Mountain Xpress 06.08.22 by Mountain Xpress

OU R 28TH Y E A R OF W E E K LY I N DE PE N DE N T N E W S, A RTS & E V E N TS FOR W E STE R N NORTH CA ROL I NA VOL . 28 NO. 45 J U N E 8 -14, 2022

C O NT E NT S

FEATURES

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NEWS

12 GREEN ROUNDUP MountainTrue turns 2022 Bioblitz into friendly competition

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10 COMING TO LIFE Local, statewide nonprofits jump-start biotech sector in WNC

PAGE 8 DRIVEN TO SUCCEED Many young people have benefited athletically and socially from the recent rise of elite travel teams in sports such as baseball, soccer and softball. But some local experts and parents are concerned the huge commitments of time and money these teams require will ultimately prove harmful to athletes and community sports programs. COVER PHOTO Michael James

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COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick 19 Q&A WITH SAFI MARTIN Hood Huggers International leader talks social justice, Blue Note Junction

22 HEALTHY COMPETITION AdventHealth, HCA and Novant Health to apply for hospital beds

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COMMENTARY

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22 WELLNESS 24 ARTS & CULTURE 32 CLUBLAND

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OPINION

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

The ‘story’ Pack Square could tell [Regarding “The Bigger Picture: Local Historians Reflect on the Vance Monument, One Year After Its Removal,” May 25, Xpress:] Lauding the obelisk removal without context won’t erase history. The “story” Councils have told locals, newcomers and tourists alike for nearly 30 years is “We’re paving paradise to install a downhill water slalom from Pritchard Park to the county jail.” First, Pritchard was paved; second, the reflection pool evaporated. Third, grass with trees and wildlife was concreted to make Pack Square “Park,” a couple metal benches too cold to sit on in winter, too hot for summer sitting, bolted down for macabre effect. The final piece in the “anywhere USA aesthetic” has concluded with the dismantling of a time capsule dressed in ancient Egyptian fashion at Pack Square, done with such haste it’s partial and in legal limbo. The “story” is: “nothing to see here,” the Chamber of Commerce brochure long hence having ceased resembling reality. Successive Councils have refused to fund an urban forester,

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C A R T O O N B Y R AN DY M O L T O N urban forest plan or grow-grants to recoup loss — concrete obviously deemed cheaper to hose down than trees cultivated to prevent flooding and preserve town character. The “story” Pack Square could tell? “We validate the obelisk’s magical geometry. We’ll reerect it without a plaque. But we’ve doubled-down: We’re proud to be a Tree City USA; we passed a Tree Protection Ordinance. Shade beneath the hearty native trees we planted around it!” — Queen Lady Passion (Dixie Deerman) High Priestess Coven Oldenwilde Asheville

The right to choose whether to be a mother A forum called Reproductive Health Care as a Human Right held

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Sunday, May 22, attracted 25 people in person at the Swannanoa Valley Friends Meetinghouse and on Zoom [avl.mx/bni]. Monroe Gilmour from Western North Carolina Citizens Ending Institutional Bigotry shared the remarkable history of monthly dialogues among Asheville citizens from opposing views on the right to end a pregnancy. This “Blue Moon” group, which met for 13 years, originated in response to violent threats against local providers of reproductive health care [avl.mx/bnj]. Gilmour also shared how, as a greeter and escort, he has witnessed verbal abuse hurled by anti-abortion protesters at patients seeking services at Planned Parenthood’s health center. Nikki Harris (director of philanthropy, Planned Parenthood WNC) lamented how the issue has become so divisive that conversations about it are hard and all too rare. Her nation-

al historical perspective focused on abortion as an underground process supported by networks of clergy, medical practitioners and women’s support groups until the public health crisis finally led to the Roe v. Wade decision. As Harris explained, abortion is and will be an ongoing reality. Will it be safe, legal and accessible? Or will it be criminalized, denying the worth of the pregnant person’s life and the right of the medically qualified professional to serve their patients’ well-being? Depending on what statistics one looks at, between 1-in-4 and 1-in-3 women end a pregnancy by abortion, with over 60% having already borne one child. Without the constitutional right affirmed in Roe v. Wade, severe restrictions on abortion can deprive many U.S. citizens of equal rights, compelling them to risk involuntarily the dangers of pregnancy and birth. Many residents who can’t afford to travel out of state for a safe ending to an unwanted pregnancy will resort instead to life-threatening, illegal procedures. Others will submit to continuing in oppressive relationships while bearing and parenting an unchosen child. From the perspective of a Quaker witness to human equality, the Swannanoa Valley Friends Meeting is concerned to respond to the current denial of the human right to choose if and when to become a mother. For details, see [avl.mx/bnl]. — Beth Keiser Swannanoa Valley Friends Meeting Peace and Social Concerns Committee Black Mountain

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JUNE 8-14, 2022

OPINION

Taking the long view Increased logging will benefit our national forests

BY SUSAN FLETCHER I am writing to provide some context on the recent cartoon by Brent Brown highlighting potential habitat loss for native bear populations (April 13 Xpress) and the public outcry that prompted the Buncombe County commissioners to officially object to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposed management plan for Pisgah and Nantahala national forests. To put things in perspective, those two forests comprise more than 1 million acres. Yet over the last decade, timber harvests have averaged about 800 acres — out of 1 million! According to the Forest Service, most of the acreage in these forests hasn’t been extensively logged in at least 70 years. In other words, these forests are middle-aged at best, and heading toward old-growth just fine on their own. Remember: All living things die. All old forests began as young forests, and so the cycle goes.

Nothing in this life is permanent, other than death and taxes. Our closed-canopy forests need better age, class and structure diversity in order to benefit native wildlife. Our pollinators are in decline, we have frequent bear encounters involving trash cans and cars, and many of our forest creatures are suffering from a lack of the edges and openings that sound forest management can create. Rest assured, the bears would prefer to browse on berries and acorns. That, however, requires active management of our forest resources rather than locking them up in parks. Brown’s cartoon shows the bears urging, “Don’t log our home,” but in fact, logging is part of the solution! We need to create healthier, more resilient forests by using our perpetual, sustainable and renewable timber resources wisely — and, much like the patchwork of a quilt, that means including varying age classes and

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stands. This is essential to prepare for the many big challenges ahead: rampant insect infestations, wildfire mitigation, carbon sequestration, recharging the water table and addressing the rise of invasive species. ALREADY PROTECTED Edith Vanderbilt sold much of what is now Pisgah National Forest to the federal government at a greatly reduced rate, urging that these forests be conserved and used wisely to honor her husband’s legacy. George W. Vanderbilt established the Biltmore Forest School, a pioneering institution dedicated to the scientific study of forestry. Accordingly, these forests were set aside to provide multiple uses: timber, water, wildlife, recreation and range. In other words, these lands are already protected. Elk have been reintroduced into Western North Carolina, but without the meadows and openings needed to support their growing population, they’re migrating to Jonathan Creek, Maggie Valley and even downtown Cherokee. And unless we actively create the habitats needed by myriad species, human encounters with wildlife will continue to rise, sometimes with problematic outcomes. Biology teaches us that everything has a carrying capacity, and it’s incumbent upon us, as citizens, to understand that these “multiple uses” are not mutually exclusive. Instead, they can often complement one another to achieve the greatest good. SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT

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Over the last 20 years, our family has had the privilege of managing the private forestlands of Pisgah View Ranch in South Hominy. During that time, we extracted more than 3 million board feet of wood products, creating brand-new revenue for the Cogburn family that has helped keep ranch operations viable. At the same time, we greatly enhanced the recreational horse trails throughout the property, established a diverse variety of habitats for many of our native wildlife species and improved overall forest resilience. We performed these operations in such a sustainable and responsible fashion that North

SUSAN FLETCHER

“All old forests began as young forests, and so the cycle goes.” Carolina is buying the 1,600-acre tract to create a new state park. While we regret losing a forestry client here in Hominy Valley, this speaks volumes about the fact that multiple uses can work together harmoniously and simultaneously benefit many interests. We’re proud that our son, John Steven Fletcher Jr., graduated from Clemson with a degree in forestry and returned to these mountains to demonstrate active, responsible forest management — for the next generation and, hopefully, long after. BALANCING USES North Carolina has been discovered, and many of our private mountain forests are now being paved and developed, never to return to growing trees and creating timber. Thanks to “buy local” and farmland preservation efforts, we’ve made progress in conserving family farms, and I would like to see that approach applied to conserving family forests. It’s the same idea, just with a much longer growing cycle. Rather than edible vegetables produced annually, our naturally regenerating hardwood forests consist of native woody perennials, but they still need active stewardship. To that end, we hope to see the public discussion of federal forestlands framed with the understanding that, as the Forest Service website explains, they “were originally envisioned as working forests with multiple objectives” — including furnishing “a continuous supply of timber” for our nation.

