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. 43 M AY 25 - 31, 2022
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PARTY FOUL A closer look at WNC’s unaffiliated voters
NOW HIRING Local governments take different approaches to address staffing woes
14 GARDENING WITH XPRESS What to do with all those dandelions?
18 ON-CAMPUS CARE School-based health center opens at Asheville Middle School
COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick
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LETTERS
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SNAPSHOT
16 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 24 ‘THE BEST OF THE BEST’ AVL Beer Week returns
18 WELLNESS 20 ARTS & CULTURE 30 CLUBLAND
28 AROUND TOWN ‘The Asheville View’ welcomes back a live audience at Asheville Community Theatre
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A year after the 75-foot obelisk honoring Zebulon Baird Vance was removed from Pack Square in downtown Asheville, many local historians view its absence as a step in the right direction. Meanwhile, leaders at area historical sites continue to expand exhibits, creating a more comprehensive view of the region’s past to learn from it and create lasting change.
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OPINION
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Hendersonville project is neither smart nor sustainable
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Spend occupancy taxes on our community [Regarding “Commissioners Approve $4.9M for Pre-K Expansion, Affordable Housing,” May 11, Xpress:] I am definitely of the opinion that the occupancy tax should continue to be collected. Goodness knows, we have no shortage of tourists, so we don’t need to offer them a tax-break incentive to come! But I am equally certain that tax should be spent on our community, not on more tourism. If we could see more of the economic benefit of our tourism industry, perhaps that industry could be appreciated more as an asset to our community. I say to use the money toward food insecurity, homelessness, city cleanups and affordable housing. Heck, we should also spend it on taking care of our parks and recreational areas; goodness knows they get a lot of wear and tear from all the visitors. Before I moved, I was a visitor here to Asheville many times in the past, and I would never have begrudged that extra tax going to help take care of the city I loved to visit so much. And I certainly wouldn’t have really noticed it among all the other outgoing cash flows for everything on my
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trip. It’s part of traveling. Particularly when you travel to a big tourist area or an area with sensitive natural areas or limited natural resources. I think it would be a ridiculous waste of revenue to stop collecting a tax that visitors are used to paying. But it certainly should be used to benefit the community and keep it the strong, wonderful place that people would like to visit. — Brandi Andrade Asheville
Occupancy taxes should pay for services [Regarding “Commissioners Approve $4.9M for Pre-K Expansion, Affordable Housing,” May 11, Xpress:] This state’s ruling to use the tax monies for tourism advertising does not make sense from a fiscal standpoint. The funds should be used to benefit the communities and to pay for city and county services such as infrastructure. Having sidewalks, road improvements and replacement of inadequate sewer pipes will benefit both tourists and residents. — Anne Barker Asheville
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What about smart, sustainable growth? There is a $4 million development proposal imminent before Hendersonville City Council for final vote on June 2. It involves decimating a 161-acre farm composed of gentle rolling hills, pastureland, forest and wetlands. The plan to build 461 dwelling units, composed of 300 apartments across 13 buildings and 161 single-family homes is ill-advised, impractical and, frankly, insane. This means that 900-plus cars a day would empty onto a 20-foot-wide minor thoroughfare, a road that now sees perhaps 15-25 cars twice a day. Of course, the plan to fit all these cars is to widen the road to 70 feet. This will involve clear-cutting a 50-foot-wide swath of first-growth mature trees in the forest. There is a large wildlife habitat/corridor on the property and includes white squirrels, rabbits, possums, raccoons, deer, turkey, hawks, birds, waterfowl, cranes and herons. These animals, as well as a balanced aquatic ecosystem, are supported by the wetlands, a system of waterways emanating from Mud Creek. The wildlife habitat and aquatic ecosystem will most certainly be destroyed by development construction, reduced or absent canopy cover to guard against predators and the magnified noise level from construction. Further, the development will empty the aforementioned 900plus cars onto Tracy Grove Road, an already curvy and dangerous road. The intersection of Tracy Grove Road and Dana Road, as well as the Duncan Hill Road and Four Seasons Boulevard intersection, will be highly impacted as well. Even if road improvements were made and traffic were redesigned, this would take close to a year. Drivers in the city are already fed up with the maze of traffic problems that exist. We don’t need more development in the city when our streets can barely sustain what we currently carry. These are just a few of the many reasons why this development is neither smart nor sustainable growth. This decision will impact the entire city, not just our neighborhood. Please contact all City Council members and the mayor with your resolute “no.” Your voice makes a
CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN difference. Go to [avl.mx/blp] for member contact information. — Friends of Tracy Grove Stephanie Sawyer Hendersonville
Schools’ funding requests boggle the mind [Regarding “Local Schools Seek Major Support From Buncombe Leaders,” May 18, Xpress:] The school funding increase request amount is ludicrous, and the comment about waiting for incoming board members to take action on cost allocations is even more ludicrous. This certainly gives the state and voters more motivation to consolidate the Asheville City Schools system with the county. I’d certainly vote for that. A reasonable increase to fund salaries and other needed school facility improvements makes total sense. But these mind-boggling proposed numbers will and should be ridiculed. — Pat Fox Asheville
Free your children from government schools now! [Regarding “Local Schools Seek Major Support From Buncombe
Leaders,” May 18, Xpress:] With government school enrollments decreasing, while operating two separate, antiquated government school systems, people do not need, nor should they tolerate, any more tax increases for any “educational” B.S.! When will Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools consolidate into all one for equity, inclusion, diversity, for the children and the taxpayers? There is no valid reason to operate separate systems, but now, for decades, the evil conflicting failing systems keep costing more and more! Enough of the educational gouging by resistant racist white Democrat controllers! Get your children out of government indoctrination centers as fast as you can! Help us shut down the U.S. Department of Education and the evil National Education Association and the North Carolina Association of Educators once and for all! — F. Caudle Asheville
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
MAY 25-31, 2022
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NEWS
Party foul
A closer look at WNC’s unaffiliated voters BY JESSICA WAKEMAN jwakeman@mountainx.com Amber Hall is what many people would recognize as a Western North Carolina conservative. She loves that the people of WNC are hardworking and still say “yes, ma’am” and “no, sir.” She thinks some novels available in schools, like The Bluest Eye and The Handmaid’s Tale, have inappropriate sexual content. And as someone who commutes to Hendersonville from Polk County every day, she is concerned about politicians not knowing the price of gas. But that doesn’t mean Republican candidates automatically receive Hall’s vote. She has been registered as an unaffiliated voter “as long as I can remember,” she tells Xpress. North Carolina voters can register with one of three political parties — Republican, Democratic and Libertarian — or as unaffiliated. The
last has become an increasingly popular option, both in WNC and across the state. As of May 21, Buncombe County had over 83,000 unaffiliated voters, more than the county’s roughly 75,000 Democrats, 46,000 Republicans and 1,700 Libertarians. Carolina Demography, a project of the UNC Carolina Population Center, reports that unaffiliated voters in the state ballooned by 65% from 2010-21, from about 1.45 million to 2.4 million, and surpassed registered Democrats in March. North Carolina created the unaffiliated voter registration category in 1978, notes Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper. But registering as independent, he continues, didn’t gain steam until the Republican and Democratic parties opened their primaries to unaffiliated voters in 1988 and 1996, respectively.
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INDEPENDENCE DAY: Until a change occurs that enables more variety in political parties on the ballot, unaffiliated voters intend to scrutinize each candidate on their positions. Image via iStock As a group, the state’s independent voters defy easy categorization. Although Cooper notes that young people — millennials, specifically — and newcomers to North Carolina are driving the growth of independent voter rolls, “There is not one unaffiliated voter,” he says. “The reality is, there’s a variety of motivations [to register unaffiliated].” Local unaffiliated voters who spoke with Xpress about their reasons for registering as independent shared a distrust of party-backed politicians, as well as a desire that the options on North Carolina ballots would represent a wider spectrum of political beliefs. ‘FOOL ME ONCE’ “There are a true growing amount of independents who are disillusioned with the two-party system, and I think it’s awesome,” says real estate agent Grace Barron-Martinez, who says she registered as unaffiliated “as soon as I figured out it made sense to do so.” She feels particularly frustrated with Democrats for not fulfilling promises. “I feel like Democrats say things that make it sound like they’re going to do things that I would want — but then in reality, they almost never do,” Barron-Martinez explains, citing student loan forgiveness as one policy the national Democratic Party has pledged but not prioritized. Juan Holladay, an Asheville resident who works for the justice system in Buncombe County, voices a similar frustration. He is currently registered as unaffiliated, although he has registered as both a Democrat and a Republican to vote for specific candidates in previous elections. He feels that the current Democratic Party has what he calls a
“fake liberal agenda” and has failed to back issues it claims to support. “It seems like anything I’ve ever really cared about on a grassroots level, it’s always been the Democrats I have to fight first,” he says with a wry laugh. “If you get past that, you can get on with it and you can fight with Republicans.” Holladay experienced what he alleges was excessive force by Asheville Police Department officers in 2011; that incident has led him to participate in several protests around police accountability in Asheville. He feels the Democratic Party is not addressing the issue of police brutality as seriously as he wants it to “at the local level and national level,” he explains. “My cynical point of view is that the Democratic Party’s job is to stifle progress in that direction.” Barron-Martinez stops short of describing herself as disappointed in the Democratic Party. Instead, she says she’s come to expect that she’ll be let down by it. That’s why registering for a political party was off the table for her. “I won’t be fooled again. Fool me once …” she says with a chuckle. As a self-described “leftist,” BarronMartinez notes that some Democratic politicians pay lip service to traditionally liberal priorities like the environment. However, she argues that their actual policies or behaviors contradict their claims. “I almost think it’s more dangerous at this point to have people who are saying they’re my friend and they’re not my friend,” she explains. Hall, who has more conservative leanings, echoes similar thoughts. “I don’t feel like it’s a real two-party system — I feel like it’s a uniparty system,” she tells Xpress. “Because the Democrats and the Republicans are doing the same thing, just in different ways.”
“I tend to vote for candidates who are more aligned with my values rather than parties.”
The Polk County voter particularly worries about what she sees as a boys’ club among Republican politicians: “As a whole, I feel like the Republicans are more, ‘Let’s do it backdoor, good-old-buddy system. We’ll meet over coffee and we’ll make this decision.’” (As to her frustration with Democrats, Hall says, “The other party is more screaming in your face, shove it down your throat.”) Hall wants to see more transparency and accountability among the politicians who earn her vote. “We elected them there,” she says. “They should answer to us, the constituents.” READING THE LABELS Several independent voters interviewed by Xpress say they vote for candidates, not parties. Holladay, for example, voted for Republican candidate Ron Paul, a former U.S. representative from Texas, in the 2008 presidential primary. “I tend to vote for candidates who are more aligned with my values rather than parties,” explains small-business owner Nicolette Baglio of Asheville. “I don’t really say I’m a Democrat, I don’t really say I’m a liberal [and] I’m definitely not a Republican.” Baglio would like to see changes regarding approaches to Asheville’s homeless population. (The city’s 2022 point-in-time count found that unsheltered homelessness in Buncombe County had doubled since 2021.) “What I’m gathering from a larger crowd here — even Democrats — [is] people being extremely concenred about the homeless situation and how bad that’s gotten in Asheville and how it’s effected their downtown businesses,” she says. Over the past several years, Baglio continues, “Some of the things in Asheville … have caused me and a lot of Democrats to move back towards the center on certain things.” More left-leaning politicians, whom she refers to “as having more extreme socialist views,” are prompting her to seek more middle ground in the voting booth. Barron-Martinez says party affiliation can be misleading. For example, she didn’t think David Hurley, a candidate for Buncombe County sheriff, or Doug Edwards, a candidate for Buncombe County district attorney, should have ran as Democrats in their respective primaries. Their positions, she says, are more right-leaning. “People just run as Democrats in Asheville, which shows how meaningless it is anyway,” she says. BarronMartinez says she admires City Council member Kim Roney, a candidate for Asheville mayor, because she is running as an independent. Baglio also wants voters to scrutinize candidates and show more
— Nicolette Baglio, small-business owner
NEW NEIGHBORS: Millennials and newcomers to North Carolina are driving the growth of independent voter rolls, explains Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper. Photo courtesy of Cooper caution before entrusting them with power. “I believe that we as voters have to do a better job and stop trying to elect shiny objects and really look at the candidate and their experience and what they can bring,” she says. “Because these positions are no joke.” LOCKED OUT
has attempted to collect signatures to get on the state ballot as a Green Party candidate for Senate. Yet new parties face substantial hurdles to be recognized in the state. According to the N.C. State Board of Elections, to be recognized as a political party, a group of voters must either have had its presidential or gubernatorial candidate receive 2% of the vote in the most recent general election; collect signatures from 0.25% of all registered voters, including at least 200 voters from three different congressional districts; or have a candidate for the most recent presidential election who was nominated for the general election in at least 35 states. The Libertarian Party has met at least one of those thresholds since 2008. But the Constitution and Green parties, which earned recognition through the signature and presidential candidate methods, respectively, in 2018, lost their status in 2021 due to low vote counts.
