Mountain Xpress 06.05.24

Veterans ISSUE

AVLFest and Transfigurations, two of Asheville’s premier summer music festivals, return in August. Xpress spoke with the organizers of each event about efforts to make the latest editions the best ones yet.

PUBLISHER &

Jeff Fobes

ASSISTANT PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson

MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas Calder

EDITORS:

Lisa Allen, Gina Smith, Jessica Wakeman

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Thomas Calder

OPINION

EDITOR: Tracy Rose

STAFF REPORTERS: Lisa Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Justin McGuire, Greg Parlier, Brooke Randle, Gina Smith, Jessica Wakeman

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Braulio Pescador-Martinez

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Jon Elliston, Mindi Friedwald, Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Oby Arnold, Mark Barrett, Eric Brown, Carmela Caruso, Cayla Clark, Kristin D’Agostino, Brionna Dallara, Kiesa Kay, Storms Reback, Kay West

PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Staff: Cindy Kunst Intern: Caleb Johnson

ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson

LEAD DESIGNER: Scott Southwick

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Tina Gaafary, Olivia Urban

MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Sara Brecht, Scott Mermel

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES: Hinton Edgerton, Jeff Fobes, Mark Murphy, Scott Southwick WEB: Brandon Tilley BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler

ADMINISTRATION & BILLING: Hinton Edgerton, Mark Murphy

DISTRIBUTION: Susan Hutchinson, Cindy Kunst

DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS: Ashley Alms, Corey Biskind, Tracy Houston, John McKay, Henry Mitchell, Courtney Israel Nash, Joey Nash, Carl & Debbie Schweiger, Gary Selnick, Noah Tanner

What happens if firefighters can’t afford

Asheville?

I recently listened to excerpts of the narratives by Asheville Fire Department employees to the City Council. One after another, these professionals spoke of being paid less than the cost of living in the community they serve.

Each of these individuals are fully trained and fully skilled to save our lives and to put out fires that would damage our lifestyles. Each presenter documented how, at their current rate of pay, their plan to live and thrive in Asheville is going up in flames. As other Asheville firefighters have done, many of them will have to find higher-paying jobs in their chosen craft in another community or make a complete career switch.

My question is: Without a level of monetary compensation that provides a living wage, when these individuals for good reason leave the department and their position is vacated, what else will go up in flames?

— Richard Boyum Candler

The case for infill housing falls flat

In his letter to the Mountain Xpress on May 15 [“Why Asheville Needs Infill Housing”], Andrew Paul supports rezoning Asheville neighborhoods for infill with a number of

transparently erroneous arguments. They are predicated on the power that the words “affordable housing” have accrued as politicians and developers ally themselves with the language of caring wokeness. Take the claim that allowing more infill will reduce rent and home prices. It sure would. As existing neighborhoods with Asheville’s iconic tree canopy and low population density became saturated — more crowded, hotter, busier and therefore less desirable — property values would definitely drop, diminishing, as Paul wrote, the “pricing power that landowners wield,” but not before devel-

opers had made some significant pocket change.

He goes on to devote an entire paragraph to the link between “high-value,” “exclusive” neighborhoods and “class- and race-based segregation.”

Yet the desire to maintain neighborhoods and green spaces has nothing to do with race, and assumptions about “class” are disrespectful at best. The diverse Burton Street neighborhood is an example, as I learned on a recent guided walking tour there. Infill typically impacts lower- and middle-income areas far more than upper-income neighborhoods.

A key element of the “moving chains” theory that Paul references to support this feel-good defense of rezoning to allow infill is based on the idea that older houses, primarily as rentals, become more affordable to successive waves of low-income households. Then, Paul omits, reinvestment declines as aging structures are poorly maintained, neglected and eventually demolished. We just saw that happen on Charlotte Street with the Killian property.

The issue of housing for low-income earners is a real problem, but crammed-in, cheap housing is not the answer. Destroying the lure

of Asheville to tourists is not the answer, either. Many service workers, teachers, nurses and others cannot afford Asheville housing prices because they are poorly paid. The “living wage” is not that. For a typical example, Applebee’s corporate earnings in 2023 were well above $800 million. How much of that did they share with our local chefs and servers? This is the elephant in the room.

—

Sherrill Osborne Knight Teacher Asheville

Dreaming big for senior cats

Your recent cover depicting a photo of Diana Wortham and her cat, Pearl, is my personal favorite [May 15, Xpress]. Pearl’s body language shows everything we need to understand about her new home with her mom: She feels cozy, relaxed and well loved.

And Kiesa Kay’s insightful interview with co-founder Nancy Gavin about the Laps and Naps organization revealed the careful planning of the new sanctuary that will house senior cats during their golden years [“All 9 Lives: Laps and Naps Saves Senior Cats”]. What a blessing that Gavin and her colleagues dreamed big and are working to bring that dream to fruition.

Pearl is one lucky kitty, as is Diana. The love between them is evident and circular.

— Lauri Bailey Asheville

Take a stand for what’s best in society

“The dark periods of history are the creative periods; for they are the time when new ideas, arts and institutions can be brought into being.”

— Thomas Berry

I love Asheville. New experiences keep popping up. For example, I recently attended a performance of a contemporary dance group, Parsons Dance, and taiko drumming at the

Word of the week

prominence (in relation to topography)

(n.) the difference between the elevation of a mountain’s peak and the elevation of the lowest point on the path

This week’s word comes courtesy of local resident Scott Foster, who writes: “Many visitors come to Asheville to hike. They all ask what the elevation of a certain mountain is, when what they really want to know is how many feet up is if from the trailhead to summit.” In other words, they want to know the topographic prominence between point A (the trailhead) and point B (the summit). X

CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON

Wortham Center for Performing Arts. The creativity lifted my spirit that connects me to the universe: awesome, amazing and beautiful performances for both children and adults. Local schools and homeschoolers would benefit by checking out the children’s performances. The taiko drummers are an inspiration for our Friday evening drum circle downtown.

I share this to point to something good in our society. Yes, letters in Mountain Xpress unveil the imperfections of our local communities. That’s important. But, in order to move forward, we also need to take a stand on what’s good in our communities. Our local and national demonstrations express a longing for a more secure, united and compassionate society. Those in the streets don’t have the money and media access that the wealthy and elite leaders have at their disposal.

As far as I can determine, our media does not reflect the compassion, activism and wisdom of our youths, local Veterans for Peace, Resist Raytheon and groups like Jews of Conscience speaking out on the horrific brutality to the Palestinians, which includes 35,000-plus killed, including some 14,500 children. However, one can go to “Democracy Now!,” Free Speech TV or YouTube.

This violence has been brewing for years. My own experience goes back to my support of the Palestinians as much as 12 years ago in downtown Asheville calling for a solution and a just peace for both Israel and the Palestinians. We were falsely criticized for being antisemetic while we were actively gathering and passing on information directly from Jews and Palestinians.

Recently I have heard repeated reports on television of the big lie that student protesters across our nation are antisemitic. That’s a lie repeated to justify the murdering of children and innocent parents. Those students are a sign of hope and deserve our support and thanks for bringing the moral issue to the public. I say to the students and the younger generations, “Don’t stop resisting — devote yourselves to a better, more caring America!”

And I call for Americans of all stripes and ages to resist our present way of life and elect politicians who express compassion and wisdom for what’s best in humanity. Resist our materialistic consumer society and work for the dream of a more democratic, life-affirming and compassionate, caring society. It is we the people who create a more caring world — not corrupt or outdated institutions, power-hungry politicians or wealthy elites. Again, take a stand for what is best in the human species!

I can only hope that our local churches are educating their congregations on this. I know Land of the Sky United Church of Christ has sponsored at least two special events. Recently, it hosted a documentary film by Just Peace for Israel/Palestine. You can check this out online.

You can challenge me if you believe killing children is necessary to create a safer world at esacco189@gmail. com. I don’t believe God or Jesus is celebrating the slaughter in Gaza.

— Ed Sacco Asheville

Why the Vance Monument should come back

Regarding the recent letter from Jane Spence-Edwards [“The Case for Rebuilding the Vance Monument,” May 15, Xpress], I must say I agree with her completely. I do take an exception to her phrase “his misguided association with the Confederacy.” Vance was a strong Unionist. North Carolina was one of the last states to secede, and he was delivering speeches in support of her staying in the Union up until the war began. Then his decision was to follow and defend his native state.

This was not unusual for the time. Jubal Early, who became a Confederate general, voted against secession in the

Virginia convention. Men like Robert E. Lee, Lewis Addison Armistead and John Newland Maffitt spent 20-30 years in the prewar U.S. military, resigned and joined Confederate service only when their state left the Union and war came. Fifteen Confederate generals were born and raised in the North. Most had lived in the South for years before the war, and they made the same decision. These men had done nothing to bring about the war and did not want to leave the Union, but they couldn’t bring themselves to fight against their home.

Considering the devastation wrought upon the South by the federal armies and navy, they were probably glad they did leave the U.S. military since they didn’t help to burn Southern towns, destroy homes and farms (perhaps those of their families and neighbors?), and lob shells into the streets of Charleston and Atlanta. What choice would we have made in their position?

I think people in our day can’t fully understand the deep bond people of those days had with their state and region. Zebulon Vance, throughout his life, worked for the welfare and defense of North Carolina. His monument should come back.

— Byron Hovey Former resident (21 years) of Asheville Carolina Beach, N.C. X

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

New broom

Housing Authority restores competitive bidding for early education

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN

jwakeman@mountainx.com

More than a decade overdue, the city’s Housing Authority is seeking bids to provide early education and child care for its residents.

According to Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA) President and CEO Monique Pierre, the nonprofit Community Action Opportunities (CAO) has provided Head Start at three HACA spaces — Pisgah View, Hillcrest and Lonnie D. Burton — since 2009. Head Start is a federal preschool program that provides early childhood education for children ages 3-5 from low-income families. During that time, the agency has never issued a request for proposals (RFP) from child care service providers.

Public housing agencies must rebid contracts every five years under U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations.

“We’ve been out of compliance for 14 years,” Pierre told a May 22 meeting of the HACA Board of Commissioners.

Brian Repass, director of the Children, Family and Community

Partnership Department at CAO, which operates the three Head Start locations, declined Xpress’ request to review the lease for the program’s three locations. “We are not providing any documentation other than the letter we provided to families,” he wrote in May 20 email.

In a separate May 20 email, he declined to comment on the current situation. “During the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville RFP procurement process for the child care centers we are unable to discuss details about the process,” he wrote.

Repass continued, “If any responder is seen as trying to subvert the procurement process through influence, HACA may disqualify the respondent. … [W]e have been very careful to not engage in any way that could be seen as trying to influence the outcome of the RFP process.”

Xpress later reached out to Repass requesting the confirmation of dates and times related to conversations with HACA. He responded, “I apologize, but during the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville RFP procurement process for the child care centers, we are unable to discuss details about the process.”

However, Repass was quoted in a May 28 report in Asheville Watchdog. “This is the first time that [HACA has] done an RFP for the child care space that I am aware of,” Repass told Watchdog. “And I have been here for 21 years, and the person before me never mentioned it.”

In a May 6 email to Head Start parents, Repass wrote that HACA was “terminating our leases.” He went on to state “if Community Action Opportunities Head Start is not chosen to be the child care provider, Head Start services would not be available at this location.”

However, when Pierre was asked on May 28 if a vendor other than CAO applying for the RFP could provide the Head Start program, she responded, “Our RFP is open to all potential child care providers.”

She continued, “We are interested in the best respondent that can best meet the needs of our residents.”

‘INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST’

Pierre was appointed by the Board of Commissioners for HACA as president and CEO of HACA in April 2023. She says rebidding for a contract for use of HACA properties “is actually how we should be doing things,” she says. “And if it wasn’t done that way before, that’s not my problem.”

At the May 22 HACA Board of Commissioners meeting, Pierre shared a timeline of HACA’s engagement with CAO. She says

HACA spoke with CAO representatives on Aug. 14. “At that time, I informed them that due to federal procurement guidelines, we would have to procure for child care services,” she says. On Feb. 29, HACA sent a letter to CAO that “was the official notice to vacate, with information [about] our desire to do something else with our facilities,” Pierre told the commissioners. On April 8, HACA issued the RFP for a child care operator on its website, she says.

In May, Pierre received an email from a member of the community, who requested anonymity due to their ties with Head Start, asking why the program’s HACA locations were being closed so abruptly and the classrooms emptied immediately. (Their email exchange was shared with Xpress by a third party.)

In an interview with Xpress , Pierre reiterates that CAO was informed months earlier about the need to rebid for a contract for the use of HACA space. “I wish they had not waited until the last minute to inform their parents of the process because that makes it seem like Housing [Authority] didn’t inform them, and that’s what the narrative has been,” she says. “But we took efforts to make sure that their provider, which is the Community Action Opportunities, was aware of the situation.”

Pierre adds that she wishes that CAO had seen HACA’s adherence

NONCOMPLIANT: “We’ve been out of compliance for 14 years,” Monique Pierre, president and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville, told the organization’s Board of Commissioners at its May 22 meeting. Photo by Caleb Johnson

to the rules of HUD’s application process as protection for everyone involved. “There are certain regulations we have to comply with,” Pierre tells Xpress. “Good partners don’t ask you to do the wrong thing. … A good partner doesn’t ask you to break the rules.” CAO, she says, “chose to … stir up the public concern by saying things like we’re ending child care or we’re cutting off child care in our communities when they knew that is intellectually dishonest. That is not what we are doing.”

Pierre says she believes competition among child care providers will serve families better. At the May 22 HACA meeting, she noted that Head Start’s child care services end at 2:30 p.m. daily and wondered if that might pose difficulties for families who work until the evening.

“When there’s a lack of competition, you end up with other problems,” Pierre told Xpress. “We want full-day child care and child enrichment. We want all those things. We want to make sure that our children who are living in public housing have every opportunity for those slots in child care that’s affordable.” She continued, “We’re asking for more child care availability, not less; more preschool preparedness, not less, and there has to be an understanding that classrooms that are underutilized are not optimal for anyone.”

In a statement to Xpress , City Council member and HACA liaison Antanette Mosley said, “HACA has many community partnerships, some that have existed for decades. As with any organization, those partnerships must be reevaluated periodically to ensure that the residents are best served and HACA facilities are being utilized in their highest and best use.”

At the May 22 HACA Board of Commissioners meeting, Pierre said that four child care service providers have submitted applications but declined to disclose them publicly. The RFP process closed May 29.

AVOIDING INFLUENCE

In a May 15 email addressed to Head Start employees, Repass wrote “... it is important that Head Start staff not initiate or engage in any efforts to influence the HACA RFP processes. During the RFP process, any effort by CAO staff to impact the process through advocacy could lead them to disqualify our application.”

Repass’ email continued, “An example would be attending the HACA board meeting could be inter-

preted as trying to unduly influence the outcome of the RFP process and could get us kicked out of the process.”

Xpress asked Pierre in an email if HACA administration issued a directive that attendance at the May 22 HACA board meeting could result in a provider’s expulsion from the application process. In a May 28 email, Pierre wrote that she told a member of the community they couldn’t correspond about the procurement process, as their conversation could be seen as improperly influencing the outcome of the RFP decision. “I never conveyed that

they can’t make public statements at a board meeting,” she wrote.

‘EMPTY CLASSROOMS’

At the May 22 HACA Board of Commissioners meeting, Pierre shared that her August discussion with CAO also addressed Head Start underutilizing its classroom space. She says she has seen empty classrooms at the Burton and Hillcrest Head Start facilities.

“I would have expected those classrooms to be bursting at the seams, understanding the need for

affordable child care in Buncombe County and the City of Asheville and specifically given the number of children that reside in public housing,” Pierre told the board. She referred the board to an informational packet about the demographics of children in HACA housing: 222 infants to 1-year-olds, 335 2- and 3-year-olds, and 398 4- to 5-year-olds.

“With a total of 3,458 children that reside in our public housing, it’s my estimation that not one classroom should be underutilized,” Pierre said. “We all have an obligation to the children and the families that live in public housing to do better.” X

Opened a new location?

Changed menus or services?

Changed hours?

Need

UNDER REVIEW: At its May 22 meeting, HACA’s Board of Commissioners reviewed documents related to Head Start programs at three of its locations. Photo by Caleb Johnson

NEWS Swords to plowshares

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN

jwakeman@mountainx.com

In January, students at Montreat College hosted RAWtools-South, a group that repurposes surrendered firearms and melts them down to make less lethal objects, such as garden tools.

RAWtools, a nationwide organization, recently formed the Southern chapter and wasn’t certain how it would be received in the area, says local member Stan Wilson . But before the Montreat event, a friend offered the RAWtools-South volunteers a suggestion to put the students at ease: Ask if any of them had positive stories to share involving guns.