It’s also important to realize that a significant portion of the local receipts from Forest Service timber sales directly support local schools and roads. In places like Graham County, most of which consists of public lands, those dollars matter. In fact, quadrupling our timber harvests and opening up 60% of the forest to logging, which Brown and others lament, is not enough. Remember the math: 800 acres x 4 = 3,200 acres out of a 1 million-acre holding. And progressive, passive, hands-off policies are shortsighted, with unintended consequences. For example, a mature oak can consume hundreds of gallons of water per year — water that is then not available to municipalities — so creating young, vigorous, resilient forests in watersheds is essential to meet the needs of residents.

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FLEXIBILITY FIRST Forever is a long time, and conditions on the ground are constantly shifting. So when contemplating public land issues, I urge folks to think about flexibility on a landscape scale. Faced with the many challenges ahead, today’s land managers need all the tools available. Amid constant change, our forests desperately need intentional manipulations and disturbances. Sure, left alone, Mother Nature will reset these lands for us: But it will be done through ice storms, wildfires and catastrophic, random events. Just look at the West: It’s burning down, with dead tinder fueling massive forest fires, to the detriment of so many. Let’s have a data-driven discussion grounded in facts and metrics, rather than further inflaming a topic that’s already sensitive to the many families whose livelihoods depend on forestlands. WNC residents have many assets and are blessed with the bounty these mountains provide, but we must be mindful that they can turn into liabilities at lightning speed. It’s imperative that we create a healthy, diverse ecosystem across our forest network, and to get us there, I urge a proactive approach. To be sure, these are public lands, and I applaud the Forest Service’s efforts to be inclusive. But at some point, it needs to be able to settle in and do the work it’s charged with carrying out. Susan Fletcher hails from Raleigh, the City of Oaks, but is proudly married to a mountain native woodsman, logger, sawmiller and chipmiller who owns Pisgah Hardwood forest management company in Candler. The family also owns Canton Sawmill and Suncrest Mulch Yard in Waynesville. X MOUNTAINX.COM

JUNE 8-14, 2022

NEWS

Driven to succeed

Rise in travel teams has changed youth sports high costs — at least in theory. But not many take advantage of them. “It’s intimidating for a kid to not have a ride all the time and always be with somebody else and be away,” says Asheville’s Michael James, whose son plays travel baseball. All the coaches interviewed encourage young athletes to participate in multiple sports rather than specializing at too young an age. “It’s very important to not only play other sports, but to go to the pool and swim and fish and camp and do things with your family,” Border says. “You want to see your grandparents and all these other things that can get put on the back burner behind travel sports.” Border thinks the benefits of travel ball can be overblown, especially for kids under age 12. “They’re starting at 6 now and spending all summer going to tournaments,” he says. “And I don’t think that’s good for the development and the kids.”

BY JUSTIN McGUIRE jmcguire@mountainx.com If you have a child participating in travel sports in Western North Carolina, you’ve likely spent more than a few weekends and vacation days driving to Charlotte or Atlanta or Columbia or dozens of other destinations throughout the Southeast. You’ve slept in countless motels, spent hundreds of hours at well-manicured baseball diamonds or soccer complexes and developed social bonds with fellow parents who also have committed themselves to the road life. And you’ve likely spent thousands of dollars a year on registration fees, travel, camps, equipment and private lessons. Parents and coaches say travel sports can be an excellent experience for young athletes. In addition to providing a higher level of competition than can be found in local recreation leagues, they say, travel can help kids develop social skills, become leaders and take in cultural resources in other cities. At the same time, they admit the whole thing can be a grind. “The kids are having fun, but also when you’re playing somewhere and it’s South Carolina and it’s 90 degrees and you play five games over two days, the kids are just baked after it’s done,” says Asheville’s Sid Border, who’s been involved with travel baseball as a father and a coach. Travel teams are selective youth teams that play at an elite level in a variety of sports, including baseball, soccer, softball and lacrosse. Typically, they are run as part of a private or club sports program rather than a recreational league. Players travel long distances to participate in games, tournaments and showcase events. The youth sports market in the U.S. topped $19 billion annually before the pandemic, according to a study by Wintergreen Research. A big part of that is the rise in travel sports operations and associated tournaments and showcase events over the last two decades. “The travel sports, I think, have grown so much in popularity because those kids that are interested in playing for their high school team, interested in playing in college, they really have to work out through that system to train with kids of a similar level to reach those aspirations,” says Adam Payne, a parent who coaches a girls 8

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WHY TRAVEL?

FUN IN THE SUN: Henry James is a member of the Asheville Bears travel baseball team. “My goal is for my kids to be good community members and have enough fun that they want to play again the next season,” says his dad, Michael James. Photo courtesy of Michael James soccer travel team through Carolina Football Club Hendersonville. TAKING A TOLL But some observers bemoan the proliferation of for-profit travel sports, which they say tend to hurt family cohesiveness, put physical and psychological strain on kids and devastate community-based recreation programs. “A lot of people are traveling long distances just to participate in these games and tournaments, which in itself takes a huge toll on these kids,” says Joshua Vadeboncoeur, an adjunct instructor of sports management at UNC Asheville. “At that point, it’s not just a matter of going

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to the ballpark after school a few times a week. Now it’s basically a full-time job for them, especially over the summer months when a lot of these tournaments take place.” Additionally, he says, the huge costs associated with travel sports mean the system tends to favor families that have financial means and flexible work schedules. Parents and coaches are aware of such concerns, and they help out folks who can’t travel on weekends due to their jobs or other commitments by giving their kids rides to tournaments. Coaches try to schedule events so that time in the car is minimized. And some travel organizations have scholarships available for athletes whose parents can’t afford the

So what motivates kids — and parents — to dedicate their lives and weekends to travel sports? While some parents have visions of their child becoming the next Alex Morgan or Mike Trout, most have more realistic goals. “The parents want the kids to be successful, the kids want to be successful, everybody wants to be good at something,” James says. “I think that people, at least the people that I know in our peer group, don’t see the grand illusion of making it in the major leagues. I think they know that with baseball, it’s really tough.” Payne says simply making the middle school or high school team is enough motivation for most. The Hendersonville-based girls soccer team he coaches has played roughly 130 games together over the last four years. A player competing only in a rec league, on the other hand, may have played something like 30 games in that stretch. When it comes time for school tryouts, the difference readily becomes apparent. Border says many families choose to participate in travel sports out of a fear of missing out. “They’re told if they’re not specializing, they’re going to get left behind, they’re just not going to keep up with the other kids that are playing all the time,” he says.

SOCIAL BENEFITS For all the challenges travel presents, many say it provides a positive social experience for the athletes and their parents, who form friendships with the other adults. “We’ve all been doing this together for so long that we don’t consider it a burden,” says Bob Clausen, who’s been involved with the Asheville Inline Hockey League for about 20 years. “We’re so tightknit and we’re so small that we consider it more of a vacation ourselves to get out of town and run off for the weekend and hang out with our buddies.” He says his teams often will take over the dining area of a hotel in the evenings, order several pizzas and have a pizza party. “The kids all hang out and the parents all hang out. It’s actually great camaraderie.” James agrees that many young people enjoy the travel experience. “It’s a focused scenario where your family and friends are together, it’s all baseball, and then you have an opportunity to win, essentially right to the end,” he says. “It has been nice that they can continue to play together year after year and get to know each other and know the families. They get to have these longer-term relationships.” Payne says players who participate in travel teams learn skills that will put them in a good position to be successful on their school teams and be leaders on those teams. “Not just in terms of ability, but understanding the game, being able to help the other players,” he says. REC LEAGUES HURTING For James, nothing beats the scene at North Asheville Little League’s Weaver Park on a Friday night. “With the lights and the neighbors coming down to watch the game and the kids running around the path, it’s amazing,” he says. “That community part, that’s what travel doesn’t quite have because you’re in some big manufactured complex.” But the long-term viability of such community-based programs is in question, in part because travel teams take away the best players. “This is hurting the everyday average child who just wants to have fun and participate in sport,” says UNCA’s Vadeboncoeur. Border’s son plays in North Asheville Little League, which he says has stayed fairly strong even as many other Little League programs have suffered dwindling numbers. But for many of the more talented kids, the league is an afterthought. “They show up when they don’t have the travel, but some of them don’t ever

ROAD WARRIORS: The Asheville Bears travel baseball team was formed out of a group of North Asheville Little League All-Stars. “The impetus was to keep that group together and allow them to play together and get more experience as a unit,” says Michael James, whose son plays for the Bears. Photo courtesy of James pitch or do certain positions because it’s just not the priority,” he says. Some travel coaches actively discourage their players from participating, he says. “The fact that it [travel] hurts a lot of these Little League or local rec leagues is something that I really wish wasn’t happening,” he says. REC LEAGUES REACT Wayne Simmons, program and operations manager for Asheville Parks and Recreation, agrees the rise of travel teams has created challenges for rec leagues. For instance, scheduling games can be difficult in sports like baseball because some of the better players aren’t available on Saturdays. And, he says, many travel players simply choose not to participate at

all. In some cases, that’s because parents think travel coaches are better equipped to help players improve than volunteer coaches. As a result, Simmons says, many rec leagues are running clinics and short-term programs designed to help players get better. Asheville Parks and Rec did weekly clinics for basketball players this past season and may do the same for other sports. “The idea is to allow them to continue to get some additional development time outside of that traditional league format of one practice and a game a week,” Simmons says. “Kids really get to work on their fundamentals and not always be in that competitive venue.” Players who were able to participate in the clinics regularly showed improvement, he says.