Candidates who chose to run in partisan races without a party’s backing also have a challenging path to the ballot. They must gather signatures equivalent to 4% of all voters in the area they hope to represent by the day of the primary election for their office and do so by an earlier deadline than required by most other states. “It’s just so hard to run and win as an unaffiliated,” says WCU’s Cooper. “There’s just no way to break through the noise, get on the debate stage and to tap into fundraising networks.” But until a change occurs that enables more variety on the ballot, unaffiliated voters like Hall will scrutinize each candidate. “The more I talk to people, the more they think like this. They’re like ‘This is crazy; this is getting out of hand,’” Hall explains. “What happened to doing what is best for us as Americans? Why does it have to be you [versus me]? Why can’t we just be Americans?” X
Some unaffiliated voters tell Xpress they would prefer additional political parties in North Carolina that reflect a wider spectrum of views. “A lot of people run as Democrats that I vote for, but generally speaking, that wouldn’t be my preference. I would much prefer to vote for a third party,” says Barron-Martinez. She expresses support for Matthew Hoh, a veteran in Wake Forest who
UNFULFILLED PROMISES: Grace Barron-Martinez of Asheville says she is registered as unaffiliated because “I feel like Democrats say things that make it sound like they’re going to do things that I would want — but then in reality, they almost never do.” Photo courtesy of Barron-Martinez MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 25-31, 2022
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NEWS
Now hiring BY BROOKE RANDLE brandle@mountainx.com From retail stores and dining to health care and manufacturing, employers around the country and in Western North Carolina are experiencing a labor shortage. Between the “Great Resignation” — the wave of people leaving jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic — historically low unemployment rates and a reduced labor force, the staffing crisis has been particularly acute for jobs that require in-person attendance, offer low wages or come with high stress levels. Local governments have not been spared. Both the city of Asheville and Buncombe County are feeling the employment squeeze. Buncombe County spokesperson Kassi Day says that, as of April 25, the county had 178 positions open out of its roughly 1,500-person workforce. Departments with the most vacancies include the Buncombe
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County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center, 911 Communications and Emergency Services. Meanwhile, Asheville spokesperson Kim Miller says the city was 134 vacancies short of its approximately 1,200-employee target as of May 19. The Asheville Police Department currently has the most job openings, followed by the city’s Public Works Department, which oversees waste removal and sanitation. Xpress took a look at the hardest-hit local departments to learn how job openings might be impacting residents and what governments are doing to hire staff amid nationwide recruitment challenges. COPPING SOME COPS APD Public Information Officer Bill Davis says that while the police’s staffing prospects are slightly better than a year ago, when the department announced a critical employee shortage, it’s still experiencing challenges retaining and recruiting new officers. APD had 52 sworn officer vacancies out of 238 funded roles as of May 4, including patrol, criminal investigations and community engagement positions. That number is down from 72 vacancies in April of last year; in June 2021, City Council raised starting officer annual pay by over 20% to about $45,000. Last June, APD announced that it would not respond to certain types of calls as a result of staffing shortages. That policy remains in place, says Davis, and he doesn’t know when the department will change practices. But he emphasizes that public safety remains a top priority. “Increasing our staffing levels requires men and women willing to
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Local governments take different approaches to address staffing woes
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APPLICANTS’ MARKET: Both Buncombe County and the city of Asheville are experiencing staffing shortages across multiple departments. Illustration by Scott Southwick serve with APD, but also a commitment by leaders in the community and support from the public that serving as a law enforcement officer for the Asheville Police Department is quite honorable,” he says. Thirteen recruits are currently in basic law enforcement training and are due to graduate in early June, with field training starting in mid-July. The next class will begin training in late June and currently has 12 recruits enrolled. JAILHOUSE BLUES Aaron Sarver, spokesperson for the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, says that his agency is also experiencing shortages. But com-
pared with the APD, the Sheriff’s Office is down fewer officers in enforcement positions, such as detectives and patrol. Only 14 positions are open for those roles out of about 200, which Sarver attributes to the department leading the region in wages. He says a starting Buncombe patrol officer makes $45,623 per year. Instead, the bulk of his department’s vacancies are within the Buncombe County Detention Center, which is short 42 officers out of roughly 200. Sarver maintains that despite the numbers, the Sheriff’s Office still meets the minimal staffing requirements regulated by the state. (The jail has faced recent criticism over inmate safety, with a January report by the Citizen Times finding that the detention facility had the worst death rate of any jail in North Carolina from 2008-21.) He says that COVID-19 protocols made the already difficult job of managing inmates in a congregate living system even more challenging for detention officers, who became responsible for duties such as temperature checks and enhanced cleaning. “It’s a tough, demanding job. And you know, we were paying people $19 an hour,” Sarver explains. “But in this labor market, when it’s fairly easy to find a lot of fast-food places starting at $18, $19, $20 an hour, that’s tough.” To remain competitive, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller requested a pay raise of up to $7
SNAPSHOT per hour for all jail employees. The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $3 hourly bump at its April 19 meeting, at an estimated annual cost to taxpayers of $864,000. Sarver says that the raise is an improvement. “We’d love to cut those 42 positions in half,” he adds. “Hopefully, the pay raise will be a big boost. I think time will tell on that.” TRASH AND TRANSIT City spokesperson Miller says that Asheville’s Public Works Department, which oversees sanitation, stormwater and street cleaning, is down about 20 employees from a workforce of over 160. Greg Shuler, Asheville’s public works director, explains it’s particularly hard to hire highly specialized roles like garbage truck operators with workers in high demand by other employers. During this year’s annual retreat, Council members voted to make “improving/expanding core services” one of their priorities for the year, a move that Shuler praised. However, Council and city staffers shared no specific goals or metrics for those priorities. Meanwhile, Miller says that the city’s Transit Division is approximately 26% below its regular staffing levels. One consequence of the ongoing vacancies is reduced capacity for Asheville’s bus system, including regularly reduced service on several routes and sporadically missed trips on others. While members of Council are considering a $1.1 million allocation to implement the next phase of the Transit Master Plan, which would extend evening hours and route frequency, Asheville Finance Director Tony McDowell warned at an April 12 work session that bus driver shortages would likely delay the implementation of those extensions. EMERGENCY MEASURES Van Taylor Jones, who heads Buncombe County’s Emergency Services, says his department is growing in response to an estimated 30% increase in call volume over the last two years. “What we’re seeing is the new normal. We’re being proactive. We’re seeing an increase in call volume; we’re putting on additional staff to meet that demand,” he says. But funding positions is different from finding workers. The department had 22 vacancies as of April 27, 14 of which were newly created paramedic positions approved earlier this fiscal year by the Board of Commissioners.
One result of the ongoing staffing shortages is that emergency response times have risen well above national standards. During an Oct. 19 briefing, the Board of Commissioners heard that for 90% of Buncombe’s emergency calls, an ambulance is on-scene within 18 minutes of dispatch, around double the goal set by the National Fire Protection Association. Jones says that the workforce problems reflect a national trend induced by pandemic-related burnout and low wages. He says that fewer folks are interested in pursuing the highstress career. “We’ve really not had a lot of turnover, per se. Our [pre-pandemic] turnover rates have been around 20%, which is basically in line with what the national average is,” he explains. “Now, we’re seeing 30%35%. You’re seeing a national EMS shortage. You’re seeing the national paramedic shortage; you’re seeing a national nursing and health care shortage.” HELP WANTED Both the city and the county are considering wage increases for their employees as residents throughout the area cope with inflation and rising housing costs. During an April 26 budget work session, Asheville staff floated a 4% wage increase for employees hired before Jan. 1, as well as a 2.5% increase for employees hired after that date, with an estimated annual cost of about $3 million. The city’s lowest-paid positions start at $15 per hour, short of the $17.70 hourly living wage rate established earlier this year by Just Economics of WNC, although city leaders emphasize that those employees also receive as much as $15,000 annually in retirement contributions and other benefits. “We are trying to be competitive,” City Manager Debra Campbell told members of Council April 26. “It’s a battle right now.” Meanwhile, Buncombe County is reviewing a 4.7% cost-of-living increase for its current employees at an estimated annual cost of about $5.7 million, along with nearly $5 million in raises tied to the county’s recently completed compensation study. Buncombe is also considering adding 61 new positions, representing the largest staff expansion since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s an applicant’s market,” adds Caroline Long, Buncombe County’s lead recruiter. “Since the pandemic, people are wanting to work remotely or are reevaluating their career choices in their lives and thinking about what is really important to them.” X
GOING UP: Asheville City Hall will soon bid farewell to its last manually operated elevator, original to the building’s 1928 construction. Since 2020, the city has worked with Weaver Cooke Construction and MHA Works to restore and modernize the building’s three cabs, sequentially. Featured, left, is the newly restored and automatic elevator No. 1, which will soon be open to the public; on the right is elevator No. 3, which will remain operational until No. 1 is ready for public use. Restoration is currently underway for elevator No. 2. Photos by Thomas Calder
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MAY 25-31, 2022
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NEWS
Lessons learned
Five takeaways from Buncombe’s 2022 primaries
BY DANIEL WALTON dwalton@mountainx.com Buncombe County’s busy primary season drew to a close May 17, with about 27,700 Election Day voters joining the nearly 26,200 citizens who had cast their ballots by mail or at one-stop early voting sites. The approximately 26.4% turnout of registered county voters far exceeded that for Buncombe’s two most recent midterm elections in 2014 and 2018 (about 15% and 16%, respectively) and outpaced the statewide turnout of roughly 19.7%. The county Board of Elections won’t officially certify the results until Friday, May 27, and the N.C. Board of Elections will issue its own certification Thursday, June 9. But even with those steps still to come, there’s plenty to learn from the unofficial results. Below are five takeaways from primary races for offices that represent Buncombe County residents. More details are available through Xpress’ election night coverage at avl.mx/blj. A FAREWELL TO CAWTHORN The Republican primary for U.S. House District 11 had attracted national interest thanks to the polarizing figure of Rep. Madison Cawthorn. On the incumbent’s side were name recognition and the endorsement of former President Donald Trump; arrayed against him was the candidate’s own litany of controversial behavior, as well as establishment Republicans such as North Carolina’s U.S. senators, Richard Burr and Thom Tillis. That opposition coalesced around one such establishment Republican, state Sen. Chuck Edwards, who captured 29,399 votes (33.42%) in the eight-way race to edge out Cawthorn’s 28,046 (31.88%). Although Cawthorn was the top candidate in 12 of the 15 counties comprising District 11, Edwards placed second or third in all of them, and he dominated populous Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania counties — all of which he has represented in the state legislature. No other candidate received more than 9.5% of the vote. Edwards will face Democrat Jasmine-Beach Ferrara in November. The current Buncombe commissioner won a comfortable victory on the Democratic side, with nearly 60% of votes cast. 10
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WHAT’S IN THE BOX? A receptacle awaits completed ballots at the East Asheville Library. Photo by Jennifer Castillo INDEPENDENTS ARE FLEXIBLE Unaffiliated voters in North Carolina have the option to vote in primary elections for either major party. In Buncombe County, those independents were divided almost evenly, a striking change from 2020’s primaries. This time, nearly 4,700 Buncombe independents took the Republican ballot in early voting, while about 4,500 took the Democratic option. By contrast, in 2020, over 10,300 unaffiliated Buncombe residents voted Democratic, with about 2,100 choosing the Republican ballot. Some Democratic activists, including former U.S. House District 11 candidate Moe Davis, had encouraged registered Democrats to become unaffiliated this year so they could vote in the Republican primary against Cawthorn. Party leadership, including Buncombe County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Rose, did not endorse that strategy. DIVIDED ON JUSTICE The Democratic primary for Buncombe County District Attorney — which, given the lack of any Republican candidate, will almost certainly decide the seat — showed county voters to be of three different minds on criminal justice. Those in favor of the status quo appear to have narrowly prevailed, with incumbent Todd Williams taking 10,851 votes (34.74%). But Courtney Booth, who campaigned as a “reform DA” opposed to capital punishment, cash bail and mass incarceration,
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trailed him in the provisional results as of May 23 by just 123 votes. (As of press time, Booth had not conceded the race and said she was waiting for the county canvas of votes May 27.) Doug Edwards, who campaigned on his prosecutorial record and positioned himself as tougher on crime than Williams, also ran a strong race, earning 9,258 votes (29.64%). In 2018, a two-way Democratic DA primary between Williams and Ben Scales had the challenger receive 11,418 votes (46.75%). INCUMBENTS ARE STICKY Several races for positions in county government and the state legislature showed high levels of support for current officeholders. The night’s biggest margin of victory, for example, went to Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller, who bested challenger David Hurley in the Democratic primary by over 72 percentage points. Miller will face Republican Jeff Worley, who took 10,690 votes (58.43%) to beat Ben Jaramillo. Buncombe County Commissioner Al Whitesides also won a decisive Democratic primary victory over Bill Branyon. The challenger had attracted support from many progressives in the pages of Xpress due to his criticism of county subsidies for aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. But Whitesides said most voters he had encountered were more concerned with local issues such as homelessness, prekindergarten access and affordable housing. Whitesides’
Republican opponent in November will be Anthony Penland. In the Republican primary for N.C. Senate District 46, incumbent Warren Daniel won with 12,391 votes (61.32%) over Mark Crawford with 7,816 (38.68%). Crawford, a resident of Black Mountain, did beat Daniel in all of the district’s Buncombe precincts, but Morganton-based Daniel exceeded Crawford’s total support with votes from Burke County alone. Democrat Billy Martin of Marion will face Crawford in November. And state Sen. Julie Mayfield emerged with 16,033 votes (68.28%) in a Democratic primary for N.C. Senate District 49 that saw her repeatedly attacked by challenger and Asheville City Council member Sandra Kilgore. Republican John Anderson of Candler will run against Mayfield in the general election. ASHEVILLE’S FUTURE STAYS FEMALE City of Asheville voters first picked a City Council of all women in 2020, and if this year’s primary results are an indication, that gender balance isn’t likely to change in 2022. Of the six candidates advancing to the general election, only one — Andrew Fletcher, who finished in sixth with 4,389 votes (7.68%) — is male. At the top of the Council pack, with 9,603 votes (16.79%) was Maggie Ullman Berthiaume. Incumbents Sheneika Smith and Antanette Mosley finished second and third, respectively, while Allison Scott and Nina Tovish rounded out those qualifying for November’s ballot. In the mayoral race, Mayor Esther Manheimer and current Council member Kim Roney will go on to the general election after beating out three male candidates. With 8,808 (42.29%) and 6,964 (33.43%) votes, respectively, the two finished much closer than did Manheimer and challenger Martin Ramsey in the 2017 primary, where the incumbent had a nearly 6,800-vote margin of victory. Women also led polling for the Asheville City Board of Education. The top three vote-getters were Amy Ray, Sarah Thornburg and Rebecca Strimer; the top male candidate, in fourth place, was Pepi Acebo. Liza English-Kelly, Jesse J. Warren, William (Bill) Young Jr. and Miri Massachi round out the eight-person field from which voters will choose four to sit on the board in November. X
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NEWS
BUNCOMBE BEAT
Buncombe approves $17 minimum wage for county staff As housing prices and the cost of living in Buncombe County continue to rise, county employees may be getting a little relief. The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the minimum wage for all full- and part-time government workers from $15 to $17 per hour during its May 19 meeting. As presented by Sharon Burke, the county’s human resources director, the move comes after a two-year examination of employee compensation across 16 other government agencies comparable to Buncombe County for 177 types of job. The study also reviewed wages for Buncombe’s nearly 1,200 employees and found that salary changes were needed for 649 positions. Burke explained that departments with the lowest earners will see the greatest increases overall. Salaries will also be adjusted to account for employees’ years of experience and their jobs’ levels of expertise and complexity. Implementing the wage increases is expected to cost $5.1 million per year; the new rates became effective May 21. During public comment, 15 people — most of whom said they were current Buncombe County employees — spoke out about the rate of pay. Alexandra Duncan, who has worked for Buncombe County Public Libraries for 14 years, said her department is one of the county’s lowest paid, with most employees making $11-$15 an hour. “Many of us have reached a breaking point. I have colleagues who can no longer afford housing, who go to food banks to feed themselves, who work multiple jobs to make ends meet,” Duncan said. “I know stellar librarians who have left the county because they could not live under these conditions. Two of the seven staff at my library resigned this week to seek better opportunities elsewhere. And we have another position left unfilled since February.” Meanwhile, Chris Kingsley, a bus driver and instructional assistant at Hominy Valley Elementary School, argued that his current hourly wage made it “impossible to live” in the county without multiple jobs, He said low pay was creating a staffing shortage across his department. “I’ve worked at several schools and I have not met a single hourly employee at any school I’ve ever worked at who doesn’t either have a second job to make ends meet or live off the income of a spouse, a loved one or a roommate. It can’t be done,” Kingsley said. “This staff shortage that we’re talking about:
FULL HOUSE: Fifteen members of the public spoke out about wage increases for county employees at the May 19 Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meeting. Photo by Brooke Randle It’s not speculation, it’s not something that’s coming. It’s happening now. There are no bus drivers.” Vicki Meath, executive director of Just Economics of Western North Carolina, also spoke during public comment and advocated for the county to meet the $17.70 hourly living wage set by her organization. She said the higher pay would help employees offset Buncombe’s housing costs. But board Chair Brownie Newman explained that the commissioners had settled on the $17 hourly rate in part because they also planned to vote on a 4.6% wage increase for all employees as an adjustment for inflation. If approved as part of the fiscal year 2022-23 budget, Newman said, that increase would boost the county’s minimum wage to $17.79 starting in July.
new positions across 23 departments, $2 million for reparations, $2.3 million for affordable housing support and a $10.3 million increase in education spending. Representing a 10.9% growth over last year’s education spending, the boost exceeds the 6.2% growth rate in projected county revenue. But the Asheville and Buncombe school systems had asked for increases of up to 32%, citing challenges with staff recruitment and
retention. Commissioners also did not approve a request by Asheville City Schools for a 13% increase in the supplemental tax assessed on property within the school district. A public hearing on the recommended budget is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7. The board is expected to vote on adopting the budget Tuesday, June 21.
