Mountain Xpress 05.18.22 by Mountain Xpress

OU R 28TH Y E A R OF W E E K LY I N DE PE N DE N T N E W S, A RTS & E V E N TS FOR W E STE R N NORTH CA ROL I NA VOL . 28 NO. 42 M AY 18 -24, 2022

MAY 18-24, 2022

MOUNTAINX.COM

C ONTENT S

FEATURES

PAGE 8

NEWS

LAND-FULL 12 POINTS OF DEPARTURE Buncombe’s unsheltered homeless population doubles in a year

15 HELP WANTED Local schools seek major support from Buncombe leaders

The Buncombe County landfill is opening up a new 5.5-acre segment for construction and demolition waste later this year. With new builds and remodeling on the upswing, local builders are trying to be savvier about their use of plywood and looking for other ways to reduce waste.

WELLNESS

18 HEALTH ROUNDUP Hominy Valley Health Center opens in Candler

A&C

COVER PHOTO Neil Jacobs

20 CELEBRITY KIN Local musicians double down on their craft after working with famous artists

COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

A&C A&C

MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas Calder

OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose STAFF REPORTERS: Able Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Justin McGuire, Sara Murphy, Brooke Randle, Jessica Wakeman, Daniel Walton

CARTOON: MOLTON

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak

CARTOON: BRENT BROWN

NEWS

18 WELLNESS 20 ARTS & CULTURE

34 CLASSIFIEDS 35 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

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

CONTA CT U S : ( 82 8 ) 2 5 1 - 1 3 3 3 • F AX ( 8 2 8) 2 5 1 - 1 3 1 1 venues with upcoming shows CLUBLAND@MOUNTAINX.COM get info on advertising at ADVERTISE@MOUNTAINX.COM place a web ad at WEBADS@MOUNTAINX.COM question about the website? WEBMASTER@MOUNTAINX.COM find a copy of Xpress DISTRO@MOUNTAINX.COM WWW.MOUNTAINX.COM FACEBOOK.COM/MOUNTAINX follow us @MXNEWS, @MXARTS, @MXEAT, @MXHEALTH, @MXCALENDAR, @MXENV, @MXCLUBLAND

OF ANTIQUES, UNIQUES & REPURPOSED RARITIES!

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Thomas Calder

12 BUNCOMBE BEAT

36,000 SQ. FT.

NEWS EDITOR: Daniel Walton

LETTERS

34 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

news tips & story ideas to NEWS@MOUNTAINX.COM letters/commentary to LETTERS@MOUNTAINX.COM sustainability news to GREEN@MOUNTAINX.COM a&e events and ideas to AE@MOUNTAINX.COM events can be submitted to CALENDAR@MOUNTAINX.COM or try our easy online calendar at MOUNTAINX.COM/EVENTS food news and ideas to FOOD@MOUNTAINX.COM wellness-related events/news to MXHEALTH@MOUNTAINX.COM business-related events/news to BUSINESS@MOUNTAINX.COM

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson

30 CLUBLAND

26 WHAT’S NEW IN FOOD Finch Gourmet Market & Wine Bar to open in Biltmore Village

PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Jeff Fobes

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Justin McGuire, Andy Hall

16 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 24 ZERO BARS Cold Mountain Music Festival’s unplugged nature is a feature, not a bug

STA F F

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Mark Barrett, LA Bourgeois, Johanna Patrice Hagarty, Bill Kopp, Cindy Kunst, Alli Marshall, Linda Ray, Kay West

Adirondack Outdoor Love Seat Find in TRS Inventory

ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson

Best of WNC since 2014!

LEAD DESIGNER: Scott Southwick GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Olivia Urban MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Sara Brecht, Vicki Catalano, Scott Mermel, Tiffany Wagner STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jennifer Castillo, Cindy Kunst

Open Everyday! 10-6pm 26 Glendale Ave • 828.505.1108 regenerationstation.com

OPERATIONS MANAGER: Able Allen

TheRegenerationStation

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES & WEB: Able Allen BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler-Tanner ADMINISTRATION, BILLING, HR: Able Allen, Jennifer Castillo DISTRIBUTION: Susan Hutchinson, Cindy Kunst

Junk Recyclers Team

DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS: Leah Bee, Desiree Davis, Marlea Kunst, Henry Mitchell, Angelo Santa Maria, Carl & Debbie Schweiger

Greenest Junk Removal!

Asheville’s oldest Junk Removal service, since 2010

Purge Unwanted Junk, Remove Household Clutter! call us to remove your junk in a green way!

MOUNTAINX.COM

828.707.2407

www.junkrecyclers.net MAY 18-24, 2022

OPINION

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

Saving the city’s participatory democracy A response to the proposal by the city of Asheville to restructure the city’s advisory boards and commissions [“All a Board: Asheville Seeks to Restructure Citizen Advisory Groups,” March 2, Xpress]: While acknowledging that improvements in efficiency can be made, the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods believes our current boards and commissions advisory system is the best example of participatory democracy in this city. We believe that reducing 20 advisory boards, manned by 130-plus citizen volunteers, down to four advisory boards of about 40 appointees will only suppress citizen knowledge and participation in our city’s governance. We believe that this extreme attempt at dismantling this worthwhile system represents an existential challenge to Asheville’s most participatory layer of government, and that if implemented, will result in a less inclusive, less transparent, top-down form of governance that’s not in the public’s best interest. We believe that inconsistent Council liaison attendance and communications of the work of boards and commissions, along with inconsistent city staff support, all contribute to the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of certain boards. We believe that no matter how inefficient it may feel to Council, they must make the effort to listen to the citizens and incorporate their feedback into city policy. We know that our current boards and commissions represent an amazing and powerful assemblage of smart, active citizens who care about Asheville and are committed to transparent and inclusive governance. We question what will happen to the institutional knowledge, combined experience and continuity of their work if a board or commission is abruptly dissolved by Council. Based on these beliefs and the opposition that we are hearing from the community, we believe that this restructuring proposal should be wholeheartedly and transparently challenged. While we commend the city of Asheville for creating the Restructure Working Group/Pilot and for inviting citizens to participate, we believe simply accepting this city-mandated proposal is not in the best interests of our city. Instead of working to dismantle the current system, we suggest that the city of Asheville and Council enlist citizens to help them: • Conduct a comprehensive assessment of all boards and commissions to determine those that are currently fulfilling their charge and those that are not. 4

MAY 18-24, 2022

a proven track record of accomplishments and a voting and leadership record that shows their commitment to protecting our environment. Even if some might consider these incumbents to be establishment candidates, we are proud of our support for those with proven accomplishments.”

Council should demand revisions to open space rules

C A RT O O N B Y R AN DY M O L T O N • Create a system to monitor city staff support, Council liaison attendance and Council communication of the proposals created by the boards and commissions to other Council members. • Make substantial efforts to listen to Asheville residents, incorporate their feedback and update the plan before making any changes to the current system. — Rick Freeman President, Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods Asheville

Sierra Club favors establishment candidates I, along with many others, find the WNC Sierra Club endorsements misleading. Their endorsements do not uphold their mission statement and are biased toward the establishment candidates of the local Democratic Party. This has been especially evident in the Asheville City Council and mayoral races, with the exception being the 2020 election for City Council, where due to rising criticism of their endorsement process, they endorsed all the candidates. With their endorsements, they typically preclude unaffiliated and grassroots candidates, who often more closely align with the Sierra Club mission statement, and throw their support to the party favorites instead. Then they proceed to misinform WNC voters by staging volunteers at virtually all precinct and voting stations handing out flyers with their recommendations, trying to convince voters that these endorsements best

MOUNTAINX.COM

represent their mission of protecting the planet. Unfortunately, many unaware voters who strongly support the mission of the Sierra Club make their choices based on these endorsements, making it extremely challenging to be elected as an independent and/or grassroots candidate. I am not suggesting that none of the endorsed candidates are worthy of a Sierra Club endorsement. I am questioning the validity of the WNC Sierra Club endorsements when they continue to endorse the establishment candidates, while ignoring other candidates with equal or greater qualifications. I would suggest that WNC voters who hold “protecting the environment” as a core belief and are looking to elect candidates who share that belief to look beyond the politicized endorsements of the Sierra Club and to closely evaluate all candidates and what they stand for. I would also suggest that folks who have routinely volunteered to work in these precincts based on the Sierra Club’s mission reexamine this commitment and find other ways to pursue the vital need for environmental justice. — Brian Haynes Asheville Editor’s note: Xpress contacted the WNC Sierra Club with a summary of the letter writer’s points and received the following response from Political Chair Ken Brame: “We are fortunate to have a number of good candidates running for office in Asheville and Buncombe County. The Sierra Club supports the right of every voter to support the candidates of their choice. The Sierra Club does place a high value on supporting candidates with

The open space amendment went before the Planning and Zoning Commission on May 4 and now goes to City Council for approval. I thoroughly reject this whole amendment and am disheartened that the city Planning and Economic Development Committee passed this amendment “as is” to Planning and Zoning. I am sickened by this amendment and particularly the “throw money at the problem” provisions. The fee-inlieu provisions will allow developers to completely pay their way out of following the needful regulations. What are our neighborhoods going to gain out of this amendment? Very little. The justification for this amendment throws around current hot-button issues such as “affordable housing” and “stormwater.” This open space amendment has no guidelines as to how fee-in-lieu monies are to be used for purchase of parkland in compensation for a neighborhood’s loss of open space. Currently, the feein-lieu money is tied up in uncertainty by litigation. Therefore, the purpose of using this money for enhancing or building city parks is on hold for a long time with hearings, appeals and other courtroom tangos that continually hold decisions from occurring. Meanwhile, the developers can buy up the prime property that could have been used as recreation for the benefit of the nearby residents and the greater community. Meanwhile, we go on losing green space, tree canopy and such urban salvations such as birdsong. I would like to see the fee-in-lieu provision have real teeth in it. I feel the fee-in-lieu payout should be just high enough that it is a disincentive to developers. The fee-in-lieu is a “giveaway,” along with other portions of this amendment. Other giveaways: allowing current zoning property-line buffers and setbacks to be included in the open space; including current greenway or any part of the land that is in the greenway master plan to be calculated as open space; also, developers become exempt from most of the open space requirements by following already mandated stormwater requirements.

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN Giving away something for nothing is a raw deal for city residents, tourism, local wildlife and Asheville’s economy. I hope that the City Council will send this amendment back for revisions to remove the “giveaways,” along with revisions to the fee-in-lieu amount to make it harder for developers to throw money as a solution to loss of a livable Asheville. Real and practical guidelines need to be developed for immediate purchase of new urban parklands. Tell City Council your thoughts on this amendment by emailing all members at AshevilleNCCouncil@ashevillenc.gov! — Victoria Williamson Asheville

Good Samaritans make impression On Thursday, May 5, I took a fall in the parking lot of the White Duck Taco Shop restaurant on Riverside Drive. Several diners rushed over to help me. They brought wipes and tissues, and stayed there with me until I was able to get up. One person even Googled the location of the closest urgent-care clinic. Two people supported me walking to my car and made sure I was safe before they left. My partner and two friends (all of us 70-plus women) were with me, so others didn’t have to help at all, but they did and were wonderful.

You read about people having heart attacks on the street and no one stops to help, but that sure wasn’t the case with me. I wish I had their names, but I hope they will see this letter and know how much their efforts were appreciated. — Pat Scherer Weaverville

Fix needed to stop trash burning in Buncombe In response to “Q&A: Ashley Featherstone of Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency” [April 20, Xpress]: I live in Buncombe County and for decades, my neighbors have burned trash. The fumes come inside my house and blanket my property. I instantly get a headache breathing it. It burns the throat and eyes. I have videoed the black smoke. And have called the Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency many times. And AQA will not send anyone there without a police escort. What I’m complaining about is the ineffectiveness of trying to put an end to this burning. I have to catch them burning during business hours. Often, they burn at night or on the weekends, knowing AQA is closed. If they slack and burn on a weekday, it takes hours for AQA to get the police escort, and by then, the evidence is gone. The neighbors are burning in smaller batches

now, so there are shorter fires and less smoke. AQA has to get permission to search the property if they can’t see obvious smoke. (The smell remains, and they do smell it, but they must dig through the fire itself to confirm.) And I recently learned that if the perpetrators are caught, the next step is that papers are served and they must appear in court. Only then they might receive a fine. I know that the neighbors have a radio scanner. They will vacate the premises if they know any officers are coming. And they almost always seem to know. I’m not blaming AQA, let me be clear. But the system is set up for limited effectiveness. For 30 years, it’s gone on! One solution could be for AQA to acquire the means for a quick response and to have the authority, once the evidence is found, to fine them on the spot. This would be after a initial warning. I know if they were put out $200 for a first fine with increasing amounts after, that would likely end it. I think this would help reduce trash burning in our mountains still further. It is frustrating to no end that I had to raise my child in this situation and still today must live with these conditions. — Name withheld Buncombe County Editor’s note: Xpress contacted the Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office with a summary of the letter writ-

er’s points (and permission to disclose the writer’s address to the agencies) and received the following responses: James Raiford, permitting program manager, replied on behalf of the AQA: “The Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency responds to all complaints about open burning. Burning trash is illegal in Buncombe County. There are certain cases that the agency will ask for assistance from the Sheriff’s Office if it is believed that the violator could be a danger to our staff. Illegal burning after normal business hours should be reported by calling 911 so the fire department and/or our agency can respond. “If illegal burning is found during a complaint investigation, a notice of violation will be issued, and this may include a civil penalty of up to $750 for an individual for a first offense. The civil penalty is issued via certified mail, and if the violator does not sign for this document, our agency will seek assistance from the county Sheriff’s Office for delivery. If the penalty is not paid, our agency will begin a legal process of securing the penalty. “We have responded to complaints at the address associated with this letter. The most recent investigation occurred in December of 2021, and no evidence of the burning of illegal materials was

CONTINUES ON PAGE 6

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

OPINION

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

found. We will continue to investigate complaints at this location.” Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Aaron Sarver provided a list of records showing the department had responded to multiple requests for service at the writer’s address: “Speaking solely for the Sheriff’s Office, the residents at [the writer’s address] are not happy with the outcome, despite numerous visits by the Sheriff’s Office to both addresses. … I frequently deal with this scenario, where community members are advised of their rights and what action can be taken by the BCSO or Buncombe County, and when their desired outcome is not met, they threaten to or go to the media, thinking this will cause us to change course or handle the situation in a more expedited manner. The Sheriff’s Office has devoted significant time and resources to this matter, and we stand by our response.”