Also, the department is committed to giving volunteer coaches support, education and resources so they can run effective practices. Simmons thinks travel sports have a place in the community, especially for young athletes who develop quickly and show great promise. But he cautions parents to be aware of the effects travel commitments can have. “Let the kids drive that interest and that desire rather than having it forced on them.” James agrees the best thing about travel teams is that they give families of talented athletes options if they want to develop their skills against elite competition. “How healthy it is and everything I think is obviously up to each family,” he says. X

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NEWS

Coming to life

Local, statewide nonprofits jump-start biotech sector in WNC

BY COURTNEY KELLY hello@courtneykellywrites.com The lion’s share of resources for North Carolina’s biotech startups has historically gone to firms located in or around Research Triangle Park. With three major research universities, multiple hospital systems and quite a few large tech companies, the Raleigh-Durham area has serious biotech muscle. But for many of Western North Carolina’s entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders, that’s no reason the region should sit on the sidelines. Local life science companies recently received a significant boost through the NC Bioneer Venture Challenge, a competition designed to seed biotechnology innovation across the state. Sponsored by the N.C. Biotechnology Center and supported by nonprofit partners such as WNC-based Venture Asheville and Hatch Innovation Hub, the program gave three finalists in each region business mentoring, market research

FOLLOWING THEIR NOSES: Olfax Medical team members, from left, Bill Early, Jonathan Beckwith and Dr. Jason Cook, worked with mentors, continuing left, Susan Clark and Chris Buehler to develop the pitch that made them NC Bioneer regional winners. Jonathan Snover, kneeling, is the executive director of N.C. Biotechnology’s western region. Photo by Brenden Almand assistance and networking opportunities while they refined pitches for a panel of judges. On May 26, Olfax Medical was named the western region’s winner, earning the company $20,000 and the chance to compete against four other firms from across the state for more capital. WNC’s two other finalists, Tyrus LLC and GreenLifeTech, received $10,000 each. “The dollars awarded to Bioneer finalists were significant, as was the exposure, connectivity and guidance they received,” says Jonathan Snover, executive director of the N.C. Biotechnology Center’s western office. Currently working out of the Hatch Innovation Hub campus in downtown Asheville, Snover has been involved in WNC’s science and technology spheres since 2005. He’s confident that this region has the makings of a thriving life science sector, as long as those elements can be integrated and funded. 10

JUNE 8-14, 2022

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That 13 startups registered for Bioneer in WNC — the second-most among the five regions and just one shy of RTP — lends support to Snover’s confidence. “That’s a really great indicator of WNC’s ability to grow in this space,” says Jeffrey Kaplan, director of Venture Asheville. “We’ve already got innovators here; we’ve got business development support and funding to meet founders’ needs at every stage of their development. We’re a great place to build a life science company.” CATALYZING GROWTH In addition to nonprofits such as Venture Asheville and Hatch, which focus on assisting area startups, WNC’s business support ecosystem includes organizations like Dogwood Health Trust and the Pisgah Fund that focus on funding health-related initiatives. “The startup landscape

here is very reflective of our geography,” says Kaplan. “It’s resource rich but can be hard to navigate.” Building a biotech company means facing the usual startup challenges while developing cutting-edge technology and navigating rigorous regulatory processes. It’s a multilayered task requiring lots of support, Snover says. By fostering partnership among multiple nonprofits, he continues, the Bioneer program streamlines biotech founders’ access to resources, thereby improving their chances of entrepreneurial success. For Bruce Roesner, co-founder and president of GreenLifeTech, the guidance he received in clarifying his company’s message was especially helpful. “Being an engineer, I don’t always know how to explain what we’re doing in a relatable way,” he says. “Our Hatch and Venture Asheville mentors had a lot of background in marketing, sales, etc., and they’ve supported us in communi-

SNAPSHOT cating the benefits of our technology effectively so we can attract the customers we want to help.” Dr. Richard Massen, a physician and founder of Tyrus, appreciated the guidance and networking components of the program. “The biomedical world is fairly complex,” he said, “and my mentorship team advised me in taking steps — like forming strategic partnerships — that’ll enable my company to succeed within it.” MADE IN WNC “Asheville doesn’t have to follow the same blueprint as other regions,” says Jonathan Beckwith, an engineer and CEO of WNC Bioneer winner Olfax Medical. “A lot of times, folks believe life science technologies must emerge from areas focused on research; we could carve out a niche for ourselves in practical solutions to everyday problems.” That approach holds true for the region’s Bioneer finalists. Beckwith, along with Olfax founder Dr. Jason Cook, is developing nasally administered therapeutics for patients with neurological conditions such as migraines. GreenLifeTech has developed a produce-preservation solution designed to reduce food waste around the world, with its first product, a countertop household unit, available early next year. And Tyrus is using 3D printing technology to improve outcomes for ventral hernia repair patients while cutting down on the procedure’s complexity and cost. Two of the finalists are medical technology firms, a fact that Beckwith doesn’t see as coincidence. As of May 2021, health care practitioners such as doctors and nurses accounted for roughly 8.5% of Asheville’s workforce, representing a deep pool of potential talent. “Throughout my career, I’ve learned that wherever there are clinicians, there are ideas and innovation,” says Beckwith.

BIOTECH BENEFITS Kaplan envisions a symbiotic future for WNC and its life science companies. From a financial perspective, he points out, investors are eager to invest in biotech firms, which could bring better wages and more capital to the region. The establishment of a local biotech scene could also help attract larger firms to the area, says Snover. This would boost the number of high-quality jobs available to WNC residents, diversify the economy and incentivize local talent to stay in the mountains. What’s more, life science companies founded by residents in tune with WNC’s unique needs are positioned to create technologies that make positive impacts on their neighbors’ lives. Cook’s development of the Olfax treatment system, for example, emerged from his work for the National Health Service Corps in a rural WNC clinic. The particular set of barriers encumbering his patients there — lack of insurance, lack of broadband internet access, lack of options for care — meant that many suffering from migraines were not getting the treatment they needed. Some were being prescribed medications, such as opioids, with dangerous side effects. “To provide a rapid, nonaddictive treatment on the go — this would not only dramatically improve the lives of patients like Dr. Cook’s, but it could help countless people around the world,” says Beckwith. And while Roesner built GreenLifeTech to address global issues of food waste and food insecurity, he’s committed to ensuring the company benefits his community at home. “Two percent of our product will be going to nonprofit organizations like food banks, kitchens and so on,” he said. “We’ve also made it a priority to donate revenue from our business to local charities, and we intend to keep that up in perpetuity.” X

GETTING ORGANIZED: About 50 people, including Moog Music employees, former employees and supporters, gathered outside the Moog Music factory June 1 for a rally in support of Moog workers joining the Asheville-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 238. Photo by Jessica Wakeman

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MountainTrue turns 2022 Bioblitz into friendly competition Aspiring Western North Carolina naturalists have the chance to earn some bragging rights through the 2022 Bioblitz hosted by Asheville-based nonprofit MountainTrue. Through Sunday, June 19, residents of Clay, Henderson, Madison and Watauga counties can compete for the title of “County Champion of Biodiversity” by submitting photographic observations of plants, animals and fungi through iNaturalist.org. The county that provides observations of the most unique species will receive the overall crown, and individual participants can earn prizes for submitting the best observation of each week. More information and registration are available at avl.mx/bn1. “By expanding the blitz to four counties and making a game of it, we hope to be able to engage more people and find more species,” said MountainTrue public lands biologist Josh Kelly in a press release announcing the competition. “We might even find some that have never been recorded in our region.” 2022 marks the third year of MountainTrue conducting its Bioblitz on the iNaturalist platform. Last year, participants submitted 2,890 observations of 1,643 unique species.

Chamber research highlights impact of WNC’s outdoor economy Full parking lots at trailheads and mountain biking spots throughout WNC are obvious signs of the area’s

HIDE AND SEEK: Olivia Votava handles a ringneck snake during MountainTrue’s 2019 Bioblitz. Photo courtesy of MountainTrue vibrant outdoor recreation industry. But recently released numbers from Riverbird Research, a division of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, have added some data to support those anecdotal observations. Across 18 WNC counties, the outdoor economy accounted for over 10,000 jobs in 2020 and generated over $773 million in gross regional product. The sector grew by 9% in the region from 2015-20, outpacing its statewide growth rate of 5%. In comparison, according to Riverbird, the country as a whole lost 1% of its outdoor economy jobs over the same period. Researchers also found that WNC now hosts 70%

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more such jobs per capita than the national average. “Capitalizing on our research capabilities to conduct analyses like this puts weight behind what we all collectively think we know about how this industry has grown,” said Clark Duncan, the chamber’s senior vice president of economic development, in a press release announcing the numbers. “These kinds of studies build on our knowledge and can help identify issues the industry might face in infrastructure, technology or knowledge. They also reveal synergy for further economic development and can inform advocacy initiatives.” A recording of Duncan’s May 19 presentation to chamber members about the data is available at avl.mx/bn6.