“That was a game changer,” Wilson recalls. The students told stories about their grandfathers teaching them to hunt or gathering over Labor Day weekend to shoot quail. “That felt important because it allowed the gun owners [to feel safe that] nobody was attacking them,” Wilson, who is co-pastor of Circle of Mercy Congregation in Asheville, explains. Some attendees were surprised by those reminiscences, as “they hadn’t considered that there could be these positive stories [about guns].”

RAWtools-South volunteers then asked the Montreat students if anyone had painful stories involving guns to share. “It turns out, just about everyone does,” Wilson says. “Some of them opened up with some pretty raw stories,” he says. Every student had been through active-shooter drills in school. Some had experienced active shooter events in high school or college, including UNC Chapel Hill’s August 2023 fatal shooting of a professor. Many students knew people who’d died from suicide using firearms.

Similar stories are expected Saturday, June 8, when First Baptist Church in Asheville hosts a Guns to Gardens safe surrender event 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in its parking lot at 5 Oak St. Then at 2 p.m., Wilson and other

Local church hosts gun surrender event

METAL WORK: On Saturday, June 8, First Baptist Church in Asheville will host a Guns to Gardens firearm surrender event, where donated weapons will be dismantled and repurposed as garden tools. Photo courtesy of Stan Wilson

volunteers from RAWtools-South, will begin forging them into garden tools and other items.

REASONS FOR SURRENDERING

Wilson became involved in RAWtools-South through his friendship with Weaverville-based blacksmith Scotty Utz. Utz began volunteering for the nationwide RAWtools organization, which is based in Colorado Springs, Colo., and orchestrates Guns to Gardens events nationwide. The national organization encouraged him to start RAWtools-South.

The June 8 event will be co-hosted by Asheville Friends, Circle of Mercy Congregation, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Haywood Street Congregation, Hood Huggers International and Land of the Sky United Church of Christ.

People have various reasons for surrendering firearms, organizers explain: to keep guns from an individual who may be mentally unwell or who is unable to safely operate a gun due to age or illness; to remove guns from a home with children or grandchildren; or to prevent it from potentially being stolen and used on the street or reentering the illicit gun marketplace.

For certain individuals, the decision might be cathartic. “We recognize for some people, guns call to mind family members who have passed on,” says First Baptist Church coordinating pastor Casey Callahan . For those people, he continues, smelting the weapon and turning it into a garden tool

can be a different way of honoring that person.

At previous events, AR-15s, Glocks, semiautomatic rifles and pistols have been the most common guns surrendered, Wilson explains. Some donors have told Wilson that their firearms were inherited, particularly older shotguns and rifles.

In addition to forging events, RAWtools-South accepts guns at any time. Wilson says the organization receives such calls regularly. For more information, contact Wilson at stan@rawtoolssouth.org.

FORGE AHEAD

Participants don’t need to register to surrender a firearm on June 8. They should come to the First Baptist Church parking lot with the unloaded gun in their backseat, trunk or rear of a van. The event won’t accept ammunition; individuals should contact law enforce-

ment to inquire about relinquishing unwanted ammunition. A volunteer for Guns to Gardens will greet participants at the car, remove the firearm and bring it to a chop-saw station, explains Callahan.

The participants are then welcome to watch the dismantling process; they may also receive thank-you gift cards ranging from $100-$200 while supplies last. However, Guns to Gardens is not a gun buyback event, and no cash will be exchanged for firearms.

Volunteers will confirm that each weapon is unloaded; guns will be dry-fired into a “bullet trap” for additional assurance that all rounds have been removed. Next, volunteers wearing protective gear will make three cuts into the firearm with a chop saw — two cuts at either end of the receiver, which holds the ammunition, and one cut on the trigger mechanism. The process is required by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives so the surrendered object is no longer legally considered a firearm.

The dismantling procedure requires “a heavy-duty chop saw and a good bit of power,” Wilson explains. RAWtools-South will provide the Guns to Gardens event with six chopsaws capable of cutting metal and five power generators. Wilson notes that dismantling guns requires skilled training but not a certification; RAWtools-South also has its own safety protocol.

People can watch the volunteer blacksmiths at work when forging begins at 2 p.m. They’ll use a traveling forge, as well as an anvil and tongs to repurpose the materials into garden tools. “We try to use everything that can be used from a gun,” Wilson explains. Gun barrels are often usable for shovels or maddocks, which are similar to pickaxes. A pistol barrel can become cross pendants or a

LOCAL CHAPTER: Weaverville-based blacksmith Scotty Utz launched RAWtools-South, a local chapter of RAWtools, in January. Since its formation, the group has held several Guns to Gardens events.

Photo courtesy of Stan Wilson

dough cutter. Some guns don’t have enough usable metal for tools, but they have triggers or springs that can be turned into jewelry. The nationwide RAWtools organization operates an online RAWShop, where it sells items made from firearm material.

‘PEACEMAKING COMMMUNTIES’

In 2021 and 2022, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office issued 6,876 and 5,445 pistol permits, respectively, according to Buncombe County ID Bureau Director Pat Freeman

The current number of permitted guns in North Carolina is unknown. In 2023, the General Assembly overrode a veto by Gov. Roy Cooper to repeal the law requiring pistol owners to obtain purchase permits from their county sheriffs. (North Carolina residents must still acquire a permit for a concealed handgun through the sheriff, per the N.C. Sheriff’s Association.)

Last year, Circle of Mercy, the church where Wilson is co-pastor, hosted a gun surrender event with Land of Sky UCC, Asheville Friends and BeLoved Asheville. “Everyone was a little nervous, probably a little afraid of what could happen,” recalls Wilson. “We’re so stuck in this gun violence conversation, and we can’t seem to talk to one another and make much progress.” That event collected 19 guns. “The far bigger [impact] was four communities working together to try to get at this in a creative new way,” he says.

Given the politicized discussions involving guns, Wilson and Callahan emphasize that the events are nonpartisan. And Guns to Gardens’ organizers say it helps to hold such programs in faith communities.

“I think faith communities are called to be peacemaking communities,” says Callahan. “And this is an important part of peacemaking.”

Wilson adds that participating in Guns to Gardens makes him feel as if he is doing something tangible with his faith. “This is an action that calls for just a little bit of courage,” he says. “You wind up learning who your neighbors are and humanize this issue that we’re kind of blocked on.” And he thinks it helps recently disarmed people to witness the transformation of their firearms themselves through the dismantling and forging processes.

Wilson adds, “We joke sometimes that those guns are born again.”  X

CUSTOM OUTDOOR

SPACES

BCTDA anticipates flat occupancy earnings for fiscal year 2025

The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) unveiled its proposed fiscal year 2025 budget during its May 29 board meeting. Hotelier HP Patel, who serves as the treasurer for the BCTDA’s finance committee, presented the budget.

Occupancy tax revenue, which is collected from overnight stays in Buncombe County and funds the majority of BCTDA’s budget, is forecasted to remain flat in FY 2025 at roughly $34.3 million.

In previous years, BCTDA paid Buncombe County an administra-

tive fee amounting to 1.5% of the authority’s gross occupancy tax. But starting in fiscal year 2024, the fee increased to 5% and is expected to total $1.8 million for FY 2025.

A state law that was updated in 2022 mandates that two-thirds of the occupancy tax revenue, nearly $23 million for FY 2025, is allocated into BCTDA’s operating budget, which funds tourism marketing, staff salaries and other expenses. The remaining one-third, roughly $11.4 million for FY 2025, is split between the agency’s Tourism Product Development Fund and

Legacy Investment from Tourism Fund, which provide grants for tourism-related capital projects.

The reduction in marketing funding has led the agency to supplement the operating budget with the agency’s fund balance, or leftover revenue from prior years. To maintain marketing investments amid lower revenues, the agency’s finance committee recommended a $4.3 allocation from the fund balance, which would increase the FY 2025 operating budget to $27.3 million.

The $27.3 million operating budget represents a decrease over last year’s $27.6 million budget. The proposed budget’s total marketing spending will shrink by roughly $600,000, from $20 million in FY 2024 to $19.4 million in FY 2025. A presentation on the budget notes that net media spending for FY 2025 will be $13.8 million — an 11% drop from last year’s $15.5 million.

However, the proposed budget includes a 7.3% increase for BCTDA salaries and benefits, from $4.1 million in FY 2024 to $4.4 million in FY 2025. Speaking with Xpress after the meeting, BCTDA spokesperson Ashley Greenstein said that the increase in benefits also includes funding for an additional business development position.

A May 29 newsletter from the BCTDA says that lodging sales for FY 2024 have largely kept pace with last year. Hotel occupancy in April was 69%, down 2 percentage points from 2023 and 5 percentage points from 2019. Occupancy for shortterm rentals in April reached 52%, down 4 percentage points from 2023 and 2 percentage points from 2019.

The BCTDA board is expected to vote on whether to adopt the fiscal year 2025 budget at its next meeting on Wednesday, June 26.

— Brooke Randle  X

VISITOR TAX: Occupancy tax revenue, which is collected from overnight stays in Buncombe County and funds the majority of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s budget, is forecasted to remain flat in fiscal year 2025, at roughly $34.3 million. Photo by Caleb Johnson

Raising firefighter pay may mean tax increases, Council says

The May 28 Asheville City Council meeting reached capacity in the Council’s chambers and overflow room as dozens of Asheville firefighters and other community members came to advocate for increases to city employee pay during the public hearing on the proposed city budget for fiscal year 2024-25.

City Manager Debra Campbell’s $249.6 million proposed budget, which was presented earlier in May, included funding for seven new community responder positions, expansion of the Asheville Police Department’s drone program and investments in the city’s water infrastructure and staff.

But city employee compensation, particularly among Asheville’s firefighters, has dominated budget discussions. Employee pay remains the city’s largest expense at roughly 40% of the city’s overall expenditures.

The proposed budget includes a 4.11% pay raise for all permanent city employees, which would bring those employees who work a 40-hour week up to the “pledged” living wage rate of $19 per hour, as calculated by Just Economics of Western North Carolina. The pledged rate allows employers to be certified as offering a living wage while committing to annual increases toward the full 2024 rate of $22.10 per hour. The living wage is considered the minimum that a single person working full time in Buncombe County needs to make to afford basic expenses.

But many employees who work beyond the typical workweek — including Asheville firefighters — would earn far less than the pledged rate, even with the proposed 4.11% wage increase. Starting Asheville Fire Department workers currently earn $46,256 annually, or $22.24 an hour based on a 40-hour schedule. But the job requires that Fire Department workers put in a 56-hour workweek, which reduces their hourly starting pay to $15.88.

The crowd Tuesday night was inundated by a sea of red shirts to show support for increasing firefighter pay to a minimum of $18.25 per hour, or $53,144 based on a 56-hour workweek.

Asheville firefighter Paige Rubino said that she makes $16.28 per hour after starting with the department in fall 2022.

“I take great pride in serving as an Asheville firefighter, and it’s an honor to answer the call of those in need on every shift. I truly love what

I do, but I would be lying if I said I was able to provide for myself and my son in the way that I hoped I would,” she said. “A fair and equitable salary isn’t just recognition of our vital service. It is the cornerstone of our ability to support families and invest back into the neighborhoods we protect.”

Firefighter Christian Jurkowski, who makes $17.52 an hour, emphasized the physical danger and mental toll that firefighters face by detailing his personal experience of falling through the floor of a burning building while responding to a call.

“When I was down there and looked around and everything around there was on fire, I saw my daughter’s face. And I was met with the opportunity — I am either going to go home or I’m not going to go home,” Jurkowski said.

“I’m not going to let my daughter wake up without a father. I tell you this in hopes to shine a light on the risks that we are willing to take each and every day for each and every one of you, and that we are still willing to take.”

All 10 people who spoke during public comment advocated for increases in employee pay for the Asheville Fire Department, Asheville Police Department and other city staff.

After the hearing, several Council members said that they supported a higher wage increase for the city’s first responders and weighed several new budget scenarios to potentially offset the cost, including cutting other budget items or raising property taxes.

“I am looking for the most aggressive pay increase we can give staff. I think we really need to raise all staff salaries — police, fire, public works, stormwater, water, you name it — because it is expensive to live in Asheville,” Mayor Esther Manheimer said. “And also, we need to keep up with other public government employers that are hiring the same positions.”

Manheimer asserted that the city needed to find a consistent source of funding for the pay increases, noting that one-time allocations from the city’s general fund or cutting budget items would not solve the issue for next year when raises were again likely to be necessary.

A city property tax increase could offer the additional revenue needed to cover the raises; however, Manheimer noted that residents could potentially experience several tax increases back to back if the pro-

posed business improvement district and general obligation bonds are approved. In addition, Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder recommended a 2.55-cent property tax rate increase for county property owners for next fiscal year (which, if passed, would also affect city taxpayers). Buncombe County also is scheduled to conduct its planned property revaluation in 2025.

Council is expected to vote on the proposed budget at its next meeting on Tuesday, June 11. Speaking with Xpress after the meeting, City Attorney Brad Branham said that if Council needed more time to consider new budget configurations, it could pass a monthlong interim budget at the June 11 meeting, which would keep spending at current levels until the final budget and tax rate is adopted by Thursday, Aug. 1. Or, Council could make budget adjustments ahead of the June 11 vote.

“As it is very common for adjustments to a manager’s proposed budget to be made all the way up to the final vote, I suspect that the City Council will be able to approve a final annual budget without the need to consider an interim one,” Branham said.

— Brooke Randle  X

HEROES IN RED: Asheville firefighter Christian Jurkowski holds his daughter while sharing that he received second-degree burns when responding to a house fire. Jurkowski said he makes $17.52 per hour. Photo by Caleb Johnson

A

Golden Agers

new series celebrating residents who have retired but remain active

in the community

YOUNG AT HEART: Writer Carol Kaufman aims to challenge negative stereotypes associated with older residents in Xpress’ new monthly series. Photo by Sammy

BY CAROL KAUFMAN

ckaufman828@gmail.com

The key moment that motivated me to pitch my “Golden Agers” idea to Xpress followed a conversation I had with AARP’s local director, Rebecca Chaplin

Chaplin is an effervescent woman whose aim, along with her many volunteers, is to disrupt negative ageist beliefs.

As one of those AARP volunteers, I recently attended an organizational lunch, and Chaplin happened to be seated next to me. I wanted her feedback about my idea to write a series of articles highlighting cool local retirees, 60-plus, doing cool things. Needless to say, Chaplin loved the concept and urged me on.

I pitched my idea to Xpress and was given the thumbs-up to create a 10-part, monthly series. The next day, I was searching the internet for the perfect title, and “Golden Agers” was the clear winner.

The phrase speaks of radiance, joy, jubilance and “jubilado”— the Spanish word for “retired.” In my eyes, those who personify the term are redefining retirement, and I am eager to bring a handful of them out of anonymity and into the light of day.

My love for writing human interest stories stems from a hefty dose of

curiosity and an appetite for adventure, all of which were put to the test when I moved from California to México in early 2016. Along the shores of Lake Chapala sits a popular expatriate community — the place I experienced not only living in another culture but landing a gig as a freelance writer with The Guadalajara Reporter , a weekly English-language newspaper.

I spent the next three years writing about retirees who chose Lake Chapala as their locale, either as full-time residents or as wintering snowbirds. These golden agers were engaged in activities that were helping build stronger communities while creating a better place for all. In my eyes, these folks were crushing negative ageist beliefs and redefining retirement in a positive light.

While in Mexico, I also kept hearing about this vibrant mountainous city in Western North Carolina, previously unknown to me. As a native Californian, I never thought I would live in the South, but the glowing remarks I heard about Asheville convinced me to move here five years ago.

Now, once again, I am donning my writer’s cap, this time to shine the spotlight on 10 of Asheville’s admirable golden agers; those who may be retired from work but not from life. X

Vanek

JUNE 5 - JUNE 13, 2024

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-only events

 Feature, page 19

WELLNESS

Tai Chi for Balance

A gentle Tai Chi exercise class to help improve balance, mobility, and quality of life. All ages are welcome.

WE (6/5, 12), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Tai Chi Fan

This class helps build balance and whole body awareness. All ages and ability levels welcome. Fans will be provided.

WE (6/5, 12), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Weekly Zumba Classes

Free in-person Zumba classes. No registration required.

TH (6/6, 6/13), TU (6/11), 6:30pm, St. James Episcopal Church, 424 W State St, Black Mountain

Tai Chi for Beginners

A class for anyone interested in Tai Chi and building balance, whole body awareness and other health benefits.

TH (6/6, 13), MO (6/10), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Nia Dance Fitness

A sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts.

TH (6/6, 13), 9:30am, TU (6/11), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Qigong for Health

A part of traditional Chinese medicine that involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind and spirit.

FR (6/7), TU (6/11), 9am, SA (6/8), 11am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Rooftop Yoga: Creative Flow Series

A unique creative flow experience that combines the beauty of art with the power of mindful movement.

