Mountain Xpress 05.17.17 by Mountain Xpress

Iss

14 • Traffic concerns congest Board of Adjustment

38 • Asheville weighs in on

GMO controversy

52 • New album spotlights local Jewish musicians

e i r n e c p e x dl e e Celebrating Older Americans Month

ife

OUR 23RD YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 23 NO. 43 MAY 17 - 23, 2017

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

C ONTAC T US Iss

14 • Traffic concerns congest Board of Adjustment

38 • Asheville weighs in on

GMO controversy

52 • New album spotlights

local Jewish musicians

erienced p x l ee Celebrating Older Americans Month

ife

OUR 23RD YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 23 NO. 43 MAY 17 - 23, 2017

C O N T E NT S

STARTING ON PAGE 6 OLDER (AND BETTER) Xpress offers a number of stories in this issue in honor of Older Americans Month — including a look at oral history projects documenting the lives and wisdom of WNC’s elders, keys to successful aging, volunteer efforts, profiles, creative retirement and more. On the cover: tai chi instructor Liz Ridley (featured on page 32). COVER PHOTO Emily Nichols COVER DESIGN Norn Cutson

NEWS GREEN FOOD FOOD

46 WICKED WEED, AMPLIFIED Owners talk about Anheuser-Busch InBev and their commitment to Asheville

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38 FACTS, FEARS AND THE FUTURE OF FOOD Asheville looks at the controversy over genetic engineering in agriculture

48 ALL ACCESS DJ Audio rolls out a multipart launch for ‘Shut It Down’

A&E

34 CLEAN WATER WARRIORS Muddy Water Watch app celebrates first anniversary

50 FLIPPING THE SCRIPT N.C. Stage Company produces Mindy Kaling’s ‘Matt & Ben’

8 SPEAK TO ME Oral history records heart and soul of mountain culture 12 A SEAT AT THE TABLE Dedicated elders help nourish neighbors 24 GET UP AND GO Keys to successful aging 27 PROFILES OF ACTIVE AGING Four local elders inspire 29 AGING IN ASHEVILLE Advocates aid in chronic disease awareness 31 LETTING GROW Author offers tips for creative retirement 42 CHAPTER TWO A second start in food and beverage 53 NEVER TOO LATE TO CREATE OLLI offers opportunities to elders

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Thanks to Wicked Weed for positive community impact Why is it we celebrate tech startups that get acquired, yet shame a craft beer startup that gets acquired? [See online post, “Anheuser-Busch Buys Wicked Weed Brewing,” May 3, mountainx.com.] Wicked Weed has been a tremendous steward to our community — as being a great place to work, as a supporter of many community causes, as a purchaser of local goods. While I’m extremely wary of excessive corporate influence of our community, this deal will do little to change anything in terms of the positive impact Wicked Weed makes on our community. To that end, I wanted to take a moment and thank [Wicked Weed’s owners] the Guthys and Dickensons from the bottom of my heart for [all] they do for the people and organizations in the area. Sincerely, — Timothy S. Sadler Asheville

Environmental protest deserved coverage [On] Saturday, (April 29), there was a big gathering of people at Pack Square to support clean air and water and protest weakening of environmental standards. The exact number of people is unknown, but there appeared to be hundreds. Several speakers made presentations. Afterward, the people peacefully paraded through town. Taking care of our planet is really important to lots of us. Yet there has been no mention of this protest in the local paper, nor have I run across it on the local TV news. I know there is an element in our area which hopes to eliminate the voices of the people. Yet I would have thought the news media would acknowledge such a large gathering. — Norma Warren Asheville Editor’s response: The gathering you describe was newsworthy, and Mountain Xpress was able to report briefly on the protest march in an online post (http://avl.mx/3p6) published April 29, the day of the event. But the reality is that Mountain Xpress — and virtually all other media outlets today — are able to cover only a fraction of what needs coverage.

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Williams asking for more accountability in city government I attended the Citizen Police Advisory Committee meeting [May 3] and watched as Dee Williams spoke for accountability in our city government. Mayor [Esther] Manheimer was listed on the agenda as set to present details on next year’s budget, but she failed to show up. Police Chief [Tammy] Hooper has also been dodging meetings such as CPAC and the Public Safety Committee meeting, and she [did not attend] the May 9 City Council meeting either, adding yet another absence to this string of absences by city employees when it comes to talking about this 2017-18 budget and what it will do to Asheville’s poor, black, and/or communities of color. Furthermore, the committee chose to keep Larry Holt as chairman despite ... his unilateral decision-making [to not include Asheville police officers] in regard to the March CPAC meeting at the Edington Center. Committee members should not treat each other as friends they want to keep in their club, but as representatives of Asheville who have a duty to carry healthy skepticism into their decision-making. In addition to pushing to lower APD’s racial disparity in police stops, Dee Williams on City Council will bring sanity to local politics and make racial and economic justice some of her top priorities. — Matilda Bliss Asheville Editor’s note: Xpress contacted the city and received the following response from Mayor Esther Manheimer: “I had a mediation in Henderson County related to my legal practice, which ran long, and I wasn’t able to get back to Asheville in time for the meeting. I plan to attend the next CPAC meeting.” And from the city’s Communication and Public Engagement office, communication specialist Polly McDaniel offered: “Asheville Police Chief Tammy Hooper was at the April 25 City Council meeting but out of town, on the road for the Police Unity Tour during the May 9 meeting. She attends City Council and Public Safety Committee meetings when her schedule permits it and/ or there are items on the agenda that warrant her attendance. APD

Deputy Chief James Baumstark has served as her representative on CPAC as warranted.”

Is this the best we can expect for our tax money? [Regarding the letter, “Haywood Street Sidewalks Need Attention,” May 3, Xpress]: … We in North Asheville also have problems with crumbling roadways and sidewalks with lack of repair. Which brings me to my point — after recently allotting Public Works with a bond issue to repair infrastructure, I’m in wonder that the response to the posed query [in the letter] regarding a tepidat-best physical solution is no better than political doublespeak. Is this the best we can expect for our tax money? — Margot Kornfeld Asheville

Hearing talk focuses on tinnitus May is designated as Speech and Hearing Month. This month, the hearing-loss meeting topic is tinnitus — actually “Investigating Tinnitus.” Lauren Hadden, Au.D., will make her much-postponed presentation about this on Saturday, May 20, at 10.30 a.m. at Care Partners’ Seymour Auditorium, 68 Sweeten Creek Road. Tinnitus — ringing or other sounds heard by the individual that are not heard by others — is a condition deeply troubling to many people, though mild and easily tolerated by others, and it overlaps considerably with hearing loss. Hearing aids are often the first line of defense, because they frequently help, even in the absence of hearing loss. But the reason we are highlighting tinnitus during this special month is that too often people are told there is nothing to be done, that you just have to live with it. This makes me angry. You do have to live with it: There is no cure, but it is increasingly well-understood in terms of what it is and what you can do to live with it, and for the most part it can be well-managed. Cognitive behavioral therapy is widely advocated, but the psychologist using that does need some specific knowledge about tinnitus

itself. CBT is a component of progressive tinnitus management, a scientific approach to the condition that has proven valuable. It was developed by James Henry and his colleagues at the VA’s research unit in Portland, Ore., and is offered by the Veterans Administration here in Asheville. Henry is very approachable, and PTM is available outside the VA, too. There are also other approaches and specific techniques that many have found useful, though it is important to examine critically what is on offer online: Snake-oil equivalents are out there, too. Good information is available. Apart from Hadden’s talk for the Asheville chapter, HLAA’s national organization offers webinars on many topics, and recently there have been two on tinnitus. Both are valuable. Here are the links to them: http://avl.mx/3py and http://avl.mx/3q0. [I] … can be contacted at 828-6658699 or akarson57@gmail.com. — Ann Karson Chairperson, Asheville chapter Hearing Loss Association of America Candler

Oligarchy and its effect on us in NC We are living under an oligarchy, which is a group “that exercises control, especially for corrupt and selfish purposes.” The best example of that is the Trump/GOP health plan to replace Obamacare. It will kick 24 [million] citizens off of health care insurance. It raises premiums for the older, seniors, poor and disabled by 750 percent. It cuts Medicaid funding by $880 billion. It gives the rich a near trillion dollar tax cut over the next decade. It gives to the states the right to waive out of Obamacare’s ban on [denying coverage for] preexisting conditions. And it cuts some essential benefits. ... This bill is written to help the rich and healthy young, but not the rest of us. This is oligarchy, which Trump and the Republicans want to force on us all. God help us all. — Lloyd Kay Asheville

C A RT O O N B Y B R E NT B R O W N

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

NEWS

SPEAK TO ME

Oral history records heart and soul of mountain culture

BY MAX HUNT mhunt@mountainx.com Take a walk through downtown Asheville and you’re bound to run across some symbol or image of Western North Carolina’s mountain heritage. From stores peddling traditional crafts to the overalls-clad busker with banjo in hand, the history of the Southern Appalachians still looms large in the region’s identity and the way it portrays itself to visitors. Increasingly, however, the traditions that produced these icons of mountain life are being lost to gentrification and changing demographics. Nearly half of Buncombe County residents now come from somewhere out of state, according to a study by the Carolina Population Center at UNC Chapel Hill. And within the four-county Asheville metropolitan area, nearly 24 percent of residents are 65 or older, 2015 census figures show. Seeking to preserve the region’s history and traditional culture, local organizations and researchers are working to document the lives and wisdom of WNC’s elders, believing that this provides invaluable context for the area’s present and future.

PASSING ON THE PAST: With the wealth of information modern technology affords, the oral traditions and histories passed down through generations in Western North Carolina and elsewhere often get lost in the shuffle. Historians such as filmmaker David Weintraub, right, are working to preserve these stories and lessons before the region’s elders pass on. Photo courtesy of David Weintraub.

HAND-ME-DOWNS Oral history has long played a central role in the mountain region’s cultural makeup, notes Kiran Sirah, president of the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tenn. “We used story as a way to communicate, understand and share knowledge and wisdom, to make sense of the world around us and to think about morals or lessons from the environment.” From the native Ani Katuah (the ancestors of the Cherokee) to the first European settlers who called these mountains home, the stories passed down helped succeeding generations survive and thrive in a harsh, isolated environment, notes filmmaker David Weintraub, who heads the nonprofit Center for Cultural Preservation in Hendersonville. “Today, we think our lifeline is our plastic device,” he points out. “But our lifeline isn’t stuff: It’s our

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connections and relationships. When you get an oral history with an elder, it helps to give us some grounding in a way that picking up a textbook or doing a Google search doesn’t.” Oral history and personal recollections also bring dry names and numbers to life, says Anne Chesky Smith, director of the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center. “You realize that it’s not just dates and facts: It’s real people living real lives and doing real things.” MEMORY THERAPY Cultural significance aside, sharing life stories can also serve as a form of therapy for teller and listener alike. According to the National Institutes of Health, loneliness and social isolation among older Americans have been linked to an increased risk for everything from loss of motor and cognitive functions to Alzheimer’s

disease and cancer. Coming together with others to share their experiences helps elders connect across generations, notes Cheryl Svensson, director of the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies and an instructor in guided autobiography. “Just writing these stories down brings up memories, connections and synapses in the brain that they might not have had if they were just sitting home and watching TV,” she notes. Other studies, adds Svensson, have found that children with a sense of their family’s past are likely to have higher self-esteem and adjust better to social situations. “They’ll know something about your life — where they come from, what happened to you, how you survived and coped.” SALT OF THE EARTH Oral history can also provide context for many of the issues facing

WNC communities today in ways that a textbook or fact sheet cannot. Jim Veteto, who founded the Appalachian Institute for Mountain Studies, has long paired oral history with his efforts to collect heirloom seeds from around the region, a method known as “cultural memory banking.” These stories, says Veteto, an assistant professor of anthropology at Western Carolina University, are crucial in understanding how the crops grow, where they come from and what cultural significance they carry. “In my research, the average age of the person I interview is 70,” he says. “They sometimes don’t have people in their families to pass down the seeds and stories to. We’re trying to create interest in it and serve as sort of a vehicle for helping to promote that.” Besides helping preserve biological diversity, seeds with a clearly defined cultural background are

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BRIDGING THE GAP: Techniques like the Guided Autobiography method, developed by James Birren in the 1970s, not only help elders tell their stories in their own words but can bridge the generation gaps between students as they share their memories and life experiences. Photo courtesy of the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies often more attractive to the average gardener, adds Veteto, which helps keep them in the hands of individuals rather than giant corporations like Monsanto. Oral history is also influencing several local public works projects. In 2015, the Asheville Design Center joined forces with students at UNC Asheville on an oral history project about West Asheville. The fruits of that effort will be incorporated into panels adorning the new bus shelter on Haywood Road near the New Belgium brewery. “It’s something that impacts people on a daily basis,” notes Chris Joyell, the design center’s executive director. “In a bus shelter, you actually have a captive audience. It’d be really cool to come out of the brewery, sit down, start reading that panel and learn a crazy story of how much history is under the soil of this site.” Joyell hopes the city will consider incorporating this project into other bus shelters as well. “For a lot of us that are new here, there’s so much history that gets lost in the shuffle,” he points out. “Telling these stories helps increase our appreciation of what we have here now and maybe points us in the direction we can go in the future.” For example, the disruption inflicted on the Burton Street community when interstates 26 and 240 were pushed through in the 1960s

and ’70s, says Joyell, has had a major influence on the current plans for the I-26 Connector. “Learning about the history of a community like Burton Street really points to some of the problems that we’re currently facing,” he says. That encourages planners to ask questions like “How can we have a highway connector that actually connects communities instead of dislocating them?” EYE OF THE BEHOLDER While the value of preserving oral history has been widely acknowledged, collection methods often vary, depending on the situation and the interviewer’s goals. At the Swannanoa Valley Museum, says Smith, the focus is very local. Interviewers can use video, audio recordings or simple notes, depending on the subject’s preferences. “We have a list of starter questions on our website,” she notes. “They’re pretty generic: where they were born, when they were born, who their parents were. But usually, once you start talking to people, new topics come up.” Developing rapport with an interview subject is essential, says Weintraub, who uses interviews in many of his documentaries. “People are fairly humble,” he says. “Often,

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they don’t necessarily want to reveal their lives and inner thoughts to someone they don’t know.” Being a good interviewer also requires an open mind and active listening, he continues. “I find that the most valuable answers come not from the initial questions but from the give-and-take, the follow-up. Someone says an innocuous thing, and all the sudden it opens up a whole world.” A RACE AGAINST TIME For many researchers, the biggest challenge in collecting oral histories is time itself. In the last nine months, six of the people he interviewed during the past year have died, Weintraub says. They include local luminaries like Cal Calhoun and Theron Maybin. Calhoun was the co-founder and master of ceremonies for the “Carolina Barn Dance “ radio show, once broadcast to over 500 stations around the country. And Maybin, aka “the Mayor of Green River,” was renowned for his homespun agricultural wisdom.

SPREADING THE WORD: In addition to archiving stories and oral histories from around Southern Appalachia, the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tenn., also features several local storytellers, such as Connie Regan Blake, above, who serve as storytellers in residence at the center throughout the year. Photo courtesy of the International Storytelling Center. “Every time I lose one of these elders, I realize how much more work there is to do and how much quicker we need to do it,” notes Weintraub. Despite his best efforts, the Center for Cultural Preservation has a backlog of people waiting to be interviewed, he says. And the Swannanoa Valley Museum, says Smith, has many previously recorded interviews that still need to be transcribed. Sometimes, simply finding storage space can be daunting. “We have hundreds of thousands of stories,” says Sirah, adding that they’re currently being stored at the Library of Congress while the International Storytelling Center works to digitize its material. “The idea is to make this collection available to every child and student and teacher in the nation for free,” he explains. For Veteto, who also runs a farm in Yancey County in addition to his seed preservation work, time constraints have limited his story collecting recently. “You have to block out about two hours to record an interview; then to transcribe it takes many more hours,” he says. “I’m sort of more in a phase where I’ve gathered so many stories and seeds that now I want to get those out” to the public at large.

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With so many researchers short on time and resources, some elders and their families turn to other options for documenting their history. Local author Sheridan Hill, for example, gave up a career in journalism to offer her services as a paid personal biographer, producing books about her clients’ lives. “I wanted, as writers often say, more room to write, and I really had this deep hunger to work longer with one person,” says Hill, who typically produces one or two biographies a year. Hill offers clients two options: either a full biography, with life events placed in the context of local, national and global events, or a first-person, memoir-style account. Such services, though, don’t come cheap. “Honestly, in my case, these are people who can afford to pay a professional writer to spend a year producing an archive-quality book for their family,” she explains. But for those with more limited means, Hill’s advice is simple: “Go ahead and get the interviews done, because anyone can write a book later. And make a backup copy of them: Redundancy is the most critical thing in archiving.” OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE Another alternative empowers elders to do their own documenting. Developed by pioneering gerontology researcher James Birren in the 1970s, the Guided Autobiography, or GAB, method enables people of all ages and backgrounds to explore their own lives and experiences through a series of themes and shared discussion sessions, says Svensson of the Birren Center. Life events and experiences are grouped under themes that range from money and career to gender identity, death and life values. “With each theme,” she explains, “you’re given a set of 10 or 12 questions that are not meant to be answered literally but to spark memory in you, or resonate in you someway that another memory doesn’t.” Caroline Manheimer, a certified GAB instructor who’s the mother of Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, has established several such groups in different local venues. In those sessions, various themes emerged that told participants’ life stories while also offering

LIVING THROUGH WORDS: Theron Maybin, colloquially recognized as the “Mayor of the Green River,” is one of several recently departed local legends captured on film and tape by the Center for Cultural Preservation. As more local elders pass on, filmmaker David Weintraub says the mission of capturing their stories for posterity becomes crucial for preserving our regional identity. Photo courtesy of David Weintraub. glimpses into the city’s history. “The one African-American group at the senior center on Grove Street got to be really interesting,” she recalls, “because it rather quickly got into very tangible social history.” The topics covered ranged from students’ enrollment in Rosenwald schools around the region to the destruction of the Eagle Street community during 1970s urban renewal. “It’s their story, their neighborhoods — they remember a particular gas station or building,” says Manheimer. “I learned a lot about the whole sense of community. It’s been really educational for me.” GETTING INVOLVED But regardless of how or why one goes about preserving local elders’ stories, the task of documenting these lives and lived experiences also requires community support, says Smith, adding that her museum always needs more volunteers to help capture oral histories and transcribe the ones already collected.

“It’s a time-consuming process, but if there are people that like that kind of work, you get to really listen to the interview in-depth and learn a lot while you’re transcribing,” she explains. “Just having people who are willing to set up interviews with the people we want to speak with is very helpful.” The International Storytelling Center, meanwhile, is looking for new, innovative ways to share its collection with the public, says Sirah. “Check out our website or come to an event or just step through the door,” he advises those who want to lend a hand. “As soon as you do that, you’re beginning the process of understanding the movement and our tradition.” And long after folks have passed on, notes Weintraub, their voices can continue to reverberate. “To record those stories means that person never dies, because what they had to say, and how they lived their lives, is now accessible to anybody. The passion in a voice — the glow or the sadness in their eyes — it makes this history so much more personal and meaningful.” X

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

NEWS

by Bob Kalk

bobkalk@aevia.net

A SEAT AT THE TABLE

Dedicated elders help nourish their neighbors

“Good morning! Welcome to our table today.” With this heartfelt greeting, Larry McLaughlin opens the door of the Leicester Community Center, which is filled with the aroma of freshly prepared hot food. The 25 mostly senior volunteers serve the noontime meal with smiles, and the accompanying conversations also nourish the soul. “I enjoy it,” says Norma Maney, who can usually be found at her post behind the steam table. “For many people, this is about the only social activity they have during the week.” And fellow volunteer Marie Whitener tears up as she describes the profound hunger, both physical and emotional, within this community. “There’s a huge need — lots of livealones. And unless they go to church, this is their best social experience.”

“We provided better food than the bag lunch,” notes Alan Cohlmeyer, the welcome table’s volunteer manager. Parents, says Bryson, now schedule time on Wednesday for their kids to use the playground before going inside to eat. The kids are still eligible for a prepackaged meal from the county on another day. “We have a lot of kids in the summertime, and the seniors clearly enjoy their presence,” she explains. “Alice was especially interested in providing for the children and would be very pleased with the way the ministry has evolved.” HELPING HANDS

FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP From humble beginnings, the Leicester Community Welcome Table has grown steadily. Supported by local churches and the Ashevillebased MANNA FoodBank, the project served almost 10,000 meals last year, delivered about 80 meals a week to shut-ins and generated more than 4,500 hours of volunteer labor. Back in 2008, many people were facing serious economic challenges. Census data for 2009 showed the largest number of poor people in the 51 years the bureau had been tracking poverty. Some were forced to choose between buying food or medication; others found it hard to provide balanced meals for their families. But from the circuit riders who once traversed these hills to the weekly Old Time Gospel Singalong held at the neighboring Newfound Community Center, this area has a long history of faith-based activity. And when the economic crisis hit, says Leicester resident Betsy Mears, two local women, Cheryl Wallen and Alice Lutz, began hatching a plan to provide at least one balanced meal per week to people in the surrounding community. Lutz and Mears, both of whom attended Bell United Methodist Church in Leicester, persuaded the congregation to endorse the project. And Lutz, who’s now deceased, gained a reputation along the way as one who simply wouldn’t take no for an answer when it came to ensur-

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS: Volunteer Larry McLaughlin greets diners at the Leicester Community Welcome Table, a project supported by local churches and MANNA FoodBank that served almost 10,000 meals last year and delivered about 80 meals a week to shut-ins. Photo by Bob Kalk

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ing the program’s success. Her rapidly expanding group of volunteers wrote letters to and met with folks from other local churches, most of whom pledged to help in any way they could. They visited existing welcome tables in Candler and Swannanoa and consulted with MANNA FoodBank for help in figuring out how much produce, meat and baked goods they’d need. But Bell’s large meeting room, says Mears, was already committed to another ongoing project, in which parishioners anonymously provide clothing, school supplies, etc., to elementary school students at Christmas. That, however, meant the little church had no place to put a year-round welcome table. At this critical juncture, the Leicester Community Center’s board of directors offered to host the weekly event at no charge. “What’s great about it is the fact that it’s at a neutral location,” notes Pastor David Green. “Some of these people go to area churches and some don’t have any interest in that. This is a way for neighbors to meet each other and get together over a meal. It’s just fantastic!”

AN EVOLVING MISSION Paul Berkow dines at the welcome center frequently, but he says he’s there mainly for the conversation. “People are so nice; they work so hard and put out such a great meal. It’s fun.” Carol Bryson, who volunteers there regularly, says, “There’s no stigma attached to those who choose not to attend church. We don’t push any belief on people. The community center is a central place; we don’t allow any religious activity. The volunteers have a prayer circle, out of the public view, but there’s no prayer at the beginning of the meal. People are free to pray individually. This program is about filling specific areas of need.” The community center, she continues, is a site where kids in the Buncombe County Schools’ summer meal program can pick up their bag lunch. And during the welcome table’s first few years, “The parents would eat inside, and the kids would eat together at the picnic tables.” Eventually, however, the county stopped delivering meals to the community center on Wednesdays, so the kids could also enjoy a hot meal.

Welcome table volunteer Ron Gorby traces his desire to contribute to his time in the military. “The Navy teaches you to volunteer your time,” he says. “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. We have a great group of people; I can be having the worst day in the world and the spiritual uplift just perks me right up.” Gorby also runs a weekly food pantry out of the nearby Sandy Mush Community Center that’s supported by MANNA and the Leicester Community Welcome Table. He did the research, and the Sandy Mush board provided seed money. Another key welcome table contributor, notes Bryson, is the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, which has “a big presence here. People can share individual concerns, like ‘Something’s happening on my road’ or ‘Can you check on my home?’” The county’s 33 COPS teams (an acronym for Community Oriented Problem Solving) “present a unique opportunity for citizens, especially elders, to have their concerns addressed,” says Lt. Roney Hilliard from the Office of Professional Standards. Sheriff Van Duncan, meanwhile, says, “I think it’s important for the community to be involved in directing law enforcement, at least in part, to the things that they think are priorities.” The community center, he points out, is “a great place to get that contact, because the community members, a lot of them seniors, really appreciate the opportunity to come and enjoy the fellowship. It’s a great crowd: There are close to 200 every Wednesday.” As with any relationship, he continues, “They’ve got to get to know you a little bit, but once they do … this

helps us address problems in a community that a patrol response or an enforcement response won’t necessarily take care of. Everyone believes this is the best way to do business.” Duncan announced last month that he plans to retire in 2018 rather than seek a fourth term. He also endorsed Executive Lt. Randy Smart as his choice for the county’s next sheriff. Asked about the welcome table connection, Smart said: “I continue to hold that vision and will continue along the path that he set us on. As for community-oriented policing, we really want to step that up a notch. … Every community has issues that differ somewhat. We do our best to quickly answer calls, but this gives us an opportunity to consider a broader range of issues. This is one of those places where, when you get out of your car, people come up, shake your hand and start a conversation. That’s what we like. We’re invested in our community, and we want folks to know that.” STAYING CONNECTED Retired nurse Sharon Grove has been doing blood pressure checks at the Leicester Welcome Table for five years. Last year alone, she performed almost 900. “See those people out there?” she asks. “That’s what keeps me coming back.” She keeps a written record of the readings, so patients can share the information with their doctors. Many other organizations also contribute to the project. “The Council on Aging distributes literature on Medicare and Medicare supplements,” says Bryson. “Walgreen’s does our flu shot thing. They give information on prescription drug plans and give away journals. Area businesses and churches donate money.” ThermoFisher Scientific recently gave the project a commercial-grade freezer. “They donate about 100 freezers a year to various charities,” notes Cohlmeyer. And though people eat for free, “We maintain a small donation box near the door,” Whitener explains, adding that the welcome table now donates about $300 a month to the Leicester Community Center. Meanwhile, those who can’t make it to the community center also benefit. “Shut-ins really appreciate the visit as well as the meals,” says Gorby, who both prepares and delivers the food. Helen Mears, who’s related to Betsy by marriage, also delivers meals to the homebound folks. “It

Asheville’s Paddle Shop MAKING CONNECTIONS: Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan, left, chats with volunteer Helen “Granny” Mears at the Leicester Community Welcome Table. Sheriff’s deputies regularly attend the gatherings, offering residents a chance to visit with law enforcement officers and share concerns. Photo by Bob Kalk gets me out of the house,” she says. “I get to see people I haven’t seen since leaving school.” Katy German, MANNA FoodBank’s agency relations manager, underscores the importance of human contact. “Living in poverty can be isolating. The welcome table model is about more than just food: It gives people a way to stay connected.” Just about everyone involved seems to agree that setting up a welcome table is no small task. But successful programs are always willing to share lessons learned. One of the first things Whitener will tell you is, “We couldn’t do it without MANNA FoodBank.” Local grocery chains receive so many requests for donations, she notes, that the larger ones, such as Ingles, tend to donate through the nonprofit. “You can’t get everything there, but if you want to get the food for the prices we’re getting it…” On average, says Cohlmeyer, “We spend about 18 cents per pound on food, probably two-thirds of which we get for free.” OVERCOMING OBSTACLES MANNA FoodBank has certain requirements, and since most of the welcome tables in Buncombe County are church-affiliated, the partner organizations need to find common ground. In the case of the Leicester project, says Cohlmeyer, both the rules and the pastoral leadership have evolved over time.

But if you’re thinking about setting up a welcome table in your own community, he continues, here are some things you’ll need to consider. “You have to have adequate off-the-ground storage. Freezers are absolutely necessary. You have to prove to MANNA that you have a facility. You have to have a monthly maintenance program to prevent insect infestation. And you have to be sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.” Despite the many challenges, however, the Leicester Welcome Table, born in a small church in a rural community, has flourished. “I only wish Alice Lutz could be here to see how her idea has borne fruit,” says Bryson. And speaking of fruit, more and more local produce is finding its way onto the menu, and soon, the salads served on Wednesdays will be even more colorful. X

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MAY 27TH

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For a list of local food pantries and other resources, visit mannafoodbank.org. To learn more about establishing a local food pantry or welcome table, contact Katy German at MANNA FoodBank (kgerman@mannafoodbank.org).

JUNE 3RD FIN DOG

230 HOMINY CREEK RD. 28806 SOUTHERN END OF THE GREENWAY

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

EWS B U N C O M B E NB E AT

NEWS

Rowdy, marathon BOA meeting highlights development, traffic frustrations The Buncombe County Board of Adjustment slogged through a raucous, more than five-hour meeting May 10. The meeting was peppered with crowd outbursts, applause for anti-development comments and had a theme that housing expansion projects are changing the character of rural Buncombe County. As the noon meeting marched toward 5 p.m., the board approved plans for a contentious 54-home subdivision in Riceville, a 255-unit apartment complex and other agenda items that had members of the standing-room-only crowd waiting to speak against. Board members expressed sympathy while explaining that issues such as traffic and zoning overlays are largely controlled by the state Department of Transportation and the county Board of Commissioners. And Chair George Lycan repeatedly lamented traffic in his neighborhood of South Asheville while stressing the importance of contacting DOT. “You are the experts, better than people in a DOT office. You know what problems and solutions are. They want to hear from you,” he said. BEST-CASE SCENARIO One of the major projects getting approval was a mixed-use, 54-home subdivision in Riceville. Its developer, David Case, was at the center of another controversial project in the area known as Coggins Farm. Case’s current project drew the majority of people at the meeting and tallied about 20 people speaking against it, with one homeowner association speaking in favor of it. In addition to the homes, plans call for a community center, an agricultural goods market and the reservation of open space areas for farming and agricultural uses. Those opposed to the development cited concerns about traffic, flooding, noise, light pollution, septic failure and more. Bull Creek Road resident Jim Murphy said this type of growth is not why people live in his community. “Adding 54 homes, 128 parking spaces … in effect changes the Riceville area to a thriving suburb. It’s the New Yorkification’ of a country road,” he said to thunderous applause. Another major theme that arose during the public hearing was that

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

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the undeveloped land stay that way and the potential for future homeowners to use their properties for short-term rentals. In response to the myriad issues, the developer said he was asking for a conditional use permit to cluster the homes to preserve 75 percent of the tract’s overall space. “The hardest part about being a developer is days like this. We understand not everybody loves it. We understand people want to preserve this land,” Case explained. “We could do wider lot sizes and 100 or 150 homes and not even come to this board. We really love what we are doing and we put our heart and soul into it. We reach out to neighbors as best we can. We are not trying to create an insular community with gates. We’ve gotten to know neighbors and are trying to build community to touch larger community.” “Most people interested in this development are Asheville residents and want to be in a community,” Case said in response the vacation rental concerns. “We’re leaving the option to do it according to what the law says. But my sense of the people that will be moving in is they want community.” Finally, board members stated that while largely in favor of the project, they wanted to safeguard the 75 percent that has been earmarked as undeveloped. However, County Attorney Michael Frue advised it couldn’t legally stipulate that clause. “I don’t think it’s within the authority of the board. You’ve voiced your desires; sometimes you have to take a leap of faith.” To that end, Case said, “I will give you my word.” With that, the board unanimously approved the project.

Case told Xpress he plans to break ground in the fall and the entire project will take “a couple of years” to complete. PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS The other large project getting approval was a 255-unit apartment complex on Brevard Road, just north of Long Shoals Road. It’s an area already in the throes of traffic woes, and many nearby residents are struggling to understand how it will be mitigated. The project, known as The Villas at Avery Creek, will price 30 percent of its units for workforce housing. Developer Shane Abraham said it will be primarily a townhome community. “We’ve been doing this for about 20 years. We are the developer, contractor and property manager. We have a longterm commitment,” he said. Talk then turned to foot and automobile traffic. Adjacent property owner Jonathan Guest said he’s not adamantly opposed to the project, but he’s “sorry the developers couldn’t be bothered to contact him” as he expressed frustration that his yard would be used as a pedestrian cut-through by tenants looking to walk to nearby amenities. Pivoting to car congestion, Guest said, “To call it a traffic problem is a stretch because that connotes movement. People spend more time sitting than moving. It’s really untenable. From everything we are hearing, the correction from the DOT is years out.” Abraham addressed the lack of communication and apologized for not reaching out to everyone while noting, “It’s our first rodeo in North Carolina.” He said some traffic relief will come in the form of a 400-foot turn lane for southbound traffic turning onto Long

Shoals Road. That project, according to the developer’s engineering team, is set to be in place before the apartments are completed, noting, “There will be a net improvement. It’s going to get better.” Lycan asked Abraham to gather residents’ contact information so they could work out other issues, not within the Board of Adjustment’s purview, as the project moves forward. The board unanimously approved the development. DEVELOPING PATIENCE Overall, the Board of Adjustment approved seven of the eight projects on its agenda. All but one received comments against it. Most comments against development received applause from the crowd as angst for specific projects seemed to aggregate into frustration about overall development. Solutions to the many traffic issues raised may by years away, and citizens seemed dismayed by having to comment at the Board of Adjustment, contact the DOT and reach out to local elected officials. “We don’t have the ability to take the long political view of where our world is going to go. That’s not us,” Lycan said of the board’s sphere of influence. At the end of the meeting, there were only two members public left, waiting to express their concerns about the Avadim project. The Black Mountain residents lamented the changing of the community and pondered, “Where does it stop?” “It’s a good question, it’s valid,” said Lycan. “You won’t find the answer here. Please contact your elected officials. It’s the only way you have input.” — Dan Hesse

Asheville Council closes in on city budget City Manager Gary Jackson told members of Asheville City Council on May 9 that 85 new hiring requests and $11 million in city spending “are on the cutting-room floor” in the wake of his proposed 2017-18 fiscal year budget. But Jackson agreed to do more trimming in response to Council’s request to achieve a revenue-neutral tax rate plus a 3.5-cent increase to pay for debt service on the $74 million bond referendum passed by voters in 2015.

When the budget returns to Council at the body’s May 23 meeting, Jackson said, “I think you’ll find the response that we give you to be on target.” Based on the possible reductions discussed by Council, achieving that target could involve trimming the costs associated with changing to a new structure for the management contract for the city’s transit system or slowing down the timetable for a new downtown policing unit.

