome, including professionally and self-diagnosed. FR (5/14), 4pm, Free, avl.mx/9d2 Dealing with ‘Creepy Energies’ Through Dowsing Zoom presentation by Roxanne Louise, former President of the American Society of Dowsers. SA (5/15), 1pm, Registration required, avl.mx/9cn Progressive Alliance of Henderson County: Advocacy Workshop Virtual workshop led by Dawn Kucera, covering efficacy in public communication. SA (5/15), 2pm, Free, avl.mx/98z Virtual Discussion on Homelessness Thrive Asheville and partners host a Folding Chair panel discussion and networking event on affordable housing. SU (5/16), 6pm, Registration required. avl.mx/9cq WNC Historical Association: 2020 Outstanding Achievement Award Ceremony Gathering to honor Ann Miller Woodford for her work preserving and promoting the history of African American people in far Western North Carolina. TU (5/18), 6:30pm, Registration required,Free, avl.mx/98g Tax-Saving Strategies for Small Businesses Informational webinar on reducing taxable income, led by Don Nalley. WE (5/19), 11:30am, avl.mx/9dg Baha’i Devotional: Joy in Times of Hardship This Devotional will include prayers and music, connecting with spiritual nature. WE (5/19), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9d9 Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy: Virtual Lunch and Learn SAHC land protection team discusses why conservation easements are important and share examples of past projects. TH (5/20), 12pm, Free, avl.mx/9cz Craft Research Talks: The New Politics of the Handmade Virtual discussion with authors and Craft Research Fund recipients Anthea Black and Nicole Burisch about their latest book, The New Politics of the Handmade: Craft, Art, & Design. TH (5/20), 3pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9dh
The Mental Health Challenges of the Pandemic Mental health challenges resulting from COVID-19 and how the All Souls Counseling Center addresses these challenges. Open to the public. TH (5/20), 12pm, Registration required, avl.mx/9da Expand Your Circle: Speed Connecting Event for Womxn Entrepreneurs Free and casual speed connecting event. TH (5/20), 5:30pm, Registration required, Focal Point Coworking, 125 South Lexington Ave, Suite 101
FESTIVALS, MARKETS & FAIRS American Craft Beer Week at Highland Brewing Celebrate all things craft beer with a week full of events. MO-SU (5/10-16), Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy #200 Flat Rock Farmers Market Local market offering fresh local produce, seafood, prepared foods, natural handcrafted soaps and personal products, olive oil, spices and more. TH (5/13), 3pm, Flat Rock Farmers Market, 1790 Greenville Hwy, Hendersonville
WELLNESS City of Hendersonville: Document Shred & Drug Take-Back Event Paper disposal for Hendersonville residents, plus medication disposal for all. Food donations accepted for Interfaith Assistance Ministry. FR (5/14), 9am, Free, Dogwood Parking Lot, 423 N Church St, Hendersonville Pack Memorial Library: Virtual Pilates Alexis from Cisco Pilates Asheville leads a beginner-friendly class. SA (5/15), 11am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/9cl Steady Collective Syringe Access Outreach Free naloxone, syringes and educational material on harm reduction. TU (5/18), 2pm, Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS NAACP May Membership Meeting The Jackson County Branch #54AB of NC NAACP will discuss: Should Sylva's Confederate Monument be removed? Community discussion. SA (5/15), 10am, Register: jcnaacp54ab@ gmail.com
SPIRITUALITY Recipe for Serenity: Journey of Self Discovery How to reconnect with your inner joy and peace using the "Emotional Freedom" technique. TH (5/13), 6pm, Register: anancy08@ gmail.com, Free
VOLUNTEERING Asheville Outlets Hosts May American Red Cross Blood Drive The donation drive will be held in Suite 348 located across from RH Outlet. FR (5/21), 11am, Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Rd
Hendersonville Farmers Market Fresh produce, meats, baked goods, crafts, live entertainment, food trucks and more. SA (5/15), 8am, Historic Hendersonville Train Depot, 650 Maple St Mills River Farmers Market Tailgate market in WNC featuring local produce, meat and cheese, eggs, and local crafts. SA (5/15), 8am, Mills River Elementary School, 94 Schoolhouse Rd, Mills River Westside Creative Market Local handmade goods and artwork. SA (5/15), 11am, Haywood Quick Stop, 495 Haywood Rd Asheville Punk Flea Pop-up flea market featuring vendors from local and surrounding areas. SU (5/16), 12pm, Fleetwood’s, 496 Haywood Road
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WELLNESS
Out of darkness
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Nonprofit Light a Path helps incarcerated people take the next step Issue CARMELA CARUSO carmela.caruso@yahoo.com “It can happen to anybody,” says Sybriea Lundy, 40, a former high school valedictorian who spent the better part of a decade in prison for a first-time drug offense. As she speaks, Lundy pushes a double-wide stroller carrying her daughters, ages 2 and 3, born a year and a day apart. With her hair pulled into a simple ponytail and a strawberry print mask gathered beneath her chin, she looks like any mom taking her kids for a walk in the park. Lundy was tried on drug trafficking charges in 2010. Her subsequent conviction, which followed prior lesser charges, brought a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 ½ years. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, over 46% of those now in prison are serving sentences related to drug charges. The vast majority of those who are incarcerated — 95% — will eventually be released back into society. But their prospects will be grim: Within three years of being released, two out of three returning citizens will be rearrested, and 50% will face repeat incarceration, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Programs aimed at rehabilitation vary within correctional facilities. Although an estimated 65% of the prison population is actively dealing with issues of substance abuse, only about 11% receive treatment, according to the American Public Health Association.
ON A BETTER PATH: Movement modalities, including yoga, strength training and running, are among the ways the nonprofit Light a Path helps those who are incarcerated cope with the conditions of their confinement and prepare to reenter society. Photo by Connie Matisse, courtesy of Light a Path
Dr. Elizabeth Garbarino
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SENSE OF FREEDOM
Lundy counts herself lucky to have been able to participate in programs offered by Light a Path, an Asheville-based nonprofit that brings yoga and movement to underserved populations, while serving the final 2 ½ years of her sentence at the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women. Light a Path was founded in 2014 with the mission of creating resilience through connection. Youths, older adults, the unhoused, those in recovery, veterans and the incarcerated may participate in LAP programs. Andie Morgenladner, who served until recently as program coordinator, explains the organization’s work in the community. “The hope is,” says Morgenladner, “that by sharing a yoga practice that is decolonized even within these systems that are oppressive, that we can create some sense of freedom, some sense of autonomy.” Participants have a choice about how much — or how little — they engage during class. Being able to feel body sensations helps establish feelings of regulation and safety, especially for individuals who have endured trauma. “Light a Path’s mission is all about creating connection and creating both individual and collective resilience through connection,” says Morgenladner. She stresses that volunteers and teachers heal alongside the populations they serve.
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“There needs to be more care and nurturing,” says Lundy. “I understand it’s not summer camp and we’re not there for being good Girl Scouts, but there has to be a human element to it. The first thing they do when you get there is they strip your name and give you a number. Have we not learned anything?”
FINDING HER PLACE
The sense of connection, not only with herself and her body, but also with others, was a key factor in Lundy’s healing. “To be in prison and to have somebody willing to come in and shake your hand and not look at you like you’re a disease, that means more than I can ever express,” says Lundy through tears. The notion of belonging was a powerful one for Lundy, and something she says ultimately led to
her prison sentence. She describes a childhood of not fitting in and finding community through selling marijuana when she was 14. “It just kind of snowballed from there,” she says, describing how she turned down a college scholarship because she was making too much money selling LSD. “I didn’t think people like me could go to prison, and that is just as presumptuous as it sounds,” says Lundy. “When I got there, I was nothing. I had no self-esteem left. And when I started my practice [with LAP], it was like rebuilding me from the ground up. Like I had been stripped down to rock bottom and had to put roots down there. And my practice is what helped me to center myself.” After being released from prison, Lundy attended LAP’s Saturday morning running group, which she says was instrumental in helping her transition into Asheville, a city where she had no previous ties. “Light a Path is a perfect name for them because that’s exactly what they do. They gave me that
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MDTMT "Where our father's hand shapes tomorrow's man."