SA (6/8), 5pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Yoga Nidra & Reiki

A soothing Yoga Nidra practice guiding you into the in between; that space between being awake and being

asleep.

SA (6/8), 8pm, Asheville Salt Cave, 16 N Liberty St

Yoga in the Park Yoga class alongside the French Broad River, based on Hatha & Vinyasa traditions and led by certified yoga instructors. All experience levels welcome.

SA (6/8), SU (6/9), 11am, 220 Amboy Rd

Sunday Morning Meditation Group

Gathering for a combination of silent sitting and walking meditation, facilitated by Worth Bodie.

SU (6/9), 10am, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Spring Flow w/Jamie Knox

Prepare your body for warmer weather with a yoga practice designed to release toxins and heaviness left over from winter. No need to pre-register, but bring a mat.

SU (6/9), 10:30am, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

Sunset Sound Bath

Feel the vibrations wash away any stress or tension and enjoy this opportunity to clear your mind and renew.

SU (6/9), 7pm, The Restoration Hotel Asheville, 68 Patton Ave

Community Yoga & Mindfulness

A free monthly event with Inspired Change Yoga that will lead you into a morning of breathwork, meditation and yoga. Bring your own mat.

WE (6/12), 11:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

SUPPORT GROUPS

Postpartum Posse

An opportunity to gather in community and support one another through the walk of motherhood. This is a free event with no agenda other than connecting with one another.

FR (6/7), 10am, Temple Chiropractic, 10 B E Market St, Black Mountain

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

A WHIRLWIND OF DIVINE HILARITY: HART Theatre’s newest production, The Gods of Comedy, kicks off on Friday, June 7, and will run weekends through June 30. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and will present a laugh-out-loud blend of myths, madness and mayhem. Photo courtesy of HART Theatre

Magnetic Minds: Depression & Bipolar Support Group

A free weekly peer-led meeting for those living with depression, bipolar, and related mental health challenges. For more information contact (828) 367-7660.

SA (6/8), 2pm, 1316 Ste C Parkwood Rd

Asheville Kirtan

These ancient mantras, chanted in Sanskrit, help to connect us to our hearts- invoking feelings of well-being, meditation, and joy.

TU (6/11), 7pm, Weaving Rainbows, 62 Wal St

Women’s Mental Health: Our Unique Needs & Challenges

WFW grantee partners from NAMI Western Carolina and All Souls Counseling Center

lead a discussion about women’s mental health.

TH (6/13), The Community Foundation of WNC, 4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Ste 300

DANCE

Swing Dance W/Drayton & The Dreamboats Dance to the swinging sounds of Darayton and his Dream Boats.

Lessons start 7pm with a dance party following.

WE (6/5), 8pm, Fleetwood’s,496 Haywood Rd

Line Dancing Lessons

Free line dancing lessons with Jerri and the AVL Country Western Dancers.

SU (6/9), 4pm, Shakey’s, 38 N French Broad Ave

Tango Tuesdays

Tango lessons and social with instructors Mary Morgan and Mike Eblen. No partner required, and no experience needed for the beginners class.

TU (6/11), 6pm, Urban Orchard Cider Co. S Slope, 24 Buxton Ave

ART

Stellar Picks: A Community Choice Exhibition

This exhibition is for everyone who has a favorite piece of art in the WCU Fine Art Museum collection or would like to discover one. Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through June 28.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

Honoring Nature: Early Southern Appalachian Landscape Painting

This exhibition explores the sublime natural landscapes of the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina and Tennessee. Gallery open daily, 11am,

closed Tuesday. Exhibition through Oct. 21. Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

WNC Bonfire Studio Paint a larger than life little pot of cacti and succulents. Skill level would be considered moderate/intro. Bonfire brings all the supplies and handles the clean-up.

TH (6/6), 6:30pm, Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr Daily Craft Demonstrations

Two artists of different media will explain and demonstrate their craft with informative materials displayed at their booths, daily. These free and educational opportunities are open to the public. Open daily, 10am. Demonstrations run through Dec. 31.

Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Pkwy

Asheville’s Naturalist: Watercolors by Sallie Middleton

This exhibition features a selection of botanical and wildlife prints by renowned watercolor artist Sallie Middleton. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through June 10

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Sov·er·eign·ty: Expressions in Sovereignty of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

This exhibition educates

visitors about the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ autonomy, its relationship with the federal government, and how the tribe has defined its own relationship with its land, people, and culture. Gallery open daily, 9am. Exhibition through Feb. 28, 2025.

Museum of the Cherokee People, 589 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee

Patricia Hargove: The Shape of Water

Hargove’s exhibition depicts the powers of water that energize, refresh and heal the soul and body.

Attendees will also be able to glimpse into the grandeur of water and its ever-changing play of light and shadow. Gallery open daily, 11am. Exhibition through June 30. Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave

The New Salon: A Contemporary View

A modern take on the prestigious tradition of the Parisian Salon with the diversity and innovation of today’s art world. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through Aug. 19.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Western North Carolina Glass: Selections from the Collection

A variety of techniques and a willingness to push boundaries of American glass art can be seen in this selection

of works. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through September 16.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Bruno Lenze: Hiding in Plain Sight This abstract photography exhibition features decayed Yucatan plantations, rusted steel boat repair shipyards, and urban streets that showcase the beauty found within deterioration and the intricate interplay between destruction and renewal. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, noon. Exhibition runs through June 9. Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St

Counter/Balance: Gifts of John & Robyn Horn

A presentation of important examples of contemporary American craft, including woodworking, metalsmithing, fiber and pottery by renowned American artists. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through July. 29, 2024.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Shifting Perceptions: Photographs from the Collection

A selection of photographs presented in a trio of sections, each featuring seemingly opposing forces: Natural/Unnatural, Together/Apart, and Inside/ Out. Gallery open daily,

11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through September 23. Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Summer 1-On-1 Pottery Lessons Private lessons offering individuals 30 minute classes. Walk-ins are welcome, schedule permitting.

SU (6/9), 11am, Odyssey Clayworks, 236 Clingman Ave Paint Along w/David Nelson Collins Learn how to create your own stunning Echinacea masterpiece under David Nelson Collin's guidance. All necessary supplies will be provided for you. SU (6/9), 1:30pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain Aaron Fields: Hidden Colors

This art exhibition presents a story about the perfect summer day in the mountains through the use of mostly acrylic paint, paint markers and spray paint. Gallery open daily, 11am. Exhibition through Sept. 1. Marquee Asheville, 36 Foundy St Resonance

An art exhibition that harmoniously weaves together the distinctive styles of two artists, Lauren Betty & Rand Kramer. Each navigate the delicate balance between spontaneity and control in their

unique mediums.

Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through June 30. Citron Gallery, 60 Biltmore Ave

Spark of the Eagle Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson

This exhibition celebrates the legacy of Lambert Wilson, a passionate collector of contemporary Native American art. Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through June 28, 2024

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

COMMUNITY

MUSIC

Music to Your Ears

Discussion Series:

Stephen L Goldman & Bill Kopp

Bill Kopp & Stephen

L Goldman play tunes from the album Spinal Tap and share an open audience discussion about the influence of the movie & music on popular culture.

WE (6/5), 7pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr Lenny Pettinelli

Live music with local pianist, keyboardist, vocalist, and producer well versed in jazz, rock, funk, reggae, folk and more.

TH (6/6, 13), 6pm, Gemelli by Strada Italiano, 70 Westgate Pwy

Wings & Strings: Band of the Sky

This music series at at the Sweeten Creek location will feature local bluegrass-style bands every week.

TH (6/6), 6:30pm, Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack S, 3749 Sweeten Creek Rd, Arden

David LaMotte w/ Bruce Reyes-Chow

Author, speaker and songwriter David LaMotte will be in conversation with Bruce Reyes-Chow.

TH (6/6), 7:30pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O'Henry Ave

Concert Series on the

Creek: Flashback Band Free concert series for the community with Flashback Band providing classic rock hits from the 80's and more this week. These events are free with donations encouraged. Everyone is welcome. There will be food trucks available on most nights.

FR (6/7), 7pm, Bridge Park Gazebo, 76 Railroad Ave, Sylva

Summer Tracks

Concert: Firecracker Jazz Band

Tryon's Summer Tracks concert series kicks off with regional favorite Firecracker Jazz Band. Expect sounds of Dixieland, New Orleans

and early 20th century

Jazz FR (6/7), 7pm, Rogers Park, 55 W Howard St, Tryon

A House for the Goddess

A concert of art songs, choral music, cello, piano and dance for the Divine Feminine composed by Annelinde Metzner

SA (6/8), 2pm, Land of Sky United Church of Christ, 15 Overbrook Place

Scottish Sessions

A session of traditional Scottish tunes with a rotating group of musicians. Not an open jam.

SA (6/8), 4pm, Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr

Percussion Discussion Afrika Uganda’a leading folk-fusion band whose music is driven by the melodic sound of Ugandan drums and accompanied by other instruments.

SA (6/8), 7pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

Sal Landers Party Rx Sal brings her inimitable brand of groovy rock’n roll to the stage with an infectious energy and passion that swaggers and captivates.

SA (6/8), 8pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr

Mark's House Jam & Sunday Potluck

Bring a potluck dish to share with an amazing community of local musicians from around the globe. Please note that this isn't an open mic.

SU (6/9), 3pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr

One Night Only: A Tribute to the Bee Gees

Featuring the ultimate tribute to the Bee Gees to WNC, One Night Only. Performing with a full band, the show recreates the Bee Gees 1998 Las Vegas appearance live.

SU (6/9), 3pm, Hendersonville Theatre, 229 S Washington St, Hendersonville

Percussion Discussion Afrika & Chinobay

An African Cultural experience highlighting Uganda's premier folkpop band, Percussion Discussion Afrika and singer and storyteller, Chinobay.

TH (6/13), 7pm, Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Ave, Waynesville

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

Embroiderers’ Guild of America: Laurel Chapter

The June program

is a counted canvas sampler on congress cloth which can be turned into a candle cover, bookmark or small sampler. Sandy Washington, owner of Sandy’s X Stitch on the Go, will provide instructions on creating this project.

TH (6/6), 9:30am, Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 6th Ave W, Hendersonville

Tarot W/Cats

A 1-hour workshop that will be held in the cat lounge and will show how to incorporate a one- and three-card pull for daily guidance.

FR (6/7), 5:30pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Creating a Multipurpose Native Garden W/Sarah Coury

This course will cover meadow design, selecting plant species, preparing your site, planting methods, and maintenance.

SA (6/8), 10am, Asheville Botanical Gardens, 151 WT Weaver Blvd

How to Join the Guild: Application Workshop

This workshop takes you step-by-step through the application process. Afterwards, participants have the option of requesting someone to assist with and review their Guild application or a Guild member mentor in their craft medium.

SA (6/8), 1pm, Folk Art Center, 382 Blue Ridge Pkwy

Innerdance: Altered States of Consciousness W/Soundscapes & Energy Work

A music-based, meditative and healing journey. It involves the use of special soundscapes that mimic circadian rhythms and enable people to move effortlessly between different brain wave states.

WE (6/12), The Horse Shoe Farm, 155 Horse Shoe Farm Rd

Energetic & Spiritual Defense

An empowering and transformative workshop where you will learn practical techniques to safeguard and defend your energy and soul.

TH (6/13), 6pm, The Well, 3 Lousiana Ave

LITERARY

From Where We Are: Book Tour

A reading by queer author Nicole Zelniker from her newest novel, From Where We Are. TH (6/6), 6pm, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd

Zelda Lockhart in Conversation w/ Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle

Zelda Lockhart discusses her latest novel, Trinity, in conversation with local author Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle.

TH (6/6), 7pm, City Lights Bookstore, 3 E Jackson St, Sylva

The Black Mountain Library Book Club

We'll be discussing The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Light refreshments will be served.

TU (6/11), 6:30pm, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain

THEATER & FILM

How the American Homefront First Saw D-Day

Greg Wilsbacher, Ph.D., a University of South Carolina faculty librarian will present a muti-media program, How the American Homefront First Saw D-Day

WE (6/5), 2pm, Transylvania County Library, 212 S Gaston St, Brevard

Out & Proud

This Pride kick-off drag show will usher in Pride Month.

Margot Wilde will host, and the shows will

feature incredible drag performers from WNC and Upstate SC.

FR (6/7), 7:30pm and 10:30pm, Hendersonville Theatre, 229 S Washington St, Hendersonville

Scuttlebutt

A monthly improv comedy show inspired by guest storytellers, audience suggestions and a talented and dynamic cast.

FR (6/7), 9:30pm, LaZoom Room, 76 Biltmore Ave

Richard II

Richard II is the second play in the Muse of Fire: Shakespeare's Wars of the Roses Season. It will depict King Richard II's rule in England.

FR (6/7), SA (6/8), SU (6/9), 7:30pm, Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay St

The Gods of Comedy

This Ivy League will never be the same as a pair of deities encounter the carnal complexity of college coeds, campus capers, and conspicuous consumption.

FR (6/7), SA (6/8), SU (6/9), 2pm, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville

The Campfireball: Yearning

An interactive storytelling show created live and in the moment out of the real-life stories of the people in the audience.

TH (6/13), 7:30pm,nStory Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

League of Women

Voters 101

This meeting will discuss all things LWV, including the history of the League and their efforts on the national, state and local levels.

WE (6/5), 5:30pm, N Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave

The History of Harm Reduction

This panel will feature speakers Michael Harney, Lacy Hoyle, and Amy Upham to discuss the early days of the WNC AIDS Project and the Needle Exchange Program of Asheville (NEPA), and how that history has shaped today’s public health efforts. See p19

WE (6/5), 4:30pm,Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St

Pintemos, Comamos, Hablemos Sobre El Consentimiento & Limites Personales Exploraremos juntos el importante tema del consentimiento y los limites personales mientras pintamos y disfrutamos de exquisitos bocados.

WE (6/5), 5:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Why Should Environmentalists Support Building More Housing?

We know that healthy communities exist within the context of a healthy environment and right now, both are threatened. WNC Sierra Club will discuss how to confront both at once.

WE (6/5), 7pm, OLLI/ Reuter Cemter, 300 Campus View Rd

The Foxy Chef: A Night of Vegan Cooking Chefs will take us on a culinary journey, explaining health benefits of nature's herbs and spices. This class is open for anyone and everyone.

TH (6/6), 5:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Sectionalism & Suffrage: North Carolina’s 1835 Constitutional Convention

A history hour featuring North Carolina’s 1835 constitutional convention that epitomize the complex history of the antebellum South. Visit avl.mx/pry6 to register. TH (6/6), 6pm, Online WNC, Past & Present: Art and Education at Black Mountain College Discover how Black Mountain College’s heritage stems from an educational philosophy that places the arts squarely at the core of a liberal arts curriculum.

TH (6/6), 6pm,Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain Relational Mindfulness w/Deborah Eden Tull It teaches 9 timeless principles for awakening through the beautiful, dynamic, and complex field of human relationship. TH (6/6), 6:30pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Summer Skate Jam Show your skating skills and jam to the music. Rent skates for $3 or bring your own. FR (6/7), 6pm, Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd

Hemlocks & Birds Hike

w/HRI & Transylvania County Bird Club

An educational hemlock and birding hike with the Hemlock Restoration Initiative and the Transylvania County Bird Club. The hike is a mostly flat 5 mile loop with a few creek crossings and one short climb.

SA (6/8), 9am, Pink Beds Trail, US 276 Pisgah Forest

Saturday Session:

Gardening in Harmony w/Nature

Learn to use peasant technology to increase the yield of your vegetable garden with minimal external inputs.

SA (6/8), 1pm,

Earthaven Ecovillage, 5 Consensus Cir, Black Mountain

Coloring w/Cats

Set time for yourself and cuddle with the panthers, meet other cat-lovers, and color

a beautiful picture of a cat from our adult coloring books.

SU (6/9), 2pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

The Sailor & The Soldier at Vicksburg:

Unprecedented Joint Operations

Dwight Hughes will be speaking on the combined operations around Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War.

MO (6/10), 7pm, Haywood County Ag Center, 589 Raccoon Rd, Waynesville

Chen Style Tai Chi

The original style of Tai Chi known for its continual spiraling movements and great health benefits.

TH (6/6, 13), MO (6/10), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Stitches of Love

Meeting

A small group of stitchers who create a variety of handmade items which are donated to local charities. New members are always

welcome to join.

MO (6/10), 2pm, Panera Bread, 1843 Hendersonville Rd

Black Men Monday

A local group that has stepped up in the community to advocate for and mentor students through academic intervention. Kids, ages 7 and up, are welcome to join.

MO (6/10), 5:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Why Vegan? A Fun & Informative Group

Discussion on All Things Vegan

This program will explore the world of veganism through an informative group discussion led by Sandi Hefner, Personal Fitness Trainer and Vegan Coach.

MO (6/10), 5:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Pickin' In The Park

Enjoy performances by local singer-songwriters in an intimate and relaxed setting. Experience the rich musical heritage of Asheville as talented musicians share their stories and songs.