City Chief Financial Officer Barbara Whitehorn outlined the proposed $176 million budget. Following a 2017 property revaluation, she explained, the total taxable value of real estate in the city rose nearly 30 percent. Those higher property values mean that the tax rate needed to finance the same level of city services — that is, the revenue-neutral rate — will be lower than in 2016. The revenue-neutral rate, she said, is 39.5

BUNC OMBE BE AT HQ To read all of Mountain Xpress’ coverage of city and county news, visit Buncombe Beat online at avl. mx/3b5. There you’ll find detailed recaps of government meetings the day after they happen, along with previews, in-depth stories and key information to help you stay on top of the latest city and county news. X

BEST AND BRIGHTEST: Participants in the City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy were recognized by Mayor Esther Manheimer, center, and members of City Council on May 9. Photo by Virginia Daffron cents, down from 47.5 cents per $100 of taxable property value in 2016. Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer noted that, to get to the current budget proposal, “We built in the bonds, because the voters approved the bonds.” With the additional 3.5 cents to cover interest on the bond funding, Asheville’s tax rate would be 43 cents per $100. Whitehorn showed a comparison of other North Carolina municipalities’ current and proposed 2017 tax rates. The average rate for Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem in 2016, she said, was 53 cents. Where Asheville is “a real outlier,” she said, is in the city’s growth in real estate valuation, noting that the other cities are seeing growth of around 5 percent versus Asheville’s nearly 30 percent. Manheimer asked Jackson to retain about $600,000 budgeted for enhancements to the city’s transit service while eliminating an additional halfcent tax the city manager had proposed to pay for those improvements. Council member Cecil Bothwell asked whether the city might temporarily reduce its contribution to its Affordable Housing Trust Fund in light of the $25 million bond passed by city voters for affordable housing. Council member Gordon Smith objected to that suggestion, saying

the 70 percent of Asheville voters who supported the affordable housing bond demonstrated a commitment to expanding funding for that purpose, not moving it around for other uses. Council member Julie Mayfield suggested looking closely at the estimated $850,000 increase in cost associated with moving to a new management structure for the city’s transit system. Council member Brian Haynes said he supports saving money by not expanding the police force by 15 officers as Chief Tammy Hooper has requested. He also said he is in favor of expanding funding for the transit system and for city partnerships with nonprofits. Council voted to waive its usual policy of not hearing public comment on presentations and reports. South Asheville resident Vijay Kapoor testified about three concerns related to the proposed budget. First, Kapoor said, the budget document lacks a five-year operating budget projection. Second, he continued, “There is not enough information in this budget about how the $25 million in bond proceeds for the affordable housing bond will be spent.” Calling the lack of detail on how the money would be used a “red flag,” Kapoor said, “Let’s wait until we have a detailed, transparent plan before taxpayers have to start paying interest on the bond.”

Finally, Kapoor urged caution about adding 15 officers to the Asheville Police Department. In his role as a financial consultant to cities, Kapoor said, “I work with many cities Asheville’s size and an increase of this many officers in one year is rare.” If additional study reveals a need to hire more officers, Kapoor said, “I’d recommend phasing in the hiring over a couple of years rather than all at once to see whether it’s having any impact.” Kapoor is a candidate for City Council. Asheville resident and retired attorney Sidney Bach said that, according to North Carolina law, taxes paid to support debt service on bonds must be held in a separate accounting fund. The city’s proposed budget document, he said, seems to indicate that the money collected to service the bond will be held in the city’s General Fund. Manheimer said the city had maintained a separate fund for the purpose since 2012. City Attorney Robin Currin said she had sent a letter in response to Bach’s email inquiry about the issue to Bach’s attorney, Albert Sneed of Van Winkle Law Firm, the day before. Bach requested that Currin forward a copy of the letter directly to him. Bach is suing the city over the wording of the bond referendum that appeared on the

2015 ballot. He contends that problems with the wording render the bond invalid. The process of creating the 201718 budget, Manheimer commented, had paradoxically been one of the most difficult of her tenure on Council. “Some of us,” the mayor said, “went through the whole recession budgeting cycle. When you don’t have anything, there’s not a lot to argue about.” Council will hear public comment on the budget at its next meeting on May 23, and the elected officials will vote on a final budget proposal on June 13. The 2017-18 fiscal year begins on July 1. — Virginia Daffron X

Candlelight Sound Healing & Acupuncture

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May 19th, 7-9pm $45

West Asheville Yoga.com 602 Haywood Rd. 28806 828.350.1167

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAY 17 - 25, 2017

CALENDAR GUIDELINES In order to qualify for a free listing, an event must benefit or be sponsored by a nonprofit or noncommercial community group. In the spirit of Xpress’ commitment to support the work of grassroots community organizations, we will also list events our staff consider to be of value or interest to the public, including local theater performances and art exhibits even if hosted by a forprofit group or business. All events must cost no more than $40 to attend in order to qualify for free listings, with the one exception of events that benefit nonprofits. Commercial endeavors and promotional events do not qualify for free listings. Free listings will be edited by Xpress staff to conform to our style guidelines and length. Free listings appear in the publication covering the date range in which the event occurs. Events may be submitted via email to calendar@ mountainx.com or through our online submission form at mountainx.com/calendar. The deadline for free listings is the Wednesday one week prior to publication at 5 p.m. For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 251-1333, ext. 137. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 2511333, ext. 320.

SQUARE DANCE FOR FOOD: The Lord’s Acre is welcoming in its ninth growing season in Western North Carolina with its annual square dance, potluck FUNdraiser on Saturday, May 20, from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Beyond plenty of food and dancing, the evening is also set to include a raffle of local items, local cider and beer provided by Hi-Wire Brewing and Noble Cider, and tours of The Lord’s Acre garden space. Participants are asked to bring their favorite dish, a small donation, a few extra dollars for the raffle and energy to dance the evening away. The Lord’s Acre is a nonprofit with a mission is to increase access to fresh, organic food to those with the greatest need, while building community and fostering education. For more information, visit thelordsacre.org. Photo courtesy of the organizers (p. 16)

ANIMALS

BENEFITS

BARQ IN THE PARQ 692-1600 • SA (5/20), 10am-3pm - Proceeds from "Barq in the Parq" adoption event with over 40 vendors benefit Charlie’s Angels, Brother Wolf and Blue Ridge Humane Society. $5. Held at Mountain Lodge and Conference Center, 42 McMurray Road, Flat Rock LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 774-3000, facebook.com/Leicester.Community.Center • SA (5/20), 10am-2pm - Low cost rabies clinic with for dogs and cats with vaccinations and microchipping available. Prices vary.

Ashevilleʼs headquarters for school band instruments, accessories and repairs

(828) 299-3000

Mon.–Fri. 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. Sat. 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

800 Fairview Rd (at River Ridge Marketplace) 16

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

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APPALACHIAN BARN ALLIANCE BARN DAY appalachianbarns.org • SA (5/20), 2:30pm - Proceeds from the fourth annual Madison County Barn Alliance tour by bus of local historic barns followed by a dinner, auction and local music benefit the Appalachian Barn Alliance. Register for location. $40/$75 per couple. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF WNC 253-1470, bbbswnc.org • FR (5/19), 6:30-8:30pm - Proceeds from the "Taste of the Vineyard" event featuring wine and cider tasting, low country boil, presentation of Henderson County’s Big of the Year Award and a live auction benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Henderson County. Registration: bbbswnc.org/a-taste-of-the-vineyard. $35. Held at Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, 588 Chestnut Gap Road, Hendersonville BLUEGRASS & BBQ BENEFIT 665-1575, daystayasheville.com, daystaymiller@bellsouth.net • SA (5/20), 3-7pm - Proceeds from the fifth annual “Bluegrass & BBQ,” event with dinner and live music by John Fullam and John Hardy Party Old Time String Band, Sons of Ralph, Buncombe Turnpike and The Doghouse Band benefit DayStay Adult Day Services. $10. Held at DayStay Adult Day Services/Hominy Baptist Church, 135 Candler School Road, Candler CENTER FOR END OF LIFE TRANSITIONS 32 Mineral Dust Drive, Asheville, 318-9077, ceolt.org/ • FR (5/19) - SU (5-21) - Proceeds from this three day home funeral and death care midwifery training immersion benefit Anattasati Magga. Registration: ceolt.org. $400.

CHARLES GEORGE V.A. MEDICAL CENTER 1100 Tunnel Road • WE (5/17), 10am - Proceeds raised at the 2017 VA2K Walk & Roll event with live music, refreshments and a 2K wheelchair friendly walk benefit homeless veterans. Donations of new clothing, toiletries, pre-packaged food, bottled water and money accepted. More information: publichealth.va.gov/va2k/. Free to attend. HOOK, LINE & DRINKER FESTIVAL mountainlovers.com/hook-line-and-drinker-festival • SA (5/20), noon-4:30pm - Proceeds raised from donations at the Hook, Line and Drinker Festival with 17 fly fishing vendors, food trucks, and beer vendors benefit the inaugural Scott’s Creek Cleanup. Free to attend. Held at Bridge Park, 76 Railroad Ave., Sylva KIWANIS 15K/5K biltmorekiwanisclassicrace.com • SU (5/21), 7am - Proceeds from this 15K and 5K race benefit the Kiwanis Children's Charities. $65 15K/$50 5K. Held at The Biltmore Estate, 1 Lodge St. LAKE JAMES STATE PARK 6883 N.C. Highway 126, Nebo, 584-7728 • SA (5/2), 8am-1pm - Proceeds from the eighth annual McDowell Trails Association Triathlon benefit The McDowell Trails Association. Registration: mtatriathlon. com/index.html. $75/$105 relay. LORD'S ACRE SQUARE DANCE thelordsacre.org • SA (5/20), 5:30-9:30pm - Proceeds from this square dance, potluck and fundraiser benefit The Lord's Acre. $10/$25 per family. Held at The Lord's Acre, 26 Joe Jenkins Road, Fairview

ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 290 Old Haw Creek Road • TH (5/18), 6-8pm - Proceeds from this storytelling event and supper featuring David Novak benefit St. John's Episcopal Church. Supper at 6pm. Performance at 7pm. $15. TOUR DE FAT newbelgium.com/events/tour-de-fat • Proceeds from the “Asheville Tour de Fat” with circus performers, vaudeville acts, magicians, comedians and live music by Third Eye Blind benefit Asheville on Bikes. $25. Held at New Belgium Brewery, 21 Craven St. WILD ON FILM FUNDRAISER 259-8092, wildwnc.org, americorps@wildwnc.org • TH (5/25), 6-8:30pm - Proceeds raised at this “Wild on Film” viewing event with silent auction, photo booth and educational animals benefit the WNC Nature Center. $20/$16 youth/$100 VIP. Held at Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Highway WILD SOUTH 258-2667, wildsouth.org • SA (5/20), 10am-noon - Proceeds from snack sales at the "Hike, Move & Play," fitness workshop for all levels hosted by Plant Fitness trainers benefit Wild South. Free to attend. Held at Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Road WOMANSONG OF ASHEVILLE womansong.org • SA (5/20), 7:30pm - Proceeds from this CD release concert, “Turn the World Around,” benefit Womansong. $10. Held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY A-B TECH SMALL BUSINESS CENTER 398-7950, abtech.edu/sbc • TU (5/23), 3-6pm- "Time Management Tools for the Busy Entrepreneur," seminar. Registration required. Free. Held at A-B Tech Enka Campus, 1459 Sand Hill Road, Candler • WE (5/24), 6-8pm - "Smarketing: Increase Profits through Smart Sales & Marketing Integration," seminar. Registration required. Free. Held at A-B Tech Enka Campus, 1459 Sand Hill Road, Candler FLETCHER AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION jim@extraordinarycopywriter.com • 4th TUESDAYS, 11:30am-1pm - Educational monthly meeting to bring local business leaders to present and discuss topics relevant and helpful to businesses today. Free. Held at YMCA Mission Pardee Health Campus, 2775 Hendersonville Road, Arden G&W INVESTMENT CLUB klcount@aol.com • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 11:45am General meeting. Free to attend. Held at Black Forest Restaurant, 2155 Hendersonville Road, Arden

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS AERIAL ARTS + POLE DANCE + FLEXIBILITY CLASSES AT EMPYREAN ARTS (PD.) BEGINNING AERIAL ARTS weekly on Tuesdays 11am and Wednesdays 4:15pm * TRAPEZE & LYRA weekly on Tuesdays 6:30pm and Saturdays 1pm * AERIAL ROPE weekly on Tuesdays at 2:15pm and Fridays at 6pm * POLE DANCE weekly on Mondays at 8pm * FLEXIBILITY weekly on Mondays 6:30pm, Tuesdays 8pm, and Thursdays at 1pm. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT EMPYREANARTS.ORG or CALL/TEXT 828.782.3321

COOKING CLASSES AT MOUNTAIN KITCHEN (PD.) Thursday, May 25: Indian cooking class. More information/registration: (917) 566-5238 or visit www.ofrishomecooking.com THURSDAY • MAY 18 • HEALTHY COOKING (PD.) Join Denise Barratt, Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, with Vine Ripe Nutrition, for a seasonal cooking class and farm-to-table meal. • Franny’s Farm, 6:30pm-8:30pm. Details, menu, tickets: (828) 4235216. www.vineripenutrition.com WRITERS WORKSHOP • GENIUS CREATIVITY STRATEGIES (PD.) With NY Times best selling author Linda Lowery. Wednesdays, June 7-July 5 • Crammed with professional tips to help your work flow productively and authentically. Information/registration: (828) 2502353. UNCA.edu/gswp APPALACHIAN DOWSERS bit.ly/2qWVhkH • SA (5/20), 11am-4pm - "How to Find Vortexes, Ley Lines, and Grids," quarterly meeting and presentation by Page Bryant. $10/ Free for members. Held at Unity of the Blue Ridge, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River ASHEVILLE ROTARY CLUB rotaryasheville.org • THURSDAYS, noon-1:30pm General meeting. Free. Held at Renaissance Asheville Hotel, 31 Woodfin St.

ELIADA 2 Compton Drive, 254-5356 • SA (5/20), 11am-3pm - Picnic and reunion for anyone who has lived, worked, volunteered or attended Eliada programs. Free. ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY OF ASHEVILLE 687-7759, aeu.org • SU (5/21), 2-3:30pm - “Eating Ethically: Confronting Moral Dilemmas and Different Views” presentation by Rowdy Keelor. Free. Held at Asheville Friends Meetinghouse, 227 Edgewood Road HENDERSON COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS lwvhcnc.org • 3rd THURSDAYS, 4-6pm General meeting. Free. Held at Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, 204 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville HOMINY VALLEY RECREATION PARK 25 Twin Lakes Drive, Candler, 2428998, hvrpsports.com • 3rd THURSDAYS, 7pm - Hominy Valley board meeting. Free. LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 774-3000, facebook.com/ Leicester.Community.Center • 3rd THURSDAYS, 7pm - The Leicester History Gathering general meeting. Free.

BIG IVY COMMUNITY CENTER 540 Dillingham Road, Barnardsville, 626-3438 • 4th MONDAYS, 7pm - Community center board meeting. Free.

MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA momsdemandaction.org • TH (5/18), 4pm - General meeting. Free to attend. Held at Catawba Brewing South Slope, 32 Banks Ave., Suite 105

BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/governing/ depts/library • 4th TUESDAYS, 6-8pm - "Sit-nStitch," informal, self-guided gathering for knitters and crocheters. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave.

ONTRACK WNC 50 S. French Broad Ave., 255-5166, ontrackwnc.org • WE (5/17), 5:30-7pm - "Surviving the Benefits Cliff. A Personal Story." Seminar. Registration required. Free. • TH (5/18), 12-1:30pm "Understanding Credit. Get it. Keep it. Improve it." Seminar. Registration

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

C O N S C I O U S PA R T Y

C OMMUNITY C ALE NDAR

By Kat McReynolds | kmcreynolds@mountainx.com

Tour de Fat 5/29/17

required. Free. • MO (5/22), 5:30-7pm - "Understanding Credit. Get it. Keep it. Improve it." Seminar. Registration required. Free. TRANZMISSION PRISON PROJECT tranzmissionprisonproject.org • Fourth THURSDAYS, 6pm - Tranzmission Prison Project. Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Cafe and Books, 610 Haywood Road

2017

YMI CULTURAL CENTER 39 South Market St., 252-4614, ymicc.org • TU (5/23), 6-8pm - "#BlackAchievementMatters, Forming a Common Agenda for African American Students’ Success," spring forum hosted by Organic Synergy featuring Dr. Carter Andrews. Evening meal, refreshments and childcare provided. Free.

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Magical Offerings

FIRST THINGS FIRST: After recently celebrating its first year in Asheville, New Belgium Brewing will host the inaugural local iteration of Fat Tire’s Tour de Fat. Organizer Sam Sawyer calls the outdoor event “so much more than a typical concert,” since a troupe of circus acts and “wandering weirdos and performers” add to the interactive entertainment. Photo courtesy of New Belgium Brewing

5/18: Circle Round: What’s In Your Hand? 7-9pm, Donations 5/19: How to read an Astrology Chart for beginners, Hosted by Cumulus 5-7pm, $20 5/20: Plant & Spirit Gardening, Hosted by Lorri Bura 3-5pm, Donations 5/21: The Welcoming Circle 5-6:30pm, Donations 5/23: The Psychic Mediumship Development Circle 7-9pm, $30 Cash

5/27: Embracing Willendorf,

Book Launch Party, Hosted by Byron Ballard 6-8pm, Free with Snacks & Tea!

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

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WHAT: A circus-themed concert, featuring Third Eye Blind and Ian Ridenhour WHERE: New Belgium Brewing WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 4-9 p.m. WHY: Fat Tire’s Tour de Fat is coming of age. What was previously a free day of entertainment in about 10 cities has, in its 18th season, ballooned into a ticketed, 33-stop tour that kicks off in Asheville. Beyond big-name musicians, each iteration brings a procession of circus performers, vaudeville acts, magicians, comedians — and plenty of the beer that started it all. “Fat Tire’s story is that it was born on a bike,” says Sam Sawyer, who oversees the tour. “The inspiration for what would eventually become the New Belgium we know today comes from this bike trip that inspired the beer, which pretty much pays all of our bills. We’re celebrating that beer really deliberately this year and trying to get as many people as possible re-engaged with that American craft beer icon.” Fittingly, Asheville on Bikes will benefit from the local debut of Tour de Fat, which partners with a different cause at each location. While

bike-related charities have historically been selected, Sawyer says the event is beginning to support a wider variety of organizations, depending on the host town’s needs. Local input via a Battle of the Bands also determines each city’s opening act. In Asheville, teen musician Ian Ridenhour earned a performance slot before headliner Third Eye Blind. Tour de Fat attendees are part of the spectacle, too, since everyone is encouraged to arrive in costume and partake in activities like the slow ride, an anti-race where the goal is to bike past the finish last and without touching the ground. Plus, the whole crowd becomes one giant dance competition between sets. “Our host hand selects people to move on to the next rounds, and the final couple of people dance off onstage in front of thousands of people,” Sawyer says, noting that the winner gets a New Belgium cruiser bike. “This is very much an interactive show.” Visit newbelgium.com/events/tourde-fat/city/asheville for more information or to purchase tickets ($25). AOB will receive a flat donation from the event. X

Pole Dance, Burlesque, Jazz/Funk, Flashmobs! Drop in for a class or sign up for a series: • Tues. and Fri. at 12PM - Pole class for $10 • Intro/Beg. Pole Drop in - Sat. at 1:30PM - $15 • Memberships available for $108/month • Beginner Jazz/Funk starts May 18• Chair Dance class starts May 22• Intro to Pole Series starts May 23• Exotic Poleography starts May 25Visit the website to find out more about these classes and others. DanceclubAsheville.com 828-275-8628 - Right down the street from UNCA - 9 Old Burnsville Hill Rd., #3 STUDIO ZAHIYA, DOWNTOWN DANCE CLASSES (PD.) Monday 9am Yoga Wkt 12pm Barre Wkt 4pm Dance and Define Wkt 5pm Bellydance Drills 6pm Hip Hop Wkt 6pm Bellydance Special Topics 7pm Classical Ballet Series 8pm Tribal Bellydance Series 8pm Lyrical Series • Tuesday 9am Hip Hop Wkt 12pm Sculpt-Beats Wkt 5pm Modern Movement 6pm Intro to Bellydance 7pm Bellydance 2 8pm Advanced Bellydance • Wednesday 5pm Hip Hop Wkt 5pm Bollywood 6pm Bhangra Series 7pm Tahitian Series 8pm Jazz Series • Thursday 9am Hip Hop Wkt 12pm Sculpt-beats Wkt 4pm Girls Hip Hop 5pm Teens Hip Hop 6pm Bellydance Drills 7pm Advanced Contemporary 8pm West Coast Swing Series • Saturday 9:30am Hip Hop Wkt 10:45 Buti Yoga Wkt • Sunday 11am Yoga Wkt • $13 for 60 minute classes, Wkt $6. 90 1/2 N. Lexington Avenue. www.studiozahiya.com :: 828.242.7595 SACRED CIRCLE DANCE oneill.maggie9@gmail.com • 4th TUESDAYS through (6/27), 7-8:30pm - Guided meditative dances for adults and teens of all ages and genders and experience levels. Proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood. $10. Held at Swannanoa Valley Friends Meetinghouse, 137 Center Ave., Black Mountain SOUTHERN LIGHTS SQUARE AND ROUND DANCE CLUB 697-7732, southernlights.org • SA (5/20), 6pm - "Garden Party" themed dance. Advanced dance at 6pm. Early rounds at 7pm. Plus squares and rounds at 7:30 pm. Free. Held at Whitmire Activity Center, 310 Lily Pond Road, Hendersonville

by Abigail Griffin FOOD & BEER ASHEVILLE VEGAN SOCIETY meetup.com/The-Asheville-Vegan-Society/ • 1st TUESDAYS & Third SATURDAYS, 10am - Social meeting. Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Cafe and Books, 610 Haywood Road DOWNTOWN WELCOME TABLE haywoodstreet.org/2010/07/ the-welcome-table/ • SUNDAYS, 4:30pm - Community meal. Free. Held at Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood St. FAIRVIEW WELCOME TABLE fairviewwelcometable.com • THURSDAYS, 11:30am-1pm - Community lunch. Admission by donation. Held at Fairview Christian Fellowship, 596 Old Us Highway 74, Fairview FOLKMOOT USA 452-2997, folkmootusa.org • TH (5/18), 6pm - Proceeds from this "Thai Friendship Dinner" and night begins at 6:00 p.m. and program that includes Thai customs and language benefit Folkmoot. Food prices vary. Held at Blossom on Main, 128 North Main St., Waynesville LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 774-3000, facebook.com/Leicester.Community.Center • WEDNESDAYS, 11:30am-1pm - Welcome Table meal. Free. LIVING WEB FARMS 891-4497, livingwebfarms.org • TH (5/25), 6-7:30pm - "Elements of Cooking: Salt," workshop. $10. Held at French Broad Food Co-op, 90 Biltmore Ave., ASheville ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL 552-4979, organicgrowersschool.org • SA (5/20), 9am-noon - "Food Security and Disaster Resilience," panel discussion regarding potential food system responses to emergency situations with MANNA Foodbank, Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council, City of Asheville Office of Sustainability, Bountiful Cities, Asheville Buncombe Community Gardens Network and Living Web Farms. Free. Held at Lenoir Rhyne Center for Graduate Studies, 36 Montford Ave. RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL 574 Haywood Road, 258-9264 • MONDAY through FRIDAY until FR (5/19), 8-9am - Strive Not to Drive commuter station with coffee, fruit and snacks to fuel your morning commute. Free. Held at Rainbow Community School, 574 Haywood Road

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS ENKA SCHOOL DISTRICT RESIDENTS • TH (5/25), 6-8pm - Enka school district residents are invited to a non-partisan community forum with County Commissioners Brownie Newman and Robert Pressley. Food Truck available at 5:30pm. Free to attend. Held at Bent Creek Community Park, 125 Idlewood Drive

BUNCOMBE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY buncombeGOP.org • FR (5/19), 6:30pm - Spring Gala event with dinner and big band dance music by the 42nd Street Jazz Band. $40/$60 couple. Held at County Courthouse, 60 Court Plaza CITY OF ASHEVILLE 251-1122, ashevillenc.gov • TH (5/18), 6pm - Community and Economic Development Department presents the “Permanently Affordable Homeownership Solutions Series” exploring community land trusts. Registration: Facebook.com/ CityofAsheville/Events. Free. Held at Dr.

KIDS

Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St. • TU (5/23), 5pm - Asheville City Council public hearing. Free. Held at Asheville City Hall, 70 Court Plaza LAND OF SKY REGIONAL COUNCIL 251-6622, landofsky.org • TU (5/23), 4-7pm - Public hearing with the NCDOT regarding I-4759, Liberty Road Interchange project. Free. Held at Francis Asbury United Methodist Church, 725 Asbury Road, Candler

BARNES AND NOBLE BOOKSELLERS ASHEVILLE MALL 3 S. Tunnel Road, 296-7335 • SA (5/20), 11-11:30am - Storytime and activities for kids featuring the book, Little Ree. Free to attend. BUNCOMBE COUNTY EXTENSION MASTER GARDENERS 255-5522, buncombemastergardener.org, BuncombeMasterGardeners@gmail.com • SA (5/20), 10am-noon - Saturday Seminar:

NCDOT TO HOST COMBINED PUBLIC HEARING MAY 23 REGARDING THE PROPOSED CONVERSION OF THE LIBERTY ROAD (S.R. 1228) GRADE SEPARATION OVER I-40 TO AN INTERCHANGE AND CONSTRUCTION OF A TWO LANE ROADWAY BETWEEN U.S. 19 (SMOKEY PARK HIGHWAY) / N.C. 151 AND MONTE VISTA ROAD (S.R. 1224), PART ON NEW LOCATION IN ASHEVILLE

TIP Project No. I-4759 Buncombe County The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will hold an informal, Combined Public Hearing for the proposed conversion of Liberty Road (S.R. 1228) Grade Separation over I-40 to an interchange, and construction of a new roadway between U.S. 19 (Smokey Park Highway) / N.C. 151 and Monte Vista Road (S.R. 1224) in Asheville. The project addresses the lack of connectivity along I-40 between U.S. 19/23 and Wiggins Road by providing an alternate access point to I-40. The informal style public hearing will be held in the Gymnasium at St. Francis Asbury United Methodist Church, located at 725 Asbury Road, in Candler from 4 to 7 p.m. Interested citizens are encouraged to attend at any time during those hours. NCDOT and Consultant staff will be available to provide information on the project, answer questions and receive comments. Please note there will be no formal presentation. A map of the proposed project is available on the NCDOT Public Meetings Website at: http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/publicmeetings/. Maps of the project alternatives as well as the Environmental Document (an Environmental Assessment) are available for viewing at the following locations: NCDOT Highway Division 13 55 Orange Street, Asheville, NC 28801 Land of Sky Regional Council 339 New Leicester Highway, Suite 140, Asheville, NC 28806 Enka-Candler Library 1404 Sand Hill Road, Candler, NC 28715 Anyone desiring additional information regarding the project may contact Ahmad Al-Sharawneh, NCDOT Project Development Engineer at (919) 707-6010 or by email: aalsharawneh@ncdot.gov. Comments may be submitted until June 23, 2017. NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this workshop. Anyone requiring special services should contact Ms. Diane Wilson, Senior Public Involvement Officer at (919) 707-6073 or email: pdwilson1@ncdot.gov as early as possible so that arrangements can be made. Aquellas personas que hablan español y no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan antes de la reunión llamando al 1-800-481-6494. MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

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"Gardening with Children," workshop for children with adults. Registration: 828-2555522. Free. Held at Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Office, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • WE (5/17) - FR (5/19) - Dollywood’s Penguin Players present "Pretend," musical performances for children ages 4 and up. Free. Held at various library extensions. See website for list of locations and times. • WE (5/17), 3:30pm - Makers & Shakers: "Farm Focused Fun," activities for ages 5 and up. Sponsored by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. • MONDAYS, 10:30am "Mother Goose Time," storytime for 4-18 month olds. Free. Held at Skyland/ South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road • MONDAYS, 10:30am - Spanish story time for children of all ages. Free. Held at EnkaCandler Library, 1404 Sandhill Road, Candler • TUESDAYS through (5/30) Read for 15-minutes with JR the therapy dog for preschool readers through age 10. Registration required: 250-6482. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville • TU (5/23), 2:30pm Homeschool Book Club: Serafina and the Black Cloak by

by Abigail Griffin

Robert Beatty. For ages 8-12. Free. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. • TH (5/25), 4pm - "Intro to Herpetology," event to learn about reptiles and amphibians with the opportunity to earn an ecoExplorer badge. For ages 5-13. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville FLETCHER LIBRARY 120 Library Road, Fletcher, 687-1218, library.hendersoncountync.org • WEDNESDAYS, 10:30am Family story time. Free. HANDS ON! A CHILDREN'S GALLERY 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 697-8333 • Through FR (5/19), 10am-4pm - "Butterfly Week," butterfly related educational activities for kids. Admission fees apply • TU (5/23) through FR (5/26), 10am-4pm - "Make Stars," Memorial Day activities for children. Admission fees apply. HOLMES EDUCATIONAL STATE FOREST 1299 Crab Creek Road, Hendersonville, 692-0100 • SA (5/20), 10am-5pm - "Project Learning Tree," workshop with outdoor interactive activities and hiking for grades K-8. Bring your own lunch. Registration required: 828-692-0100 or holmesesf.ncfs@ncagr.gov. Free. MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 254-6734, malaprops.com

• WEDNESDAYS, 10am - Miss Malaprop's Story Time for ages 3-9. Free to attend. SPELLBOUND CHILDREN'S BOOKSHOP 640 Merrimon Ave., #204, 7087570, spellboundchildrensbookshop.com • FR (5/19), 6-7pm - Teen book club for ages 14-18. Free to attend. • SA (5/20), 11am-noon - John McCutcheon presents his new picture book, Flowers for Sarajevo. Free to attend. • SA (4/8), noon - "Social Justice League: Report the Truth," presentations and activities for kids by the YWCA. For ages 5-10. Free to attend. • WE (5/24), 6-7pm - Michael Buckley signs his series, The Sisters Grimm. For ages 7-14. Free to attend. WNC HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION wnchistory.org • SA (5/20), 10:30am-12:30pm - The Crafty Historian: "Let's Make Music," activities to make home made instruments. Registration required. $5. Held at Smith-McDowell House Museum, 283 Victoria Road

OUTDOORS ASHEVILLE AMBLERS WALKING CLUB ashevilleamblers.com • SA (5/20), 9am - Group 5K or 10K walk at Lake Lure. Free. Held at Lake Lure Inn and Spa, 2771 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure

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Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com BUNCOMBE COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OFFICE 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, 255-5522 • FR (5/19), 1-4pm - "Forest Pest Outreach Training Program," class to identify major forest insect pests through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture's Forest Pest Outreach training program. Registration: Trisha_ Mullins33@hotmail.com or 936718-4026. Free. CHIMNEY ROCK AT CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK 431 Main St., Chimney Rock, 625-9611, chimneyrockpark.com • SU (5/21), 10am-2pm - Tenth anniversary celebration with guided hikes, live dulcimer music and refreshments. Donations of food for the Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach’s Food Pantry accepted. Admission fees apply. CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE cityofhendersonville.org • SATURDAYS through (5/27), 10am - Guided history walks in Downtown Hendersonville. Registration: 828-545-3179 or maryjo@maryjopadgett.com. $10/Free for children. Meet at the back door lobby of the Hendersonville City Hall, Fifth Avenue East and King Street, Hendersonville DAVIDSON'S FORT HISTORIC PARK Lackey Town Road, Old Fort, 668-4831, davidsonsfort.com • SA (5/20), 10am-4pm Colonial living demonstration. Admission fees apply. FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY OF NORTH CAROLINA 437-9930, foothillsconservancy.org • SU (5/21), 8:30am - Beginner birding outing with guides Jane Gantt and Julia Mode on the Catawba River and Freedom Trail greenways in Morganton. Register for location: info@foothillsconservancy.org or 828-4379930. $10/Free for members. HOMINY CREEK GREENWAY 130 Shelburne Road, fohcg.org • FR (5/19), 5:30-7:30pm Hominy Creek Greenway picnic. Bring your own beverage and chair. Free. Held at Cornbread Junction near the Sand Hill Road trailhead MAINSPRING CONSERVATION TRUST mphillips@mainspringconserves.org • TH (5/18), 10am-noon - Moderate, three-mile Pathertown hike hosted by Regional Land Trust. Registration: 828-524-2711 or

sburdette@mainspringconserves. org. $15. STRIVE NOT TO DRIVE WEEK strivenottodrive.org • MONDAY through FRIDAY until FR (5/19), 8-9am - Strive Not to Drive commuter station with coffee, fruit and snacks. Free. Held at Rainbow Community School, 574 Haywood Road • WE (5/17), 4:30-6:30pm "Bike Mechanics 101," basic bike mechanics class. Free to attend. Held at Epic Cycles, 102 Sutton Ave., Black Mountain • WE (5/17), 5-8pm - "Brewery or Bust," bus, bike, carpool or walk to the brewery for conversation about the future of multi-modal connectivity across Henderson County. See website for information about transportation to the brewery: goo.gl/ fRcBjI. Free to attend. Held at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., 100 Sierra Nevada Way Mills River • WE (5/17), 7pm - “Ride of Silence,” silent group bike ride to honor bicyclists and pedestrians who have been killed. Free. Meet at 35 Woodfin St. Held at ART Transfer Station, 49 Coxe Ave. • TH (5/18), 4pm - “Asheville on Foot, A Scavenger Hunt,” downtown Asheville pedestrian scavenger hunt. Registration requested: goo.gl/d28cn. Free to attend. Held at Catawba Brewing South Slope, 32 Banks Ave., Suite 105 • FR (5/19) - “National Bike To Work Day,” find a safe way to work by bike. Free. • FR (5/19), 5:30pm - “Roll Outta Work,” group bike ride that ends at New Belgium Brewing at 6:30pm for a Strive Week wrap-up party. Free to attend. Held at Pack Square Park, 121 College St.