Good to know • MountainTrue’s Swim Guide is back for the summer recreation season. The nonprofit’s weekly updates, available at SwimGuide. org and via an app for Android and Apple phones, list E. coli levels for over 85 locations throughout WNC, northeastern Tennessee and north Georgia. Federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines say that bacterial concentrations should be less than 235 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters in designated swimming areas.

• RiverLink has released an updated version of its WaterRICH Guide, an online resource for residents interested in water management. The site includes a list of native plants for rain gardens, rain barrel installation instructions and details on constructing stormwater control measures. More information is available at avl.mx/bmg. • The Blue Ridge Parkway is officially back in business, with all campgrounds, picnic areas and visitor centers fully open as of Memorial Day. Parkway officials encourage travelers to check for intermittent road and facility closures at avl.mx/7tw before visiting — and to have backup plans in case parking is unavailable at a specific trailhead. • The U.S. Forest Service is now requiring all overnight visitors to the Panthertown Valley in the Nantahala National Forest to lock food and scented items in a bear canister or locker. According to a USFS press release, bears in the area have shown “bold behavior over food in the past several years,” including damaging tents and lingering near campsites. More information on bear safety is available at BearWise.org. • Library cardholders across nine area counties, including Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison, can now check out free passes to the WNC Nature Center. Each pass

SNAPSHOT admits up to two adults and four children. More information is available through local branch libraries. • Asheville Parks & Recreation has a full slate of activities planned throughout the summer, as listed in the department’s program guide at avl.mx/bmz. Outdoor offerings include bird-watching, skate nights at Carrier Park and adult volleyball leagues. Guides are available online and at all city community centers.

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Save the date • Asheville-based author Laura Lengnick releases the second edition of Resilient Agriculture: Cultivating Food Systems for a Changing Climate Tuesday, June 14. The new version includes updated data on regional weather patterns and additional stories of climate-smart food production, including Fairview’s Hickory Nut Gap Farm. More information and book preorders are available at avl.mx/bme. • As part of its summer gardening series, the Organic Growers School hosts a workshop on integrated pest management at Smith Mill Works in Asheville 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 14. Clay County Extension Director Lisa Gonzalez will guide participants through ecosystem-based strategies to reduce insect damage on crops. More information and registration are available at avl.mx/bmh. • The Astronomy Club of Asheville hosts a public stargaze at Madison County’s Grassland Mountain Observatory starting at sunset Friday, June 17. A gate code for the observatory, required for entry, will be posted to AstroAsheville.org by 5 p.m. the day of the event. • Buncombe County’s Lake Julian Park opens to camping for one night Saturday, June 25, as part of the Great American Campout. Participants can enjoy a campfire with s’mores, a birding excursion and meals provided by Buncombe County Parks and Recreation. More information and registration are available at avl.mx/bm9.

Community kudos • The Lab Rats, a group of students from Buncombe County’s Nesbitt Discovery Academy, earned first place in the oral presentation category at the NC Envirothon. The winning team consisted of Catie Banks, Zane Moore, Sadie Moore, Piper Sales and Sydney Selmensberger. • New Belgium Brewing completed a major expansion of the solar

•

energy system at its River Arts District brewery. At 446 kilowatts, the project more than doubles New Belgium’s previous solar capacity across its locations in Asheville and Fort Collins, Colo. The company also announced plans to install a 503-kW solar array at its East Coast distribution center in Enka. The Community Foundation of WNC’s Pigeon River Fund awarded over $234,000 in grants to area organizations working to improve water quality. Major gifts include $45,000 to the Haywood County Soil and Water Conservation District to develop a flood mitigation plan for the Upper Pigeon River and Hominy Creek areas, as well as $30,000 to Asheville GreenWorks to expand its French Broad River Litter Prevention Program. CFWNC also awarded $105,000 to local nonprofits focused on food and farming. The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project received $80,000 for its Farm Fresh for Health wellness program, while the Organic Growers School got $25,000 to provide education and mentoring for early-career farmers. The Asheville-based nonprofit Bountiful Cities Project received a $40,000 grant from the CFWNC’s Women for Women Giving Circle. The funds will support an urban agriculture program targeted toward “apprentices of color and those with low generational wealth.” The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy accepted a 63-acre conservation easement from Leonard Wiener in Ballard Cove near Weaverville. The property will protect mountain slopes and several streams that flow into Reems Creek.

CONCERNS ABOUT CARE: Hannah Drummond, a registered nurse in Mission Health’s emergency department and the hospital’s chief nurse representative for National Nurses United, speaks at a rally outside the hospital on Thursday, June 2. Drummond and about 40 supporters are asking Mission Health management to lower the patient-to-nurse ratio at the hospital and require meal breaks during shifts. Photo by Jessica Wakeman

Making moves • The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services named Sean McKeon as the manager of the WNC Agricultural Center and Mountain State Fair. He replaces Matt Buchanan, who retired earlier this year. • Toral Patel-Weynand is the new director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Research Station in Asheville. Her previous work has focused on forest management science and climate adaptation in forests and rangelands. • Asheville’s David Huff joined the nonprofit Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s Council of Advisors. Huff is a conservation photographer and founder of the Peak 1 Group, a consulting practice.

— Daniel Walton X MOUNTAINX.COM

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Ten things to know about Asheville’s proposed budget Residents of Asheville have done a lot of listening about the city’s budget for fiscal year 2022-23. Since February, City Council has held three work sessions, a retreat and a presentation from City Manager Debra Campbell on the spending plan, none of which have allowed public comment. Come Tuesday, June 14, it’s the public’s turn to talk. Council will hold a hearing on Campbell’s proposed budget during its 5 p.m. regular meeting; a final vote on approving the document is expected for Tuesday, June 28. In anticipation of that hearing, Xpress has pulled 10 noteworthy takeaways from the proposed budget. The complete budget document is available online at avl.mx/bnr. • Phantom police. The Asheville Police Department’s budget lists a headcount of 269 positions and projects spending over $24.1 million in salaries and benefits. However, as confirmed by city spokesperson Kim Miller, the APD expects about 40 of those 269 positions to remain vacant over the next fiscal year — and funding for those officers is not included in the budget. Staffing the department to its listed strength, she said, would cost about $2.7 million beyond the currently requested allocation. • Waiting on buses. Asheville continues to delay implementation of the Transit Master Plan, a scheme for expanding the city’s bus system approved by Council in 2018. Campbell cited “operational challenges created by the driver shortage and the financial impact of lower parking-fund support” as reasons for not moving forward with changes that had originally been scheduled for October 2021. The proposed budget for the Transit Services has also been cut by over $430,000 from fiscal 2021-22 levels, primarily due to a reduced subsidy from the Parking Services fund. (The city lost roughly $800,000 in parking revenue this fiscal year due to malfunctioning equipment at its parking decks.) • Reduced reparations. The budget allocates $365,000 to the city’s community reparations effort, an amount meant to replace the money already spent on consulting firm TEQuity to oversee the program. The sum is significantly less than the $1.2 million Campbell proposed in her recommended fiscal year 2021-22 budget or the $2.1 million Council eventually allocated using proceeds from the sale of cityowned land. Buncombe County has

CITY’S HAUL: Asheville city government expects to take in over $120 million in property and sales taxes for fiscal year 2022-23, which will power the bulk of roughly $158 million in projected general fund spending. Photo by Jennifer Castillo proposed spending $2 million on reparations in its own fiscal 202223 budget. • Getting on track. Council unanimously approved a six-lane track for Memorial Stadium at the request of the historically Black East End/Valley Street neighborhood March 22, but members didn’t specify how the city should pay for it. Campbell’s budget calls for $2.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to support much of the work, an approach Council member Sage Turner opposed during an April 12 work session. • A new department. Asheville has created a new division of city government, the Community & Regional Entertainment Facilities Department, to oversee flagship facilities such as the WNC Nature Center and John B. Lewis Soccer Complex. The department has a proposed budget of over $2.26 million and includes 18.5 positions; Miller says the workers and budget were drawn from the city’s Parks & Recreation and Community & Economic Development departments. • Homelessness help. A new “homeless strategy project specialist” position, to be added at an estimated annual cost of $92,000, will help the city address its growing homeless population. The budget also includes $50,000 in recurring funds for Code Purple winter shelter; until now, support for the program has come from grants or affordable housing bond proceeds.