MO (6/10), 6pm, Pritchard Park, 4 College St

Dharma & Discuss w/ David McKay

David will lead a conversation with the group on the Dharma, with many opportunities to ask questions, share insights, or listen and learn. This sessions may include meditation.

MO (6/10), 7pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Vino & Vulva Co-hosts Heather Edwards and Whitni miller talk about how shifting to pleasure-centric sexuality may set you free from the desire imperative.

MO (6/10), 7pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

Kung Fu: Baguazhang

It is the martial arts style that Airbending from the show Avatar: The Last Airbender was based on.

TU (6/11), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Change Your Palate Cooking Demo

This free lunchtime food demonstration is open to all but tailored towards those with type 2 diabetes or hypertension and/or their caretakers. The featured host is Change Your Palate's very own Shaniqua Simuel.

TU (6/11), 4pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Hoop & Flow Arts Jam

Whether you're a seasoned hooper or a beginner, this vibrant event invites everyone to dance, spin, and groove to the music in a welcoming and energetic atmosphere.

TU (6/11), 5:30pm, Pritchard Park, 4 College St

Walk Through History: Old Swannanoa

A walking tour of the old downtown area and the historic buildings that were once a part of the mill town. Learn about the history of this area, and see what’s happening in the old downtown today.

WE (6/12), 9:30am, Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, 223 W State St, Black Mountain

National Speakers Association NSA

Featuring professional keynote speakers, coaches, trainers, facilitators, and consultants who cover a broad range of topics, skills, and knowledge.

TH (6/13), 10am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Public Speaking Open House

This is a supportive environment to either gain comfort in public speaking or hone your craft. For beginners or experienced, alike. All

levels welcome.

TH (6/13), 12pm, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, 33 Meadow Rd

Pigeon Community Conversations w/ Storytellers Series

This week features DeWayne Barton, who uses creative expression to help expand the dreams and goals of neighborhoods in the Affrilachian region.

TH (6/13), 6pm, Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center, 450 Pigeon St, Waynesville

Dharma Talk: Paul Linn Meditation followed by a Dharma talk on Buddhist principles applied to daily life. Beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome.

TH (6/13), 6:30pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Nerd Nite: AVL

A monthly gathering hosted in over 100 cities around the globe. Each month, a rotating cast of knowledgeable characters talk about a topic they are uniquely educated in.

TH (6/13), 7pm, The River Arts District Brewing Co., 13 Mystery St

GAMES CLUBS

Music Bingo Thursdays

Test your music knowledge and your luck with Music Bingo by DJ Spence.

TH (6/6, 13), 6:30pm, Lookout Brewing Co., 103 S Ridgeway Ave, St 1

Bingo on Grove Street

A fun and friendly game of bingo in the community.

FR (6/7), 10:30am, Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove St Weekly Sunday Scrabble Weekly scrabble play where you’ll be paired with players of your skill level. All scrabble gear provided.

SU (6/9), 1:30pm, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washinton Carver Ave Dungeons & Drafts

An evening of adventure, drinks and company to play D&D. There will be premade characters for you to choose from and join the action.

WE (6/12), 6pm, Ginger’s Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr

KID-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS

Asheville Museum’s Summer of Science Dive into a world of discovery with interactive science activities, including bubbles and noise machines. This family-friendly event promises to engage and entertain all ages with hands-on experiments and demonstrations.

WE (6/5, 12), 5pm, Pritchard Park, 4 College St

Kids & Teens Kung Fu Learn fighting skills as well as conflict resolution and mindfulness. First class is free to see if it’s a good fit for you.

TH (6/6, 13), MO (6/10), TU (6/11), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Coloring W/Cats: Kiddie Edition

An artistic session with coloring books and markers for children ages 13 and under to relax by coloring as they pet cats to reduce stress and anxiety.

SA (6/8), 1:30pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Foam Frenzy

Gather with neighbors for foam-filled afternoons as parks turn into fluffy, foamy lands of fun and make-believe.

SU (6/9), 1pm, Kenilworth Park, 79 Wyoing Rd

Toddler Play Time

A fun active time to let your little ones run and play in the gym with different activities each week. Ages 2 to 6 must be accompanied by parent/guardian.

SU (6/9), 1:30pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Imagination Monday

Children can enjoy giant building blocks, tunnels, and fun games on this special day of open play geared for ages 1-5 years-old. No advance registration required, adults must accompany children the entire time.

MO (6/10), 10am, Jake Rusher Park, 160 Sycamore Dr

LOCAL MARKETS

RAD Farmers Market

Providing year-round access to fresh local foods from over 30 local vendors offering fresh produce, baked goods, pastured meats, cheeses, raw honey, and more. Located right on the Greenway, the market is safely accessible by bike, foot, or rollerblade.

WE (6/5, 12), 3pm, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr Weaverville Tailgate Market

A selection of fresh, locally grown produce, grass fed beef, pork, chicken, rabbit, eggs, cheese, sweet and savory baked goods, artisan bread, body care, eclectic handmade goodies, garden and landscaping plants.

WE (6/5, 12), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr Weaverville

Etowah Lions Farmers Market

An array of farm-fresh local produce that features lettuce, collards, kale, mushrooms as well as local artisans, herbal products, plant starts, prepackaged meals and more. Every Wednesday through October.

WE (6/5, 12), 3pm, Etowah Lions Club, 447 Etowah School Rd, Hendersonville

Enka-Candler Farmer’s Market

A grand selection of local foods and crafts, everything from produce to pickles, baked goods to body care, and even educational resources. Every Thursday through October 31.

TH (6/6, 13), 3:30pm, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler

East Asheville Tailgate Market

Featuring locally grown vegetables, fruits, wild foraged mushrooms, ready made food, handmade body care, bread, pastries, meat, eggs, and more to the East Asheville community since 2007. Every Friday through Nov. 22.

FR (6/7), 3pm, 954 Tunnel Rd

Pack Square Artisan Market

Featuring local handcrafted goods in the heart of downtown Asheville. Browse unique products and meet the folks that produce them. Every Friday through Oct. 25.

FR (6/7), 3pm, 1 South Pack Square Park

Henderson County Tailgate Market

Featuring Henderson County's finest produce, hand crafts, plant starts, vegetables, Sourwood honey, baked goods, fresh eggs, mushrooms, sausage and more.

Every Saturday through Oct.

SA (6/8), 8am, 100 N King St, Hendersonville

North Asheville

Tailgate Market

The oldest Saturday morning market in WNC, since 1980. Over 60 rotating vendors providing a full range of local, sustainably produced produce, meats, eggs, cheeses,

breads, plants and unique crafts.

SA (6/8), 8am, 3300 University Heights Asheville City Market

Featuring local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and other artisan products. Every Saturday through December 21.

SA (6/8), 9am, 52 N Market St

Black Mountain Saturday Tailgate Market

Featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, locally raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses, eggs and locally handcrafted items.

SA (6/8), 9am, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Mars Hill Farmers & Artisans Market

A producer-only tailgate market located on the campus of Mars Hill University on College Street. Offering fresh local produce, herbs, cheeses, meats, eggs, baked goods, honey, body care and more. Every Saturday through Oct. 26.

SA (6/8), 10am, College St, Mars Hill

WNC Farmers Market

High quality fruits and vegetables, mountain crafts, jams, jellies, preserves, sourwood honey, and other farm fresh items. Open daily 8am, year-round. 570 Brevard Rd

Magical Market Stock up on magical supplies in the shop, browse the market of local vendors, pet some panthers in the cat lounge, and intuitive reading.

SU (6/9), noon, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Show & Tell Sunday Market

A monthly Sunday Market featuring housewares, decor, art, ceramics, apparel, vin-

Kate Schneider Financial Advisor

tage clothes, candles, plants, and more.

SU (6/9), noon, Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave

West Asheville Tailgate Market

Featuring an array of goods including fruits, vegetables, baked goods, bread, eggs, cheese, milk, poultry, and fish to locally made specialty items such as natural beauty products, herbal medicine and locally made art and crafts.

Every Tuesday through November 26.

TU (6/11), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Bear Closet of Marion's: 6th Annual Summer Bash

Local community organizations will be onsite to discuss the services they offer including health, wellness, employment opportunities, housing, education, mental health and more. There will also be bounce houses, face painting and music by DJ Mitizy.

TH (6/6), 10am, B.E.A.R

Closet of Marion, 45 Depot St, Marion

La Vie en Rose': Art & Music Festival

An annual celebration of art and music that lasts four-days with multiple events available for attendees. Visit avl.mx/dr9 for the complete schedule of events and their times.

TH (6/6), FR (6/7), SA (6/8), SU (6/9), Marked Tree Vineyard, 623 Deep Gap Rd, Flat Rock

Connect Beyond

Festival

A weekend of performances, panels, film screenings and workshops with award-winning artists and thought leaders, exploring how the intersection of music, art, film and storytelling can inspire positive change. Visit avl.mx/dq9 for the full schedule of events and times.

FR(6/7), SA (6/8), SU (6/9), Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, 87 Haywood St

Wayne Town Throw Down: Skate Park

Competition

This event aims to celebrate the vibrant skating community and will feature competitions tailored to all experience levels. Register for the competition at avl.mx/dou.

SA (6/8), 10am, Waynesville Skate Park, 285 Vance St, Waynesville Electri-Fair

A first-of-its-kind local event for homeowners to explore an array of clean-energy solutions. This is your chance to

come together, engage with the community, and champion the cause of home electrification and energy efficiency.

SA (6/8), 11am, A-B Tech Conference Center, 340 Victoria Rd Guns to Gardens Safe Surrender Event

The project is part of the nonpartisan Guns to Gardens movement, which works to reduce gun violence by reducing the number of guns in homes and communities. Unwanted guns are dismantled and the leftover parts are forged into garden tools.

SA (6/8), 11am, First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St

Grateful Hendo Music Festival & Art Market

This event celebrates the vibrant spirit of the 60's and 70's with a dynamic lineup of classic rock bands, unique hippie art vendors, and diverse food options.

SA (6/8), 2pm, Oklawaha Brewing Co., 147 1st Ave E, Hendersonville Highland Celebrates Pride

A special PRIDE celebration with live music, a mini market and an exclusive Highland Pride T-shirt. Proceeds from Pride T-shirt sales are donated to HelpMate.

SU (6/9), 1pm, The Meadow at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200 17th Annual Art in Bloom

A multifaceted event, celebrating nature and art with two gallery exhibits, live floral arrangements, and a local garden tour featuring working artists. Visit avl.mx/9nw for the complete schedule of events and their times.

TH (6/13), 5pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

Mountain Community Capital Fund Operating Committee

Meeting

The Mountain Community Capital Fund Operating Committee will hold a regular meeting. Register at avl.mx/8sv.

FR (6/7), 9am, Online

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

MLK Association: Scholarship Awards

The MLK Association honors area high school students who have demonstrated skills in leadership, intellect and community engagement.

FR (6/7), 5:30pm, Black Wall St AVL, 8 River Arts Pl

Avey Tare w/Circuit

des Yeux & Setting Drop of Sun presents a benefit show for Foundation Skatepark featuring Avey Tare, formerly part of Animal Collective.

FR (6/7), 8pm, Eulogy, 10 Buxton Ave

Welcome Summer: Dance Party & Fundraiser

This event will feature a kid hop dance party for the kids, a beginner's salsa lesson and a family friendly dance party

for all ages too. Proceeds benefit Evergreen Community Charter School.

SA (6/8), 3pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

Vibes for the Valley Benefit Concert

All funds Raised by Vibes for the Valley Benefit Concert will support compensating educators and facilitate a robust offering for after school clubs & programs at Black Mountain public

schools.

SA (6/8), 6:30pm, Pisgah Brewing Co., 2948 US Hwy 70 W, Black Mountain

Pride Drag Show

The vibrant spirit of Pride Month will be celebrated with drag performances that will unleash their glamour to an audience of all ages. Proceeds will benefit Blue Ridge Pride.

SU (6/9), 1pm, New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St

Verbal Purple Domestic Violence Awareness Benefit

Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse speak about their experiences to show support for other survivors and victims. There will be live music from various artists, food served by The Purple People Feeder, and a silent auction to benefit Our Voice and Helpmate.

SU (6/9), 6pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

Random Acts of Flowers Creative Therapy: Floral Arrangement Workshop

Random Acts of Flowers improves the emotional health and well-being of individuals in healthcare facilities by delivering recycled flowers, encouragement, and personal moments of kindness.

MO (6/10), 9am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

15th Annual Authors for Literacy

This special event will host New York Times bestselling author Lisa See as the keynote speaker this year. Proceeds from this event will benefit programs to help people of all ages reach their personal and educational goals through the power of literacy.

TH (6/13), 6pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Asheville - Biltmore, 115 Hendersonville Rd

by Jessica Wakeman | jwakeman@mountainx.com

Whooping cough cases rise in Buncombe County

Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services Public Health division has confirmed seven cases of whooping cough in children as of May 29. BCHHS is contacting by letter or phone parents, guardians and close contacts who may have been exposed.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection that affects the respiratory tract. Symptoms begin with a mild cough that worsens into severe coughing fits, which can lead to vomiting in young children. Whooping cough is dangerous for babies, who may experience brief pauses in breathing from the infection. Whooping cough spreads through coughing or sneezing.

“With the community spread of whooping cough in the region and multiple confirmed cases now in Buncombe County, we urge individuals and families to protect themselves and others,” says BCDHHS Public Health Director Dr. Ellis Matheson. “Vaccination remains the best defense and can also reduce the severity of the illness.” For more information about vaccinations available through BCDHHS, visit avl.mx/dr1.

Mission monitor meeting June 12

Affiliated Monitors, the independent monitor responsible for overseeing HCA Healthcare’s adherence to the terms of its purchase agreement for the Mission Health System, will hold a community meeting Wednesday, June 12, 5:30-7 p.m., at Ferguson Auditorium on Fernihurst Drive on the A-B Tech campus.

PEDIATRIC PERIL: Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection that affects the respiratory tract. Symptoms begin with a mild cough that worsens into severe coughing fits. Image via iStock

The June 12 community meeting will pertain to Mission Hospital; locations for additional community meetings for other hospitals in the HCA Healthcare system in Western North Carolina are at avl.mx/drd. All meetings are in-person and open to the public. Participants are asked to preregister for their meeting at avl.mx/drc.

Boston-based Affiliated Monitors is the new independent monitor following a separation with Gibbins Advisors, a Nashville-based health care operations and restructuring consultancy. Gibbins was appointed as independent monitor in 2019 after the Nashvillebased HCA purchased Mission for $1.5

billion. Following tense public meetings earlier this year regarding the quality of care at Mission Health and Gibbins’ oversight, in April Dogwood Health Trust selected the new independent monitor with consent from HCA and N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein. Independent monitors are paid by Dogwood Health Trust, a nonprofit that was created during the sale of Mission Health to HCA.

Nurse aide instructors sought

A-B Tech seeks nurse aide instructors for its Health Occupations Department. Nurse aide instructors must be approved by the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation, have an unencumbered license and have experience supervising nurse aides. A-B Tech has a waitlist of over 400 people seeking nurse aide certification, which is required for entry into several nursing programs. More information about nurse aide instruction is at avl.mx/dqt.

Meals on Wheels seeks volunteers

Haywood County Meals on Wheels seeks volunteers to distribute warm,

nutritious meals to homebound individuals Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Volunteers pick up meals at the nonprofit’s kitchen between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. and deliver the meals by noon. Volunteers can be individuals or a group of friends, family or co-workers. Contact Cheryl McCracken at 828-356-2442 or Cheryl. McCracken@haywoodcountync.gov for more information.

Sneakers for kids

The Salvation Army of Hendersonville is providing new sneakers for school-aged children for the 2024-25 school year. A walkin evening session to apply will be held Tuesday, June 11, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Salvation Army of Hendersonville fellowship hall, 239 Third Ave. E., Hendersonville. Social workers can also make applications by appointment Monday, June 24-Friday, July 12, by calling 828-693-4181. Sneakers will be distributed on Friday, Aug. 9. Parents or guardians must bring identification for themselves and each child.

WCU Nursing receives $2.1 million gift

The Western Carolina University School of Nursing in Cullowhee received a $2.1 million contribution from the Bedford Falls Foundation. Recipients will be called Conway Scholars, in honor of the late Joanne Conway, who established Bedford Falls along with her husband, Bill Conway The gift will provide scholarships for undergraduate nursing students and support the hiring of additional faculty. For more information visit avl.mx/dqv.

Book club discusses Dopesick July 10

Buncombe County Public Libraries Books to Action book club will discuss Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy Wednesday, July 10, 6-7 p.m., on Zoom. Teenagers and adults are welcome to attend. Register at avl.mx/dr4.