— Brooke Randle X
Pinder presents county budget recommendations During the May 19 meeting, County Manager Avril Pinder presented her recommended fiscal year 202223 budget. General fund spending is estimated at $399.2 million; expenses are anticipated to exceed revenues by roughly $16.8 million, requiring the county’s to dip into its fiscal reserves. The budget includes a property tax rate of 48.8 cents per $100 of valuation, unchanged from the previous year. New spending includes funding for 60 MOUNTAINX.COM
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GARDENING WITH XPRESS
What to do with all those dandelions? Hello, busy gardeners! I hope you’ve been enjoying our local abundance of plant sales and that your gardens are thriving. This month’s reader questions were about fertilizers and weeds, and my answers are practical and, hopefully, mind-expanding. Before we jump into those, a reminder to email me your questions at gardening@mountainx.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
USE PEE, IT’S FREE! My all-time favorite nitrogen fertilizer is pee. Yes, human urine! It’s rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as lots of secondary and micronutrients that plants need for growth. Your pee is basically a well-balanced plant food that comes right out of your body every day, at no cost. I use it as a liquid fertilizer, mixed 50/50 with water. To learn more about fertilizing with pee and about soil fertility in general, check out the Wild Abundance Online Gardening School that I co-created, avl.mx/bbd.
How much nitrogen to add to garden soil? Nitrogen is a very important part of soil fertility, as it fuels green growth in all plants. When vegetables are looking yellowish or not growing well, it’s likely due to a lack of nitrogen. However, too much can inhibit seed germination, as well as flowering and fruiting, while increasing susceptibility to pests, leading to large vegetables that lack in flavor.
What to do about dandelions? BON APPÉTIT: Yes, dandelions are invasive, but all parts of the tenacious weed are also edible and offer plenty of health benefits. Photo courtesy of Chloe Lieberman As with much of our lives, balance is key. TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING
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growing, if need be. Liquid fertilizers are easier to add after the fact than powders, although both are doable. To add meals and powders to already established plants, simply sprinkle the fertilizer around the base of the plant (not touching the plant) and scratch it into the soil about half an inch with your hand or a small hand tool, then water it. For liquid fertilizers, just mix them at the appropriate rate with water in a watering can, or use a hose with a siphon mixer.
Another important quality of nitrogen is that it’s extremely water soluble, meaning it is unstable and can easily leach out of soil. Loss of nitrogen is much greater in uncovered soils with low organic matter, so caring for overall soil health is a way to keep nitrogen levels optimal. Regular additions of nitrogen in some form are important, however, overapplication of nitrogen fertilizer can run into creeks, streams and groundwater. This runoff causes plants and algae to grow in waterways that choke out oxygen, knocking the whole system out of whack. Nitrogen pollution is a huge problem with profit-driven industrial agriculture that uses highly concentrated and volatile sources of this nutrient. When it comes to the right amount of nitrogen, a good place to start is the
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application rate suggested for vegetables on the product that you’re using. There are lots of organic nitrogen sources out there, including feather meal, alfalfa meal, blood meal, cottonseed meal, poultry manure products, soybean meal, fish emulsion, etc. Interestingly, bone meal, which was brought up in the reader’s emailed question, is fairly low in nitrogen but high in phosphorus. Compost and manure also contain some nitrogen, though in much lower amounts than the more concentrated products. The nitrogen in compost and well-rotted manure, however, is more stable and less likely to cause problems with leaching. Another good source of long-term, slow-release nitrogen is cover cropping, which, along with mulching, can help a lot with nitrogen retention as well as addition. Ideally, you would mix in a moderate amount of nitrogen before planting (i.e., the suggested application rate, or a little less), then add more after plants are really off and
Another reader asks if there is a nontoxic way to rid yards and gardens of dandelions, outside of rooting them out by shovel or hand. The answer to this question is no and yes. Indeed, the most effective, nontoxic way to remove existing dandelions from your yard is to dig them up. And, I hate to say it, but completely ridding your lawn of this “weed” is not possible without repeated applications of harsh chemicals (which might not even completely solve the issue). The good news is that there are several strategies for minimizing the spread of dandelions that don’t involve pesticides, as well as great ways to enjoy the health benefits of dandelions. First, let’s reframe how we think about dandelions in our landscapes. Common dandelion (Taxacum officinale) is considered native to Eurasia and was likely brought to this continent on purpose by some of the first colonizers/settlers on the Mayflower. Those invasive humans brought this invasive plant due to its nutritional and medicinal benefits: Dandelions aren’t just great for pollinators, they’re great for people, too! The tenacious herb spread across what we now call North America faster than the people did and became integrated into many Indigenous systems
of food, medicine and culture as a source of nourishment and healing. EAT THE WEEDS All parts of the dandelion plant are edible and medicinal. Dandelion roots contain prebiotic fiber that’s good for the gut and supports healthy liver function and blood flow. The leaves are nutrient rich and also support the digestive system, liver and blood. That bitter flavor and milky sap that help us identify dandelions are also both part of its glorious gifts. Instead of composting plants that you dig up, add the leaves to your salads or sautée them, and make a nourishing, cleansing tea from the roots (as long as they haven’t been sprayed with toxic chemicals). To learn more about the medicinal and culinary qualities of dandelion and other weeds and herbs, check out the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, based here in Asheville, avl.mx/blh. PHOSPHORUS, CALCIUM AND SHADE One of the dandelion’s strengths is that it readily grows in poor, degrad-
ed, exposed soils. It’s like an ecological triage nurse, rushing in on the wind to bring life to landscapes in need of organic matter and coverage. Luckily, we can learn from the dandelion’s good will and leverage these qualities in our quest for grassier lawns. As benevolent pioneers, dandelion seeds need light to germinate. If your grass is dense and left on the thicker side (not mowed extremely low), the shade it casts can hinder dandelions from sprouting. Furthermore, when you nourish your lawn with compost, manure or even just lawn clippings, you can build up organic matter in the soil over time. Unlike most garden veggies, and your lawn itself, dandelions actually don’t thrive in soils with high organic matter. They’re also averse to high phosphorus, so sprinkling an organic phosphorus source like bone meal can help dissuade them from taking over. Another flavor that dandelions dislike is calcium. Most of our soils in this area are fairly low in calcium, making it especially inviting to dandelions. Sprinkling a calcium source like high-calcium lime can help deter these sunny opportunists, as well.
Finally, if you’re really on the defensive, an organic, nontoxic product called corn gluten meal is effective at inhibiting dandelion germination; it stops the seeds from sprouting. This affordable product can be found at most garden stores and is sprinkled directly onto the lawn. Don’t put it on your garden, as it will inhibit most vegetable seeds from sprouting, too! DIG IT OUT As for full-grown plants, digging them up is really the most effective strategy. When you do this, keep in mind that dandelions will readily resprout from both the crown and roots. That means you need to get the entire plant out of the ground, otherwise it will grow back. The easiest way I’ve found to do this is with a small hand trowel or a larger digging fork. I spend time loosening the soil all around the dandelion before even tugging on it, lest I break off the aboveground parts. Once the soil is nice and loose, I grab the leaves as a handle and gently rock and pull until it comes out in one piece.
— Chloe Lieberman X
Western North Carolina
Orchid Society
Award Winning, Accredited Judge FRED CLARKE of Sunset Valley Orchids will speak on “Becoming an 80 Percentile Grower" Sunday 6/12 • 2pm • with Orchid Raffle (always 2nd Sunday of the month)
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Learn about Orchids & our friendly group
Asheville Visitor Center, 36 Montford Ave. in Lenoire-Rhymes Boardroom, 2nd floor 828-582-7756 • wncos.org MOUNTAINX.COM
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAY 25 - JUNE 2, 2022
educational programs on the last Tuesday of each month. Talk about the history, art and science that is punch, as you sample a glass. Donations encouraged. TU (5/31), 6pm, The Aventine, 95 Page Ave
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 WELLNESS & HEALTH Sparkle Time Holistic Senior Exercise Aerobic, strengthening, balance and flexibility. Proof of vaccines required. Every Monday and Wednesday. WE (5/25, 6/1), MO (5/30), 10:30am, Avery’s Creek Community Center, 899 Glennbridge Rd SE, Arden Montford Tai Chi Hosted by local acupuncturist Tyler White. All ages, every Thursday. TH (5/26, 6/2), 9am, Free, Montford Recreation Center, 34 Pearson Dr Introduction to Tai Chi Pre-registration required ashevillecommunityyoga.com. TH (5/26, 6/2), 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 (5/28), 9:30am, Haw Creek Commons, 315 Old Haw Creek Rd Goat Yoga at the Breweries Breathe, move, play and drink beer. 11am and 12:15pm. SA (5/28), $35, Whistle Hop Brewing Co, 1288 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview Asheville Outlets Hosts American Red Cross Blood Drive Held in Suite 348, across from RH Outlet. Register in advance: RedCrossBlood.org/ give and enter sponsor code AshevilleOutlets. SA (5/28), 11am, 800 Brevard 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 (5/28), SU (5/29), 1:30pm, $10, Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd Community Blood Drive All donors will receive a $20 eGift Card as a thank you. Walk-ins welcome. In partnership with The Blood Connection. SU (5/29), 1pm, 12 Bones Brewery, 2350 Hendersonville Rd, Arden
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Sowing Circle Presents: Cut Flower Gardens with Abigail Helberg Moffitt of Bloom WNC Dig into the technique of sowing and planting throughout the season, the best sources for seeds, the speaker’s top 10 cut flowers to grow, plus a few simple tips on putting together a bouquet. TU (5/31), 6:30pm, Black Mountain Library, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain
Men’s Cancer Support Group RSVP to Will at (412)913-0272 or acwein123@gmail.com. WE (6/1), 6pm, Woodfin YMCA, 40 N Merrimon Ave, Suite 101 Anxiety Support Group Contact: info@ namiwnc.org for group registration. TH (6/2), 7pm
ART No Man’s Land/Tierra Nature and Nurture: The Voorhees Family Artistic Legacy This multi-generational, multi-media exhibit displays paintings, pottery and jewelry from seven members of the Voorhees family. Numerous pieces feature some of NC landscapes and plants, connecting people with plants through artistic vision and skill. Daily 9 am, May 28 through Sept. 5. NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way Home and the Journey There: a collection and exhibition of Augmented Reality artworks by Asheville artist Jaime Byrd An immersive art experience combining paintings and AR by multimedia artist Jaime Byrd, inspired by her six year nomadic travels around the globe. Daily 10am, through July 31. Trackside Studios, 375 Depot St Asheville Gallery of Art’s June Exhibit: Nature’s Mirror Works from oil painter Cynthia Llanes. Daily 11am. Opening reception June 3, 5-8pm. Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave
COMMUNITY MUSIC Asheville Baroque Concerts: Whirlwinds ABC, an affiliate of Pan Harmonia, will perform Baroque chamber music for oboe, flute, recorder, viola da gamba and harpsichord. Donation-based. SU (5/29), 3pm, St Giles Chapel, Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, 1617 Hendersonville Rd Symphonic Reflections: Life evolves; musical expression endures The Blue Ridge Orches-
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STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES: After a COVID hiatus, the Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society will resume its annual rose exhibit at The N.C. Arboretum Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Roses will be on display from Western North Carolina’s top rosarians, along with collections from local gardens, including the Biltmore Estate, the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Rose Garden and the Red Cross Rose Garden. Photo courtesy of Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society tra ends its six-program season with a contemplative, diverse, expressive, therapeutic production. Designed and conducted by Milton Crotts. SU (5/29), 3pm, $5-15, Lipinsky Auditorium at UNCA, 300 Library Ln
SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD 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 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 Malaprop’s Science Fiction Book Club Participants will discuss Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Registration required. MO (5/30), 7pm, avl.mx/7on
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Malaprop’s Romance Book Club Participants will discuss Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha. Registration required. TU (5/31), 7pm, avl.mx/bh1 Malaprop’s Crime and Politics Book Club Participants will discuss People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Perry. Registration required. TH (6/2), 7pm, avl.mx/ahj
THEATER & FILM The Asheville View - Live A live taping of the daytime-style talk web series. Sponsored by GrindFest, Equity Over Everything, Asheville Pro Lash, and Blue Ridge Pride. Hosted by Aisha Adams, Kirby Winner, Myriam Weber, Tina White, and Kahlani Jackson. Reservations required (828)254-1320. SA (5/28), 11am, Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E Walnut St Montford Park Players: As You Like It The Shakepearean comedy, with an Asheville perspective. FR (5/27), SA (5/28), SU (5/29), 7:30pm, Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay St
BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING Pisgah Legal Services Presents: An Evening For Kids Deserve Justice With performances by
The Last Full Measure and Rooster, with proceeds going towards the Kids Deserve Justice Giving Challenge. Outdoors, all ages. WE (5/25), 4:30pm, Salvage Station, 468 Riverside Dr AVL Beer Week Crawfish Boil at The River With live music and 2-3lbs of crawfish pp, with 100% of proceeds going to MountainTrue. MO (5/30), 5pm, $45, Asheville Outdoor Center, 521 Amboy Rd Queer Film Night: My Name Is Pauli Murray: Benefit for Tranzmission Prison Project An exploration of the life and times of a nonbinary and queer Black activist, priest, author, lawyer and scholar. This is a benefit for Tranzmission Prison Project. Outdoors, sliding scale. WE (6/1), 8pm, The Odditorium, 1045 Haywood Rd
CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS 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, Suite 102