Use occupancy taxes to address climate crisis I support Commissioners Brownie Newman and Jasmine Beach-Ferrara’s calls for the occupancy tax to be used for community needs vs. more tourism marketing [“Commissioners Approve $4.9M for Pre-K Expansion, Affordable Housing,” May 11, Xpress]. We have enough tourism here! We don’t need any more marketing to bring more tourists here. It has served its purpose, and now we should use that revenue more wisely. And what greater need than to address the climate crisis that has undoubtedly affected our beautiful city with more rain and flooding every year. We have so little time as the 2030 (50% reduction in greenhouse gases) and 2050 (100% reduction) deadlines become closer [ipcc.ch], and I don’t see us talking about or doing enough to get us there. Since tourism and mass migrations to Asheville affect our infrastructure, we should focus on

X Awards 2022

ks ThaVn oting

innovative ways to prepare and protect us from flooding with better roads and transportation (more bus routes and electrify everything). And then there is the clean-energy transition and the affordable housing crisis (social justice component) that could be addressed as one if we were to funnel the revenue into sustainable, energy-efficient buildings that don’t require an energy bill. Imagine that! Then our citizens could spend money on the things they need the most — like food, health and fun times! Go Asheville! — Steffi Rausch Energy Savers Network operations coordinator Leicester

On the road to fight cancer North Carolina cancer patients, survivors and caregivers are leading the charge for cancer-fighting policies in the state as volunteers with the ACS CAN (American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network). I am proud to lead such an amazing group of advocates and have a visible way to raise awareness for cancer by bringing hope to North Carolinians impacted by cancer. As an Asheville resident, I look forward to launching a 328-mile bike ride from Asheville to Raleigh to represent communities from the mountains to the sea — because we’ve all been touched by cancer in some way. I will conclude with a local rendition of our annual Lights of Hope ceremony at the N.C. State Capitol, sending a visible reminder to our state officials that everyone deserves a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat and survive cancer. In preparation for this journey, I have been fortunate enough to train on the beautiful roads and trails that Asheville has to offer. I regularly ride the Blue Ridge Parkway and see spanning views of our city nestled in the mountains. When I make my way onto the trails, I frequent Bent Creek, Brevard and Old Fort. Biking has allowed me to connect with the local community, and I have volunteered with G5 Collective in Old Fort, where they are working to make biking and trails more accessible to everyone. I’m proud to bring my passion for cycling and reducing the cancer burden through policy change together this year. If someone close to you has been impacted by cancer, I would love the opportunity to carry a Lights of Hope bag during the 328-mile ride to Raleigh

For

Results publish in August 6

MAY 18-24, 2022

in their honor. Please contact me: marc. mazza@cancer.org. The bags may also be ordered at [avl.mx/bl0]. — Marc Mazza Asheville

Take a closer look at ‘freedom’ claim Cataldo Perrone, spokesperson for Pratt & Whitney, was quoted in the Mountain Xpress as saying, “The military aircraft we power are engaged in defensive operations designed to help defend freedom around the world” [“Snapshot,” May 4]. I think we need to take a closer look at that claim. Right now, two existential threats face humanity: climate chaos and nuclear weapons. And how have military aircraft addressed these threats? For one, they make climate chaos worse — much worse — since every flight has a massive carbon footprint. Dropping bombs from this aircraft furthers environmental destruction and carbon emissions, as does the cleanup and rebuilding. On the issue of nuclear weapons, climate and environmental destruction would happen even quicker if those weapons are ever used. F-35s carry those weapons. We should keep in mind that it took four U.S. presidents, 20 years, more than $2 trillion dollars, at least tens of thousands of people killed, hundreds of thousands of refugees and millions of lives damaged, using tens of thousands of bombs, for the USA to replace the Taliban with the Taliban in Afghanistan. How was that defending freedom? Did it increase freedom at home? We have (or our allies have) also bombed Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq and probably a few more places in the last 20 years. How has that defended freedom? Are any of those places more free? Are we more free? I think the only freedom we brought to these countries and the USA was the freedom of the grave. — Susan Oehler Asheville

Our border crisis affects us locally The word “us in N.C.” means all individuals in North Carolina. Please

Editor’s note Due to changing health recommendations related to COVID-19, readers are encouraged to check with individual businesses for the latest updates concerning upcoming events.

MOUNTAINX.COM

realize all the individuals who populate North Carolina. According to Farmworker Advocacy Network (ncfan.org), North Carolina ranks sixth in the nation in migrant farm workers. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reports health facts migrants here in North Carolina face such as: 5-in-10 face food insecurity, only half of pregnant migrant workers received health care in the first trimester; 53% of children were not getting medical needs met; and nationally, migrant farm workers are at six times higher risk for infectious diseases. Fewer than 20% of 150,000 migrant farmers in North Carolina get health care. North Carolina is locally sustained by migrant workers, from agriculture to the many other jobs they contribute, yet their lives here and those arriving to enter through our borders crisis still face continued personal crisis hardships on our soil. According to stacker.com, Mexico is the No. 1 country of origin for foreign-born residents in the Asheville metro area. The first biggest hurdle our government under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris continuously fail is by lack of COVID safety with immigration border entry professed by these very political leaders to have been the reason for Title 42 curbing the spread of COVID. The hypocrisy of our government COVID safety protocols lies in the facts that, not only do these political leaders fail to adhere to even mask protocols they tell the public to adhere to, the immigrants who gained entry were “only tested if symptomatic” and nothing whatsoever stated that if symptomatic, these immigrants were then vaccinated. We are dealing with the highest ever historical migrant surges upon our nation’s borders that our government now decided to rescind Title 42, which will probably bring heavier influxes of immigration to our borders, as proven when our government announced open borders, then later announced them closed. Our president doesn’t have personal firsthand knowledge of our border crisis because he has failed to even go! Our government has already been reported losing one-third of the immigrant children, so clearly not able to keep track of the previous vulnerable immigrant children, yet we are to believe capable to keep track of more volumes in rescinding Title 42? Currently, K2 Radio reported Title 42 rescinding is now facing opposition from 10 moderate Democrats, and currently 21 states have filed lawsuits. — Kristen Burns-Warren Canton

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

NEWS

Land-full

Waste reduction and smart design help extend landfill life

DO NOT CROSS: Lyman Street in the River Arts District is one of the many places in Asheville where construction is booming. Photo by Jessica Wakeman

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN jwakeman@mountainx.com Landfills tend to fall in the “out of sight, out of mind” category — unless you’re living next to one. But Buncombe County’s recent move to prepare additional landfill space for both construction and municipal debris is a reminder that such facilities have a finite life and are expensive and politically challenging to replace. Realistically speaking, they can never truly be out of mind. The county’s 604-acre landfill at 85 Panther Branch Road in Alexander is divided into five areas serving different functions. Among them are one for municipal solid waste (residential and commercial trash) and one for construction and demolition waste. The municipal area consists of 10 cells, and cell 6 is almost full, says Solid Waste Manager Kristy Smith. The construction area comprises eight units, called phases, and phase 6 is nearly filled. 8

MAY 18-24, 2022

MOUNTAINX.COM

Accordingly, on Feb. 15, the county commissioners approved a $12.3 million contract with Sargent, an infrastructure company based in Stillwater, Maine, to prepare the 13.5-acre cell 7 and the 5.5-acre phase 7 for use. In both areas, the individual units vary in shape and size, notes Smith. Construction — which includes clearing the topsoil and vegetation, excavating rock and installing several liners to prevent groundwater contamination — began in midMarch. Sargent will also oversee the installation of collection pipes and a pump system to remove leachate, the contaminated water that percolates through the solid waste. The county expects to begin using both units later this year, Recycling Coordinator Cassandra Lohmeyer reports.

KEEPING UP WITH GROWTH Construction-related permits offer a window into a community’s growth and development. Between 2018 and 2021, the total number of permits issued for new construction, remodeling and repairs on both residential and commercial buildings increased 13.8%, from 7,693 to 8,708, says Bob Haynes, the county’s director of permits and inspections. Building permits, which are required for new construction costing more than $15,000, rose from 3,176 to 3,776 during that period, he says. But increased activity inevitably creates more waste. In 2018, more than 90% of construction debris nationwide stemmed from demolition, according to an Environmental

“It’s just too fast and convenient to throw it all away.” — Buncombe County solid waste manager Kristy Smith

SNAPSHOT Protection Agency fact sheet, with the rest resulting from new builds. Buncombe County’s landfill was opened in September 1997 with a life expectancy of 35 years. To track the accuracy of that figure over time, the county assesses its anticipated construction waste and remaining landfill space annually, says Smith. And so far, notes Lohmeyer, those projections have held up well. “We initially accounted for a larger rate of population growth and the subsequent increased [construction waste] that accompanies this.” Once phase 7 is opened, the county expects it to last 5 1/2 years, says Smith. And overall, the construction area definitely has some life left in it. “Phases 7 and 8 should give us another 20 years or so, we hope,” she tells Xpress. That’s because phase 8 is both “a horizontal and vertical expansion that will tie multiple phases together and use vertical capacity,” Lohmeyer explains. And whenever the construction area does fill up, that waste flow will just be diverted to the municipal area. “The master plan that we have in place now is going to carry us forward a long way into the future.” Smith predicts. The municipal area, notes Lohmeyer, is also projected to last another 20-22 years. MINIMIZING IMPACT Nonetheless, amid the area’s continued growth, Smith stresses the importance of reducing construction waste. “More people are moving here, and we have more waste coming,” she points out. “In my experience … when building is booming, disposal seems to accelerate, and recycling doesn’t match that. It’s just too fast and convenient to throw it all away.” To counteract that, the county has implemented several diversion strategies, says Lohmeyer. Concrete and wood are recycled on-site; the county contracts with Curbside Management to sort and find end markets for recycled aluminum, steel, tin, mixed paper and other materials. Certain types of metal are accepted at both the landfill and the transfer station at 190 Hominy Creek Road in West Asheville. “When people are

ASHEVILLE-AREA

renovating their homes, if they’re extracting aluminum siding or ripping out fixtures, we can accept that,” notes Lohmeyer. Commercial haulers pay $43.75 per ton to dispose of loads containing less than 5% recyclable materials. Beyond that threshold, those materials must be recycled, and there are hefty penalties for failure to do so. Both businesses and residents can dispose of recyclables at the landfill or transfer station for free. Uncontaminated cardboard can also be disposed of for free; contaminated cardboard is subject to a full price fee. In addition, the county cuts its disposal fee by 50% for uncontaminated brick and concrete, which are taken to a separate area of the landfill to be ground and reused. That, says Lohmeyer, is “a huge money saver for builders.” But it also means “an enormous volume and weight” of construction material are diverted from the landfill, thereby extending its useful life. The facility includes a special area for depositing wood debris: untreated lumber, branches and stumps — but not furniture, which is usually made of treated wood. “We can turn wood and yard waste into mulch, and we turn around and sell that mulch to the public,” Lohmeyer explains. Local businesses such as Asheville Mulch Yard and Biltmore Iron & Metal Co. give area residents additional options for recycling certain materials.

STATE OF THE UNION: Supporters of a vote for Starbucks employees to unionize rallied outside the coffee shop on 62 Charlotte Street on May 10. The following day, workers rejected unionization with Workers United in an 11-6 vote. Photo by Jessica Wakeman

BUILD SMART But while the county’s recycling programs can help, it’s ultimately up to builders and their contractors to reduce the total volume of construction waste. One way to do that is by using prefabricated walls that are sized to produce the least amount of waste. Compact Cottages, an Ashevillebased builder of modest-sized homes, began fabricating wall sections offsite about a year ago, says founder Barry Bialik. The move reflected both the small parcels the company

CONTINUES ON PAGE 11

EATS & CSOMING DRINKS OON GUIDE

2022 Edition

Contact advertise@mountainx.com MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

MOUNTAINX.COM

NEWS typically builds on and a desire to “offset the surge-in-construction crisis,” he explains. Ideally, construction workers would choose the correct size lumber for the task at hand and cut it so as to generate minimal waste. But “It doesn’t always work that way,” says Bialik. “Generally a construction worker is going to reach for the most convenient piece, and a lot of times that means they’re cutting bigger pieces for smaller things.” As a result, he continues, “You fill up a lot of dumpsters when you’re doing house construction, and it’s a waste, because it’s good, expensive lumber.” Bialik says he regularly sees construction sites “throwing away 10%-20% of the lumber” purchased. To reduce this figure, Compact Cottages now builds all its wall sections at a factory in Asheville with machinery that creates “right-size fits” based on the dimensions of the lumber being used. The company’s Instagram page includes a photo of two boxes filled with wood debris. “Those little bins were all of the waste we had from framing 12 houses,” he says proudly. This approach gives builders two ways to save: by buying less lumber

WASTE NOT: To reduce construction waste, builder Compact Cottages prefabricates its wall sections at an Asheville factory with machinery that creates right-size fits. Photo courtesy of Barry Bialik to begin with and paying less to have waste hauled away. STRUCTURAL SOLUTIONS Another local business, Deltec Homes, employs a similar strategy, prefabricating wall panels at its factory in the Emma neighborhood. “Repeatable processes,” says com-

pany President Steve Linton, have enabled Deltec to divert more than 80% of its construction waste from the landfill. In 2016, Deltec achieved B Corp certification, which requires meeting specified environmental and social standards. “We have a definite advantage in that we’re making everything that is part of the structure of the home off-site,” he explains. “When we find

a source to recycle a particular material, we can do it over and over again and have a clear process for it, rather than trying to do that on a job site time and time again.” Deltec donates excess plywood, insulation and siding to the Asheville affiliate of Habitat for Humanity for sale in its ReStores. Smaller pieces of scrap plywood are given to wildlife organizations, which use the material to make nest boxes for barn owls and houses for the endangered Carolina northern flying squirrel. But to substantially reduce construction waste, stresses Linton, all builders will have to make a deeper commitment to sustainability, retooling every aspect of the construction process to make recycling as easy as possible. “It takes training the subcontractors and having bins at each location so people know where to put things,” he explains. Specialized dumpsters, notes Linton, would enable builders to easily sort recyclables on-site, creating “a one-stop solution.” He sees this as a potential business opportunity. “Maybe there’s an entrepreneur who could figure that out, because I think it would be great.” X

Hello Spring!

— We specialize in all makes and models! — 23 Sardis Rd, Asheville, NC 28806 (828) 670-9191 precisionInternational.com MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

N EWS

BUNCOMBE BEAT

Buncombe’s unsheltered homeless population doubles in a year Local government leaders, business owners and nonprofit heads alike have raised concerns about a perceived increase in homelessness over the past year. The results of the latest point-in-time count, presented to Asheville City Council May 10, have finally provided some data to inform that conversation. As explained by Emily Ball, the city’s homeless services lead, the comprehensive annual count is meant to record every Buncombe County resident sleeping on the streets, at a shelter or in transitional housing on a single night. Data comes from shelter facilities, homelessness service agencies, school systems and street teams directly engaging with unsheltered people across the county. Because the count is always conducted during the last 10 days of January, its results offer the most consistent benchmark available for community homelessness. In 2022, that figure was 637 individuals, representing a nearly 21% increase over the 527 recorded in 2021. The number of unsheltered residents, whose homelessness is the most visible to the community, was 232 — double the 2021 count of 116. (Ball suggested the true number was even higher, noting the difficulty of counting everyone who sleeps outside.) Over the same period, Buncombe’s shelter capacity decreased by 74 beds, from 634 to 560. But 155 of those beds weren’t being used on the night of the count, including 55 traditional shelter spaces, 69 transitional housing slots and 31 spaces in Code Purple emergency winter shelters.

In other news POINTS OF DEPARTURE: A survey conducted alongside the annual pointin-time count of Buncombe County’s homeless residents found that nearly 58% had become homeless in Asheville, with about 24% coming from outside North Carolina. Graphic courtesy of the city of Asheville A new survey of unsheltered residents conducted alongside the PIT count offered some insights into why those beds were going unoccupied. The top reason for avoiding shelters cited by respondents was “restrictive rules,” followed by anxiety about overcrowding and worries about shelter safety. As previously reported by Xpress (see “Come as you are,” June 16, 2021, avl.mx/bkt), the Asheville-based nonprofit ANCHOR has proposed that a low-barrier shelter would address some of those concerns. However, a city-led effort to establish such a shelter at an East Asheville Ramada

open

fo r bu sine s s ISSUE

MAY 18-24, 2022

such a conclusion, especially given the lack of comparable federal data. “I do think the pandemic has just really changed everything, and we do know, certainly, homeless folks are mobile, are moving to where they can get their needs met and moving for other reasons,” Ball continued. “I would posit that we might have 24% of the general population of Buncombe County who is here from another state.” During the same meeting at which the PIT and survey results were presented, Council accepted a grant of nearly $73,000 from the Dogwood Health Trust to fund a consulting contract with the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Ball said the Washington, D.C.-based organization would help the city more deeply analyze the data “to better understand implications and opportunities.” The full report to Council on homelessness issues is available at avl.mx/bkx.