PARENTING SWANNANOA VALLEY MONTESSORI SCHOOL 101 Carver Ave., Black Mountain, 669-8571, swanmont.org • 3rd THURSDAYS through (5/18), 9:30am - School tour. Registration required. Free to attend. YOUTH OUTRIGHT 866-881-3721, youthoutright.org • 3rd SATURDAYS, 11am - Middle school discussion group. Free. Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St.

PUBLIC LECTURES PUBLIC EVENTS AT UNCA unca.edu • TH (5/18), 5-7pm - " If You Do Not Start Collecting Yesterday Today, There Will Be No Tomorrow," presentation on preserving family history, heirlooms and artifacts with John Capers. Sponsored by the UNC Asheville Family Business Forum. Free. Held at Brunk Auctions, 117 Tunnel Rd.

SENIORS ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE SENIOR GAMES ashevillenc.gov/parks • SA (4/22) through WE (5/17) - Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts Competition for ages 50 and over. For full schedule visit ashevillenc.gov/parks. $12/$10 advance. BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • TU (5/23), 6pm - “Recognizing the 10 Signs of Dementia,” presentation by the Alzheimer’s Association. Free. Held at EnkaCandler Library, 1404 Sandhill Road, Candler SENIOR OPPORTUNITY CENTER 36 Grove St., Asheville • 1st & 3rd FRIDAYS, 1:303:45pm - "Charitable Sewing and Yarn Crafts." Complete your own projects in the company of others. Free.

SPIRITUALITY ABOUT THE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION TECHNIQUE • FREE INTRODUCTORY TALK (PD.) Deep within everyone is a wellspring of peace, energy and happiness. With proper instruction anyone can effortlessly transcend the busy or agitated mind and directly experience that rejuvenating inner source. Learn how TM is different from mindfulness, watching your breath, common mantra meditation and everything else. NIHsponsored research shows deep revitalizing rest, reduced stress and anxiety, improved brain functioning and heightened wellbeing. Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm, Asheville TM Center, 165 E. Chestnut. 828-254-4350. TM.org or MeditationAsheville.org

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

C OMMU N IT Y CA L E N D AR

by Abigail Griffin

ASTRO-COUNSELING (PD.) Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Readings also available. Christy Gunther, MA, LPC. (828) 2583229. OPEN HEART MEDITATION (PD.) Now at 70 Woodfin Place, Suite 212. Tuesdays 7-8pm. Experience the stillness and beauty of connecting to your heart and the Divine within you. Suggested $5 donation. OpenHeartMeditation.com SHAMBHALA MEDITATION CENTER (PD.) Wednesdays, 10pm-midnight • Thursdays, 7-8:30pm and Sundays, 10-noon • Meditation and community. By donation. 60 N. Merrimon Ave., #113, (828) 200-5120. asheville.shambhala.org CENTER FOR ART & SPIRIT AT ST. GEORGE 1 School Road, 258-0211 • 3rd SATURDAYS, 7:30-9:30pm - "Dances of Universal Peace," spiritual group dances that blend chanting, live music and movement. No experience necessary. Admission by donation. GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1245 Sixth Ave. W., Hendersonville, 693-4890, gracelutherannc.com • Through (6/20) - Open registration for the Henderson County Churches Uniting vacation Bible school that takes place Monday, June 26 through Thursday, June 29. Registration: bit.ly/ vbs-peru. Free.

Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com

• Fourth TUESDAYS, 10am - Volunteer to knit or crochet prayer shawls for community members in need. Free. GREAT TREE ZEN TEMPLE 679 Lower Flat Creek Alexander, 645-2085, greattreetemple.org • 3rd SATURDAYS, 4-5:30pm - Women’s zen practice circle with meditation, discussion, study, creative expression and building community. Admission by donation. KAIROS WEST COMMUNITY CENTER Haywood Road, Asheville, 367-6360, kairoswest.wordpress.com • 3rd SUNDAYS, 11am-12:30pm - Introduction to Buddhism meeting. Sponsored by Soka Gakkai International - Asheville. Free. URBAN DHARMA 29 Page Ave, Asheville, 225-6422, udharmanc.com • SU (5/21), 2:30-5pm - “Giving and Taking Tonglen,” four-class series in a Tibetan meditative practice for cultivating compassion for oneself and for others. $25/$20 members.

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD 35BELOW 35 E. Walnut St., 254-1320, ashevilletheatre.org • TH (5/25), 7:30pm - "Listen to This" storytelling series hosted by Tom Chalmers and featuring stories and original songs from locals. $15.

BREVARD COLLEGE 1 Brevard College Drive Brevard, 883-8292, brevard.edu • FR (5/19), 7:30pm - Author Jane Smiley presents the Looking Glass Rock Writers' Conference keynote speech. Free. Held in Ingram Auditorium BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library • SU (5/21), 2pm - "Mountain to Sea Tales: Stories and Songs from Plum Nelly Everywhere," storytelling by Becky and Pat Stone. Free. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview • WE (5/24), 6:30pm - Storyteller Becky Stone presents on the development of her upcoming portrayal of Maya Angelou for the June Buncombe County Chautauqua series. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library - Lord Auditorium, 67 Haywood St. FIRESTORM CAFE AND BOOKS 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 • 3rd THURSDAYS, 6:30pm - Queer Women's Book Club. Free to attend. FLATIRON WRITERS ROOM LITERARY CENTER 5 Covington St. • WE (5/24), 6-8:30pm - "Write Your Best Agent Query Letter," workshop. $35. FOLK ART CENTER MP 382, Blue Ridge Parkway, 298-7928, craftguild.org • SU (5/21), 3pm - "Stories On A Sunday

Afternoon," storytelling event by the Asheville Storytelling Circle. $10. MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 254-6734, malaprops.com • WE (5/17), 6pm - Trio, concert of art, music and literature. Free to attend. • TH (5/18), 7pm - History Book Club: Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Jody Warrick. Free to attend. • FR (5/19), 7pm - Lesbian author panel featuring Paula Martinac, Fay Jacobs, Lynn Ames and Ann McMan. Free to attend. • SA (5/20), 11am-1pm - Holly Myers presents her for children and adults, Goodnight, Asheville. Free to attend. • SA (5/20), 7pm - Kalen Vaughn Johnson presents her book, Robbing the Pillars. Free to attend. • SU (5/21), 3pm - Writers at Home presents authors from UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Review. Free to attend. • MO (5/22), 7pm - Davis Bunn presents their book, Miramar Bay. Free to attend. • TU (5/23), 6pm - Chuck Collins presents his book, Born on Third Base. Free to attend. • TH (5/25), 7pm - Works in Translation Book Club: The Ministry of Pain by Dubravka Ugreši translated by Michael Henry Heiml. Free to attend. • TH (5/25), 7pm - Zach Powers, in conversation with Thomas Calder, presents, Gravity Changes. Free to attend. THE MOTHLIGHT 701 Haywood Road • SU (5/21), 7:30pm - Moth Story Slam champion storytelling night. $12. THE WRITER'S WORKSHOP 387 Beaucatcher Road, 254-8111, twwoa.org • Through TU (5/30) - Submissions accepted for the "Hard Times Personal Essay Contest." Contact for full guidelines. $25. • Through WE (8/30) - Submissions accepted for the "Literary Fiction Contest." Contact for full guidelines. $25. THOMAS WOLFE MEMORIAL 52 North Market St., 253-8304, wolfememorial.com • SA (5/20), 2pm - "Writers at Wolfe," author Michael McFee, introduces his new collection of poetry, We Were Once Here. Free. TRADE & LORE COFFEE HOUSE 37 Wall St., 424-7291, tradeandlore.com/ • WE (5/17), 8pm - David Joe Millers spoken WORD! series presents storyteller, Doug Elliott and Pete Koschnick. $15. TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY LIBRARY 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, 884-3151 • SA (5/20), 7:30pm - Reading by authors Robert Morgan and Sy Montgomery as part of the Looking Glass Rock Writers’ Conference. Free. TRYON FINE ARTS CENTER 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon, 859-8322, tryonarts.org • SA (5/20), 7pm - "Made From Scratch," storytelling festival with Dorothy Kirk and Connie Regan-Blake. $17-$20.

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BARQ IN THE PARQ: Dog lovers are howling about the fourth annual Barq in the Parq outdoor festival taking place Saturday, May 20,, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Mountain Lodge and Conference Center in Flat Rock. The dog-focused event, featuring over 40 vendors, live music and food available for purchase, benefits Charlie’s Angels, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue and the Blue Ridge Humane Society. The entry fee is $5, and dogs are, of course, welcome. For more information, visit bit.ly/2qtScch. Photo courtesy of the organizers (p. 16) VOLUNTEERING TUTOR ADULTS IN NEED WITH THE LITERACY COUNCIL (PD.) Dedicate two hours a week to working with an immigrant who wants to learn English or with a native English-speaking adult who has low literacy skills. Sign up for volunteer orientation on 5/31 (5:30 pm) or 6/1 (9:00 am) by emailing volunteers@litcouncil.com. www.litcouncil.com BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF WNC 50 S. French Broad Ave. Ste. #213, 253-1470, bbbswnc.org • TH (5/25), noon - Information session for those interested in volunteering to share their interests twice a month with a young person from a singleparent home or to mentor one-hour a week in elementary schools and after-school sites. Free. HANDS ON ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE 2-1-1, handsonasheville.org • TH (5/18) 4-6pm - Volunteer to assist with unpacking and pricing in a nonprofit, fair-trade retail store. Registration required.

• SA (5/20), 2-5pm - Volunteer to help accept donations at a nonprofit re-store. Registration required. • SU (5/21), 1-2:30pm - Volunteer to help knit baby and adult hats to be delivered to those in need. Registration required. • TH (5/25), 11am-12:30pm - Volunteer to cook and serve a homemade lunch to the men staying at the ABCCM Veteran's Restoration Quarters. Registration required. HOMEWARD BOUND OF WNC 218 Patton Ave., 258-1695, homewardboundwnc.org • 3rd THURSDAYS, 11am - "Welcome Home Tour," tours of Asheville organizations that serve the homeless population. Registration required. Free to attend. For more volunteering opportunities visit mountainx.com/volunteering

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

WELLNESS

GET UP AND GO

Keys to successful aging

LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST: Ann and Al Mojonnier, both in their 80s, walk every afternoon with their dog, Mocha. They attribute their successful aging to remaining physically active, eating right and cultivating a good attitude. Photo by Leslie Boyd

BY LESLIE BOYD leslie.boyd@gmail.com Ann Mojonnier was traveling in Turkey when she liked the way a wine glass fit in her hand and asked the restaurant owner to sell it to her. Instead, he wrapped up six of them and gave them to her. “I have a glass of wine with dinner every night,” says Mojonnier, who’s 81, holding the glass up to the light in her kitchen. Traveling is just one of the ways she and her husband, Al, 83, stay engaged. They’re plan-

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

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ning to visit the Galapagos Islands in June. “We bought these suits for the trip,” she says, holding up a fullbody swimsuit she plans to wear while snorkeling. “We’re going to stuff our 80-year-old bodies into these, and we have bright yellow socks to go with them.” “You’ve heard of blue-footed boobies?” asks Al. “Well, we’re yellow-footed boobies,” says Ann, finishing the joke. They both laugh at the line they’ve probably told each other at least a dozen times.

By just about any measure, they’ve aged successfully so far. Every afternoon, the couple walk with their dog, Mocha, often on the trails at Warren Wilson College. In the mornings, Al swims and Ann does yoga or Feldenkrais exercises. On Tuesdays, they volunteer at MANNA FoodBank — they call it their weight training, since it involves lifting food boxes. Through their church, they participate in a weekly meditation group and a monthly movie club. Ann also sings in the choir.

“I guess we’ve been successful,” she says. “We’re still active and we enjoy ourselves.” They attribute their success, in part, to regular exercise and a diet that’s “a lot less brown, a lot more colorful than the meat and potatoes we ate when we were first married,” she explains. “A sense of humor is imperative, and a sense of curiosity is almost as important.” “Flexibility,” Al chips in. “And not just physically.” “Oh, and a sense of awe,” adds Ann.

HOW DO YOU SPELL ‘HAPPY’? “The definition is elusive,” says Dr. Tim Plaut, a geriatric physician who practices at the Mountain Area Health Education Center. To him, though, successful aging means living life to the fullest, amid the inevitable challenges. “I had a patient who lived to be 104,” says Plaut. “He was in a nursing home, but his nephew brought in a little moonshine for him every day. There were people to listen to his lifetime of stories. He was living successfully because he was happy: He was enjoying himself.” Aging, and its “success,” can depend on the person. For one, successful aging might mean getting out and exercising every day; for another, being able to socialize despite physical frailty or even cognitive decline. Candler resident Doris Scott says she felt useless spending her days at home with little human contact. But once the 74-year-old started going to DayStay Adult Day Services, she began to feel better about her life. “I like it here a lot,” she says. “I can talk to other people; I’m busy.” Executive Director Rachel Miller says many people start out coming once a week and, before long, they’re there three, four or five days each week. “Being among other people, keeping busy, socializing — all of it helps prevent deterioration,” notes Miller. “We see people become less depressed because they’re not isolated. We’ve had people able to stop taking antidepressants.” Caregivers, she continues, may be reluctant to place their loved one in a day program, but both parties will most likely end up happier. “I just tell them they’re going to like their mom a whole lot more come dinnertime.” And though these people may not be out hiking, they are more engaged, which makes for a better quality of life. For those folks who can still get around on their own, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville offers various classes and activities for seniors. “Study after study shows how cognitive and physical decline are slowed by staying active and engaged — physically, intellectually and socially,” says Catherine Frank, executive director of OLLI in Asheville. “Use your body to keep your brain healthy, but you

have to keep your brain engaged,” she stresses. “You can’t just do one: You have to do both.” The program features peer-topeer instruction in assorted subjects. Other groups focus on physical activities; recently, for example, Lori Postal and Lee Orowitz led a series of hikes. Faye Morrison, 77, and her husband, Ben, 75, took the class to find new places to hike. Roger Munch, 69, says these outings help him resist

the urge to just take it easy. “A body at rest tends to stay at rest,” he says. “I’d rather not let that happen.” FINDING A BALANCE But getting people to the best place they can be is complicated. It often means finding a balance of the right medications at the right dosages, says Tasha Woodall, MAHEC’s associate director of pharmacotherapy.

“It’s too easy to get into what we call a prescribing cascade — using one medication to treat the side effects of another,” she notes. And since few older people completely escape the need for medications, both Woodall and Plaut recommend reviewing all the meds someone is taking whenever a new symptom appears.

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W EL L NESS “Even herbal and other overthe-counter medicines can interact with each other or with prescriptions,” Plaut explains. “Your Parkinson’s symptoms might really be a reaction to medication. I’ve seen people misdiagnosed.” Because the aging process typically involves losing muscle mass and gaining fatty tissue, it can change the way the body metabolizes medicines. Older patients’ brains and central nervous systems are also more vulnerable to the effects of drugs. To try to determine why some folks age better than others, numerous longitudinal studies have followed people from birth or young adulthood through old age. Since 1986, the Nun Study (healthstudies.umn.edu/nunstudy) has tracked 678 American members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame who ranged in age from 75 to 102 when the project began. Funded by the National Institute on Aging, the study has found that even women whose autopsies showed evidence of Alzheimer’s disease in their brains functioned well at the end of their lives because they stayed intellectually and socially engaged. COMMON GROUND Areas of the world where people live long and healthy lives — often 100 years or more — all have certain things in common, notes Plaut. “People live in community. They stay engaged. They also eat well.” According to the Blue Zones Project (bluezonesproject.com), all of these pockets of unusual longevity offer residents ways to keep moving naturally, healthy foods, activities that include people of all

STAYING SOCIAL: Rachel Miller, left, executive director of DayStay Adult Day Services, shares a fond moment with Doris Scott, 74, who enjoys the opportunities for social contact. Photo by Leslie Boyd ages, a sense of community and a sense of purpose. For example, a blue zone might have walking trails with exercise stations designed for older people. It might feature abundant farm stands or tailgate markets, opportunities for older people to volunteer in schools or after-school programs,

and a public transportation system that’s accessible and convenient for seniors. When people have access to all these things, they tend to live longer and remain healthy longer into old age. That’s partly because activity and engagement can slow down many of

the negative effects of aging, says Dr. Jeff Heck, a geriatric physician. “One thing that’s somewhat unique about Asheville,” notes Heck, who serves as MAHEC’s president and CEO, “is the number of activities available to older people.”

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Keeping Seniors Safe at Home

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“I feel like I have my mom back.” – Caregiver 2,000 home visits made

“Without your help, I’d still be lonely.” – Care Management recipient 9,600 hours of Care Management provided

“Without your help my mom would have to go to a nursing home” – Caregiver 300 Minor Home Repair modifications

“Thank you! You make a confusing issue much clearer.” – Medicare class participant 4,055 people assisted with Medicare education

“My doctor said keep going to Senior Dining-- its making me better!” – Senior Dining participant 17,000 meals served and 308 exercise classes provided *July 1, 2016-April 30, 2017 data

PROFILES OF ACTIVE AGING

Athlete defies age For 90-year-old track and field athlete Cory Hartbarger, the greatest competitor he has defeated in sports is age. “I’ve had a lot of health concerns [heart surgery, diabetes, arthritis] and have been very fortunate to stay alive this long, but I wouldn’t be able to do it if I didn’t continue to work out and live a healthy lifestyle,” says Hartbarger. “My main goal has always been to stay alive for as long as I can,” the Asheville resident says. Hartbarger’s health concerns have motivated him to stay healthy and active. His doctor encouraged him to have a regular exercise routine as well as follow a strict diet, due to his diabetic condition. Sports turned out to be the perfect strength builder and age defier. After returning from World War II at age 18, Hartbarger discovered he had a penchant for athletics: He competed in track and field events, including shot put, discus and javelin. He played in the Philadelphia Athletics’ baseball farm system in North Carolina in 1949. More than six decades later, the 90-year-old will soon compete with more than 10,000 adults over the age of 50 in Birmingham, Ala., in the 2017 National Senior Games. “I think it’s wonderful to be able to participate in the National Senior Games, as it promotes healthy living,” says Hartbarger. He was selected as a 2017 Humana Game Changer, an athlete who represents every age and ability and provides encouragement, motivation and inspiration for all seniors to stay healthy. “It’s an absolute honor,” he says. The U.S. Track and Field Association recognized Hartbarger as an All-American in 2009, 2011 and 2013. He recently accepted an invitation to return to his alma mater, Northern Michigan University, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Having finished in the top eight at the National Senior Games in the past, he hopes to medal again — but he finds the camaraderie with his fellow competitors equally rewarding. Even the city of Asheville itself contributes to Hartbarger’s well-being, he adds. “Asheville is a beautiful city

DEFEATING AGE: Cory Hartbarger, 90, says working out and living a healthy lifestyle have helped him excel at athletics and overcome health problems. Photo courtesy of Cory Hartbarger that has plenty to offer, from the ballgames, opera and downtown area. I enjoy taking a mile-andhalf-long walk through Asheville every day.” Hartbarger reveals one of the greatest joys of competing is seeing his fellow competitors at meets and being able to form those relationships while striving to stay healthy. “It’s incredible to think that after everything I’ve experienced in my life from World War II to health concerns, that I’m still alive and kicking. I hope to have a few more years left in this wonderful life of mine.” — Laurie Crosswell

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W EL L NESS

PROFILES OF ACTIVE AGING

Keep giving to keep living For 81-year-old Willie Mae Brown, the best way to keep living is to keep giving through action and not just words. “If you keep moving, you won’t turn into a block of concrete,” says the community servant. “You’ll keep all your faculties, and that’s a blessing.” A resident of the Oakhurst neighborhood near Mission Hospital for nearly 50 years, Brown’s commitment to helping is well-known throughout the city. The 29-year veteran of Asheville’s Ball Glass plant now stays busy with a variety of events and family commitments. Her days begin early — around 6 a.m. — taking care of her niece, whose leg was recently amputated. When asked about her life, Brown’s answer is humble. “I don’t like to be recognized for anything I’ve done,” she says, finding the act itself the reward. Throughout Brown’s life, community involvement has been a constant fixture

and passion, validating her claim that giving back is the best way to continue moving forward. Last month, her contributions were honored by The Martin Luther King Association as part of the YWCA’s Stand Against Racism: Women of Color Leading Change event. “I have been participating in various activities for almost as long as I can remember,” notes Brown. These days, she works with Community Action Opportunities, a nonprofit organization that helps people and communities affected by poverty. She has helped others fight discrimination in all its forms, whether on the job or in daily life. Brown has also worked with Asheville GreenWorks for the past 26 years. The organization — which went by the name Quality Forward until 2007 — cleans up the environment by removing trash along streets and sidewalks. “I believe in a clean community,” Brown says, adding that she used to organize cleanup events

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COMMUNITY ACTIVIST: Willie Mae Brown says working on causes strengthens her vitality. Photo courtesy of Brown specifically for kids, an activity she says instilled in them the importance of taking care of the planet. “This is your environment,” Brown told the children. “God is not making

EXERCISE IS THE BEST MEDICINE Geriatric health care is critical, he explains, because older folks have age-specific needs. “I find overtreatment is a really, really big problem,” says Heck. “Older people have often been excluded from medical studies because they have more than one chronic condition or just because they’re over 65. Well, you can’t learn about a group of people if you don’t include them in studies.” So, what does Heck advise for staying healthy into old age? “There isn’t a pill I can give you that’s better than exercise,” he says. “Drug results don’t even get close to the benefits of exercise.” Walking improves balance and cognitive function. Reading, knitting and social engagement also help keep the brain healthy. And one recent study found that interval training — bursts of intense exercise followed by brief periods of rest — actually improved muscle health at the cellular level, although all forms of exercise improved overall health and fitness. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic studied 72 healthy but sedentary adults who were under age 30 or over age 64. They were broken into four groups: One did weight train-

any more land, so we have to take care of what we have.” Brown credits her work on causes close to her heart with strengthening her vitality. She is a member of the Mount Zion Missionary Church, where she serves as head of the Crisis Food Ministry as well as superintendent of Sunday school. Remaining active in Asheville is easy, Brown says, because of the many activities the city provides. At one point, she was a member of a senior dance group that entertained in nursing homes around town. “Regardless of where I go, it’s home to me,” says Brown. “And I love it.” Asheville is not just a residence, she notes, but a positive contributor to her health. When asked her secret for fighting the negative effects of aging, Brown responds, “Just living in general.” It’s a simple message that fits the ongoing commitment of this pillar of the community to pursuing a life of action and service. — Laurie Crosswell

ing, another did interval training on stationary bicycles, the third did moderate training on stationary bikes for 30 minutes, and the control group didn’t exercise. The greatest gains in strength came in the weight training group, and both stationary bicycle groups showed improvements in endurance. But the interval training group had changes at the cellular level that improved their bodies’ ability to process glucose and their cells’ ability to produce energy. The effect was more pronounced in the older subjects. Increasingly, institutions that work with older people are encouraging exercise. Two local retirement communities — Deerfield and Givens Estates — have gyms, and residents are encouraged to make use of them. Many Medicare supplement insurance plans also pay for gym memberships or exercise classes. The Mojonniers belong to Silver Sneakers at the Asheville YWCA, where they can attend free water aerobics and other classes. “We get up and move,” says Ann. “I think if I sat in a chair I would just shrivel up.” X

WELL NESS

by Kate Lundquist

kvlundo@gmail.com

AGING IN ASHEVILLE Denise Baker, who moved to Asheville eight years ago, has lived during that time with a chronic disease — dementia. “I’m retired from an exciting yet stressful job with the U.S. government,” says Baker, who suffered a stroke 20 years ago at age 52. “I was very lucky — I was alive, I was mobile, and I was fairly lucid; and I had a good friend who came to see me every day in the hospital. We laughed about most everything that was going on — my inability to read or write, the hospital food, my throwing up on her shoes ... and somewhere along the way I realized that humor and not taking things too seriously helped me recover from the effects of the stroke.” Looking back, Baker can pinpoint the stroke as the beginning of her cognitive decline into vascular dementia. About four years ago, it dawned on her that the confusion she had been developing must be more than aging, so she took some tests which showed mild cognitive impairment, leading to a diagnosis of dementia. Baker joined a memory support group. “Asheville has a lot of help for those of us with cognitive and age-related issues,” says Baker, who is on the steering committee of Dementia Friendly WNC. “We are just like everybody else. We have issues too, and we are doing the best we can to cope with them.” According to the National Center for Health Statistics 88 percent of Americans over 65 years of age are living with at least one chronic health condition. Economic Development Asheville reports that 18 percent of people living in Buncombe County are over 65 years old. With nearly a fifth of Buncombe County residents likely to have one or more chronic health conditions, professionals in Asheville are working to educate, support and assist those with chronic diseases. Diane Saccone, director of healthy aging initiatives for the YMCA of WNC, says if we can change the individual, then we can change the community, which in turn benefits the larger society. The YMCA of WNC offers an array of chronic disease prevention programs, such as diabetes prevention, fall prevention, LIVESTRONG cancer program and Parkinson’s disease maintenance and prevention. Because many baby boomers have several chronic diseases, says Saccone, the YMCA recently started its Enhanced Fitness group exer-

Advocates aid in chronic disease awareness

HAPPY HEARTS: Diane Saccone facilitates the Enhanced Fitness program offered by the YMCA of Western North Carolina for patients at Emerald Ridge Rehabilitation and Care. Photo courtesy of YMCA of WNC cise program for chronic diseases, especially those that are potentially debilitating, such rheumatoid arthritis. Most recently, the Enhanced Fitness program launched Pedaling for Parkinson’s and Power Moves — adaptive wellness recovery programs developed for people with degenerative movement diseases. Both programs began the first week of April and are ongoing, and are allowing new members to the program on a first-come, first-served basis. The programs have been filling up. Steve Miller, adaptive wellness instructor at the YMCA of WNC, was diagnosed five years ago with Parkinson’s disease. “Power Moves was not a lightbulb: it was fireworks,” says Miller. “It gave me empowerment to live a normal life.” Miller became involved with Mission Pardee Health Campus and Care Partners to teach classes to help improve his own condition as well as help others — “to be the Pied Piper of PD [Parkinson’s disease] patients in the area,” he says. Miller helped form a partnership between CarePartners and the YMCA to offer Power Moves and Pedaling for Parkinson’s at the YMCA of WNC. Saccone and Miller are developing a referral system with local neurologists and physical therapists to refer people with the chronic diseases to both programs. Power Moves, an ongoing program that also began last month at the Reuter Family YMCA and the YMCA at Mission Pardee Health Campus, is a once-a-week exercise program that addresses cognitive as well as physical issues. “It’s not just muscles that twitch; there is an emotional

engagement as well,” says Miller. “There is apathy and depression, attentional issues, executive functioning and how you make decisions.” Power Moves fights the basic things that hit us, Miller says, and “we [those with Parkinson’s] have to ‘power up’ to stand up straight, rock and reach, and [do] functional things like reaching to get a hat out of the top of the closet. There are rotational issues from the disease which cause difficulty with transitions, such as getting out of cars or stepping one foot at a time to get moving,” he continues. “We do the exercises in five different positions: standing, sitting, crawling, prone and supine. Exercise is medicine, and it has been proven to improve brain health. The cognitive piece to Power Moves is huge.” Saccone notes that “all of our evidence-based chronic disease prevention programs [at the YMCA], which are in conjunction with Mission Health Partners, have expanded into the community.” All the Enhanced Fitness programs are currently offered in senior centers and rehabiltation centers such as Emerald Ridge and Shiloh community complex. “With Hominy Valley YMCA opening in September, the reach will be even further,” says Saccone. “With 5,400 adults turning 65 every year in the state of North Carolina, the attention and research is vital.” Older adults tend to isolate in later years, says Miller — whether from a spouse becoming ill or passing away, or a difficult financial situation. These [situations] can negatively impact the life of an

adult, especially those with a chronic disease. The social piece of the puzzle, he says, can improve the outcome of those living with chronic diseases. “Social interaction is so powerful on top of the exercise,” says Miller. “It’s a game changer.” Social interaction is important because it is good for the brain, says Cathy Hebert, geriatric nurse, board member and one of the founders of Dementia Friendly WNC. “Eating well, exercising and reducing stress are important to stave off dementia, but another aspect that is well-researched is social connection. It helps cognition much more than we ever thought it would. People with dementia can feel isolated and with no support.” says Hebert. “We are social beings, and without that, we decline cognitively, and we end up with depression, which also aids in cognition decline.” According to the WNC 2014 census, approximately 11 percent of adults over the age of 65 have dementia. Hebert notes that dementia is the only disease in the top 10 list of chronic diseases that has no cure and no treatment. Dementia Friendly WNC focuses on what the Asheville community can do to help people with dementia live well. Its goal is to reduce the stigma by raising awareness and transforming attitudes. It offers a two-hour educational awareness program that emphasizes communication techniques to help those with dementia. “There is a lot of fear that is unfounded and a lot of incorrect information,” says Hebert, who brings the program to places such as the YMCA of WNC and the Asheville Art Museum.

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W EL L NESS Dementia Friendly WNC also collaborates with local business owners to signify their place of work is “dementia friendly” — meaning the business has received training about how to interact with people who have dementia in a patient and compassionate manner. Those living with dementia need a little extra time to count their money or walk to the counter, says Hebert. Stephanie Stewart, aging specialist for health promotion and disease prevention at Land of Sky Regional Council, agrees that social interaction and support are vital to chronic disease management. Stewart coordinates and trains volunteer facilitators for evidencebased programs serving Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties. Such programs utilize deep breathing, muscle relaxation and tips for managing pain and fatigue. Stewart also offers the Stanford University Chronic Disease SelfManagement Program, called Living Healthy, which is funded through state and federal money by the Older Americans Act. Living Healthy, like Enhanced Fitness and Dementia Friendly WNC, is designed to be brought into community settings, where it offers communication skills, education, meal planning and exercise. Stewart notes that Living Healthy poses a question to all its participants: ‘What is one simple step for this week for a big picture of better health?’ “Many times people with chronic conditions feel hopeless, frustrated and powerless because the body is doing something that is out of their hands,” says Stewart. “This program offers participants insight and expertise for what works and what doesn’t.” Living Healthy is offered once a week for six weeks and includes goal setting and action planning with two trained

facilitators in a small group. It is held at different locations around the counties served, including libraries, churches, community centers and senior centers. Stewart asks communities if they are interested in having the program and finds facilitators to run the free sixweek series. Denise Young, regional manager of the Alzheimer’s Association of Western Carolina, says education and support are essential for those living with chronic diseases as well as for caregivers. The association provides educational pamphlets, a 24/7 hotline and presentations in the community about financial planning and the basics of the disease, such as what to expect as changes take place in the brain. “A lot of research has been done to show a connection between heart and brain health, particularly in regards to diet,” says Young. “There are several clinical studies that look at the Mediterranean diet that is rich with oils and nuts and less meat. Exercise is an important piece as well because the brain is fed by a healthy network of veins and arteries. Anything that affects the heart affects the brain.” Baker, who strives to maintain a healthy and full life following her stroke and decline with dementia, joined a memory support group four years ago, which has positively affected her life. “Everyone feels like we are family because each of us understands what the other is going through, and many people talk about that. No one gets it unless they have the disease,” says Baker. “I think it’s good for the community to realize there are people with dementia among them. They need to be more patient with us, and also they need to be more patient with everyone. We all need to take care of each other.” X

MORE INFO Economic Development Asheville ashevillechamber.org/economicdevelopment/research-and-reports/ county-demographics-reports Emerald Ridge Rehabilitation and Care centers.consulatehealthcare.com/nc/ asheville/25-reynolds-mountain-blvd. html Dementia Friendly WNC landofsky.org/dementiafriendly Dementia Friendly America www.dfamerica.org

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

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Power Moves pwr4life.com LIVESTRONG ymca.net/livestrong-at-the-ymca/ Diane Saccone dsaccone@ymcawnc.org or 828-575-2904 Alzheimer’s Association of Western Carolina alz.org/northcarolina National Center for Health Statistics cdc.gov/nchs

PROFILES OF ACTIVE AGING

Pain became a game changer

PEACE OF THE PUZZLE: Lillah Schwartz began yoga to help heal an injury from a horse accident. It turned into a passion, which quickly became a career. Photo courtesy of Schwartz For Lillah Schwartz, yoga is the missing “peace” of the puzzle when it comes to having a balanced and active life. When asked her age, she replied, “Last I looked I was 40 something. You figure it out. I opened the first yoga studio in Asheville in 1981.” An encounter with pain led Schwartz to discover yoga, a passion that turned into a career. “I had suffered from a horse accident and was looking for an effective path to healing,” she says. In Boston, David Carmos, Schwartz’s first teacher, suggested she study yoga to benefit from its mental and physical healing powers. “I was soon drawn to the work of B.K.S. Iyengar, an internationally renowned yogi whose techniques resonated with me,” says Schwartz. “The goals of the Iyengar method are long-lasting health, positive selfconfidence and wholeness. I studied directly with B.K.S. and his lineage for 25 years and learned that certain movements could make a difference in my pain and improve my ability to move more freely and feel whole.” Schwartz brought those teachings to Asheville through her studio, Lighten Up Yoga, which she opened after moving here in the ’70s with her husband. She was one of the few women business owners downtown. “In Asheville, my goal to become a full-time teacher came full circle. My specialty evolved seamlessly — helping students overcome their own issues from back injuries and related aches and pains.”