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 Introduction to Medicare - Understanding the Puzzle How Medicare works, the enrollment process, how to avoid penalties, and ways to save money. To register, visit coabc.org or call (828)277-8288. FR (5/27), 2pm, OLLI/ Reuter Center, UNCA, 300 Campus View Rd Fantastic Feta Learn how to make your own feta. This is an introductory class to the basics of a bacterially ripened, fully rennetted cheese. SA (5/28), 9am, Barn Door Ciderworks, 23 Lytle Rd, Fletcher Drink & Draw Bring your own beverages and art supplies and draw from a live nude model, or free paint on canvases to music in the front gallery. Guests will be hosted and instructed by Katie Montes. 18+ SU (5/29), 6:30pm, $10, Continuum Art, 147, Ste C, 1st Ave E, Hendersonville Punch Club By NC Craft Beverage Museum and plēb urban winery, a series of free
Laurel Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America With a presentation by Sandy Washington, owner of Sandy’s Cross Stitch on the Go. Visitors welcome. TH (6/2), 9:30am, Cummings United Methodist Church, 3 Banner Farm Rd, Horse Shoe WNC Sierra Club Presents: How WNC’s Hiking Trails are Built & Maintained View photos and maps of mountain scenery, while learning what it takes to maintain these trails, who does the work, and what makes people volunteer to do this work. For more information, contact WENOCA Chair Judy Mattox judymattox15@ gmail.com, (828)6832176. TH (6/2), 7pm
FOOD & BEER Asheville City Market South Midweek market operated by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP). WE (5/25, 6/1), 12pm, Biltmore Town Square, 1 Town Square Blvd RAD Farmers Market Live music and over 30 local vendors weekly with food, flowers, plants, crafts, and more. Safely accessible by bike or foot, plus ample parking. WE (5/25, 6/1), 3pm, Pleb Urban Winery, 289 Lyman St
Enka-Candler Tailgate Market Fresh local produce and heritage crafts. Weekly. TH (5/26, 6/2), 3pm, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler Flat Rock Tailgate Market A diverse group of local produce farmers, jam and jelly makers, bread bakers, wild crafters, and merrymakers. TH (5/26, 6/2), 3pm, Pinecrest ARP Church, 1790 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock East Asheville Tailgate Market Local goods, every Friday. FR (5/27), 3pm, 954 Tunnel Rd Les-ter Farmers Market Over 20 vendors offering fresh local produce, cheese, baked goods, meat, body care products, arts and crafts in a family-friendly environment. WE (6/1), 3:30pm, 338 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester Henderson County Tailgate Market One of the oldest openair markets in WNC, this unique market has a festival feel, with local growers who operate small family farms in Henderson County. SA (5/28), 8am, 100 N King St, Hendersonville Hendersonville Farmers Market Produce, meat, eggs, baked goods, coffee, crafts and more from 30+ local vendors. With live music, kids’ activities and cooking demos weekly. SA (5/28), 8am, 650 Maple St, Hendersonville Mills River Farmers Market A producer-only market, selling products raised or produced within 50 miles of the market. With local musicians, a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, and high-quality crafts. SA (5/28), 8am, Mills River Elementary School, 94 Schoolhouse Rd, Mills River North Asheville Tailgate Market The oldest Saturday morning market in WNC. Over 60 rotating vendors. SA (5/28), 8am, 3300 University Heights
Weaverville Tailgate Market Local foodstuffs, alongside a small lineup of craft and artisan vendors. WE (5/25, 6/1), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr Weaverville
Asheville City Market Over 50 vendors and local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and more. SA (5/28), 9am, 52 N Market St
Etowah Lions Club Farmers Market Fresh produce, meat, sweets, breads, arts, and more, through October 26. WE (5/25, 6/1), 3pm, Etowah Lions Club, 447 Etowah School Rd, Hendersonville
Black Mountain Tailgate Market Seasonal community market event featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, locally raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses,
eggs and local arts and handcrafted items. SA (5/28), 9am, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market Located at HART Theatre. SA (5/28), 9am, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville Transylvania Farmers Market Fifty vendors offering fresh, locally-grown produce, meat, poultry, eggs, honey, cheese, coffee, plants, herbs, cut flowers, baked goods, jams, jellies, relishes, prepared foods and handcrafted items. SA (5/28), 9am, 175 East Main St, Brevard Madison Co Farmers & Artisans Market Local goods and produce, weekly through October. SA (5/28), 10am, Mars Hill University, 100 Athletic St, Mars Hill NC Arboretum Plant Sale & Vendor Market With offerings grown right at the Arboretum’s Production Greenhouse, and from more than 20 participating vendors. SA (5/28), 10am, NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way Bask Floral Studios Pop-up Pre-made mixed bouquets and more. SA (5/28), 3pm, Oak and Grist Distilling Company, 1556 Grovestone Rd, Black Mountain Carolina Ground Pop-up Market An array of baked goods made with Carolina Ground flour as well as flowers, coffee, and books; with Carolina Ground, Pullman Bread, Hominy Farm, Milkglass Pie, Raleigh’s Anisette, and Flowers by Sam. SU (5/29), 11am, Carolina Ground, 1237 Shipp St, Hendersonville Gladheart Farm Fest Market Fresh produce, bread and pastries, food
vendors, and live music, weekly. SU (5/29), 11am, Gladheart Farm, 9 Lora Ln
SA (5/28), SU (5/29), 9am, NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
Meadow Market Runs every Sunday from May-August; featuring a rotation of local bakers, makers and artisans. SU (5/29), 12pm, Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy
2nd Annual Downtown Asheville Festival of the Arts One hundred regional, local and national artists with fine jewelry, works of art, hand-crafted apparel and more. SA (5/28), SU (5/29), 10am, 1 N Pack Square
Sundays on the Island Local market located on Marshall’s island in the middle of the French Broad River. SU (5/29), 12pm, Blanahasset Island, Marshall Jackson Arts Market Makers & Music Festival Live music from Old Sap on Saturday. Authentic, handmade products and live arts demos. Every weekend through August 13. SA (5/28), SU (5/29), 1pm, Downtown Sylva West Asheville Tailgate Market Over 40 local vendors, every Tuesday. TU (5/31), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd
FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS 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 Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society Exhibit The annual exhibition returns, featuring award-winning roses of every color and size. Experts from the Asheville-Blue Ridge Rose Society will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the selection, care, and history of roses. Featuring WNC’s top rosarians, along with collections from local gardens including: the Biltmore Estate, the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Rose Garden, and the Red Cross Rose Garden.
Pollinator Alley at Garden Jubilee Vendors and booths will offer free pollinator-friendly seed packets (while supplies last) and information on pollinator habitat gardening from Bee City USA - Hendersonville. Make-and-take crafts for children will be offered as well as locally-grown native plants, hand-crafted nesting houses for native bees, children’s books about nature and pollinators, local honey, and more. SA (5/28), 9am, Hendersonville Visitor Center, 201 S Main St, Hendersonville Memorial Day: A Live Ceremony Jointly sponsored by Buncombe County Veterans Council and the State of NC, with a keynote from Pastor Spencer Ellis Hardaway, Lt. Col. (Ret.) US Army Chaplain and readings from the Brothers And Sisters Like These Veterans Writing Group. MO (5/30), 10am, WNC State Veterans Cemetery, 962 W Old US Hwy 70, Black Mountain Carl Sandburg Music Festival Offering live jazz, blues, folk and Americana style music performances at the amphitheater and barnyard areas. Home tours also available. MO (5/30), 11am, Carl Sandburg Home NHS, 1800 Little River Rd, Flat Rock Memorial Day Observance With guest speaker Major General William D. Razz Waff, US Army (Ret.); as well as the
Reuter Center Singers, the North Buncombe H.S. NJROTC, the Weaverville Police and Fire Departments, Howard Dusenbery on bagpipes, and the Rev. Skip Gillikin of the First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville. MO (5/30), 11am, Lake Louise Park, Weaverville City of Asheville and Buncombe County Memorial Day Ceremony Featuring short readings by Brothers And Sisters Like These Veterans Writing Group and a keynote address by Pastor Spencer Hardaway, LT. Col. (Ret.) US Army Chaplain, as well as remarks from Mayor Manheimer and Chairman Brownie Newman, color presentation by the joint Asheville Police and Fire Department Honor Guard and a Memorial wreath laying. MO (5/30), 3pm, Pack Square Park “Thanks to Teachers” Block Party In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, local event organizers and supporters of public education will celebrate educators in Henderson County Public Schools. With local band Tuxedo Junction, cheerleaders, food trucks and the Pepsi Wagon. TH (6/2), 6pm, 1 Historic Courthouse Square, Hendersonville
SPIRITUALITY Basking in the Light of the Infinite: A Journey into Kabbalah - Sharon Rosen Explore, through chant, meditation, visuals, and story, how the Infinite Light of creation brought our world into being; how aspects of the Divine live within us; and how to bring more balance and joy into your life through the lens of awareness that Kabbalah offers. WE (6/1), 7pm, avl.mx/prwq
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MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 25-31, 2022
17
WELLNESS
On-campus care
School-based health center opens at Asheville Middle School
BY JESSICA WAKEMAN
Its objective is for all students at city and county schools to graduate from high school college-ready by 2035. The organization partners with seven schools in Asheville and Buncombe County, which it calls community schools, to support the principal and staff. “Community schools are public schools that partner with families and community organizations to provide educational opportunities for student and family success,” Calhoun explains. United Way’s community school coordinators, who work within each of the seven schools, liaise between the staff and the organization to identify needs. Shataura Dudley, the community school coordinator for Asheville Middle School, and Jocelin Rosas, who is in the same role at Erwin Middle School, said students, families and school staff could benefit from an additional layer of support with health care and behavioral health, explains Calhoun. “We have school nurses in the schools that are doing their piece of it [and] we’ve got mental health and behavioral health providers providing services and support for students,” Calhoun explains. “But there wasn’t this coordinated clinic within the school to provide that added layer of support.”
jwakeman@mountainx.com A new health center opened May 2 to reach adolescents in need of health care right where they are: in school. Asheville Middle School’s schoolbased health center, or SBHC, is a medical office located on campus and open during school hours. It is staffed by a physician assistant part time and a full-time registered nurse; a parttime behavioral health practitioner will join the team later. The clinic at Asheville Middle School is the first such center in Asheville City Schools. Buncombe County Schools system is projected to open an SBHC center at Clyde A. Erwin Middle School for the fall 2022 school year. An SBHC “operates like a physician’s office and provides treatment for illnesses and injuries, as well as behavioral health care,” says April Baur, school health program manager for Mountain Area Health Education Center. Blue Ridge Health, a federally qualified health center, will provide services for both of the centers. Blue Ridge Health and MAHEC will collaborate on managing the nurses in the centers. ANOTHER LAYER OF CARE Students, faculty and staff are all welcome to use the SBHC at Asheville Middle School. The center served 71 students and eight faculty from May 2-15, Tammy Greenwell, chief operating officer of Blue Ridge Health, tells Xpress. The clinic provides testing for viruses like influenza, strep, mononucleosis and COVID, and management
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MAY 25-31, 2022
AN APPLE A DAY: Christy Willis, left, a registered nurse, and Anamaria De Nardo, right, a nurse practitioner, operate the school-based health center at Asheville Middle School. Photo by Jennifer Castillo of chronic health conditions like asthma and diabetes, says Greenwell. Patients can also be evaluated for minor injuries. All documents are provided in English and Spanish, and interpreters can be contacted for additional support. The SBHC physician assistant and nurse will collaborate with Asheville Middle School’s nurse and the student’s primary care provider, says Greenwell. Typically, school nurses in the city and county schools divide their time between two or three locations, she explains. But SBHC medical staff will be in one school full-time. The hope, Baur says, is for students “to receive a diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner” rather than need to make a primary care provider appointment outside school, visit a walk-in clinic or emergency room. According to a fact sheet provided by Blue Ridge Health, the hope is to decrease health-related tardiness and absences as well as
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behavioral issues that lead to discipline problems. Baur calls the school-based health clinic “a wonderful resource to add another layer of medical care for students and staff members.” UNITED IN COMMUNITY The two SBHCs are the result of a multiyear effort from several agencies: United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, MAHEC, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools, says Deborah Calhoun, director of community partnerships for United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. Dogwood Health Trust provided significant funding, among other partners. United Way is the “backbone organization,” Calhoun says, on a project called the United for Youth Network.
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEEDS Asheville Middle School’s SBHC has an exam room, where the physician assistant is located, and a nurse is in a separate room across the hall. A parent or guardian must provide written permission for a student to use school-based health services, Greenwell explains. The parent or guardian will also be notified of a student’s visit to the SBHC “and what occurred during that time,” she says. The parent or guardian can also withdraw permission for the student to use the program. Families are not required to use Blue Ridge Health as their primary care provider outside of the SBHC. “But if … they don’t have a primary care provider, we’re more than happy to take on that role for them,” Greenwell explains. Blue Ridge Health is currently recruiting a part-time behavioral health counselor for the center at Asheville Middle School, says Greenwell. In the interim, the center provides telehealth mental health services for students with a school-
WHY SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS?
STAY IN CLASS: The school-based health center will hopefully cause students “to receive a diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner,” rather than need to make a primary care provider appointment outside of school, says April Baur, school health program manager for Mountain Area Health Education Center. Photo by Jennifer Castillo based counselor employed by Blue Ridge Health at another community school. “We hope to get someone on-site before the next school year starts,” Greenwell says. Blue Ridge Health is receiving referrals for mental health services remotely for Erwin Middle School students and contacting parents about initiating that care, Greenwell says. Mental health services can be onetime check-ins or regularly scheduled counseling sessions. “If there’s a crisis happening at the school, we want to be the medical first responder and and the behavioral health response as well so that we can help support the school in that crisis situation,” Greenwell explains Ashley Thublin, spokesperson for Asheville City Schools, and Asheville Middle School Principal April Collins did not respond to requests for comment.