MOUNTAINX.COM

Inn fell apart last year over neighborhood opposition and a lack of support from potential funding partners. Another question on the survey asked where unsheltered people last had housing. Of 166 respondents, nearly 58% said they had become homeless in Asheville; about 18% said they’d come from elsewhere in the state, while roughly 24% said they’d come from outside North Carolina. Council member Antanette Mosley asked Ball if that out-of-state number was unusually high. Because the city had only started collecting that information this year, Ball responded, it was premature to make

Opened a new location? Changed hours? Changed menus or services? Need more staff? Let the Asheville Area Know! In the Mountain Xpress annual celebration of the Asheville area’s business community Contact us to advertise! Publishes 6/22 • 828-251-1333 x1 advertise@mountainx.com

The meeting’s only contested votes came as Council considered a grant to the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville to subsidize 82 affordable units at the Deaverview Apartments in West Asheville. Although city staff had recommended a $1.2 million grant, Vice Mayor Sheneika Smith moved to increase that amount to $1.465 million. The larger grant was approved 5-2, with Sage Turner and Gwen Wisler opposed. HACA had also requested $1.2 million from Buncombe County but received just over $935,000; Turner noted that the county plans to further subsidize the project by deferring certain development fees. But HACA Executive Director David Nash said having more guaranteed cash on hand from grants would help his organization compete for federal low-income housing tax credits. “I am very supportive of the project. I am just incredibly frustrated that the city continues to be asked [to make] up for our community partners out there that are not willing to share with us,” Wisler said. “We’re always the first person that everyone comes to, because apparently people think we just are flush with money, when in fact that’s not the case.” Funding for the HACA grant came from a $7.4 million pool of affordable housing bond proceeds left from the $25 million in borrowing approved by Asheville voters in 2016.

— Daniel Walton X

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

MOUNTAINX.COM

NEWS

BUNCOMBE BEAT

Local schools seek major support from Buncombe leaders Buncombe County government spending is set to expand at a healthy pace in the 2022-23 fiscal year — about 9.5% from the adopted 2021-22 general fund budget of $360.4 million to a projected budget of nearly $394.7 million. If the Asheville and Buncombe school systems have their way, however, the county’s support for education will grow even more quickly. Requests outlined by Buncombe County Schools Superintendent Tony Baldwin and Asheville City Schools Superintendent Gene Freeman at a May 10 Board of Commissioners work session sought county government spending increases of up to $27.9 million, representing a nearly 32% jump from the county’s current $87.3 million contribution. ACS also asked county leaders to approve a 13% increase in the supplemental tax assessed on property within the school district, from 10.62 cents per $100 of property value to 12 cents. Baldwin’s presentation focused on the need for salary increases to attract and retain school employees. Based on a recently completed compensation study, he said, the Buncombe system hopes to raise average wages for teachers and other certified staff by 2.5%, while bumping pay for noncertified staff such as custodians by 2.5% or to at least $15 per hour, whichever is higher. As an example of the system’s hiring challenges, Baldwin noted that he had advertised for 105 custodial positions since the start of the school year. On average, he said, fewer than two people had applied for each vacancy. “It’d be hard to run a business like that, wouldn’t it, Commissioner [Robert] Pressley?”

HELP WANTED: Asheville City Schools leaders asked the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners for increases both in direct county support and the district’s supplemental property tax rate. Photo by Virginia Daffron Baldwin asked. (Pressley owns Celebrity’s Hot Dogs in Bent Creek.) Meanwhile, Asheville school leaders couched their request as a matter of preserving existing services. Having allocated $3.5 million of the system’s $5.66 million in financial reserves to balance the current year’s budget, said Asheville City Board of Education Chair James Carter, the schools wouldn’t be able to cover the same expenses in fiscal year 2022-23 without additional help from the county. The ACS budget does not include any salary increases beyond those mandated by the N.C. General Assembly. That move drew criticism from the Asheville City Association of Educators, a professional group representing the system’s teachers, which has called for a living wage of at least $17.70 per hour for all employees.

Several commissioners expressed frustration at the Asheville schools’ proposal. In preparation for the May 10 meeting, the county board had asked the system to prepare a plan for reducing costs over the next three years. As presented, that plan consisted of just one slide containing general items such as “Reduce staff = $1 million” and “consolidation of facilities.” “We’ve gone with this basic version because, frankly, as we get into the new board, we want to make sure that they have the opportunity to add to this list as well,” Carter answered, when pressed for more details by county board Chair Brownie Newman. The five-member school board, currently appointed by Asheville City Council, will expand this year to seven seats, four of which will be filled by newly elected members in November. (Two

current members whose terms end in November, Shaunda Sandford and Martha Geitner, are not running for election). “We can’t wait on the new school board; we’ve got to do things now. That’s why you were put in place,” said Commissioner Al Whitesides. “You have a fiduciary responsibility to do your job! Don’t lay down on us now, when we need you the most.” After the ACS representatives left the meeting, Commissioner Amanda Edwards suggested that the system was reluctant to release more detailed plans due to concerns over community pushback. Previous decisions justified by the school board as cost-cutting measures, such as the closure of Asheville Primary School, have been blasted by parents and educators at school board meetings and on social media. “Maybe as they present those [options], we can work with them to help ease the fears,” Edwards said. “Anytime one solution or idea is brought forward, the emails start coming. I think it creates a fear within the [ACS administration] and the school board to really put some of those decisions out.” “I totally agree with that. At the same time, decisions have to be made,” responded Newman. County Manager Avril Pinder will present her recommendations for Buncombe’s budget, including contributions to the school systems, Thursday, May 19. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, and the document’s final adoption for the board is tentatively slated for Tuesday, June 21.

MOUNTAINX.COM

— Daniel Walton X

MAY 18-24, 2022

COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAY 18 - 26, 2022

Magician Michael Lair Family-friendly magic shoe to raise money for The Vanishing Wheelchair, which teaches people with disabilities skills in the arts. SA (5/21), 7:30pm, Magic Central, 175 Weaverville Hwy, Ste H

For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, opt. 1.

Online Events = Shaded HEALTH & WELLNESS Men’s Cancer Support Group RSVP to Will (412)9130272 or acwein123@ gmail.com. WE (5/18), 6pm, Free, Woodfin YMCA, 40 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 101 Sparkle Time Holistic Senior Exercise Aerobic, strengthening, balance and flexibility. Proof of vaccines required. WE (5/18, 25), MO (5/23), 10:30am, Avery’s Creek Community Center, 899 Glennbridge Rd SE, Arden Introduction to Tai Chi Pre-registration required ashevillecommunityyoga.com. TH (5/19, 26), 10:30am, Asheville Community Yoga Center, 8 Brookdale Rd Waves On The Edge, LGBTQ Sweat Your Prayers Safe space for Queer people to move. No dance experience required. Sliding scale. SA (5/21), 9:30am, Haw Creek Commons, 315 Old Haw Creek Rd Yoga in the Park Join together alongside the French Broad River for this all-level friendly yoga class based on Hatha and Vinyasa traditions. SA (5/21), SU (5/22), 1:30pm, $10, 220 Amboy Rd

ART From Sunrise to Sunset, An Eclectic Mix of Landscape Photography by Franklin Oldham Landscape photographs from a US Army veteran who seeks refuge in the solitude of nature. Open daily 10am, Sundays 12pm. Pink Dog Creative, 342-348 Depot St Throwing Big A demonstration by Sarah Wells Rolland, in conjunction with the Kazegama Women exhibit. SA (5/21), 11am, The Village Potters, 191 Lyman St, Ste 180 Unconventional Perceptions Contemporary photographic essays that play with the possibilities of the everyday imagery that surrounds our daily

Access the Groove: A Benefit Concert for Access ETSU Benefit concert, art fair, and inclusive community gathering celebrating disability and neurodiversity. SU (5/22), 1pm, $15, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

lives. Closed Sundays. Contemporaneo Asheville Gallery-Shop, 4 Biltmore Ave No Man's Land/Tierra de Nadie A multimedia exhibit by Cuban born artist and photographer Ernesto Javier Fernández. TH (5/12), Contemporaneo Asheville Gallery-Shop, 4 Biltmore Ave

Pisgah Legal Services Presents: An Evening For Kids Deserve Justice With performances by The Last Full Measure and Rooster, proceeds will go to the Kids Deserve Justice Giving Challenge, which supports children in our communities. Outdoors, all ages. WE (5/25), 4:30pm, Salvage Station, 468 Riverside Dr

The Senses of Italy Three Asheville artists strive to recreate a recent trip to Italy through their various art forms. Closed Sundays. Philip DeAngelo Studio, 115 Roberts St Aurora Studio & Gallery 10th Anniversary Celebration With door prizes, pizza, birthday cake and music. Soul Collage with Arthur Blue, personalized calligraphy signs by Kyley Shurrona, small acrylic pours with Abbie Yandle, and auction items. SA (5/21), 2pm, American Vinyl Co, 217 Coxe Ave, Ste C

COMMUNITY MUSIC Rhythm & Brews Concert Series With New Orleans funk from Flow Tribe and 80s covers from LazrLuvr. Outdoors with craft beverages, food trucks and kids’ activities. TH (5/19), 5:30pm, Free, Main Street, Downtown Hendersonville Live Jazz Hour Host and composer Michael Jefry Stevens will be joined by musician friends in the community room. TH (5/19), 6pm, Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Rd, Candler Fletcher Community Chorus Presents Celebrate Music To include selections from a variety of genres. All ages, sing along. Donations appreciated. TH (5/19), 7pm, Fletcher United Methodist Church, 50 Library Rd, Fletcher Dance Night in Fines Creek Dance to live music by the creek with Running Wolfe and the Renegades. Hot dogs, dessert and drinks available.

MAY 18-24, 2022

THEY’RE CREEPY AND THEY’RE KOOKY: The Parkway Playhouse Junior company will present The Addams Family: Young@Part Friday-Saturday, May 20-21, at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 22, at 3 p.m. The musical is directed by Jenny Martin with music direction by Courtney Malone and choreography by Collin Eten. The Parkway Playhouse is located at 202 Green Mountain Dr. in Burnsville. Photo courtesy of The Parkway Playhouse SA (5/21), 6pm, $5, Fines Creek Community Center, 190 Fines Creek Rd, Clyde Music in the Air Spring concert from Womansong, Asheville’s longest-running women’s community chorus. FR (5/20), 7:30pm, SA (5/21), 3pm, $10-20, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Pl New Beginnings: Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra John Concklin conducts the final program of the year, celebrating joy, wisdom, and hope. SA (5/21), 7:30pm, $12-45, Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall, 49 E Campus Dr, Flat Rock Music from the Dream of Nature Traditional healer Scott Sheerin will be playing bass flute, alto flute and organic, mystical keyboards. SU (5/22), 2pm, $25-30, The Light Center in Black Mountain, 2196 Hwy 9 South, Black Mountain Brevard Philharmonic presents With Voices Raised Celebrate the end of the Brevard Philharmonic's season, featuring pianist Norman Krieger and the Carolina Concert Choir.

MOUNTAINX.COM

SU (5/22), 3pm, $10-37, Porter Center for Performing Arts at Brevard College, Brevard

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD Kristin Dwyer presents Some Mistakes Were Made, in conversation w/Adrienne Young The authors discuss Dwyer's new YA novel. Registration required for online or in-person. WE (5/18), 6pm, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood St Book Discussion and Author Reading: The Last Entry with Jim Hamilton A novel tied to the woodlands of WNC's rural mountains, nominee for the 2020 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. TH (5/19), 10am, Free, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain Ashleigh Bell Pedersen presents The Crocodile Bride in conversation w/Leah Hampton The writers discuss Pederson's debut novel. Sponsored by Malaprop's. Registration required. TH (5/19), 6pm, avl.mx/blg Foreplay! In the Mountains Monthly open mic adult storytelling event. 21+ TH (5/19), 7pm, Asheville Beauty Academy, 28 Broadway St

Malaprop's Notorious HBC (History Book Club) Participants will discuss God's Secret Agents: Queen Elizabeth's Forbidden Priests and the Hatching of the Gunpowder Plot by Alice Hogge. Registration required. TH (5/19), 7pm, avl.mx/9s9 Andrew Feiler presents A Better Life for Their Children Feiler discusses his book of stories and photos. Registration required for in-person or online. Sponsored by Malaprop's. SU (5/22), 7pm, Congregation Beth Israel, 229 Murdock Ave Barbara Quick presents What Disappears in Conversation with Gavin Larsen The authors discuss Quick's novel. Sponsored by Malaprop's. Registration required. TU (5/24), 6pm, avl.mx/bko Charles Dodd White and Mark Powell White will discuss his memoir A Year Without Months and while Powell will talk about his novel Lioness. Sponsored by Malaprop's. Registration required. WE (5/25), 6pm, avl.mx/bkp Storytelling with Four Wise Women of WNC An evening of storytelling with four local

tellers sharing both personal stories and classic tales. WE (5/25), 7pm, Free, Lake Louise Community Center, Weaverville

goods is derailed by a mystical force. Five dollar donation appreciated. FR (5/20), 6pm, Center for Craft, 67 Broadway

Todd May discusses How to Be Perfect May discusses the book by Michael Schur, for which he was philosophical advisor. Registration required for in-person or online. TH (5/26), 6pm, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood St

The Reflection: The Musical The story of Owen, who is in self-induced isolation and is confronted with the lesson of true love. SA (5/21), 7pm, $25, Tina McGuire Theatre, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

THEATER & FILM Birds of North America A look at the relationship of a father and daughter as they struggle to understand the parts of one another that defy understanding. Friday and Saturday, 7pm and Sunday, 2pm. $20, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain Montford Park Players As You Like It A local interpretation of the Shakespearean comedy. Donations welcome. Friday through Sunday, 7:30pm. Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay St Craft Cinema: Ugetsu Screening Set in the 16th century, the film centers on a rural potter in civil wartorn Japan who leaves home to sell ceramic

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING The Asheville Beatles Band at Sound Effects Benefit Concert AMS flagship student rock band Minør will open the show, along with Liminal Spaces led by Mar Perez-Albela. All proceeds from the event will benefit Asheville Music School’s operations, mission, and programs. TH (5/19), 6pm, $20, Salvage Station, 468 Riverside Dr Kiwanis 2nd Annual Sneaky Scavenger Race Proceeds from the event will benefit the club’s Shoes and Socks program for Henderson County youth. SA (5/21), 10am, Berkeley Mills Park, Balfour Rd, Hendersonville