• Partnership grants are back. After suspending the grant process this fiscal year, the city plans to resume making awards from its Strategic Partnership Funds. A total of $711,000 will be available for grants to community partners, including $469,000 in previously unspent money and $242,000 in newly allocated funds. According to the budget document, the new process will have a “specific focus on outcomes to close the opportunity gap.” • Research paper. The budget includes funding for several studies to inform Asheville’s future work. The largest such allocation puts $375,000 toward a new study of gender and racial disparities in city contracting. Another $85,000 will support research into “missing middle” housing, such as townhomes and duplexes, and rec-

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ommended policy changes to encourage its construction. And $60,000 will pay for an update to the Housing Needs Assessment, better known as the Bowen Report. • Someday online. The Finance & Management Services Department has requested $50,000 to create a “web-based budget document” that would make the city’s financial information more accessible. If the money is approved, says Miller, the department hopes to have the resource available sometime during the upcoming fiscal year. (Buncombe County has a robust online budget explorer, available at avl.mx/9hc.) • Who’s watching? The city organizational chart accompanying the budget notes that Asheville’s Internal Audit Department, tasked with ensuring the integrity of the government’s financial operations, has no director. Patricia Rosenberg, who previously held that position, left the city in October.

— Daniel Walton X

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Planning and Zoning Commission recommends plan for Asheville greenways, sidewalks Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend a plan for improving multimodal connectivity in Asheville at its meeting June 1. The 254-page Close the GAP proposal collates plans for greenways, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and pedestrian infrastructure into a single guiding document. As presented by Lucy Crown, the city’s greenways program planner, Close the GAP combines a proposed map of greenway and pedestrian networks with updates to city policies and design standards. Asheville City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal Tuesday, July 26. The greenways portion of the plan focuses on the creation of new greenways and natural-surface trails. It defines different types of greenways, with smaller neighborhood greenways and “arterials” like the Reed Creek Greenway feeding into high-capacity “spines” like the Wilma Dykeman Greenway in the River Arts District, and creates guidelines for the larger paths such as lighting and size requirements. The plan also includes networks of natural-surface trails on public land in the city that would be built in collaboration with nonprofit partners such as Asheville on Bikes, the Pisgah Area SORBA and Connect Buncombe. The ADA transition plan identifies accessibility improvements needed for existing infrastructure, such as adding curb ramps for wheelchair users and audible street crossing signals for people with limited vision. And the pedestrian plan identifies gaps in the sidewalk network, with top city priorities including Lexington Avenue, Hilliard Avenue and Deaverview Road. Close the GAP also includes recommendations for changes to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance and the Asheville Standards Specifications and Details Manual. Many changes fall under Chapter 7 of the UDO, which concerns development; examples include designating a specific member of the Technical Review Committee to review ADA compliance and strengthening requirements for developers to add sidewalks when building new projects. Commissioner Geoffrey Barton clarified that those changes were only recommendations and would not yet commit the city to action. If the plan were adopted by Council, city 16

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P&Z hears sustainability update

THE WEB WE WEAVE: Asheville’s Close the GAP plan envisions a network of greenways and pedestrian infrastructure connecting the whole city. Graphic courtesy of the city of Asheville staff would craft specific language to change the UDO and ASSDM that would be approved separately. Crown said some changes could happen within six months to a year of the plan’s adoption, but more substantive tweaks would likely take longer. Barton also asked about funding sources for the proposed ADA improvements. He pointed out that the plan estimates a cost of $122 million for its outlined accessibility upgrades, with the implementation schedule and approximate annual budgets for that work all to be determined. “I do want to make sure that accessibility doesn’t get overlooked,” Barton said. “It’s easy, when put-

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ting together funding applications, [to focus on] greenways. You know, they’re exciting; they have a tourism overlap. But the accessibility piece is extremely important.” Crown said that Asheville currently has dedicated $150,000 in recurring annual funds to those upgrades. She pointed out that many ADA compliance projects are completed as part of resurfacing projects and that the exact amount required hasn’t been calculated yet. The city is hoping to create a 35-year implementation schedule with identified funding for ADA improvements. The full Close the GAP draft is available online at avl.mx/bno.

Commissioners also heard a presentation from Bridget Herring, the city’s sustainability director. The commission had decided during a retreat earlier this year that it would like to hear more presentations from other city departments about their work and its relationship to planning and zoning. Herring said her office has recently been focusing on the city’s Climate Justice Initiative, a goal of using 100% renewable energy sources for city buildings by 2030 and a new program called Save the Food AVL, which allows residents to drop off food waste to be used for compost. The department is also working on updating the city’s Sustainability Management Plan into a Municipal Climate Action Plan. The latter document, passed in 2009, does not reflect many of the resolutions since updated or passed by the city, including its 2020 climate emergency declaration. Although a 2021 document developed by AECOM, a consultant hired by Asheville to assist with the work, said the Municipal Climate Action Plan would be completed by January 2022, Herring told commissioners that it is now expected to be published in the coming winter. Commission Chair Joe Archibald asked if there was anything that could be added to zoning requirements to make an impact on sustainability. Herring suggested expanding the benefits table that is currently used for hotels to other zoning districts. That program allows hotels to gain automatic approval from city staff if they meet certain criteria, such as certifying construction under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program or including solar energy production. Asheville is limited by state law regarding what it can require through zoning, Herring continued, so having a benefits table is a good way to encourage sustainability in new developments. Todd Okolichany, the city’s director of planning and urban design, said he had heard similar recommendations from members of City Council and would be pursuing the work over the next fiscal year. Herring’s full presentation is available online at avl.mx/bnp.

— Nikki Gensert X

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Q&A: Safi Martin on gardening, social justice and life as an introvert As a child, Safi Martin dreamed of becoming a country singer after hearing Patsy Cline. But reality soon dashed the fantasy. “I’m a nervous [person],” says Martin, chief operations officer of Hood Huggers International. “I don’t like being in front of crap.” Martin grew up in rural North Carolina, just 30 minutes outside Winston-Salem. Her mother took Martin and her siblings on daytrips to WNC, and that’s where Martin discovered her love of the mountains. She later attended Western Carolina University and went on to become a public school teacher before transitioning to work with young people on the autism spectrum. After settling in Asheville in 1995, she moved into behavioral health, working with teenagers with severe emotional disturbances in a residential treatment facility. While there, Martin began to combine her passion for gardening with her profession of healing — a notion that later helped inspire the idea for the Peace Gardens, a central part of Hood Huggers International. When DeWayne Barton, her husband and the company’s CEO, built enough financial support to launch a youth program in the community, Martin moved into her current full-time role as COO. Xpress spoke with Martin about her behind-the-scenes work with the organization and Blue Note Junction — a new project the couple are developing that will teach people in historically marginalized communities how to launch and develop their own businesses. This interview has been lightly edited and condensed. What do your day-to-day duties look like? I work really closely with our garden manager to make sure the garden things are happening. We have a social media and communications person, too; DeWayne and I both work really closely with her, strategizing how we run the business together. I do a lot of the operational things behind the scenes. I’m human resources, and I handle payroll. I also make sure that we’re meeting all the deadlines. I work with our accountant, I work with our attorneys — all the things that happen behind the scenes that people don’t necessarily think about when they think about a fun and cool and exciting business. I try to take care of those things.

INTROVERTS: Safi Martin, right, who operates Hood Huggers International with her husband, DeWayne Barton, left, says that while both are introverts, their varying skill sets complement each other in other in ways that help them effectively run their growing enterprise. Photo by Jay Hill What do you like best about this role? I get bored if I do the same thing too much, so my role is incredibly diverse. I might be in the garden one day. I might be talking with the accountant and strategizing about business the next. Talking to schools who want to do tours and creating relationships with other organizations that serve young people is also part of my role. Sometimes I get overwhelmed, but I never get bored. What is one task you perform that might surprise readers? One of the things we do every year is this big plant sale. It would probably surprise folks to know that I physically seed, transplant and pot probably 85%90% of the plants. That’s my therapy. Is that why you love gardens and gardening? My family struggled with paying the bills, but we never struggled with food security because we grew our own food. I want to give everybody else that opportunity as well. In an urban setting, it’s even more important that we can lift people to grow their own food. There’s not a cash register at the end of the row, you know? It creates a sense of empowerment, and I think growing our own food is healthier as well. What would you say are the different approaches to operating the business between you and DeWayne, especially since you seem more of an introvert while he’s an extrovert?