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Blue Ridge Health will continue to operate the SBHC at Asheville Middle School over summer break in a reduced capacity, says Greenwell. Students from Erwin Middle School who have begun telehealth behavioral health counseling by summer break can continue receiving those services, too. Though the centers are in the early stages in Asheville, the long-term goal is for these health centers to not only treat students but also their siblings and their families. “Ultimately, the vision is to be a districtwide hub of health care and behavioral health services not only within the four walls of the school, but for folks who are connected to the school,” Calhoun says. Other SBHCs operated by Blue Ridge Health across WNC also offer vision screening, dental and nutrition services. The nonprofit opened its first SBHC in Henderson County in 1993 and now operates nearly three dozen SBHCs, according to its website. Each center can provide different services based on the school’s needs; some provide only medical services, while others provide behavioral health services as well. As part of their behavioral health services, the centers can also provide support groups — such as Al-Anon/Alateen, a support group for children of alcoholics, or an eating disorder recovery support group. Greenwell says United Way’s community school coordinators can assist with identifying needs for such groups in schools, and Blue Ridge Health will work with the school and other behavioral health agencies to meet that need. The hope is that the SBHCs “provide support so that children can stay in school and learn and thrive and grow,” says Calhoun. X
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MAY 25-31, 2022
19
ARTS & CULTURE
The bigger picture
Local historians reflect on the Vance Monument, one year after its removal
BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN
gies manager for the city of Asheville. While the N.C. Supreme Court considers whether to hear an appeal of a lower court’s ruling that the city can proceed with the monument’s removal, the city and Buncombe County are moving ahead with a visioning project for a more inclusive Pack Square. A call for artists will soon be put out for Art in the Heart, a temporary public art program that asks organizations and individuals with ties to the county to consider how Pack Square might better include all people, whether through design, storytelling or programming. As early as mid-June, city staff will request authorization from City Council to move forward on the project. “The process of planning how Pack Square will change over the coming years is an important opportunity for community healing,” Cutshall says. “The 2-acre plot in the middle of downtown Asheville is the public square of all people in Buncombe County. It’s an important space for community gathering, civic demonstration and a physical space that represents the community at large. Now, we’ve been presented with the unique opportunity to think critically about the story we want to tell the more than 10 million visitors to Asheville and Buncombe County each year.”
earnaudin@mountainx.com A year after the 75-foot obelisk honoring Zebulon Baird Vance was removed from Pack Square in downtown Asheville, its future remains in flux. Ongoing litigation in the state court system has prevented the disassembly of the base of the monument, which was built in 1898 to memorialize the Buncombe County native, Confederate colonel, North Carolina governor, slaveholder and white supremacist. Despite the uncertainty of the site’s future, many local historians view the removal as a step in the right direction. Catching up with Xpress one year later, these experts discuss the weight of the decision and how it impacts the broader community’s understanding of history. Additionally, they share how local historical sites continue to expand exhibits, creating a more comprehensive view of the region’s past. Part of the goal for many historic site leaders, these experts note, is not only to learn from the past but to help create lasting change. TASK FORCE REFLECTIONS Katherine Calhoun Cutshall, collection manager for Buncombe County Special Collections and a member of the Vance Monument Task Force, was relieved when Asheville City Council voted 6-1 to remove the Vance obelisk in March 2021. “The decision felt like a long time coming,” she says. “Discussions about the removal of the monument had been going on since at least 2015, so hearing that Council was ready to take action by forming the task force was encouraging.” While the City Council vote aligns with Cutshall’s personal beliefs, she stresses that the 12-person committee took its guidance from the community in evaluating whether to repurpose, relocate or remove the monument. Likewise, task force co-Chair Oralene Simmons was elated by the decision. She is also proud of the work that the team did, particularly the research that went into the decision, which included an array of speakers who presented on the history of the monument and Pack Square. “There’s always that little voice that crept back in my mind of, ‘Did I make the right decision?’” Simmons reveals. “But then I have to think about the history [and] about the intimidation — because I grew up in the era of 20
MAY 25-31, 2022
WHEELS IN MOTION
ONE YEAR LATER: Local residents and historians, from left, Anne Chesky Smith, Oralene Simmons and Katherine Calhoun Cutshall discuss the impact of the Vance Monument’s removal. Photo by Cindy Kunst Jim Crow and injustice within the shadows of the Vance Monument. “Like every other African American, I have suffered the indignities of America’s racism, but I have always worked to bring people together rather than set them apart,” Simmons continues. Though she hasn’t sought out individuals who opposed the monument’s removal, Simmons has had numerous conversations with people about the decisions of the task force and City Council. Now that the obelisk is gone, Simmons views its absence as rep-
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resentative of change. She is hopeful the site’s future use will represent all people in Asheville, even if it’s as simple as a peaceful green space. Cutshall is similarly eager and feels that the most important next step for the site is gathering community input. Consistent with members of the Vance Monument Task Force turning to the citizenry for advice, she believes that local officials should do the same as they move forward with plans to reimagine Pack Square. Those efforts are currently underway, according to Stephanie Monson Dahl, urban design and place strate-
An associate professor of history at East Tennessee State University and the author of Reconstruction’s Ragged Edge: The Politics of Postwar Life in the Southern Mountains, Steven E. Nash also serves as board president for the Mountain History and Culture Group. The nonprofit provides funding and support for the Vance Birthplace state historic site’s educational initiatives and interpretation. When a suggestion arose for the Vance Monument to be relocated to the Vance Birthplace in Reems Creek, Nash strongly opposed the idea, saying that doing so would divert from the site’s efforts. “Since the current site manager, Kimberly Floyd, arrived midway through 2016, the staff have been working diligently to implement a more inclusive and historically complete interpretation,” Nash says. “Research into the men, women and children enslaved by the Vances began more than a decade ago, and Ms. Floyd and her staff have brought that information to the public in a variety of ways.”
These efforts include the Appalachian Christmas Carol program, which tells the story of Venus, a woman enslaved by the Vances; the production encourages its audience to make connections between the past and present while looking to the future. Elsewhere, the site’s Juneteenth exhibit prominently displays the names of the 27 people enslaved by the Vance family and tells as much of their individual stories as possible through a self-guided audio tour. Much of that information is also available on the Vance Birthplace’s website. Simmons has been in touch with Vance Birthplace representatives regarding the site’s upcoming Juneteenth celebration, which she’s excited to attend. She also thinks highly of the staff’s expanded interpretations and emphasis on education — leads that she hopes other area groups will follow. Nash additionally applauds Floyd’s revision of the main site tour, which now begins in the slave dwelling and incorporates “the experiences of all the people who gave life to that place in the 1830s.” And he points to an exhibit inside the visitor center that explores the evolution of the site’s historical interpretation over the years
as further evidence of how the site has evolved and continues to change. “If anything, I would want people to know that the monument and the Vance Birthplace state historic site are two different entities, and the public should know that the site has been doing great work to highlight all voices and histories related to the state historic site,” Nash says. “That work began before the process of removing the monument, and it will continue regardless of the monument’s future.” RIPPLE EFFECTS Cutshall says that the Vance Monument’s removal has in no way impacted Buncombe County Special Collections’ mission to collect and preserve the history of Asheville and Buncombe County. “Archives aren’t typically in the business of historical interpretation, but BCSC did install an exhibit in 2021 called ‘An Incomplete History of Buncombe County,’” she says. “While writing the exhibit, BCSC staff and community collaborators took a ‘whole truth’ approach to sto-
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MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 25-31, 2022
21
ARTS & C U L T U R E rytelling, ensuring that visitors get a more complex and inclusive version of our community’s story.” Meanwhile, Anne Chesky Smith, executive director of the Western North Carolina Historical Association, views the Vance Monument as an interesting case study on the erection and demolition of monuments in general. “I often hear the argument that by taking down monuments, we are erasing history. I would argue that by taking down monuments, we are making history,” Chesky Smith says. “Monuments tell us very little about the person or event that they celebrate and much more about [the communities] that erected them and what they valued. In the same vein, removing monuments tells folks in the future what we value today.” She elaborates that honoring Vance with an enormous obelisk in the middle of downtown communicated with its size and location that the city of Asheville considered — and continued to consider until 2020 — Vance to be very important and worthy of celebrating. She adds that the 2015 restoration and rededication of the monument at a significant cost will prompt future historians to look back
with interest at how quickly the city moved from that decision to demolishing it, the significance of that shift regarding how values change and how citizen action can create this change. “There’s very little nuance to [the monument],” Chesky Smith says. “Vance was a complex figure, and Asheville certainly wouldn’t be what it is today without his influence, but that’s true of many people, and the monument did not help us explore or understand the contributions — both positive and negative — that Vance made to our city or the people who he exploited to make these contributions.” Instead, she sees programs such as wayside panels, historical markers and walking trails as more effective means of communicating history to the public. She points to the recent placement of a marker about the photographer George Masa across from Pack Square and views Asheville’s Urban Trail and the forthcoming African American Heritage Trail as resources capable of conveying complex histories to the public in ways that can help them understand the larger story of the city’s development. “It’s important to keep in mind that these markers and trails can still obscure important histories and still
LOOKING AHEAD: “Monuments tell us very little about the person or event that they celebrate and much more about [the communities] that erected them and what they valued,” says public historian Anne Chesky Smith. “In the same vein, removing monuments tells folks in the future what we value today.” Photo courtesy of Buncombe County Special Collections reflect what those involved in erecting them value,” she says. “But they generally do contain enough interpretation to help viewers consider our history in a more thoughtful way.” ALLIES AND INSPIRATION Chesky Smith also sees the Vance Birthplace’s use of “living history, interpretive exhibits, restored structures and excellent storytelling” as a means of better understanding Vance’s complicated legacy and the time in which he lived. In her work with the Western North Carolina Historical Association, she strives for a similar inclusiveness through an ongoing project, launched in early 2020, to uncover the hidden histories of the people who were enslaved at the Smith-McDowell House, where her organization is based. “We’ve created a living exhibit that shares everything we’ve learned — including all primary documents — that is freely accessible to the public,” Chesky Smith says. “We hope that making this information available might also help us connect with descendant communities as we look to create a lasting physical acknowledgement of their often overlooked histories, contributions, resistances and lives.” Additional recent efforts include approving a justice statement that’s available on the WNCHA website; creating a diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion committee; and
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MAY 25-31, 2022
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releasing a progress report. In 2022, the Smith-McDowell House closed for interior renovations but also to prepare for a restructuring of how the WNCHA serves its community at the facility. “It’s a work in progress, but when we reopen, we hope to be a hub, or first stop, for folks who want to learn about our regional history — where locals and visitors can better understand our diverse history, participate in community programs and engage with others,” Chesky Smith says. “And where we can direct our visitors to other places of historical interest around the region to really help bring history to life for them. But also to take some of the legwork out of discovering historical places of interest and make these spaces more accessible to those who want to engage with historical events.” She adds that, as a public historian, her job is to interpret history for the public — which often looks at history as a series of undisputed dates and facts, when, in reality, the past is much more interesting than that. But in performing those duties, she’s upfront about the challenges that persist and the efforts being made to branch out and present a more complete record. “Our more distant history is even more complicated because, rather than having [many accounts], we generally might only have one recorded perspective,” she says. “And in American history, more often than not, that is the perspective of a wealthy, white male, which can really skew what we consider historical ‘fact’ ... [which is] why we need historians to help us see our history in all its messy complexity.” Simmons, likewise, champions telling the whole truth. She also sees this truth with a renewed sense of hope, knowing today’s Black youths and future generations will not have to grow up under the shadow of the Vance Monument. But getting there, she believes, will take addressing and eradicating racial disparities in law enforcement and education, and electing officials who will see those advances through. Increased community involvement, she continues, is key to making lasting changes, which goes hand in hand with the Black community remembering its past. “I certainly hope that the future generations will be informed. I encourage them to learn about the history of our community and to realize the sacrifices that so many people people made in order for us to achieve certain things today,” Simmons says. “And I hope that they will not have to suffer the things that we have suffered, because we can’t go backwards. We’ve got to continue going forward.” X
MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 25-31, 2022
23
HAPPINESS IS HEALTHY!
AR T S & C UL TU R E
BEER
WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE?