Books to Action is a book club exploring nonfiction books about issues facing the community. Dopesick, published in 2018, charts the development of the painkiller OxyContin and its role in the

opioid crisis. Hulu produced a fictionalized limited series, starring Michael Keaton, based on Dopesick in 2021.

Hospice community care opens

The Center for Conscious Living and Dying, a nonprofit that provides comfort care for people who are dying, opened officially to the public May 16. Located at 83 Sanctuary Road in Swannanoa, CCLD provides a homelike setting at its six-acre campus for individuals who are eligible for hospice care. Individual can stay in a room for their remaining days of life at CCLD, and can be surrounded by friends and family. No palliative medical care is provided; volunteers will provide support with food and laundry. For more information about CCLD, visit avl.mx/dqu.

5K registration open

Registration is open for Western Carolina Rescue Ministries’ Light Up the Night 5K run Friday, Aug. 2, 7 p.m., at Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Road. All levels are welcome for the glow-in-the-dark event, and partici-

pants may walk or run. Registration is $25 per person, and funds raised will support WCRM’s Abba’s House, a residential program for mothers in recovery and their infants. To register visit avl.mx/dqs.

Community kudos

• The N.C. Justice Center is honoring Philip Cooper, founder of Operation Gateway, as its 2024 Defender of Justice in the Grassroots Empowerment category. Operation Gateway addresses social determinants of health for individuals after incarceration.

• Child welfare nonprofit Eliada Homes appointed Andrew D’Onofrio president and CEO.

Mark your calendars

• First United Methodist Church, 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, will hold a resource fair Wednesday, June 5, noon-2 p.m. Attendees can receive a food box and a hot meal from Holy Cow Food Truck (while supplies last) and gather resources from Pisgah Legal Services, Healthy Blue NC and Mountain Projects.

• A panel discussion on the history of harm reduction in Western North Carolina will occur Wednesday, June 5, 4:30-5:30 p.m., at Lord Auditorium in Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. Panelists are WNC AIDS Project prevention educator Michael Harney, City of Asheville homelessness project manager Lacy Hoyle and former BCDHHS opioid response coordinator Amy Upham. Public health scholar Abigail K. Stephens will moderate. The event is free and registration is recommended. Register at avl.mx/dr2.

• NC SAFE (Secure All Firearms Effectively) will distribute free gun locks Friday, June 7, 2-6 p.m., at Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza. NC SAFE will also provide information about best practices for firearm storage.

• Blue Ridge Pride education and outreach coordinator Luna Britt will lead a storytime celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community Thursday, June 13, 10:30-11:30 a.m., at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. All ages are welcome.

• The Buncombe Elder Justice Coalition will host an elder abuse awareness walk Thursday, June

13, 2-4 p.m., at Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Road. The free event will include information from local agencies that combat elder abuse. Holly Jones, N.C. Department of Justice senior policy adviser and program manager of Western outreach, will be the keynote speaker.

• Blue Ridge Pride will host a health fair for queer-owned and allied health care providers Sunday, June 16, noon-3 p.m., at New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St.

• Elevated Kava Lounge, 747 Haywood Road, will host a free wellness fair Saturday, June 22, 1-4 p.m., including sound healing, reiki, massage and yoga.

• The Asheville Youth Collective is offering resources for people ages 16-24, including bus tickets, free food and hygiene products on Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m., beginning June 26 at 12 Baskets Cafe, 610 Haywood Road.

• YWCA of Asheville, 185 S. French Broad Ave., is offering an introduction to Argentine tango on Mondays from July 8-Sept. 30, from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Classes are open to everyone; fees are $60 for YWCA members and $120 for nonmembers. Register at avl.mx/dr3. X

ARTS & CULTURE

Great expectations

The scoop on the return of AVLFest and Transfigurations IV in August

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN

In the planning stages for last year’s inaugural AVLFest, co-founder Jeff Whitworth says there were plenty of agents and acts curious about his pitch. But many were hesitant to commit to a first-time event.

“There was a little trepidation,” he says, reflecting on the experience. “I get it.”

But once the music industry saw how well received AVLFest was and how smoothly it ran, agents that Whitworth had reached out to in 2023 got in touch to sign up their acts for the 2024 edition.

August will mark the return of AVLFest, as well as another beloved music festival, Transfigurations.

Xpress caught up with organizers of both events to see what attendees can expect this time around.

ROUND TWO

First on tap is AVLFest, happening Thursday, Aug. 1-Sunday, Aug. 4, at over 20 local venues with a lineup featuring chillwave icon Washed Out, indie rock stalwarts The New Pornographers as well as Terminator X, the DJ from hip-hop legends Public Enemy. Also on the bill are local acts that have achieved national prominence, including Papadosio and Town Mountain, plus a wide variety of additional local and touring artists.

When it comes to locations and community perks, not much has changed for the event’s second go-around. All venues from 2023 are returning this year, plus new additions Eulogy, Citizen Vinyl, The Odd and The Social. And before the 2024 lineup was announced, festivalgoers living within 75 miles of Asheville again got a chance to buy discounted

passes before they went on sale at a higher rate to nonlocals.

But not everything in 2023 ran as smoothly as desired, so several tweaks are being made for 2024 to improve the overall experience — namely doing away with single-event tickets for AVLFest headliners. Last year, attendees had the option of paying an additional $20 per show atop the festival pass to see Watchhouse (formerly known as Mandolin Orange) at The Outpost and/or Kurt Vile & The Violators at Highland Brewing Co.’s Meadow stage.

Whitworth says the extra charge was the top complaint among 2023 festivalgoers, so for 2024 the all-inclusive pass — one of two festival options, along with a VIP pass — gets patrons into every event. As was the case last year, access is contingent on venue capacity, and attendees will be admitted as space becomes available.

“The people spoke, and we listened,” Whitworth says. “At the same time, I’ll still defend [last year’s approach] because, given the price of the festival and the price of the add-ons, it was still cheaper than any other festival ticket. My whole logic behind that was if you don’t want to go see Watchhouse or Kurt Vile, we’ll save you 40 bucks on your ticket price and kind of make it an à la carte thing where you can pick and choose your own adventure.”

Another enhancement is that the stage at The Outpost now faces south, which should help prevent daytime performers from melting in real time. On a star-studded bill of local talent on the Saturday of last year’s festival, longtime Asheville favorite Tyler Ramsey took the brunt of the sun during the AVLFest’s hottest hours but persevered to deliver a memorable set. Shuttle services, which are included in the price of admission, will

SALUTE: Willi Carlisle thanks the Sunday afternoon crowd at Forestry Camp during the inaugural AVLFest in 2023. Photo by Fiasco Media

likewise see an improvement. “We thought the buses would probably be more utilized as far as the volume of people, so we opted for the luxury cruisers [last year]. We also wanted to make sure it had A/C and they were comfortable,” Whitworth says. “I used them a few times, and it was nice. But it was about me and four other people in a giant cruiser, so we’re scaling that back this year.”

Instead of a handful of luxury buses that have difficulty turning around in certain places, AVLFest 2024 will feature a greater number of 22-passenger vans, allowing for pickups every 15 minutes instead of 45 minutes, as was the case in 2023.

As for securing nationally known acts, rather than pounce early, Whitworth waited until other festivals had announced their lineups and most performers had released their summer tours. The extra time allowed him to grab routed dates from bands that were already playing in the area, including The New Pornographers and Jessica Pratt, whose Here in the Pitch is one of Whitworth’s favorite albums of the year thus far.

In terms of booking local acts for AVLFest, Whitworth says it’s a mix of artists who were unavailable last year and those who participated in 2023 and quickly expressed to him a strong desire to return. Many of those acts are what he calls “musical pillars in this town” — ones where “it wouldn’t feel right if they weren’t on board.” Whitworth envisions those people being part of each AVLFest going forward, and he’ll continue to work in a diverse mix of first-timers.

“I don’t want anybody to feel left out, and it’s unfortunately inevitable that some people will be left out,” he says. “I just hope people understand that there’s more years of this and your time is coming.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/cer.

DID YOU SAY ‘FREE’?

Transfigurations may not be an annual event, but when it rolls around every five years, regional music fans know to block out a few days to partake.

The celebration of West Asheville cornerstone Harvest Records’ milestone anniversaries first took place in 2009, honoring five years of business with performances by Mount Eerie, The War on Drugs, Bonny “Prince” Billy and more at The Grey Eagle and Diana Wortham Theatre. In 2014, the festivities shifted to Marshall’s Blannahassett Island for

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sets from Angel Olsen, Lee Fields, Mudhoney and others, then returned to Asheville in 2019, featuring such acts as Danny Brown, ESG, Kevin Morby and Waxahatchee at The Orange Peel, The Mothlight, Black Mountain College Museum and Diana Wortham Theatre.

For the record store’s 20th anniversary, owners Mark Capon and Matt Schnable considered doing another big ticketed event. Then they rethought everything.

“When planning began, we didn’t fully know what shape this year’s festival would take. But once the idea of a ‘story night’ entered the picture, fewer artists just made sense,” Schnable says. “There are plenty of solid music festivals out there, and although we always curated what we thought was a unique lineup in the past, a festival has been done many, many times.”

What hasn’t been done over and over is a free, multiday event. Yet as Transfigurations IV’s mix of familiar and unusual programming began to form for Thursday, Aug. 22-Saturday, Aug. 24, not charging admission likewise felt like the right move.

“Along with the stressor of picking and booking bands, you also

inevitably have the massive psychological weight of worrying about ticket sales for months leading up,” Schnable says. “It struck me one day that maybe we could opt to create a free event as a sort of thankyou to the town for the years of support instead of just another big ask [of] buying a fairly expensive ticket to a music festival. Mark and I talked about it and settled on the idea soon after.”

Music will still be a major part of the weekend, namely an Aug. 24 show at The Orange Peel featuring Ethiopian legend Hailu Mergia, Asheville-based indie rocker Helado Negro (aka Roberto Carlos Lange) and New York City-based singer-songwriter Zenizen. Both days, local bands and DJs will perform in-store noon-5 p.m. And on Aug. 24 during those hours, vendors will set up booths, and other activities will take place for a party in the store’s back parking lot.

“It’s gonna be wild,” Capon says.

Once the Harvest crew learned that Hailu Mergia lives in Washington, D.C., the prospect of booking him grew increasingly plausible, and they were able to secure him early on in the planning process.

“We’ve been big fans of his for a while and are recommending his recordings to customers often,” Schnable says. “He’s been a legend since the ’70s but is continually being discovered by each subsequent generation — more now than ever, it seems.”

Regarding the rest of the closing-night lineup, Schnable calls Helado Negro “a new hometown hero,” and says Zenizen — a fairly new staff favorite, thanks to Capon getting turned onto her music — will be making her Asheville debut.

“[We’re] taking the small financial barriers out of the picture for a few nights, allowing people to experience the weekend and hopefully feel more connected to the town and their neighbors,” Schnable says.

He adds that some participating artists are donating their time, but most are getting paid their usual rates. As such, the Harvest team will be seeking sponsorship support from local businesses to offset various costs of the celebration.

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As for the mysterious “story night” component that Schnable mentioned, the two-night “Found in Sound” event arose from conversations with local filmmaker Erin Brethauer. The seeds of the experimental creation date back to when the former Asheville Citizen Times photographer lived in San Francisco in the mid to late 2010s and was involved in a touring storytelling event called Pop-Up Magazine.

“It was such a compelling experience for her that she presented the idea to us of framing a similar event loosely around Harvest’s 20th [anniversary],” Capon says. “The timing worked perfectly, as we were already imagining a Transfigurations that wasn’t just a bunch of bands but instead looking to do something that created a more diverse experience.”

The collaboration with the Harvest team, Brethauer and Transfigurations co-coordinator Madelyn Anderson takes place Thursday, Aug. 22-Friday, Aug. 23 at Diana Wortham Theatre. It’s been a time-intensive project but one that all involved are convinced will make for a captivating couple of evenings — even if talking about it remains somewhat of an abstract undertaking.

“The night is a bit hard to explain,” Capon says. “It’s a highly produced variety of stories loosely associated with the record store universe — but not necessarily about Harvest specifically — complete with animation or live scoring or set design or video interviews or a combination of those things. Or who knows what else? You’ll just have to show up to experience it. We’re confident anyone can enjoy it.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/dr0. X

LOCAL LOVE: Asheville-based singer-songwriter Helado Negro (aka Roberto Carlos Lange) will perform at The Orange Peel during Transfigurations IV.

Photo by Sadie Culberson

June Stone: Walnut Jasper

June Herb: Chickory

6/6: Reader: Alondra 3-7

NEW MOON @ 8:38am

6/9: Reader: Andrea 12-5

Mercy Fund Animal Rescue Adoption Event 12-3

6/12: Reader: Jessica 12-5

Kids Class w/ Abby 1:30-3 & 3:30-5

6/14: Reader: Krysta 12-6:30

Merry Meet & Greet 5-7

6/15: Reader: Edward 12-6

Local Vendor Pop-Up 10-6

Fresh Dish

Trevor Payne on roasted chicken and neighborhood connection

BY GINA SMITH

Asheville native Trevor Payne, chef and owner of Tall John’s in Montford, spent much of the past 20 years living outside the city — first as a college student in Boone, then for 14 years as a working chef in Portland, Ore. Since returning to home turf four years ago, the chef has celebrated his local origins, focusing his talent and energy on nourishing connections and community at the neighborhood level.

As a teen in the early 2000s, the chef first learned his way around a kitchen with a part-time job at the Outback Steakhouse on Tunnel Road. “Back then, every single thing was done from scratch,” he says. “So I’d unwittingly walked into a highly functioning, very, very busy restaurant. They stuck a knife in my hand and, you know, I went for it.”

After majoring in food systems management at Appalachian State University, Payne moved to Portland for culinary school. He fell in love with the area and launched his career there, eventually settling in for the long haul with stints at lauded restaurants including Clyde Common, Olympia Provisions, Le Pigeon and Little Bird Bistro.

In 2020, seeking closer proximity to family, he and wife Lillian, also an Asheville native, moved back to their city of origin with their young son. (They now also have a daughter.)

After a diner concept Payne had been working on in the River Arts District fell through, he shifted his focus to a location he’d had his eye on near his and his in-laws’ homes in Montford.

In fall 2022, Payne opened Tall John’s in the historic wooden building at 152 Montford Ave. as a neighborhood tavern. Built in 1906, the space previously housed a Piggly Wiggly supermarket, a church and, most recently, Chiesa restaurant, which closed in late 2021.

Beyond Tall John’s comforting classic American-European cuisine — dishes such as Caesar salad, steak tartare and roasted chicken anchor the menu — the restaurant has a warm, familiar feel. The name Tall John’s is inspired by a nickname

local metal artist Tina Councell had for her mentor, Payne’s father, the late metal sculptor John Payne, who is remembered for his giant kinetic dinosaur creations and role as a local arts advocate and originator of the modern River Arts District.

Black-and-white photos of the elder Payne’s sculptures pepper the walls of Tall John’s spacious dining room, mixed with richly colored paintings by Payne’s father-in-law, Kevin Hogan. Fittingly, Councell and her wife, Kayla, did all the ironwork for the space.

“I’m very proud to be from this town and to be able to integrate a lot of my experience into the concept here, from the name to the people that worked on the space,” says Payne.

As part of Xpress’ ongoing “Fresh Dish” feature, we sat down with Payne to talk about the unexpected popularity of beets, Asheville’s need for more Japanese cuisine and the pressing importance of choosing just the right bathroom wallpaper.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Xpress: Can you talk a little bit about the benefits and challenges of running a neighborhood-focused restaurant?

Payne: That was always the whole concept. I was thinking of neighborhood restaurants in different markets, like Montreal or London or boroughs in New York [City], and how they’re utilized in a way that they can be, like, nationally recognized restaurants, but they really have a genuine feel and connection with the neighborhood and the people that live in it.

The reception out of the gate from the immediate local community — meaning the neighborhood — was extremely flattering from the get-go. You know, we started with no reservations, and the strategy behind that was to make sure that access was maintained by the people that live in proximity. … We recently added a limited number of reservations, because there’s still this sector that needs the reservations, both people that live here and those who don’t.

What’s your most popular dish, and is there a dish on the Tall John’s menu that you feel is not getting the attention it deserves?

TALL ORDER: Chef Trevor Payne opened his Montford restaurant, Tall John’s, with the goal of creating a neighborhood dining spot with a menu of well-executed classic dishes. Photo by Tim Robison

There are few items that get ordered more than others, but to be honest, the one that caught me by surprise from the beginning was our glazed beets with goat cheese and dill. If you told me that I’d open a restaurant and beets, dill and goat cheese was going to be something people would clamor for, I’d never have guessed it. But I think that dish is an example — along with a few others — of our goal, which was to do ubiquitous or, at least from a chef’s standpoint, very commonly known, classic dishes, things that are recognizable, and do them extremely well.