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS Hominy Creek Comfort Makers Work on projects that provide comfort items to anyone struggling. Come prepared with supplies including sewing machine. Attendees are also welcome to work on a personal project. TH (5/19), 10:30am, Free, Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Rd, Candler TRAP (The Rhythmic Arts Project of Asheville) for Everyone TRAP educates individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as all children and teens, through rhythm and percussion. Registration is required, enka. library@buncombecounty.org or (828)250-4758. FR (5/20), 3pm, Free, Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Rd, Candler Saturday Seminar in The Learning Garden: Composting The program will cover composting with a multi-bin system. Registration required buncombemastergardener. org or (828)255-2255. SA (5/21), 10am, Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Center, 49 Mount Carmel Rd Neo Pre/Post Apocalyptic Blacksmithing: Intro to Blacksmithing Tod Kershaw, engineer turned off-grid dumpster diver, will walk attendees through the ins and outs of DIY Blacksmithing, foraging for metal in the scrap heaps and more. Part

of the Firefly Gathering, call (828)237-2551. SA (5/21), 11am, TBA to registrants Historic Walking Tour of Downtown Black Mountain Learn the history of Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley as museum staff lead attendees through historic downtown. SA (5/21), 1pm, Free$10, Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, 223 W State St, Black Mountain Buncombe County Register of Deeds: Treasure Chest of Local Records OBCGS docents will take attendees on a tour of the Buncombe County Register of Deeds website to discover hidden treasures such as deeds, basic vital record data, slave deeds, cohabitation records and Cemetery Finder as genealogical sources. Registration required. SA (5/21), 2pm, avl.mx/bld History Café: Early Drovers’ Roads and Stagecoach Roads in Western North Carolina, with Peter Koch Using period images, maps, and stories, Peter Koch will shed

light on the methods and routes WNC used to take agricultural products to market to southern states and beyond. MO (5/23), 6pm, Free$5, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain The Learning Garden: Drop in and learn Master Gardeners will be in the gardens offering demonstrations and answering questions. Topics this month include: Black Spot on Roses; Basics of Composting Tips; Square Foot Vegetable Garden. WE (5/25), 9am, Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Center, 49 Mount Carmel Rd Get to Know Enka-Candler series presents Get to Know your Market Vendors Meet and greet the crafty, creative, and skilled folks in the Enka-Candler community. The kick off to the series will feature the vendors from the Tailgate Market. WE (5/25), 4pm, Free, Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Rd, Candler

LOCAL MARKETS Asheville City Market South Midweek market operated by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP). WE (5/18, 25), 12pm, Biltmore Town Square, 1 Town Square Blvd. Etowah Lions Club Farmers Market Fresh produce, meat, sweets, breads, arts, and more. WE (5/18, 25), 3pm, Etowah Lions Clubhouse, 447 Etowah School Rd, Etowah RAD Farmers Market Enjoy live music, local foods, drinks, and community every Wednesday. WE (5/18, 25), 3pm, Pleb Urban Winery, 289 Lyman St Weaverville Tailgate Market Local foodstuffs, alongside a small lineup of craft and artisan vendors. WE (5/18, 25), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr, Weaverville Les-ter Farmers Market Over 20 vendors offering fresh local produce, cheese, baked goods, meat, body care products, arts and crafts in a family-friend-

ly environment. WE (5/18, 25), 3:30pm, 338 New Leicester Highway, Leicester

cooking demos. SA (5/21), 8am, Historic Train Depot, 650 Maple St, Hendersonville

Enka-Candler Tailgate Market Fresh local produce and heritage crafts. Weekly. TH (5/19, 26), 3pm, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler

Henderson County Tailgate Market One of the oldest openair markets in WNC, with local growers who operate small family farms in Henderson County. SA (5/21), 8am, 100 N King St, Hendersonville

Flat Rock Tailgate Market A diverse group of local produce farmers, jam and jelly makers, bread bakers, wild crafters, and merrymakers. TH (5/19, 26), 3pm, Pinecrest ARP Church, 1790 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock East Asheville Tailgate Market Local goods, every Friday. FR (5/20), 3pm, 954 Tunnel Rd Black Mountain Garden Sale Hosted by Black Mountain Beautification Committee. Proceeds help support the Seed Money Award. FR (5/20), 4-8pm, SA (5/21) 9am-4pm, Black Mountain Town Square Hendersonville Farmers Market Thirty plus local vendors with live music, kids’ activities and

North Asheville Tailgate Market The oldest Saturday morning market in WNC. Over 60 rotating vendors. SA (5/21), 8am, 3300 University Heights Asheville City Market Over 50 vendors and local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and more. SA (5/21), 9am, 52 N Market St

jams, jellies, relishes, prepared foods and handcrafted items. SA (5/21), 9am, 175 East Main St, Brevard Madison Co Farmers & Artisans Market Local goods and produce, weekly through October. SA (5/21), 10am, Mars Hill University, 100 Athletic St, Mars Hill Inaugural Spring Market Ten locally-owned makers and artists offering one-of-a-kind gifts, leather goods, unique art, gourmet foods and more. With music by the Jukebox Jumpers. SA (5/21), 11am, Pack Square Parking Garage - Top Level, 26 Biltmore Ave

Haywood's Historic Farmers Market Located at HART Theatre. SA (5/21), 9am, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville

Makers Market Showcasing vendors and artisans selling housewares, vintage clothing, original art, handmade crafts, fair trade imports, and more. SA (5/21), 12pm, Atelier Maison & Co., 121 Sweeten Creek Rd

Transylvania Farmers Market Fifty vendors offering fresh, locally-grown produce, meat, poultry, eggs, honey, cheese, coffee, plants, herbs, cut flowers, baked goods,

Art in the Lot ... Again! An outdoor pop-up arts and crafts fair in conjunction with the 100th anniversary celebration. Local artists as well as a food truck and bake sale. Rain or shine.

SU (5/22), 10am, Agudas Israel Congregation, 505 Glasgow Ln, Hendersonville Gladheart Farm Fest Market Fresh produce, bread and pastries, food vendors, and live music, weekly. SU (5/22), 11am, Gladheart Farm, 9 Lora Ln Meadow Market Runs every Sunday from May-August and will feature a rotation of local bakers, makers and artisans. SU (5/22), 12pm, Highland Brewing Co 12 Old Charlotte Hwy Sundays on the Island Local market located on Marshall's island in the middle of the French Broad River. SU (5/22), 12pm, Blanahasset Island, Marshall West Asheville Tailgate Market Over 40 local vendors, every Tuesday. TU (5/24), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS A Garden of Quilts Show Presented by the Western North

MOUNTAINX.COM

Carolina Quilters’ Guild, entering its 40th year of promoting the art of quilting. . FR (5/20), 10am, $5, Bonclarken Conference Center, 500 Pine Dr, Flat Rock League of Women Voters Asheville Buncombe Suffrage Celebration Including an unveiling of a roadside marker sign honoring Helen Morris Lewis, president of the first women’s suffrage association in NC, and Mayor Thomas Patton. SA (5/21), 1pm, Patton Parker House, 95 Charlotte St Mardi Gras in May Pool Party Poolside DJ and drinks. Costumes encouraged. An event by Tito’s Vodka, Aloft Hotel and Asheville Mardi Gras. SA (5/21), 1-5pm, $10, Aloft Asheville Downtown, 51 Biltmore Ave ASAP: 20 Years Celebrating ASAP's 20th anniversary, along with founder Charlie Jackson's retirement, this spring. All are welcome. WE (5/25), 4pm, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, 57 Sugar Hollow Rd, Fairview

MAY 18-24, 2022

WELLNESS HEALTH ROUNDUP

Hominy Valley Health Center opens in Candler Health Focused Mercury Safe Dentistry

New Patient Special

222

Includes cleaning, x-rays & exam

Call 828-365-0194

Emergency Visits • Tele-Dentistry Calls • Fri. & Sat. Openings • Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique Certified • Biological Dentistry & Products

• Ozone Therapy • Digital X-rays = Less Radiation • Bio-Compatibility Test Kits

Dr. Anders and Dr. Armistead’s Dental Office 3094 US 70 Hwy, Black Mountain, NC 28711

WELCOME ABOARD: Mark Starr, left, has joined AdventHealth Hendersonville as director of food and nutrition services, and certified family nurse practitioner Vanessa Mugica has joined Pardee Breast Surgery at Pardee UNC Health Care. Photos courtesy of AdventHealth and Pardee Western North Carolina Community Health Services, a federally qualified community health center located in Asheville, opened a new branch in Candler on Wednesday, May 4. The Hominy Valley Health Center is located on the same site as the Hominy Valley Crisis Center, 1914 Smokey Park Hwy. The crisis center is operated by Asheville Buncombe Christian Community Ministry, a faithbased nonprofit addressing poverty. Hominy Valley Health Center is supported by Dogwood Health Trust, a nonprofit established when Mission Health was sold to Nashville-based HCA Healthcare for $1.5 billion in 2019. In a press release, WNCCHS Executive Director Kim Wagenaar says Dogwood Health Trust’s support will allow Hominy Valley Health Center to serve 500 additional patients. The Hominy Valley clinic is open 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday. It serves patients ages 2 and older. Services include primary care, behavioral health, substance abuse, immunizations, minor ambulatory procedures and others. The physician assistant serving the Hominy Valley clinic is Abbi Fregoso, per WNCCHS’ website. For

MAY 18-24, 2022

MOUNTAINX.COM

more information, visit https://www. wncchs.org.

Donate blood for free Tourists tickets The Blood Connection, the nonprofit providing blood to WNC’s hospitals, and the Asheville Tourists baseball team are hosting two blood drives this summer. The Blood Connection recently announced an urgent need for O negative blood, aka the universal donor. The first blood drive is Thursday, May 19, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. All blood donors will receive a raglan T-shirt, a clear bag, two tickets to a future Tourists game and a hot dog lunch and drink. The second blood drive will be held Thursday, Aug. 4, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. All blood donors will receive a dugout mug, two free tickets to a future Tourists game and a hot dog lunch and drink. Walk-ins are welcome, but potential donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment at www.thebloodconnection.org/tourists. Learn more about standalone locations in WNC to donate blood and how to host a blood drive at www.thebloodconnection.org.

Free coffee for veterans The American Legion NC Post 70 Coffee Shop welcomes veterans and all active-duty military to enjoy free coffee at its coffee shop, 103 Reddick Road. Calling itself “a listening post” for veterans, the coffee shop aims to be a center for camaraderie and healing. Veterans Coffee Shop is open Monday-Friday, 8a.m.-3p.m. For more information, call 299-8463 or visit www.americanlegionnc70.org.

Massage spa opens Recline & Unwind Social Spa opened earlier this month at 20 S. Pack Square. The spa provides 15-minute sessions for experiences like a salt soak, hand and arm massage or head and foot massage. Recline & Unwind touts its “social wellness twist,” as all spa treatments are held in the same room and guests are encouraged to socialize. For more information, call 348-7650 or www.rusocialspa.com.

‘Firefly forest bathing’ walks available Asheville Wellness Retreats & Tours announced it will be hosting firefly forest bathing walks — guided walks in nature — Friday, May 27-Sunday, June 12. These guided walks, limited to 15 people per group, will take place on private farmland with a wooded area and meadow. Guests can anticipate seeing several firefly species native to the Blue Ridge Mountains depending on weather conditions. Public walks will be held Fridays and Saturdays from 8-10:30 p.m.; private tours are available upon request. Guests can register at www. ashevillewellnesstours.com. The cost is $75 per person. The location of the walk will be revealed to guests after registration; organizers say it is 45 minutes from downtown Asheville.

Plant-based cooking class for health care workers The lifestyle medicine advancement group in the Western North Carolina Medical Society is holding a plant-based cooking class for physicians and physician assistants. The class will be held at Asheville Mountain Kitchen, 332 E. Sondley

Drive, Sunday, June 5, 4-7p.m. Health care workers will learn to prepare a plant-based Moroccan meal and are encouraged to bring beverages of their choice. An RSVP is required for the event, and practitioners must pay $10 to hold their spot. Reserve at spot at http://avl.mx/bky.

Welcome wagon • Christopher Munton began as chief executive officer of Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva and Swain Community Hospital in Bryson City on Monday, May 16. Previously, Munton was chief operating officer at National Park Medical Center in Arkansas. • Mark Starr has joined AdventHealth Hendersonville as director of food and nutrition services. Starr has over 30 years of experience as an executive chef, most recently at the Morrison Healthcare Sector in Spartanburg, S.C. • Certified family nurse practitioner Vanessa Mugica has joined Pardee Breast Surgery at Pardee UNC Health Care. Mugica has over 10 years of experience as a certified perioperative nurse practitioner.

Mark your calendars • The Vaya Health GERO Team is holding a free event, “Anxiety: Calming the Anxious Mind,” Tuesday, May 24, 1-2 p.m. at EnkaCandler Public Library, 1404 Sand Hill Road. The event will cover anxiety disorders and how they present in older populations. Registration is required by calling 250-4747. • An internationally certified lactation consultant will teach a free “Art of Breastfeeding” class, Thursday, July 21, 6:30-8 p.m. at the Pardee UNC Healthcare Hospital orientation classroom, 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville. Register at http:// avl.mx/bku. • The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and Hunter Subaru are hosting the Apple Festival Races on Saturday, Sept. 3, as the first event of Hendersonville’s annual Apple Festival. The race starts and finishes on the Pardee UNC Hospital campus at 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville. More information about fees for participation as an individual or team at http://avl.mx/bkw. • The Blue Ridge Pride Festival will be Saturday, Sept. 24, 11a.m.-7p.m. in Pack Square Park. Apply to be a vendor, exhibitor, sponsor or volunteer at http://avl.mx/bkv.

— Jessica Wakeman X

New Career as Licensed Therapist in 7 months

Starts May 25th

NCBMBT Approved School #1

Nationally Accredited (COMTA)

Grants, Scholarships, Payment Plans based on eligibilty

KeepingCall Asheville Weird Since 2010 or Apply Online

CenterForMassage.com/apply • 828-252-0058

VOTED WNC #1 KAVA BAR

We’re here to change your headspace & we’re very, very good at it OPEN DAILY • 828.505.8118 268 Biltmore Ave • Asheville, NC

WWW.ASHEVILLEKAVA.COM

Nature’s Vitamins & Herbs [FORMERLY NATURE’S PHARMACY]

26 YE ARS

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE on CBD Oil, Supplements

Products Available by Mail Out, Curbside Service, or In Store Top CBD Oil brands: Charlotte’s web • SunsOil • Plus CBD Palmetto Harmony

Setting the Standard for Excellence Owners:

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

We stock great vitamin brands including: Pure Encapsulations • Thorne Research Metagenics • Professional brands and more!