‘The best of the best’ AVL Beer Week returns
Body-Safe Toys & Sexy Lingerie
TOGETHER AGAIN: AVL Beer Week 2022 strives to unite craft beer lovers in ways that respect their comfort levels during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Photo of 2019 festivities by Stephan Pruitt Photography
erie g n i L t Bes Years 1 # d e t Vo ys for 6 & To
Rather than fade away in the face of adversity, AVL Beer Week pivoted amid the pandemic — and did so quickly and continuously. But after two years of reimagining its annual gathering, the festivities return Friday, May 27-Sunday, June 5, with events that combine the lessons learned throughout the ongoing public health crisis with celebrations reminiscent of its pre-pandemic past. SURVIVE AND ADVANCE
now at 2 locations! 57 Broadway Street
Downtown Asheville
723 Haywood Rd West Asheville
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MAY 25-31, 2022
Launched in 2012 to promote and support Asheville’s then up-and-coming craft brewing industry, the event was all set to proceed in its usual, in-person capacity in late May 2020. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit that March and public health restrictions made the annual celebration’s numerous large gatherings impractical, the event’s brain trust had to think fast. As the days wore on and taprooms shifted to delivery and to-go service, members of the brewing industry turned to Zoom for virtual face-to-face communication. Noting the ubiquity of this technology, AVL Beer Week co-coordinators Joanna Postlethwaite Brown and Katie
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Smith, along with then-Asheville Brewers Alliance Executive Director Leah Rainis, started thinking about how to use the videoconferencing platform for a virtual Beer Week. Creative results included guided, at-home beer tastings led by local brewers, the Virtual Beer Olympics competition and a panel discussion about stouts with Burial Beer Co. co-owner Doug Reiser, Cory King of Side Project Brewing, John Wakefield of J. Wakefield Brewing and Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso of Evil Twin Brewing. The offerings kept the community connected during an uncertain time. But the following year, AVL Beer Week leaders opted to skip an official 2021 edition due to ongoing uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 infection rates and health-and-safety mandates. Instead, the group launched The Road to AVL Beer Week, which highlighted the WNC brewing industry at large through events and social media posts. “2021 was the ‘Beer Week in your backyard,’ and we tried to promote that message because we were aligning with all of the breweries that were having to rethink their entire models of customer service,” Postlethwaite Brown says. “And, honestly, there are some things from that that I really
hope stay: the expansion into the outdoor spaces; the new means and ways to enjoy beer at home — everyone had to think outside the box a little bit.” COMEBACK KIDS With the addition of more outdoor events and Buncombe County easing pandemic-related restrictions, AVL Beer Week leadership is proceeding with cautious optimism and bringing the celebration back to nearly pre-pandemic levels. But in working with breweries to schedule events, the co-coordinators are respecting the individual preferences of each business owner and working with the owners to find the type of gathering that best fits their comfort level. “Last year, we didn’t want to put pressure on people to have people in their spaces and host events — and that was kind of a good call [considering the rise in COVID variants],” Smith says. “And this year, too, we totally understand if they aren’t comfortable having a big group for events. We’re just excited to finally bring somewhat of a Beer Week back.” The event’s return, however, raises the question of its necessity, considering the ubiquity of the industry in
ASHEVILLE-AREA
and around Asheville. Postlethwaite Brown and Smith — industry veterans for close to a decade — know as well as anyone that the wealth of local breweries and steady stream of new beer releases have resulted in an embarrassment of riches. But it’s in recognizing the hard work that it took to reach that status and celebrating those accomplishments that help maintain Beer Week’s significance to the local community, the co-coordinators say. And by honoring that legacy, they continue, craft beer fans who don’t otherwise experience Asheville’s plentiful offerings on a daily basis get to visit and partake in events that elevate those assets to rare levels. “It’s almost like you’re waiting for Christmas: This is the blowout. This is when everybody wants to do this special thing,” Smith says. “We have people messaging us months in advance, asking for the dates. They plan their Asheville trip to hit during Beer Week because they know there’s going to be festivals and beer dinners. This is the time to go. You want the best of the best in Asheville beer? This is the week to do it.” A GREATER SENSE OF WNC Among the standout offerings for 2022 are the American Craft Sake Festival on Saturday, May 28, at Ben’s Tune Up; the return of Thirsty Thursday during the Asheville Tourists’ June 2 game at McCormick Field, where a brewery representative will throw out the first pitch; and the beloved Just Brew It home-
brew festival, Saturday, June 4, at Pisgah Brewing Co. [To learn more about this year’s Just Brew It, visit avl.mx/bm6.] AVL Beer Week’s tradition of hosting notable beer authors also continues Tuesday, May 31, when Highland Brewing Co. presents an evening with John Holl, writer and photographer of The Craft Brewery Cookbook. And in what promises to be one of the most emotional events, the Mountain Ale and Lager Tasters homebrewing club will honor former member Bernie Kessler, who passed away in January after a 20-month battle with cancer. MALT members brewed a pre-Prohibition-style pilsner in Kessler’s honor with the Green Man Brewery team, which will be tapped on May 31. The AVL Beer Week crew is also joining forces as a community partner with GrindFest, the free, fourday festival that celebrates Black freedom and the success of Black entrepreneurs and business owners in Asheville, which runs May 27-30. Through that connection and incorporating cider and other craft beverage producers within and beyond the city limits, the co-coordinators seek to honor all who contribute to the area’s thriving industry. “It’s called AVL Beer Week, but it really represents a greater sense of Western North Carolina, and it represents Western North Carolina to the world,” Postlethwaite Brown says. For more information, visit avl.mx/bkz.
EATS & DRINKS GUIDE 2022 Edition
Coming This Summer advertise@mountainx.com
Full Moon in June Benefit Friday, June 10th | 6-9pm
Historic Patton Parker House 95 Charlotte St., Asheville, NC 28801 Benefiting Veteran Women
Aura Home is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization working to prevent homelessness for women veterans in WNC first through prevention and second by offering safe housing.
— Edwin Arnaudin X
Featuring Music From:
• Linda Mitchell, Blues & Jazz • Mare Carmody, American Folk • Terry Goodwin, Singer/Songwriter Bring your picnic basket, blanket, low chairs for an evening of music and camaraderie. FREE Parking in lot to the right of the house & across street.
PATT0N PARKER H0USE
Tickets: $20 with online purchase or $25 at door
www.AuraHomeWomenVets.org MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 25-31, 2022
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ARTS & C U L T U R E
FOOD ROUNDUP
What’s new in food
“GrindFest is a time to help shine more light on today’s Black-owned businesses,” says founder J Hackett. “We’re honoring the history and building wealth together.” The free, four-day festival returns to Asheville’s River Arts District, Friday-Monday, May 27-30. Through music, games, live performances, food and local vendors, the block party-style celebration seeks to highlight and honor the history and ongoing progress of Black Asheville communities and entrepreneurs. “This event is important not only because of what it is but also because of where it is,” says GrindFest director Bruce Waller. “Today’s River Arts District is part of what we once knew as Asheville’s original Southside, which was previously a Black business district surrounded by a large residential neighborhood.” Like many other predominately Black neighborhoods, Southside saw large swaths of its residential homes and businesses destroyed through urban renewal projects. But GrindFest organizers are poised to push Black success forward while honoring the past. “As this area continues to grow through development, we want it to be more inclusive,” says Hackett. “It takes all of us to make sure that our future is brighter than some of the shadows of our history.” Queen’s Island Cuisine, Bear’s Smokehouse and Black Bear BBQ are among the local food trucks participating throughout the fourday event. The Atlanta-based, Black-owned, Slutty Vegan, will also be dishing out naughty-named sandwiches and sides on Saturday, May 28. Furthermore, a number of barbecue, chili and chicken wing compe-
GrindFest celebrates local Black businesses arrive early to reserve a table. The paired wine and cider flights will cost an additional $25. “We are humbled and proud to be a part of the talented and diverse community of craft producers in Asheville and hope people are taken on a journey to the orchards, vineyards and estuaries where the fruit and oysters were grown,” says co-founder Lyndon Smith. Botanist & Barrel is at 32 Broadway, Suite 110. Visit avl.mx/9gf for tickets and information.
American Craft Sake Festival
A MOVEMENT: GrindFest returns to celebrate the past, present and future of Black Asheville. Pictured is volunteer Ariel Villafane at GrindFest 2021. Photo courtesy of GrindFest titions will take place on Monday, May 30 for anyone brave enough to put their culinary creations to the test. Soul food from Cooking with Comedy Catering, fried fish from Turk DaJerk Catering, West African food from Kente Kitchen Market, popsicles from Buggy Pops and a host of several other hot dogs, ice cream, Italian ice, fish, chicken and barbecue items will also be available from local purveyors. “Black business is everybody’s business, and GrindFest is a time for all of us to celebrate that together,” says Hackett. For a full list of events and volunteer opportunities, visit avl.mx/bl2.
Bubbles & oysters Botanist & Barrel invites Asheville to help celebrate its 1-year anniversary with freshly-shucked oysters and curated flights of natural wine, cider and champagne on Friday, May 27, 5 - 7 p.m. Katie Schneider, Botanist & Barrel’s cider and wine educator and lead bartender, will be shucking select N.C. oysters to accompany lavish liquids and bubbling beverages thoughtfully selected to complement the local bivalve mollusks. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets reserving oysters ($15 for 6, $28 for 12) ahead of time and
The American Craft Sake Festival returns to Asheville Saturday, May 28, after a two-year hiatus. The gathering is hosted by Ben’s American Sake at Ben’s Tune Up. Sake tastings from sake breweries across North America, seminars from sake industry professionals, including Japanese Consul General Kazuyuki Takeuchi, live music and drink specials will all be available from 2-6 p.m. Ben Tune Up’s full menu of snacks, steamed buns, ramen bowls and sandwiches will also be available during the event. “We can honor tradition while also creating something new, and that’s what I hope to see celebrated as our festival grows—there are just so many possibilities,” says Patrick Shearer, head brewer at Ben’s American Sake and board member of the Sake Brewers Association of North America, in a press release announcing the event. Ben’s Tune Up is at 195 Hilliard Ave. Advance tickets for the festival are $40. Any remaining tickets will be available on the day of the event for $50. Visit avl.mx/bl3 for tickets and information.
Asheville's Best Cannabis Shop & Dispensary
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Darë Vegan Cheese partners with UNCA Twelve of UNC Asheville’s top management students have been selected as part of a consulting practicum providing direct support to Darë Vegan Cheese. This initiative is a continuation of the annual opportunity provided by Susan Clark, associate professor of management at UNC Asheville, through her student-led consulting practicum course. “I designed the course to provide students with the opportunity to shadow an entrepreneur, in a collaborative setting, for an entire semester,” says Clark in a press release from the university. “Students frequently express the desire to become entrepreneurs themselves, and after they take an experiential learning opportunity course, they are much better prepared for success as business owners and managers.” The student-comprised cohort applies theoretical knowledge to develop strategic business plans intended to help local businesses succeed and innovate. As students gain invaluable experience while preparing to enter the job market, local companies benefit from progressive business and marketing services that might otherwise be out of budget. “The younger generation’s insight into marketing and customer retention/ acquisition will be knowledge I continuously reference as we spend more energy and dollars on marketing efforts,” says Gwendolyn Dare Hageman, founder of Darë Vegan Cheese. For more information, visit avl.mx/bl4.
First Watch debuts in Asheville First Watch, a popular breakfast and casual lunch chain with over 430 restaurants across 28 states, opened its first location in Asheville on May 23. Diners can expect traditional breakfast plates and items accompanied by more innovative fare, such as the crab cake benedict, chorizo sunrise sandwich and lemon ricotta pancakes, all made fresh to order with seasonal ingredients. Speciality Kale Tonic, Morning Meditation and Purple Haze juices are pressed each morning to help wash down your meal and kickstart your day. “We are looking forward to providing Asheville with our unique, healthy and Instagramable menu,” says Morgan Shields, marketing and business development manager with Capstone Concepts, a regional franchise development partner. “We also
are super excited about becoming a part of the Asheville community and providing jobs to the local economy.” First Watch is at 2 Hendersonville Road, Suite A1. For hours and a full menu, visit avl.mx/bl5.
Closed: Zia Taqueria and Ziggy’s Barkery & Deli Zia Taqueria and Ziggy’s Bakery & Deli both closed this month after 10 and 3.5 years in business, respectively. “We are so appreciative of the support from the community over the last 10 years,” Zia announced in a social media post. “We will miss sharing our love of southwestern food with you and enjoying your company in the homey and historic space we have occupied.” “After long deliberation, I am ready to close the doors of my beloved bakery & deli,” wrote co-owner Robyn “Ziggy” Ziegler through her own social media announcement. “It was my pleasure to provide a great Philly-style deli experience and help you celebrate old and new memories while enjoying our food. I am overjoyed at the warmth this community has shown over the years.” While there are no immediate plans for the now-vacated locations of these restaurants, both businesses have hinted at exciting things to come and new culinary opportunities ahead.
open
fo r b u sine s s ISSUE
Opened a new location? Changed hours? Changed menus? Changed services? Need more staff? Let the Asheville Area Know! In the Mountain Xpress annual celebration of the Asheville area’s business community
To advertise, contact us today! 828-251-1333 x1 advertise@mountainx.com Publishes 6/22
Magical Offerings
5/27: Intuitive Readings: Shifra Nerenberg 1-7pm 5/28: Tarot Reader: Edward 12-6pm 5/29: Tarot Reader: Pam Shook 1-6pm 5/30: NEW MOON Tarot Reader: Mandi Smith 1-5pm 6/5: Book Signing w/ Maia Toll, Author of The Wild Wisdom series 3-5pm FULL MOON: June 14th
100+ Herbs Available! May Stone: Black Tourmaline May Herb: Mugwort
(828) 424-7868
ORDER ONLINE:
ashevillepagansupply.store 640 Merrimon Ave. #207
New Hours: M - Sat. 10-8pm • Sun. 12-6pm
Leadership change Emily Fox will step down from her position as co-director of Asheville Poverty Initiative, a local nonprofit promoting socio-economic justice and food security, on June 3. Fox worked with API for over 5 years, beginning her journey of program growth and coalition work as an intern before steadily transitioning into her role as co-director. The organization’s other co-director, Melva Lowry, will remain in her position as future leadership plans evolve. “When I say I am leaving my position as co-director with API, it comes from a place of love and gratitude for everyone who makes API’s work possible,” says Fox in an official statement. “It comes from a place of knowing that we have the leadership we need to move forward and grow as an organization and that there is space for me to step back and pursue a new path. API will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am excited to see where we go from here!”
— Blake Becker X MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 25-31, 2022
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ARTS & C U L T U R E
ROUNDUP
Around Town
‘The Asheville View’ welcomes back a live audience at ACT
VIEW FROM THE TOP: From left, Tina White, Kirby Winner, Kahlani Jackson, Myriam Weber and Aisha Adams host “The Asheville View.” Photos courtesy of ‘The Asheville View’ During its 2019 debut season, “The Asheville View” web series frequently invited audiences into its former studio space at the now-defunct The Block Off Biltmore. The show, which focuses on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, regularly featured such guests as Mayor Esther Manheimer and Johnnie Rush, who in 2017 was assaulted by former Asheville Police Officer Christopher Hickman. In these early episodes, community members had the opportunity to interact with guests, says the show’s co-host and executive producer, Aisha Adams. But COVID-19 put an end to that. Since 2020, the series’ hosts have used Zoom to conduct interviews with local government officials, medical professionals, media personalities, business owners, artists and others. The virtual production has its limitations, notes Adams. “On Zoom, it’s a one-on-one conversation, but in the
live audience, you can pick up on the energy of the audience, you connect with them more, and then there’s a sense of community being built in the space,” she says. On Saturday, May 28, at 11 a.m., “The Asheville View” brings the audience back as it tapes a show on the Mainstage at Asheville Community Theatre. The ACT has worked with Adams on its own diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and partnering on the live show was a natural next step, she says. The show is hosted by Adams, Kirby Winner, Myriam Weber, Tina White and Kahlani Jackson. Guests for the live episode will include Tracey Greene-Washington, founder of the nonprofit CoThinkk, musician Leeda “Lyric” Jones and Adrian Parra, Youth OUTright executive director. Also onstage will be actor and Asheville native Trinity Whiteside, who stars on Tyler Perry’s BET show “Sistas.”
“We’re really excited about [Whiteside’s participation] because we’ll be going from this local lens to a more national lens,” Adams says. Local vendors and organizations will be in the lobby during intermission. Sponsors for the event are GrindFest, Equity Over Everything, Asheville Pro Lash and Blue Ridge Pride. “The Asheville View” has no immediate plans for additional live shows, but Adams says she hopes to schedule some for 2023. “So there’ll be periodic live shows in the future, hopefully,” she says. Tickets are free but should be reserved in advance at avl.mx/bl8, over the phone at 828-254-1320 or in person at the Asheville Community Theatre box office, 35 E. Walnut St.