Following a merger of her studio with One Center Yoga in 2013, Schwartz switched from studio owner to teacher team associate, instructing group classes as well as giving private lessons. She teaches workshops in Asheville and throughout the Southeast. “Those who embrace yoga as a healing art and lifestyle need the kind of wisdom and experience I have to offer,” Schwartz says. Her workdays are divided into two categories: teaching and computer. The computer aspect revolves around updating and planning everything from social media and blog posts to bookkeeping as well as maintaining her website and planning events. Schwartz is one of the first yoga therapists to be certified with International Association of Yoga Therapists in Asheville. She has produced several yoga DVDs that have boasted national distribution. Her most recent accomplishment is her 2016 book, Healing Our Backs With Yoga: An Essential Guide to Back Pain Relief. Schwartz says it gives the reader “reliable information and yoga pose sequences to help people understand and manage their back pain. It is a practice book that will contribute to a person’s health and well-being, with or without back pain.” Schwartz’s book can be purchased on her website, yogawithlillah.com, or at One Center Yoga on 120 Coxe Ave., Malaprop’s Bookstore on Haywood Street and Nature’s Vitamins and Herbs on Biltmore Avenue. — Laurie Crosswell

WELL NESS

by Virginia Daffron

vdaffron@mountainx.com

LETTING GROW

Asheville author offers tips for creative retirement busy, busy all of the time,” she reveals. “What we ask people to do with this book is to slow down, which is so contrary to our society and all this noise that we have going on around us.” Retirement offers a chance to redefine one’s path forward, Shaffer says. “You are comfortable enough in your own skin that it’s OK to follow your own star. A lot of people get to a point where they think, ‘You know, I’ve been

there and I’ve done that and I don’t want to do that anymore. And now I feel confident and comfortable enough to do [what I want], and I don’t care what other people think.’” “We are writing the new rules for retirement every day,” Shaffer concludes. “The sooner you can start thinking about how you want to spend the next chapter of your life, the better.” X

To learn more Shaffer’s book is available locally at the gift shop of the Botanical Gardens at Asheville (151 W.T. Weaver Boulevard) and at the Asheville Visitor Center (36 Montford Ave.). The book is also available online in paperback through Amazon (avl.mx/3p5).

ARTFUL LIVING: Suzanne Shaffer is a watercolorist, an art educator and a retired clinical art therapist, as well as the author of the 2016 book Conscious Creative Retirement. Photo courtesy of Schaffer Watercolor artist Suzanne Shaffer doesn’t just teach others how to reimagine themselves in retirement — she’s living those same changes herself. A retired clinical art therapist and practicing art educator, Shaffer recently added “author” to the list of her identities. Her book, Conscious Creative Retirement: Eight Essential Keys to Maximize Your Next Life Chapter, offers advice and handson creative exercises for grappling with the changes that come with aging. Creativity is a big concept for Shaffer and her co-author, Patty Van Dyke, but it’s often misunderstood. “Creativity has nothing to do with artistic ability,” Shaffer explains. Even if someone has never drawn, painted or played a musical instrument, she continues, “We didn’t get to this age without using creativity in our lives.” As folks consider what’s next after building a career or raising a family, she says, they need to draw on their inherent creativity to move forward in ways that promote mental and physical health, avoid depression and maintain healthy relationships. Even as she paints a picture of the many possibilities for self-expression and fulfillment in retirement, however, Shaffer doesn’t gloss over the more difficult aspects of aging. The three most common anxieties surrounding aging are health, money and the fear

Shaffer’s book in an electronic format, as well as more information about Shaffer and upcoming workshops and events, is available at consciouscreativeretirement.com.

of running out of time, she says. Many people also struggle with the shift away from accumulating possessions and markers of success. “We’re downsizing our houses; we’re letting go of things we feel we don’t need anymore. Oftentimes that letting-go process can be one of grief and despair,” she says. But letting go of things that are no longer needed “allows room for something new to come in,” Shaffer advises. How do people get started to creatively envision those new possibilities? Shaffer mentions a retirement standby: travel. But, she hastens to add, you don’t have to go far to get all the benefits of being in a new environment. Even visiting a part of your own town that you’ve never explored before can do the trick. The key is to stay open to the experience, without passing judgment. “That’s an easy, inexpensive way to start: Put yourself in situations where you are open to new ideas, new suggestions and new things coming to you that you can think about in a different way,” she says. In addition to teaching watercolor painting, writing, and maintaining an active website and blog, Shaffer also speaks to groups and offers workshops. One thing she often sees among those she meets is a compulsion to fill every second of the day with activities. “Many people in retirement are busy,

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

W EL L NESS PROFILES OF ACTIVE AGING

Martial arts without the pain

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE: Liz Ridley’s life has a lot of spice, as she teaches a variety of exercise classes. But tai chi has been the biggest influence in her life in staying active and feeling young. Photo by Emily Nichols

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Liz Ridley is living proof that variety is the spice of life. At 68, the tai chi instructor is more energetic than ever. She gets up no later than 7 a.m. each morning, takes her dog Dixie for a walk and then dives into her passions. Ridley teaches 15 classes a week (tai chi, senior chair and water exercise), plays the ukulele, hikes, dances, participates in yoga and Feldenkrais (an exercise therapy that focuses on the connections between the brain and the body), and enjoys movies, plays and art galleries. “There are so many wonderful opportunities for staying active [in Asheville],” says Ridley, who even listens to audiobooks in her car. An area resident for 25 years, Ridley has worked in myriad professions — but tai chi has proved to be the biggest influence in her life when it comes to staying active and feeling young. “Physically, tai chi is great for health and balance,” she says. “It helps with stress, blood pressure, sleep.” An exercise leader for 25 years (aerobics, bench stepping and weightlifting), she reached a point where she desired more depth to her workout. “Tai chi gave a focus to my life and exercise that I didn’t have before,” she says. A class taught by Mark Small of the Mountain Dragon School in Asheville hooked her on tai chi, which she calls “martial arts without the pain!”

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She still goes to one class a week with Small and now co-sponsors World Tai Chi Day with local martial arts guru Larry Cammarata. (World Tai Chi Day is held the last Saturday in April and is celebrated in some 80 countries.) Ridley also instructs senior chair exercise and water exercise, with most of her students in the 80s or older. “From them, I learn … that each day is precious and to make the most of life,” says Ridley. She says her positive outlook and exercise have been the keys to remaining independent. “I don’t think of myself as old, and I hope that 20 years from now I’ll be able to say the same thing,” says Ridley. “When I look around, the people who are active are the ones who have a smile on their faces. I want to be one of those!” She has produced two senior exercise DVDs — Hulacize and Countrycize — that will available for sale soon. Workshops with martial arts masters have given her a new lease on life. “Tai chi is practice, practice, practice until the end — and I kind of feel that’s what life’s about. Practice until the end.” She recently stepped out of her comfort zone and entered a martial arts tournament where she won first- and second-place medals. “Things are just great in my life right now,” she says, “I can’t remember ever being happier.” — Laurie Crosswell

W EL L NESS CA L E N DA R WELLNESS CANCER PATIENTS DESIRED FOR FREE HEALING WORK (PD.) SA & SU (6/3-6/4) 9am-3pm both days. Cancer patients needed as clients for advanced hands-on healing students. Earth-based healing school. Free. Interested parties register at registrar@wildernessFusion. com. (828) 785-4311, wildernessFusion.com. Montreat, NC. OPENING THE ENERGY GATES • QIGONG CLASS (PD.) Saturdays, 11am-12pm, Weaverville, NC. Foundational mind/body practices for creating whole health. Instructor Frank Iborra has over 47 years experience in the internal and Taoist movement arts. 954-721-7252. whitecranehealingarts.com ASHEVILLE CENTER FOR TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION 165 E. Chestnut, 254-4350, meditationasheville.org • THURSDAYS 6:30-7:30pm - Introductory talk on transcendental meditation. Free to attend. ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY YOGA CENTER 8 Brookdale Road, ashevillecommunityyoga.com • SA (5/20), 12:30-2:30pm "Freedom Yoga," workshop. $20. CENTER FOR END OF LIFE TRANSITIONS 32 Mineral Dust Drive, Asheville, 318-9077, ceolt.org/ • TU (5/23), 5:30-8:30pm Proceeds from "Preparing for Your Own Good Death and Life" workshop regarding preparing for death benefit Anattasati Magga. Registration: ceolt. org. $65.

FIRESTORM CAFE AND BOOKS 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 • 4th WEDNESDAYS, 5:30pm - Radical Reproduction Monthly Discussion Group. Free to attend. HAYWOOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 262 Leroy George Drive Clyde, 456-7311 • TH (5/18), 5-7pm - Breast Care Center open house. Free. LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 774-3000, facebook.com/ Leicester.Community.Center • FR (5/19), 8am-noon Community health care fair. Free. • FR (5/19) & SA (5/20), 8am2pm - The NC Baptist Men's Dental Bus event with free dental care. MAHEC EDUCATION CENTER 121 Hendersonville Road, 257-4400, mahec.net • WE (5/17), 5:30-7pm "Re-Energizing Your Life," & "Heart Attack in Women - Signs You Shouldn’t Chalk Up to Stress," dinner, self care and presentation by Paula Guilfoyle and Ronnie Metcalf. For women only. Dinner and wine provided. Registration: mahec.net/ recharge. Free. OUR VOICE 35 Woodfin St., 252-0562, ourvoicenc.org • FRIDAYS (5/23), (6/23), (6/30) & (7/21), 12:30-2:30pm - "Soul Collage," therapeutic collage workshop for survivors of sexual violence and the loved ones of survivors. Registration required: 828-252-0562 ext. 110 or rebeccaw@ourvoicenc.org. Free. THE BLOOD CONNECTION BLOOD DRIVES 800-392-6551, thebloodconnection.org • FR (5/19), 11am-2pm - Blood

donation event. Held at Leicester Community Center, 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester

SUPPORT GROUPS ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS & DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES adultchildren.org • Visit mountainx.com/ support for full listings. ALATEEN Alateen30683777@gmail.com • TUESDAYS 7-8pm - Help and support for teens who are affected by drinking in a family member or friend. Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS • For a full list of meetings in WNC, call 254-8539 or aancmco. org ASHEVILLE WOMEN FOR SOBRIETY 215-536-8026, womenforsobriety.org • THURSDAYS, 6:30-8pm – Held at YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave. ASPERGER'S TEENS UNITED facebook.com/groups/ AspergersTeensUnited • For teens (13-19) and their parents. Meets every 3 weeks. Contact for details. BRAINSTORMER’S COLLECTIVE 254-0507, puffer61@gmail.com • 3rd THURSDAYS, 6-7:30pm - For brain injury survivors and supporters. Held at Kairos West Community Center, Haywood Road, Asheville BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 213-2508 • 3rd THURSDAYS, 5:30pm - For breast cancer survivors, husbands, children and friends.

Held at SECU Cancer Center, 21 Hospital Drive CODEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS 242-7127 • FRIDAYS, 5:30pm - Held at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, 556 S. Haywood Waynesville • SATURDAYS, 11:15am – Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. • TUESDAYS 7:30pm - Held at Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave., Suite G4 DEBTORS ANONYMOUS debtorsanonymous.org • MONDAYS, 7pm - Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE 367-7660, depressionbipolarasheville.com • WEDNESDAYS, 7pm & SATURDAYS, 4pm – Held at 1316-C Parkwood Road. DIABETES SUPPORT 213-4788, laura.tolle@msj.org • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 3:30pm - In room 3-B. Held at Mission Health, 509 Biltmore Ave. EATING DISORDERS ANONYMOUS (561) 706-3185, eatingdisordersanonymous.org • FRIDAYS, 4:30pm - Eating disorder support group. Held at 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave # G4, Asheville FOOD ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 423-6191 or 242-2173 • SATURDAYS, 11am- Held at Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave., Suite G4 FOUR SEASONS COMPASSION FOR LIFE 233-0948, fourseasonscfl.org • TUESDAYS, 3:30-4:30pm Grief support group. Held at Four Seasons - Checkpoint, 373 Biltmore Ave.

• THURSDAYS, 12:30pm - Grief support group. Held at SECU Hospice House, 272 Maple St., Franklin GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS gamblersanonymous.org • THURSDAYS, 6:45pm - 12-step meeting. Held at Basillica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St. GRIEF PROCESSING SUPPORT GROUP 452-5039, haymed.org/ locations/the-homestead • 3rd THURSDAYS, 4-5:30pm - Bereavement education and support group. Held at Homestead Hospice and Palliative Care, 127 Sunset Ridge Road, Clyde LIFE LIMITING ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUP 386-801-2606 • TUESDAYS, 6:30-8pm - For adults managing the challenges of life limiting illnesses. Held at Secrets of a Duchess, 1439 Merrimon Ave. MEMORY LOSS CAREGIVERS network@memorycare.org • 4th TUESDAYS, 1-3pm – Held at Woodfin YMCA, 40 North Merrimon Ave., Suite 101 Asheville MINDFULNESS AND 12 STEP RECOVERY avl12step@gmail.com • WEDNESDAYS, 7:30-8:45pm Mindfulness meditation practice and 12 step program. Held at Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave., Suite G4 MOUNTAIN MAMAS PEER SUPPORT GROUP facebook.com/ mountainmamasgroup • 3rd SATURDAYS, 11am-1pm - Held at First Congregational UCC of Hendersonville, 1735 5th Ave. W., Hendersonville MY DADDY TAUGHT ME THAT mydaddytaughtmethat.org • MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS,

6-8pm - Men's discussion group. Free. Held in 16-A Pisgah Apartment, Asheville OUR VOICE 35 Woodfin St., 252-0562, ourvoicenc.org • Ongoing drop-in group for female identified survivors of sexual violence.

Urban Dharma, 29 Page Ave, Asheville • TUESDAYS, 7pm - Held at Shambhala Meditation Center, 60 N Merrimon Ave., #113 SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS

OVERCOMERS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 665-9499 • WEDNESDAYS, noon-1pm Held at First Christian Church of Candler, 470 Enka Lake Road, Candler OVERCOMERS RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP rchovey@sos-mission.org • MONDAYS, 6pm - Christian 12-step program. Held at SOS Anglican Mission, 1944 Hendersonville Road

saa-recovery.org/Meetings/ UnitedStates • MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS, 6pm - Held at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave. • SUNDAYS, 7pm - Held at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St. SHIFTING GEARS 683-7195 • MONDAYS, 6:30-8pm - Groupsharing for those in transition in careers or relationships. Contact for location.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS • Regional number: 277-1975. Visit mountainx.com/support for full listings. PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH ADD/ADHD meetu.ps/s/.0/z96GP/f • TU (5/23), 6-7pm - Parents of children with ADD/ADHD support group meeting. Free. Held at United Federal Credit Union, 1441 Patton Ave.

SMART RECOVERY 407-0460 • FRIDAYS,2pm - Held at Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness, 370 N. Louisiana St. • THURSDAYS, 6pm - Held at Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. SUNRISE PEER SUPPORT VOLUNTEER SERVICES

RECOVERING COUPLES ANONYMOUS recovering-couples.org • MONDAYS 6pm - For couples where at least one member is recovering from addiction. Held at Foster Seventh Day Adventists Church, 375 Hendersonville Road REFUGE RECOVERY 225-6422, refugerecovery.org • THURSDAYS, 7:30pm - Held at Sunrise Community for Recovery & Wellness, Unit C4, 370 N. Louisiana • FRIDAYS, 7-8:30pm & SUNDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Held at

facebook.com/Sunriseinasheville • TUESDAYS through THURSDAYS, 1-3pm - Peer support services for mental health, substance abuse and wellness. Held at Kairos West Community Center, Haywood Road, Asheville T.H.E. CENTER FOR DISORDERED EATING 337-4685, thecenternc.weebly.com • WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm – Adult support group, ages 18+. Held in the Sherill Center at UNCA.

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GREEN SCENE

CLEAN WATER WARRIORS

Muddy Water Watch app celebrates first anniversary

BY NICK WILSON

NAVIGATION TOOL

nickjames.w@gmail.com

The free Muddy Water Watch app is available from the Apple iTunes Store or Google Play. Once it’s installed on a smartphone or tablet, users can easily snap a photo of the pollution source, add notes and submit a report. “It’s actually really interesting how it works,” says Crossley. “The app has these geographic overlays, so depending on where someone is when they geotag the erosion, the app sends the report to the appropriate authority. Each one of the riverkeepers can basically go in, create their own territory and decide who gets notified when something is reported in that specific area.” Figuring out how to “navigate the right contact with the state of North Carolina can be really difficult,” notes Carson. “So the main goal with the app was to make it super-easy for those people who know that erosion is a problem to quickly snap a picture and notify the right folks — a huge hurdle when you’re dealing with a big bureaucratic system.” After the app was developed, MountainTrue “set out to train people — not so much on how to use it, but more on what the Muddy Water Watch program is, why erosion is a problem, who’s in charge of regulating erosion,” he explains. “We held some training sessions and spoke to a bunch of different groups, so we really expanded our base of people who are knowledgeable on the issue.” The nonprofit plans to hold more training sessions for volunteers as well as riverkeepers elsewhere in the state.

It’s been just over a year since the locally developed Muddy Water Watch app was launched, enlisting citizen watchdogs to help protect their communities’ waterways. Conceived by the environmental nonprofit MountainTrue as an enhancement of its existing Muddy Water Watch program, the app makes it easy for residents to report potential problems with sedimentation in streams as well as other water quality issues. Sediment pollution, mostly coming from construction sites and poorly maintained or illegal roads, is “the No. 1 reason for poor water quality in North Carolina” notes MountainTrue’s website. It’s a big problem, says the site, “because it smothers aquatic life, warms the water, reduces oxygen levels, destroys habitats and clogs fish gills.” In addition, it can degrade water quality, destroy wetlands and reduce the storage capacity of reservoirs. The app, French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson maintains, “is one of the most important ways that citizens can get involved and make a difference. Sediment comes from hundreds, if not thousands, of different sources, and there’s just no way that a couple of regulators can possibly get out to monitor all of those sites as often as they need to be.” The riverkeeper movement grew out of a 1960s-era grassroots campaign by fishermen to protect the Hudson River. And Muddy Water Watch, notes Carson, “stemmed from a program started by the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper in Georgia called Get the

CLEAN RUN: French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson says reducing sediment runoff into area streams and rivers is a critical part of maintaining the health, beauty and ecological function of these critical parts of the ecosystem. Photo by Jeff Rich Dirt Out maybe 10-15 years ago. The riverkeepers in North Carolina at the time thought it was a really good program, so they adopted it and rebranded it as Muddy Water Watch. But we had this clunky website; we didn’t have this really easy way to submit reports. Then the downturn in construction hit and the mud from construction sites fell off as a top priority. But now that construction has come back, we decided it was a good time to revive the training, try to simplify it and create a better tool.” The app is the fruit of a partnership between MountainTrue and the Asheville-based web and mobile app developer Shiny Creek.

1st Quality

“Hartwell and the MountainTrue folks came to us and asked if we could build an app that would easily allow people to report muddy water and erosion problems,” company founder Brett Crossley explains. “We’re a big believer that one of the key things missing today are apps that actually help nonprofits achieve their mission. People have written apps for fundraising and a few for corralling groups of people together, but I think apps that directly help an organization achieve part of its mission — that directly engage people and help the group meet a goal — is something that you’re going to see more of in the future.”

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THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT: Environmental nonprofit MountainTrue partnered with local software developers at Shiny Creek to create an easy-to-use smartphone app that allows members of the public to report water quality problems when and where they spot them. Image courtesy of Shiny Creek

over. There is no posted documentation of dump site, and this dump is located within 20 yards of the creek.” Allen, who’s spent a lot of time on local waters over the years, says, “Although we’ve come a long way with regard to environmental impacts made by registered businesses, I continue to see an increase in household trash and plastic items like oil containers, antifreeze containers, paint containers, etc. It’s as though education on proper disposal of domestic trash has been left out.” Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill also used the app to report sediment pollution in the river he watches over. “Clean water is essential to all life,” notes Hill, adding, “I think it’s vital to keep our rivers clean to promote recreational opportunities, protect the health of our communities and our ecosystems. “Technology has many benefits in sharing information and bringing attention to issues facing our environment,” says the Boone resident, who also serves as MountainTrue’s High Country regional director. “It can help connect like-minded individuals and build powerful communities and coalitions.”

ON THE GROUND Since its launch early last year, 113 individual incidents have been reported by people from all walks of life. “I’ve been using this app as a test run before I launch the program in the Haw River watershed in June,” says Emily Sutton, river watch coordinator at the Haw River Assembly in Bynum. The watershed, she says, “is now rapidly developing, and much of that development is contributing to stormwater and sediment pollution.” Chatham Park, which is now under construction, will be one of the largest developments in the nation, she points out. Muddy Water Watch, continues Sutton, “allows our community members to act as watchdogs for these goliath developments, protecting our water from sediment pollution. When I began relaunching this program, I reached out to other riverkeeping organizations in the state. Hartwell Carson suggested the app and added our local regulators to the contact forms.” Mills River resident Elizabeth Allen, who’s worked as a professional rafting guide in Western North Carolina for 24 years, submitted a report on Feb. 25, noting, “Multiple dumps have been made and covered up. They continue to get closer to the water’s edge with what looks like construction waste and other chemical agents. You can see the erosion has reached the top of the silt fence and, in some places, is spilling

VITAL INFO For his part, Carson says he’s pleased with what the project has accomplished so far, though there’s still room for improvement. “The more we can grow the number of eyes and ears that are watching out for our waterways, the better. It’s been a really good start — without our volunteers, we would never have known about some of these violations — but I think we can do more with the app.” One enhancement he’d like to see is “a better feedback loop, so when you make a report, you can understand if the issue is still in the process of being resolved or not. It can be frustrating when you make a report, drive by the site four days later and the situation is still going on. The regulators may have issued a violation and might be in the process of having a contractor go out there to fix the situation, but we need to convey that information to the users,” says Carson. “If we can get that updated, then I think it’ll really let people know this is a valuable tool that can quickly get things done. Or it’ll show that regulators are ignoring our reports — which is equally valuable, because then we’ll know we need to take additional steps to make sure stuff gets cleaned up.” The potential benefits, though, don’t end at the North Carolina border. The app, notes Crossley, “is designed to be used nationwide. But setting up the different riverkeepers will need to happen through

organizations like MountainTrue or the Waterkeeper Alliance.” The New York City-based alliance is a global network of water quality watchdog groups and individuals. Meanwhile, he continues, Shiny Creek hopes to undertake more such projects. “We’re already talking to some other environmental groups. It’s definitely more fun to work on than corporate software.” And Asheville City Council member Julie Mayfield, who’s also

MountainTrue’s co-director, says, “I love the Muddy Water Watch app because it empowers people: It gives them something to do. Back when I was in Atlanta, there was a huge building boom going on, and I’d drive around and see mud pouring off of sites. I’d be like, ‘Somebody needs to tell me who to call. This is crazy!’ We didn’t have anything like this back then, so I’m ecstatic that we have it now: It makes it easy for people to report problems when they see them.” X

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WALK THIS WAY: Joel DuFour, the founder of Kentucky-based walk-behind tractor manufacturer Earth Tools, will present an overview of the versatile machines, along with other useful small-scale tools, at Living Web Farms’ May 27 workshop. Photo by Lisa Soledad Almaraz

BY MAGGIE CRAMER mcramerwrites@gmail.com It’s no secret that small-scale and large-scale farming are entirely different, ahem, animals. One chief distinguishing point? Equipment needs, particularly of those growing crops. Sizable agricultural enterprises require a fleet of machines to keep their operations running smoothly. Smaller farms need a good deal less and may not generate enough money for the newest John Deere.

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

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Enter the walk-behind tractor, hailed by many as a “miracle multitasker” for homesteaders and small-scale farmers. And, enter Joel DuFour of Kentuckybased company Earth Tools, an expert in these cost-efficient two-wheeled machines who’ll share his knowledge at a Saturday, May 27, field day at Living Web Farms in Mills River. He plans to introduce how they work, their uses and maintenance issues, as well as discuss how farm setup is related to equipment. DuFour champions European walk-behinds for their quality and ability to run many farm attachments with a single power source, providing thousands of hours of service.

Living Web Farms staff members will showcase a variety of walkbehind tractor attachments, including no-till implements and mowers. They also plan to review specialized hand tools and share their own farming experiences. The workshop is offered in partnership with the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training, or CRAFT, and the organization’s May farm tour, increasing the vast wealth of expertise that will be on-farm that day. A potluck is included. X

ECO

Get equipped WHAT Hands-on tools and equipment field day WHEN Saturday, May 27, 1:30-7 p.m.

GREEN GRANNIES avl.mx/0gm • 3rd SATURDAYS, 4pm Sing-a-long for the climate. Information: singfortheclimate.com Free. Held at Pritchard Park, 4 College St.

BLACK MOUNTAIN GARDEN SHOW AND SALE 301-4347 • SA (5/20), 9am-4pm - 12th Annual Black Mountain Garden Show and Sale with perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables, native trees, shrubs, maples, iris, daylilies, hostas and garden accessories. Free to attend. Held at Monte Vista Hotel, 308 W. State St., Black Mountain

BUNCOMBE COUNTY EXTENSION MASTER GARDENERS 255-5522, buncombemastergardener.org, BuncombeMasterGardeners@ gmail.com • TH (5/18), 11:30am1pm - Gardening in the Mountains: “Woodland Shade Gardening,” workshop with James Wade, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer. Registration: 828-255-5522. Free. Held at Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Office, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville

other equipment for the market garden from local and regional experts DETAILS

WHERE Living Web Farms, 176 Kimzey Road, Mills River

FARM & GARDEN

ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS ashevillegreendrinks.com • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 7pm Eco-presentations, discussions and community connection. Free. Held at Lenoir Rhyne Center for Graduate Studies, 36 Montford Ave.

WHY Learn about walk-behind tractors and

Suggested donation of $15; learn more at livingwebfarms.org

LIVING WEB FARMS 176 Kimzey Road, Mills River, 505-1660, livingwebfarms.org • SA (5/20), 1:30-7pm - “Hands On Tools & Equipment Field Day,” workshop all about sourcing, use, maintenance, modification and use of tools and equipment in the garden. $15. M R GARDENS 441 Onteora Blvd. • SATURDAYS through (6/10), 11am - Tours of passive solar greenhouse. Registration:

megan@mrgardens.net or 828-333-4151. $5 and up. POLK COUNTY FRIENDS OF AGRICULTURE BREAKFAST polkcountyfarms.org • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 7-8am - Monthly breakfast with presentations regarding agriculture. Admission by donation. Held at the 4-H Center, Locust St, Columbus

SEE D TH E SEAS ON New Gifts for Growing Wise

! y a MX giveaw Seed Collections

T-Shirts

Collaborations with Local Artisans

Find this MX Promo at mountainx.com and comment before midnight Sunday, May 22nd for a chance to win a prize package including seed packets from Sow True Seeds and a gift certificate to Elements Real Food! Handmade Mugs

Seed Packets

2 Seed Packets from Sow True Seeds sowtrueseed.com 146 Church Street, Asheville Monday-Friday: 10am-4pm (828) 254-0708 www.sowtrueseed.com Free packet of seed with every purchase in December

+ A $20 Gift Card from Elements Real Food elementsrealfood.com

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

FOOD

FACTS, FEARS AND THE FUTURE OF FOOD Asheville looks at the controversy over genetic engineering in agriculture BY NICK WILSON nickjames.w@gmail.com

Historic Biltmore Village 10 Biltmore Plaza Asheville NC

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

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Asheville-based director and producer Jeremy Seifert’s 2013 documentary film GMO, OMG highlighted a major concern about the manipulation of the food supply — the belief that genetically modified organisms are dangerous. In 2015, Mountain Xpress reported how local restaurants were seeing an increased demand for nonGMO foods. Until a GMO labeling bill was signed into law in July 2016, locals like The Market Place chef and owner William Dissen were vocal, not so much about the dangers of GMOs, but about the importance of transparency when it comes to genetic engineering in our foods. Even the National Academy of Sciences, the agency responsible for releasing the comprehensive May 2016 report that “found no evidence that foods derived from genetically engineered (GE) crops were unsafe to eat,” noted that “it is clear that the proportion of Americans who believe that foods derived from GE crops pose a serious health hazard to consumers has steadily increased, from 27 percent in 1999 to 48 percent in 2013.” This trend pits those who are skeptical of genetic engineering against those who, alongside agencies like the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Academy of Sciences, believe that genetic engineering is not only safe but has the potential to be a powerful tool for food production in the future. WHAT IS GENETIC ENGINEERING? “Simply speaking, genetic engineering is a process whereby genes can be moved within a species or from one species to another,” says Jack Britt, an Asheville-based scientist, consultant and agricultural professor of nearly 40 years at institutions like N.C. State University and the University of Tennessee. “All

IMPROVING ON NATURE: Asheville-based agricultural professor Jack Britt says genetic engineering is a more efficient way of improving species through natural selection. “The methods used by scientists are the same as those used by bacteria and viruses to move genes around among species, except that scientists do this more precisely,” he says. Photo courtesy of Britt of us have genes or pieces of genes that came from other species. Some have been introduced by viruses and bacteria, and some have been spread by biting insects and the organisms they inject into us when they bite. In the 1960s, scientists discovered how to excise and insert DNA (genes). The methods used by scientists are the same as those used by bacteria and viruses to move genes around among species, except that scientists do this more precisely than bacteria and viruses.” Essentially, the idea is that genetic engineering is simply a more efficient means of doing something that nature has always been doing since

the dawn of time — improving species through natural selection. “We now know that nature has created many GMO crops over millions of years. The same organism that is used by scientists to move genes into corn, soybeans, papaya, canola, alfalfa and other GMO crops has been moving genes across species naturally for a long time. When the sweet potato genome was sequenced a few years ago, it was discovered that it was a true GMO crop and that the same organism has left its footprint in the sweet potato thousands of years ago.” Rather than improving species through what’s essentially roll-

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KEEPING OPTIONS OPEN: Ingles dietitian Leah McGrath, pictured in a field of GMO canola, says that despite opposition, GMOs could offer answers for global problems. “I think we have to realize that we need to have these tools in our toolbox and don’t have the luxury of taking anything off the plate,” she says. Photo courtesy of McGrath ing the dice, genetically speaking, genetic engineering is much more targeted. “With GMOs, there may be one gene altered. You’re not changing a host of genes. It’s very deliberate and very direct. It’s not like taking a Schnauzer and breeding it with a St. Bernard and seeing what we’re going to get,” says Leah McGrath, corporate supermarket dietitian for Ingles Markets. The use of GMOs and genetic engineering is also more prevalent than many people realize. “Insulin is a GMO, so everyone who is a Type 1 diabetic relies on a product of genetic engineering,” says McGrath. “Genetic engineering is used widely in processing and manufacturing

of thousands of products that we all use every day,” says Britt. “Many cosmetic, health and other products are produced in fermentation vats using genetically modified E. coli. The technology that is used to produce GMO crops is used to make hundreds of products such as cold-water detergents, bread preservatives, many over-the-counter products and many pharmaceuticals.” Despite the widespread use of GMO-based products, many of the foods grown today fall outside the realm of what is considered genetically modified. “Remember that there are no tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces, kale, collards and many other veg-

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

FOOD

etables that are genetically engineered,” says Fred Gould, N.C. State professor and chair of the National Academy of Sciences committee on GE crops. “So unless your farm is focused on commodity row crops, you probably don’t even have access to engineered crops.” The current list of GE foods on the market includes corn, soybeans, cotton, Innate Potatoes, papaya, squash, canola, alfalfa, arctic apples, sugar beets and AquaBounty salmon, according to a report from bestfoodfacts.org. The number of GMO crops out on the market is limited by the regulatory process they’re subjected to. “It can actually take almost 20 years to bring a GMO product to market. There are trials upon trials before that can happen,” says McGrath. Britt agrees, noting that “GMO crops are under much more control by FDA, EPA and USDA than any other farm products.” McGrath says it’s important for consumers to understand which GMO foods are in circulation so there’s no risk of being exploited by unfounded, fear-based marketing. “When you have small grocery stores, even here in Asheville, that put out ads showing a tomato or strawberry with a syringe in it, implying that those products are GM, it’s important to understand that there aren’t actually any GMO strawberries or tomatoes on the market,” says McGrath. WHY ALL OF THE OPPOSITION? Despite the fact that “every national scientific and medical agency in the world has declared that GMO foods are safe,” according to Britt, many people are still concerned and skeptical. According to a recent video released by Kurzgesagt via YouTube,

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there are several common objections to genetic engineering, including gene flow (the concept that GM crops can mix with traditional crops and introduce unwanted new traits into them), the use of terminator seeds (which are essentially seeds that produce sterile plants, requiring farmers to buy new seeds every year) and the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, like the weed-killing herbicide glyphosate. The use of pesticides and herbicides especially causes alarm among vocal critics in Asheville. “Philosophically and ethically, I believe that ‘you are what you eat,’ and I do my best to source and cook ingredients that are local, sustainable and healthy. For me, the conversation about GE and healthy eating is the use of herbicides and pesticides in our food,” says Dissen. “Agricultural communities suffer the greatest and most obvious effects of the ever-increasing amount of poison being sprayed,” says Chris Smith, community coordinator at Ashevillebased Sow True Seed. “Glyphosate is showing up in groundwater. Studies show effects on beneficial insects and pollinators, not least because of the killing off of plants like milkweed, the preferred food of monarch butterflies.

More emerging studies are linking health issues to people who get drift from aerial spraying. And that isn’t to mention the real threat to the biodiversity of food and other crops in nearby fields,” says Smith. Anne and Aaron Grier run the 70-acre Gaining Ground Farm in Leicester and have been selling vegetables in Asheville since 1999. “We currently grow 14 acres of vegetables on land that we lease from immediate family. We do actively avoid GMO seed in our vegetable production. We actively avoid buying non-GMO seed from companies that also produce and sell GMO seeds. We worry about GMOs’ unintended impacts on insects and increased usage of herbicide in Roundup Ready-type applications,” say the Griers. Britt seems less concerned than Dissen, Smith and the Griers about the use of chemicals like glyphosate. “The primary advantage of GMO corn and other GMO crops is that they simplify control of weeds and control of insect damage to crops,” says Britt. “In general, weeds are now typically controlled by a single herbicide (glyphosate) rather than multiple herbicides, and the GMO plants often include a BT toxin that kills insects that feed on plants.”