And I’ll say this: The original concept was an ice-cold martini and roasted chicken. That was, in a distilled way, the idea of a neighborhood restaurant to me. ... I’ve always felt like [the chicken] could be ordered more. Some people don’t like ordering chicken in a restaurant for some reason, but it’s something that’s always appealed to me. And that’s kind of the heart of the concept. But we’ll always have roasted chicken on the menu.

What’s a dish you’ve had recently at a restaurant in Asheville that impressed you?

I don’t get out to eat that much lately, but the last thing I had out that I was really excited about was the lengua tacos at Tortilliera Molina next to the tamaleria on Patton Avenue. Just excellent. And I’m a big fan of Taqueria Munoz as well. We also have a good relationship with Neng Jr.’s — I haven’t been there to eat in a while, but they cooked our staff party last year, and I think their seasonal fruit dish, as simple as it is with just the dressing, it’s just classic and amazing. Is there a seasonal ingredient that you love and think home cooks should be using more?

With regard to seasonal home cooking, we’re in spring, so asparagus. I think a lot of people see asparagus as this thing that’s always around, and you can get it now all the time. But when it is at its height, to really focus on it and buy more of it. There’s the tomato analogy as well. So when I think of seasonal cooking at home, I just hope people take more advantage of things when they are truly awesome.

What’s a good way to prepare asparagus?

I like blanching it just to make it bright green then serving it chilled with gribiche, which is like a French tartar sauce basically, with whole [boiled] eggs cut into it. So it’s chopped whole eggs, capers, cornichons, a punch of herbs and Dijon [mustard]. It’s an aioli- or mayonnaise-based sauce with a bunch of chunky, delicious things in it.

What type of cuisine do you wish there was more of in Asheville?

Spending the bulk of my career on the West Coast, for me, it’s sushi — sushi and izakaya, yakitori — just very specific Japanese cuisine. If there was an 18-seat, really well-done sushi restaurant in Asheville, I would die and go to heaven.

Do you have a favorite food destination within driving distance of Asheville?

Not recently. And that’s mainly because of this season of life, and that I have an infant restaurant. But, you know, I think as time goes on, I’m going to make more weekend trips to Atlanta and Charleston and Savannah, and I’ve never been up to Richmond either to eat, so those are kind of like the striking distance food destinations for me. And then Durham’s coming along really well. In the past four years, I’ve had some great experiences there. And I did get to Atlanta last fall and got to eat out a little bit. Yeah, I’m just looking for opportunities.

Here’s a bonus question: Your bathrooms have the most enter-

taining wallpaper. (For uninitiated readers, a teaser: It has a colorful, animated gardening theme with a twist.) Is there a story behind it?

So I worked with Traci Kearns, who is the owner and a lead designer for Alchemy Design, a long-standing interior design business here in Asheville. … I wanted a wallpaper in there that was kind of a nod to the neighborhood, to Montford itself,

visually, or something along those lines. She presented this one along with a handful of other things, and for me, it was an obvious choice. I was like, yes, it’s perfect. You know, there’s some levity here, it’s lush and green. She was nervous about how it might be received, and I was like, no, let’s do this. It just made us happy. And that was the absolute best decision.

What local chef would you like to tag for next month’s “Fresh Dish” interview?

I would like to tag Matt Brown, who’s opening Paperhouse Pizza with his wife, Brittany. Matt was previously the chef de cuisine for La Bodega by Cúrate for many years and left recently to pursue their project. Matt’s a great person and experienced chef; he would be a great interview. X

OFF THE WALL: In developing the interior design for Tall John’s, Trevor Payne worked with Alchemy Design Studios to find wallpaper for the restaurant’s bathrooms that gives a nod to the Montford neighborhood’s beautiful gardens but with a humorous twist. Photo by Gina Smith

Insiders assess the local art scene

Leslee Johnson is an Ashevillebased writer. She is also a lecturer of English at UNC Asheville.

Xpress: Is there an upcoming literary event happening in Asheville that you’re looking forward to seeing?

I’m curious to see what Punch Bucket Lit Fest brings to Asheville, Friday, Sept. 20-Saturday, Sept. 21. The lineup looks to be a carefully curated showcase of literary writers, many nationally known and all of them doing great, relevant work. Lauren Groff is the headliner. Awesome poets and writers — among them Diamond Forde, Eric Tran and Brit Washburn, plus Clint Bowman of Black Mountain’s Dark City Poets Society — are giving readings all over town. Asheville is historically rich in literary star power, and the PBL fest really highlights and participates in this legacy.

Outside of literature, what other upcoming local arts happening intrigues you?

I’m superexcited to go to my first Campfireball at Story Parlor on Thursday, June 13, which features oral storytelling coaxed from the voices present in the room. I deeply respect the kind of work Story Parlor and facilitator Cory Howard are doing here, inviting stories that are authentic and immediate — maybe outside of what’s considered “literary,” but unknown, unsuspecting poets who can articulate human experience in compelling, unforgettable ways. There’s real power there. June’s theme is “yearning,” and — appropriately — I can’t wait. What current project are you working on that you’re especially excited about?

Speaking of the power of community, my heart’s with the writing collective of 12 Baskets Café in West Asheville, affectionately known as the Moonlight Cheese Alliance. We were just awarded a grant from Burners Without Borders to publish an anthology of our collected writing, so we’ll be curating, editing, designing and producing the first volume of The Intersection this summer and fall. We will be able to compensate writers and amplify the epic, poetic story of our community told in short poems, stories and collaborative pieces. The anthology will be available at local bookstores and, of course, we will have a book launch — an unconventional, lovely celebration of grassroots, street-corner, raw, powerful literary arts. X

Jeff Catanese is an Ashevillebased actor and director and the artistic director of Attic Salt Theatre Company.

Xpress: Is there an upcoming theater event happening in Asheville that you’re looking forward to seeing?

I’m excited to catch the latest offering of Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective: the 369 Monologue and Short Play Festival. [Performances run Thursdays-Saturdays, June 6-22, with the audience-voted Best of 369 event on Sunday, June 23.] Last year’s version was some well-done blackbox theater that was funny, sad and thought-provoking, often all at once.

so I’m interested to see the work they’re doing.

Outside of theater, what other upcoming local arts happening intrigues you?

I’m hoping to make it to one of the days of Asheville Art in the Park in Pack Square. [The event’s summer edition takes place on three consecutive Saturdays: June 8, 15 and 22.] These city-sponsored festivals are such a great opportunity to see a lot of local artists’ work all at once, and it gives one such a great sense that we are a part of a very creative community.

What current project are you working on that you’re especially excited about?

I’m also looking forward to heading south to see Hendersonville Theatre’s Legally Blonde: The Musical, Thursday, July 18-Sunday, Aug. 4. It’s a show that’s been on my radar since its Broadway premiere, but I’ve never gotten the opportunity to catch it in its many regional incarnations. I also haven’t been down to Hendersonville Theatre since their current creative team took over,

I’m thrilled to be directing the extremely hilarious Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps at Asheville Community Theatre, Friday, June 21-Sunday, July 7. We have such a great script and cast, and it’s the kind of play that appeals to so many of my sensibilities: Hitchcock spy thriller done as an over-the-top farce. I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying this one. X

LESLEE JOHNSON

Photo by Blunt Man Bob

JEFF CATANESE

Photo courtesy of the artist

Jesse Sawyer is an Asheville-based woodworker and co-owner of Sawyer Home Collection.

Xpress: Is there an upcoming craft event happening in Asheville that you’re looking forward to seeing?

I am looking forward to the next Wood Day held by the Southern Highland Craft Guild on Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Folk Art Center. The guild does a great job preserving traditional craft techniques through demonstrations and exhibitions.

Outside of crafts, what other upcoming local arts happening intrigues you?

Outside of the world of craft, I’m most excited about the live music

scene in Asheville. I love being able to discover new music in a live venue and also get to see some big names. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit on Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Rabbit Rabbit is definitely on my radar.

What current project are you working on that you’re especially excited about?

In my own work, I bounce back and forth these days between furniture and sculptural pieces. So, I’m excited to be doing a built-in banquette seat for a dining room and to explore some larger-scale collaborations of wood and metal with my partner, in both life and work, Audrey Laine Sawyer. X

Sandra Bottinelli is an Ashevillebased painter and co-owner of Modern Muse.

Xpress: Is there an upcoming visual arts event happening in Asheville that you’re looking forward to seeing?

I am looking forward to seeing Nabil El Jaouhari’s solo show, The Color of Air, at Mark Bettis Gallery [123 Roberts St.], on Saturday, June 8. [The show runs through Saturday, June 22.] I’ve always loved his work since I saw it for the first time a few years back. I find it innovative and highly unique, standing out from the crowd.

Outside of visual arts, what other upcoming local arts happening intrigues you?

I’m really looking forward to seeing [stand-up comic] Sebastian Maniscalco at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on Saturday, July 13. I’ve only seen him online and enjoy his sarcastic, dry humor. Seeing him live should be even better.

What current project are you working on that you’re especially excited about?

I am currently working on a new technique with resin. I have been an oil painter for 30 years. Six months

ago, I began to develop a process using resin along with oil and acrylic paints. The final works have turned out so beautifully that it has made me more than excited to continue in this direction, further developing my technique. These new works can be seen at my gallery, Modern Muse. X

JESSE SAWYER

Photo by Nate Burrows

SANDRA BOTTINELLI

Photo courtesy of the artist

What’s new in food Guajiro

Since opening its windows for service in October 2022, Guajiro food truck — permanently parked at the Asheville Cotton Mill Studios in the River Arts District — has provided outdoor seating. But with the May debut of El Patio de Guajiro, options for diners have significantly expanded.

Occupying the space inside Cotton Mill that was previously home to Great Wild Nowhere bar and music venue, El Patio includes 45 indoor seats, a full-service bar and outdoor seating on a front deck and back porch. The El Patio bar serves beer, wine, cider and cocktails that diners can sip with their mariquitas, tostones, black bean soup and Cuban sandwiches from the truck’s menu.

Guajiro brands itself as “Cuban Comfort Food,” and owner Chris Barroso, a second-generation Cuban American, drew on memories of dishes cooked by his maternal grandmother, Rosa Morejon, for the concept. Though he grew up in Florida, his family had a second home in Asheville and bought the Cotton Mill 13 years ago. The pandemic inspired him to make the significant professional and personal change from managing his parents’ law firm in Miami to moving to Asheville and opening a food truck.

Barroso’s grandmother shared her recipes with two people — Barroso and his cousin’s husband, Joel Morales, who is Guajiro’s chef. “He had cooking experience before, but Nana’s recipes were very important to me to use. I wanted her legacy in the food,” says Barroso.

Guajiro launched with breakfast and lunch, and as Barroso recalls, the business was bombarded with customers on the first day. “That little kitchen can put out a lot of food,” he says with a laugh. On April 1, Guajiro extended service hours into dinner and is now open until 10 p.m. six days a week (closed Wednesdays). On May 9, El Patio bar poured its first drinks.

“We are still working on the interior,” Barroso says. “We’ve having a new cocktail bar installed, we’re raising the food truck to the level of the patio and getting new chairs and tables inside. Eventually, we’d like to have some music and make it a whole experience.”

Guajiro and El Patio de Guajiro are at Asheville Cotton Mill, 122 Riverside Drive. For more on Guajiro, visit avl.mx/prwu. Details about El Patio de Guajiro are available at avl.mx/dqp.

adds indoor seating and a full bar

Chef Etheridge launches pop-up dinners

Chef Sam Etheridge sold his North Asheville restaurant, Ambrozia, in early 2019, but he didn’t stop cooking. He just changed venues.

“My kids were getting into their teens, and I needed to spend more time with my family than owning a restaurant allows,” he explains.

“So, I started doing private parties, pop-up dinners with places around town that don’t serve food, like Metro Wines and Bottle Riot, and dinners in people’s homes.”

Asheville event producer Shay Brown attended a few of those and asked Etheridge if he would do a Chef’s Experience Dinner as part of the AVL Food Series. He said yes, so

on Thursday, June 13, he’ll fire up the grills at Devil’s Foot Beverage Co. to serve a seated, four-course dinner in The Mule tasting room.

“We’ll pass two small bites when people get there and then four courses with some kind of meat and lighter, seasonal things, a summertime theme,” says Etheridge, noting that all cooking will be done on grills at the event. “It will be a big ol’ cookout.”

Partnering with Etheridge for the dinner are Metro Wines and an under-construction and still-underwraps wine bar and bistro in Reynolds Village. Details about the new business will be revealed at the event, he says.

Tickets are $97.50 per person, $127.50 with wine pairings. Drinks will also be for sale at The Mule’s bar.

The Chef’s Experience Dinner takes place 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Road. For tickets, visit avl.mx/dqk.

Bento box lunch delivery

As people get to know Khan Kogure’s new business, Yamaneko Bento, the chef hopes to turn TGIF to TGIB(ento) and Casual Friday to Bento Friday. Kogure’s Instagrampowered orders of fresh-made bento boxes — inspired by the single-portion meal boxes ubiquitous in Japan — are delivered to customers on Fridays, just in time for lunch.

“In Japan, bento boxes are everywhere,” Kogure says. “You can get them in any convenience store or market. I thought it would be a cool way for Asheville people to experience what a Japanese lunch is like.”

Asheville residents who lived here during Gan Shan Station’s tenure on North Charlotte Street may recog-

SEEING RED: With the new El Patio de Guajiro at Asheville Cotton Mill Studios, owner Chris Barroso, left, has added indoor, porch and deck seating for diners who order Guajiro’s Cuban dishes from chef Joel Morales, right. Photo courtesy of Guajiro

nize Kogure’s name. When he moved here from San Francisco in 2017, he attracted a following with popups he hosted there with chef/owner Patrick O’Cain. But after more than 20 years in the restaurant industry — he worked with chef Sylvan Mishima Brackett in his acclaimed San Francisco restaurant Izakaya Rintaro — and the challenges posed by COVID-19, Kogure needed a kitchen break and turned back to his other love, bike racing.

When he got the urge to cook again, the stay-at-home dad thought bento boxes would be a good way to ease back into it. “No one here really does it the way it’s done in Japan, and I felt like it was a healthy alternative to lots of other lunch delivery options,” Kogure says.

His stepdaughter suggested the name Yamaneko, which is Japanese for mountain cat. The business launched with a whimsical cat illustration on Instagram in late February, offering two boxes — a protein choice and a vegetarian or pescatarian option. The chef has been expanding from the original menu since to offer 10 rotating items, including gyoza at his wife’s and mother’s suggestion. “It’s my mom’s recipe and so good,” says Kogure. “I ate hundreds of these as a kid.”

Yamaneko accepts orders through noon Thursdays with delivery on Fridays in time for lunch (there’s a four-order minimum for delivery).

To place orders, follow Yamaneko on Instagram at avl.mx/dqr.

Grin and bear it at WNC Nature Center

Despite the name, beer consumption at the WNC Nature Center’s Brews and Bears events is limited to humans ages 21 and older only. But the monthly, after-hours summer parties allow attendees to watch the

center’s resident black bears, Uno and Ursa, engage in popsicle enrichment activities.

Guests will find Highland Brewing beer on tap, plus cider from Appalachian Mountain Brewery, wines from Metro Wines and food from favorite local trucks, including Cecilia’s Kitchen, Gypsy Queen Cuisine and Bigfoot-Longs Hot Dogs. There’s also live music and peeks at new residents, such as baby cougars Noa and Hayla and baby bobcats Tufts and Kohana.

Baby humans ages 2 and younger are admitted free to these family-friendly events. Grown-up tickets are $15 for WNC Nature Center members and $20 for nonmembers.

Brews and Bears events run 5:30-8 p.m., with the next one happening on Friday June 14. Future dates are Friday, July 12, and Monday, Aug. 12. Proceeds from ticket and drink sales go to the Friends of the WNC Nature Center to support park programming and animal enrichment.

WNC Nature Center is at 75 Gashes Creek Road. For more information and tickets, visit avl.mx/9iq.

Gemelli offers unique espresso

Gemelli Italian eatery has partnered with Coffee Library to create Espresso Italiano, a private-label espresso blend that will be sold by the bag exclusively at Gemelli.

Developed by Gemelli and Strada Italiano owner Anthony Cerrato and Coffee Library founder Drew Hawkins and his team, Espresso Italiano is enriched by the rare Brazil peaberry, which represents only 5% of all coffee beans harvested. The locally roasted blend is used for all Gemelli house espresso drinks.

The Coffee Library is a Woodfinbased coffee roaster startup that specializes in creating private-label

blends from its selection of over 25 single-origin coffees. Hawkins also owns Koto Kai coffee shop in West Asheville Gemelli is at 70 Westgate Parkway. For more about Coffee Library, visit avl.mx/dbs.

Hot enough for ya?

Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse jump-started Memorial Day weekend on May 23 with the seasonal reopening of its outdoor bar and sandwich counter, Hot Box. Self-touted as serving “fresh + smoked handy sandos made by our pet Godzilla, forreala,” the Hot Box menu includes a Reuben, a pulled pork and a sausage with kimchi kraut, plus Japanese sweet potato fries, fried yuzu pickles and more. The drinks lineup features original cocktails, such as Xander’s Xombie Xocktail, as well as classic cocktails, boozy slushies, beer, wine, sake and nonalcoholic beer.

Hot Box is at 121 Biltmore Ave. Hours are 5-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 3-9 p.m. Sundays. For updates, follow Hot Box on Instagram at avl.mx/dqo.

Around Town

The Whale hosts Grown-up Book Fair in West Asheville

The Whale in West Asheville is teaming up with The POP Project to host a grown-up book fair on Saturday, June 15, 1-4 p.m.

The Grown-up Book Fair will feature stands from local booksellers as well as book-related beverages and mimosas from the Whale. There will also be a signing table for local authors to sign and showcase their work. Kristen Dwyer, author of Some Mistakes Were Made and The Atlas of Us, will be signing from 1-2 p.m. Anne Fitten Glenn, author of Asheville Beer: An Intoxicating History of Mountain Brewing and Western North Carolina Beer: A Mountain Brew History, will be signing from 4-5 p.m. A book from R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series, autographed by illustrator Tim Jacobus, will be raffled off at the event.

“As a reader who misses those elementary school Scholastic Book Fairs, I am geeking out that The POP Project and local book vendors wanted to work with us to make the Grown-Up Book Fair happen,” says event coordinator Dale Murphy. “It is going to be such a fun day full of nostalgia, great beer and great books!”

Participating booksellers include Malaprop’s, Blue Moon Books, Chapters Book Shop, Lit Local and Firestorm Books. Local vendors Finn and The Whale and Two T’s Creative will have booths selling bookmarks, jewelry, art and more.

Entry is free, though The Whale is asking for book donations to The POP Project, a volunteer-led organization that works to bring books to those who don’t have access otherwise. All ages are welcome.

The Whale is at 507 Haywood Road No. 10. For more information, visit avl.mx/dqx.

Connecting art and literacy

The Asheville Art Museum has extended its Literacy Through Art (LTA) program to Mills River Elementary and Atkinson Elementary Schools in Hendersonville.

Through the LTA outreach program, expanded with the help of the Community Foundation of Henderson County, the Asheville Art Museum collaborates with fourth grade teachers

from both urban and rural schools to integrate literacy skills with artistic expression and critical thinking.

The program offers nine in-classroom lessons to incorporate images of artwork from Asheville Art Museum into writing and drawing prompts. For the 10th lesson, children are invited to tour the Asheville Art Museum and participate in a hands-on, in-studio activity with the museum’s youth and family programs manager, Susan Hendley

“For this fiscal year, we reached eight schools and 26 classrooms totaling around 500 students in the WNC region, between three teaching artists,” says Hendley. “The program also fosters understanding of art elements (color, line, shape, form, texture, space and value), understanding of art classifications (portrait, landscape, narrative and still life), and developing a sense of place and personal identity.”

Since its inception in 1994, LTA has reached over 26,000 students, according to Hendley. The program operates in Asheville City and Buncombe, Graham, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Mitchell, McDowell, Swain and Yancey counties.

The Asheville Art Museum is at 2 S. Pack Square. For more information, visit avl.mx/cro.

Award funds dance-film project

Trillium Arts, an arts residency center in Mars Hill, will host an open dance rehearsal and film screening at the Red Barn Studio at Odonata Farm on Saturday, July 27, 4-7 p.m.

The presentation follows the announcement of Xavier Núñez as Trillium’s 2024 ACE Fellowship in Dance awardee. Nine ACE Fellowships have been awarded since the inception of the program in 2020. Running for seven to nine days, the ACE fellowship was designed to provide Chicago-area dancers and choreographers the time and money to collaborate and experiment with their art form. In addition to providing lodging and car rental, the fellowship offers a financial honorarium and an Asheville rehearsal space for on-site collaboration with a community of artists.

“Xavier was selected because of his superior artistry and an outstanding project that aligns with Trillium’s

PAGE-TURNER: The Grown-up Book Fair will feature booths with local booksellers, book-signing opportunities with local authors and book-themed drinks from The Whale. Photo by Thomas Calder; collage by Scott Southwick

core values of Art + Community + Ecology,” says Trillium Arts co-founder Heather Hartley. “Trillium is actively pursuing partnerships with other organizations and individuals in WNC that are interested in both the arts and environmental conservation.”

For this fellowship, Núñez plans to work with director and short-form documentary filmmaker Tim Whalen to produce a dance film titled Mates for Life: Barn Owl. The film is the second in a series about monogamous animal species. The first film in the series, Mates for Life: Whooping Crane, was released in 2023. Núñez was inspired to work at Trillium specifically because the dance studio is housed in the Red Barn Studio at Odonata Farm, an 80-year-old tobacco hay barn that serves as an authentic setting for a film about barn owls. Núñez has performed internationally and earned the 2012 silver medal at the World Ballet Competition. He also founded the creative studio Action Lines, where he directs, choreographs and offers dance education. Whalen lives in Chicago, where he owns a small production company called Big Foot Media.

The Red Barn Studio at Odonata Farm is at 5640 Paint Fork Road,

Mars Hill. For more information, visit avl.mx/dqw.

Preserving a Picturesque America

Ferguson Family YMCA will feature the artwork of Scott “Doc” Varn alongside the originally published images from Picturesque America through Saturday, Aug. 31.

Varn is an artist, historian and environmentalist who founded the organization Preserving a Picturesque America (PAPA) to artistically translate images from the 1800s publication Picturesque America through painting, drawing, printmaking and photography.

“The purpose of PAPA is to emphasize the value of these places that could be lost if we don’t take action now,” says Varn in a press release. “I’ve found creative ways to provide insight and inspire others to embrace this unique pathway for the appreciation of art and nature.”

PBS recently joined with Varn and PAPA to launch a pilot episode titled “America, the Land We Live In,” utilizing illustrations from the original Picturesque America books.

The Ferguson Family YMCA is at 31 Westridge Market Place, Candler. For more Information, visit avl.mx/b61.

Salvage Station to close by year’s end

Salvage Station announced on Facebook that it will close by the end of the year.

The 7-acre riverfront property was once a salvage yard that founder Danny McClinton transformed into a sprawling outdoor music venue. According to the announcement, the timeline was set by the N.C. Department of Transportation, which is acquiring the property by eminent domain to make room for the Interstate 26 Connector project.

“We are heartbroken to pack and relocate what we have built, but our Salvage Station family is strong, and we are committed to rebuilding,” says McClinton in the announcement. “Where we go is unknown, but for sure, if a salvage yard can become a nationally recognized music venue, we will certainly figure out this next chapter.”

The venue is known for combining outreach and entertainment, spotlighting local acts and organizations, and

hosting many large-scale events such as a concert by Wilco with Sleater-Kinney and a 2019 rally for then-presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. The venue remains booked for the rest of the year.

Salvage Station is at 466 Riverside Drive. For more information, visit avl.mx/ddm.

Sly Grog returns

After suffering severe fire damage in 2021, Sly Grog Lounge has reopened with a fully booked calendar of shows.

The lounge, which features drinks, live music and performances, reopened May 17 with a three-night concert series. In addition to music, the space offers a variety of activities, including toys, pool, pingpong, video games, arcade games and board games.

The community played a large part in restoring the lounge, contributing to cleanups and holding workdays, fundraisers and benefit shows. Most of the building was salvageable following the fire, but the office and green room had to be replaced, as did the easternmost wall of the bar. “Our atmosphere is mostly the same as it’s always been,” says Theo Crouse-Mann, one of the Sly Grog owners. “We came into rebuilding with the sense that we wanted to pick up right where we left off, but we have made a few changes to allow for smoother functioning. The most noticeable change is that we have moved the bar out of the main room into the smaller room that was once the piano lounge.”

The venue is booked through September. On Thursday, June 6, Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean, Book of Wyrms and Heemeyer will perform at 8 p.m.

Sly Grog Lounge is at 271 Haywood St. For more information, visit avl.mx/dqz.

— Oby Arnold

MOVIE REVIEWS

FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA: Hop in your most fortified war rig and go see George Miller’s latest action epic on the biggest screen possible. Grade: A-minus — Edwin Arnaudin

X

For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.

ASHEVILLE GUITAR

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

12 BONES BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

27 CLUB

The Ruff'tons, Bastard Suns & Dial Dive (punk), 8pm

ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO. Trivia Trivia!, 6:30pm

BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA

Trivia Night w/ PartyGrampa, 7pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Saylor Brothers & Friends (jamgrass), 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWING

BIG TOP Trivia, 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm

IMPERIÁL

DJ Otto Maddox (soul, funk), 9pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Bluegrass Jam w/Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

In Flight (prog-rock, jazz), 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Latin Night Wednesday w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8pm

SHAKEY'S Sexy Service Industry Night, 10pm

SHILOH & GAINES Trivia Wednesdays, 7pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Poetry Open Mic, 8pm

THE DRAFTSMAN

BAR + LOUNGE

Trivia Nights, 7pm

THE JOINT NEXT

DOOR

Rod Sphere (soul, rock), 6:30pm

THE ODD

Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Shannon & The Clams (alt-indie, rock, garagepunk), 8pm

THE RAILYARD BLACK

MOUNTAIN

Dan's Jam (bluegrass), 7pm

URBAN ORCHARD

CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE Trivia, 6:30pm

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

ARCHETYPE

BREWING

Drag Queen Karaoke, 7pm

BAR

MGBs (acoustic), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears (pop-rock, blues, funk), 9pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK

EXCHANGE

Mike Kenton & Jim

Tanner (jazz), 5:30pm

BOWL IN THE WALL Trivia Night, 6:30pm

CROW & QUILL

The Old Chevrolette Set (country), 8pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY Karaoke, 8pm

EULOGY

Harrison Gordon w/ TRSH, Kerosene Heights & Convalescent (punk, emo, Americana), 8pm

FALLOUT ART SPACE

Open Mic Night, 7pm

FLEETWOOD'S

Claire Whall, Butte, Julie Odell & Slow

Rosary (indie), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWING

BIG TOP Survey Says, 7pm

IMPERIÁL

DJ Nex Millen (R&B, hip-hop), 9pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

LA TAPA LOUNGE

Iggy Radio (southern-rock), 7pm

LAZOOM ROOM BAR & GORILLA

Modelface Comedy

Presents: Max Hornstein & Cal Murata, 8:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Sara & Seth (country), 7pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Harvey Street (indie, alt-rock), 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

The Knotty G's (Americana), 8pm

OUTSIDER BREWING

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Alex Krug Combo (dream-rock, Americana), 6:30pm

SALVAGE STATION

The Movement w/ KBong, Johnny Cosmic & Aurorawave (reggae), 6:30pm

SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/DJ Franco, 9pm

CLUBLAND

FEMME ALT-PUNK BAND: On Sunday, June 9, Idaho-based Plum Vision will bring their hard-hitting alt-punk sound to The Odd in West Asheville. This all-femme band will share the night with Massie99, Paprika and Puppy Chain. Photo courtesy of Connor Schumacher

SHILOH & GAINES

Karaoke Night, 8pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Karaoke Night, 10pm

THE GREY EAGLE

The Moon & You, Menage & Amanda

Anne Platt (folk, pop), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT

DOOR

Laura Thurston (Americana, folk), 7pm

THE ODD

Drook, Paper Pills & Roamck (electronic, rock, indie-pop), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Ole 60 w/Rob Langdon (country, indie), 8pm

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

ASHEVILLE GUITAR

BAR John Allen Keck & Above Ground (rock, Americana), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

DJ Logic & Friends (electronic, hip-hop, dnb), 9pm

BURGER BAR

Burger Bar's June Comedy Show, 7pm

CATAWBA BREWING CO. SOUTH SLOPE

ASHEVILLE

• Comedy From the Future, 7pm

• Catch These Chuckles: Comedy Showcase, 9pm

CITIZEN VINYL

Angela Autumn & Shay Martin Lovette (indiefolk), 7pm

CROW & QUILL

DJ Dr. Filth (jazz, soul, R&B), 9pm

FIRST FRIDAYS IN DOWNTOWN MARS HILL.

The Candleers (country), 5pm

FLEETWOOD'S Jesus Casino, Star Seer & Bonedozer (alt-rock), 8pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

The Office Trivia Olympics: Round Three, 7pm

IMPERIÁL

DJ Lake Solace (R&B, hip-hop), 9pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

The Local Boys (bluegrass, Americana), 9pm

LA TAPA LOUNGE

Open Mic w/Hamza, 8pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Freeway Jubilee (Southern-rock, blues, funk), 8pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

• Free Dead Friday w/ Dirty Dead (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm

• Rockstead (rock, reggae), 10pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING

Dan Signor (rock, soul), 8pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

The Stolen Faces (Grateful Dead tribute), 9pm

RABBIT RABBIT

Silent Disco: Gemini Party, 7pm

SALVAGE STATION

Steep Canyon Rangers w/Holler Choir (bluegrass, folk), 7pm

SHAKEY'S

Big Blue Jams Band (multiple genres), 9pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Muddy Guthrie & Friends (rock, Americana), 9pm

SILVERADOS

Jacquees w/Michel'le & Lyric (R&B), 7pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Fantømex, The Deathbots & Small Doses (punk, rock, indie), 8pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Goth Night w/DJ Ash Black, 10pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Goetia, Cave Grave, Comedic Death & Nobody's Fool (death-metal, punk), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Murder by Death (Americana, indie, rock'n'roll), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT

DOOR

Vince Junior Band (blues, Appalachian soul), 7:15pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

We Have Ignition (surfrock), 7pm

THE ODD

Big Bombs, Tiny Tvs, the Discs & Codapen (alt-punk, rock'n'roll, power-pop), 9pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Saosin w/Cove Reber (rock), 8pm

THE OUTPOST

Goings w/Sani Bronco (rock, indie-folk), 7pm

URBAN ORCHARD

CIDER CO. SOUTH

SLOPE

Trippin' Up the Stairs (Celtic, Irish, old-time), 6pm

WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT

Fun Size (multi-genre), 7pm

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

27 CLUB

Lilith Rising, Neverfall, 4th Horse & Bona Lisa (metal), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Funk You w/Datrian Johnson (rock, soul, funk), 9pm

CROW & QUILL

Sparrow & Her Wingmen (jazz, swing), 8pm

EULOGY

Modelface Comedy Presents: Liz Miele, 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S

Impending Joy, The Silver Doors, Guy Roswell & Werewolf Hours (psych-rock), 9pm

HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM

Fancy & Friends (multigenre), 6pm

IMPERIÁL

DJ Nex Millen (hip-hop, R&B), 9pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Bluegrass Brunch w/Bear Creek String Bandits, 12pm

• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm

MP Gannon (rock), 9pm

LA TAPA LOUNGE

Karaoke, 9pm

LAZOOM ROOM

Karaoke w/KJ Beanspice, 8:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Acklen Walker (hip hop, pop, indie-rock), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

• Jones Cove (funk, reggae, Americana), 4pm

• Soul Junction Ak1200 (EDM, techno, dnb), 8pm

SALVAGE STATION

Rising Appalachia w/ Meschiya Lake (folk, Appalachian), 7pm

SHAKEY'S

• Friday Late Nights w/ DJ Ek Balam, 12am

• Boot Scoot & Boogie, 10pm

SHILOH & GAINES

The Pearl Snap Prophets (country), 9pm

STATIC AGE LOFT Boys Camp (edm, house), 10pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Cam Gril (rock), 9pm

THE BUZZ

The Candleers (country), 6:30pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Soul Blue (soul, blues, R&B), 7pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise (hip-hop, soul, new-age), 6pm

THE ODD

Party Foul Drag, 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

The Taylor Party: The Ts Dance Party, 8pm

THE RESTORATION

HOTEL ASHEVILLE

Bark & Brunch, 10am

VINTAGE KAVA

The Candleers (country), 8pm

WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT

DJ Mad Mike, 7pm

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

ARCHETYPE

BREWING

Sunday Funday w/DJs, 1pm

ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO.

Slice of Life Comedy, 6:30pm

BURIAL BEER CO.