Believe it or not, we’re both more introverts than extroverts. The biggest difference between us is more about how our minds work. He’s a visionary with big picture ideas and the ability to see how things do and can fit together or manifest. He also has the talent to convey that vision to others in a way that inspires and motivates. I’m the detail person. I take that vision and dig into the nitty-gritty details of how to make it happen. I’m the one who builds the systems behind the scenes, develops the spreadsheets, writes the grants, etc. Tell me more about your latest initiative: Blue Note Junction. We have been working on this project for the past 11 years. Our com-

munity, and particularly the historically marginalized African American neighborhoods, are in need of investment because there’s been so much disinvestment over time. We think the way to build community — and especially to build individuals and wealth and health — is to teach people how to grow their own business. We want to help people avoid the pitfalls, teach them tricks and tips of the trade and help lift people to run their own businesses. Lifting people and giving them the power to make their own decisions to learn from their mistakes — it grows parts of you that you didn’t know you had. It’s just really a beautiful process. A friend of ours invited us over to sit in their hot tub. Afterward, DeWayne and I were talking, and he was like, “I’ve never done that before. That was such an incredibly relaxing experience.” Doesn’t it make sense for the people who walk through life with the most stress — stress that they don’t create for themselves [but are subjected to through] poverty, racism, whatever the case may be — doesn’t it make sense for those people to have more access to stress-reducing activities rather than less? Speaking of relaxing, how do you unwind? The thing that I do the most is right outside my back door. I love to plant flowers and work in the gardens. I get a lot of joy from that. DeWayne and I both enjoy riding bikes, particularly now that the Wilma Dykeman Riverway is operational. We can ride our bikes from Smoky Park Supper Club all the way around along the river to Hominy Creek Greenway and back into West Asheville. We love art and live music. Whenever I get a chance, I sneak out into the beautiful forests around us and look at wildflowers and waterfalls. To learn more about Blue Note Junction, visit avl.mx/bli.

— LA Bourgeois X

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Online Events = Shaded WELLNESS Waves On The Edge, LGBTQ Sweat Your Prayers Safe space for Queer people to move. No dance experience required, sliding scale. SA (6/11), 9:30am, Haw Creek Commons, 315 Old Haw Creek Rd Goat Yoga at the Breweries Breathe, move, play and drink beer. SA (6/11), 11am & 12:15pm, $35, Whistle Hop Brewing Co., 1288 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview Men's Cancer Support Group Safely meet in a large conference room and stay socially distant while wearing masks. Proof of covid vaccination or professional test results within 72 hours are also required. RSVP to Will (412)913-0272 or acwein123@gmail.com. WE (6/15), 6pm, Woodfin YMCA, 40 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 101 Sparkle Time Holistic Senior Exercise Aerobic, strengthening, balance and flexibility. Proof of vaccines required. Every Monday and Wednesday. 10:30am, Avery’s Creek Community Center, 899 Glennbridge Rd SE Arden

ART Home and the Journey There: a collection and exhibition of Augmented Reality artworks by Asheville artist Jaime Byrd An immersive art experience combining paintings and AR by multimedia artist Jaime Byrd, inspired by her six year nomadic travels around the globe. Daily through July 31. Trackside Studios, 375 Depot St Rise: Carolina Lebar A solo exhibit of original works by Colombia-born WNC resident; in graphite, watercolor, and oil. Through July 31, daily except Wednesdays. Art Garden AVL, 191 Lyman St, Ste 316 Nature and Nurture: The Voorhees Family Artistic Legacy This multi-generational, multi-media exhibit displays paintings, pottery and jewelry from seven members of the Voorhees family,

connecting people with plants through artistic vision and skill. Daily through Sept. 5. NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way Clay Day Experience a variety of clay processes and techniques through demonstrations and hands-on activities for children and adults. SA (6/11), 10am, Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Parkway All & Sundry Oil Painting Exhibit Opening Reception Meet the artist, Asheville-based Sarah Ross. Exhibit daily through July 30. SA (6/11), 6pm, Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 850 Blue Ridge Rd, Black Mountain

COMMUNITY MUSIC Weston Olencki and Laura Steenberge Musician, composer, and sound artist and composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist at the crossroads of music and language. TH (6/9), 7pm, Free, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St Music on Main: Box Set Entertainment The inaugural event for the summer series, with disco to funk, rock and pop. In conjunction wth a classic car show by Carolina Mountain Car Club. FR (6/10), 5:30pm, Free, Historic Downtown Hendersonville Concerts on the Creek w/Maggie Valley Band “Dark Appalachian” music with Whitney MIller on vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, banjitar and Caroline Miller on vocals, bass, percussion. The concert series is organized and produced by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Sylva and the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department, every Friday through Labor Day. FR (6/10), 7pm, Bridge Park, 76 Railroad Ave, Sylva Folkmoot Live! Mountain Memories: A Tribute to Bobby McMillon Features traditional Appalachian ballads, stories and music with renowned artists and

JUNE 8-14, 2022

friends of legendary folklorist McMillon, Sheila Kay Adams and William Ritter. SA (6/10), 7pm, Queen Auditorium, 112 Virginia Ave, Waynesville What's Shaking? Music and Dance Party A class for young folks to learn through performance. Ryan Glass, aka Mr. Ryan, will edu-tain with rhythm games, sing-alongs, and dancing. SA (6/11), 10am, Home Ground Coffee Bar & Deli, 219 Amboy Rd Micro-Fest Music Series: 2nd Saturdays Live Live music in a 300-seat amphitheater tucked into Pisgah National Forest with Ecusta Brewing, food trucks, and craft vendors on site. This month, "Cabaret Boogie" will feature Crystal Bright and The Silver Hands, the Screaming Js, plus a local songwriter. SA (6/11), 7pm, Pilot Cove Amphitheater, 319 Gateway Junction Dr, Pisgah Forest BMC Presents: Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience Showcasing Gillespie's love of world music, inspired by music from Spanish, Cuban, Caribbean, Brazilian, Argentinian and African cultures. SA (6/11), 7:30pm, $35, Porter Center, 1 Brevard College Dr, Brevard Live Jazz Hour Host and composer Michael Jefry Stevens will be joined by musician friends once a month for a live performance, sponsored by the Friends of Enka-Candler Library. TH (6/16), 6pm, Free, Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Rd, Candler Park Rhythms with Vaden Landers Featuring a food truck and onsite t-shirt printing by Grift Town Goods. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket. TH (6/16), 7pm, Black Mountain Veterans Park, 10 Veterans Park Dr, Black Mountain An Evening of Classical Guitar Classical guitarist Adam Holzman takes center stage alongside lyrical guitarists Bruce Holzman and Andrew Zohn. TH (6/16), 7:30pm, $25, Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Lane, Brevard

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD Discussion Bound Book Club A monthly discussion about readings that relate to artworks and the art world. Participants will discuss Chalk:

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GET FIRED UP: The Southern Highland Craft Guild’s annual Clay Day takes place Saturday, June 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., on the grassy hill behind the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors to the event will experience a variety of clay processes and techniques through demonstrations and hands-on activities for children and adults. Photo of potter Larry Allen’s hands as he is “wheel throwing,” courtesy of Southern Highland Craft Guild The Art and Erasure of Cy Twombly by Joshua Rivkin. WE (6/8), 12pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Kris Spisak presents The Baba Yaga Mask The author discusses her novel. Sponsored by Malaprop's. Registration required. WE (6/8), 6pm, avl.mx/bmq Meet the Author: Talk and Q&A with Jonathan Baurer The author will be discussing his new book, Positive Parenting Solutions to Raise Highly Sensitive Children: Understanding Your Child's Emotions and How to Respond with Radical Compassion, Love, and Confidence. TH (6/9), 6pm, Free, Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Rd, Candler Y'all Means All: The Emerging Voices Queering Appalachia Editor Zane McNeill and contributors Beck Banks, Kendall Loyer and Matthew Ryan Sparks discuss the anthology. Sponsored by Malaprop's. Registration required. TH (6/9), 6pm, avl.mx/bmx East Asheville Library Bag O' Books Sale Buy as many books as you can fit into a bag for $5. All proceeds benefit the East Asheville Public Library. SA (6/11), 10am, East Asheville Library, 902 Tunnel Rd

Mark Twain In the Gilded Age Mark Twain in the Gilded Age, Politics Then and Now, with singer/ songwriter Kathryn O'She and author Susan Bailey. SU (6/12), 2pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Malaprop's Mystery Book Club Participants will discuss the novel Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz. Registration required. MO (6/13), 7pm, avl.mx/7jn Road Reads Book Club Read three recent and critically acclaimed "road reads." Copies of the books will be available for checkout at the service desk. TU (6/14), 5:30pm, Free, Pack Memorial Library-Lord Auditorium, 67 Haywood St John Vercher presents After the Lights Go Out in conversation w/ David Joy The authors discuss Vercher's novel. Sponsored by Malaprop's. Registration required. TU (6/14), 6pm, avl.mx/wordcapb Suzanne Stryk presents The Middle of Somewhere The artist discusses her book. Sponsored by Malaprop's. Registration required. WE (6/15), 5pm, Blue Spiral 1, 38 Biltmore Ave