Well-crafted words Asheville’s Gwynne Rukenbrod Smith has conceived and orga-
OPEN NOW HOT BUNS & TASTY MEAT 48 College St. Downtown, Asheville 828-505-8455 • zellasdeli.com 28
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nized a new podcast series meant to amplify the voices of a diverse group of craft artists. The “American Craft Podcast” is produced by the the American Craft Council, of which Smith serves as director of community and creative work. “We want to use this storytelling as a way to talk about social, political and other issues,” she says. “And we hope listeners feel more connected to the artists after listening to their episode.” The podcast, which launched in April and will include six episodes in all, is an extension of ACC’s “Objects As …” project, in which six curators chose six craft artists to create a new artwork. The spring issue of ACC’s American Craft magazine featured the artists’ works. “As a part of creating the project, it was important that we highlighted the objects both in print and through personal interviews with the artists about their process of creating the objects,” Smith says. “Creating and launching podcasts was the most effective platform for the artists to be heard and their stories captured.” The first three episodes are available and feature interviews with artists Alex Anderson, Morel Doucet and James Maurelle. The final interviews will be with Ebitenyefa Baralaye, Bukola Koiki and Leandro Gomez Quintero. “American Craft Podcast” is hosted by Sarah Rachel Brown, a jeweler and podcaster in Philadelphia. “This project is just one part of a larger effort to use our organization’s platforms to help illuminate and dismantle systemic racism, oppression, global warming and
continue exploring how the practices of craft can help build a better world for everyone,” Smith says. For more information or to listen to the podcast, go to avl.mx/bl6.
Justice for kids Pisgah Legal Services will host An Evening for Kids Deserve Justice on Wednesday, May 25, 4:30-7 p.m. at Salvage Station. The event is part of a fundraising challenge issued by two anonymous donors who pledged to match $100,000 in donations to Pisgah’s efforts to serve local children in crisis. Last year, the nonprofit assisted 6,652 children whose families were on the verge of eviction and homelessness, who were at risk of abusive and violent parents or who weren’t receiving needed medical care. The fundraiser will include food, family-friendly activities and performances by local bands The Last Full Measure and Rooster. Salvage Station is at 468 Riverside Drive. Tickets for the event are $20 per person. Kids under 12 can attend for free. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to avl.mx/bl9.
War stories Veterans Healing Farm in Hendersonville will present a benefit performance of Brothers and Sisters Like These on Friday, May 27, 6:30-8 p.m. Brothers and Sisters Like These is a staged reading of poems and essays written by 18 combat veterans as part of a creative writing program founded by Vietnam vets in 2014. Men and women who served in Vietnam, as well as the Gulf War, Iraq War and the Afghanistan War will share their stories. The Veterans Healing Farm was founded in 2014 to enhance the mental, emotional and physical well-being of veterans through organic farming, beekeeping, continuing education workshops and community outreach. The farm is at 38 Yale Road, Hendersonville. There is no fee to attend, but donations are welcome. For more information, to to avl.mx/blc
formances of works including Jessie Montgomery’s “Strum,” Edward Elgar’s “Introduction and Allegro for String Quartet and String Orchestra” and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6,” movements 3 and 4. “The BRO will convey that the good times in life can only be fully appreciated if we acknowledge the hardships from COVID, world conflict and daily struggles that arise,” the group says in a press release. For more information or to buy tickets, visit avl.mx/bla.
Fired up The Madison County Arts Council will host the WNC Woodfire Ceramics Invitational through Wednesday, June 8, at The Arts Center in Marshall. “The mountains of North Carolina retain a rich history of wood-fired ceramics that forms the foundation of the region’s vibrant contemporary practice,” the arts council says in a press release. “Western North Carolina is home to some of the field’s top artists and continues to attract valuable young voices that push the medium in exciting new pathways.” The Arts Center, 90 S Main St., is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, visit avl.mx/ble.
— Justin McGuire X
MOVIE REVIEWS Local reviewers’ critiques of new films include: DOWNTON ABBEY - A NEW ERA: The Crawleys return with this delightful second movie that hops between a French villa and Downton, where a silent film is being shot. Grade: A-minus — Edwin Arnaudin MEN: Writer/director Alex Garland (Annihilation) puts the talented Jessie Buckley through the wringer as a grieving widow whose escape to the English countryside doesn’t go as planned. Grade: A-minus — James Rosario and Edwin Arnaudin
Time to reflect The Blue Ridge Orchestra will present Symphonic Reflections on Sunday, May 29, at 3 p.m. at UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium. The concert will be conducted by Milton Crotts and will include per-
Find full reviews and local film info at ashevillemovies.com patreon.com/ashevillemovies MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 25-31, 2022
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CLUBLAND JACK OF THE WOOD PUB The Blaggards (stout Irish rock), 8pm
k
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.
LAZY HIKER BREWING SYLVA Brother (rock), 8pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Jukebox Jumpers (country blues), 7pm
For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm 185 KING STREET Trivia and Karaoke, 7pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB All Night Karaoke Dance Party, 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Beauty Parlor Comedy: Tiffany Burke, 7pm • AQUANET Goth Party w/Ash Black, 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm CBD CAFE Jakey Jake (of the Screaming Js), 7pm 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 (Americana, singer-songwriter), 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 SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Little Stranger (indie hip-hop), 5pm SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jason DeCristafaro's Weekly Wednesday Jazz Night & Jam, 6pm
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MILLS RIVER BREWING Dirty Dead (Grateful Dead tribute), 7pm
SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/ Host Caleb Beissert, 8pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Eric Congdon and the Circuitbreakers (rock), 8pm
STATIC AGE RECORDS North by North, Bonnie Dagger & Smoky Mtn Sirens (garage rock), 9pm 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 • Samantha Rise (roots, folk, jazz, 5pm • Michigan Rattlers w/ Jack Marion & The Pearl Snap Prophets (folk rock), 8pm THE ODDITORIUM Asheville Heathen Haus: Burlesque & Dark Wave Body Expression, 8pm THE ORANGE PEEL The Wailers (reggae), 8pm THE POE HOUSE Team Trivia w/Wes Ganey, 7pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic , 6pm Wednesday Open Mic, 6pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 7pm
THURSDAY, MAY 26 185 KING STREET The Woven (folk, country), 7pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Kiki Thursdays Drag and Dancing, 8pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Jazz Thursday, 7:30pm KB and the LMD (jazz standards, classic pop) k 7:30pm BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING The Blushin' Roulettes' (Americana), 6pm BLUE RIDGE HEMP CO. Cali Sober: an alcohol free comedy show, 8pm BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 5pm CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Thursday Night Trivia w/Kelsey, 6:30pm
HIP-HOP HAPPENING: Los Angeles-based rapper/producer JPEGMAFIA will perform at The Orange Peel on Saturday, May 28, at 8 p.m. His most recent album, LP!, was released in 2021. Photo courtesy of JPEGMAFIA CROW & QUILL Black Sea Beat Society (Baltic, Klezmer, Turkish)k 8:30pm
RENDEVOUS Gin Mill Pickers (Americana, Piedmont blues, ragtime), 6pm
ALOFT ROOFTOP/ POOLSIDE Splash Saturdays ft. DJ sets by Jaze Uries, 1pm
DOUBLE CROWN Gospel Night w/The JoyBoyz, 9pm
ROOM NINE Throwback Thursday w/DJ Unk, 9pm
FLEETWOOD'S Bad Ties, Machine 13 & Mouthbreathers (beat poetry, indie, experimental psych), 8pm
SALVAGE STATION Dirty Logic: A Tribute To Steely Dan, 7:30pm
ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY VENUS (dark house dance party), 10pm
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 MILLS RIVER BREWING Strayin' Anchors (rock, funk, blues), 6pm 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 w/James Harrod, 8:30pm PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Melissa McKinney and Friends (blues, soul), 6:30pm
SOVEREIGN KAVA Comedy Night w/Justin Blackburn, 8pm THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Pimps of Pompe (jazzed-up pop & hiphop), 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Terraoke, 9pm THE GREY EAGLE • Miami Gold (rock), 5pm • Daniel Romano's Outfit (rock-n-roll), 8pm THE ODDITORIUM N8 The Magician: An interactive Magic Show, 8pm THE ROOT BAR Music Train (Grateful Dead, Southern rock), 6:30pm HARRAH'S CHEROKEE CENTER - ASHEVILLE Little Feat (Southern rock), 7pm TRYON FINE ARTS CENTER Brother Bluebird (indie folk), 6:30pm
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr. Jimmy's Big City Chicago Blues, 7:30pm BIG PILLOW BREWING Jungle Man Sam (reggae), 6pm BREWSKIES Karaoke, 10pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Sandy Herrault (violin), 3pm CITIZEN VINYL David Barnard (singer-songwriter), 4pm CORK & KEG The Old Chevrolet Set (classic country), 8pm CROW & QUILL Andrea & Mud (surf western)k 8:30pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. J.C. Tokes Family Band (retro Americana), 7pm FROG LEVEL BREWERY Gin Mill Pickers (Americana, Piedmont blues, ragtime), 6pm GUIDON BREWING Collin Cheek (acoustic), 7pm
TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 9pm
HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY The Feels (roots, soul, R&B), 7pm
FRIDAY, MAY 27
HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Drag Music Bingo w/ Divine the Bearded Lady, 7pm
12 BONES BREWERY Seth & Sara (Americana), 6pm 185 KING STREET Pink Beds (indie rock), 10:30pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Salsa Night, 9pm
ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Ash & Eric (folk, vintage), 7pm • Unspoken Tradition (bluegrass), 8:30pm
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Friday w/ Gus & Friends (Grateful Dead tribute), 9pm ONE WORLD BREWING 5j Barrow (folk rock), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST • Ben Butterworth & The Bajas (bluegrass to psych country), 6pm • Sister Ivy (neo-soul, jazz, rock), 9pm PHIL'S BBQ PIT Scott Kirby (Americana, blues, rock), 5pm RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO. Fresh Phish Friday, 5:30pm SILVERADOS Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band (funk), 6:30pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Oil N Water (funky soul), 8pm THE BARRELHOUSE Southern Cities (rock), 8pm THE DUGOUT Graywind (rock), 8pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Getaway Comedy: Ian Aber, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE • The Moon & You (folk, Americana), 6pm • Crystal Bowersox w/ The Greybirds (singer-songwriter), 8pm THE ODDITORIUM Asheville After Dark Presents: Perversions Kink Night, 8pm WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT Andrew Thelston (rock, blues, folk), 7pm
SATURDAY, MAY 28 185 KING STREET Ross Osteen Band (rock, blues), 8pm 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Old Men of the Woods (folk, pop), 1pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB All Night Karaoke Dance Party , 8pm
ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Beauty Parlor Comedy: Ryan Singer, 7pm, modelfacecomedy. com/calendar/ beauty-parlor-comedy-ryan-singer Big Gay Energy Dance Party w/Ganymede, 10pm
BREWSKIES Pool Tournament Saturdays, 7pm
ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 8pm
DRY FALLS BREWING CO. Mike Pauer (acoustic), 7pm
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Vince Junior Band (blues, surf, reggae)k 7:30pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL SOOHAN + DeemZoo, Infinite Geometry, & Psynatra (dance, electronic), 8pm BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah's Daydream (Gypsy jazz), 5:30pm BIG PILLOW BREWING Alex Krug Combo (Americana), 6pm BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Gin Mill Pickers (Americana, Piedmont blues, ragtime), 1pm BREEDLOVES FAMILY RESTAURANT Geriatric Jukebox (oldies), 6pm
CORK & KEG Zydeco Ya Ya (Cajun), 8pm CROW & QUILL Queen Bee & The Honeylovers (swing)k 8:30pm
FBO AT HOMINY CREEK Burnt Reputation (acoustic rock, 80s pop), 6pm GUIDON BREWING Dance Party (DJ) , 7pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY The Queue (pop, top 40), 6pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Asheville 8 String Collective (jazz, funk, blues), 7pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • An Evening w/Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp (Americana, folk), 7pm • Alien Music Club presents Leonard Cohen: The Deep Cuts, 8:30pm
JACK OF THE WOOD • Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm • Supper Break (bluegrass), 8pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Stephen Evans (acoustic), 6pm MILLS RIVER BREWING The Lucky Losers (blues), 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Abbey Elmore Band (pop, rock, folk), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST The Stolen Faces (Grateful Dead), 6pm ORCHARD AT ALTAPASS Skiffle Creek (folk, rock, Americana), 3pm RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO. Moonlight Street Folk, 6pm SOVEREIGN KAVA GruntWerk (multi-instrumental beats), 8pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Young Davinci, Supanova Newb, OTG Saint, Natureboy Chris John, Griddy Sama, Rokkstar Sheed, PAC OJ & Withdrew Tha Design (rap, hip-hop), 9pm
SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Mr Jimmy Power Trio (blues), 5pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR SLASHER (hard dance party), 10pm THE GREY EAGLE BadRabbit (Americana), 6pm Bombino (world), 9pm THE ODDITORIUM Party Foul Drag and Whiskey & Gogo, 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL JPEGMAFIA (experimental hip hop), 8pm URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE DJ Coustin TL (throwback hip-hop, dance), 7pm WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT • Livin’ On The Ledge w/DJ Phantom Pantone & Friends , 2pm • DJ Molly Parti, 7pm
SUNDAY, MAY 29 185 KING STREET Open Electric Jam w/the King Street House Band ft. Howie Johnson, 5pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Low Key Karaoke Chill Vibes, 8pm
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MAY 25-31, 2022
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C LU BL A N D ARCHETYPE BREWING Sunday Sessions w/ Jason Daniello (acoustic), 3pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Life's A Drag Brunch w/Ida Carolina, 12pm • Beauty Parlor Comedy: Jasmine Ellis, 6:30pm • SOL Dance Party w/ Zati (soul house), 9pm
ZILLICOAH BEER CO Sunday Bluegrass Jam Series, 4:30pm
MONDAY, MAY 30 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Freshen Up Comedy Showcase, 7pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Industry Nite, 8pm
BIG PILLOW BREWING Big Creek Bluegrass, 6pm
ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Martini Monday, 8pm
BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS CHIMNEY ROCK The JackTown Ramblers (bluegrass, swing, jazz), 2pm
BREWSKIES Open Jam w/Tall Paul, 7:30pm
CROW & QUILL The Roaring Lions (parlour jazz)k 8pm GUIDON BREWING Luke Willis (acoustic), 3pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY The Lucky Losers (blues), 2pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Mr Jimmy Duo w/ Chris Norred (blues), 1pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Brunch w/ Supper Break, 12pm MILLS RIVER BREWING Kevin Daniel & The Bottom Line (Americana), 2pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Jason Lyles (Americana), 2pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Shakedown Sundays (rock, jam band), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST • Sunday Jazz Jam & Brunch w/The Fully Vaccinated Trio, 1pm • Laura Blackley & The Wild Flowers (Appalachian blues & soul), 6pm PLEB URBAN WINERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 4pm ROOM NINE Soulful Sundays, 8pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Bike Night w/Ashley & Big Matty, 2pm THE GREY EAGLE Red Clay Strays w/ Justin Clyde Williams (blues, country), 7pm THE ODDITORIUM Portrayal of Guilt, Yautja, Harsh Realm, & Cave Grave (punk), 7pm THE ROOT BAR Comedy at the Root Open Mic w/ Hilliary Begley & Cody Hughes, 7:30pm UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY BREVARD Bruce Threlkeld (bluegrass to punk), 3pm