Bring this ad in for 10% off

Professional advice since 1996 MONDAY-FRIDAY 10-4

752 Biltmore Avenue • 828-251-0094 • naturesvitaminsandherbs.com MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

ARTS & CULTURE

Celebrity kin

Local musicians double down on their craft after working with famous artists

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com The Asheville area is home to many renowned musicians — including the likes of Gladys Knight, Angel Olsen, Moses Sumney, Tyler Ramsey, Avey Tare of the Animal Collective and the gentlemen of Steep Canyon Rangers. Alongside these stars, there are plenty of local performers with far less sway. Yet, through proximity, many of the area’s working musicians are developing lasting connections with household names, while avoiding the headaches and stress that sometimes accompanies fame. As festival season heats up and marquee tours swing through town, Xpress spoke with three such individuals about their experiences with big-name players and the impacts these encounters have had on their professional and personal lives. KISMET KINGS Zach Cooper and Vic Dimotsis are officially Grammy winners for their songwriting contributions to Jon Batiste’s 2022 Album of the Year winner, WE ARE. The pair have also worked on tracks for Leon Bridges’ two most recent albums, Good Thing (2018) and Gold-Diggers Sound (2021). But while earning those opportunities involved plenty of time and talent, Cooper is upfront that the path to this elevated visibility began with an incredible amount of good fortune. Back in 2017, the Asheville/Black Mountain-based team behind soul/ rock band King Garbage released its 2017 debut, Make It Sweat, featuring Dimotsis on vocals and drums, and Cooper on guitar. A chance

CONNECTED: Notable collaborations between Asheville-area musicians and well-known recording artists include, clockwise from left, John Medeski and Debrissa McKinney; Zach Cooper, Leon Bridges and Vic Dimotsis; and Seth Kauffman, seated in blue hat, and Jim James, standing, middle. McKinney photo by Austn Haynes; Cooper photo courtesy of King Garbage; Kauffman photo by Larry Hirshowitz placement on Spotify’s Fresh Finds happened to catch producer Ricky Reed’s ear while in his car. Soon thereafter, Reed reached out to the pair, who began sharing music with the producer. At the time, Reed was preparing to go in the studio with Bridges to work on what would become Good Thing. Two of the first

The Key to a New Barbering Career PROGRAMS • Master Barber

1 Hour Drive from Asheville

• Cosmetologist to Barber Crossover

GI Bill Accepted

• Barber Instructor

809 N. Roan St., Johnson City, TN 37601 • 423.461.0004 info@crowncutzacademy.com • crowncutzacademy.com 20

MAY 18-24, 2022

MOUNTAINX.COM

songs the duo sent over, “Lions” and “Mrs.,” made the cut. Cooper says the final versions on the album are “very faithful” to their original productions. From there, the King Garbage guys stayed in touch and saw Bridges perform on a few occasions. In 2019, when the time came to start working on Gold-Diggers Sound, Reed and Bridges flew Cooper and Dimotsis out to Los Angeles to collaborate in person. “It was an awesome week of sessions and ... throwing stuff at the wall, seeing what sticks,” Cooper says. “We had some great times with Leon and everyone else that threw down on the making of that record.” In between the two Bridges albums, Reed signed the duo to a co-publishing deal and brought them to LA to work with songwriter Autumn Rowe on material for Batiste, including the song “SING.” “We wrote it pretty quickly and sent it to Ricky the next day, and he freaked out over it,” Cooper says. “We wrote it in 2017, so it was a long time until it reached Jon — probably

two years. And then once it got there, it took on this whole second line [New Orleans parade] kind of thing, which is cool. He really turned it into his own thing, and the way it sits on the album is beautiful.” These “cuts,” as they’re called in the music industry, have given Cooper and Dimotsis more legitimacy within their profession, which Cooper says helps make more wellknown artists feel confident working with the pair, even though they don’t live in LA, New York or Chicago. But while they’re grateful for the success they’ve had with Bridges and Batiste, the hierarchy and plentiful rules they witnessed in the studio with Bridges gave them pause. Cooper notes that such rigidity stems from the significant amount of money and time at stake in those settings. Though he’s confident King Garbage’s focus on “problem-solving and making good art together” was evident at the highest level during the Gold-Diggers Sound sessions, there were only “four or five people who

really had a say in what was going on,” which didn’t include Dimotsis or himself. In turn, the experiences have made Cooper appreciate the way King Garbage creates music, which was put into full effect while crafting the duo’s latest album, Heavy Metal Greasy Love. NEW FRIENDS Debrissa McKinney won a Grammy in 2017 for her contributions to Secret Agent 23 Skidoo’s Best Children’s Album winner, Infinity Plus One. Along with her ongoing work with Skidoo, she’s a member of local groups Free Radio (vocals) and Empire Strikes Brass (vocals/saxophone). Those experiences proved fruitful in 2020, when Skidoo connected McKinney with Asheville-based biophysicist and shaman Jeff Firewalker Schmitt for the latter’s Saint Disruption collaborative music project. The jazz/hip-hop fusion group was inspired by rap pioneers The Last Poets and their commitment to giving voice to the oppressed. McKinney recorded vocals on multiple tracks for the Rose in the Oblivion album, and the next time she checked in with Schmitt on the collection’s progress, he revealed that he’d added another member to the group: revered jazz keyboardist John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood). Though Medeski recorded his parts separately at a studio near his Upstate New York home, McKinney was introduced to Medeski when he came to Asheville for Saint Disruption’s August 2021 show at The Grey Eagle. McKinney has since recorded with Medeski and Schmitt for a cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” — a track that also features Warren Haynes (guitar), Austn Haynes (vocals), Datrian Johnson (vocals) and Jake Wolf (bass). Though McKinney was only in studio with Johnson, Schmitt and Medeski, she says the keyboardist’s skills left an impression on her. “Sonically, I was like, ‘OK, I know nice pianos and stuff, but this makes you want to throw things,’” she says. “It was amazingly well-rounded and had such great depth. To see him in his element was really something else.” And the appreciation was reciprocal. McKinney says that by being in the studio together, Medeski got to see her and Johnson’s process in real time and form a bond with his fellow musicians. “I’m so thankful for my connections with every person, because what it really does is it adds one more friend,” McKinney says. “It’s always someone that then you have the potential to maybe call them up or maybe they’ll call you up for future collaborations

and different stuff like that. So, it only makes the net grow larger.” The Saint Disruption experience wasn’t McKinney’s first brush with fame. She’s performed with Warren Haynes multiple times, shared the stage with George Clinton and was also recruited to record on the Brother’s Keeper album by Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. “I really hope to be in [the music industry] until I keel over,” she says. “So getting to play with all those people and see their progress that they continue to make and have made over long periods of time — it gives me encouragement to keep going. Because I know that there are people out there that enjoy what I do as much as I enjoy what I do, so that just inspires me.” STAYING GROUNDED Looking at Seth Kauffman’s musical credits, it’s tough not to be impressed. The Black Mountain artist and frontman for indie rockers Floating Action has played an integral role on albums by Lana Del Rey (Ultraviolence) and Olsen (Phases), but it’s his ongoing work with Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Ray LaMontagne that stand out most.

“Jim really liked my songwriting, production style and soulfulness contained on the Floating Action albums, so he reached out, and we became fast friends. He started asking me to play bass on his solo records, tours and records he produced,” Kauffman says. “LaMontagne was a similar situation. [The Black Keys guitarist] Dan Auerbach was a fan of Floating Action albums, so he asked me to play on Ray’s Supernova album that he was producing. Randomly, Jim produced the next Ray album, [Ouroboros,] and asked me to play on it.” In addition to Kauffman’s wide-ranging skills — he plays every instrument on Floating Action’s records — he feels that his professional relationships with James and LaMontagne have endured because he’s never pushy or tries to force things with his fellow musicians. Though he’s not discussed it with them, he guesses that they view him as “a nonladder-climber” and good friend; and that being someone who writes and produces himself makes him trustworthy in understanding the right thing to play at a given moment. It also helps that he doesn’t care about fame. “We’re all just people. Everybody is different. Ray and Jim are incredi-

bly talented people. They’re also very smart and nice people,” Kauffman says. “I guess with a ‘famous person,’ there’s that elephant in the room of ‘their fame,’ so I just kind of ignore that. As a poor, nonfamous person, I can’t relate. I’m too busy [with handyman side work] crouching in someone’s shower, pulling hair clogs out and mowing yards, etc.” Currently on tour with LaMontagne through early June, Kauffman is thankful for the opportunity to hit the road with his friend but has no desire to pursue the spotlight himself. He says he’s witnessed the pitfalls of those aims firsthand in the music industry and has found happiness in “staying grounded and humble and poor,” as well as trusting his instincts and not overthinking things. “Going after big-name connections to advance yourself will leave you hollow and empty inside. Just be yourself and be humble. Make your art as if no one else will ever hear it or care about it,” Kauffman says. “It reinforces my philosophy of laying low, living in an off-the-radar place like Black Mountain. Mountain biking and hanging with family and nonladder-climbing friends is where it’s at.” X

High-Rated Salon in West Asheville Consistent • Professional High Quality Designs

Walk Ins Welcome! TUES−FRI: 9am-7:30pm SAT−SUN: 9am-6pm MON: Closed

OPEN SUNDAYS 511 Smokey Park Hwy, Ste 102, Candler, NC 28715 828.747.7333 avanteavl@gmail.com

avantebeautylounge.com MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

HAPPINESS IS HEALTHY! WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? Body-Safe Toys & Sexy Lingerie

erie g n i L t Bes Years 1 # d e t Vo ys for 6 & To

now at 2 locations! 57 Broadway Street

Downtown Asheville

723 Haywood Rd West Asheville

MAY 18-24, 2022

AR T S & C UL TU R E

LITERATURE

Page turner

Local author celebrates new trilogy

BY SARA MURPHY smurphy@mountainx.com In 2008, S.E. Chandler was driving across the Interstate 430 Arkansas River bridge, thinking about her paternal grandparents’ upcoming 65th wedding anniversary. One question kept running through her mind: How in the world do you stay married to someone for 100 years? Granted, her grandparents were 35 years shy of that mark. Still, Chandler began to imagine how a couple might forge a relationship so strong it could last a century. A writer since third grade (when her classmates nicknamed her “Susy Shakespeare” on account of her penchant for writing stories), she began piecing together the bones of a plot. Twelve years later, the pandemic lockdown finally gave Chandler (a self-described “excessively social person”) the isolation required to put flesh on those bones. She and her wife, Cathryn, canceled their cable TV service, and Chandler signed up for an online novel course. The result was the genre-bending book The Lie That Binds, which Chandler self-published on April 7. To her surprise, the sci-fi, lesbian-romance thriller ended the day having reached No. 1 on Amazon’s bestseller list in multiple categories, including LGBTQ+ sci-fi. “I started jumping up and down,” she says. That wasn’t the end of the story, though. “I wanted it to be over, but the characters wanted more,” she says. After she finished The Lie That Binds, Chandler went on to write two more novels, turning the initial tale into the first book of the Rise & Converge trilogy. The second book, Enter the Upperground, came out on April 22, hitting No. 1 on Amazon for LGBTQ+ action & adventure fiction on April 26. Rise & Converge launched May 13. At 120,000 words — the size of the first two novels combined — it is the final installment of the story, Chandler insists. She knows this because her characters stopped showing her new ideas — a facet of the creative process that continues to amaze and inspire her. “That part is really fun as a writer, when your characters are driving, and you’re just in awe.”

MOUNTAINX.COM

TIME TO WRITE: An extrovert, author S.E. Chandler says the pandemic forced her to step away from socializing and focus on her writing. The result is her new Rise & Converge series. Photo courtesy of Chandler LEARNING THE ROPES Set in Chicago in 2550, The Lie That Binds portrays a world in which DNA analysis can reveal whether a person has a soul mate and who that soul mate is. Anyone whose genome indicates “the One” enjoys not only the security of knowing they’re with the right person but also receives unlimited financial, educational and medical support. Everyone else is labeled “Unmatched” and denied these services. While the Unmatched can have relationships with one another, it’s up to them to put in the work needed to keep those relationships alive. The protagonist, Ehra Havel, straddles both worlds: Born Unmatched, she is adopted by a pair of soul mates. The action kicks off when the brother of Ehra’s girlfriend disappears. The plot’s whiplash pace echoes the tagline Chandler wrote for the book, which describes the intensity of Ehra’s romantic relationship with girlfriend Mamara as “a first-crush kiss chased by a punch in the mouth.” As a self-publisher, Chandler says she has managed all aspects of the project. To learn the ropes, she read all that she could online from other successful self-published authors. Approaching it like a class, Chandler dedicated approximately six months to the tasks recommended by other writers. Setting up her website, creating a mailing list and crafting an author page on Facebook were just the first steps to promoting her work. Insights from her research also made it clear that weekends were a bad time to

publish, as was the stretch of Nov. 1-Jan. 1, when traditional publishing houses have their holiday push. “The information is all out there,” notes Chandler. “You just have to have the discipline and the words to lay the stuff in there and publish it.” Her Type A personality and love of spreadsheets, she adds, also helped. LOOKING AHEAD Enter the Upperground picks up right after the cliffhanger ending of The Lie That Binds. Ehra, having strengthened some family ties and severed others, faces a more complicated future when she learns about a number of Unmatched people who successfully pass within privileged society. “I didn’t believe [what] my characters had in store for me,” Chandler says, including “a surprise ending that made my mother angry. And if she’s mad about it, that means I’ve created good suspense.” With Rise & Converge — which imagines Ehra going into politics to address her society’s inequities — complete, Chandler says she’s working on her next series. Set in the present day, the author says it’s about “the convergence of gay and straight women coming together and the fun and madness that ensues with that.” Her latest project, which is lighter in tone compared to the trilogy, “has been a lot of run to write,” Chandler says. “It’s brain candy.” For more information on Chandler’s series and forthcoming books, visit avl.mx/bkk. X

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

ARTS & CU L T U R E

MUSIC

Zero bars

Cold Mountain Music Festival’s unplugged nature is a feature, not a bug

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? Launched in 2017 as a fundraiser for the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, Cold Mountain Music Festival returns Saturday, June 4, after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. Bay Area rockers The Mother Hips, pictured, are among the scheduled acts. Photo by Andrew Quist

BY BILL KOPP bill@musoscribe.com There is no cellphone service at Lake Logan, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, located in Haywood County. “And we don’t have great internet connection, either,” says Lauri SoJourner, the organization’s executive director. But after two years of social distancing, working from home and virtual happenings, these technological limitations feel like a breath of fresh air for the site’s upcoming Cold Mountain Music Festival. “People [who attend] will be looking at each other and looking at the musicians, because they don’t have phones in their faces,” SoJourner says. “It’s a strength of the festival that people really immerse themselves in the experience.” Launched in 2017 as a fundraiser for the ministry, the gathering 24

MAY 18-24, 2022

returns Saturday, June 4, after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. This year’s performers include Hiss Golden Messenger, Chatham Rabbits, Futurebirds, I Draw Slow and The Mother Hips. The lineup packs a full weekend’s worth of entertainment into eight-plus hours. And for attendees who camp at Lake Logan the night before, SoJourner promises special live music events “with a local flavor.” Bringing both varied styles and experiences, Xpress touched base with The Mother Hips and Chatham Rabbits about the upcoming gathering and what festivalgoers might expect. STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND Founded more than three decades ago in Chico, Calif., The Mother Hips have charted a varied musical path: The band’s 11

MOUNTAINX.COM

studio albums explore folk, rock, psychedelia, jam and other styles. A popular fixture on the festival circuit in the westernmost states, The Mother Hips are comparatively unknown in the Southeast. But guitarist Greg Loiacono says that the group won’t radically alter its approach when meeting a Western North Carolina crowd. “I don’t know that we will do too much differently,” Loiacono says. “We may be inclined to go with a really strong set of our favorites to play, songs that seem to be more widely received.” He adds that participants can expect at least a few numbers from Glowing Lantern, the band’s latest record, released in December. Like many groups, The Mother Hips took advantage of pandemic-imposed time off to focus on making the new, self-produced album. “We have typically used an outside producer or co-producer,”