Bill McKibben presents The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon The author discusses his book. Registration required for in-person or online. WE (6/15), 6pm, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood St Book Club Discussion and Author Reading Unraveling the Spreading Cloth of Time: Indigenous Thoughts Concerning the Universe with author Marijo Moore - Quantum physics in relation to Indigenous peoples’ understanding of the spiritual universe, this anthology includes writings from 40 Native writers from various nations. TH (6/16), 10am, Free, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain Therese Anne Fowler presents It All Comes Down To This The author discusses her novel. Registration required. TH (6/16), 6pm, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood St Foreplay! In the Mountains Monthly open mic adult storytelling event. 21+ TH (6/16), 7pm, Asheville Beauty Academy, 28 Broadway Malaprop's Notorious HBC (History Book Club) Participants will discuss Spider Eaters: A Memoir by Rae Young. Registration required. TH (6/16), 7pm, avl.mx/9s9

THEATER & FILM Unto These Hills Since its debut on July 1, 1950, this outdoors production by Kermit Hunter has told the tale of Cherokee life from 1780 to the 21st century. Nightly except Sunday, 8pm. Free to $45, Cherokee Mountainside Theatre, 688 Drama Rd, Cherokee Nemesis Theatre Company presents: Midsummer For Haters The world premiere of an original adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, created and directed by Melon Wedick, in collaboration with The Magnetic Theatre. Thursday through Saturday, 7:30pm, Sunday, 4pm. $25, The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St Craft Cinema A screening through the lens of craft of the 2019 film Uncut Gems in the John Cram Gallery. Adult themes. TH (6/10), 6pm, Center for Craft, 67 Broadway Family Friday: The Great and Small Outdoors The evening begins with Rec-n-Roll games, giveaways, and activities for kids and teens, followed by a viewing of Space Jam: A New Legacy. Send photos or drawings of your family’s favorite activity to do outdoors to ben@ buncombepfc.org or

text (828)407-2064 to be entered to win prizes from partners. FR (6/10), 7pm, Pack Square Park The Little Prince A Montford Park Players production, by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar. Based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. TH (6/9), FR (6/10), SA (6/11), SU (6/12), 7:30pm, Center for Craft, 67 Broadway Staged Reading Series A free public reading of a new play in development, followed by a talk back with the actors and playwright. Donations welcome. SA (6/11), 4pm, Free, Hendersonville Theatre, 229 South Washington St, Hendersonville

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING EmpTea Bowls Eighth annual fundraiser for the Dr John Wilson Community Garden, with live music and gourmet food. Attendees choose one bowl thrown by a local area potter as a reminder of folks whose bowls are often empty. SA (6/11), 5pm, Dr John Wilson Community Garden, 99 White Pine Dr, Black Mountain AAUW Brevard College Book Sale Thirty thousand sorted books in all genres including a collectibles section; as well as printed music, puzzles,

audiobooks, DVDs, and CDs. To benefit scholarship programs. Various times, June 11-16. Boshamer Gym, 1 Brevard College Dr, Brevard Stitches of Love Asheville A group of dedicated folks who create and donate handmade items to local charities and hospitals. MO (6/13), 7pm, New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3070 Sweeten Creek Dr An Evening with Bill McKibben: Bold Action for a Livable Planet Guest speaker Bill McKibben, Gandhi Peace Award Winner and Environmental Scholar, will relay his vision for climate change action in a red state. Local bluegrass band Zoe and Cloyd will open the event. Proceeds from registration will go to funding Green Built Alliance’s Neighbor to Neighbor Program. WE (6/15), 7pm, $25-60, The Collider, 1 Haywood St, Ste 401 Art Auction & Benefit for Preserving a Picturesque America Scott "Doc" Varn and a group dedicated local artists were determined to capture modern day renditions of the region’s breathtakingly beautiful vistas that were first preserved by artist Harry Fenn in his landmark work, Picturesque America, published in 1872. To support local organizations and their conservation efforts along the French Broad River, these works will be up for auction. TH (6/16), 5:30pm, $75125, Brunk Auctions, 117 Tunnel Rd

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS Walk through History: Oteen Hospital and the Western Regional Archives A historic walking tour of the grounds of the historic Oteen hospital, including a visit to the Western Regional Archives, now housed in a historic dormitory on the grounds of the hospital. WE (6/8), 10:30am, $25-35, Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, 223 W State St, Black Mountain Carbon Offsets Informational Webinar Carbon Harvest is hosting an informational webinar about the regional carbon offsets platform, and will answer questions from farmers and community members about carbon offsets, and discuss how to participate. WE (6/8), 7:30pm, avl.mx/prws

Woody Native Plants Natural History Walk A guided walk led by Ron Lance, author of The Woody Plants of the Blue Ridge, focusing on the natural history of our native woody plants. Preregistration and payment required ashevillebotanicalgardens. square.site/classes. SA (6/11), 10am, $1520, Botanical Gardens at Asheville, 151 WT Weaver Blvd Blue Ridge APA Pool League Meet people and play pool weekly, no skill required. For more information, call Shonte Barnes (828)545-6769. Multiple Locations WNCHA History Hour: Stories From the LGBTQIA+ Archive of Western NC An event exploring stories of LGBTQIA+ history and life in and around Asheville. Dr Amanda Wray and several UNCA student interns, working in conjunction with Blue Ridge Pride, began recording and archiving oral history interviews and cataloging newspapers, scrapbooks, and other materials that document former and current lives in the Asheville area. TH (6/16), 6pm, avl.mx/bns

ly environment. WE (6/8, 15), 3:30pm, 338 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester Enka-Candler Tailgate Market Fresh local produce and heritage crafts. Weekly. TH (6/9 16), 3pm, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler Flat Rock Tailgate Market A diverse group of local produce farmers, jam and jelly makers, bread bakers, wild crafters, and merrymakers. TH (6/9, 16), 3pm, Pinecrest ARP Church, 1790 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock East Asheville Tailgate Market Local goods, every Friday. FR (6/10), 3pm, 954 Tunnel Rd Henderson County Tailgate Market One of the oldest openair markets in WNC, this unique market has a festival feel, with local growers who operate small family farms in Henderson County. SA (6/11), 8am, 100 N King St, Hendersonville Hendersonville Farmers Market Produce, meat, eggs, baked goods, coffee,

crafts and more from 30+ local vendors. With live music, kids' activities and cooking demos weekly. SA (6/11), 8am, 650 Maple St, Hendersonville Mills River Farmers Market A producer-only market, selling products raised or produced within 50 miles of the market. With local musicians, a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, and high-quality crafts. SA (6/11), 8am, Mills River Elementary School, 94 Schoolhouse Rd, Mills River North Asheville Tailgate Market The oldest Saturday morning market in WNC. Over 60 rotating vendors. SA (6/11), 8am, North Asheville Tailgate Market, 3300 University Heights Asheville City Market Over 50 vendors and local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and more. SA (6/11), 9am, 52 N Market St Black Mountain Tailgate Market Seasonal community market event featuring

organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, locally raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses, eggs and local arts and handcrafted items. SA (6/11), 9am 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Haywood's Historic Farmers Market Located outdoors at HART Theatre. SA (6/11), 9am, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville Transylvania Farmers Market Fifty vendors offering fresh, locally-grown produce, meat, poultry, eggs, honey, cheese, coffee, plants, herbs, cut flowers, baked goods, jams, jellies, relishes, prepared foods and handcrafted items. SA (6/11), 9am, Downtown Brevard, 175 East Main St, Brevard Flowers of Asheville: Music and Marketplace Featuring local flowers, artisan and farmer vendors. Live music from 1-3pm, food, games and more. SA (6/11), 10am, Land of Sky Shrine Club, 39 Spring Cove Rd, Swannanoa

Madison Co. Farmers & Artisans Market Local goods and produce, weekly through October. SA (6/11), 10am, 100 Athletic St, Mars Hill HEEAL Market with Live Music from Ryan Zimmerman Healing with Earth, Experience, Art and Love - a pop-up vendor market focused on healing self and earth. SA (6/11), 2pm, One World Brewing West, 520 Haywood Rd Gladheart Farm Fest Market Fresh produce, bread and pastries, food vendors, and live music, weekly. SU (6/12), 11am, Gladheart Farm, 9 Lora Ln Meadow Market Runs every Sunday from May-August and will feature a rotation of local bakers, makers and artisans. SU (6/12), 12pm, Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy Rabbit Rabbit Sunday Market Local and indie craft, design and vintage at an outdoor venue with music, a food truck and special activities. SU (6/12), 12pm, Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave

Sundays on the Island Local market located on Marshall's island in the middle of the French Broad River. SU (6/12), 12pm, Blanahasset Island, Marshall West Asheville Tailgate Market Over 40 local vendors, every Tuesday. TU (6/14), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS Cherry Bounce Festival Friday night kickofff with a free concert from Balsam Range. Saturday gates open 10am with art vendors; live music from Retro 78, Ages Past, Wiregrass and Chatham Rabbits; moonshine and food trucks. FR (6/10) & SA (6/11), Forest City Pavilion on Park Square (POPS), Historic Main St, Forest City Hola Asheville Patrons can journey through over 20 represented countries and experience their people, music, art, food and culture. SA (6/11), 12-6pm, Pack Square Park