DOUBLE CROWN Country Karaoke, 10pm HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB Taylor Martin's Open Mic, 6:30pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY • We Have Ignition (surf rock), 2pm • Totally Rad Trivia w/ Mitch Fortune, 6pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7:30pm LITTLE JUMBO Rodriguez, Baggetta, Kehrberg, & Davis (jazz)k 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. It Takes All Kinds Open Mic Night, 7pm 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 ODDITORIUM Magic The Gathering Play Night, 8pm
TUESDAY, MAY 31 5 WALNUT WINE BAR The John Henrys (jazz, swing), 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Downtown Karaoke w/ Ganymede, 9pm
ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Dead tribute), 6pm
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Music to Your Ears Discussion Series: Pink Floyd "Obscurred by Clouds", 7pm
SOVEREIGN KAVA Open Jam w/Chris Cooper and Friends, 7pm
ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm
STATIC AGE RECORDS Tiny Dinosaur, Eliza Thorn & Descolada (fantasy folk, indie, bluegrass), 7pm
HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm
SWEETEN CREEK BREWING All Arts Open Mike w/ Mike Waters, 6pm
HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Well-Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith, 6pm
THE GREY EAGLE Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road (bluegrass), 5pm
ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Albert Cummings (blues), 7:30pm
THE ODDITORIUM Open Mic Comedy, 8pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Jam, 5pm LAZY HIKER BREWING SYLVA Trivia Night, 6:30pm
TURGUA BREWING CO Tuesday Jam Sessions, 5:30pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Tuesday Night Trivia, 7pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Open Mic Night, 7pm
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1
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
12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm 185 KING STREET Trivia and Karaoke , 7pm
RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO. Wednesday Acoustic Jam, 5pm
ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Queer Comedy Party: Powell Mansfield, 7pm • AQUANET Goth Party w/Ash Black, 9pm
SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jason DeCristafaro's Weekly Wednesday Jazz Night & Jam, 6pm
ASHEVILLE-AREA
SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/ Host Caleb Beissert, 8pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm THE DUGOUT Thursday Night Open Jam w/Paul Liford, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE • Thomas Dollbaum (singer-songwriter), 5pm • Slaughter Beach, Dog w/Trace Mountains & Anika Pyle (indie rock), 8pm THE ORANGE PEEL Superchunk (alt rock), 8pm THE POE HOUSE Team Trivia w/Wes Ganey, 7pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic, 6pm
THURSDAY, JUNE 2
FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead, JGB Tribute), 12am ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Asheville Sessions ft. Mary Kay Williams (jazz, blues, rock), 7pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. 5J Barrow (folk), 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 9pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Random Animals (indiesoul), 6:30pm PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Lenny Pettinelli (rock, jazz, funk), 6:30pm
185 KING STREET Darren Nicholson Band (bluegrass), 6:30pm
SALVAGE STATION The JLoyd Mashup (funk, jam), 8pm
ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Kiki Thursdays Drag and Dancing, 8pm
THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR MGB at the AGB (covers, singer-songwriter) k 7:30pm BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 5pm CONTINUUM ART Singer Songwriter Open Mic, 6pm CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Thursday Night Trivia w/Kelsey, 6:30pm
THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Pimps of Pompe (jazzed-up pop & hiphop), 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Rum Punchlines Comedy Open Mic, 6pm Karaoke w/Terraoke, 9pm THE GREY EAGLE Sean Hayes w/Haunted Shed (soul, dirt-road folk), 8pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 9pm
EATS & CSOMING DRINKS OON GUIDE
2022 Edition
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CASCADE LOUNGE Tuesday Bluegrass Jam, 6pm FBO AT HOMINY CREEK Open Mic and Jam, 6pm FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm GINGER'S REVENGE Gluten Free Comedy: Andy Gold, 8pm HEMINGWAY'S CUBA Para Gozar (Cuban), 5pm MILLS RIVER BREWING Lord of the Rings Trivia Night, 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Team Trivia, 7pm
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MAY 25-31, 2022
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FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): In defining the essential elements at play in a typical Aries person’s agenda, I’m not inclined to invoke the words “sometimes” or “maybe.” Nor do I make frequent use of the words “periodically,” “if,” or “ordinarily.” Instead, my primary identifying term for many Aries characters is “NOW!!!” with three exclamation points. In referring to your sign’s experiences, I also rely heavily on the following descriptors: pronto, presto, push, directly, why not?, engage, declare, activate, venture into, enterprising, seize, deliver and wield. You are authorized to fully activate and deploy these qualities in the next three weeks. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I like Joan Didion’s definitions of self-respect. As you enter a favorable phase for deepening and enhancing your self-respect, they may be helpful. Didion said self-respect is a “sense of one’s intrinsic worth,” and added, “People who respect themselves are willing to accept the risk that the venture will go bankrupt, that the liaison may not turn out to be one in which every day is a holiday. They are willing to invest something of themselves.” And maybe the most essential thing about self-respect, according to Didion, is that it is “a discipline, a habit of mind that can never be faked but can be developed, trained, coaxed forth.” GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Reality is not simply there; it does not simply exist,” claimed author Paul Celan. “It must be sought out and won.” I think that is excellent advice for you right now. But what does it mean in practical terms? How can you seek out and win reality? My first suggestion is to put your personal stamp on every situation you encounter. Do something subtle or strong to make each event serve your specific interests and goals. My second suggestion is to discern the illusions that other people are projecting and avoid buying into those misunderstandings. My third suggestion is to act as if it’s always possible to make life richer, more vivid and more meaningful. And then figure out how to do that. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Wilma Mankiller was the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. She said, “The cow runs away from the storm, while the buffalo charges directly toward it — and gets through it quicker.” Political analyst Donna Brazile expounded on Mankiller’s strategy: “Whenever I’m confronted with a tough challenge, I do not prolong the torment. I become the buffalo.” I recommend Mankiller’s and Brazile’s approach for you and me in the coming days, my fellow Cancerian. Now please excuse me as I race in the direction of the squall I see brewing in the distance. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The New Yorker is an influential Pulitzer Prize-winning magazine that features witty writing and impeccable fact-checking. In 2017, its stories exposed the extensive sexual misconduct committed by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein — and helped lead to his prosecution. How did the magazine get its start? It was co-founded in 1925 by Harold Ross, who had dropped out of school at age 13. He edited every issue for the next 26 years. I’m sensing the possibility of a comparable development in your life, Leo. In the coming months, you may get involved in a project that seems to be beyond the reach of your official capacities or formal credentials. I urge you to proceed as if you can and will succeed. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo-born Jocko Willink is a retired naval officer and author. In his book Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual, he lays down his manifesto: “Become the discipline — embrace its cold and relentless power. And it will make you better and stronger and smarter and faster and healthier than anything else. And most important: It will make you free.” While I don’t expect you
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BY ROB BREZSNY
to embrace Willink’s rigorous ethic with the same fanatical grip, I think you will benefit from doing the best you can. The cosmic rhythms will support you if you make a fun and earnest effort to cultivate liberation through discipline.
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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Some nights you are the lighthouse, some nights the sea,” writes Libran author Ocean Vuong. According to my astrological analysis, you are better suited to be the lighthouse than the sea in the coming days. Lately, you have thoroughly embodied the sea, and that has prepared you well to provide illumination. You have learned new secrets about the tides and the waves. You are attuned to the rhythms of the undercurrents. So I hope you will now embrace your role as a beacon, Libra. I expect that people will look to your radiance to guide and inspire them.
Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Movie people are possessed by demons, but a very low form of demons,” observes author Edna O’Brien. She should know. She has hung out with many big film stars. Since you’re probably not in the movie business yourself, your demons may be much higher quality than those of celebrity actors and directors. And I’m guessing that in the coming weeks, your demons will become even finer and more interesting than ever before — even to the point that they could become helpers and advisors. For the best results, treat them with respect and be willing to listen to their ideas. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I’m all in favor of you getting what you yearn for. I have no inhibitions or caveats as I urge you to unleash all your ingenuity and hard work in quest of your beautiful goals. And in the hope of inspiring you to upgrade your ability to fulfill these sacred prospects, I offer you a tip from Sagittarian author Martha Beck. She wrote, “To attract something that you want, become as joyful as you think that thing would make you.” CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): According to author Caroline Myss, “You should see everything about your life as a lesson.” Whoa! Really? Each trip to the grocery store should be a learning opportunity? Myss says yes! For example, let’s say you’re in the snack foods aisle and you’re tempted to put Doritos Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips and Lay’s Barbecue Potato Chips in your cart. But your gut is screaming at you, “That stuff isn’t healthy for you!” And yet you decide to ignore your gut’s advice. You buy and eat both bags. Myss would say you have squandered a learning opportunity: “You’ve harmed yourself by blocking your intuitive voice,” she writes. Now, in accordance with astrological omens, Capricorn, here’s your homework assignment: Regard every upcoming event as a chance to learn how to trust your intuition better. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): An Aquarian poet was disturbed when a suitor told her, “I’m really very fond of you.” She responded, “I don’t like fond. It sounds like something you would tell a dog. Give me love, or nothing. Throw your fond in a pond.” I don’t advise you to adopt a similar attitude anytime soon, Aquarius. In my oracular opinion, you should wholeheartedly welcome fondness. You should honor it and celebrate it. In itself, it is a rich, complex attitude. And it may also lead, if you welcome it, to even more complex and profound interweavings. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “I need a playlist of all the songs I used to love but forgot about,” wrote Tumblr blogger Yuyuuyuyuu. I think you could use such a playlist, too, Pisces. In fact, I would love to see you receive a host of memos that remind you of all the things you love and need and are interested in — but have forgotten about or neglected. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to recover what has been lost. I hope you will re-establish connections and restore past glories that deserve to accompany you into the future.
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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.
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.
skill level and abilities. Salaried position with benefits in a positive team environment with an emphasis on community engagement. Please send a resume and cover letter explaining why you are a good fit for Mountain Xpress to: xpressjob@ mountainx.com.
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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.
SALES ASSISTANT Entry level administrative assistant position to our vibrant sales team. Position includes researching leads, verifying contacts, organizing outreach schedules, collections, and other tasks in support of the sales staff. Strong organization and communications skills as well as computer competencies required. Opportunity for advancement depending on
SENIORS HELPING SENIORS Are you an active, mature person interested in helping other seniors? Check out SeniorCareAsheville. com or call 828-989-5671 for a meaningful part-time employment opportunity.
RETAIL 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, unusual stuff, taxidermy, rifles, bbguns, more. Call/ Text 828-582-6097,steadyaim1@yahoo.com.
SERVICES AUDIO/VIDEO DISH TV SPECIAL $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR
THE N EW Y OR K TI M ES C ROSSWORD P UZ Z LE Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-566-1815 (AAN CAN) HUGHESNET SATELLITE INTERNET Finally, no hard data limits! Call Today for speeds up to 25mbps as low as $59.99/mo! $75 gift card, terms apply. 1-866544-5758. (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! 1-866571-1325. (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: 1-866-370-2939 (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) CREDIT CARD DEBT RELIEF! Reduce payment by up to 50%! Get one LOW affordable payment/ month. Reduce interest. Stop calls. FREE no-obligation consultation Call 1-855-7611456 (AAN CAN) NEED IRS RELIEF? $10K - $125K+? Get Fresh Start or Forgiveness Call 1-877707-5521 Monday through Friday 7AM-5PM PST (AAN CAN) TOP CA$H PAID FOR OLD GUITARS! 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D'Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. 877589-0747 (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 COUNSELING SERVICES ASTRO-COUNSELING Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Stellar Counseling Services. Christy Gunther, MA, LCMHC. (828) 258-3229.
AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES 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)
The Key to a New Barbering Career PROGRAMS 1 Hour Drive from Asheville GI Bill Accepted
• Master Barber • Cosmetologist to Barber Crossover • Barber Instructor
809 N. Roan St., Johnson City, TN 37601 • 423.461.0004 info@crowncutzacademy.com • crowncutzacademy.com
Donate your car. Change a life. Do you have an extra car that needs a new home? Your donated car can open the doors to independence, increased income, and higher education for a hardworking member of our community. Vehicles of all types and conditions are welcomed and appreciated! The donation is tax-deductible. The process is simple. The impact is real.
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edited by Will Shortz | No. 0420
ACROSS 1 Congratulatory gestures 6 Div. of the Treasury Department 9 “Murder Mystery” or “Roaring ’Twenties,” for a party 14 “Todo Sobre Mi ___” (1999 Almodóvar film) 15 Stick on a rack 16 Like some legs and mustaches 17 Aptly named Olympic sprinter 19 Epic poem written in dactylic hexameter 20 It’s multifaceted 21 Rudely arrogant 22 “___ no sin to cheat the devil”: Daniel Defoe 23 The Cowardly Lion, back in Kansas 24 Aptly named six-time All-Star first baseman 30 Bread with a palindromic name 31 Cry for assistance 32 Hold up 34 Actor Elgort of “Baby Driver” 36 “___ queen!” 37 Mist a spot? 39 Animal that symbolizes good fortune in Chinese culture 40 Mushrooms found in ramen 43 Shake, as a tail 44 Aptly named tennis great 47 Behind, in England 48 Football carriers: Abbr. 49 Listen to gossip, in slang 52 What driver’s licenses serve as 57 Writer Nin 58 Aptly named N.B.A. M.V.P., in a manner of speaking 59 Period of work 60 Plastic ___ Band
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ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE
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