WE LLNE SS tether,” says Lundy. “I felt like I was coming out to people I knew who actually cared about me and wanted me to be successful. That was major. I don’t feel I could have come out and found my place in the community like I did without them.” In addition to her role as a mother of young children, Lundy now works with a local nonprofit and takes classes at A-B Tech. THE CHALLENGE OF REENTRY
Operating at full capacity with Covid safety measures as our highest priority Partners with Asheville City Schools Foundation to offer summer school programs. Members were paid $10 per hour for 10 hours per week to attend classes. Partners with A’ville Housing Authority & Asheville City Schools to offer learning pods. Monday through Friday, 10-14 youths can participate in virtual learning & academics. Currently focused on job training & skill building programs for 45 of its youth members Future goals include procuring our own building to provide more programming, resources & space
Now accepting new participants
Open Mon-Fri 5:30-8:00 p.m. Extracurriculars being offered on the weekends
MY DADDY TAUGHT ME THAT 3 SOUTH TUNNEL ROAD, ASHEVILLE, NC 28805 32
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Transitioning back into the community is difficult for many who have been incarcerated. Brent Bailey, Buncombe County reentry coordinator, explains, “They come out and continue to have the collateral consequences of their conviction, and that hurts people.” Bailey, who was also formerly incarcerated, helps connect returning citizens with housing, employment, transportation and education. He cites social stigma as one of the major challenges that returning citizens must overcome, especially when reentering the workforce.
Making the connection Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which interrupted nonprofit programming of all kinds — including that provided by Light a Path — the organization: • Offered 21 classes a week in yoga, meditation, strength training and running. • S erved 17 facilities throughout Western North Carolina. • R eached approximately 311 participants every month. • W orked with youths, the incarcerated, the unhoused, seniors, veterans and those in recovery. • Was run by a team of three part-time staff members, four board members, six program heads and 50 volunteers. In-person programming remains on hold for now, says Debra Kiliru, interim executive director. More information is available at lightapath.org. X
“I think some companies are missing out on some really good employees,” says Bailey, “because they’re so bound to that criminal background when a lot of times … it’s in the background.” He waves his hands to emphasize his talking points. “Most people do not have a life sentence. If they are coming back to the community, then it does benefit the community to receive them and embrace them.”
When she was 12 weeks pregnant with her first child, Lundy learned her daughter would have Down syndrome. Volunteers at LAP offered support, care and encouragement through the pregnancy and beyond, she recalls. “I finally felt accepted and welcomed,” says Lundy. “They were OK with me. They actually wanted me. And I can’t tell you how much that meant.” X
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GREEN ROUNDUP by Daniel Walton | dwalton@mountainx.com
American Chestnut Foundation, EBCI plan long-term restoration work The American chestnut, once a key component of the forests that Western North Carolina’s Indigenous Cherokee call home, has all but disappeared from the landscape over the past century, a casualty of the chestnut blight fungus. Now, a new agreement between The American Chestnut Foundation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians aims to bring the tree back to native lands. The Asheville-based nonprofit TACF has spent decades developing new chestnut varieties that can resist the blight through both traditional breeding and genetic modification. Under the memorandum of understanding with the EBCI, tribal members would establish a demonstration orchard of these disease-resistant trees and use them to cross-pollinate local wild chestnuts. Eventually, the Cherokee aim to repopulate their entire Qualla
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SPROUTS OF HOPE: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and The American Chestnut Foundation staffers visit an EBCI greenhouse to be used for propagating American chestnuts. Photo courtesy of Joey Owle Boundary territory using chestnut seeds grown in tribal orchards. “I hope that one day in the future — 200, 500, 1,000 years from now — those generations can stand next to a 6- or 8-foot diameter chestnut tree in our mountains and be able to trace the story of that tree back to today,” said Joey Owle, the EBCI’s secretary of agriculture and natural resources, in a press release announcing the agreement. The memorandum’s timeline indicates that the demonstration orchard might be planted within the next two years, while seed production orchards might come online within
seven years. Repopulating the forest, however, “may take a century or longer.”
UNCA commits to carbon neutrality by 2050 After extensive student activism, UNC Asheville has pledged to become entirely carbon neutral by 2050. That commitment places the school among just 10% of American colleges and universities, according to a press release announcing the move.
“We had overwhelming student support for the signing of the Carbon Commitment. Petitions were signed by several student organizations, such as Asheville Students for a Healthy Environment, UNC Asheville Divest Coalition, Student Environmental Center and the Student Government Association,” said John Pierce, UNCA’s vice chancellor for budget and finance. “Not only does the Carbon Commitment align with our students’ values, but also our institutional core values.” Initial steps toward the goal include the creation of a climate action plan, a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and greater discussion of climate change in the school’s curriculum. UNCA will also conduct an annual progress evaluation and identify immediate opportunities for carbon reductions. In 2019, UNCA became the first school in the UNC system to divert part of its endowment from investments with ties to fossil fuels. That divestment involved roughly 10% of the university’s $50 million in assets.
Strive Beyond marks 30th anniversary A regional effort to encourage car-free transportation celebrates 30 years this month. Strive Beyond (formerly Strive Not to Drive), organized by the Land of Sky Regional Council, French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization and WNC nonprofit partners, offers a full week of events Monday-Friday, May 17-21. Before Strive Beyond Week proper, AARP Mountain Region and Asheville-based conservation nonprofit MountainTrue are hosting a free webinar about local alternative modes of transportation at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13. Topics include transit, greenways and complete streets; more information and registration available at avl.mx/9cs. The full schedule of events is available at StriveBeyond.org. Participants can also sign the online Strive Not to Drive Pledge, committing to go without a car for the week, at avl.mx/9ct.
GREEN TEAM: UNC Asheville Chancellor Nancy Cable, center, signed a commitment for the school to go carbon neutral by 2050 with the support of students, staff and faculty. Photo courtesy of UNCA 34
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Save the date
• After months of work by artist Matt Willey, downtown Hendersonville’s Bee and Pollinator Mural will be dedicated in a 10:30 a.m. ceremony on Thursday, May 13. The artwork, painted on the side of the Hands On! Children’s Museum and accompanied by a nearby pollinator garden, is meant to inspire residents to sustain healthy local ecosystems.
• The Creation Care Alliance’s summer Eco-Grief Circles kick off Thursday, May 13. The seven-week online program aims to honestly address sorrow and suffering tied to ecological crises with support from counselors, pastors and environmental advocates. More information and registration available at avl.mx/9cd. • As part of a four-episode series on the local impacts of climate change, MountainTrue hosts a webinar on adaptation and mitigation strategies for the Blue Ridge Mountains at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 20. Speakers include the organization’s ecologist, Bob Gale, and field biologist, Josh Kelly. More information and registration available at avl.mx/9cb. • Registration is now open for the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina’s summer camp, Our Big Backyard. The five-day sessions, which run Monday-Friday, July 12-16 or 26-30, feature a mix of virtual and in-person activities designed to help children ages 6-12 explore the natural world. More information available at avl.mx/9cc; all campers must be registered by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 20, by emailing selliott@foothillsconservancy.org.
News to use
• Hendersonville-based nonprofit Conserving Carolina recently opened the 2.1-mile Youngs Mountain Trail in the Hickory Nut Gorge. The steep, out-and-back path offers views of Chimney Rock State Park and Buffalo Creek Park, along with other area mountains. Parking at the trailhead is limited, and hikers must register for a free parking day pass at avl.mx/9ce. • MountainTrue will resume weekly Swim Guide updates on Thursday, May 27 — just in time for Memorial Day weekend. The results for the French Broad River, available at TheSwimGuide.org, show if E. coli levels at approximately 30 popular streams and recreation areas exceed standards set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. • The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission reminds WNC residents and visitors that snake sightings are likely to become more common as the weather warms. WRC staffers are also seeking reports of northern pine snakes
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GR EEN
OUT AND ABOUT: Conserving Carolina’s recently opened Youngs Mountain Trail provides striking views of the Hickory Nut Gorge from several rock outcroppings. Photo courtesy of Conserving Carolina and all rattlesnake species to help their conservation efforts. Sightings with accompanying photos can be reported by email to pinesnake@ncwildlife.org and rattlesnake@ncwildlife.org or submitted through the HerpMapper mobile app.
• A nother NCWRC program, the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Pisgah Forest, is seeking volunteers to fill a number of roles. Responsibilities include fishing mentors, front desk greeters and gardeners. For more information, call 828-877-4423 or
Advancing Sustainability in the Built Environment. Since 2001, Green Built Alliance has been committed to advancing sustainability in the built environment through community education, measurable standards and regional action. Together, we can make the places where we live and work healthier for us and the environment.
Offering programs for the community including:
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email lee.sherrill@ncwildife.org or melinda.patterson@ncwildlife.org.