Loiacono explains. “And that has worked well. But having the time and space to work closely together not only on the writing but on the sonic landscape was really wonderful. I think that helped create an evolved sound that was different from all of our other albums.” With Glowing Lantern’s release and a follow-up already completed, The Mother Hips have once again turned their attention to live performance. “Along with every other touring musician, venue and promoter, we have gotten used to the idea that things could shut down at any moment,” Loiacono says. “But it has felt really good getting back [onstage].” And the band is intrigued by Cold Mountain Music Festival’s slightly off-the-grid approach. “Playing in a ‘dead zone’ sounds fantastic,” Loiacono says. “These days it seems like a special treat when humans gather in areas

where they are unable to use their smartphones.” LEAVING THE BURROW Wife-and-husband duo Sarah and Austin McCombie lead the Chatham Rabbits, a bluegrass/ Americana group based in rural Chatham County, 50 miles southeast of Greensboro. The pair’s tuneful, rootsy approach is showcased on the band’s latest album, If You See Me Riding By, scheduled for a Friday, June 3, release — one day before the McCombies appear at the Cold Mountain Music Festival backed by a full band. Chatham Rabbits have enjoyed a rise in profile of late. Earlier this month, their limited television series “On the Road with Chatham Rabbits” premiered on PBS North Carolina. The show documents the couple’s shared lives, filled with plenty of touring, farming and songwriting. Sarah says that while she and Austin started out by composing songs individually, they’ve developed into a songwriting partnership. “We’re like, ‘OK, we’re in this together, so we’ve got to work together. We’ve got to strengthen these songs and sharpen them using each others’ skills,’” she says. While working on their farm last summer, the couple decided to build an open-air barn to host concerts. “We started out [allowing] 50 people at a time,” says Sarah. “But it ended up being so popular that by the end of the summer, we had 150 people out to our house each Sunday.” They hope to host additional installments of their barn concerts at The Burrow during periods when they’re off the road. Sarah says that the Cold Mountain Music Festival’s “condensed” lineup really appeals to her and Austin. “They keep it very curated,” she says. “And that’s exciting. Plus, the fact that it’s family-friendly is a huge perk for us. And it’s going to be really nice to unplug, not look at my phone or worry about anything else for the whole day.” X

ASHEVILLE-AREA

EATS & DRINKS GUIDE 2022

EDITION

Coming This Summer

WHAT Cold Mountain Music Festival WHERE Lake Logan, 25 Wormy Chestnut Lane, Canton, coldmountainmusic.org

WHEN Saturday, June 4, 1 p.m. $60

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

ARTS & C U L T U R E

FOOD ROUNDUP

What’s new in food

Finch Gourmet Market & Wine Bar to open in Biltmore Village Dema Badr says the motivation behind opening Finch Gourmet Market & Wine Bar in Biltmore Village was a personal craving for a healthy, midafternoon snack to fuel her through long days running her women’s clothing boutique. “I’ve eaten every granola bar the neighborhood Citistop carries,” she says with a laugh. “Twice!” Badr opened Scout Boutique in Biltmore Village in 2016. “All these little cottages on All Souls were originally neighborhood residences built by George Vanderbilt,” she explains. “Most owners moved out to other planned communities nearby, but I am incredibly fortunate because my landlord, Kathy Stafford, grew up in this cottage. She and her husband, Rusty, are still local and great landlords who really understand and support small business.” Badr, too, understands small business. An Asheville native, her parents

FLY RIGHT: Later this month, Dema Badr will open Finch Gourmet Market & Wine Bar, nestled behind her Scout clothing boutique. Photo by Janet Webber have owned the downtown landmark Asheville Discount Pharmacy since 1982, and she grew up in a retail environment. After spending some time traveling for work, she returned to Asheville in 2015 and opened Scout a year later. She says that while the village has multiple venues for upscale dining and casual seated options, she had long mulled the idea of something to fit into “that weird time between three and five when you might want a healthy snack, something light, maybe a good glass of wine. It’s hard to find that here. Something to kind of refuel people who work here and tourists shopping and strolling.” And then the tiny carriage house behind Scout, which the Staffords also own, became available, and Badr jumped at the chance. “I thought it was the perfect little spot for this concept I never thought would come to fruition,” Badr recalls. “Kathy said, ‘Go for it.’” Because even a business that occupies only 300 square feet of space can’t succeed in a 3-5 p.m. window, Badr plans to launch Finch later this month and operate MondaySaturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. “We won’t 26

MAY 18-24, 2022

MOUNTAINX.COM

know if that’s what people want until we’re open for a while.” There is not enough room for indoor seating, but the patio has benches and umbrella covered tables, accommodating about 30 guests. Finch will offer coffee, espresso and fresh pastries in the morning, and chef Nigel Esser has created a menu of sandwiches and salads to be made by order and will stock the coolers with pre-made items, hummus, meats, cheese and olives to build a charcuterie plate. Badr notes, “We have list of about 60 wines, so you can treat Finch as your local little bottle shop, or take a glass or bottle outside with some cheese and crackers. We’ll also have several nonalcoholic options. I want everyone who comes to Finch to feel that we thought of them.” Finch Gourmet Market & Wine Bar is at 10 ½ All Souls Crescent. For updates, visit avl.mx/bjy.

Monkey business When Hollie West launched The Sweet Monkey café and bakery in Marshall in July 2014, her inten-

tion was to open early for breakfast, segue to lunch and sell the baked goods she was already known for. When customers weren’t beating down the door in the early mornings, she tweaked her hours to serve lunch and dinner. A single mother of a young boy, she somehow made it all work. But then COVID-19 arrived, shutting the Monkey down. Like many, she pivoted, reopening on Labor Day weekend 2020, with a new concept she described as “scratch-made convenience store,” with prepared items in the cooler, take-away-and-finish meals and take-and-bake pizzas. At the start of 2022, West took a break to turn the space’s kitchen into an R&D lab, testing how to freeze her popular pizzas to sell to food distributors and local restaurants and markets. “We had to modify our recipes so the pizza would come out as if it has never been frozen. It is not a par-cooked dough; it is a raw dough, and that sets us apart from other frozen pizza,” she explains. “You are getting first cook on everything, and everything is made from scratch.” Positive reviews have resulted in early success. Performance Food Group, out of Morristown, Tenn., now carries the Sweet Monkey brand pies labeled with a cartoonish pair of pizza-making monkeys. Additional carriers include Sara Jo’s Station and Tobacco Road in Hot Springs, Madison Natural Foods in Marshall, Sanctuary of Stuff in Weaverville and West Village Market on Haywood Road. “Sweet Monkey pizzas are finally in Asheville,” West says with pride. When she’s not overseeing pizza operations by staff, West is focused on building her catering business. “We don’t have a set menu. The client and I create it together. I love the opportunity to interact with people again.” For more information on The Sweet Monkey Catering, visit avl.mx/bke.

Bubble up Move over ice cream, bubble tea is in the house. On Friday, May 20, Pop Bubble Tea will celebrate its grand opening inside The Hop Ice Cream Cafe, 640 Merrimon Ave. “Our visions line up so well, and there is definitely synergy,” says Pop founder Eva Peterson in discussing her partnership with Ashley Garrison, co-owner of The Hop. “The creation of the Pop menu utilized Ashley’s experience as an ice cream maker and my knowledge of bubble tea and Asian culture.”

The Pop menu will have classic milk teas (made with either whole or oat milk) and fruit teas using freshly brewed, high-quality loose leaf teas from Taiwan. Fruit teas and slush are made with real fruit flavors, and a large number of drinks will be available dairy-free and vegan. The matcha latte series is made with pure matcha. Eva points out that the location’s two menus don’t compete but instead offer more options for customers in the same space. “Ashley and I have very similar values and a similar mission. We love to make people happy through what we make, no matter if it’s ice cream or bubble tea, or in the future, a collaboration of both!” Pop Bubble Tea and The Hop Ice Cream are both at 640 Merrimon Ave. Suite 103. For more information on Pop, visit avl.mx/bk5.

Say howdy! The first Howdy Homemade Ice Cream store opened in December 2015 in Dallas. Its founder, Tom Landis, was committed to providing job opportunities for people with autism and Down syndrome. “Howdy Heroes,” as Landis calls them, continue to staff his expanding company. Betsy and Pete Brewer moved to Asheville in 2008 with their two daughters, Madeline and Annie; Annie is autistic. Like many parents of special needs young adults, they worried about Annie’s future. Around the time Annie was a student at T.C. Roberson High School, a colleague sent Pete a story about Howdy, and he tracked down Landis. In March 2020, the Brewers signed a contract with Howdy, coinciding with the arrival of COVID-19. That set up some obstacles, but on Saturday, May 28, Howdy Homemade Asheville will open in Arden, with Howdy Hero Annie Brewer among the staff. The shop will serve proprietary Howdy flavors, as well as some developed by Pete Brewer, proud holder of a diploma from Mystic Ice Cream boot camp. Prior to the opening, a Howdy ice cream trailer will be saying howdy from a logo-wrapped cargo trailer filled with cold treats. On Saturday, May 21, it will park at The Retreat at Arden Farms, 539 Long Shoals Road, Arden, and on Sunday, May 22, it heads to First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St. More pop-ups are planned for the summer. Howdy Homemade Asheville is at 64 Long Shoals Road. For store hours, menu and trailer locations and times, Brewer suggests following the busi-

ness on Facebook at avl.mx/bk8 and Instagram at avl.mx/bk9.

Party like it’s 2002 On Wednesday, May 25, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a free hoedown at Hickory Nut Gap Farm, 4-6:30 p.m. Attendees can visit with farm animals, zoom down culvert slides, climb the rope web and stroll through the orchard. There will be live music, a raffle for local gift items, complimentary bites by Red Fiddle Vittles and free beverages from Shanti Elixer, Buchi, Burial Beer Co., Wicked Weed Brewing, Vidl Wine, Pleb Urban Winery and Noble Cider. A short program with toasts to retired ASAP founder Charlie Jackson is scheduled for 5 p.m. The event is family friendly, but please leave four-legged family members at home. Hickory Nut Gap Farm is at 57 Sugar Hollow Road, Fairview. For more information on ASAP and the event, go to avl.mx/b0y.

Cheers to beers No wedge issues, but lots of beer at the Wedge Brewing Co.’s newest location anchoring the Page and Battle Square corner of the Grove Arcade downtown. There is streetside and interior access to brewery’s third Asheville location (the other two are in the River Arts District). There is no kitchen, but guests can order from Huli Sue’s BBQ & Grill two doors down and chow down on that fare inside the taproom or on the patio. The Wedge at Grove Arcade is at 1 Page Ave. Suite 152. For more, visit avl.mx/bkd.

— Kay West X

Ready for sunny days at the Supper Club SMOKYPARK.COM 350 RIVERSIDE DR. ASHEVILLE, NC 28801 828-350-0315

OPEN NOW HOT BUNS & TASTY MEAT 48 College St. Downtown, Asheville 828-505-8455 • zellasdeli.com MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

ARTS & C U L T U R E

ROUNDUP

Around Town Black Wall Street AVL teams with Wilma Dykeman Legacy for birthday bash

The late Wilma Dykeman was perhaps best known as an environmentalist due to her writings on and advocacy for the French Broad River watershed. But she was also a pioneer in the world of social justice, helping shine a light on civil rights leaders and other African Americans through her writings. That’s why J Hackett, founder of Black Wall Street AVL, was honored when the Wilma Dykeman Legacy asked his group to partner with it in presenting a 102nd birthday celebration commemorating Dykeman on Saturday, May 21, 1-4 p.m. “This celebration is also our celebration,” Hackett says. “Who knows where we would all be, or what we would have never experienced, had [Dykeman] not seen far beyond her years. She saw us. And Black Wall Street AVL intends to be part of the continued legacy of Wilma Dykeman.” For several years, the Dykeman Legacy worked with the city of Asheville to celebrate the birthday at the historic city-owned building at 8 River Arts Place. Black Wall Street AVL secured a long-term lease on the building in October. “It seems right at this point to celebrate on an annual basis the fact that all people have hopes and fears, dreams and nightmares that are equally important,” says Jim Stokely, president of the Dykeman Legacy and her son. “I hope this will be a lasting partnership.” The free event will feature performers in a variety of genres, including Becky Stone, an actor and storyteller, DeWayne Barton, co-founder of Green Opportunities and the Burton Street Community Peace Gardens, and Juan Holladay, a songwriter

POWER TRIO: From left, DeWayne Barton, Juan Holladay and Becky Stone will perform at Wilma Dykeman’s 102nd birthday celebration on Saturday, May 21, honoring the late author and activist. Photos courtesy of Black Wall Street AVL and musician and founder of the soul band the Secret B-Sides. In addition, the event will honor some forgotten African American civil rights leaders who were interviewed for Neither Black Nor White, a 1957 book written by Dykeman and her husband, James Stokely. “It is important to draw attention to the civil rights heroes of the 1950s and 1960s because these are our ancestors speaking to us,” Jim Stokely says. “They opened our eyes to terrible injustices that persist to

NO JOB TOO LARGE OR SMALL

FATHER AND SON

Home Improvement Billy & Neal Moxley

100 Edwin Place, AVL, NC 28801 | Billy: (828) 776-2391 | Neal: (828) 776-1674 28

MAY 18-24, 2022

MOUNTAINX.COM

this day. If we listen, they are telling us to continue on a journey of awareness, awakening and action.” For more information about the event, visit avl.mx/bkf.

Mark of distinction The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County will celebrate the installation of a marker honoring Helen Morris Lewis at the Patton Parker House on Sunday, May 22, 1-3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Lewis organized the first women’s rights association in North Carolina in Asheville in 1894. She went on to become a prominent advocate of women’s suffrage and the first woman to seek local elective office. The marker will be installed as a part of a program by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and the National Collaborative for Women’s History sites to honor individuals and events associated with the women’s suffrage movement. A brief ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the marker dedication. Jo Nicholas, president of the League of Women Voters of North Carolina, will speak, and Katherine Calhoun

Cutshall, collections manager for the Buncombe County Special Collections, will highlight some of Lewis’ accomplishments. The Patton Parker House is at 95 Charlotte St. For more information, visit avl.mx/bkr.

Power of the pulpit Black Mountain Presbyterian Church will screen the documentary At The River: Profiles in Quiet Courage on Thursday, May 19, 6 p.m. Created by filmmakers Carolyn Crowder and Rod Murphy, the movie profiles white Presbyterian ministers in the Deep South who stood up to racism during the civil rights era. Crowder and Murphy cut what was originally an 11-part series of 20-minute profiles into a feature film that they have entered into the Atlanta International Documentary Film Festival, The Sidewalk Film Festival and six others. Crowder told Xpress in 2019 that she was raised in a racist family in Alabama but was “radicalized” by two Presbyterian ministers she encountered at Auburn University. “There’s a feeling, I think, in the country that no white Southerner ever did a good thing during the civil

rights movement, and I just knew it wasn’t true,” she says. The two are touring colleges, churches and seminaries around the country to screen and discuss the film. Black Mountain Presbyterian Church is at 117 Montreat Road, Black Mountain. For more information about the documentary, visit avl.mx/bki.

Read all about it The Western North Carolina Historical Association will kick off its 2022 ReadWNC literary series with Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle’s book Even As We Breathe via Zoom on Tuesday, May 24, 6 p.m. The book won the group’s Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award in 2021. Saunooke Clapsaddle and historian Barbara Duncan will discuss the facts behind the fictional depiction of mid-20th century Cherokee life and culture. The conversation will also detail the real-life detention of Axis diplomats and their families at Asheville’s Grove Park Inn during World War II and other local history incorporated into the novel. In July, the ReadWNC literary series will focus on Guests on Earth by Lee Smith. In October, author Sharyn McCrumb will discuss the historical research she did for her novel The Ballad of Frankie Silver. Tickets can be purchased for individual events or for the full series at a discount. For more information or to register, go to avl.mx/b3k.

What a thrill Robert Kun’s decision to write a novella started in an unusual way. “A friend of mine asked me to write her a testimonial for her pet-sitting business,” the Buncombe County resident says. “Later, she asked me for an affidavit for a custody case. Afterwards, she asked if I had ever considered writing, because she thought the things I had written for her were so good.” Taking up the challenge, Kun started work on a book that was initially based on his life. That effort eventually morphed into his recently self-published psychological thriller, Lucid. The book tells the story of a young man who becomes obsessed with his girlfriend’s best friend and struggles with controlling his desire for her. “I never set out to write any specific genre,” Kun says. “I just wrote as it came to me and let the story go where it wanted to. One thing I did know from the beginning was that it was going to be deep and dark.” For more information on the book, visit avl.mx/bkg.