When Britt refers to weeds controlled by glyphosate, he is referring to genetically modified herbicide-resistant crops (think Roundup Ready), which have been engineered to survive exposure to glyphosate, the chemical (found in Roundup spray) known to kill weeds. The “BT” that Britt references is a gene borrowed from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which allows engineered plants to produce a protein that destroys the digestive systems of specified insect pests. So basically, the plant makes its own pesticide, and insects that eat it will die. But are BT toxins bred into crops something to worry about? “Unlike many pesticides, the BT toxin is not active in humans. The bacteria that produces the BT toxin is used by organic farmers to control pests in their organic crops. It is a natural product,” says Britt. Britt counters concerns about the overall use of pesticides by noting that “now we spray much less than previously, and pesticide use in the U.S. has declined significantly over the last two decades. According to worldwide statistics, the U.S. now ranks around 43rd in the world in amount of pesticide used per acre of arable farmland. Fertilizer use has also declined, and we rank about 62nd in the world in fertilizer use per acre.” For Gould, some objections to the current use of GE technology may be valid, but not those regarding the health or safety for humans and the environment. “The overall data doesn’t show that GMOs themselves cause human and environmental safety problems,” says Gould. “If you are against GMOs for ethical and societal reasons, I think it’s best to express your opposition in those terms instead of health and environmental terms.” SHIFTING THE CONVERSATION Laura Lengnick, professor of sustainable agriculture at Warren Wilson College and author of the book Resilient Agriculture, says: “GE technology may be a useful tool in climate change adaptation, but not as it is used today. In general, GE technology is a great example of the overemphasis on technological solutions to food production challenges that characterizes industrial agricultural.” Britt disagrees. “The first GMO on the market was Roundup-resistant corn, and that was really designed so that Monsanto could sell more Roundup. Now, while it definitely makes planting and growing corn

simpler for the farmer, the company was primarily focused on selling more Roundup. So, ultimately, that was a product that made a lot of money for [Monsanto], farmers liked it, but it wasn’t necessarily a great step forward in terms of producing food more efficiently or meeting needs any better, except for maybe reducing the overall use of pesticides,” says Britt. For Anne and Aaron Grier of Gaining Ground Farm, everyday shoppers carry a responsibility when it comes to farmers buying seed from companies like Monsanto. “We think that most of the responsibility rests with the consumer making decisions with their dollar. If consumers quit buying products that contained GMO crops, farmers would quit using GMO seeds,” say the Griers. Companies like Monsanto are forprofit corporations with shareholders and board members to satisfy. Thus, consumer and agricultural concerns may be secondary to generating profits. This isn’t to imply that these companies are malicious or nefarious, however, but rather a reminder that profits are a top priority for many companies. “Which company does not have an intention to make profit?” Britt asks. THE FUTURE OF GENETIC ENGINEERING Britt says the GMO technologies we’re using today aren’t particularly enhancing the state of agriculture, as they have the potential to, but he believes there is reason to be optimistic about the future of GE. “I think the long-term advantages of genetic engineering or gene editing is for things like drought resistance and salt tolerance,” he says. “Could you grow plants in salty water? If we could do that, we wouldn’t have to worry about irrigation water.” Britt also believes GMOs may soon be a thing of the past. “My guess is that GMO will soon be replaced by gene-editing,” he says. “It’s quicker, easier to do and has a precision that is exceptionally high. With gene-editing, a specific gene is excised or cut from the DNA, and its replacement is inserted in the space that was cut out. Often the replaced gene is a slightly different version of the one that was cut out and often leads to improved health or some other benefit to the plant or animal.” With growing concerns around global population growth and impending climate change, there is certainly reason to move forward

with research and development of potentially effective GE technologies. “I don’t think you can draw a line in the sand and just say no to GE,” says McGrath. “I think we have to realize that we need to have these tools in our toolbox and don’t have the luxury of taking anything off the plate.” Those critical of GE maintain that we need to proceed with caution, however. “Could publicly funded altruistic application of certain types of biotech help us in the future? “ Smith asks. “Quite possibly. Will biotech be a golden wand that solves all our problems? Extremely unlikely. We need big system changes, which means human behavior needs to change— a nd that relies on the most complex tool we haveat our disposal: our brains.” X

March Against Monsanto WHAT

GMO Free NC hosts the sixth annual March Against Monsanto. The march is kid- and pet-friendly. Participants are encouraged to wear earthy colors and/or creative costumes. WHERE Downtown, starting and ending at the Vance Monument WHEN Saturday, May 20 Rally begins at 11 a.m., march begins at noon. Rain or shine.

! y a w MX givea Find this MX Promo at mountainx.com and comment before midnight Sunday, May 22nd for a chance to win a pair of tickets to all 3 days of the 11th annual Americana Burlesque & Sideshow Festival!

AMERICANA BURLESQUE & SIDESHOW FESTIVAL A PAIR OF TICKETS TO EACH SHOW!

DETAILS

1ST SHOW: FRIDAY, MAY 26TH AT THE GREY EAGLE

Visit the event’s Facebook page at avl.mx/3pv for updates, including information about a sign-making circle planned for 4 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at The Block Off Biltmore.

2ND SHOW: SATURDAY, MAY 27TH AT THE ORANGE PEEL 3RD SHOW: SUNDAY, MAY 28TH AT THE GREY EAGLE

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

FOOD

by Nick Wilson

nickjames.w@gmail.com

CHAPTER TWO Before becoming the executive director of the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association, Jane Anderson worked in health care for 23 years in Erie, Pa., then another 10 years at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Nowadays, as part of her leadership role at AIR, an organization that describes itself as “an association of local, independent restaurants dedicated to keeping Asheville’s food scene eclectic, authentic, interesting, fresh and flavorful,” Anderson interacts regularly with many of Asheville’s restaurant owners — some of whom started new careers after moving to Asheville, just as she did. “There really are some great stories about people who looked around and decided to plop their businesses down here,” she says. “I think it’s these interesting individuals that really keep Asheville’s independent vibe going. Many people deliberately chose to move here, in some cases even giving up a higherpaying job, for that unique lifestyle change. ... There are a lot of people in many different professions that I think help create a richer community because they’re here. “A lot of people came here as part of this second phase of their life. ... Even though they may be nearing retirement, they’re still leading very active lives and creating really great businesses,” she adds.

Getting a late-life second start in Asheville’s food and beverage industries got accounts, you’ve got marketing, sales, all the same things … except here we’re not making plastics, we’re making food.” Waissen, who has enjoyed cooking since he was a kid, approaches the process of making food with the same attention to detail required in a large-scale manufacturing facility. The savory meat pies at the heart of Pete’s menu are something that Waissen holds to a high personal standard. “We’ve probably sold 6,000 pies since opening, and I’ve made about 5,000 of them,” he says. “Each day we taste everything here together before it goes out.”

STARTING OVER: Pete Waissen left behind a long career in engineering when he moved to Asheville from England last May. In December, he reinvented himself as a restaurateur when he opened Pete’s Pies on Lexington Avenue. Photo by Nick Wilson In transitioning from mechanical engineering to the world of food service, Waissen found that some of his accumulated knowledge applied. “I’ve always been able to do what I

need to do to get by,” says Waissen. “And actually, the mechanics of any small business are the same as a big business, because you’re dealing with all of the same facets. You’ve

HARD WORK So far, Waissen says he’s been enjoying life as a restaurateur. “The whole thing has been a good experience,” he says. But he isn’t blind to the challenges of starting a new business in a thriving food town like Asheville. “Is it a stressful thing? Oh yeah, I think I’ve lost 35 pounds since I

CROSSING OVER Among the diverse group of local restaurant owners who relocated to Asheville to start a new chapter is Pete Waissen, owner of Pete’s Pies, a British pub that opened downtown in December. Waissen moved to Asheville from England last May to be closer to his two sons, Jack, a 2012 graduate of N.C. Central University in Durham, and Matt, a 2013 UNC Asheville alum, both of whom came to the country on collegiate tennis scholarships and remained stateside. Before opening Pete’s, Waissen didn’t have any experience in the restaurant business. A mechanical engineer by trade, Waissen started out designing manufacturing equipment then spent more than two decades in the plastic injection molding business, working his way into management.

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

AFTER-PARTY: In his 60s, Mark Janes, left, found a new professional home in Asheville’s craft beer scene working in the taproom at New Belgium Brewing, where he is known to co-workers as “Party Grandpa.” Pictured with Janes, from left, are Becca Hardin-Nieri, Courteney Foster, Justin Quinn, Ross Yates and Cassie Miller Giles. Photo courtesy of Janes

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ing beer, helping guests and leading tours of the facility. “I really wanted to work for New Belgium,” he says. “Because my son-in-law and daughter work there, I had been an extended family member of New Belgium for a long time; I knew how they operated. I was just like, ‘This is the place I want to work.’” Dubbed “Party Grandpa” by New Belgium employees before he even started working there, Janes can hardly hide his enthusiasm about the job. He appreciates everything from the company culture to the people he works with to his daily routine, including the opportunity to ride his bicycle to work every day. “What I tell people is this is the best post-retirement full-time job I’ve ever had,” he says. “It’s an amazing thing — you come to work every day, and what do you do? You talk to people, you serve them beer, you turn them on to our production, obviously, but even grander than that, you’re turning them on to craft beer in general. It’s just really such a unique experience. I’ll probably work here until I’m dead and gone.” X

SOMETHING NEW: Chiesa owners Robert and Melissa Willingham worked a combined 50 years in the restaurant business in Baltimore before opting for a change of pace with a move to Asheville five years ago. “It’s a ton of work and a ton of hours, but it’s also a lot of fun,” says Robert. Photo by Nick Wilson got here,” he says with a touch of his characteristic dry wit. Stress and hard work are a common theme among restaurant owners. Baltimore transplants Robert and Melissa Willingham, owners of Montford Italian restaurant Chiesa, say it’s just part part of the job. “Between the two of us, we have 50 years experience in the restaurant business, so you’d think we’d know better than to do this again,” Robert says with a laugh. “A friend of mine always refers to money earned from a restaurant as ‘blood money’ because you work so hard for it. Sure, you make some money, but you don’t make that much money. ... That said, it’s definitely been pretty good to us, and we can’t complain.” Before relocating to Asheville when they were in their mid 50s, the Willinghams owned a Mexican taqueria in Baltimore. “We just decided we wanted to leave and try something different. So we went to check out a few places to look around — California and then up north,” says

Willingham. “But when we came to Asheville, we just really felt that this is what we wanted; we love it. In the five years that we’ve lived here, I don’t think there’s been a week gone by that one of us doesn’t look the other one in the eye and go, ‘Man, I just love it here.’” Before opening Chiesa in 2014, the Willinghams had planned to do something small, but then the idea morphed into a full-blown restaurant. “It’s a ton of work and a ton of hours, but it’s also a lot of fun,” Robert says. “I’ve never had as many good friends as we have now, and it’s mainly because of the restaurant — we just meet so many really interesting people who come through.” The restaurant business, he says, is something that “just gets in your blood. Once you do it, I think it becomes really hard to get a normal 9-to-5 job or go work for someone else.”

BREWING A NEW CAREER Working for someone else suits 67-year-old Mark Janes just fine. Janes, who had a 25-year career in the transportation industry in both Illinois and New Orleans, found himself in the world of craft beer at the age of 60. “I had friends that said, ‘You know, your avocation is craft beer — maybe you want to make that a vocation,’” says Janes. A love for craft beer clearly runs in the Janes family. His daughter, Stacia Janes, and son-in-law, Tyler Foos, both work for New Belgium Brewing Co. in Asheville. Stacia Janes is a Southern Division field quality manager and Foos is the Asheville Liquid Center manager. After several years of bouncing around the craft brewing industry in various cities, Mark Janes relocated to Asheville 3½ years ago. Though he initially started working at Appalachian Vintner, he ultimately ended up getting hired by New Belgium. Mark Janes now works in the brewery’s Liquid Center taproom, pour-

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

SMALL BITES

FOOD

by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

Habitat Tavern and Commons hosts monthly potlucks Here are a few questions to chew on: What keeps you up at night, and what gets you out of bed in the morning? Who do you want to be, and how will you become it? What is life-giving, and what is giving you life? These are just a taste of the queries Habitat Tavern and Commons will pose to attendees during its monthly potluck series, Common Table. The dinners launched in April, with future gatherings scheduled to take place on the last Monday of each month. Jonathan Myers, the brewery’s coowner, considers these initial inquiries as a way to facilitate conversation among those who attend. “Hopefully after that, people are able to find some common ground … and build community,” he says. “That’s the ultimate hope, which is why we named it Common Table.” The format is fairly straightforward. People are asked to prepare and bring food to share. In the interest of preventing waste, guests are also encouraged to bring a plate and utensils to eat with, otherwise plasticware and paper plates will be provided. Beer will be for sale in the taproom, but guests can bring their own nonalcoholic beverages. Myers, who describes himself an introvert, understands the reluctance some might feel about attending such an event. Nevertheless, he encourages everyone to give it a chance. He advises those who are more reserved to bring a friend along. “It’s always easier to go through a new experience with someone you know,” he says. Inclusivity is the main thing. “All are welcome,” says Myers. “If people are interested in building community and having a place to share a space with others, this is a great opportunity for that.” Common Table is hosted 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the last Monday of each month at Habitat Tavern and Commons, 174 Broadway. The next one happens Monday, May 29. The events are familyfriendly and free to attend. RSVPs on the event’s Facebook page are encouraged but not required. For details, visit facebook.com/habitattavernandcommons/. 44

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

COME TOGETHER: On the last Monday of every month, Habitat Tavern and Commons hosts a potluck dinner called Common Table with the aim of bringing diverse elements of the community together. Photo courtesy of Habitat Tavern and Commons

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GREEN MAN, VERBENA CAKES PRESENT SPRING OFFERING Green Man Brewery and Verbena Cakes and Catering will partner on Tuesday, May 23, for an evening of food and drink. The Spring Offering dinner will consist of a four-course meal with beer pairings. “We are still relatively new to Asheville, so what better way to introduce ourselves as a local catering company than with a local brewery,” says Emma Hobbs, Verbena’s executive pastry chef and event and catering manager. Highlights from the menu include sunchoke and gruyere fritters, steak and Green Man Porter pie, and carrot cake. Guests will receive a souvenir Green Man glass. The Spring Offering begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, at Green Man Brewery’s Greenmansion, 27 Buxton Ave. Tickets are $60. For details, visit verbenacakesandcatering.com. CLASS FOCUSES ON SALT’S ROLE IN COOKING On Thursday, May 25, Living Web Farms will present Elements of Cooking: Salt, a class covering the history of salt as it relates to the culinary arts. The

course will also cover varieties of salt and discuss best uses to improve cooking projects. “Antibiotics, refrigeration, preservatives and an ever-increasing array of disinfectants, albeit often poorly vetted though they may be, have all served to diminish salt’s importance to humanity,” says Patryk Battle, director of Living Web Farms. “But in the realm of food and cooking, salt’s role remains critical.” Battle will lead the class, along with Meredith Leigh, the program’s education and outreach coordinator. Elements of Cooking: Salt runs 6:30-7 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at the French Broad Food Co-Op, 90 Biltmore Ave. A $10 donation is suggested. Register at livingwebfarms.org. TACOS, GELATO AND BEER AT BILLY GOAT BIKES Billy Goat Bikes recently launched a weekly mountain bike group ride that wraps up with a party. The event, sponsored by Stone Brewing, takes place 6-8 p.m. every Thursday. Riders depart from Billy Goat Bikes for a social-paced cycle covering 8-15 miles. At the end of the ride, Tacoed Wheel Food Truck offers its menu of tacos and more outside Billy Goat Bikes, while inside, Sugar &

Snow Gelato has gelato, espresso drinks, snacks and beer for sale. “Thursday evening rides are a great way to kick off the weekend a bit early,” says Sugar & Snow owner Amy Pickett. “We are excited to have a location close to the trails that can serve as a gathering place for the mountain biking community.” Group rides take place 6-8 p.m. Thursdays beginning and ending at Billy Goat Bikes, 1445 Brevard Road. Participation is free, and registration is not required. For details, visit billygoatbikes.com. TASTE THE SEASONS COOKING CLASS Dietitian Denise Barratt of Vine Ripe Nutrition will host a clean-eating, spring cooking workshop Thursday, May 18, at Franny’s Farm. Participants will learn to make spring vegetable and chicken risotto, strawberry lavender corn cakes and more. Along with the meal and instruction, guests will receive meal ideas, recipes and a local, seasonal shopping list Taste the Seasons Cooking Class is 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at Franny’s Farm, 22 Franny’s Farm Road, Leicester. Cost is $55. To register, visit vineripenutrition.com. X

Thanks Asheville for 4 FANTASTIC YEARS! MONDAY, MAY 22ND

FREE BISCUITS

West Asheville Kitchen NOW OPEN MONDAYS! West Asheville location ONLY, each guest is entitled to one free buttermilk biscuit

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

BEER SCOUT

FOOD

by Edwin Arnaudin | edwinarnaudin@gmail.com

Wicked Weed, amplified The owners talk about taking on Anheuser-Busch InBev as a strategic partner and their commitment to Asheville The Wicked Weed Brewing ownership team knew the backlash was inevitable. In the wake of the May 3 announcement that the popular Asheville brewery was taking on The High End branch of Anheuser-Busch InBev as a strategic partner, co-owners Luke and Walt Dickinson and Ryan, Rick and Denise Guthy readied themselves for mixed reactions from industry peers and the public — which came quickly and often with great vitriol. On social media platforms, customers vowed to boycott Wicked Weed’s beer. In a Facebook post, Austin, Texas-based Jester King Brewery founder Jeffrey Stuffings said his company will “always consider the people of Wicked Weed friends,” but since one of its core principles is to not sell beer from A-B InBev or its affiliates — a stance chosen “because a portion of the money made off of selling it is used to oppose the interests of craft brewers” — it will no longer carry Wicked Weed products. Then came an open letter from former employee Jed Holmes, who left the brewery in December citing “an increasingly corporate atmosphere.” Holmes’ statement also calls Wicked Weed joining forces with A-B InBev a sign that “local no longer matter[s]” to the brewery and says the deal “is not a ‘partnership.’ It is a sellout.” The owners can relate. Before getting to know their future business colleagues, they too were among those who viewed the global beer giant with suspicion and as a threat to independent breweries. But over time, as those discussions took place, it became clear to the Wicked Weed braintrust that The High End has changed its understanding of and practices with its craft breweries. Now the challenge is to convince the public of the same, something Luke Dickinson accepts will likewise not be immediate but believes will ultimately prevail as his brewery continues to produce creative, high-quality beer — albeit with some help. “Part of the beauty of this partnership is that [A-B InBev] really [has] said, ‘Look, we want to be an amplifier. We want to come in and, like, you’re 46

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FAMILY TIES: The Wicked Weed Brewing ownership team and Adam Warrington, second from left, of A-B InBev’s The High End, celebrate their new partnership at Wicked Weed’s downtown brewpub. Photo by Edwin Arnaudin

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talking through a paper megaphone. We want to give you a microphone.’ That’s really what they’re going to do. They’re giving us the opportunity to still act as the five owners we’ve been all along and make decisions as we have, and all of us are going to be really involved day-today — probably more than ever as we go forward,” he says. When Wicked Weed opened in December of 2012, the five owners’ vision was simply to run the Biltmore Avenue brewpub. Luke Dickinson says the dream was that if they had great success, they might be able to make 1,500 barrels of beer their first year. They ended up making 2,800 barrels over that time, a sign that — as he says Denise Guthy has voiced “hundreds and hundreds of times” — Wicked Weed was bigger than the core quintet. In turn, their minds opened up to what the company could be after that first year and remained receptive to new ideas. “Having a strategic partner was never part of our thought process, but it became evident as we built out our fourth facility last year that Wicked Weed has an extremely bright future, and though we’re smart businesspeople, we could use some

help,” he says. “We could use some other resources and knowledge out there, and that’s what The High End group offers.” Among the advantages he identifies is being part of a network of experienced, knowledgable craft brewers who’ve been through comparable situations as they’ve grown. He points to Chris and Jeremy Cox, co-owners of Bend, Ore.-based 10 Barrel Brewing, who celebrated Wicked Weed’s addition to the High End family with an enjoyable first visit to Asheville. The other breweries ready to share their wisdom are Goose Island Brewing Co., Blue Point Brewing Co., Elysian Brewing Co., Golden Road Brewing, Virtue Cider, Four Peaks Brewing, Breckenridge Brewery, Devils Backbone Brewing Co., SpikedSeltzer and Karbach Brewing Co., all of whom have reaped the benefits of A-B InBev’s wide-ranging capabilities. “We’ve got the resources of the largest beer company in the world: hops, raw ingredients, stainless steel equipment, glass, cans — it goes on and on,” Dickinson says. “So as we go forward, us having someone to help us along, I think it’s going to make Wicked Weed way better as we get bigger and start to sell more

and more beer outside of our doors here at the pub.” Wicked Weed is distributed in eightterritories throughout the U.S., with North Carolina receiving the bulk of its volume. Ryan Guthy notes that, beyond the state, the brewery has focused on building its brand in larger markets and sending speciality, high-end items that travel well, such as its sour and barrel-aged programs. Wicked Weed’s current key focus is to expand its footprint in the Southeast. It has yet to have any beer in South Carolina or Tennessee and sells in only a portion of Virginia, but over the next year and a half, the goal is to have a far greater presence throughout the region. “[A-B InBev is] really letting us dictate how we want to continue to develop and grow the brand,” he says. “We’re not scared of growth, as you’ve seen over the last 4½ years. We’re excited. We’re hungry, but we want to do it as long as the quality and the consistency is there. We’ll grow as long as that allows us to.” One consequence of ceasing to be an independent craft brewery is that Wicked Weed will no longer be a voting member of the N.C. Craft Brewers Guild and the Asheville Brewers Alliance. Instead, it says it will shift to being an affiliate member of both organizations while continuing to support its craft brewer peers statewide any way it can. “Our goal isn’t to take our ball and go play somewhere else now,” Rick Guthy says. “If they need our help and expertise, or financial help, we’d be happy to help anyone that asks us. We’re in it for the long haul.” Luke Dickinson echoes his co-owners’ commitment to Asheville. “Rick and Denise and Ryan have lived here for over 30 years. My brother and I moved out here in the mid-’90s with our family. Ryan, Walt and myself went to middle school, high school. … Walt went to college here. I went to A-B Tech,” he says. “This is our home — we’re not going anywhere. We care about this community. There is a name associated with Wicked Weed now, but it doesn’t mean we’re any less Wicked Weed.” X

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

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

ALL ACCESS

DJ Audio rolls out a multipart launch for ‘Shut It Down’

BY ALLI MARSHALL amarshall@mountainx.com One of the lines from “On and On” — the first single from the Shut It Down EP by Ethan Conner, aka DJ Audio — is, “A vote for the team is a vote for the dream.” The phrase could almost be a motto for the project, which Conner is rolling out with multiple single drops, video debuts and a release party at The Altamont Theatre on Saturday, May 20. The project comes in part from Conner’s various passions and skills, and in part from the fact that, as he’s progressed in his career, he’s had to learn everything from production to graphic design. “All that came when I couldn’t find anyone to do it for a reasonable price,” he explains. Conner designed the cover for Shut It Down, “made the beat, produced it, mixed and mastered it, everything top to bottom.” He also featured several artists with whom he’d been working, including locals Mayer Black (hiphop) and Siren XO (R&B). They’ve “shown me that they’re worth pushing, and they want it just as badly as I do,” says Conner. He’s currently mixing Siren XO’s next album and promises it will be incredible. But that’s the caliber Conner expects of all his projects. Originally from Jefferson, N.Y., Conner moved to Asheville about four years ago. His parents and sister now live here, too, but “when I came in just to visit, I liked the place, the idea that there’s no set way to do anything. Whoever wants to make their own way can play,” he says. “It’s strange but good. All the tools are spread out on the ground. You can pick them up and go wherever you want.” Before relocating to Western North Carolina, Conner had been an engineer, working in studios — a career he came to through film school. “I keep going with sound and design, then got into doing studio work, then production, promotion and the whole party and entertainment side of it,” he says. As Conner’s stage name attests, he’s also a DJ, though that has taken a back seat to readying and promoting Shut It Down. “I spin on a maybe biweekly basis. On the off-weeks I have shows,” he

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EACH ONE TEACH ONE: Ethan Conner, who records and performs as DJ Audio, wants to share what he learns as he maps his own artistic success. “The reason I’m going so hard and showing people how it’s done is because if six or seven people hit a new standard … everyone has to kick it up,” he says. “More artists will want to come here, more promoters will want to come here.” Photo courtesy of Conner

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says. But it’s through DJing that Conner has encountered people from all walks of life. In Asheville, he has friends and acquaintances in every area of the city — an accomplishment in a town that’s known for being segregated. “Hopefully, that can change. Hopefully, those divides are no longer an issue,” he says. “I’m a DJ,

so everyone wants to party. I love a mixed room.” Conner continues, “My music is for everyone. It’s for anybody who likes hip-hop, trap, R&B. … There are elements from everywhere.” He describes his sound as “trap body, pop soul” and adds that when he’s asked other music aficionados for a genre, they can never come up with a

descriptive other than “it’s dope.” “I like to mix things that can’t usually mix,” he says. “I like to have the softest of melodies with the hardest of beats and drums. That mixture is like sweet and sour sauce.” So when it came to picking a location for his EP release show, Conner didn’t think about a stage that would specifically attract a black or white or

even (hopefully) diverse audience. “I don’t ever depend on the venue for anything but the venue,” he explains. “Your crowd is a mirror image of what image you’re putting out there. I’m putting out, ‘Hey, come out, dance, drink, eat, have a good time.’” Conner adds, “I’m more concerned about what the music will sound like when it’s being performed.” In The Altamont Theatre, “I love the basement with the bar. I feel like I’m in The Great Gatsby when I’m in there.” While the musician does seem to be at home in Asheville, he says that parts of his New York upbringing still influence his work. “It shows in my grind, in me not stopping,” he says. In New York, even shows that aren’t major productions are promoted with oversized fliers covering entire city blocks. “Just that level of creativity and passion — I try to make that my standard.” In person, Conner is as energized and kinetic as one would have to be to juggle such a workload with ambitions of world domination. On the eve of his EP launch, he’s talking about his plan of action along

with ways he can use his platform to inform other artists. “On Facebook and Instagram I try to teach people [with] little clips,” he says. “Sometimes it just takes one little word to put somebody on the right track.” He adds, “Consistency is what I’ve learned to be the biggest killer of new artists — not following up, not having that next thing ready.” But, with a video shot by Lucky Lefty Media just out and another seven singles in the chamber, Conner — DJ Audio — isn’t making that mistake. X

WHO DJ Audio EP release party for Shut it Down WHERE The Altamont Theatre 18 Church St. thealtamonttheatre.com After-party at Room Nine 124 College St. roomnineasheville.com WHO Saturday, May 20, 8 p.m. $20

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

A&E

by Lauren Stepp

lstepp98@gmail.com

FLIPPING THE SCRIPT N.C. Stage Company produces Mindy Kaling’s ‘Matt & Ben’ Remember “I Love Lucy”? Well, Matt & Ben is like the sitcom’s colorized, postmodern frat brother, pickled in cheap beer and f-bombs. It follows Matt Damon (Anne Thibault) and Ben Affleck (Laura Rikard) in some angsty, prepubescent phase when both are struggling to make headway in Hollywood. The play opens in Somerville, Mass., in the mid 1990s. Ben is tending bloodied knees from Gigli, a botched love story that crashed and burned, and Matt is taking himself way too seriously. All they want is fame, sex, riches and maybe a Sony PlayStation. How they balance bromance and potential stardom is the premise of Matt & Ben, opening Wednesday, May 17, at N.C. Stage Company. “It’s the journey of them navigating threats to their friendship,” says director Angie Flynn-McIver. The play unfolds in Ben’s Boston-area apartment, a dive overrun with junk food wrappers and eclectic furnishings (set design by Catori Swann). They’re chewing over a screenplay adaptation of Catcher in the Rye when a manuscript for Good Will Hunting literally appears from thin air. Fearing that someone else might be in the apartment, they let loose the hilariously relatable banter that’s captivated audiences since the script’s off-Broadway debut in 2002. Ben shouts: “But just to make sure there was no one there, we actually talked a lot louder than normal. ‘Hey, where’d this come from?’” And Matt yells back: “I don’t know, but it fell right next to my gun.” Writers/best friends Brenda Withers and Mindy Kaling were poking fun at Affleck and Damon’s quick rise to celebrity status. Good Will Hunting grossed over $225 million in theaters and won Best Original Screenplay at the 1998 Oscars. But the two women are also stirring the pot. That much is evident when the Matt character points out his privilege. 50

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“C’mon, look,” he says. “We’re white, we’re American, we’re male.” In other words, they had the upper hand onstage — especially when compared to actress Kaling, a woman with dark skin and Hindu parents. As Rikard explains, there aren’t many acting gigs for women like that. “Around 70 percent of all roles are for men, and 28 percent are for young, beautiful women,” she says. Fortunately, Kaling is changing that perception, first with her turn in the comedic mockumentary “The Office” and the “The Mindy Project,” in which she stars. “But when we were coming of age in New York City, there weren’t many positions for us,” says Rikard. She’s speaking for both herself and Thibault. The two met in their 20s while working as actresses in that city. They’d catch up with one another on the subway or spend weekends watching hot, starstudded productions together. One time, they even slept outside for tickets to The Seagull. “I remember waking up and seeing gum on the pavement,” says Rikard. “Some people wait outside for concerts; we do it for Chekhov.” It’s worth noting that Thibault went on to perform in The Seagull off-Broadway. She also toured with the National Shakespeare Company, among other accomplishments. Rikard has appeared at Carnegie Hall, performed onstage with Sir Paul McCartney and landed numerous film, TV and commercial roles. In some ways, the Matt-Ben dynamic is mirrored in Rikard and Thibault’s friendship. “When we met, I looked up to Anne for advice,” says Rikard. “She seemed more mature.” These days, Rikard splits her time between WNC and Florida (she’s a professor of acting and directing at the University of Miami), and Thibault is currently at working at Eastern Illinois University, so the Matt & Ben run will be like a reunion. Of course, there’s the obvious question: Why are two women playing

RIGHT-HAND WOMAN: The play Matt and Ben follows Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in the mid 1990s , two years before they’d hit it big with Good Will Hunting. Actress Anne Thibault, left (with Laura Rikard), says the script highlights the “yin and yang of these two guys who read differently in the public eye.” Photo by Nina Swann Damon and Affleck? Flynn-McIver says cross-gender casting is the only way to rightfully perform Withers and Kaling’s script. “From the very inception, men were never meant for these roles,” she says. Having men play the parts would be a huge distraction because the audience would be scrutinizing the cast’s looks for authenticity, she explains. Plus, it would seem as if they were doing impersonations, not acting. Rikard does do a few impressions, though. During a read-through of Good Will Hunting, Ben acts out lines from Skylar, a British undergrad who has the hots for math genius Will Hunting. Being a complete goofball, Ben can’t quite perfect the character’s English accent. His dialects wander through Europe, the U.S. and even into the outskirts of Gotham City with a Batman impersonation. “If I keep a straight face, I’ll give everyone in the audience $1,” says Thibault. Matt & Ben is satire, after all.

But there are softer moments, too, and Flynn-McIver is working hard to balance sentimentality and slapstick. “If it were all just funny, it wouldn’t pack the wallop that it does,” she says. “This play has real meat and substantial heart.” X

WHAT Matt & Ben WHERE N.C. Stage Company 15 Stage Lane ncstage.org WHEN Wednesday, May 17 to Sunday, June 11. Wednesday through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Sundays and select Saturdays at 2 p.m. $16-$34

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

A&E

by Ami Worthen

amiworthen@gmail.com

WAY BEYOND ‘HAVA NAGILA’ New album features Asheville’s own Jewish folk music The Asheville Jewish Folk Music Collection, as the title implies, is a compilation of original and public domain folk songs performed by local Jewish musicians. The first of its kind, this album will be released Sunday, May 21, at New Mountain. The idea for this project came to Asheville Jewish Community Center music specialist Penny White when she learned of a Making Music Happen grant being awarded by the national JCC association. “A lot of communities were going to use the grant to bring in famous Jewish musicians from the outside,” White explains. “I was like, ‘We have such incredible Jewish musicians here in Asheville. Why don’t we make our own music?’” The Asheville JCC ended up being awarded the grant, and White began to produce the recording last fall. First, she determined criteria for the music. “There are a lot of musicians in Asheville who are Jewish,” she says. “That doesn’t necessarily correlate with Jewish musicians doing Jewish music. What I wanted to do was showcase the diversity of Jewish musicians doing Jewish music in Asheville and also the diversity of the music itself. I wanted it to be fresh and new and not like, ‘Can you play “Hava Nagila”?’” With that vision in mind, “I started with people who I know are doing Jewish music, folks at Beth HaTephila, folks at Beth Israel, people at that J[CC],” says White. She also received suggestions for people who, at first listen, did not seem to be doing Jewish music. Further exploration led her to decide otherwise: “Like Ben Phan, for example. He contributed a song called ‘Worse Than This,’ and the lyrics are basically, ‘We’re OK, we’ve been through worse than this,’ and I thought, ‘Is there a more Jewish theme in the universe than that?’” The collection has 16 tracks, about half recorded with Josh Blake at Echo Mountain Recording Studio, the other half donated by the artists. One of the donated tracks came from fiddler Natalya

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OLD FAITH, NEW SONGS: Local members of the Jewish community contributed tracks to a unique collection of Jewish folk songs. “I was like, ‘We have such incredible Jewish musicians here in Asheville, why don’t we make our own music?’” says Asheville JCC music specialist Penny White. Pictured, Lael Gray, left, and Danielle Dror record at Echo Mountain. Photo by Belle Crawford

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Weinstein of Zoe & Clyde. “Sheyn Vi Di Levone” is a tune she learned from the writings of her grandfather, who was a Jewish musician in Eastern Europe. Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Billy Jonas contributed “Modeh Ani,” his musical take on a traditional Jewish prayer. Chuck Brodsky’s “Gerta” tells the story of a Holocaust survivor. In addition to engineering the album, Blake performs a version of “Rivers of Babylon.” Other tracks come from Bandana Klezmer, Seth and Jana Kellam, Cantor Debra Winston, The Goldstein Family Band, and White herself. The first song on the record is called “Ki Va Moed,” which means “the time is now.” Recorded over the course of a day, numerous musicians (playfully credited as The Whole Mishpacha) added their voices and/ or instruments. Almost all of the musicians who are on the album will be performing at the release party.