Community kudos • A sheville-based nonprofit EcoForesters announced the formation of the Forest Restoration and Stewardship Fund to foster invasive species control on permanently protected lands. With support from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and 15 business partners, the fund will provide up to $30,000 in grants through 2021. More information and donation details available at avl.mx/9cf. • The Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina received a grant of nearly $244,000 from the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation to begin construction on the Wilderness Gateway State Trail. The 6.8-mile section in McDowell and Rutherford counties is the first of roughly 100 planned miles for the trail, which will stretch from the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail in the west to the towns of Hickory and Newton in the east.
• Irene Rossell, a professor of environmental studies at UNC Asheville, received the school’s Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. A press release announcing the honor particularly noted her work with Science on the Move, a program that offers field trips and multimedia science activities to the children of local migrant farmworkers. • A team from Asheville’s Nesbitt Discovery Academy earned first place in the community service learning project category at the NC Envirothon for its work on water quality monitoring and improvement. The students will install a stormwater wetland to help remediate the former site of an electronics manufacturing plant located on the school’s campus. • The Friends of DuPont Forest named seven new board members: Al Beers, Amanda FoxMcGlashan, Jonas Lichty, Carolyn Morrisroe, Walter Perry, Miriam Pflug and Michael Stewart. The Hendersonville-based nonprofit supports trails and natural resource conservation at the DuPont State Recreational Forest. X
Do you want a clean, bright future for Buncombe County? We do.
Our demand for energy demands action.
Save money, save energy! • Sign up your home or business for Solarize AshevilleBuncombe at solarizeabc.com • Have questions about your home’s energy use? Schedule an Energy Chat with us at bluehorizonsproject.com > for my home • Volunteer with Energy Savers Network providing free energy upgrades to our low-income neighbors energysaversnetwork.org
Visit bluehorizonsproject.com for more ways to save energy and create our clean energy future!
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ARTS & CULTURE
Relish the return of Chow Chow The culinary festival sets a table for food, drink and community engagement BY KAY WEST kwest@mountainx.com Food justice. Racial justice. Climate change. Three subjects that burned brightly under a national spotlight in 2020 — sparking discussion, debate, legislation and activism — are also informing the mission and programming of a festival that launched in September 2019 as Chow Chow: An Asheville Culinary Event and returns in June as Chow Chow: An Asheville Culinary Event Series. By most accounts, Chow Chow 2019 made a spectacular debut: Thousands enjoyed a feast of food and drink from local, regional and national chefs, restaurateurs, makers, bakers, breweries, wineries and distillers under and around the Grand Tasting Tent in Pack Square. Attendees also watched cooking demonstrations, attended workshops and seminars, and indulged in themed multicourse meals. Furthermore, the gathering helped raise over $50,000 for its nonprofit partner MANNA FoodBank while fulfilling its mission of “celebrating and enriching the unique foodways of the Southern Appalachian region.” But, as organizers discovered from feedback solicited after the event, not everyone felt celebrated or even seen as participants, and many whose labor supports Asheville’s food and beverage industry were vocal in pointing out that pricey tickets kept them from attending the party. Those criticisms were a significant part of the conversations in the early meetings for the sophomore Chow Chow; national and local issues of injustice and impar-
CHOP CHOP: Chef Silver Cousler will cook and share their experiences in the restaurant business in the opening and closing events of Chow Chow, newly structured and purposed for 2021. Photo by Alex Reno ity laid bare in 2020 guided discussions that took on more urgency and demanded more relevancy in planning for a post-pandemic festival.
NOT HIDDEN AWAY
Chef Silver Cousler, whose talents have been mined in some of Asheville’s highest-profile kitchens and is preparing to open Neng Jr. in West Asheville this summer, was not part of Chow Chow 2019. “From
my perspective, it felt like a festival for people who don’t live here,” says Cousler, who is Filipino-American and uses gender-neutral pronouns. “Asheville looks so white on the surface, but we’re all here. It’s important to see more of us, to see the diversity and to be represented and not hidden away.” Cousler will not be unseen this year. With chefs Michelle Bailey, J Chong and Ashleigh Shanti, Cousler will kick off the summerlong string
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of events that comprises Chow Chow 2021 with the Appalachian Pride Brunch on Sunday, June 27, at Bailey’s riverside restaurant, Smoky Park Supper Club. Cousler bookends the festival by cooking for the closing dinner, Food Stories, on Sept. 26 at the Funkatorium, alongside Shanti and Gypsy Queen Cuisine chef and owner Suzy Phillips. “I think they are doing an incredible job this year of creating something far more inclusive,” Cousler says, pointing out that the upcoming festival features many broad collaborations and offers more approachable price points than the inaugural event. “This last year demanded more critical thinking about how to represent others, which is very important in food and community.” Chow Chow Executive Director Rebecca Lynch and board president Jess Reiser — founder and CEO of Burial Beer and Forestry Camp Bar and Restaurant — could not agree more. They point to 2020 and the pandemic-forced pause as a catalyst for positive changes affecting everything from programming to production. Reiser, a Chow Chow charter board member, says the success of the 2019 festival initially showed the nonprofit that it needed a permanent executive director to not only manage logistics but also to maintain the board’s vision and guide its evolution over time. Applying the feedback from 2019 to Chow Chow’s future became another task for a director. “We heard a lot about community participation — or rather the lack of that,” Reiser says. “We needed to examine how to ensure that the network of relationships in Chow Chow is not limited and is a true representation of the Asheville community as a whole.” Lynch — with the experience and deep connections formed through 15 years in development at the Asheville Art Museum — was hired in December 2019 (Shay Brown, owner of Shay Brown Events, was named festival director). By the time Lynch stepped into her new role in January 2020, the board had begun planning for the second Chow Chow to take place that September. “I plunged in, and we were moving right along until mid-March, when the whole world changed,” she recalls. “Fairly soon, it became obvious we would have to cancel; we announced that at the end of April [2020].”
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SETTING THE TABLE
While the event was called off, the work was not; the board continued to meet virtually, having hard and frank discussions about mission and vision and how the events of 2020 were affecting the festival. “We had time for intentional thinking about Chow Chow and its relevancy, and that offered us an opportunity to explore a new model,” Lynch says. In November, the board convened — masked and distanced — for a daylong retreat to discuss what a return of Chow Chow might look like. “We studied the feedback we received from folks who deeply care about Asheville as a whole and their neighborhoods, families, communities and businesses,” Reiser recalls. “We created a community event, but who did we not include in 2019? How could we do it differently and respond more inclusively? ” What emerged was an articulation of guiding principles: food justice, racial justice and climate change. “We examined what our role as an organization and an event could be in those initiatives,” Reiser says. “We want to provide a platform for conversation surrounding those issues that impact
not just restaurants and agriculture but our community as a whole.” In such uncertain times and with no crystal ball to the future, another question that loomed large was what was feasible and possible. “We made the decision to build a festival structure that could be held under the health and safety mandates at that time,” says Lynch. “We hoped and knew things could get better, but we couldn’t plan for conditions we were not sure of.” The board constructed an outline of a three-month-long series of events that would include limited-capacity, in-person and immersive educational programs, signature events such as meals and tastings, and virtual presentations. The board also committed to providing honorariums to all participants, as well as stipends toward food costs for chefs. As they got down to the nitty-gritty of fleshing out programming from a base of concepts, the board members continued reaching out to local thought leaders, industry workers and community members, and sought
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A R TS & CU LTU R E venues that could engage a wider geographic swath.