Curiouser and curiouser The Storm Rhum Bar and Bistro is home to Asheville’s first Curio Machine, a repurposed vending machine that sells art, writing, stickers and more. The machines, which originated in Boone, are part of a collaborative project between artist Bunny Eaton, author Ben Loomis and farmer Jordan Holder. “The three of us and most of our friends have been trained through our 20s to become serial side hustlers for a chance to get ahead,” says Loomis. “So when we saw another business doing this during a visit to Portland, Ore., we thought it would work well in our neck of the woods.” The company is eager to get Asheville artists to participate by selling their creations through the Curio Machine, Loomis says. “We buy wholesale from local artists so they get paid up front and then we promote their social media/websites online and in our machines,” he says. Loomis is in talks with a few other Asheville venues, with hopes to have machines in those places by the summer. The Storm Rhum Bar and Bistro is at 125 S. Lexington Ave. For more information, go to avl.mx/bkh.

— Justin McGuire X

MOVIE REVIEWS Local reviewers’ critiques of new films include: DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS: This messy MCU sequel barely feels like it was directed by Sam Raimi — until a thrilling final stretch that feels like it couldn’t have been directed by anyone but Raimi. Grade: B-minus — Edwin Arnaudin FIRESTARTER: The Stephen King novel about a young girl with deadly powers fares poorly in the lazy hands of Blumhouse Productions and director Keith Thomas. Grade: D-plus — Edwin Arnaudin

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

MAY 18-24, 2022

CLUBLAND

The featured icon indicates which venues or artists require proof of vaccination for upcoming shows. Due to the evolving nature of the matter, the list may not be comprehensive. Before heading out, please check with all venues for complete information on any vaccine or negative COVID-19 requirements. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 185 KING STREET Trivia and Karaoke, 7pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB All Night Karaoke Dance Party, 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Ashevillians: A Local Comedy Showcase, 7pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm CBD CAFE Jakey Jake (of the Screaming Js), 7pm DOUBLE CROWN Western Wednesday w/Todd Day Wait's Pigpen & Vaden Landers, 8pm FLEETWOOD'S Terraoke! Karaoke w/ KJ Terra Ware, 6pm HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Well-Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith, 6pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Jam, 5pm LAZY HIKER BREWING SYLVA Trivia Night, 6:30pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Mountain Music Jam, 6pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Wild Wednesday Funk-n-Rock w/Free Anesthesia, 10pm ONE WORLD BREWING Pingo Wednesdays, 7pm RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO. Wednesday Acoustic Jam, 5pm SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jason DeCristafaro's Weekly Wednesday Jazz Night & Jam, 6pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/ Host Caleb Beissert, 8pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm THE BARRELHOUSE Open Mic Hosted by Kid Billy, 8pm THE DUGOUT Thursday Night Open Jam w/Paul Liford, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE DEHD w/81355 (alt/ indie), 8pm THE POE HOUSE Team Trivia w/ Wes Ganey, 7pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic, 6pm

THURSDAY, MAY 19 185 KING STREET Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp (Americana, bluegrass), 7pm

open

fo r b u si ne s s ISSUE

Opened a new location? Changed hours? Changed menus or services? Need more staff? Let the Asheville Area Know! To advertise, contact us today! • Publishes 6/22 828-251-1333 x1 • advertise@mountainx.com

MAY 18-24, 2022

MOUNTAINX.COM

SIPPIN’ ON SOME BLUES: Castro Coleman, also known as Mr. Sipp, “The Mississippi Blues Child,” will perform Southern soul, blues and trailride at The Double Crown’s Soul Nite on Friday, May 20, at 9 p.m. The Delta bluesman has starred in several films, worked on many Grammy-nominated projects and received the 2014 Bobby Rush Entertainer of the Year Award. Photo courtesy of The Double Crown ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Kiki Thursdays Drag and Dancing, 8pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR MGB at the AGB (covers, singer-songwriter) k 7:30pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Sounds Up for Mental Health, 9pm ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO. Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic & Features, 7:30pm CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Thursday Night Trivia w/Kelsey, 6:30pm FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead, JGB Tribute), 6pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Alice Bradley and Lyle De Vitry (singer-songwriters), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Asheville Sessions ft. Ryan "RnB" Barber (jazz, blues, rock), 8:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Andy Ferrell (Southern roots), 6pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Kid Billy - Billy Litz (roots, blues, ragtime), 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 9pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST High Blue Heron (Americana, blues), 8pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Early Dance Party w/ Local DJs, 7pm • Venus (dark house dance party), 10pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr. Jimmy's Big City Chicago Bluesk 7:30pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL LTJ Bukem (dance, electronic), 9pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Lo Wolf w/Nathanael Jordan (singer songwriter), 8pm

BIG PILLOW BREWING Samantha Rise (country), 6pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm

BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jake Burns (acoustic), 6pm

THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Pimps of Pompe (jazzed-up pop & hip-hop), 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR • Rum Punchlines Comedy Open Mic, 6pm • Karaoke w/Terraoke, 9pm THE GREY EAGLE Taylor Winchester (folk, jamband), 5pm THE ORANGE PEEL Kikagaku Moyo (alt psych-rock), 6pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 9pm

FRIDAY, MAY 20 185 KING STREET Hustle Souls (soul), 8pm

BREWSKIES Karaoke, 10pm CITIZEN VINYL David Barnard (singer-songwriter), 4pm DOUBLE CROWN Soul Night w/Mr. Sipp, 9pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. Cutlass (rock), 7pm FLEETWOOD'S Seismic Sutra, Serotina & The Eccentrics (psych, soul, punk), 8pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Wyatt Espalin (singer songwriter, country), 7pm GUIDON BREWING John Friday (trop rock), 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Jerry's Dead (Jerry Garcia tribute), 7pm HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Drag Music Bingo w/ Divine the Bearded Lady, 7pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Asheville 8 String Collective (jazz, funk, blues), 7pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 An Evening with Gretchen Peters & Jane Kramer (Americana), 8:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Vaden Landers (classic country), 8pm LAZY HIKER BREWING SYLVA Colby Deitz (Americana, rock, soul), 8pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Aunt Vicki (retro rock, folk), 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Reedy River String Band (bluegrass), 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Friday w/ Gus & Friends (Grateful Dead tribute), 9pm ONE WORLD BREWING 5j Barrow (folk rock), 8pm

WITH TRAVERS BROTHERSHIP

JUNE 3

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

SALVAGE STATION ASHEVILLE, NC SALVAGESTATION.COM MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

CLU B LA N D ONE WORLD BREWING WEST • Adam Knight's Buried Alive (Phish tribute), 6pm • The Feels (roots, soul, R&B), 9:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Airshow (prog bluegrass), 7pm

RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO. Chris Jamison's Ghost (singer songwriter), 6pm

BOOJUM BREWING COMPANY ALR Trio (rock, blues), 9pm

SALVAGE STATION The Collection w/ Begonia, 8pm THE BARRELHOUSE Woody N Sunshine (two person jam band), 8pm THE DUGOUT BadRabbit (alt country, rock), 8pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Getaway Comedy: Emily Walsh, 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL Beach Bunny (indie rock)k 8pm THE POE HOUSE Howie Johnson (acoustic), 7pm HARRAH'S CHEROKEE CENTER ASHEVILLE Kenny G (contemporary jazz), 7:30pm

SATURDAY, MAY 21 185 KING STREET Andrew Thelston Presents a Tribute to Led Zeppelin, 8pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB All Night Karaoke Dance Party, 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Beauty Parlor Comedy: Drew Lausch, 7pm • Maximum Overdrive 80's Dance Party w/DJ Nato, 10pm ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 8pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR The Travelling Pilsburys (rock, folk, oldies), 7:30pm

BIG PILLOW BREWING ROND (rock), 6pm

BREWSKIES Pool Tournament Saturdays, 7pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. Box Set Rocks (rock), 7pm ELEVATED MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY Tricia Ann Band (Southern rock), 7pm FBO AT HOMINY CREEK Krave Amiko w/Myxed Messyngers (alt/indie), 6pm FLEETWOOD'S Sang Sarah, Sound and Shape & Stuyedeyed (punk, garage rock), 8pm GREAT WILD NOWHERE Squatch (Appalachian roots), 9pm GUIDON BREWING Crystal Fountains (bluegrass), 7pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Abby Bryant and Friends (rock, soul), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • An Evening with Gina Sicilia (blues, roots, gospel), 7pm • The Quebe Sisters (Western Swing, country, Texas fiddling), 8:30pm LITTLE JUMBO Napa Valley Wine Cocktails & Dance Party w/DJ Lil Meow Meowk 10pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Sumsun (DJ, electronic), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST • Aaron Austin Trio (rock, blues, jazz), 6pm

• The Saylor Brothers (jamgrass fusion), 9pm PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Dumpstaphunk w/ Rebekah Todd (NOLA funk, folk), 6pm ROADMASTER STAGE A. Lee Edwards (alt-country, Americana), 8pm SALVAGE STATION The Vegabonds w/The Stews & The Brothers Gillespie (country), 8pm THE 2ND ACT Daniel Sage (acoustic), 7pm THE DUGOUT Ricky Gunter (country), 8pm URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE DJ Coustin TL (throwback hip-hop, dance), 7pm

SUNDAY, MAY 22 ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Low Key Karaoke, 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Life's A Drag Brunch w/Ida Carolina, 12pm • SOL Dance Party w/ Zati (soul house), 9pm BLUE RIDGE HEMP CO. Comedy Night w/ Terence Hartnett, 8pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS CHIMNEY ROCK The JackTown Ramblers (bluegrass, swing, jazz), 2pm DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE Moses Sumney (indie rock, baroque pope), 7pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Jackson Grimm (folk, traditional Appalachian), 2pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Blues and Brews w/Mr Jimmy & Friends, 1pm

ASHEVILLE-AREA

EATS & DRINKS GUIDE 2022 Edition

Coming This Summer advertise@mountainx.com 32

MAY 18-24, 2022

MOUNTAINX.COM

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Lauren Anderson (blues, Americana), 6pm • Michelle Malone (rock, blues, songwriter), 7:30pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Shakedown Sundays (rock, jam band), 8pm PLEB URBAN WINERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 4pm ROADMASTER STAGE Liz Teague Band (singer songwriter), 3pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Bike Night w/Ashley & Big Matty, 2pm THE ODDITORIUM Panties in a Brunch Drag Brunch, 2pm

MONDAY, MAY 23 185 KING STREET Yarn (Americana), 7pm 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Freshen Up Comedy Open Mic, 7pm BREWSKIES Open Jam w/Tall Paul, 7:30pm DOUBLE CROWN Country Karaoke, 10pm HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB Open Mic w/Taylor Martin & Special Guest, 7:15pm LITTLE JUMBO Mike Baggetta 3 (jazz) k7pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Improv Workshop, 8pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Trivia by the River w/ James Harrod, 8pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Mr Jimmy (blues), 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL Beabadoobee (indie rock), 7pm

TUESDAY, MAY 24 185 KING STREET Tuesday Casual Collaborations w/Mike & Mike and Friends, 6pm 5 WALNUT WINE BAR The John Henrys (jazz, swing), 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Downtown Karaoke w/ Ganymede, 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Spanish Love Songs w/Save Face & Camp Trash (alt/indie), 7pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Beauty Parlor Comedy: Tiffany Burke, 7pm • AQUANET Goth Party w/Ash Black, 9pm

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jason DeCristafaro's Weekly Wednesday Jazz Night & Jam, 6pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/ Host Caleb Beissert, 8pm

BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

CBD CAFE Jakey Jake (of the Screaming Js), 7pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Open Mic Hosted by Kid Billy, 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S Terraoke! Karaoke w/ KJ Terra Ware, 6pm

THE DUGOUT Thursday Night Open Jam w/Paul Liford, 8pm

CASCADE LOUNGE Tuesday Bluegrass Jam, 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm

FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Well-Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith (Americana, singer-songwriter), 6pm

HEMINGWAY'S CUBA Para Gozar (Cuban), 5pm MILLS RIVER BREWING Football and Mascot Trivia , 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Team Trivia, 7pm Team Trivia , 7pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Open Jam hosted by Lactones, 7pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING All Arts Open Mike w/ Mike Waters, 6pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Tuesday Night Trivia, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Etana & the Rawsoul Rebels Band and Mighty Mystic (reggae), 8pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Jam, 5pm LAZY HIKER BREWING SYLVA Trivia Night, 6:30pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Mountain Music Jam, 6pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Wild Wednesday Funk-n-Rock w/Free Anesthesia, 10pm ONE WORLD BREWING Pingo Wednesdays, 7pm

THE ORANGE PEEL The Wailers (reggae), 8pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic , 6pm Wednesday Open Mic, 6pm

THURSDAY, MAY 26 185 KING STREET The Woven (folk, country), 7pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Kiki Thursdays Drag and Dancing, 8pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR KB and the LMD (jazz standards, classic pop) k 7:30pm BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING The Blushin' Roulettes' (Americana), 6pm

FLEETWOOD'S Bad Ties, Machine 13 & Mouthbreathers (beat poetry, indie, experimental psych), 8pm FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead, JGB Tribute), 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Lady and The Lovers (pop, rock, funk), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Asheville Sessions ft. Vollie Mckenzie (jazz, blues, rock), 7pm • Lord Nelson (rock), 8:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Josh Dunkin (acoustic), 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 9pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Magenta Sunshine (jam band), 6pm PULP Slice of Life Comedy ft. James Harrod, 8:30pm SALVAGE STATION Dirty Logic: A Tribute To Steely Dan, 7:30pm, THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm

BLUE RIDGE HEMP CO. Cali Sober: an alcohol free comedy show, 8pm

THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Pimps of Pompe (jazzed-up pop & hip-hop), 7pm

185 KING STREET Trivia and Karaoke , 7pm

RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO. Wednesday Acoustic Jam, 5pm

BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 5pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Terraoke, 9pm

ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB All Night Karaoke Dance Party, 8pm

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Little Stranger (indie hip-hop), 5pm

CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Thursday Night Trivia w/Kelsey, 6:30pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 9pm

MOUNTAINX.COM

MAY 18-24, 2022

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): “The only way to the truth is through blasphemy,” declared Aries author Flannery O’Connor. I appreciate the cheeky sentiment, but I don’t believe that all truth requires blasphemy. In many cases, rebellion, irreverence and skepticism may be enough to pry loose hidden and buried information. Outright blasphemy isn’t necessary. What does this have to do with you? Well, I’m hoping you will be feisty and audacious in your quest for interesting truths. As you dig, I invite you to be less than perfectly polite. Don’t be rude or unkind, of course. Just be charmingly bold. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “I am so beautiful, sometimes people weep when they see me,” declares comedian Margaret Cho. I would love for you to summon her level of self-esteem and bravado in the coming weeks. According to my interpretation of the astrological omens, you now have the right and duty to boost your self-worth. All of creation is conspiring with you to develop more faith in yourself. And if you do the work to deepen your confidence and self-esteem, there will be an added bonus: a health breakthrough. As spiritual author Caroline Myss says, “Belief in oneself is required for healing.” My prediction: You will rouse an enhanced power to get the soul medicine you need. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): According to the blogger Artemisiasea, “The grandeur of life is the attempt, not the solution. It’s about behaving as beautifully as one can under completely impossible circumstances; making room for what breathes in the presence of the attempt — in the comingto-be.” I invite you to embrace that wisdom in the coming weeks, Gemini. You won’t be dealing with impossible circumstances, but you may have to navigate your way through fascinating brainteasers and heart riddles. Whatever your destination might turn out to be, enjoy the ride with all the verve you can summon. At least for now, put aside your longing for particular results and instead simply live your life as if it were a magnificent work of art. CANCER (June 21-July 22): It will be in your interest to change more than usual in the coming weeks. I suppose you could wait around passively and scramble to adjust as life flings challenges your way. But the better approach would be to make conscious decisions about how you want to transform. Identify the situations that would most benefit from modification and then initiate the transitions. Rather than depending on fate to provide you with random wake-up calls, choose constructive wake-up calls that are fun and invigorating. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “If everyone likes you, it probably means you aren’t saying much,” declared politician Donna Brazile. I suspect you will disprove her theory in the coming weeks. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you will have a lot to say; your communications will be even more interesting than usual. And yet, I also expect you will receive extra respect and appreciation from others. While you may articulate ideas that are challenging to some, you will do so with enough charisma to disarm agitated reactions. A winning combination: expressiveness and approval. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Have you heard of Virgo adventurer Reinhold Messner? The man is a marvel, and not just because he’s a passionate environmental activist. He was the first mountaineer to reach the top of Mt. Everest alone, as well as the first to ascend Everest without supplemental oxygen. No one before him had ever climbed all 14 of the world’s peaks higher than 26,000 feet. He has transited Greenland and Antarctica without the aid of dog sleds or snowmobiles. He also completed a solo trip across the Gobi Desert. I propose we make Messner your inspirational role model for the next four weeks. You may not achieve history-making triumphs like him, but you could surpass what you assumed were your limits. I trust that you will break at least one of your personal records.