Latinx Brunch w/M A

R & The Marmeladies, 1pm

CATAWBA BREWING

CO. SOUTH SLOPE

ASHEVILLE

Hot & Horny Comedy Showcase, 6:30pm

EULOGY

Melt-Banana (noise, experimental-pop, garage), 8pm

FALLOUT ART SPACE

Open Mic Night, 7pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 3pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Jazz Sunday's, 2pm

IMPERIÁL

DJ Mad Mike (hip-hop, indie, funk), 9pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Bluegrass Brunch w/ The Bluegrass Brunch Boys, 12pm

• Traditional Irish Jam, 3:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

• Paul Edelman (rock, roots, folk), 3pm

• Stand Up Comedy, 7pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Bubbles Brown (blues, folk, R&B), 9pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Pisgah Sunday Jam, 6pm

S&W MARKET

Mr Jimmy (blues), 1pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Cosmic Appalachian Soul Sundays, 7pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Tosser, Lion Country Ferrari & Dish (punk, indie-rock, slow-core), 9pm

THE DRAFTSMAN

BAR + LOUNGE Karaoke Nights, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Patio: Country Brunch w/Charles Latham & The Borrowed Band, 11am

• Jon McLaughlin (poprock), 8pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Joy Clark & Ruth

Theodor w/Hazel (Americana, folk, soul), 2pm

THE ODD Plum Vision, Massie99, Paprika & Puppy Chain (alt-punk), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Mdou Moctar (rock, blues), 8pm

PLĒB URBAN WINERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 4pm

MONDAY, JUNE 10

27 CLUB Monday Karaoke, 9pm

5 WALNUT WINE BAR

CaroMia, Rahm, Iannuci & Jaze Uries (dreampop, soul, R&B), 8pm

DSSOLVR

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

FLEETWOOD'S Best Ever Karaoke w/KJ Chelsea, 9pm

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACE

food. music. beer. community. and maybe a train or two.

Wednesday, June 5, 7-9pm

Live Music with Dan 's Jam

Join us every Wednesday for a wild night of open bluegrass jamming.

ThurSDAY, June 6, 7-9pm

Live music TBD –check our socials for updated info

Friday, June 7, 7-9pm Live music with Broken Sound Saturday, June 8, 7-9pm

Live music with Billy Presnell

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 6pm IMPERIÁL

DJ Otto Maddox (soul, funk), 9pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7:30pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Takes All Kinds Open Mic Nights, 7pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING

Open Mic Night, 7:30pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

Mashup Mondays w/ JLloyd, 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7pm

THE RIVER ARTS

DISTRICT BREWING CO.

Trivia w/Billy, 7pm

TUESDAY, JUNE 11

27 CLUB

Acid Jo, Roamck, Childeater, Giovanni Orisini & The Inebriators (psych, punk, rock), 9pm

ARCHETYPE

BREWING

Trivia Tuesday, 6:30pm

EULOGY

Say She She w/Sister Ivy (R&B, soul, indie), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

IMPERIÁL

DJ Mad Mike (hip-hop, indie, funk), 9pm

LOOKOUT BREWING CO.

Team Trivia Tuesday's, 6:30pm

MAD CO. BREW

HOUSE

Team Trivia Tuesday's, 6pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Team Trivia, 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

The Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm

SHAKEY'S

Booty Tuesday w/DJ

Tamagatchi, 9pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Tuesday Night Open Jam, 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Duncan Trussell, 8pm

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12

12 BONES BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR

BAR

Ben Balmer (Americana), 8pm

ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO.

Trivia Trivia!, 6:30pm

BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA

Trivia Night w/ PartyGrampa, 7pm

EULOGY

Pallbearer w/REZN & The Keening (metal, doom), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Saylor Brothers & Friends (jamgrass), 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWING

BIG TOP Trivia, 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm

IMPERIÁL

DJ Otto Maddox (soul, funk), 9pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Bluegrass Jam w/Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Swanny, Crowe & The Monk (multi-genre), 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Latin Night Wednesday w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8pm

SHAKEY'S Sexy Service Industry Night, 10pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Trivia Wednesdays, 7pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic, 8pm

THE DRAFTSMAN

BAR + LOUNGE Trivia Nights, 7pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Moonshine State (Americana, country), 7pm

THE ODD

Ape Vermin, Mean Green & Halogi (prog-metal, doomsludge), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Sold Out: Duncan Trussell, 8pm THE OUTPOST Bluegrass Jam w/Sam Wharton, 6pm

URBAN ORCHARD

CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE Trivia, 6:30pm

THURSDAY, JUNE 13

BOWL IN THE WALL Trivia Night, 6:30pm

CITIZEN VINYL

Philip Bowen & Aaron "Woody" Wood (Americana, soul, bluegrass), 8pm

CROW & QUILL

Nick Garrison Jazz, 8pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY Karaoke, 8pm

EULOGY

Rose Hotel & Spencer Thomas (indie-rock, folk, psych), 8pm

FALLOUT ART SPACE Open Mic Night, 7pm

FLEETWOOD'S Mongo, On The Block & Green Quams (punk), 9pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

LA TAPA LOUNGE Iggy Radio (southern-rock), 7pm

LAZOOM ROOM BAR & GORILLA

Modelface Comedy Presents: Mark Chalifoux, 8:30pm

MAD CO. BREW

HOUSE Karaoke w/Banjo Mitch, 6pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Billy Litz (Americana, blues, indie-folk), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING The Knotty G's (Americana), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Suns of Stars (bluegrass), 6pm

OUTSIDER BREWING

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

PULP

Slice of Life: Standup Comedy Contest, 7pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

KD Groove Alliance (blues, rock), 6:30pm

SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/DJ Franco, 9pm

SHILOH & GAINES Karaoke Night, 8pm

STATIC AGE LOFT Karaoke Night, 10pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Napalm Cruiser, Love & Compassion, Loss of Consciousness & Divorce Papers (noiserock, metal-core), 9pm THE GREY EAGLE John R Miller (country, blues), 8pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Hope Griffin (folk), 7pm WICKED WEED BREWING Andy Ferrell (folk, blues, bluegrass), 6pm

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): What potentials should you strive to ripen as the expansive planet Jupiter glides through your astrological House of Connection, Communication and Education in the coming months? I’ll offer my intuitions. On the downside, there may be risks of talking carelessly, forging superficial links, and learning inessential lessons. On the plus side, you will generate good luck and abundant vitality if you use language artfully, seek out the finest teachings, and connect with quality people and institutions. In the most favorable prognosis I can imagine, you will become smarter and wiser. Your knack for avoiding boredom and finding fascination will be at a peak.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Since 1969, Taurus singer-songwriter Willie Nelson has played his favorite guitar in over 10,000 shows. His name for it is Trigger. Willie doesn’t hold onto it simply for nostalgic reasons. He says it has the greatest tone he has ever heard in a guitar. Though bruised and scratched, it gets a yearly check-up and repair. Nelson regards it as an extension of himself, like a part of his body. Is there anything like Trigger in your life, Taurus? Now is a good time to give it extra care and attention. The same is true for all your valuable belongings and accessories. Give them big doses of love.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Off the coast of West Africa is an imaginary place called Null Island. A weather buoy is permanently moored there. Geographers have nicknamed it “Soul Buoy.” It’s the one location on Earth where zero degrees latitude intersects with zero degrees longitude. Since it’s at sea level, its elevation is zero, too. I regard this spot as a fun metaphor for the current state of your destiny, Gemini. You are at a triple zero point, with your innocence almost fully restored. The horizons are wide, the potentials are expansive, and you are as open and free as it’s possible for you to be.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): When I worked as a janitor at India Joze restaurant in Santa Cruz, California, I did the best I could. But I was unskilled in the janitorial arts. I couldn’t fix broken machines and I lacked expertise about effective cleaning agents. Plus, I was lazy. Who could blame me? I wasn’t doing my life’s work. I had no love for my job. Is there an even remotely comparable situation in your life, Cancerian? Are you involved with tasks that neither thrill you nor provide you with useful education? The coming months will be an excellent time to wean yourself from these activities.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I foresee two possible approaches for you in the coming months. Either will probably work, so it’s up to you to decide which feels most fun and interesting. In the first option, you will pursue the rewards you treasure by creating your own rules as you outfox the system’s standard way of doing things. In the second alternative, you will aim for success by mostly playing within the rules of the system except for some ethical scheming and maneuvering that outflank the system’s rules. My advice is to choose one or the other, and not try to do both.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Please note that during the next 12 months, I may seem a bit pushy in my dealings with you. I will encourage you to redefine and enhance your ambitions. I will exhort you to dream bigger. There may come times when you wish I wouldn’t dare you to be so bold. I will understand, then, if you refrain from regularly reading my horoscopes. Maybe you are comfortable with your current type of success and don’t want my cheerleading. But if you would welcome an ally like me — an amiable motivator and sympathetic booster — I will be glad to help you strive for new heights of accomplishment.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Three months after Rachel Denning bore her fourth child, she and her husband sold everything they owned and embarked on a nomadic life. They have been roaming ever since, adding three more kids along the way. She says they have become

BY ROB BREZSNY

addicted to “the personal transformation that travel extracts.” She loves how wandering free “causes you to be uncomfortable, to step out of the familiar and into the unknown. It compels you to see with new eyes and to consider things you had never been aware of. It removes preconceptions, biases, and small-mindedness.” If you were ever going to flirt with Rachel Denning’s approach, Libra, the next 12 months would be a favorable time. Could you approximate the same healing growth without globetrotting journeys? Probably. Homework: Ask your imagination to show you appealing ways to expand.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Among the Europeans who first settled in South America were Jews who had been forcibly converted to Christianity by Portuguese and Spanish persecutions. Centuries later, some families resolved to reclaim their Jewish heritage. They led a movement called la sangre llama — a Spanish phrase meaning “the blood is calling.” I invite you to be inspired by this retrieval, Scorpio. The coming months will be an excellent time to commune with aspects of your past that have been neglected or forgotten. Your ancestors may have messages for you. Go in search of missing information about your origins.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you simply let the natural flow take you where it will in the coming weeks, you would become a magnet for both degenerative and creative influences. Fortunately, you are reading this oracle, which will help ensure the natural flow won’t lead you toward degenerative influences. With this timely oracle, I am advising you to monitor and suppress any unconscious attractions you might have for bewildering risks and seemingly interesting possibilities that are actually dead ends. Don’t flirt with decadent glamour or fake beauty, dear Sagittarius! Instead, make yourself fully available for only the best resources that will uplift and inspire you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is campaigning to be U.S. President. But oops: He recently confessed that a parasitic worm once ate a portion of his brain, damaging his memory and cognitive skills. “The worm is dead now,” he assured us, as if that were a good reason to vote for him. Why am I bringing this up? Like most of us, you have secrets that if revealed might wreak at least a bit of mayhem. As tempting as it might be to share them with the world — perhaps in an effort to feel free of their burden — it’s best to keep them hidden for now. Kennedy’s brain worm is in that category. Don’t be like him in the coming weeks. Keep your reputation and public image strong. Show your best facets to the world.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The English and French word “amateur” comes from amatus, the past participle of the Latin word amare, which means “to love.” According to one definition, an amateur is “someone who pursues sports, studies, or other activities purely for pleasure instead of for financial gain or professional advancement.” In accordance with astrological omens, I encourage you to make this a featured theme in the coming months. On a regular basis, seek out experiences simply because they make you feel good. Engage in lots of playtime. At least part-time, specialize in fun and games.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Good news, Pisces: In the coming weeks, one of your flaws will mysteriously become less flawed. It will lose some of its power to undermine you. If you engage in focused meditation about it, you could rob it of even more of its obstructive force. More good news: You will have an enhanced capacity to distinguish between skillful pretending and earthy authenticity. No one can trick you or fool you. Can you handle even more good news? You will have a skillful knack for finding imperfect but effective solutions to problems that have no perfect solution.

Veterans ISSUE

SUN: Cosmic Appalachian Soul Sundays, 7pm MON: Ping-Pong Tournament, 6pm TUE: Open Jam w/ house band the Lactones, 8pm WED: Poetry Open Mic AVL, 8:30pm/8pm signup

6/7 FRI LACTONES, 9pm Psychedelic Rock / Drip Noise

6/8 SAT MIKE BARNES TRIO, 9pm Rock / Jazz

6/14 FRI MY MAGNIFICENT NEMESIS, 9pm Progressive Rock

Business-toBusiness ISSUE

Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember the Russian proverb: “Doveryai, no proveryai,” trust but verify. When answering classified ads, always err on the side of caution. Especially beware of any party asking you to give them financial or identification information. The Mountain Xpress cannot be responsible for ensuring that each advertising client is legitimate. Please report scams to advertise@mountainx.com

RENTALS

HOMES FOR RENT

2 BEDROOM, 1 BATH, $1750 PRIVATE, QUIET PROPERTY AVAIL JULY 1

This is a Deltec house with two separate levels each with a private entrance. Upper Level available: two bedrooms, full bath, open great room and large all season porch (can be 3rd bedroom) appliances, washer/dryer. Pets considered with deposit. Bill 828-319-7289 sairaphim@ gmail.com

4 BEDROOM HOUSE IN ASHEVILLE 4 bedroom one bath home. Walking distance to downtown Asheville. Tenant pays own utilities. No pets. Rent: $2500 per month. Security deposit $2500 required. References needed. Contact J Lloyd 828-298-5316

VACATION RENTALS

2-2 B&B IN BEAUTIFUL LAKE TOXAWAY CLOSE TO THE GORGES STATE PARK Unique bungalow located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Queens beds. Hot tub, sauna. Fully equipped home ready for you. $300/day or $1500/ week. Call 828-556-2253

EMPLOYMENT

PROFESSIONAL/ MANAGEMENT

MOUNTAIN HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES SEEKS COMMUNICATION & ENGAGEMENT OFFICER MHO seeks a dynamic external relations

professional. The Communications and Engagement Officer will develop and deliver innovative strategies to build awareness, grow connections, showcase impact, and inspire support. https://www.careers-page. com/mho/job/L7796Y5X

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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AFFORDABLE TV & INTER-

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BATH & SHOWER

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GOT AN UNWANTED CAR? Donate it to Patriotic Hearts. Fast free pick up. All 50 States. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans find work or start their own business. Call 24/7: 1-855402-7631 . (AAN CAN)

NEED NEW WINDOWS?

Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energy efficient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & FREE quote today. 1-877248-9944. You will be asked for the zip code of the property when connecting. (AAN CAN)

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PEST CONTROL Protect your home from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-237-1199 . (AAN CAN)

STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call now for a no obligation quote: 1-866472-8309

TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS! 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D'Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. 1-855402-7208 . (AAN CAN)

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

The following is a list of unclaimed property currently being held at the Weaverville Police Department. Electronics, personal items, tools, weapons (including firearms) and other miscellaneous items. Anyone with a legitimate claim in the listed property has 30 days from the date of publication to contact the Weaverville Police Department, M-F 9AM - 3PM, 828-645-5700 Items not claimed within 30 days will be disposed of in accordance with North Carolina General Statute.

WATER DAMAGE CLEANUP & RESTORATION A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home's value! If you have water in your home that needs to be dried, call 24/7: 1-888-290-2264 Have zip code of service location ready when you call! (AAN CAN) YOU MAY QUALIFY For disability benefits if you have are between 52-63 years old and under a doctor’s care for a health condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. Call now! 1-877-2476750 . (AAN CAN)

ACROSS

1 Disney princess who sings “A Whole New World”

8 Basic yoga position

13 Baby 43-Across

14 Died down

16 Catering to the very wealthy

17 Wimbledonwinning Williams

18 Places to hole up

19 La-di-da

21 Org. for which Anthony Fauci worked for 54 years

22 Bond yield: Abbr.

23 Big stretch

26 Hollow center?

27 Fa follower

28 Sound made by a sneaker, say?

30 Unfortunate wedding forecast

32 Soprano ___ Te Kanawa

33 Typed correspondence

35 Taqueria topping

36 Shy sorts, with a hint to the answers on this puzzle’s perimeter

39 Lab containers

41 Good thing to have in one’s eye?

42 Their proprietors may be keepers

43 Hoppers between lily pads

45 Surrounded by

49 Bit in a bar

50 Spanish title: Abbr.

51 Legal representative: Abbr.

53 Actress de Armas

54 Falcon and Stone in the G.I. Joe franchise: Abbr.

55 Pointers

57 Classic children’s novel set in the Swiss Alps

59 Washed away

61 Citizens of Dubai, e.g.

64 Fantasy author Pierce

65 On the books?

66 One of Indiana’s state symbols

67 Scented ingredient in some hand creams and shampoos DOWN

1 Covers with a glossy black varnish

2 Cops to

3 Play-fight

4 Inventor who might be described as dotty or dashing?

5 Kind

6 Once called

7 “It is,” in Ibiza

8 In conclusion 9 Falls in line

10 Roofing material

11 Contents of a kitchen drawer

12 Some prank

Said aloud

Green party?

Volunteer’s words

“Actions

“The Black ___” (1987 crime fiction best seller)

Kylo ___, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” villain

Rule of ___ (comedic principle)

June 9, 2024

- 7p Monday, June 10, 2024 10a - 7p Tuesday, June 11, 2024 10a - 7p ** Half Price Day ** Wednesday, June 12, 2024 10a - 3p ** $5 Box Day ** Books, Puzzles, Games, CDs, DVDs, Audio Books, LPs Proceeds fund scholarships for Transylvania County girls in Grades 5-12 and young women attending Blue Ridge Community College and Brevard College