Keeping Asheville Weird Since 2010 VOTED WNC #1 KAVA BAR
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SUMMER OF CHOW CHOW
Twenty-nine events are scheduled for the Summer of Chow Chow. Nourishing Community at Southside Kitchen is planned to address efforts to achieve food security in the community and highlight the work of local initiatives such as We Give a Share, Asheville Strong and Southside Kitchen. Chocolate & Climate Change is an online event, as is Racial Equity & The Wine Industry, a virtual conversation moderated by Asian Wine Professionals founder Icy Liu. Recipes from Rabbit’s Motel will be a tapas-and-drinks graze featuring food, beverage and music inspired by Asheville’s Black-owned Rabbit’s Motel, which opened in 1948 to serve Black travelers. Diaspora will explore the origins and fusion of cuisines, examining what is lost and what is gained when food and people migrate, changing traditional ethnic dishes to suit American palates. Meanwhile, for the Appalachian Pride Brunch, Cousler, Bailey, Chong and Shanti will each create an appetizer then pair up — Cousler with
Shanti and Chong with Bailey — to cook two main courses. Food Stories will partner Cousler with BeLoved Asheville co-director Ponkho Bermejo. “He will tell a story, and I’ll create a dish to interpret his story,” Cousler explains. “I’m excited to see where that goes.” Reiser points out that while the programming is informed by mindfulness, food centers the conversation. “We are a culinary-based organization, so from our lane, how can we raise awareness about these really important issues through what we know and do?” she asks. “We believe we can do that through food and drink. We know that no matter your culture, your status, your origin, people come together at a table.” Lynch says Chow Chow 2021 is committed to a crowded table. “We intend to showcase the many and diverse creative hands that set Asheville’s table, welcome the community to gather around that table in whatever way they can and broaden our understanding of one another.” The full schedule for Chow Chow 2021 and tickets to each event can be found at avl.mx/65t. X
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ARTS & C U L T U R E
CRAFT
The creative thread continues Local Cloth celebrates move to River Arts District
BY BILL KOPP
ON THE MOVE: With plans for further expansion, Asheville nonprofit Local Cloth is relocating from the South Slope to the River Arts District. The organization will celebrate its new home with a grand opening on Saturday, June 12. Photo courtesy of Local Cloth
103.3 Asheville FM Our mission is to provide diverse and eclectic programming that inspires our listeners to build connections across our communities and to discover new music and ideas. Unlike other stations, we do that with volunteer DJs who know and love our community. During this pandemic we are here to keep you informed about what’s happening; provide you with music and entertainment while you stay home; and keep us all connected as a community when we cannot do so physically. Thanks for listening! info@ashevillefm.org ashevillefm.org | 828.348.0352 864 Haywood Rd., Asheville
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Nonprofit Issue
A decade since it launched, Local Cloth is entering its next phase, moving from its previous location inside The Refinery on the South Slope to a community-centered space at 408 Depot St. in the River Arts District. The nonprofit will host its grand opening on Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; the celebration will feature demonstrations, workshops and live music. The move, notes Jetson, is a welcome change for an organization that has plans for continued growth.
bill@musoscribe.com Since 2011, Local Cloth — an Asheville-based nonprofit composed of fiber hobbyists and full-time professionals alike — has been committed to growing the economy of the region’s textile and fiber sector “by connecting people that raise the raw material with those who use [the] materials to make garments and household goods,” says Judi Jetson, the organization’s chairman. During this time, support for the group’s work has steadily increased. According to the nonprofit’s website, the Asheville “fibershed” (defined as the fiber community located within a 100-mile radius of the city) includes 2,500 fiber hobbyists, 462 fiber animal farms, more than 400 fiber art professionals, 80 related galleries, over 80 textile-related retail shops, and seven
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schools and colleges with programs in fiber arts. Taken together, these numbers underscore the organization’s crucial role in supporting and promoting the sector. Jetson likens part of what Local Cloth does for its constituents to the local food goals of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. “It’s a very typical rural economic development strategy in the U.S. and in developing countries,” she explains. “You see what raw materials are present in the community, then you figure out how to add value to them and how to substitute them for things that may be imported.”
IN THE BEGINNING
Local Cloth started out small, putting together educational exhibits explaining how clothes are made. “People would show their fiber and fleece,” Jetson says. “We had one exhibit where someone had an Angora rabbit in her lap and spun some yarn from it while the exhibit was going on.” From there, the membership organization grew rapidly and scheduled additional events, including a fashion show. “We found that more and more people were interested in learning some of the techniques that we use,” Jetson says, “whether it be weaving or spinning or dyeing or painting on fabric.” Recognizing its expanding role within the community, Local Cloth’s leadership began exploring possibilities to acquire a space to host classes. Ultimately, in 2015, the group found a home at The Refinery on Coxe Avenue. At the time, the Asheville Area Arts Council managed the site. “We were
one of their ‘anchor tenants,’” Jetson says. “One of a few organizations that would help provide some ongoing stability in the building.” During its five years at The Refinery, Local Cloth grew its membership to more than 200 people. Educational offerings increased at a similar pace. “We established that not only was there a need for classes and interest in them, but that we could provide some income to local artists [through] teaching,” Jetson explains. Currently, the organization offers 70 to 100 classes each year, taught by 25 to 30 different local instructors. The pandemic has led Local Cloth to provide some of its training online via Zoom, which Jetson believes will continue even after the COVID-19 era subsides. But returning to in-person classes remains essential to the nonprofit’s identity. “I still can’t teach beginning spinning class online,” Jetson says. “And I probably never will, because it’s really tactile.”
NEXT LOGICAL STEP
For Jetson, the move to the River Arts District is the next logical step
for the organization. The new space is three times larger than Local Cloth’s footprint at The Refinery and will include a retail gallery, working areas for resident artists and plenty of room for classes. But its greatest asset, notes Jetson, is its visibility. The River Arts District attracts more foot traffic, which Jetson believes will help put Local Cloth on the map, moving the organization from an intentionally quiet endeavor to “something that more people can take part in.” Over the years, Jetson continues, she has found that people join the nonprofit for a number of reasons. Some come for the perks. “We give a little bit better price on classes if you’re a member,” she says. Constituents who sell their fiber goods at the organization’s annual Fiber Farmers Day also get a discount on booth rentals. “But a lot of people are members because they believe in the mission,” Jetson emphasizes. “They believe in growing the fiber economy, and joining Local Cloth is part of the way they can participate and support it.” To learn more about Local Cloth, visit avl.mx/9cg. X
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ARTS & CU L T U R E
MUSIC
The time and age of renegades Saint Disruption, vigilance deadname and Clint Roberts release new albums
BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com Saint Disruption’s origin story seems destined to go down as one of the alltime great anecdotes in music history. In 2008, Asheville-based biophysicist and shaman Jeff Firewalker Schmitt and renowned keyboardist John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood) just so happened to be visiting the same healer deep inside the Amazon rainforests of Ecuador. The two became fast friends and kept in touch over the years, confident that they’d eventually work together. But it wasn’t until the start of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined Medeski from touring, that they committed to a project. “It was kind of based on a mutual discovery of ours that we were both huge fans of [hip-hop pioneers] The Last Poets and understood their seminal place in music history and in the history of giving voice to the oppressed,” Schmitt says. A drummer since his teenage days, Schmitt had largely set music aside to focus on his work as a folk healer and practitioner of plant medicine. But after being instructed in meditation to put his professional findings to poetry and music, he crafted 10 solo demos that spoke to what he calls “the unhealed ethos of the American landscape” that began bubbling to the surface of society at large after the May 25, 2020, death of George Floyd. Though happy with those initial creations, Schmitt sensed something was missing. Tapping into indigenous wisdom that encourages people to seek out original sources, he tracked down and
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PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Clockwise from left, Saint Disruption’s John Medeski and Jeff Firewalker Schmitt, along with vigilance deadname and Clint Roberts, are preparing for their returns to area music venues, each with new music in tow. Saint Disruption photo courtesy of the artists; deadname photo by Beck Bennedetta; Roberts photo by Daniel Barlow called Last Poets member Umar Bin Hassan, who he says “put truth-telling to music” during the civil rights movement and provided the main inspiration for Schmitt’s songwriting. During their engaging conversation, Hassan blessed the project by letting Schmitt use his autobiographical poem “Painstorms,” providing what Schmitt dubs “the seed crystal” for Saint Disruption.
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Medeski got to work fleshing out the sonic landscape in a studio down the road from his upstate New York home. Meanwhile, through longtime friend Cactus “Agent 23” Sullivan, Schmitt recruited nearly a dozen fellow Asheville artists to collaborate on the jazz/hip-hop fusion album, eventually titled Rose in the Oblivion, with producer Michael Hynes. Among them were Free Planet Radio percussionist River Guerguerian, Free Radio MCs Austn Haynes and Johnny Reynolds, and the latters’ vocalist bandmates Debrissa McKinney and Datrian Johnson. Schmitt, Medeski, the above core ensemble and a few other local musicians will play The Grey Eagle on Sunday, Aug. 29, and are planning a regional tour, most likely sans Medeski. Rounding out the band’s vision is a hardcover coffee table book featuring 16 paintings by 10 Asheville-area artists that visually interpret individual songs or the album overall, plus a poetry podcast spotlighting talented young writers that will debut in late June. “So much of Asheville’s well-being and economy and draw comes from the fact that we have such a sound creative
class here,” Schmitt says. “It wasn’t necessarily calculated, but what’s happened is that Saint Disruption has kind of turned into a music and art collective.” avl.mx/9c7
MAKING THE GRADE
Listening to Southerner, the new EP from nonbinary singer-songwriter and queer country musician vigilance deadname (deliberately lowercase), you may wonder if you’ve discovered a longlost Michael Stipe project. While the similarities in vocal timbre and creative lyrics aren’t purposeful homages, the Asheville-based artist is nevertheless open to the possibility that Stipe’s band, R.E.M., has played a part on some artistic level. “The foundation of my musical taste was classic rock in my dad’s truck,” says deadname. “Obviously, R.E.M. is a part of that canon, and I think we have a lot more unconscious influences than conscious ones.”