MAY 18-24, 2022

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “The world is a very puzzling place. If you’re not willing to be puzzled, you just become a replica of someone else’s mind.” Author Noam Chomsky said that. It’s useful counsel for you right now. I’ll go even further. I will advise you to relish the healthy pleasures of being both mysterious and mystified. Seek out fertile enigmas and be a fertile enigma yourself. Explore the rejuvenating wisdom of being indefinable and uncategorizable. Exult in the quizzical joys of Eternal Paradox. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Have you ever contemplated the beauty of the people and animals you care for and thought, “I would love to give them the strongest blessings I have to give, the smartest love I can express, and the best listening I’m able to provide.” If so, Scorpio, the coming days will be an excellent time to do that. You will have an extra capacity to offer exceptional gifts that are useful and inspirational. You will be at the peak of your ability to home in on what your beloveds need. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian author Madeleine L’Engle told us, “The discoveries don’t come when you’re looking for them. They come when for some reason you’ve let go conscious control.” That approach isn’t absolutely true, but it may be useful for you to deploy in the coming weeks. I invite you to relinquish at least a modicum of your conscious control. And if zesty discoveries start flowing in, consider relinquishing even a bit more conscious control. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Is it a legend or a true story? Scholars disagree about whether Capricorn scientist Isaac Newton really was spurred to formulate the theory of gravity when an apple fell from the tree he was sitting beneath. This much is certain: Newton lived in the home near the famous apple tree. And that tree is alive today, 380 years after his birth. Ripe apples still fall from it. Is there an equivalent landmark or keystone from your own past, Capricorn— where an important insight arose or pivotal event happened? The coming weeks would be a good time to revisit that power spot, at least in your imagination, in quest of fresh inspiration. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian poet Jack Gilbert devoted himself to soulful beauty. I swooned when I first read his line, “We must unlearn the constellations to see the stars.” I cried for joy when he said, “We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.” On the other hand, I suspect Jack may have been overly consumed with his pursuit of lyrical moments. His girlfriend Linda Gregg said, “All Jack ever wanted to know was that he was awake — that the trees in bloom were almond trees—and to walk down the road to get breakfast. He never cared if he was poor or had to sleep on a park bench.” I bring this up, dear Aquarius, hoping you will avoid Gilbert’s lack of attention to practical matters. In the coming weeks, I invite you to be your extravagant, idiosyncratic, interesting self to the max. But also be sure to eat healthy food, engage in pleasurable exercise, and get plenty of rejuvenating sleep — preferably in a comfortable bed rather than on a park bench. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The Uberfacts Twitter account informs me that if you were to consume the amount of food equivalent to what a hummingbird eats, you would eat 300 hamburgers or 7,800 cabbages per day. To match the amount of exercise a hummingbird gets while burning all those calories, you’d have to do approximately 37 bazillion jumping jacks. You will never do this, of course. But in the coming weeks, you may be more metaphorically hungry than usual. I predict you will be voracious for new information, novel experiences and fresh ideas. Not 300 hamburgers or 7,800 cabbages’ worth — but still, a lot. My advice: Have fun being insatiably curious and greedy for stimulation.

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARKETPLACE

BY ROB BREZSNY

REAL ESTATE & RENTALS | ROOMMATES | JOBS | SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENTS | CLASSES & WORKSHOPS | MIND, BODY, SPIRIT MUSICIANS’ SERVICES | PETS | AUTOMOTIVE | XCHANGE | ADULT Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 advertise@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 advertise@mountainx.com REAL ESTATE HOMES FOR SALE 5 BEDROOM, 2 BATH HOME Large Living room, eat-in kitchen, full basement. Near mission hospital. Easy access to downtown. Great for Air BNB! Call Wayne at 828.279.8562. Broker is Owner.

EMPLOYMENT GENERAL AFG DISTRIBUTION FULL TIME WAREHOUSE ASSOCIATE AFG Distribution is looking for several full-time employees to join our growing shipping and receiving departments. $17.55 per hour. For more information contact us at afgdistribution. com/careers or call us at 828-252-5228. JCC HIRING CAMP COUNSELORS! Hiring ages 16+ for summer camp counselor position at the JCC. Get paid to have summer fun at the J! Free pool membership for all employees. Email daniel@ jcc-asheville.org to apply. JCC HIRING LIFEGUARDS! Hiring ages 15+ for full-time and part-time lifeguards positions summer and year-round. Free pool membership for all employees! Email wendy@jcc-asheville. org to apply.

TOUR GUIDE-CDL DRIVERS If you are a "people person" you could be a great TOUR GUIDE! Part-time and seasonal FULL-TIME. Training provided. MUST have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Call 828-436-0202 or email Info@ GrayLineAsheville.com.

and typically lasts about 7-8 hours per week. Occasional Wednesday morning delivery is is sometimes needed or can be an option. E-mail distro@ mountainx.com.

SKILLED LABOR/ TRADES

JCC HIRING RECEPTIONIST! Connect community members to all of the JCC’s programming, services, and engagement opportunities! 20 hr/wk reception job with free pool membership. Email your resume to geri@jcc-asheville. org to apply.

NEED A FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE WHERE YOU ARE EARNING A SOLID LIVING WAGE? We are looking for the best, most detailed, and punctual cleaners. Join The Nice and Fresh Cleaners Dream Team! Job Title: Cleaning Crew Member. Compensation: $17.50-$25.00 /hour. Job Types: Full-time, Part-time. Application: nicefreshclean. com/job-application/.

ADMINISTRATIVE/ OFFICE

MEDICAL/ HEALTH CARE

HIRING?

TEACHING/ EDUCATION JCC HIRING TEACHERS! Hiring lead and assistant teachers for Shalom Children's Center, a 5 star childcare center. $15-18/ hr with benefits and tuition assistance for ECE courses. Email your resume to tiffany@jcc-asheville.org to apply.

RETAIL

DRIVERS/ DELIVERY

MOUNTAIN XPRESS DELIVERY Mountain Xpress is seeking an energetic, reliable, independent contractor for part-time weekly newspaper delivery. The contractor must have a safe driving record, a reliable vehicle with proper insurance and registration, and be able to lift 50 lbs. without strain. Distribution of papers is on Tuesday mornings and afternoons

Contract position, flexible scheduling, immediate need. Must have degree in Human Services or related field. Send resumes to rcuellar@ candbsupportservices.com and bethspeace@outlook. com. Phone: 828-654-0644

NOW HIRING DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS Urgently Hiring at all locations! Starting Hourly Base Rate of Pay $16.00 plus shift differential for 2nd, 3rd, and weekends To apply send resume to : apply@ bluewestopportunities.org EOE, DFWP

HUMAN SERVICES CASE MANAGER NEEDED Case Manager needed for our CAP-DA Program in the greater Asheville area.

FULL-TIME SHIRT PRESSER NEEDED Benefits include paid vacation, sick leave and holidays. Will provide training if necessary. Apply in person at Hour Glass Cleaners, Unit #39, Innsbruck Mall, 85 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805 — 828-251-1906.

XCHANGE ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES STILL BUYING ANTIQUES Seeking old stuff! Cast iron, advertising signs, military, primitives, collections, art, pottery, estates, crocks, bottles, silver, license plates,

Advertise your job listings

Place your ad here and get a FREE online posting Contact us today! advertise@mountainx.com

THE N EW Y OR K TI M ES C ROSSWORD P UZ Z LE unusual stuff, taxidermy, rifles, bbguns, more. Call/ Text 828-582-6097,steadyaim1@yahoo.com.

SERVICES AUDIO/VIDEO HUGHESNET SATELLITE INTERNET Finally, no hard data limits! Call Today for speeds up to 25mbps as low as $59.99/mo! $75 gift card, terms apply. 1-844-416-7147. (AAN CAN)

CAREGIVERS COMPANION • CAREGIVER • LIVE-IN VACCINATED • Alzheimer's Experienced • Heart failure and bed sore care • Hospice reference letter • Nonsmoker, with cat, seeks live-in position • References • Arnold, (828) 273-2922.

EDUCATION/ TUTORING CONVENIENT IN HOME GUITAR LESSONS Fun in home guitar lessons. I have been playing guitar for 30 years. Teaching for 20. I offer a general course in guitar. Focusing on building good technique with a wide range of materials. (828)713-7158.

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS BATH & SHOWER UPDATES In as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 1-877-649-5043 (AAN CAN) BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 844-511-1836. (AAN CAN) COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 1-855-5544616. The Mission Program Information and Tuition is located at CareerTechnical. edu/consumer-information. (AAN CAN) DIRECTV SATELLITE TV Service Starting at $74.99/ month! Free Installation! 160+ channels available. Call Now to Get the Most Sports & Entertainment on TV! 877310-2472 (AAN CAN) DO YOU OWE OVER $10,000 TO THE IRS OR STATE IN BACK TAXES? Our firm works to reduce the tax bill or zero it out completely FAST. Let us help! Call 877414-2089. (AAN CAN) (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST)

DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting Trucks, Motorcycles & RV’s, too! Fast Free Pickup – Running or Not - 24 Hour Response Maximum Tax Donation. Call 877-266-0681. (AAN CAN) HENSEL PHELPS CONSTRUCTION CO. - ASHEVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION TRADE OPPORTUNITIES Hensel Phelps has been selected as the Construction Manager for the Terminal Building Modernization Project at the Asheville Regional Airport in Asheville, North Carolina, and is requesting proposals on its Baggage Handling System scope. The Baggage Handling System scope has been revised and re-issued as a part of Bid Package #2, which is the second of three anticipated work packages associated with this project. The overall Terminal Building Modernization Project expands and modernizes the existing single-story, seven-gate terminal building to a two-story building with a minimum of 12 gates. The overall size of the structure will be approximately 275,000 sqft. NC statutes require all first-tier trade partners to be pre-qualified or your proposal will not be considered. Thus, if you have not yet completed and submitted the pre-qualification questionnaire, please do so immediately. The pre-qualification form can be accessed via the following link: avl.mx/bc1. Bid Proposals for the revised Baggage Handling System scope is due no later than May 17th, 2022 @ 3:00 PM Eastern.

TOP CA$H PAID FOR OLD GUITARS! 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D'Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. 877-589-0747 (AAN CAN) TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 1-866-243-5931. (M-F 8am-6pm ET) (AAN CAN) WATER DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME? Call for a quote for professional cleanup & maintain the value of your home! Set an appt. today! Call 833-664-1530 (AAN CAN)

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT

edited by Will Shortz | No. 0413

ACROSS 1 Ending with walk or run 4 Grape group 9 Exude irrepressibly 13 Poppable muscle, informally 14 Popular Japanese brew 15 Experts

PUZZLE BY REBECCA GOLDSTEIN 6

19 22

23 27

24 28

34 36 42

20 “Don’t worry”

9 15

19 Polo of “The Fosters”

24 .com alternative

ASTRO-COUNSELING Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Stellar Counseling Services. Christy Gunther, MA, LCMHC. (828) 258-3229.

CASH FOR CARS! We buy all cars! Junk, high-end, totaled – it doesn’t matter! Get free towing and same day cash! NEWER MODELS too! Call 866-535-9689. (AAN CAN)

16 Scorpion’s stinger

22 Less soaked

18 Ikea department

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

COUNSELING SERVICES

AUTOMOTIVE

51 54 58

25 Lose 27 “Already?” 29 Likely answer to “Who wants ice cream?” 30 Festival, in Arabic 31 Awe and Tay, for two 32 One to tip 34 Breading for tonkatsu 35 Tortilla dough 36 Bring stress or agitation to 37 ___ large 41 South American capital with the world’s longest urban gondola 44 Nuclear codes? 46 Zero out 47 Plead 48 Therein lies the rub! 49 Bit of metadata 51 Wet weather wear 53 Poet’s sphere 54 Coverer 56 Portion 57 Word with sitter or steps 59 Good name for a black cat with white feet 61 Commander, in Arabic

62 Mt. Fuji setting 63 1990s TV nerd 64 Is that what ewe said? 65 Uber-enthusiast 66 Part of a child’s bedtime ritual 67 Stale

21 Artist who said “A line is a dot that went for a walk”

40 Promo 42 “Rush!” 43 Perseus’ horse

23 Breaker

44 Mousse alternative

26 The “A” of A.Q.I.

45 Bigwigs may have big ones

28 Exhibited

46 Actress Margot of “Bombshell”

31 Hardly strict

47 Carnival hypeman

33 One to tip

DOWN 1 “That’s good” thinking 2 “That’s good thinking!” 3 Cutter 4 Rotten 5 Something heard secondhand?

34 Candy once marketed as a smoking cessation aid

49 Case of emergency? 50 Clear

36 Big tub

51 Geico “spokeslizard”

38 One name for the game depicted in this puzzle

52 “Nevertheless, ___ persisted” 55 Dessert wine

6 Mother-of-pearl

39 Like Rome starting in the first century B.C.

7 “Parasite” actor Woo-shik

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE

8 Adds to the team, so to speak

V O L E S

A H E A P

11 Fictional character partially inspired by Mexican folklore

B L I P

L A M E

C A N T A L O U P E

12 Provide digital approval

A R L O

N E O N

N A T S

9 Go (for) 10 Cookie-flavored cereal

17 Apt rhyme for chop and crop

A R I A

Y T E R N I T C A S K A S T E C I R N D R Y E I R N C B T E A O Y A N I R A S A R E T D

MOUNTAINX.COM

58 Himalayan ox 60 Foxy

A U T O

I N C U R

D A N D E S A P M C E G R E I E E

L T E O H B R S E E E F R C A I T E R H L A S S T A T S A O T D I D C

E P E E S O G R E D I N O

MAY 18-24, 2022

T R I X

R A G A

A H E M

T W E E D L E D U M

W A N D

O N T O

C L A I M

D E L T A 35