“Asheville is unique in many ways, and the way that Asheville does Jewish music is unique, too,” says White. “When you listen to the CD, you can hear the Appalachian influences. … There are people now who are doing ‘Jewish bluegrass music,’ and they’re from Detroit or New York City, and I’m like, ‘We’ve been doing that for a long time now, we just didn’t think to call it anything.’” White notes that a benefit of this project is historic preservation. Not only does it document the music, it also includes local Jewish history. Attorney Bob Deutsch’s song, “They Call It the J,” tells of the original JCC building, which was built in 1940. “How delightful to be able to tell that story in a song and have it alongside all of these up-and-coming Jewish musicians who are going to carry us into the next phase of our history. To have everybody, side by side, telling their part of the story and being able to archive that,” says White. “I am honestly more excited about that than anything.”

When asked the goal of the Asheville Jewish Folk Song Collection, White says, “I hope that everyone, whether they are Jewish or not Jewish, practicing or not practicing, will feel like the tent just got a little bit bigger and that everyone is welcome to celebrate under the big tent of Judaism, because it is a big tent.” X

WHAT Asheville Jewish Folk Song Collection release party WHERE New Mountain 38 N. French Broad Ave. newmountainavl.com WHEN Sunday, May 21, 3 p.m. Free

A&E

by Thomas Calder

tcalder@mountainx.com

NEVER TOO LATE TO CREATE OLLI offers new opportunities to community elders In the summer of 2015, Nelson Sartoris remembers thinking, “What the hell did I get myself into?” The then 74-year-old retired professor of organic chemistry had enrolled in an eight-week writing course in poetry through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville. There were about half a dozen published poets in the class, Sartoris says, “And I was at the ‘Roses are red’ stage.” OLLI (formerly known as the N.C. Center for Creative Retirement) launched in 1988. It was the brainchild of UNCA’s then-chancellor, David Brown, who saw the program as a way to distinguish the campus from other regional universities as well as appeal to the area’s aging population. Closing in on its 30th anniversary, the program offers year-round courses on a number of subjects. Its upcoming summer catalog includes such topics as A Literary History of Murder, Advanced Creative Composition in Photography and Asheville’s Doomed Duo: F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Lifelong learning is OLLI’s primary goal. But its executive director, Catherine Frank, points to people like Sartoris as an example of one of the organization’s additional aims: breaking stereotypes. “We live in a very ageist society,” she says. “I think people in general don’t believe older adults have the capacity to do and try new things. Our mission is to provide opportunities to thrive in life’s second half. In many instances, people discover or cultivate or nurture their creative side [through OLLI].” Sartoris embodies this. By the end of the poetry workshop, he had written eight poems. To his surprise, he continued to explore the form. By May 2016, he had composed more than 100 poems on a number of themes — sentience, family, nature, reveries, aging and mortality. In August of that same year, he published his first book of poetry, Brain Slivers, through Pisgah Press. Over the last three decades, the program has become an integral part of Asheville’s appeal to retirees. “We find that about 60 percent of our members come [to Asheville] because we are here,” says Frank. Once more, Sartoris exemplifies this claim. He and his wife arrived in the area in 2005, by way

wanting to share experiences. … It’s an atmosphere of camaraderie.” Sartoris, the former chemist-turnedpoet, shares Himmelheber’s opinion of the OLLI community. Beyond the classrooms, he and fellow members regularly meet for lunch and dinner. He also echoes Frank’s statement concerning the overall mission of the program — one of disproving stereotypes. Sartoris admits that he held similar prejudices when he first enrolled at OLLI in 2005. “I was 64 then,” he says. “One of my first thoughts was: ‘Gee, all of these old people — is this really where I’m at?’” But with experience (and age) his views have changed. “A lot of the people, their bodies are like mine: They’re falling apart. But when it comes to their minds — you better strap on your seat belt.” Learn more at olliasheville.com. X

THE POET WHO DIDN’T KNOW IT: A former professor of organic chemistry, Nelson Sartoris discovered his passion for poetry through a 2015 writing course at OLLI. Photo by Thomas Calder of Springfield, Ohio. Within a week, he became a member of OLLI. Since that time, Sartoris has taken more than 120 courses, averaging about 10 per year. History, political science, art, literature and music are among the subjects he’s explored. “I’m living the dream,” he says. “The only problem is, I have to haul this body of aches and bones with me where I go, but in terms of the rest of my life here, it has been as good as it can be.” While membership ($75 a year) is available to all ages, 95 percent of OLLI’s members are older than 55, with an average age of 68. Many come to the program with advanced degrees. Frank notes that roughly 60 percent of the current 2,300 members hold at least a master’s degree. She also points out that about 90 percent of the program’s overall population retired to Asheville from somewhere else. This makes for experienced and engaged students but also highlights areas where the program can improve, such as in appealing to lifelong residents. Frank says OLLI is actively working to attract more native Ashevilleans, emphasizing that higher education is not a pre-

requisite to join. “We welcome anyone who is intellectually curious,” she says. “They don’t have to have an advanced degree to participate.” For OLLI member and instructor Bill LaRocque, 74, the less you know the better. “I prefer that [my students] have zero in terms of skill and 100 in terms of interest and desire,” he says. LaRocque, a former IT director and Washington Post cartoonist, leads a number of art courses. He notes that he often employs humor in his instruction to reduce stress among his students, most of whom are open to the new experience but unsure about their abilities. “The whole trick is to confront why they don’t draw,” he says. “And it’s usually because they were discouraged at some early age and never continued.” Others, like OLLI instructor John Himmelheber, 68, find classes filled with people eager to jump right in. Himmelheber offers courses in fiction, flash fiction, poetry and revision (along with the occasional golfing class). He says the students are wonderful because “more than anywhere else ... you have a lot of people willing and

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

T H E AT E R R E V I E W

A&E

by Alli Marshall | amarshall@mountainx.com

‘Malverse’ explores race relations at The Magnetic Theatre

TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION: “Malverse is an urban legend/ghost story, and there’s a fair amount of twisted humor in it,” says playwright John Crutchfield. “But, basically, it’s a straight-up social drama dealing with the theme of race relations in the context of urban gentrification.” Pictured, clockwise from top, are Darren Marshall, Andrew Gall, Laura Tratnik, Valeria Watson and Gary Gaines. Photo by Rodney Smith/Tempus Fugit Design By chance, I listened to the audiobook of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun a few weeks ago — the story of a black family living several generations together in a cramped Chicago apartment, whose members each seek to improve their

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

situation. It centers on the purchase of a house in an all-white suburb. John Crutchfield’s latest play, Malverse, nods to Hansberry’s groundbreaking work (and to its spinoff, Bruce Norris’ 2010 Clybourne Park).

The show, onstage at The Magnetic Theatre through Saturday, June 3, deals with a white couple who’ve settled in a predominantly black neighborhood in hopes that, as the area gentrifies, their investment will pay off handsomely. But in this play, systemic

racism plays out not through dreams deferred as much as through nightmares, real and imagined. Jennifer (played by Laura Tratnik) is hugely pregnant, and her distracted husband Tom (Andrew Gall) is more concerned with uplifting their fixer-upper. The house sat empty for more than a decade, as Jennifer learns from her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Wilkins (Valeria Watson), who, after some pressing, shares the tale of a murder that happened in the basement. Watson’s Mrs. Wilkins is at once bustling with neighborly duty and cautiously distant. It’s she who points out not everyone in the neighborhood likes white people. Jennifer — weary and wry — is less concerned with race relations than a strange sound she hears at night. She fears the house is haunted. Meanwhile, handyman Dave (Darren Marshall) a jovial Trump supporter with good intentions and some outmoded ways of thinking, encourages Tom to keep a gun and distrust his neighbors. “I like black people. Black people are fine. I just prefer not to live next to them,” Dave says. There is, perhaps, an overly academic cast to the play’s two black characters — Mrs. Wilkins and “The Stranger” (played with raw deliberation by Gary Gaines), whose identity is revealed in a startling moment. A few of their lines seem unlikely for people whose lives have been underscored by misfortune and lack of opportunity. Still, it’s heartening to see rich characters for black actors on an Asheville stage, and both Watson and Gaines bring depth to the production. Crutchfield, known for poetic and transformative plays like Ruth and The Song of Robert, approaches themes of garden-variety white supremacy and 21st-century segregation though the words and actions

THE GEEK THE COLLECTOR THE ENTHUSIAST THE FANatic THE connoisseur THE aﬁcionado GET YOUR FIX. VINYL RECORDS, CDS, DVDS

of ordinary characters whom we can all recognize among our own acquaintances. These are decent people who only want what’s best for their families. They’re not out to perpetuate a system of abuse, but unquestioned beliefs and unchecked paranoias quickly wreak havoc. The genius of Malverse is how it weaves between a fear of ghosts (that most adults would eschew, even though we’ve all felt the hair rise on their backs of our necks) and a fear of people we perceive as different from us — artfully illustrating the parallels of those two kinds of self-deception. Crutchfield also designed the show’s set — a kitchen in the chaotic disarray of a rehab and a couple of creepy doors through which unsettling noises emerge. Malverse is directed by Steven Samuels with eerily sparse lighting and sound by Jason Williams and Mary Zogras, respectively. The ending, too, is smart. With considerable restraint, it trades big drama for the opportunity to start a conversation as the play continues in the minds of the viewers long after the house lights go up. In a time when issues of race and connectivity are at the forefront of our collective American consciousness, Crutchfield presents a thoughtful exploration of those themes. X

WHAT Malverse by John Crutchfield WHERE The Magnetic Theatre 375 Depot St. themagnetictheatre.org WHEN Through Saturday, June 3 Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. $16

Mr. K’s

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800 Fairview Road Asheville (River Ridge Shopping Center)

299-1145 • www.mrksusedbooks.com MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

SMART BETS

A&E

by Emily Glaser | Send your arts news to ae@mountainx.com

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

The Life & Times of American Crow

Jazz saxophonist, flutist and vocalist Karl Denson is reprising his leading role in Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe for the band’s spring tour. Though Denson has been busy touring with The Rolling Stones as the rock band’s saxophonist, he’s also been working on a new album with his own band, due out later this year. For an upcoming show in Asheville, the group recruited special guest keyboardist Melvin Seals, bestknown for his work with the Jerry García Band. The group will perform tunes from Denson’s forthcoming album, older fan favorites and high-energy covers from artists like Prince, The White Stripes and Beastie Boys. Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe takes the stage at Salvage Station on Thursday, May 18, at 9 p.m. $25/$28. salvagestation.com. Photo courtesy of Denson

For more than 10 years, local writer Sebastian Matthews has been working on The Life & Times of American Crow. The project details the spiritual journey of Linus Grey, aka American Crow, as he travels across the country. Matthews worked with Asheville-based printers Woolly Press to serially publish the book’s chapters, and the final collection will be boxed by Hendersonville bookbinder Jon Buller. As Matthews refined the character, musician Nathan Bell began writing songs about Grey, and he will release an accompanying album, The American Crow Sessions, at the event. The book launch, which will take place at Asheville BookWorks on Saturday, May 20, at 7 p.m., will also feature the Engaging Collage art show with work from Asheville-area artists. Free. ashevillebookworks.com. Photo courtesy of Sebastian Matthews

Moth Story Slam champions “I hope my stories will illuminate the larger social contexts within which we live in and show how these contexts render our experiences similar as well as different,” says sociology professorturned-professional storyteller Ada Cheng. “I hope to show that we all have a stake in making this world a better place for everyone.” Cheng is an unerring and personal champion of pursuing your dreams. The storyteller abandoned the world of sober academia to study at Chicago’s Second City, which in turn led her to her new profession as a comic and teller. The Moth Story Slam champion will visit Asheville along with two other champions — host Steve Shell and performer Alison Fields (with Todd Lester, storyteller and producer of Asheville’s Synergy Story Slam) — at The Mothlight on Sunday, May 21, at 7 p.m. $12/$15. themothlight. com. Photo courtesy of Cheng

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

SERFA Conference When Folk Alliance International founded a new chapter, SERFA (Southeast Regional Folk Alliance), in 2002, one of the key advisers in the creation of the chapter was Grammy Award-winning folk musician Kathy Mattea. This year’s SERFA Conference will include Mattea as its keynote speaker. “We feel that although Kathy has enjoyed extraordinary commercial success, she never lost touch with her roots and the folk music community,” says Art Menius, who’s helping organize this year’s event. This annual conference features daytime seminars and workshops for music professionals, and evenings of performance showcases (and guerrilla showcases late-night) for the community. Tickets to each night’s performances — held Thursday-Saturday, May 18-20, at 7 p.m. — are available at the door of the Convocation Hall in the Assembly Inn at the Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain for $15, or $30 for a three-day pass. serfa.org. Photo by David McClister

A& E CA L E N DA R ART 362 DEPOT GALLERY 362 Depot St., Asheville, 234-1616 • TH (3/30), 10am-1pm - "Artists' Breakfast," informal monthly gathering of artists, writers, musicians and art patrons. Coffee is provided. Bring snacks to share. Free. ASHEVILLE BOOKWORKS 428 1/2 Haywood Road, 255-8444, ashevillebookworks. com • SA (5/20), 6-8:30pm - Reception for The Life & Times of American Crow & Engaging Collage. Music by Nathan Bell & reading by Sebastian Matthews. Free to attend. GROVEWOOD GALLERY 111 Grovewood Road, 253-7651, grovewood.com • SA (5/20), 2-6pm - 25th anniversary celebration with outdoor sculpture exhibition, artist demonstrations, food and drinks and live music by The Bad Penny Pleasuremakers, Free to attend.

ART/CRAFT STROLLS & FAIRS ART HOP facebook.com/ artgallerytrailwnc1, artgallerytrailwnc1@ gmail.com • 3rd FRIDAYS, 4-7pm - Self-guided tours of 13 fine arts and crafts galleries in Historic Hendersonville and Flat Rock. Free to attend. Held at Art Gallery Trail WNC, Pick up a trail guide at the Hendersonville Visitor's Center, Main St., Hendersonville GROVEWOOD GALLERY 111 Grovewood Road, 253-7651, grovewood.com • SA (5/20), 11am-4pm - Self-guided tours of the artist studios at Grovewood Village. Free to attend.

by Abigail Griffin

HOT WORKS FINE ART SHOW ASHEVILLE 941-755-3088, patty@hotworks.org • SA (5/20) & SU (5/21) - Hot Works' Asheville Fine Art Show, exhibition of nationally juried art works. Held at US Cellular Center, 87 Haywood St., Asheville RIVER ARTS DISTRICT STUDIO STROLL Depot St., riverartsdistrict.com • SA (5/20) & SU (5/21), 10am-5pm- Spring selfguided studio stroll featuring over 220 artists with demonstrations and free trolleys. Free to attend. SALUDA ARTS FESTIVAL 817-2876, saluda.com/ events_artfestival.html • SA (5/20), 10am4pm - Arts and crafts festival with local and regional artists and live music all day long. Free to attend. Held at Downtown Saluda, Main St., Saluda

AUDITIONS & CALL TO ARTISTS BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE MUSEUM & ARTS CENTER 56 Broadway, 350-8484, blackmountaincollege. org • Through WE (7/12) Papers and proposals accepted for the annual ReVIEWING Black Mountain College conference. Contact for full guidelines. CITY OF ASHEVILLE 251-1122, ashevillenc.gov • Through FR (6/9) Applications accepted for the Lexington Avenue Public Art Project. Registration: bit.ly/2pXZEwo. FOOTHILLS FOLK ART FESTIVAL facebook.com/ FoothillsFolkArtFestival • Through FR (9/1) Applications accepted for The Foothills Folk Art Festival. See website for full guidelines. NORTH CAROLINA GLASS CENTER 140 Roberts St, Suite B • FR (5/20), 11am-5pm

THE COLOR OF MUSIC: New York City violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins will perform a classical and popular repertoire at Diana Wortham Theatre on Friday, May 19, at 8 p.m. Not only does Hall-Tompkins have perfect pitch, but she is also gifted with synesthesia, a neurological condition that, in her case, causes specific music pitches to be perceived as a color. The violinist discusses this gift and other topics in a free lecture titled “What Color is C#?” at Asheville Music School on Thursday, May 18, at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit dwtheatre.com or ashevillemusicschool.org. Photo Kelly Hall-Tompkins courtesy of Diana Wortham Theatre (p. 57) - Glass-maker volunteers needed to create glass beads during the Studio Stroll to donate to the Beads of Courage Program for children coping with serious illness. Register for a 1.5 hour volunteer slot: 828505-3552.

MUSIC ASHEVILLE MUSIC SCHOOL 126 College St., 252-6244, ashevillemusicschool.com • TH (5/18), 5:306:30pm - "What Color is C#?" Lecture and demonstration by violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins. Free. DIANA WORTHAM

floodgallery.org/ • TH (5/25), 7pm"Music for Folk," concert of original folk music and group song with Ash Devine and Andy Cohen. Free.

and Patriotic” concert featuring patriotic songs. $10. Held in the conference hall Held at Blue Ridge Community College, 180 West Campus Drive, Flat Rock

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1245 Sixth Ave. W., Hendersonville, 6934890, gracelutherannc.com • SU (5/21), 4pm - Grace Lutheran music ministry patriotic concert honoring veterans and active duty men and women. Free.

RHYTHM & BREWS CONCERT SERIES 233-3216, facebook.com/ rhythmandbrewshendersonville • TH (5/18), 5-9pm Outdoor concert featuring The Get Right Band, funk/rock n' roll. Free. Held at South Main Street, 301 S. Main St., Hendersonville

HENDERSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY 905 S. Greenville Highway, Hendersonville, 6926424, myhcdp.com • 2nd & 4th WEDNESDAYS, 7pm "Strings and Things," folk pop music jam. Free. HENDERSONVILLE COMMUNITY BAND hcbmusic.com • SU (5/21), 3pm - “Pops

THEATER 35BELOW 35 E. Walnut St., 254-1320, ashevilletheatre.org • FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS until (5/21) The Realistic Joneses, produced by Ellipsis Theater Company. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2:30pm. $18.

BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS 225 W. State St., Black Mountain, 669-0930, blackmountainarts.org • FRIDAY through SUNDAY until (5/20) - The Queen of Bingo, comedy. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2pm. $15.

NC STAGE COMPANY

FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE 2661 Highway 225, Flat Rock, 693-0731, flatrockplayhouse.org • WEDNESDAYS through SUNDAYS (5/19) until (6/3) - A Tuna Christmas, comedy. Wed., Sat. & Sun.: 2pm. Wed. & Thurs.: 7:30pm. Fri. & Sat.: 8pm. $15 and up.

PARKWAY PLAYHOUSE

MONTFORD PARK PLAYERS 254-5146, montfordparkplayers.org • FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS until (5/27), 7:30pm - Timon of Athens, Shakespearian tragedy. Free to attend. Held at Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay St.

$20/$10 students.

15 Stage Lane, 239-0263 • WEDNESDAYS through SUNDAYS (5/17) until (6/11) - Matt & Ben, comedy. Wed.Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2pm. $16 and up.

202 Green Mountain Drive Burnsville, 6824285, parkwayplayhouse.com • FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS until (5/27) On Golden Pond. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 3pm.

THE MAGNETIC THEATRE 375 Depot St., 279-4155 • THURSDAYS through SATURDAYS until (6/3), 7:30pm - Malverse. $16/$12 preview shows.

Strauss Attorneys, PLLC would like to invite you to join us for our free seminar: LGBT Rights in North Carolina Two Years After Obergefell: What Marriage Equality Means for Family and Finances Attendees will receive a copy of our new book:

THEATRE 18 Biltmore Ave., 2574530, dwtheatre.com • FR (5/19), 8pm - Kelly Hall-Tompkins, violinist. $32/$27 student/$20 children. • SA (5/20), 8pm Tannahill Weavers, Celtic music. $32/$27 students/$20 children. FLETCHER COMMUNITY CHORUS 651-9436, fletchercommunitychorus. com • TH (5/18), 7pm “Celebrate With Jubilant Song," tenth anniversary concert. Free. Held at Feed & Seed, 3715 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER 2160 US Highway 70, Swannanoa, 273-3332,

May 20, 2017, 12 pm at the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Asheville. Attendees who RSVP will be provided a light lunch and a free copy of our new book.

Topics to be discussed include: Estate Planning • Taxes • Financial Planning • Adoption • Divorce Plus, a quick update about the state of LGBT Legal Affairs in the Trump Administration.

To reserve your seat, please RSVP: 1-828-696-1811 or lisak@strausslaw.com MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

GALLERY DIRECTORY APPALACHIAN PASTEL SOCIETY

MANNA Food Bank.

appalachianpastelsociety.org • Through SA (6/17) - Big Little Paintings, exhibtion of works by the Appalachian Pastel Society.Held at BlackBird Frame & Art, 365 Merrimon Ave.

ASHEVILLE GALLERY OF ART

ART AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY mhu.edu • Through SU (5/28) Shelter on the Mountain: Barns and Building Traditions of the Southern Highlands, exhibition of photographs by Taylor Barnhill. Held in the Rural Heritage Museum. Held at Rural Heritage Museum at Mars Hill, 100 Athletic St., Mars Hill ASHEVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL 258-0710, ashevillearts.com • FR (5/19) through FR (6/23) - Iconography of the Early Anthropocene, paintings and illustrations by Rees Perry. Reception: Friday, June 2, 5-8pm. Held at The Refinery, 207 Coxe Ave. ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM ON THE SLOPE 175 Biltmore Ave., ashevilleart.org • SA (5/20) through SU (7/16) - Hear Our Voice, exhibition sponsored by the Amplifier Foundation. Reception: Friday, June 2, 5-8pm. ASHEVILLE COTTON COMPANY 1378 Hendersonville Road • MO (5/22) through SA (6/3) - Proceeds from this charity quilt show benefit

LONDON DISTRICT STUDIOS 8 London Road • Through TU (6/6) - A Community of Artitsts, exhibition of works by ArtSpace Charter School staff and parents.

82 Patton Ave., 251-5796, ashevillegallery-of-art.com • Through WE (5/31) Light + Line, paintings by Sandra Brugh Moore.

MADISON COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL 90 S. Main St., Marshall, 649-1301, madisoncountyarts.com • Through WE (5/31) - The Barns of Madison County, photography exhibition.

BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • Through WE (5/31) Storybook Characters on Parade, exhibit of original, mixed media art dolls created by Go Figure. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview

MARK BETTIS STUDIO & GALLERY 123 Roberts St., 941-5879502, markbettisart.com • SA (5/20) through FR (6/30) - Parables in Clay and Paint, exhibition of works by Mark Bettis and Christine Kosiba. Reception: Friday, May 20, 5:30-7pm.

CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 27 Church St., 253-3316, centralumc.org • Through (7/15), 9am12:30pm - Nature’s Apothecary, exhibition of textile art by Mountain Art Quilters.

MOUNTAIN MADRE 13 Walnut St. • Through MO (7/31) Octopus Art Exhibition, works by Tessa Lang.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UCC OF HENDERSONVILLE 1735 5th Ave. W., Hendersonville, 692-8630, fcchendersonville.org • SA (5/20) through MO (5/29) - Bridges Not Walls, multimedia exhibition. FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER 2160 US Highway 70, Swannanoa, 273-3332, floodgallery.org/ • SA (5/20) through FR (6/30) - Looking for You— New & Old Photography, exhibition of photography by Rimas Zailskas. Reception: Saturday, May 20, 6-9pm.

PINK DOG CREATIVE

‘LOOKING FOR YOU’: Hendersonville-based photographer, Rimas Zailskas’ newest exhibition, Looking for You, showcases portraits of people hiding their innermost personas behind exotic masks from around the world. The opening reception is Saturday, May 20, from 6-9 p.m. at the Flood Gallery Fine Arts Center in Swannanoa and will feature North Carolina Poet Laureate Shelby Stephenson reading from his upcoming book of poetry, Country. For more information, visit floodgallery.org. Helen Mask photo by Rimas Zailskas courtesy of Flood Gallery HENDERSON COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM 1 Historic Courthouse Square Hendersonville, 694-1619, hendersoncountymuseum.org • Through SA (12/16) - The Vagabond Players, exhibi-

2017 WNC’s fun way to give! 58

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

tion of Flat Rock Playhouse Vagabond Players memorabilia. Free to attend. HENDERSON COUNTY LIBRARY 301 N. Washington St., Hendersonville, 697-4725,

henderson.lib.nc.us • Through FR (5/19) Why I March, traveling exhibition of art from people who marched in the Women's March in January.

348 Depot St., pinkdog-creative.com • Through SA (5/27) - Modern American Photographs, exhibition of photography by Kora Manheimer. POSANA CAFE 1 Biltmore Ave., 505-3969 • Through SA (7/15) Hats, group exhibition of 18 artists. RURAL HERITAGE MUSEUM AT MARS HILL 100 Athletic St., Mars Hill, 689-1304 • Through WE (5/31) Shelter on the Mountain:

Barns and Building Traditions of the Southern Highlands, exhibit. STAND GALLERY Phil Mechanic Studios Building, 109 Roberts St. • SA (5/20) through TU (6/20) - Metamorphosis: Following Abstraction into Form, exhibition. Reception: Saturday, May 20, 4-7pm. TRANSYLVANIA COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL 349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, 884-2787, tcarts.org • Through FR (5/26) - The Other Side, group art exhibition. UPSTAIRS ARTSPACE 49 S. Trade St., Tryon, 859-2828, upstairsartspace.org •Through FR (6/16) Altered Realism: Seven from the Upstate, group exhibition. WHITESPACE 129 Roberts St. (upstairs at Wedge Studios) • Through WE (5/31) - Thallo: Four Artists Welcome Spring, group exhibition. WNC HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION wnchistory.org • Through WE (10/25) - The Luthier's Craft: Instrument Making Traditions of the Blue Ridge, exhibition. Held at Smith-McDowell House Museum, 283 Victoria Road Contact the galleries for admission hours and fees

Now accepting applications from area nonprofits to participate in our annual fundraising effort. For more information, go to avl.mx/3g5

CLUBLAND SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Scott Kendrick, 6:00PM STATIC AGE RECORDS Dylan Earl, Grace Lane & W.B. Givens (Americana), 9:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE WNC Female Artists Spotlight Night w/ Asher Leigh, Sharon LaMotte & Mike Holstein, Caitlin Krisko & Aaron Austin, 7:00PM THE DUGOUT Karaoke!, 8:30PM THE MOTHLIGHT Doug Tuttle w/ Nightlands & LivingDog (alternative, indie), 9:00PM

STRUMMING UP SUPPORT: At once rueful and eloquent, the music of Asheville singersongwriter Hannah Kaminer have delighted local audiences since won the 2013 Brown Bag Songwriting Competition. Working towards the release of her second studio album, Kaminer has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the production. As part of these efforts, the folk-songstress and her band, Heartbreak Highlight Reel, play a special 8 p.m. show on Friday, May 19, at the Altamont Theatre. Photo courtesy of event promoters.

185 KING STREET Vinyl Night, 6:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Les Amis (African folk), 8:00PM 550 TAVERN & GRILLE Karaoke, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Pisgah Legal Fundraiser, 7:30PM BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA Dr. Brown's Team Trivia, 8:30PM BEN'S TUNE-UP Juke Box Cowboys, 6:00PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Open Mic w/ Mark Bumgarner, 7:00PM BONFIRE BARBECUE Trivia Funtime w/ Kelsey, 8:00PM BROADWAY'S Broadway HumpDay Variety w/ DJ NexMillen, 9:00PM

ODDITORIUM

FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Deja Fuze (electric improv), 9:00PM

OLE SHAKEY'S

FUNKATORIUM John Hartford Jam w/ the Saylor Brothers (bluegrass), 6:30PM GOOD STUFF Jim Hampton & friends perform "Eclectic Country" (jam), 7:00PM

Everymen w/ Viva Le Vox (punk), 9:00PM

Salsa Night, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Evil Note Lab, 10:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING One World Turns 3! w/ Billy Litz, 9:00PM

ORANGE PEEL Animals As Leaders w/ Alluvial & Ded (experimental, metal, jazz), 8:00PM

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Woody Wood Wednesdays (rock, soul, funk), 5:30PM ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL All you can eat snow crab w/ Rob Parks & friends, 5:00PM Sultans of String, 7:00PM

BYWATER Well Lit Strangers (bluegrass), 8:00PM

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old-time session, 5:00PM

CORK & KEG 3 Cool Cats (50s & 60s rock), 7:30PM

JUICY LUCY'S BURGER BAR AND GRILL Acoustic Jam, 7:00PM

CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Open mic jam w/ Riyen Roots & friends, 7:00PM

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

CROW & QUILL Sparrow & Her Wingmen (hot swing jazz), 9:00PM

LOBSTER TRAP Ben Hovey (dub, jazz), 6:30PM

THURSDAY, MAY 18 185 KING STREET Louis Romanos Quartet (jazz), 8:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Pleasure Chest (blues, rock, soul), 8:00PM ALTAMONT THEATRE An Evening w/ Dulci Ellenberger & Big Sound Harbor, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Will Ray & The Space Cooties, 7:00PM ASHEVILLE MASONIC TEMPLE Victor Wooten Trio (jazz, blues), 7:00PM

TOWN PUMP Open Mic w/ Billy Presnell, 9:00PM

BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA Alien Music Club (live jazz), 10:00PM

TRADE & LORE COFFEE HOUSE Spoken WORD! w/ Doug Elliott (storytelling, comedy), 8:00PM

BEN'S TUNE-UP Blues at Ben's w/ The Chris Coleman Blues Experience, 8:00PM

TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Invitational Blue & Soul Performance (blues, soul), 9:00PM

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY The Eaters, 6:00PM

UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Wide Screen Wednesday's, 7:00PM

SALVAGE STATION RnB Wednesday Jam Night! w/ Ryan "RnB" Barber & friends, 8:00PM

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Asheville Art Trio (jazz), 7:30PM

SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Izzy Hughes, 7:00PM

WILD WING CAFE Iggy Radio (acoustic), 8:00PM

GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Tony Furtado w/ Dave Desmelik (bluegrass, country, rock), 8:00PM

BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Patrick Fitzsimons (roots music), 7:00PM BONFIRE BARBECUE Social Function, 8:30PM CROW & QUILL Carolina Catskins (rowdy ragtime jazz), 10:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Sonic Satan Stew w/ DJ Alien Brain, 10:00PM FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Noah Proudfoot & the Big Peace (folk, funk), 9:00PM

OPEN MIC

NIGHT EVERY MONDAY 6PM

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5/27: Emisunshine (Two Shows) w/ The Harmaleighs

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COMING SOON wed 5/17

7PM–SULTANS OF STRING

5-9PM–ALL YOU CAN EAT SNOW CRAB LEGS

6:30-9PM–MUSIC ON THE PATIO (FREE) thu 5/18 7PM–MISS TESS AND THE TALKBACKS 8:30PM–WNC GREEN PARTY PRESENTS:

“THE SOUL OF THE CITY”

6:30-9PM–MUSIC ON THE PATIO (FREE) fri 5/19 6:30-9PM–FRIDAYS ON THE LAWN: TON OF HAY WITH GRACIE LANE (FREE) 8:30PM–JOHN MCCUTCHEON sat 5/20 7PM–SARAH CLANTON

ON THE PATIO (FREE) sun 5/21

5:30PM–NANCY BEAUDETTE 7:30PM–ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL tue 5/23 7:30PM–TUESDAY BLUEGRASS SESSIONS wed 5/24 7PM–SOFIA TALVIK

5-9PM–ALL YOU CAN EAT SNOW CRAB LEGS

6:30-9PM–MUSIC ON THE PATIO (FREE) thu 5/25 7PM–ORDINARY ELEPHANT

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 17

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THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Phantom Pantone Rooftop DJ, 8:00PM

WILD WING CAFE SOUTH J Luke (acoustic), 6:00PM

5/28: ABSFest Burlesque Brunch (American Burlesque & Sideshow Festival) 5/28: The Steel Wheels

5/30: The Orbiting Human Circus Feat. The Music Tapes

6:30-9PM–MUSIC ON THE PATIO (FREE) fri 5/26 7PM–MIDNIGHT PLOWBOYS 9PM–SARAH SHOOK & THE DISARMERS

WITH VALLEY QUEEN sat 5/27

7PM–BRIDGE 19 WITH BRIE CAPONE 9PM–RBTS WIN WITH SPACEMAN

JONES & THE MOTHERSHIPS AND KING GARBAGE ISISASHEVILLE.COM DINNER MENU TIL 9:30PM LATE NIGHT MENU TIL 12AM

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

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

C LUBLAND

East Asheville’s Craft Beer Destination • 29 Taps

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WED Wings + Open Mic Jam w/ Roots & Friends - 8pm SAT

Pulled Pork Sandwich/Plate all day!

SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB Dance Club w/ DJ & drag show, 10:00PM

ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL Laid Back Thursday w/ Wild Card Trio (classic rock, groove), 7:00PM Miss Tess & the Talkbacks, 7:00PM WNC Green Party presents: "The Soul of the City" (funk, hip hop), 8:00PM

Taco Tuesday all day!

Catfish Po’ Boy all day!

GOOD STUFF Madison Patriot Jazz Band, 5:00PM

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY East Side Social Ride, 6:00PM

MON Monday Burger + Trivia w/ Ol’ Gilley - 7pm

FRI

SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Bean Tree Remedy, 7:00PM

GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Robert Randolph & The Family Band w/ Luke Wade (funk, soul, gospel), 9:00PM

with Skee Ball!