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A R TS & CU LTU R E Chief among the intentional inspirations of what the artist calls “those red truck tracks” are Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Billy Joel. And deadname also feels strongly impacted by the work of Brandi Carlile, Paul Simon, Thelonious Monk and Dwight Yoakam. This melting pot of musical heroes is evident on Southerner, the creative component of deadname’s senior capstone project at Warren Wilson College, undertaken with the musician’s professor and primary music mentor, Jason DeCristofaro. “I brought him some original tunes I wanted to use, and he used those pieces to teach me a variety of styles to use as my palette for arranging,” deadname says. “That’s how I was able to communicate in a wide variety of styles, from Americana to rhumba.” Kevin Kehrberg, deadname’s bass teacher and former major adviser, played a critical role in the project’s academic side. According to the artist, classes with Kehrberg “focused on conceptualizing and researching the ethnography attached to Southerner, which consisted of interviews with other queer country musicians in town and researching the feelings about queer country that they held in common.”
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The result is a demonstration of deadname’s ability to perform a number of instruments — acoustic and Fender Rhodes pianos, acoustic and electric guitar, electric bass, drum set, hand percussion, organ and all vocals, to be precise — across a spectrum of styles. And the lyrical exploration of how country music “illuminates what it means to be a queer Southerner,” as the EP’s Bandcamp description puts it, adds to Asheville’s already rich queer country scene, which also includes Lo Wolf, Laura Blackley, Broken Family Band, Yeller, Snakemusk, Reversels, deadname’s own band, Bless Your Heart, and a new collective the musician is a part of, called Crooked Holler. “I can speak for Bless Your Heart in saying we actively seek out other queer country/Southern artists to play with,” deadname says. “I feel a strong bond with that community.” avl.mx/9c8
BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME
After graduating from Brevard High School, Clint Roberts spent a few years bouncing in and out of college in Boone and Asheville, trying to figure out whether he could make school jibe with his particular disposition.
“To a fault, I can be very dismissive of people telling me what I should pay attention to,” he says. “That mentality isn’t particularly compatible with a career in higher education.” During that time, he also parted ways with his folk band, The Fox Fire, focused on his solo career and eventually moved to Nashville, spending a few years trying to break through. “While I ultimately found it difficult to make a name for myself, I took the work ethic and mentality that I gained back to Western North Carolina, and I’ve been there ever since,” Roberts says. Now based in Asheville, the Americana artist credits his family for their support while he honed his solo skills — including a wise-beyond-hisyears singing voice. The assistance also allowed him to stockpile enough original material for his debut album, Rose Songs, which he was able to grant his full attention to during the pandemic, thanks to the absence of what he calls “the very pleasant distraction of live shows,” and being signed by the Carry On Music label. To record the collection, Roberts returned to Nashville and, in collaboration with producer Ben Fowler and such talented, witty session musicians as
Gordon Mote and Bryan Sutton, feels he got the songs as close as possible to how he envisioned them. The days they spent tracking flew by for Roberts but taught him plenty, including just how green he is in the music business. “I started the sessions by overexplaining what I wanted from each song. Once I understood the caliber of musicians I was working with, I learned to keep my mouth shut and trust their intuitions,” Roberts says. “Occasionally, some creative course correction was necessary, but for the most part, everyone intuitively understood what I wanted, or simply had better ideas.” As the album’s title hints, many of the compositions on Rose Songs are about one person, and with that project now out in the world, Roberts is finding inspiration from a range of different sources. Temporarily satisfied with writing introspective songs, he notes that he’s trying to be more outwardly focused with subject material and has been writing more cultural and political commentaries. He also wants to get back into assuming the perspectives of different characters, much like the great Tom Waits. “I doubt that I’ll ever come close to his genius, but it’s something to aspire to,” Roberts says. avl.mx/9c9 X
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A R TS & CU LTU R E
FOOD ROUNDUP
What’s new in food Virtual fundraiser and new partnerships keep nonprofits moving forward
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Nonprofit Issue
ON A ROLL: Kathryn Coulter-Rhodes and daughter Aila run and roll for Meals on Meals’ virtual fundraiser, which takes place through the end of May. Photo courtesy MOWABC Since the the end of March 2020, Meals on Wheels of Asheville Buncombe County has added 103 seniors to its program and incorporated two new meal delivery routes for a total of 40 across Buncombe County. While calls for services have increased, securing funding to meet that urgent need has been challenging. “Like other nonprofits, the pandemic put a halt to our in-person fundraising events,” says Executive Director Debbie Sprouse. In January, a staff and board brainstorming session birthed an idea that turns outdoor activities many locals are already engaged in — walking, running, hiking, biking or skating — into Miles for Meals. “We know everyone is not a runner or cyclist, so we included all types of movement,” Sprouse explains. Miles for Meals invites participants to register for a virtual 5K, 10K or marathon for $25, then use a virtual platform to log miles as they accumulate throughout May. Groups can register for the 660-mile Mega Mile Challenge, which represents the total square 48
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miles Meals on Wheels serves in Buncombe County. All participants receive a Meals on Wheels T-shirt. For more information, visit avl.mx/9bd.
Linked in
Since its founding in 2020, local nonprofit We Give a Share has paid Western North Carolina farms and producers to provide fresh food to the Southside Kitchen at the Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center. Southside Kitchen in turn uses those products to prepare 1,500 meals per week that are offered free of charge to homebound and senior Asheville Housing Authority residents. WGAS recently expanded its base of farm partners from the original two to a dozen, including Sunburst Trout, Olivette Farm and Looking Glass Creamery. Eagle Market Streets Development Corp. has joined the coalition to support WGAS with bookkeeping, grant writing and administrative services and to
act in the short term as its fiscal agent until WGAS is approved as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. “They will also play an important role in shaping the future of WGAS by broadening our outreach and involvement with a wider swath of the community,” says WAGS co-founder and board member Elizabeth Sims, adding that EMSDC’s business development programming will be invaluable to both WGAS and the Southside Kitchen. A-B Tech’s acclaimed culinary program has also joined the effort, partnering with Southside Kitchen to provide skills training. Additionally, WGAS has plans underway to add distribution to new clients this fall, including the Verner Early Learning Center in Swannanoa and the new Peak Academy. For more on We Give a Share, visit avl.mx/9bg.
Tapped in
Many local breweries whose taprooms were closed last spring by state order met the undeterred craving for their product by implementing curbside pickup. With some restrictions lifted and safety protocols in place, many are beckoning customers back to sit and enjoy a pint. The taproom at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River, has been closed since March 2020, but it’s now polishing the bar, restacking glasses and hooking up the kegs for a planned reopening on Wednesday, May 12. Tables have been rearranged to accommodate 50% capacity indoors, and reservations are required for dining. avl.mx/9bf Southern Appalachian Brewery, 822 Locust St., Hendersonville, celebrated its 10-year anniversary on April 30 by opening its taproom for the first time in over a year. The microbrewery will be pulling its pilsners and other brews starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and weekends beginning at 2 p.m. avl.mx/9be New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St. — celebrating its fifth year in Asheville — has resumed outdoor table service on the Liquid Center taproom’s covered outdoor patio overlooking the French Broad River. (The indoor taproom space remains closed.) Tables are first-come, first-claimed noon-8 p.m. Thursday-Monday,
and orders can be placed using a QR code. Food trucks are on-site daily, indoor restrooms are open, and masks are required when not seated. avl.mx/9bj
Run of the mill
Jennifer Lapidus is well known and celebrated as a baker, miller and founder of Carolina Ground flour mill in Asheville. With the publication of her new book, Southern Ground: Reclaiming Flavor Through Stone-Milled Flour, add writer to her impressive resume. Though it offers over 80 recipes arranged by grain for everything from the 2020-ubiquitous sourdough bread to galettes and hand pies, it is more than a cookbook. Lapidus tells stories of the Carolina Ground mill, explains the process of milling and highlights the value of sustainable and artisanal products, bakeries and bakers throughout the Southeast. Photographs are by Rinne Allen. Southern Ground can be ordered directly from the Carolina Ground website at avl.mx/9bk and from Malaprop’s Bookstore at avl.mx/9bi.