TUE

FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Ryan Hutchens (folk, bluegrass), 6:00PM

We Cater On & Off Site!

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Open Jam Session, 7:00PM

8 Beverly Rd. Asheville, NC

LAZY DIAMOND Heavy Night w/ DJ Butch, 10:00PM

Parties of 10+, please call ahead

LOBSTER TRAP Hank Bones ("The man of 1,000 songs"), 6:30PM ODDITORIUM Benefit Show for The Carolina Abortion Fund (punk), 9:00PM

Free Live Music

OLE SHAKEY'S Shakey's Karaoke, 10:00PM

THU - 5/18 • 6:30PM HEIRLÜM

(AMERICANA)

FRI - 5/19 • 8PM

TRIPTYCH SOUL WILLIAM GERHARDT (INDIE)

SAT - 5/20 • 8:30 PM JERRY PRANKSTERS

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MAY 17 - 23, 2017

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THURSDAY FOOD & FRETS

EARLY DINNER SHOW & KIDS EAT FREE (WITH PURCHASE OF EACH REGULAR MEAL)

the moth: true stories theme: karma

xasthur (acoustic) w/ johanna warren

5/20 sat

bask (ramble beyond album release)

w/nest egg, haal

5/21

sun

david joe miller presents:

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doug tuttle

5/22 mon

omnicaster

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Yoga at the Mothlight

Tues., Thurs., and Sat. 11:30am Details for all shows can be found at

themothlight.com

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Mitch's Totally Rad Trivia, 6:30PM Joseph Huber (folk), 10:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING Dao Trio, 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL The LANY Tour w/ Goody Grace (alt. rock, electropop, indie), 8:00PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Matt Walsh (blues, rock), 6:00PM PACK'S TAVERN Hope Griffin Duo (acoustic rock, folk), 8:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY The Appalucians (family show, Americana), 4:00PM

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Vinyl Night, 6:30PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Coll3activ3nois3 & The Undergrowth present The Vort3x, 8:00PM THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Tricky Trivia w/ Sue, 8:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT The Moth: True Stories Told Live ("Karma" storytelling), 7:00PM TOWN PUMP Darlingtyn (folk quintet), 9:00PM TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Jesse Barry & The Jam (live music, dance), 9:00PM WILD WING CAFE Jordan Okrend (acoustic), 9:00PM WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Jason Whittaker (acoustic), 6:00PM WXYZ LOUNGE AT ALOFT HOTEL WXYZ Unplugged w/ Sarah Tucker, 8:00PM

FRIDAY, MAY 19 185 KING STREET Funk Dilation & friends, 8:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR The Chuck Lichtenberger Collective (jazz, funk, rock), 9:00PM 550 TAVERN & GRILLE Fineline (classic Southern rock), 9:00PM ALTAMONT THEATRE Hannah Kaminer w/ Krista Shows & Scott Sharpe (Americana, singer-songwriter), 8:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Joe McMurrian (acoustic deep roots, blues), 7:30PM

PURPLE ONION CAFE Jon Shain, 7:30PM

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL BEAT LIFE Presents: Vietnam Jerry w/ DJ Kutzu, Matt May & AJMAKNBEATS, 10:00PM

SALVAGE STATION Karl Denson's Tiny Universe w/ Melvin Seals, 9:00PM

BEN'S TUNE-UP Iggy Radio, 6:00PM DJ Kilby spinning Vinyl, 10:00PM

BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Acoustic Swing, 7:00PM BOILER ROOM J Taylor presents Fat Neptune & Galena (acoustic), 9:00PM BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Redleg Husky (country, bluegrass), 7:00PM BYWATER FriDaze, 5:30PM CLUB ELEVEN ON GROVE Hot Bachata Nights (salsa), 9:30PM CORK & KEG Jason DeCrisofaro Quartet (jazz), 8:30PM CROW & QUILL Old Chevrolet Set (honky-tonk), 9:00PM DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE Kelly Hall-Tompkins, 8:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Garage & Soul Obscurities w/ DJ Greg Cartwright, 10:00PM DOWNTOWN AFTER 5 High & Mighty Brass Band w/ Josh Phillips Big Band, 5:00PM FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER Classic World Cinema, 8:00PM FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Soldado (rock), 10:00PM FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Ryan Barrington Cox (country, folk), 6:00PM GOOD STUFF Maddy Mullany & Clarke Williams (old-time string band), 8:00PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Chris Pureka w/ The Harmaleighs (folk), 9:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY The David Zoll Quartet (rock), 7:00PM ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL An evening w/ John McCutcheon, 8:30PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Darlingtyn (country, blues, bluegrass), 9:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Rock 'n' Soul DJ, 10:00PM

LOBSTER TRAP Calico Moon, 6:30PM

THE DUGOUT Direwolves, 8:30PM

LUELLA'S BAR-B-QUE Tina Collins, 8:00PM

THE MOTHLIGHT Xasthur w/ Johanna Warren (black metal, ambient, acoustic), 9:30PM

LUELLA'S BAR-B-QUE BILTMORE PARK Riyen Roots (blues, roots), 8:00PM MOE'S ORIGINAL BBQ WOODFIN Bald Mountain Boys, 7:00PM NATIVE KITCHEN & SOCIAL PUB The Gypsyswingers, 7:30PM ODDITORIUM Beasts of the Southeast Metal Fest, 9:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Fridays w/ members of Phuncle Sam, 5:00PM Carolina Wray w/ Americanize & the Mercury Arcs (rock), 10:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING Hustle Souls, 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL WHITNEY (indie, rock, psychedelic), 9:00PM

THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Phantom Pantone Rooftop DJ, 10:00PM THE SUMMIT AT NEW MOUNTAIN AVL SOL Vibes, 9:00PM TOWN PUMP Corey Hunt (country), 9:00PM TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Bobby Thompson & The Revelators (blues), 10:00PM WILD WING CAFE Mike Snodgrass Duo (acoustic), 9:00PM WILD WING CAFE SOUTH A Social Function (acoustic), 9:00PM WXYZ LOUNGE AT ALOFT HOTEL WXYZ Electric w/ DJ Malinalli, 8:00PM

OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Chris Cooper Trio (blues, rock), 6:00PM

SATURDAY, MAY 20

PACK'S TAVERN DJ MoTo (dance hits, pop), 9:30PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Emma's Lounge (folk, new wave), 8:00PM

550 TAVERN & GRILLE Jason Whitaker (acoustic, rock), 8:00PM

SALVAGE STATION MachineFunk (Widespread Panic tribute), 9:00PM

ALTAMONT THEATRE DJ Audio EP Release Party, 8:00PM

SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY The Bootleggers, 8:00PM SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB Pechakucha Night (community presentations), 7:00PM Dance Club w/ DJ & drag show, 10:00PM SCARLET'S COUNTRY DANCE CLUB Open Mic night w/ Sam Warner, 8:00PM

Vietnam Jerry

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Golden Dawn Arkestra (world, funk), 9:00PM

Sunday â&#x20AC;¢ May 21st IPA for USO $1 from every Highland IPA we sell today will go to support the USO of North Carolina

EVERY WEEK Mondays: $3 year-round and seasonal beers, and game night! Thursdays: East Side Social Ride- 6pm Oakley Farmers Market 3:30-6:30pm Every Thursday May-September!

EXTENDED HOURS Monday-Thursday 3-9pm Friday-Saturday 12-10pm Sunday 12-6pm

5/17 BINGO!! SHAKTI SHIVA FOOD 5/18 $1 OFF FULL POURS/

BEN'S TUNE-UP Gypsy Jazz Jam, 3:00PM Special DJ set w/ The Secret B-Sides, 10:00PM

BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Ben Phan (indie, folk, singer-songwriter), 7:00PM

THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE The Basement Bunch, 7:30PM Jack Sley, 10:00PM

5.19 10PM

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Somewhat Petty (Tom Petty covers), 8:00PM

BLACK MOUNTAIN ALE HOUSE Little Pisgah (bluegrass, newgrass), 7:30PM

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Upland Drive, 8:00PM

BEAT LIFE presents

5 WALNUT WINE BAR Albi & The Lifters (swing, chanson), 6:00PM The Gypsy Swingers (gypsy jazz), 9:00PM

THIS WEEK ONLY

APP. CHIC FOOD

12 Old Charlotte Hwy. Suite 200 Asheville, NC 28803 828-299-3370

highlandbrewing.com

5/19 RESONANT ROGUES!! FREE SHOW

COMING UP: LYRIC! FREE SHOW ON 6/2

AMH

(Electronic/Dance) Ca$h Donation$

w/ DJ Kutzu, Matt May & more

5.20 9 PM AMH Golden Dawn (Afro/Psych) Ca$h Donation$ Arkestra 5.26 9 PM AMH DR. BACON w/ The Company Stores

(Funk) $5

Summer Dance Series Kickoffw/ DJ AVX

Stop Light Observations w/ Third Nature

5.27 10PM

AMH

6.2 10PM

AMH

Ca$h Donation$

(Rock) adv. $10 dos. $12 MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

C LUBLAND

TAVERN

BOILER ROOM Dance Party & Drag Show, 10:00PM

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

USIC! LIVNEEVM E

R A CO VER CHARGE!

THU. 5/18 Hope Griffin Duo (acoustic rock, folk)

FRI. 5/19 DJ MoTo

( dance hits, pop)

SAT. 5/20 Flashback

( classic rock)

CORK & KEG Zydeco Ya Ya (twosteps, waltzes), 8:30PM CROW & QUILL Ben Colvin Quartet (swing jazz), 9:00PM

MAY B Barber Jam &Night 17 RFt.nRyan Friends

DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE Tannahill Weavers, 8:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Pitter Platter w/ DJ Big Smidge (50's/60's R&B, rock 'n' roll), 10:00PM FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Gruda Tree Trio (funk, soul, bluegrass), 10:00PM FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Chicken Coop Willaye Trio (blues, Americana), 6:00PM FROG LEVEL BREWERY Bend & Brew, 11:00AM

20 S. Spruce St. • 225.6944 packStavern.com

GOOD STUFF Moonshine & Mayhem [CANCELED], 8:00PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Dead Man Winter w/ Dave Simonett & War Machine (folk, rock, alternative), 9:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY IPA for USO (benefit), 12:00PM ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL An evening w/ Sarah Clanton, 7:00PM

Featuring Largest Selection of Craft Beer on Tap • 8 Wines 5/26: Beer Week Kick Off-

Meet the Brewer of Hoppy Trout Brewing

5/28: Brewery Relay Race, 2-4pm 5/30: Local Sour Event with Green River Picklers

5/31: Lupulin Show Down! Blind Tasting of 8 Local IPAs

6/1: Hillman Beer Night! 6/2: Meet the Brewer of Blue Ghost 6/3: Hawaiian Luau w/ Asheville Brewing! Cornhole Tournament & Limbo Contest

On Tap! Live Music on Thursdays! Karaoke Every Wed. 8pm Homegrown Menu 2 Hendersonville Road P o u r Ta p R o o m . c o m Monday - Thursday 11am-11pm Fri. & Sat. 11am-1am • Sunday 12-11pm 62

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB The Sufi Brothers w/ Aaron Woody Wood (country, roots, blues), 9:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Sonic Satan Stew w/ DJ Alien Brain, 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Sean Mason Trio (jazz), 6:30PM NEW BELGIUM BREWERY “Fat Tire presents the Tour de Fat”, 4:00PM NEW MOUNTAIN THEATER/ AMPHITHEATER Ike Stubblefield & friends (Motown, funk), 9:00PM ODDITORIUM NC/SC Explosion 2.0 (rock, metal), 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Putt Putt w/ Wicked Weed, 2:00PM Saturday Night Fever, 10:00PM

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Creature Comfort & Indigo De Souza (indie, space rock), 10:00PM PACK'S TAVERN Flashback (classic rock), 9:30PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Charley King's Jamaican Jerk Fest w/ Chalwa, Brushfire Stankgrass & PMA (reggae), 12:00PM PURPLE ONION CAFE The Bad Popes, 8:00PM SALVAGE STATION Sweat & Soul, 10:30AM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Yoga w/ Cats with Blue Ridge Humane Society, 10:00AM Fin Dog, 8:00PM SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB Dance Club w/ DJ & drag show, 10:00PM SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Sierra Nevada AfterNooner Series, 2:00PM SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Busbee Black IPA release & garden party, 11:30AM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Conscious Comedy Night, 7:00PM Latin Rhythms & Salsa Dance w/ DJ Malinalli, 10:00PM THE DUGOUT Super Hero Party!, 12:00AM THE MOTHLIGHT Bask w/ Nest Egg & HAAL (rock, metal, Americana), 9:30PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Phantom Pantone Rooftop DJ, 10:00PM THE SUMMIT AT NEW MOUNTAIN AVL 30 & Up Night, 10:00PM TOWN PUMP The Michael Martin Band (Americana), 9:00PM TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES The King Zeros (blues, delta blues), 7:30PM Jesse Barry & The Jam (live music, dance), 10:00PM TWIN LEAF BREWERY Redleg Husky (country, bluegrass), 3:00PM TWISTED LAUREL Indoor/Outdoor Dance Party, 11:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Richard Smith, 8:00PM

WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Cody Siniard Duo (acoustic), 9:00PM

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Sunday Travers Jam w/ Ike Stubblefield, 6:00PM

WXYZ LOUNGE AT ALOFT HOTEL WXYZ Live w/ Naked Scholar, 8:00PM

ROOTS AND FRUITS MARKET Searra Jade & Farm Brunch, 10:00AM

SUNDAY, MAY 21 185 KING STREET Sunday Sessions Open Jam, 4:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Purple (funk, jazz), 7:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Guitar Bar Jam, 3:30PM BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA Aaron Austin Trio w/ Ted Marks & Phil Bronson, 7:30PM BEN'S TUNE-UP Sunday Reggae w/ The Dub Kartel, 6:00PM BLACK MOUNTAIN ALE HOUSE Sunday Jazz Brunch, 11:00AM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Billy Litz (soul, roots), 7:00PM DARK CITY DELI Redleg Husky (country, bluegrass), 3:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Killer Karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 10:00PM FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER True Home Open-Mic (music, poetry, comedy), 5:00PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN The David Mayfield Parade & The Railsplitters, 8:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Reggae Sunday w/ Dennis "Chalwa" Berndt, 1:00PM Mac DeMarco w/ Tonstartssbandht & Boulevards, 7:00PM ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL An evening w/ Nancy Beaudette, 5:30PM An evening w/ Asleep at the Wheel, 7:30PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Traditional Celtic Jam Session, 3:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Punk Night w/ DJ Chubberbird & Hard Mike, 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Cigar Brothers, 6:30PM LUELLA'S BAR-B-QUE BILTMORE PARK Gypsy Jazz Brunch w/ Leo Johnson, 12:00PM

SALVAGE STATION Open Mic Night w/ The Wet Doorknobs, 7:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Carolina Bound, 2:00PM SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB Dance Club w/ DJ & drag show, 10:00PM SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY SERFA Songwriter Smackdown, 5:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Brunch w/ Chuck Lichtenberger's Student Recital, 1:00PM Asher Leigh's Student Recital, 3:00PM Equality Celebration Afterparty, 8:00PM THE IMPERIAL LIFE Dj Lounge Set, 7:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT WORD! w/ David Joe Miller, Ada Cheng, Alison Fields, Todd Lester & Steve Shell (storytelling), 7:00PM THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN Bob Zullo (rock, jazz, pop), 7:00PM TOWN PUMP Eric Sommer (Americana, folk), 9:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Sultans of String, 8:00PM WICKED WEED Summer Concert Series w/ Virginia & The Slims, 4:00PM

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Burn for Brews (Orange Theory workout), 6:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo Trivia Night, 7:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Bobby Miller and friends, 6:30PM ODDITORIUM Risque Monday Burlesque w/ Deb Au Nare (burlesque), 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Honky Tonk Karaoke, 9:00PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Mountain Music Mondays (open jam), 6:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE The Rhythm and Blues Social Club w/ Joshua Singleton & Peggy Ratusz, 8:00PM THE IMPERIAL LIFE Ghost Pipe Trio (jazz), 9:00PM THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Trivial trivia w/ Geoffrey & Brody, 8:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT Omnicaster w/ Hotline Duo & Ravish Mornin, 9:00PM THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN Bob Zullo (rock, jazz, pop), 7:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Free Pizza Karaoke, 8:00PM UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Old Time Music Open Jam, 6:30PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Manfred & Cain (theatre event), 7:30PM

TUESDAY, MAY 23 MONDAY, MAY 22 185 KING STREET Open Mic Night w/ Chris Whitmire, 6:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR The Get Right Band (funk, rock, reggae), 8:00PM

5 WALNUT WINE BAR The John Henrys (hot jazz), 8:00PM 550 TAVERN & GRILLE Shag night, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Gypsy Jazz Jam Tuesdays, 7:00PM

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Classical Guitar Mondays, 8:00PM

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tuesday night funk jam, 11:00PM

BEN'S TUNE-UP Solo Acoustic w/ Robert Greer, 6:00PM

BEN'S TUNE-UP A Night of Soul w/ Rodha Weaver & the Soulmates, 5:30PM A Night of Soul w/ Lyric, 8:00PM

BYWATER Open mic, 7:15PM Spin Jam (local DJs and fire-spinning), 10:00PM CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Musicians in the Round Jam, 5:30PM

BLACK MOUNTAIN ALE HOUSE Trivia, 7:30PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Larry Dolamore (acoustic), 7:00PM

CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Trivia night, 7:00PM

BONFIRE BARBECUE Thunder karaoke w/ Jason Tarr, 8:00PM

ODDITORIUM Prisoner, Harsh Realm, Abjex (punk), 9:00PM

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

CROW & QUILL Boogie Woogie Burger Night (burgers & rock n' roll), 9:00PM

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Bluegrass brunch w/ Aaron "Woody" Wood, 11:00AM

GOOD STUFF Songwriter's "open mic", 7:30PM

DOUBLE CROWN Honky-tonk, Western & Cajun night w/ DJ Brody Douglas Hunt, 10:00PM

OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Amigo (country, rock), 1:00PM

GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Open mic night (music & comedy), 6:00PM

GOOD STUFF Old time-y night, 6:30PM

Where The Blue Ridge Mountains Meet the Celtic Isles

MONDAYS Quizzo – Brainy Trivia • 7:30pm Open Mic Night • 9pm TUESDAYS Cajun/Creole Jam led by Trent Van Blaricom & Joy Moser • 7pm Dancing Encouraged! WEDNESDAYS Asheville’s Original Old Time Mountain Music Jam • 5pm THURSDAYS Mountain Feist • 7pm Bluegrass Jam • 9:30pm Bourbon Specials

DARLINGTYN FRI OLD COUNTRY, BLUES & BLUEGRASS 5/19 9PM / $5

SAT 5/20

SUFI BROTHERS

FEATURING AARON WOODY WOOD

AMERICANA, COUNTRY & BLUES

9PM / $5

SHANE PRUITT BAND FRI HIGH GOSPEL, BLUES AND 5/26 ROCK ENERGY & ROLL • 9PM / $5 WESTKING STRINGBAND

7PM

SAT MISTY MOUNTAIN 5/27 STRING BAND

OLD-TIME MUSIC, AMERICANA, BLUEGRASS 9PM / $5

•

IRISH SUNDAYS Irish Food and Drink Specials Traditional Irish Music Session • 3-9pm OPEN MON-THURS AT 3 • FRI-SUN AT NOON CRAFT BEER, SPIRITS & QUALITY PUB FARE SINCE 1996

95 PATTON at COXE • Downtown Asheville

252.5445 • jackofthewood.com

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

C L UB L AND HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Dr. Brown's Team Trivia, 6:00PM

MARKET PLACE Bob Zullo (rock, jazz, pop), 6:30PM

ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL Tuesday Bluegrass Sessions w/ Mason Via & friends, 7:30PM

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

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Western Swong w/ Texas T & the Tumbleweeds, 7:00PM

WEDNESDAY HEMP DAY!

WITH THE DIRTY DEAD 5/24 • 6-11pm

39 S. Market St.

●

theblockoffbiltmore.com

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com

JUICY LUCY'S BURGER BAR AND GRILL Trivia w/ DJ Cliff, 8:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Jay Brown, 6:30PM

MOUNTAINX.COM

OLE SHAKEY'S Booty Tuesday, 11:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Turntable Tuesdays, 10:00PM ORANGE PEEL Zakk Sabbath [SOLD OUT], 9:00PM

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Experience Music AVL, 6:00PM SALVAGE STATION Fire Jam, 9:00PM Wake The Nation Tour 2017, 9:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Taco and Trivia Tuesday, 6:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Jazz-n-Justice Benefit w/ Swing Asheville: Anna Cecilia and The Big Time, 9:00PM Swing Asheville's Late-night Vintage Blues Dance, 11:00PM

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Open jam w/ Rob Parks & Chuck Knott, 7:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT Tobin Sprout w/ Elf Power (rock), 9:00PM

WEDGE BREWING CO. Skunk Ruckus (hillbilly gutrock), 6:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Early Jazz & Funk Jam (funk, jazz), 9:00PM

Irish sessions & open mic, 6:30PM

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Twin Leaf Trivia Night, 8:00PM

Weary Travelers (bluegrass), 6:00PM

UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Open Mic hosted By Chris O'Neill , 6:30PM

WILD WING CAFE SOUTH

WILD WING CAFE

Doghouse Band (bluegrass), 6:00PM

MOVIES

REVIEWS & LISTINGS BY SCOTT DOUGLAS & JUSTIN SOUTHER

HHHHH = H PICK OF THE WEEK H

The film is obviously slanted toward Jacobs’ point of view, but Citizen Jane also shows the proof of how Moses’ plans — and similar designs used by other cities — have ultimately failed, while at the same time warning that we’re once again repeating ourselves (the film seems exasperated at Chinese cities that are simply copying Moses’ outmoded ideals). But by going beyond a mere biography, Citizen Jane is able to have actual real-world utility. By showing how people can have the power to change the minds of a city’s leadership through protest and direct action, or even foster their own communities, the film becomes more important than any overview of the woman’s life could ever be. Citizen Jane is as much a blueprint as it is a warning call. Asheville itself is a city that’s growing and changing, and here’s a movie that made me sit and assess

M A X R AT I N G Xpress is shifting some of its movie coverage to online-only as we expand other print sections of the newspaper. Virtually all upcoming movies will still be reviewed online by Xpress film critics Scott Douglas and Justin Souther, with two or three of the most noteworthy appearing in print. You can find online reviews at mountainx.com/movies/reviews. This week, they include:

HS S THE WALL HHH KING ARTHUR SNATCHED

ALIVE AND KICKINGHH CITIZEN JANE

HHHH

THE LAST SHAMAN HS

Documentarian Matt Tyrnauer celebrates New York activist Jane Jacob’s uphill battle against urban renewal in Citizen Jane

Citizen Jane: Battle for the City HHHH DIRECTOR: Matt Tyrnauer (Valentino: The Last Emperor) PLAYERS: Jane Jacobs, Robert Moses, Thomas Campanella, Mindy Fullilove, Steven Johnson DOCUMENTARY RATED NR THE STORY: The life of activist and writer Jane Jacobs and her battles against urban planner Robert Moses. THE LOWDOWN: On the surface, a fairly basic documentary that raises lots of interesting ideas on the purpose of cities and how we approach the places we live in. While Matt Tyrnauer’s Citizen Jane: Battle for the City obviously has a lot to do with noted writer and activist Jane Jacobs, it has just as much to do with Jacobs’ ideas and her battles against the powers that be. Strangely enough, the film works best when it’s discussing Jacobs’ thoughts on the purpose of urban areas and the ways of keeping them vital, healthy and diverse.

Of course, a lot of this has to do with my only general, passing knowledge of Jacobs and her work, and in some ways, Citizen Jane works best as a primer on Jacobs’ vision as opposed to an in-depth look at her life. In most ways, I think this is the correct approach since it is Jacobs’ worldview that remains unfortunately pertinent to this day. Much of the film is framed within the battles between Jacobs and New York City urban planner Robert Moses. There’s Moses, who looked down on the city from above, sketched in as a sort of omniscient, benevolent mastermind who wanted to fill Manhattan with expressways and uninspired housing projects, pushing out families (and usually minority families at that) in the name of “urban renewal.” And then there’s Jacobs, defending cities and neighborhoods as organic and wonderfully spontaneous, fighting City Hall from tearing down the place she — and many others — called home. MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

T HE AT E R I NFO ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO. (254-1281) CARMIKE CINEMA 10 (298-4452) CAROLINA CINEMAS (274-9500) CO-ED CINEMA BREVARD (883-2200) EPIC OF HENDERSONVILLE (693-1146) FINE ARTS THEATRE (232-1536) FLATROCK CINEMA (697-2463) GRAIL MOVIEHOUSE (239-9392) REGAL BILTMORE GRANDE STADIUM 15 (684-1298) UNITED ARTISTS BEAUCATCHER (298-1234)

what I want to see the place I call home turn into. It also made me reconsider the things that I find special and that I perhaps take for granted. From a purely formal viewpoint, Citizen Jane does nothing new cinematically. But it can — if you’re open to it — give you new ways of viewing the place in which you live, which is nothing to scoff at. Not Rated. Now playing at Grail Moviehouse. REVIEWED BY JUSTIN SOUTHER JSOUTHER@MOUNTAINX.COM

The non-profit Western North Carolina Baptist Home has been providing exceptional care since 1979.

The Wall HHH DIRECTOR: Doug Liman PLAYERS: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, John Cena WAR THRILLER RATED R THE STORY: Two U.S. Soldiers in the closing days of the Iraq War face an uphill battle for survival when they’re pinned down by a wily sniper. THE LOWDOWN: A study in cinematic minimalism that trades violence for suspense, resulting in a truly unique war movie that feels more like a horror film. When Doug Liman made the transition from directing his rom-com debut Swingers to helming action-heavy spy flick The Bourne Identity, I was incredulous — but he pulled it off, more or less. When he then pivoted into high-concept sci-fi (with Tom Cruise in tow, no less), I again questioned his abilities and again found my concerns to be largely without

basis. So when I heard that his latest project was an Iraq War movie starring WWE superstarJohn Cena, did I finally give him the benefit of the doubt? Hell no, I’m a critic. Maybe I should just learn to trust the man at this point. What Liman et. al. have delivered with The Wall is not a war film but a monster movie, and a pretty damned good one at that. Liman’s film is extremely minimalistic, stripped down to the barest essentials in order to create a sense of claustrophobia that few, if any, sprawling war epics ever come close to achieving. The film really only has four moving parts: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, John Cena, a hidden sniper and the wall that separates them. It’s nothing short of incredible how much tension Liman has managed to wring out these meager constituents, and Taylor-Johnson’s capacity to carry essentially the entire film is truly laudable. The premise is straightforward enough, with two American soldiers in the waning days of the Iraq War investigating the slaughter of a group of civilian defense contractors protecting an oil pipeline. The monster movie tropes emerge in the form of the film’s faceless antagonist (referred to as “The Ghost”), whose almost supernatural skill with a

At the Western North Carolina Baptist Home we understand that choosing at long term residence for yourself or a loved one is not an easy decision. It can be a fulfilling yet, overwhelming task. Needs change as we age and as you move through the aging process you want to be sure that the right care is available at the right time. Our home like community offers an active recreational and social life and the assurance of knowing that help is always available. We offer a range of services and assistance:

Residents live in attractive rooms and are cared for by a staff of compassionate professional caregivers. The center employs a full-time health care staff, including on-site RNs, LPNs, and Certified Nursing assistants. • Assisted Living - care and assistance are tailored to the needs of the individual residents. • Fowler Memory Enhanced Residence provides a home-like environment for residents who have dementia-related disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease. Activities are designed to encourage residents to stay involved with staff and family.

sniper rifle and Mabuse-like mastery of U.S. military protocol thwarts our protagonist’s increasingly futile attempts to survive their encounter. Reading The Wall as a horror film, its Iraq setting becomes almost irrelevant, and its geopolitical subtext increasingly applicable in a broader context. Screenwriter Dwain Worrell’s sense of structure and timing serves the film well, and one gets the feeling that his script was impeccably polished through judicious editing and tactical rewrites until it was entirely devoid of anything extraneous or unnecessary. Still, the film could very easily have been a forgettable piece of postmodern warfare navel-gazing had Liman and TaylorJohnson not risen to the occasion. Even John Cena couldn’t ruin this film for me, a statement that sounds every bit as absurd now as it did when I wrote it in my notes. It bears repeating that The Wall is a particularly tense film, establishing its stakes early and never relenting throughout its thankfully brief sub90-minute running time. Liman manipulates the audience’s fear response with a surgical precision that very nearly makes up for the sloppy shaky cam stylization of his Bourne movies, and his ability to evoke atmospheric

Physically Enhanced Residence is designed for individuals seeking a high degree of independence who require more physical assistance. • Rickman Nursing Care Center is home to residents who need skilled nursing care and people seeking short term rehab. The center employs a full-time health care staff, including on-site RNs,LPNs, and Certified Nursing assistants. • Respite Care provides temporary rest for caregivers. Please call us today for more information and a tour of our lovely community.

828-254-9675 • 213 Richmond Hill Drive, Asheville, NC 28806 • www.brh.org 66

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SCREEN SCENE dread through the use of light and ambient sound are truly remarkable. The Wall’s myopic perspective may prove too limiting for some, but that very feeling of inescapable isolation is exactly what makes the film so effective. It’s by no means a perfect film, and at times it can seem superficial to the point of selfparody, but it’s a masterful example of the less-is-more school of filmmaking. Rated R for language throughout and some war violence. Now Playing at Biltmore Regal Grande

by Edwin Arnaudin | edwinarnaudin@gmail.com

REVIEWED BY SCOTT DOUGLAS JSDOUGLAS22@GMAIL.COM

FILM BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library • FR (5/19), 4:30-6:30pm - Pixar Film Series: The Incredibles. Free. Held at West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER 2160 US Highway 70, Swannanoa, 273-3332, floodgallery.org/ • FR (5/19), 8pm - Classic World Cinema: Trainspotting, by Danny Boyle. Free to attend. FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF SWANNANOA SwannanoaFANS.org • FR (5/19), 7pm - Cinema On the Square: Outdoor viewing of the film E.T. Pre-movie festivities include face painting, hula hooping and games. Free. Held at Grovemont Square, 101 W Charleston Ave., Swannanoa HENDERSON COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS lwvhcnc.org • TU (5/23), 5:30pm - Equal Means Equal, documentary film screening and discussion. Co-hosted by RatifyERA-NC and Progressive Women of Hendersonville. Free. Held at Henderson County Public Library, 301 N. Washington St., Hendersonville ISRAEL/PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL • TH (5/18), 7pm - Israel/Palestine Film Festival. The Occupation of the American Mind, film screening. Free to attend. Held at UNCAsheville Reuter Center, 1 Campus View Road STRIVE NOT TO DRIVE 2105 strivenottodrive.org • TH (5/18), 5:30pm - "Films on Wheels," short films on the bicycle lifestyle followed by discussion at Boojum Brewing (50 N. Main St.) to talk about the films and active transportation in Waynesville. Free to attend. Held at The Strand @ 38 Main, North Main St., Waynesville TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 884-5137, tchistoricalsociety.com, tchsociety@yahoo.com • TH (5/18), 5:30pm - The Land Still Speaks to Us, documentary film screening. Barbecue dinner at 5pm. Registration: tchsociety@yahoo.com or 828-884-5137. $20. Held at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 22 Fisher Road, Brevard

RARE AIR: Women mountain bikers traverse challenging terrain in this still from The Sisterhood of Shred. Grail Moviehouse hosts three screenings of the documentary. Photo courtesy of Meg Valliant • Mechanical Eye Microcinema hosts an open screening at Grail Moviehouse on Thursday, May 18, at 7 p.m. All Asheville filmmakers and video artists are invited to share their work with a live audience. The maximum length of a submission is 10 minutes, but any genre and style — be it old, new or a work-in-progress — is welcome. Accepted formats are DVD, QuickTime or MPEG file, 16 millimeter and Super 8. Submit work early by email to mechanicaleyemicrocinema@ gmail.com or just show up with a piece. First-come, first-served, as time allows, and there will be short discussion after each piece with a chance to gather feedback from the audience. Free. mechanicaleyecinema.org • Just Peace for Israel/Palestine’s Stories of Struggle, Conscience and Spirit: A Film Festival on Israel/ Palestine continues Thursday, May 18, at 7 p.m. in the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville with a screening of The Occupation of the American Mind. Directed by Loretta Alper and Jeremy Earp, the 2016 documentary examines how public relations efforts in the U.S. have shaped media coverage and public attitudes concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The UNCA political science department and the Palestinian and Jewish egalitarian team are co-sponsoring the event. Free. olliasheville.com/reuter-center • Grail Moviehouse hosts three screenings of Sisterhood of Shred, Meg Valliant’s documentary about women

mountain bikers. The Thursday, May 18, screening at 7 p.m. will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker via Skype as well as information and giveaways from local bike shops. Tickets are available online and at the Grail box office and cost $7 for students and senior citizens and $9 for adults. Encore screenings take place Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21, at noon. grailmoviehouse.com • The West Asheville Public Library’s Pixar Film Series continues Friday, May 19, at 4:30 p.m. with The Incredibles. The feature will be preceded by the Pixar short film Boundin’. Free. avl.mx/1z5

Mountain Xpress Presents

Flash Fiction Flash Fiction Contest Contest Ladies and gentlemen, start your imaginations. Xpress is bringing back the Indie 500 flash fiction contest — a short-form writing competition.

• The Swannanoa Public Library presents a screening of E.T. the Extraterrestrial on Friday, May 19, at 7 p.m. in Grovemont Park. The evening also includes games, facepainting, hula hoops and concessions. Bring a chair or blanket for seating. Free. grovemontpark.org • On Wednesday, May 24, from 5 to 11 p.m., the High Hampton Inn & Country Club in Cashiers hosts a screening party of ABC’s Dirty Dancing remake on the grounds where part of the three-hour musical version of the 1987 film was shot. The day includes games, a midafternoon traditional tea, live music, dancing and a dinner buffet. Attendees are invited to wear their favorite ’50s or ’60s themed attire. Tickets are $44. RSVP by calling 743-6500. highhamptoninn.com X

All writers are invited to submit a story of up to 500 words set in Western North Carolina. Prizes include cash and publication.