Peace, plants and pizza
Talk about a pandemic pivot! Two Guys Pizza and Ribs, which has been serving pizza and ribs in Hendersonville for 14 years, has pulled the pork — as well as beef, chicken and seafood — from its menu in favor of plant-based and planet-friendly alternatives. With a little nudge from son Christian, owners Melody and John Crawford have rebranded, reconceptualized and reopened as Peace Pizza. In a press release announcing the big switcheroo, the couple say, “We’ve been thinking of making this change for a few years now and decided to go for it when we realized that the devastation of the pandemic is actually an opportunity to help make the world a better place.” Peace Pizza’s menu will be primarily vegan with varying daily specials. Peace Pizza is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday with outdoor seating and 50% capacity indoor seating. Peace Pizza 1307 Seventh Ave. E., Hendersonville, avl.mx/9bh.
— Kay West X MOUNTAINX.COM
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ROUNDUP
Around town
Biltmore celebrates restoration project After 15 years, a team of curators, archivists, collections managers and conservators at the Biltmore Estate will celebrate the opening of a large conservation project in the home’s Oak Sitting Room on Friday, May 28. Using letters, photographs and other found documents in the estate’s archival collection, the space — located between George and Edith Vanderbilt’s private bedrooms — will appear as it would have during the Vanderbilts’ time at the estate in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lori Garst, Biltmore’s associate curator who has worked on the project since its inception, says among the many fascinating discoveries was a 1902 letter from guest Joseph Choate, who “wrote about visiting the Vanderbilts in their ‘private apartment’ and the abundance of Rembrandt etchings on display.” Four years after Choate’s stay — and for reasons not entirely known — George Vanderbilt sold his Rembrandt collection to fellow collector J.P. Morgan. In conjunction with the room’s restoration, the Biltmore Estate has worked closely with the Morgan Library to reproduce a selection of the etchings, which will be on display inside the Oak Sitting Room. “Some of the etchings are so small they are nearly the size of a postage stamps, yet the detail Rembrandt was able to achieve is breathtaking,” says Garst. Along with the Rembrandt reproductions, the room will also feature a pair of silver gilt filigree candelabra, several bronze sculptures, a Boulle-style desk with intricate brass inlay and an ebony cabinet on stand made in Paris in the 17th century. “We have always strived to present the historic interiors of Biltmore House the way they looked when the Vanderbilts lived [here],” Garst says. “The fabrics, furniture and decorative objects present the [Oak Sitting Room] as never before and allow us to tell the story of this space used as a private sitting area by Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt.”
recorded by someone who cares.” She also encourages today’s youths to interview and record their family stories “in order to leave a legacy for future generations.” The virtual award presentation takes place on Zoom at 6:30 p.m. and will include a 20-minute film adapted from one of Woodford’s lectures about her book. To reserve a ticket, visit avl.mx/9bn.
‘This Divided Land’ Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity recently released a short documentary on the history of local and national discriminatory housing practices and how these actions continue to shape our community. This Divided Land features interviews with Buncombe County Commissioner Al Whitesides; DeWayne Barton, founder of Hood Huggers International; Sophie Dixon, president of the Shiloh Community Association; and several other local historians, experts and residents. To view the film, visit avl.mx/9bm.
KEEPING IT CLEAN: Objects conservator Renee Jolly cleans a bronze lamp that is featured in the Biltmore Estate’s restored Oak Sitting Room. Photo courtesy of The Biltmore Company For more on the restoration, visit avl.mx/wordcap3.
Outstanding Achievement Award On Tuesday, May 18, the Western North Carolina Historical Association will present artist and historian Ann Miller Woodford with the 2020 Outstanding Achievement Award for her work in preserving and promoting the history of African Americans in WNC. Woodford is the author of the 2015 book When All God’s Children Get Together: A Celebration of the Lives and Music of the African American People in Far Western North Carolina. The upcoming recognition, says Woodford, “is a welcome, yet unexpected reward for the many late nights I spent writing and my travels to cemeteries, churches and individual homes[.]” In a larger sense, Woodford hopes her work conveys “to all people the rich history of my people whose lives would be forgotten if not
Stand-up comedy at Rabbit Rabbit After a very unfunny year, some humor might do us all good. Every Thursday, 6:30-9 p.m., Slice of Life Comedy & Disclaimer Lounge hosts Sunset Rooftop Standup Comedy at Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave. The weekly event features several regulars, including the event’s emcee, Cary Goff, and fellow comedian Petey Smith McDowell, along with a range of other local talents. “Coming out to a show like this, hanging with your friends, listening to real people sharing their real stress or ridiculous stories from their past … helps us remember that it’s OK to be human,” says Michele Scheve, owner of Slice of Life Comedy and the event’s organizer. “You also remember how healthy it feels to laugh.” Currently, seating is limited to two-person and four-person tables. Tickets are $12 per person. Masks are required. To learn more, visit avl.mx/9c6.
Workshop, available to LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals ages 17-23 and 60 and older. No theater experience is required. “The purpose of the workshop is to provide a space where two generations are supported to discover new understanding, celebrate self-expression and engage in creative collaboration,” says Michelle Carello, associate artistic director at N.C. Stage. This year’s online workshops run Tuesday, June 1-Saturday, June 5, 11 a.m-1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Thursday, May 20. The series is free to attend, but space is limited. To learn more, visit avl.mx/9bp.
— Thomas Calder X
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: WRATH OF MAN: Writer/director Guy Ritchie and star Jason Statham reunite after a 16-year hiatus for this dark but thoroughly entertaining revenge thriller. Grade: B-plus. Rated R HERE TODAY: Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish prove a chemistry-rich duo in this memory-loss dramedy. While the jokes are consistently strong, a weak supporting cast hampers the film’s dramatic potential. Grade: B. Rated PG-13
Find full reviews and local film info at ashevillemovies.com patreon.com/ashevillemovies
Intergenerational Theatre Workshop Applications are now being accepted for N.C. Stage Company’s 2021 Intergenerational Theatre MOUNTAINX.COM
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CLUBLAND WEDNESDAY, MAY 12 THE GREY EAGLE Patio Show w/ Magenta Sunshine (funk, reggae), 5pm SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night at SAB, 5:30pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia Night, 6:30pm
THURSDAY, MAY 13 THE GREY EAGLE Patio Show w/ Brad Heller & The Fustics (rock ‘n roll), 5pm
FLEETWOOD'S Terraoke Karaoke w/ Terra, 6pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Open Mic Night, 6pm
CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Drag Show w/ Alexis Black, 8pm
FRIDAY, MAY 14
RABBIT RABBIT Sunset Rooftop Standup Comedy w/ Cody Hughes, 6:30pm
SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Jake Burns (acoustic originals), 6pm
ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Lawn Concert with the Kenny George Band (country, folk), 7pm
THE GREENHOUSE MOTO CAFE ALR Trio and the Sliding Rockers (classic rock), 7pm
WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT Members of Blaze the City (pop, funk), 7pm FLEETWOOD’S rickoLus w/ The Playrights (rock ‘n roll), 7:30pm
SATURDAY, MAY 15 WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT DJ Phantom Pantone & Friends (dance), 1pm BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah’s Daydream (jazz), 5pm ISA’S FRENCH BISTRO James Hammel (solo acoustic), 5pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Dirty Dead (Grateful Dead Tribute), 6pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Swing Step Band (Ruby Mayfield tribute), 7pm ODDITORIUM Party Foul Outdoor Drag Show, 7pm THE GREENHOUSE MOTO CAFE The Marvin King Revues (blues), 7pm
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FLEETWOOD’S Eat The Label w/Call the Next Witness (rock), 7:30pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. It Takes All Kinds: Open Mic Night, 7pm
HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Socially distanced dance party. Ages 21+, 8pm
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Blue Monday w/Mr Jimmy (blues), 7:30pm
SUNDAY, MAY 16 ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy at the Asheville Club (solo guitarist), 3pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING The Lads (rock, Americana), 3pm THE GREENHOUSE MOTO CAFE Tools on Stools (classic rock), 3pm FLEETWOOD’S Rhinestone Pickup Truck with Buried in Roses (glam/grunge/ goth), 7:30pm
MONDAY, MAY 17 HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Totally Rad Trivia, 6pm
TUESDAY, MAY 18 MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Open Mic Night, 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. - House of SYNth (dance), 6:30pm - Team Trivia, 7pm THE PAPER MILL LOUNGE Comedy Night w/ Gregg McGaha, 7pm
WEDNESDAY, MAY 19 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night at SAB w/ Jason DeCristofaro, 5:30pm
HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Well Crafted Wednesdays with Matt Smith, 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm
THURSDAY, MAY 20 HAZEL ROBINSON AMPHITHEATRE Charley Crockett (country), 6pm RABBIT RABBIT Rooftop Standup Comedy Show, 7pm FLEETWOOD’S Sham/Thick Paint (indie), 7:30pm TYRON FINE ARTS CENTER Pretty Little Goat & Jamie Laval (grassroots), 7:30pm
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FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): In one of her poems, Emily Dickinson tells us, “The pedigree of honey / Does not concern the bee; / A clover, any time, to him / Is aristocracy.” I suggest you be like Dickinson’s bee in the coming weeks, my dear Aries. Take pleasure and power where they are offered. Be receptive to just about any resource that satisfies your raw need. Consider the possibility that substitutes and stand-ins may be just as good as the supposed original. OK? Don’t be too fussy about how pure or prestigious anything is. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A fan once asked composer Johann Sebastian Bach about his creative process. He was so prolific! How did he dream up such a constant flow of new music? Bach told his admirer that the tunes came to him unbidden. When he woke up each morning, they were already announcing themselves in his head. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, Taurus, a comparable phenomenon may very well visit you in the coming weeks — not in the form of music, but as intuitions and insights about your life and your future. Your main job is to be receptive to them and make sure you remember them. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I love unmade beds,” writes Gemini poet Shane Koyczan. “I love when people are drunk and crying and cannot be anything but honest. I love the look in people’s eyes when they realize they’re in love. I love the way people look when they first wake up and they’ve forgotten their surroundings. I love when people close their eyes and drift to somewhere in the clouds.” In the coming days, Gemini, I encourage you to specialize in moments like those: when you and the people you’re interested in are candid, unguarded, raw, vulnerable and primed to go deeper. In my opinion, your soul needs the surprising healing that will come from these experiences. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Trailblazing psychologist C. G. Jung said his loneliness wasn’t about a lack of people around him. Rather, it came from the fact that he knew things that most people didn’t know and didn’t want to know. He had no possibility of communicating many of the interesting truths that were important to him! But I’m guessing that won’t be much of a problem for you in the coming months. According to my astrological analysis, you’re more likely to be well-listened to and understood than you have been in quite some time. For best results, ASK to be listened to and understood. And think about how you might express yourself in ways that are likely to be interesting and useful to others. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The French government regularly gives the Legion of Honor award to people deemed to have provided exceptional service to the world. Most recipients are deserving, but a few have been decidedly unworthy. In the latter category are Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, as well as drug-cheating athlete Lance Armstrong, sexual predator Harvey Weinstein, and Nazi collaborator Marshal Pétain. I bring this to your attention, Leo, because the coming weeks will be a favorable time to reward people who have helped and supported you. But I also suggest that you pointedly exclude those who have too many negatives mixed in with their positives. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In 2010, an American engineer named Edward Pimentel went to Moscow to compete in the World Karaoke Championship. He won by singing Usher’s “DJ Got Us Falling in Love.” His award: one million dumplings, enough to last him 27 years. I have a good feeling about the possibility of you, too, collecting a new prize or perk or privilege sometime soon. I just hope it’s a healthier boon than dumplings. For best results, take some time now to clearly define the nature of the prize or perk or privilege that you really want — and that will be truly useful.
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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I will love it if sometime soon you find or create an opportunity to speak words similar to what novelist D. H. Lawrence once wrote to a lover: “You seem to have knit all things in a piece for me. Things are not separate; they are all in a symphony.” In other words, Libra, I’ll be ecstatic if you experience being in such synergistic communion with an empathic ally that the two of you weave a vision of life that’s vaster and richer than either one of you could summon by yourself. The astrological omens suggest this possibility is now more likely than usual. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Sometimes people don’t like the provocative posts I publish on Facebook. They leave comments like, “You stupid idiot!” or “I hope you commit suicide!” and far worse. When I delete their messages, they become even more enraged, accusing me of censorship. “So you don’t believe in free speech, you jerk?” they complain. I don’t try to reason with them. They don’t deserve any of my time or energy. But if I did communicate with them, I might say, “My Facebook page is my sanctuary, where I welcome cordial conversation. If you came into my house and called me an idiot, would it be ’censorship’ if I told you to leave?” I hope these thoughts inspire you to clarify and refine your own personal boundaries, Scorpio. It’s a good time to get precise and definite about what’s acceptable and unacceptable from the people with whom you engage. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Have you ever kissed a monster in your nightly dreams? Have you won a chess match with a demon or signed a beneficial contract with a ghost or received a useful blessing from a pest? I highly recommend activities like those in the coming weeks — both while you’re asleep and awake. Now is a good time to at least make peace with challenging influences and at best come into a new relationship with them that serves you better. I dare you to ask for a gift from an apparent adversary. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): What does it mean to “follow the path with heart”? I invite you to meditate on that question. Here are my ideas. To follow the path with heart means choosing a destiny that appeals to your feelings as well as to your ambitions and ideas and habits. To follow a path with heart means living a life that fosters your capacity to give and receive love. To follow the path with heart means honoring your deepest intuitions rather than the expectations other people have about you. To follow the path with heart means never comparing your progress with that of anyone else’s, but rather simply focusing on being faithful to your soul’s code. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “It’s a good thing when people are different from your images of them,” wrote Aquarian author Boris Pasternak. “It shows they are not merely a type. If you can’t place them in a category, it means that at least a part of them is what a human being ought to be. They have risen above themselves, they have a grain of immortality.” I love that perspective! I’m offering it to you because right now is a favorable time to show that you are indeed different from the images people have of you; that you transcend all stereotyping; that you are uncategorizable. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You have personal possession of the universe’s most monumental creation: consciousness. This mercurial flash and dazzle whirling around inside you is outlandishly spectacular. You can think thoughts any time you want to — soaring, luminescent, flamboyant thoughts or shriveled, rusty, burrowing thoughts; thoughts that can invent or destroy, corrupt or redeem, bless or curse. There’s more. You can revel and wallow in great oceans of emotion. Whether they are poignant or intoxicating or somewhere in between, you relish the fact that you can harbor so much intensity. You cherish the privilege of commanding such extravagant life force. I bring these thoughts to your attention because the time is right for a holiday I call Celebrate Your Greatest Gifts.
MOUNTAINX.COM
MARKETPLACE
BY ROB BREZSNY
REAL ESTATE & RENTALS | ROOMMATES | JOBS | SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENTS | CLASSES & WORKSHOPS | MIND, BODY, SPIRIT MUSICIANS’ SERVICES | PETS | AUTOMOTIVE | XCHANGE | ADULT RENTALS APARTMENTS FOR RENT FRIENDS OF DOROTHY COME AND LIVE IN A REAL PARADISE. A HEAVEN ON EARTH... 2B/2B DELUXE CHALET IN THE MTS WITH VISTA VIEWS FROM WRAP AROUND DECKS WITH GARDENS AND PRIVACY TASTEFULLY FURNISHED AND IMMACULATE WEST BURNSVILLE WITH EASY ACCESS TO 26; 20 MIN TO WEAVERVILLE AND 45 MIN TO ASHEVILLE; GAS FIREPLACE AND 3 BIG SCREEN TV'S AND MUCH MORE NO PETS. REF $1400+ 1 PERSON 1 CAR $1600+ 2 PEOPLE 1 CAR LETS TALK...TEXT 954.496.9000 SHABBY CHIC MEETS COUNTRY LIFE IN SWANNANOA Wanna get outta town? Check your email at the kitchen island with a cuppa while taking in the mountain view? Fire up the grill and enjoy a cool drink outside as the afternoon light changes and fireflies appear? Come see! Cosy 1BD/1BA with bonus room. Huge deck. 15 minutes to Asheville. Fridge, stove, microwave, new w/d, pantry, $1195 + electric. carolynwallace777@ outlook.com.
EMPLOYMENT GENERAL ESTATE SALES ASSOCIATE Diverse responsibilities: Pack, Transport Boxes & Furniture. Computer Literate, Social Media & Online Research Skills a Plus. Ability to work with people. FLEXIBLE HOURS. bonnie@ bonnieroseappraisals.com. 828-281-8110.
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.