Submis d sions will be accepte at mo untainx.com

MOUNTAINX.COM

May 2 - 31 MAY 17 - 23, 2017

M OVIES

by Scott Douglas

S PEC IAL SCR E E N IN GS

STA RTI NG F RI DAY

A Quiet Passion

Blackmail HHHH

Emily Dickinson biopic. According to the studio: “Cynthia Nixon delivers a triumphant performance as Emily Dickinson as she personifies the wit, intellectual independence and pathos of the poet whose genius only came to be recognized after her death. Acclaimed British director Terence Davies (House of Mirth, The Deep Blue Sea) exquisitely evokes Dickinson’s deep attachment to her close knit family along with the manners, mores and spiritual convictions of her time that she struggled with and transcended in her poetry.” Early reviews positive.(PG-13)

DIRECTOR: Alfred Hitchcock PLAYERS: Anny Ondra, Cyril Ritchard, John Longden, Donald Calthrop, Sara Allgood, Charles Patton, Hannah Jones, Harvey Braban, Phyllis Konstam THRILLER Rated NR Alfred Hitchcock’s first talkie may not be the best remembered of his early works, but it certainly deserves more attention than it gets. Blackmail (1929) bears many of the visual and narrative flourishes that would come to define Hitchcock’s auteurial signature in later years — from his morbid gallows humor and propensity for cinematic innovation to a dramatic third act set piece in the British Museum that presaged the famed Mount Rushmore sequence at the climax of North by Northwest. The plot is squarely in the Hitchcockian wheelhouse, based on a play by Night of the Demon screenwriter Charles Bennett and written by Hitchcock with Benn Levy (The Old Dark House) and an uncredited Michael Powell (Peeping Tom), Blackmail is easily among the most accomplished of Hitchcock’e British films. The Asheville Film Society will screen Blackmail on Tuesday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m. at The Grail Moviehouse, hosted by Xpress movie critic Scott Douglas.

Alien: Covenant Director Ridley Scott’s return to the Alien franchise, starring Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup and Danny McBride,. According to the studio: “The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.” Early reviews positive.(R)

Flesh and the Devil HHHH Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul The latest entry in the Diary series of children’s comedies. According to the studio: “A Heffley family road trip to attend Meemaw’s 90th birthday party goes hilariously off course thanks to Greg’s newest scheme to get to a video gaming convention. Based on one of the best-selling book series of all time, this family cross-country adventure turns into an experience the Heffleys will never forget. ” No early reviews.(PG)

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer Drama from writer/director Joseph Cedar, starring Richard Gore as an overly optimistic New Yorker whose efforts to schmooze his way in to circles of power leads to a relationship with a newly minted Israeli Prime Minister, granting his desire for importance and recognition at the risk of an international incident. Early reviews positive.(R)

The Last Shaman See Scott Douglas’ review

DIRECTOR: Clarence Brown PLAYERS: Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Lars Hanson, Barbara Kent, William Orlamond, George Fawcett ROMANTIC MELODRAMA Rated NR Clarence Brown’s 1926 John Gilbert vehicle, adapted from Hermann Sudermann’s novel The Undying Past, is the film that made Gretta Garbo a star — and for that, we should all be eternally grateful. Beyond Garbo and her chemistry with Gilbert, there’s not much to commend this two-tissue tale of star-crossed romance in pre-WWI Austria, but Garbo is at her best here, and that alone is worth the price of admission. The Hendersonville Film Society will show Flesh and the Devil on Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m. in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

Trainspotting HHHHS DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle PLAYERS: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Kelly Macdonald BLACK COMEDY/DRAMA Rated R Danny Boyle’s second feature, Trainspotting (1996), finds the burgeoning filmmaker on slightly more typical ground in terms of thematic content — or what we’ve come to think of as more typical — than was afforded by his debut work, Shallow Grave, even while expanding on his experiments with style. Though Trainspotting’s story of Scottish drug addicts is dark in tone and the bulk of the humor is blacker than a raven’s wing at midnight, Boyle’s sense of humanity persistently creeps in around the edges. This excerpt was taken from a review by Ken Hanke originally published on April 1, 2009. Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Trainspotting on Friday, May 19, at 8 p.m. at Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 2160 U.S. 70, Swannanoa.

open for business 2017 NEW IN TOWN OR RECENTLY EXPANDED?

Coming June 28th!

advertise@mountainx.com | 828-251-1333 x 320 68

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MARKETPLACE R EAL ES TAT E | RE NTA L S | R OOM M AT E S | SERV ICES JOBS | ANNO U N C E M E N T S | M IN D , B ODY, SPIRIT CLAS S E S & W O RK S HO P S | M U S IC IA N S’ SERV ICES PET S | AUT OM OT IVE | X C HA N GE | A DU LT Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 x111 tnavaille@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember the Russian proverb: “Doveryai, no proveryai,” trust but verify. When answering classified ads, always err on the side of caution. Especially beware of any party asking you to give them financial or identification information. The Mountain Xpress cannot be responsible for ensuring that each advertising client is legitimate. Please report scams to ads@mountainx.com REAL ESTATE HOMES FOR SALE

HISTORIC MONTFORD • CLASSIC HOME Two-story Colonial. 17 Courtland Avenue. $565,000. 2,179 sqft. 0.23 acre. 3BR, 3BA. Bonus room. Gas heating. Oak floors. Concrete workshop basement. Off-Street parking. (828) 251-5233. lesleyanna3@att.net

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE 3/2 WITH 11 ACRES MARS HILL $147,500 Online Description Coming soon- available June 20, 2017. Only 30 min from Asheville - beautiful drive up I26 to exit 3. 2245 Roaring Fork Rd Mars Hill, NC 28754. 1460 sq ft. High-ceiling living room with fireplace. Big house surrounded by deck, gorgeous view. Split bedroom plan. Master Bath with Sunken tub. 11 acres (mostly mountain). Own for far less than rent. Quiet cul de sac. Backs to Pisgah Forest area. Drive by to check it out. Charlotte (828) 298-2274 kassabc@bellsouth.net

RENTALS APARTMENTS FOR RENT LEICESTER Unfurnished 2BR, 1BA, central air/heat. Appliances, trash, water, sewer, yard included. Rent, deposit $800. • No pets, smoking, section 8. • References, credit check, lease required. 828-6832794 or 828-273-0499.

ROOMS FOR RENT WORK TRADE FOR HOUSING ON ORGANIC HOMESTEAD Work-trade on Organic Homestead in East Asheville. Positive, intelligent, hardworking community in harmony with the land. 11 hours of work a week for room. 8 month min commitment. Email: ashevillehomestead@gmail.com

ROOMMATES ROOMMATES ALL AREAS Free Roommate Service @ RentMates.com. Find the perfect roommate to complement your personality and lifestyle at RentMates.com! (AAN CAN)

EMPLOYMENT GENERAL CHILDCARE WORKER NEEDED Loving and friendly childcare worker needed for Sunday mornings, and other events, in the nursery of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church located in North Asheville. 1-3 years childcare experience preferred. Paid a minimum of 3 hours for any shift with $12.00 an hour to start for experienced worker. Please send letter of interest and resume to smeehan@gcpcusa.org.

HOUSE CLEANERS NEEDED Looking for house cleaners, must be detail oriented, hardworking, work efficiently in a group and solo, have reliable transportation and computer access. Training starts at $10/hr, 10-15hrs/week. Send resume info@ashevillecastlecleaning.com TROLLEY TOUR GUIDES If you are a "people person," love Asheville, have a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and clean driving record you could be a great TOUR GUIDE, FULL-TIME and seasonal part-time positions available. Training provided. Contact us today! www.GrayLineAsheville.com; Info@GrayLineAsheville.com; 828-2518687.

ADMINISTRATIVE/ OFFICE RECEPTIONIST Receptionist: Full Time $11.00 per hour plus benefits in small downtown law firm. Greet public, answer phone, general clerical duties, provide support for office staff. Submit cover letter and resume to Attn: Receptionist Application, One Rankin Avenue, 3rd Floor, Asheville 28801 or dksapplications@gmail.com.

SALES/ MARKETING SALES PROFESSIONAL If you are an enthusiastic, persuasive, confident, persistent, and driven professional, comfortable talking with business owners and executives; then you might be the sales person we are looking for. Check out this video for more info: https://youtu.be/ MsBa_0l1in0. Please call 1-828-351-3000, listen to the recorded message and follow the directions. In addition, please send your resume to williamgilliland@ actioncoach.com

RESTAURANT/ FOOD ASIAN RESTAURANT KITCHEN POSITION Full time prep/line cook. Position requires intuition/flexibility. Must be able to work in fast paced, high volume small kitchen. Night/weekend availability. 1+yr knife/prep experience required. Pay negotiable on experience b.austin.tart@ gmail.com BREVARD SUMMER CAMP Girls summer camp now hiring an evening cook/ chef and a kitchen assistant for season (May 28 - Aug 11). Must have references and clear background check. laurie@campillahee.com www.campillahee.com

DRIVERS/ DELIVERY LOCAL DRIVERS WANTED! Be your own boss. Flexible hours. Unlimited earning potential. Must be 21 with valid U.S. driver’s license, insurance & reliable vehicle. 866-329-2672 (AAN CAN)

MEDICAL/ HEALTH CARE CURRENTLY SEEKING LPNS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AS CARE MNAGERS -Willing to drive within a 30-40-mile radius of home -Case Management experience helpful -LPN need 3 years’ experience 1 year being in home health. -SW need

Find your next employee of the month!

79% of Xpress readers are college educated.

to be licensed or Bachelor’s Degree and home health experience. Send Resume to Tina at: extrahandhealthcare@yahoo. com 4786546770

mountainx.com/classifieds

REGISTERED NURSES NEEDED! Eliada Homes is seeking full-time Registered Nurses to work with children and adolescents. This is a unique opportunity to work in a beautiful setting supporting six residential cottages to ensure a healthy therapeutic environment that promotes learning and growth for the students in our care. Guided by excellence, integrity, teamwork and compassion, our nursing staff works closely with the entire treatment team. Enjoy some of the best views in town as you walk between the cottages (rain or shine) providing care. A generous benefits package is offered to all full-time employees including comprehensive health and dental insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. All RN positions require valid NC RN licensure. Experience working with children preferred. Evening shifts and night shifts available. For more information or to apply, visit www.eliada.org/employment/ current-openings. SENIOR LIVING JOBS Are you looking for a job with a great company and a good working environment? Do you enjoy spending time with seniors? The Crossings at Reynolds Mountain, Asheville's premier Senior Living Community, is looking for experienced and customer service oriented team members for our community located in north Asheville. Positions Available: • Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) • Medication Aide/Med Tech • Personal Care Assistant (PCA) • Licensed Practical Nurse/Supervisor (LPN) • Server/Wait staff • Utility/Prep Aide/Dishwasher We offer competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits program. Apply online: thecrossingsatreynoldsmountain.com/ about/careers/ or in person at: The Crossings at Reynolds Mountain, 41 Cobblers Way, Asheville, NC 28804. Apply Today! EOE 828-575-0627 Dproctor@ harmonyseniorservices.com

HUMAN SERVICES

ALDI is as much about being smart with money, as it is saving our customers money. Being smart with money means paying great people great wages. Plus providing terrific benefits and offering plenty of opportunities to advance their career. If shopping at ALDI means your money works harder, working at ALDI means your hard work gets you more. Great pay, terrific benefits and advancement opportunities — you’ll be more and get more with ALDI.

If you're ready for more, pick up an application from the store manager or visit aldistorejobs.com for more info. Store Manager Trainees - $54,000* with an opportunity to earn $70,000–$75,000/yr as a Store Manager *$22.00/hour (average 45 hrs/week)

HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE® OF WNC Is seeking compassionate individuals to provide non-medical care to aging adults in our community. Learn more about the rewards of caregiving and what the positions entail here: https://www. homeinstead.com/159/home-care-jobs LIFE SKILLS TRAINER Foundations Asheville, a young adult transitional program working with college-age adults in Asheville, North Carolina seeks qualified life skills trainer to create and maintain a consistent, emotionally safe and supportive environment needed to foster the strengths and overcome hurdles necessary for successful adulthood. Collaborate with team to implement programming designed to support young adults in reaching their goals. Work one-on-one and in the group setting to model and develop independent living skills. Foundations is a residential program, requiring overnights while on shift. The standard

Store Associates - $11.00/hour (20-40 hrs/wk) Requirements: Be a team player - Be able to lift 45 lbs - Must have a flexible schedule - High School diploma or G.E.D. preferred - Be able to work in a fast-paced environment - Must pass drug test as well as background check - Excellent customer service skills Time: 7am–2pm & 4pm–6pm

Date: Tuesday 05/30/17

Aldi, Inc. – 58 Weaverville Blvd., Weaverville NC 28787

ALDI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): “A two-year-old kid is like using a blender, but you don’t have a top for it,” said comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Would you like to avoid a scenario like that, Aries? Would you prefer not to see what happens if your life has resemblances to turning on a topless blender that’s full of ingredients? Yes? Then please find the top and put it on! And if you can’t locate the proper top, use a dinner plate or newspaper or pizza box. OK? It’s not too late. Even if the blender is already spewing almond milk and banana fragments and protein powder all over the ceiling. Better late than never! TAURUS (April 20-May 20): My pregnant friend Myrna is determined to avoid giving birth via Caesarean section. She believes that the best way for her son to enter the world is by him doing the hard work of squeezing through the narrow birth canal. That struggle will fortify his willpower and mobilize him to summon equally strenuous efforts in response to future challenges. It’s an interesting theory. I suggest you consider it as you contemplate how you’re going to get yourself reborn. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I invite you to try the following meditation: Picture yourself filling garbage bags with stuff that reminds you of what you used to be and don’t want to be any more. Add anything that feels like decrepit emotional baggage or that serves as a worn-out psychological crutch. When you’ve gathered up all the props and accessories that demoralize you, imagine yourself going to a beach where you build a big bonfire and hurl your mess into the flames. As you dance around the conflagration, exorcise the voices in your head that tell you boring stories about yourself. Sing songs that have as much power to relieve and release you as a spectacular orgasm. CANCER (June 21-July 22): In normal times, your guardian animal ally might be the turtle, crab, seahorse or manta ray. But in the next three weeks, it’s the cockroach. This unfairly maligned creature is legendary for its power to thrive in virtually any environment, and I think you will have a similar resourcefulness. Like the cockroach, you will do more than merely cope with awkward adventures and complicated transitions; you will flourish. One caution: It’s possible that your adaptability may bother people who are less flexible and enterprising than you. To keep that from being a problem, be empathetic as you help them adapt. (P.S. Your temporary animal ally is exceptionally well-groomed. Cockroaches clean themselves as much as cats do.)

BY ROB BREZSNY

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Leonardo da Vinci wrote a bestiary, an odd little book in which he drew moral conclusions from the behavior of animals. One of his descriptions will be useful for you to contemplate in the near future. It was centered on what he called the “wild ass,” which we might refer to as an undomesticated donkey. Leonardo said that this beast, “going to the fountain to drink and finding the water muddy, is never too thirsty to wait until it becomes clear before satisfying himself.” That’s a useful fable to contemplate, Libra. Be patient as you go in search of what’s pure and clean and good for you. (The translation from the Italian is by Oliver Evans.) SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): My friend Allie works as a matchmaker. She has an instinctive skill at reading the potential chemistry between people. One of her key strategies is to urge her clients to write mission statements. “What would your ideal marriage look like?” she asks them. Once they have clarified what they want, the process of finding a mate seems to become easier and more fun. In accordance with the astrological omens, Scorpio, I suggest you try this exercise — even if you are already in a committed relationship. It’s an excellent time to get very specific about the inspired togetherness you’re willing to work hard to create. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In ancient Greek myth, Tiresias was a prophet who could draw useful revelations by interpreting the singing of birds. Spirits of the dead helped him devise his prognostications, too. He was in constant demand for revelations about the future. But his greatest claim to fame was the fact that a goddess magically transformed him into a woman for seven years. After that, he could speak with authority about how both genders experienced the world. This enhanced his wisdom immeasurably, adding to his oracular power. Are you interested in a less drastic but highly educational lesson, Sagittarius? Would you like to see life from a very different perspective from the one you’re accustomed to? It’s available to you if you want it. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “You remind me of the parts of myself that I will never have a chance to meet,” writes poet Mariah Gordon-Dyke, addressing a lover. Have you ever felt like saying that to a beloved ally, Capricorn? If so, I have good news: You now have an opportunity to meet and greet parts of yourself that have previously been hidden from you — aspects of your deep soul that up until now you may only have caught glimpses of. Celebrate this homecoming!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Lady Jane Grey was crowned Queen of England in July 1553, but she ruled for just nine days before being deposed. I invite you to think back to a time in your own past when victory was short-lived. Maybe you accomplished a gratifying feat after an arduous struggle, only to have it quickly eclipsed by a twist of fate. Perhaps you finally made it into the limelight but then lost your audience to a distracting brouhaha. But here’s the good news: Whatever it was — a temporary triumph? incomplete success? nullified conquest? — you will soon have a chance to find redemption for it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I predict that you won’t be bitten by a dog or embarrassed by a stain or pounced on by a lawyer. Nor will you lose your keys or get yelled at by a friend or oversleep for a big appointment. On the contrary! I think you’ll be wise to expect the best. The following events are quite possible: You may be complimented by a person who’s in a position to help you. You could be invited into a place that had previously been off-limits. While eavesdropping, you might pick up a useful clue, and while daydreaming you could recover an important memory you’d lost. Good luck like this is even more likely to sweep into your life if you work on ripening the most immature part of your personality.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): While shopping at a funky yard sale, I found the torn-off cover of a book titled You’re a Genius and I Can Prove It. Sadly, the rest of the book was not available. Later I searched for it in online bookstores, and found it was out of-print. That’s unfortunate, because now would be an excellent time for you to peruse a text like this. Why? Because you need specific, detailed evidence of how unique and compelling you are — concrete data that will provide an antidote to your habitual self-doubts and consecrate your growing sense of self-worth. Here’s what I suggest you do: Write an essay entitled “I’m an Interesting Character and Here’s the Proof.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Time out. It’s intermission. Give yourself permission to be spacious and slow. Then, when you’re sweetly empty — this may take a few days — seek out experiences that appeal primarily to your wild and tender heart as opposed to your wild and jumpy mind. Just forget about the theories you believe in and the ideas you regard as central to your philosophy of life. Instead, work on developing brisk new approaches to your relationship with your feelings. Like what? Become more conscious of them, for example. Express gratitude for what they teach you. Boost your trust for their power to reveal what your mind sometimes hides from you.

MAY 17 - 23, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

shift is a full-time live-in position in the heart of Asheville, with excellent accommodations and expenses paid. Daily tasks of transportation, cleanliness, community involvement, and maintaining a timely schedule are key job responsibilities. In addition, consistent role modeling of healthy habits, problem-solving, emotional maturity, and executive function is critical to our students' success. Seasonal opportunities exist for travel, community service, and project-based-learning. Work with a skilled clinical team to implement real growth for the young men in our care. The ideal applicant would have: •Excellent communication skills, creativity, and desire to work in a tight-knit community. •Skills to teach successful habits of academic success. •Skills to support others find jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities in the community of Asheville. •Professional experience with guidance, teaching, experiential education. •Experience with direct care in a therapeutic environment. •A clean driving record. •Unique strengths they bring to our community. •A desire to learn and grow in the field. •This is not an entrylevel position, and requires a high degree of autonomy and collaboration. We are currently interviewing qualified applicants for Full-time and PRN positions. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Promptly email cover letter, resume, references, and any pertinent certifications to foundationshiring@gmail.com. Learn more at www.foundationsasheville.com.

PROFESSIONAL/ MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR The Asheville City Schools Foundation seeks a Development Director to lead our fundraising team to ensure our organization has adequate funding to achieve our mission. Full description at www.acsf.org HR MANAGER Community Action Opportunities, Asheville, NC. We are an anti-poverty agency looking for a seasoned, HR professional to be our HR Manager. Along with a personnel analyst, this hands-on position supports the HR needs of 130 FTEs. • Our HR Manager ensures that we comply with relevant employment law is responsible for HR-related policies, programs and systems including but not limited to job analysis, pay and classification, recruitment, screening and selection, employee benefits and electronic and hardcopy HR records. • The HR Manager must also know and apply federal and state HR laws and regulations, be able to communicate clearly, exercise sound judgment, meet repeated deadlines, work on teams, facilitate small groups, demonstrate best-practice supervision and counsel others on lawful employment and behaviorally-based discipline practices. Requires a Master’s degree in HR Management, Public Administration or Business Administration with an emphasis in HR, or a related field and, at least, eight (8) years as an assistant or HR Manager/ Director in a small public or medium-sized non-profit organization. SHRM-SCP also required. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be acceptable. • Prefer bi-lingual in Spanish. This position is exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime pay Compensation: $60,770 to $85,079 (DOQ) plus competitive benefits including 401(k) • CAO shall exclude applicants who fail to comply with the following submittal requirements: Send resume, cover letter and three (3) professional work references with complete contact information to: Ms. Vicki Heidinger, Executive Director, 25 Gaston Street, Asheville NC, 28801 • Or Email to: admin@communityactionopportunities.org • Or (828) 253-6319 (Fax) EOE & DFWP. Open until filled. Interviews begin in late May. See the full job description at: www.communityactionopportunities.org

Date: 08/01/2017. Salary Range: $30.75 per contact hour. • To complete the online application: https://abtcc. peopleadmin.com/postings/4233

HUMAN SERVICES TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTOR A-B Tech is currently taking applications for a Human Services Technology Instructor position. For more details and to apply: https://abtcc. peopleadmin.com/postings/4228 LEAD COUNSELOR AT NATURE ADVENTURES SUMMER CAMP Asheville's twist on traditional summer camp. Through imaginative, hands-on outdoor education, kids improve in self-confidence and inner discipline while learning valuable lessons about the natural world. Please email resume to ashevilleninjas@ gmail.com THE NEW CLASSICAL ACADEMY IS SEARCHING FOR A DYNAMIC TEACHER TO JOIN OUR STAFF. We are searching for someone with a diverse background of working with children, a love of learning, and a desire to work in alt-education. Please send resume to tncaschool@gmail.com www.thenewclassicalacademy.org

CAREGIVERS/ NANNY

COMPUTER/ TECHNICAL

IT/DATABASE/WEB ASSISTANT Mountain Xpress seeks a part-time person to assist with administration, development and day-to-day support of the company’s (1) IT systems (Macintosh workstations and servers; printers, phones, internetconnection, email and internal network hardware/software); (2) database systems (Filemaker-based, requiring scripting and some development) and (3) website (WordPress CMS, requiring skills in mySql, PHP, HTML, CSS and Javascript). Send cover letter, resume and references to: employment@mountainx.com

SERVICES BEAUTY/SALON STYLIST POSITION AVAILABLE Downtown salon looking for experienced and education focused stylist. Commission and booth rental both available. mmennone@yahoo.com

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT NOW HIRING CNA, IHA / PCA IN HENDERSONVILLE AND WAYNESVILLE Advantage Care Services is seeking qualified CNA and IHA / PCA in Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson counties. Competitive pay with a sign on bonus. Call or apply online. jobs@advantagehcc.com 888-350-5397 extension 702

DRIVEWAY SEAL COATING By Mark DeLude. • Protects and preserves. • Over 30+ years experience. Hand applied commercial grade sealer. • Free estimates. • Also interior/exterior painting services. Call Mark: (828) 299-0447.

ARTS/MEDIA

HANDY MAN

EDITOR Mountain Xpress is seeking an experienced editor with a commitment to the values of fair, balanced and multisourced news reporting, a passion for local journalism and a love of good writing. Candidates should have a demonstrated ability to handle tight deadlines and be comfortable working with both inexperienced and nonprofessional writers as well as staff reporters. Ideally, applicants will bring a deep knowledge of the local community and its history to the position; otherwise, they must be willing to educate themselves in ways that will strengthen their ability to place current events in perspective. A solid grounding in AP style, or a willingness to learn it, is essential. Freelance or possible staff position. Email cover letter, resume to editor@mountainx.com

SALON/ SPA FRONT DESK/SPA ASSISTANT Sensibilities Day Spa is now hiring for a Front Desk/Spa Assistant position at our location in the Hilton Hotel at Biltmore Park. If interested, please take resume to that location.

TEACHING/ EDUCATION

HIRING FULL-TIME LMT Sensibilities Day Spa is now hiring full-time LMTs (25-27 hrs/wk) for our Downtown and South locations. Availability to work both locations and weekends are required. We offer a set schedule, in-house training and a commission-based income with great earning potential. Bring resume to either location.

ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR • ECONOMICS Expected Work Schedule: Variable. Anticipated Days: Varies within Monday - Friday. Anticipated Hours: Varies: 8am-8pm. Anticipated Hours per Week: 3 to 6. Application Review: 06/15/2017. Start

NOW HIRING MASSAGE THERAPIST AT THE SPA AT ESEEOLA LODGE IN LINVILLE, NC The Spa at Eseeola Lodge is currently looking for an exceptional therapist to join us. All candidates must be dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service. We require a minimum of 3 years experience in the spa industry. All candidates must have and maintain their professional licensure. 828964-1560 eseeolaspajobs@gmail.com https://www.eseeolaspa.com/

GENERAL SERVICES

HIRE A HUSBAND • HANDYMAN SERVICES Since 1993. Multiple skill sets. Reliable, trustworthy, quality results. $1 million liability insurance. References and estimates available. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.

ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS KILL ROACHES - GUARANTEED! Buy Harris Roach Tablets. Odorless, Long Lasting. Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com (AAN CAN) KILL SCORPIONS! Buy Harris Odorless Scorpion Spray. Effective Results Begin After Spray Dries. Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com (AAN CAN) MAKE THE CALL TO START GETTING CLEAN TODAY Free 24/7 Helpline for alcohol & drug addiction treatment. Get help! It is time to take your life back! Call Now: 855-732-4139. (AAN CAN) PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Call us first. Living expenses, housing, medical, and continued support afterwards. Choose adoptive family of your choice. Call 24/7. 877-362-2401. (AAN CAN)

ESTATE SALE THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY Huge estate sale. May 20 and 21, 11am-4pm. Hundreds of items from $1 to $20,000. Please leave bags outside. No early birds please. 30 Boone Trail, Weaverville, NC 28787.

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS CLASSES & WORKSHOPS BUILD A GUITAR WITH JACK HASTINGS: AUGUST 5TH-12TH Warren Wilson College Folkshop series! Your choice of building a dreadnaught guitar or a finger picking style 000 with a slotted headstock! Contact nfalduto@warren-wilson.edu for more info.

limited space! Register online at www.warren-wilson.edu/ about/conference-services/ folkshops CLAY CLASSES AT ODYSSEY CLAYWORKS 5-Week classes: Beginner Handbuilding and Surface Decoration, Beginner Wheel Throwing, Narrative Surface: Drawing On Ceramics, Breaking (Down) The Mold. One Night Pottery Classes: Ready, Set, Throw. 5-Day Workshops: Pristine Porcelain Pros, Historical Forms: Contemporary Myths, Demystifying Form: Clay Play And the Teapot, Raku Magic, Cob Construction. Kids Summer Clay Camp! QIGONG CLASSES Weekly, Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10:30-11:30am. At Habitat Tavern and Commons, 174 Broadway, Asheville. Free parking available across the street. Email for information allen@ashevilleqigong.com WARREN WILSON COLLEGE FIBER ARTS CLASSES Warren Wilson College Fiber Arts Folkshops! This summer we are offering classes in weaving, felting, and a kids camp! Class registration can be found at www.warren-wilson.edu/ about/conference-services/ folkshops email nfalduto@ warren-wilson.edu more info.

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT BODYWORK

MAY SPECIAL -15% OFF ANY SERVICE for Mom from our team of highly skilled massage therapists! Gift Certificates included. Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Couples, Reflexology, Aromatherapy. $60/hour. Complimentary tea room. Beautifully appointed facility. 947 Haywood Road, West Asheville. Free parking in lot, handicap accessible. (828)552-3003 ebbandflowavl@charter.net ebbandflowavl.com

RETREATS SHOJI SPA & LODGE * 7 DAYS A WEEK Day & Night passes, cold plunge, sauna, hot tubs, lodging, 8 minutes from town, bring a friend or two, stay the day or all evening, escape & renew! Best massages in Asheville 828-299-0999.

SPIRITUAL

JULIE KING: LICENSED MINISTER, TEACHER, INTUITIVE HEALER www.AcuPsychic. com. 828-884-4169. If you can see the Future You can Change it! For 35 years, she has helped thousands with relationships, finances, spiritual transformation & business. Mentoring & Courses available.

FOR MUSICIANS MUSICAL SERVICES NOW ACCEPTING STUDENTS IN JAZZ PIANO, COMPOSITION, AND IMPROVISATION (ALL INSTRUMENTS). Michael Jefry Stevens, “WNC Best Composer

2016” and “Steinway Artist”, now accepting students in jazz piano, composition, and improvisation (all instruments). 35 years experience. M.A. from Queens College (NYC). Over 90 cds released. 9179161363. michaeljefrystevens.com WHITEWATER RECORDING Mixing • Mastering • Recording. (828) 684-8284 whitewaterrecording.com

PETS PET SERVICES ASHEVILLE PET SITTERS Dependable, loving care while you're away. Reasonable rates. Call Sandy (828) 215-7232.

AUTOMOTIVE AUTOS FOR SALE

1995 CHEVROLET IMPALA only 39,500 miles, 5.7L, 8 Cylinders, Automatic, $ 2500. call: 9107457391

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES FOR SALE 2007 WILDCAT 5TH WHEEL CAMPER 30LSBS. 3 slides. On seasonal site, Lake Hartwell RV park. Boat and dock access. Too many extras to list! Reduced: $13,000 or best offer. 802-8926658. hydel27@gmail.com

TRUCKS/ VANS/ SUVS FOR SALE CHEVY FIBERGLASS CAMPER COVER Chevy fiberglass camper cover (red) fits 61/2 foot short wheelbase truck. Sliding Windows ,good condition. $300. Call 828-645-5698 or 828-776-5698.

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

CAR DR A FULL SERVICE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP CAR DR is a full service automotive shop capable of servicing and maintaining Import and Domestic vehicles. Located on Sweeten Creek Rd. Call 828-277-6599 for your appointment today. cardrasheville@gmail.com WE'LL FIX IT AUTOMOTIVE • Honda and Acura repair. Half price repair and service. ASE and factory trained. Located in the Weaverville area, off exit 15. Please call (828) 275-6063 for appointment. wellfixitautomotive.com

ADULT ADULT 48 PILLS + 4 FREE! VIAGRA 100MG/ CIALIS 20MG Free Pills! No hassle, Discreet Shipping. Save Now. Call Today 1-877-621-7013 (AAN CAN). LIVELINKS Chat Lines. Flirt, chat and date! Talk to sexy real singles in your area. Call now! 1-844-359-5773 (AAN CAN).

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

ACROSS

1 “Don’t be such a baby!” 6 Divest (of) 9 Easy gaits 14 O’Connor’s Supreme Court successor 15 Comedian Schumer 16 All thumbs 17 Longtime name on NBC’s “Today” 18 Home to the Kennedy Space Center, familiarly 20 Ballpark figures 22 Actors Helms and Harris 23 Opposite of trans, with respect to gender 24 A welcome sight? 25 Ruckus 28 Unwanted guest 31 Some run to get in it 35 Inc., abroad 36 Euro denomination 37 Black Tuesday event 41 Sheltered from the wind 42 Latin word after post or ad 43 Correo ___ (Spanish airmail)

44 Any one of the stars of “Duck Soup” 48 Grp. once led by Arafat 49 Existential statement 50 Bonus sports periods, for short 51 W.W. II female 54 Go Dutch … or a hint to 20-, 28-, 37and 44-Across 57 Toronto athlete 60 Kate’s sitcom housemate 61 Chipped in, in a way 62 B’way posting 63 Stopwatch 64 Eats like a rodent 65 Old sailor 66 Beat handily

DOWN 1 Homer’s love 2 One way to think 3 Adidas alternatives 4 Four Corners-area tribe 5 Cayman and Cayenne 6 “To Kill a Mockingbird” theme

edited by Will Shortz

7 Muslim leader 8 “Awesome!” 9 Broadcast shown as it happens 10 Tip jar fillers 11 ___ capita 12 Org. concerned with ecology 13 Cardinal’s letters 19 T-Mobile rival 21 Padre’s hermano 25 “Be ___ …” (request starter) 26 Not too quick on the uptake 27 Prefix with -pedic 29 Campaign poster word 30 Realtor’s unit 31 Overwhelm 32 Like much food cart meat 33 Old Olds 34 Movie trailer? 38 One in bondage 39 Least cramped 40 Buckets, perhaps 45 Ostriches and kangaroos, e.g. 46 Lusting after

No. 0412

PUZZLE BY EMILY CARROLL

47 Biblical suffix 54 Killed, as a dragon 51 One of the 55 Gold-medal Flintstones skater Lipinski 52 1979 sci-fi thriller 56 Dot on a radar 53 Court employee screen

57 Outside or InStyle, in brief 58 ___ Arbor, Mich. 59 “Harper Valley ___” (1968 #1 hit)

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE

Mountain Xpress Presents

Flash Fiction Flash Fiction Contest Contest Ladies and gentlemen, start your imaginations. Xpress is bringing back the Indie 500 flash fiction contest — a short-form writing competition.

Submissions wil l be

All writers are invited to submit a story of up to 500 words set in Western North Carolina. Prizes include cash and publication.

Paul Caron

Furniture Magician • Cabinet Refacing • Furniture Repair

inx.com mounta accepted at

May 2 - 31

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

MOUNTAINX.COM

• Black Mountain

MAY 17 - 23, 2017