PRODUCTION INSPECTOR OPENINGS We are hiring for all Shifts! Great Benefits Package for you and your families! Pay starts at $15.00 per hour on Day Shift with a $1.00 Shift Differential for Night Shift. 828-974-0420 • greatjobs@raumedic.com • www.raumedic.com
ADMINISTRATIVE/ OFFICE A-B TECH IS HIRING A-B Tech is currently taking applications for a Full-Time Limited position Leaves and Benefits Specialist. For more details and to apply: https:// abtcc.peopleadmin.com/ postings/5589
CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR First Presbyterian Church of Asheville is seeking an Administrator. Responsibilities include financial management and accounting, office management, human resources, facilities, communications and information technology. This is a full time salaried position. Please send resume and cover letter to apply@fpcasheville. org. Application review will begin on May 5 and continue until the position is filled.
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.
THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION IS HIRING! GIFTS AND RECORDS SPECIALIST – ASHEVILLE NC Join The American Chestnut Foundation in its mission to restore the iconic American chestnut back to its native range! We are looking for an energetic individual who will serve as the initial point of contact for our donors, members, visitors and the community, at TACF's national headquarters in Asheville, NC. The Gifts and Records Specialist is an integral part of TACF's administrative team. They are responsible for donor and member gift processing, database entry, and data quality control in TACF's donor management system. For a full job description and information on applying, please visit TACF’s website: https://acf. org/employment/. No phone calls. Applications for this position accepted through end of day Friday, May 28, 2021. Only candidates forwarded in the process will receive communication regarding interviews. TACF is a living wage employer.
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 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.
HUMAN SERVICES HELPMATE SEEKS RELIEF COURT ADVOCATE Helpmate, a domestic violence victim service provider in Asheville, NC, seeks a Relief Court Advocate. This position is a temporary, non-exempt position scheduled as needed, reporting directly to the Court Advocacy Coordinator. The Relief Court Advocate position provides support, crisis counseling and court advocacy to victims of domestic violence and supplement the work of other Court Advocacy program staff. The Relief Court Advocate may provide supplementary coverage during times of high need or may work alone to provide services during times when other Court Advocacy program staff are not available. Experience in social work, human services, or related field preferred. Send resume and cover letter to hiring@helpmateonline. org by 5pm on May 26. Please specify the title of this position in the subject line of your email. No phone calls or email inquiries, please. AFTERNOON HOSPITALITY COORDINATOR - HAYWOOD STREET RESPITE Haywood Street Respite is a safe place for unhoused individuals to stay on a short-term basis following a hospital stay. We are seeking a Hospitality Coordinator to work 3 pm - 8 pm M-F. Hospitality Coordinators assist with housekeeping and meals and help attend to the needs of Friends. Access the job description at: http:// haywoodstreet.org/about/ haywood-street-employment/ FT POSITION: THERAPIST Onsite Therapist position at treatment center for LGBTQ+ folx struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues. Licensed or pre-licensed as LCMHC, LCAS, or LCSW required. Contact info@elevatewellnessandrecovery.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. LIFE SKILLS INSTRUCTOR, FOUNDATIONS ASHEVILLE Foundations Asheville, a transitional program for college-age young men and women in Asheville, seeks a qualified Life Skills Instructor to join its team. Responsibilities Include: -Creating and maintaining a consistent, emotionally safe, and supportive environment that fosters successful adulthood. -Collaborating with clinical and academic support teams to implement programming designed to support young adults in reaching their goals. -Working one-on-one and in group settings to model, develop, and teach independent living skills. -Daily tasks of transportation, medication, recreation, cleanliness, community involvement, and maintaining a timely schedule. -Consistent role modeling of healthy habits, problem-solving, emotional maturity, and executive functioning. This position requires overnight shifts with excellent housing accommodations and expenses paid. The standard shift is a 3 day on/ 4 day off, 4 day on/ 3 day off rotating shift. Job Type: Full-time. https://foundationsasheville. com/ • FoundationsHiring@ gmail.com.
TEACHING/ EDUCATION 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/
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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/
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.
Email papermoneybuy@ gmail.com, or call/text 865207-8994. Member SPMC, NCNA, SCNA, TNA.
WARREN WILSON COLLEGE SEEKS ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR FOR GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY Fall 2021 semester. Course must be taught on campus 2-3 days/ week. For more details and to apply, send cover letter and CV to jmozolic@warren-wilson.edu.
HOTEL/ HOSPITALITY
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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
SUMMER CAMP STAFF NEEDED Eagle's Nest Camp in Pisgah Forest, NC is seeking a laundry attendant and cooks for this summer. Experience preferred, but training offered to folks interested in being part of a great team! Visit our website for job details and to complete an application at http://www. enf.org/eagles-nest-camp/ summer-employment.
XCHANGE TOOLS & MACHINERY ITEMS FOR SALE!! Camping Grill (Coleman), $50.00. 20Inch Mower (New Motor), $140.00. Troy Bilt Self-Propelled Mower, $215.00. Small Gas Weed Eater (New Carb.), $75.00. Call Gene at 828-606-8566.
WANTED BUYING OLD PAPER MONEY Asheville, WNC, ETN over 10 years. Fair, open, and responsive. Buying currency, bonds, maps, documents, etc.
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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
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46 Transitional region between biomes 48 Having good marketing instincts 50 Many whiskeybased cocktails 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! 1-877673-0511 | Hours Mon-Thu, Sun: 9:30 am to 8:00 pm Fri: 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (all times Eastern) (AAN CAN)
LEGAL STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF BUNCOMBE NOTICE TO CREDITORS State of North Carolina County of Buncombe IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO.: 21 E 644 In the Matter of the Estate of Jann Morton Nance, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS James Lewis Nance, having qualified as Personal Representative of the Estate of Jann Morton Nance, deceased, hereby notifies all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit same to the said James Lewis Nance at the address below on or before August 16, 2021 or this Notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below. This is the 12th day of May, 2021. James Lewis Nance, Personal Representative Estate of Jann
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51 Leader namechecked in the Beatles’ “Revolution” 52 Singer nicknamed the Prince of Motown 53 D.C. mayor first elected in 2014 57 Gray ___ 58 “Clumsy me!” 62 Like fine wines 63 Mental spark 64 A giant one rises in Citi Field after every Mets homer 65 They’re prescribed by docs 66 It may go out on a limb 67 Stiller’s comedy partner
DOWN 1 “As if!” 2 What makes God good? 3 Peanut butter container Morton Nance c/o KINCAID & ASSOC., PLLC 5215 Junction Circle, Suite 100 Wilmington, NC 28412
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.
HOME IMPROVEMENT HANDY MAN HIRE A HUSBAND • HANDYMAN SERVICES Since 1993. Multiple skill sets. Reliable, trustworthy, quality results. Insured. References and estimates available. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.
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puzzle by Adrian Johnson 4 Excessive flagwaving and the like 5 “OK, that makes sense” 6 Game where everything falls into place 7 Some YouTube journals 8 Jai ___ 9 Common first word for a baby 10 Well-versed (in) 11 Heroes of the sky 12 “I want to learn!” 13 Alec Baldwin, on more than 15 occasions 18 Dumb bunny 21 Congregation leaders 22 Period of history 23 Reason against 24 Like freshly brewed coffee 28 Close way to win 29 Have a bawl 30 “___ out!” (ump’s call) 32 Fittingly, the first three letters of 32-Across DO YOU OWE OVER $10K TO THE IRS OR STATE IN BACK TAXES? Our firm works to reduce the tax bill or zero it out completely FAST. Let us help! Call 855955-0702. (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST) DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting Trucks, Motorcycles & RV’s , too! Fast Free Pickup – Running or Not - 24 Hour Response Maximum Tax Donation – Call 877-266-0681 (AAN CAN) STILL PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MEDICATION? Save up to 90% on RX refill! Order today and receive free shipping on 1st order - prescription required. Call 1-855-750-1612 (AAN CAN)
35 Sprint … or see print 36 Nickname of a 1950s president 37 Native Caribbean plant whose fruit grows in clusters 38 Polite affirmative 39 Source of great trouble 40 “Walk on the Wild Side” singer 43 Director DuVernay 44 Columbia or Brown
45 Bread choice 47 Three-tone chords 48 Clumsily handles 49 Flushed, as cheeks 51 Looks down 54 Cut of pork 55 Foretell 56 Cheese of the Netherlands 59 Hip thing to sip 60 35mm camera inits. 61 Vote of support
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE P E T A L S
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Mountain Xpress 27th Annual
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2021
MIND, BODY, SPIRIT COUNSELING SERVICES ASTRO-COUNSELING Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Stellar Counseling Services. Christy Gunther, MA, LCMHC. (828) 258-3229.
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