FOOD & BEER RAD Farmers Market Live music and over 30 local vendors weekly with food, flowers, plants, crafts, and more. Safely accessible by bike or foot, plus ample parking. WE (6/8, 15), pleb urban winery, 289 Lyman St Asheville City Market South Midweek market operated by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP). WE (6/8, 15), 12pm, Biltmore Town Square, 1 Town Square Blvd

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Les-ter Farmers Market Over 20 vendors offering fresh local produce, cheese, baked goods, meat, body care products, arts and crafts in a family-friend-

Bluff Mountain Festival This year's reunion and celebration featuring old time, bluegrass, ballad singing and clogging will honor NC Heritage Award winner Arvil Freeman, who passed away in 2021. SA (6/11), 10am, Downtown Hot Springs Pride Pup Parade Open to friendly dogs of all genders and sexual orientations. 21+ SA (6/11), 2pm, Free, The Getaway River Bar, 790 Riverside Dr Open Streets Oakley Spring 2022 A car-free play-andlearn zone by the Neighborhood Association and Asheville on Bikes, in partnership with AARP, the City of Asheville, and Land of Sky; with local food and brews, kids' bike park and activities, chalk art spaces, outdoor yoga, raffles and more. SU (6/12), 12pm, Thompson St Closure

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Weaverville Tailgate Market Local foodstuffs, alongside a small lineup of craft and artisan vendors. WE (6/8, 15), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr, Weaverville Etowah Lions Club Farmers Market Fresh produce, meat, sweets, breads, arts, and more, through Oct. 26. WE (6/8, 15), 3pm, 447 Etowah School Rd, Hendersonville

31st Annual Hendersonville Antique & Vintage Show The streets between 1st and 6th Aves will be closed to traffic to hold a variety of vendors. SA (6/11), 8am, Historic Downtown Hendersonville, 145 5th Ave E

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WELLNESS

Healthy competition

AdventHealth, HCA and Novant Health to apply for hospital beds

SECOND HOSPITAL IN BUNCOMBE? AdventHealth is proposing to build a new hospital in the Asheville area, although the location hasn’t been revealed yet, says AdventHealth spokesperson Victoria Dunkle. Photo courtesy of AdventHealth

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN jwakeman@mountainx.com Three hospitals plan to file applications to build a new 67-bed hospital in Western North Carolina. The N.C. 2022 State Medical Facilities Plan, published by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Division of Health Service Regulation, stated Buncombe, Graham, Madison and Yancey counties will have a projected need of 67 additional acute care beds by 2024. AdventHealth announced plans to file an application for a hospital in a Facebook post April 20. Victoria Dunkle, spokesperson for the nonprofit AdventHealth, says the application will be filed June 15. HCA Healthcare/Mission Health, owner of Mission Hospital (the only hospital in Buncombe County), will also apply. “Mission Health will be sending in an application for the 67 acute care beds that were identified in the 2022 NC State Medical Facility Plan,” Nancy Lindell, spokesperson for HCA Healthcare North Carolina Division, tells Xpress in an email statement. The plan “revealed a need for these acute care beds in [Health Service Area 1] … based on the high 22

JUNE 8-14, 2022

utilization of hospital beds currently in the service area combined with a population growth factor.” Novant Health, which operates hospitals in central North Carolina and South Carolina, will apply as well. “Novant Health is committed to improving the health of communities and has been interested in serving Western North Carolina for years,” spokesperson Ashton Miller says in an email statement to Xpress. “We look forward to submitting a proposal and will have more details to share once the application process is complete.” HEALTH CARE PLANNING North Carolina is one of 35 states, plus Washington, D.C., that require a certificate of need to build certain health care facilities, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. The N.C. State Health Coordinating Council develops the State Medical Facilities Plan, per state law. The plan identifies counties with a need for additional facilities, and licensed medical organizations may then propose plans for the certificate of need. According to the NCDHHS website, the Division of Health Service Regulation seeks “to make

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certain that health care facilities and medical equipment are developed only when needed.” A need for additional acute care beds is partially calculated by a county’s growth rate, which is also indicated in the report. The 2021 State Medical Facilities Plan stated that Buncombe County had a surplus of three acute care beds. The State Medical Facilities Plan also spells out the need for health services like operating rooms. AdventHealth’s facilities — AdventHealth Hendersonville and Western Carolina Surgery Center — are projected to need four surgical operating rooms by 2024. All four facilities are in Henderson County. The plan indicates Asheville Speciality Hospital, a 34-bed, longterm care facility owned by Mission Health and located in Buncombe County, doesn’t need additional beds. (The need for long-term care beds is determined separately from the need for acute care beds, according to the state’s report.) The State Medical Facilities Plan also indicates that some counties don’t need additional hospital beds at all. For example, the 2022 report finds Haywood County, served by Haywood Regional Medical Center,

has 121 licensed acute care beds and a surplus of 40 beds. ADVENTHEALTH’S PLANS AdventHealth Hendersonville is in Fletcher, neighboring Hendersonville. Although not yet finalized, the proposed location of the new hospital will be in the Asheville area of Buncombe County, says spokesperson Dunkle. The location will be shared in the application filed on June 15, she says. In addition to 67 acute care beds, the facility proposes lab services, an emergency department, surgery services and a dedicated cesarean section operating room, according to AdventHealth’s website. “We were so excited about this opportunity to take the health care that people have come to know and trust with us,” Dunkle tells Xpress. “That whole person care — body, mind and spirit — that differentiates us from other experiences of care that people may have.” (AdventHealth is a faith-based, Christian nonprofit.) If AdventHealth’s application is approved, Dunkle estimates that construction could take two- to 2.5 years. She says the nonprofit will keep the public up to date with its plans on a website: WeMoveMountains.com.

COMPETITION N.C. Rep. Brian Turner (D-116) is enthusiastic about AdventHealth’s intention to file an application. “We have just one hospital in Buncombe County, which really restricts people’s choices and competition,” Turner says. Nonprofit Mission Hospital became a for-profit hospital following a February 2019 sale to HCA Healthcare, a Nashville-based company. Since the purchase, HCA has faced criticism over allegations of understaffing, health care workers quitting and diminished cleanliness. On June 2, registered nurses at Mission held a rally with National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United alleging hospital management encourages them to work under dangerous conditions, including a high nurse-to-patient ratio. “The business model has changed [at Mission],” Turner continues. “And so the marketplace needs to become more competitive in order to really function well for the people in the community.” Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer did not respond to requests for comment but shared in an email to Xpress, “I am glad you’re writing about this.” Manheimer, Turner, Buncombe County Commission Chair Brownie Newman and other elected officials co-signed an opinion column in the Asheville Citizen Times in February 2020. The column expresses “deep concern regarding the state of Mission Hospital Systems since the purchase by Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) last year.” Turner tells Xpress his constituents say to him they want more health care choices in Buncombe County. “I hear from physicians, I hear it from physicians who are not hospitalists but who rely on the hospital, I hear it from nurses and hospitalists who are out there working every day,” Turner says. “And I hear it from patients

and families of patients.” Turner called AdventHealth “a natural fit in some ways,” given its century-plus history in WNC. (AdventHealth Hendersonville was formerly known as Park Ridge Health.) Dunkle from AdventHealth says the State Medical Facilities Plan’s stated need for more acute beds means “the window has been open for us to step in and take action on the requests that people make to us every single day.” She continues, “They want to feel empowered so they can take control of their health care, and getting more choices is really a huge step in that direction for them.”

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MISSION’S GROWTH Lindell, the spokesperson for HCA Healthcare North Carolina Division/ Mission Health, wrote in an email statement that the underlying need for more acute beds in the region is due to demand for the hospital’s services. “Mission Hospital is the only hospital in [Health Service Area 1], which means the demand for Mission’s services alone generated the need for more acute care beds,” she writes in a statement. “The community’s utilization of these advanced services indicates that Mission Hospital plays a critical role in the region in providing care.” HCA Healthcare North Carolina Division/Mission Health is expanding with other services as well. The company announced May 25 a certificate of need approval for two emergency rooms. One ER will be at the corner of Hendersonville and Airport roads in South Asheville, the other in West Asheville near Candler. According to HCA’s press release, both ERs will provide 24-hour care and include 12 patient rooms and on-site diagnostic testing, like CT scans, X-rays and ultrasounds. Both are projected to open in late 2023. X

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JUNE 8-14, 2022

ARTS & CULTURE

Conversation starter

Short documentary humanizes local homeless population

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com Since its March debut on YouTube, the 35-minute documentary short film Homeless: A Human Story has been making the rounds of area nonprofits and aid organizations. The project is a collaboration between the Ramada Resident Council, a group of former homeless shelter residents, and Dan Pizzo, director of a nonprofit called Accessing Needed Crisis and Critical Help, Outreach and Resources Collaborative. Known as ANCHOR Collaborative, the organization sits at the intersection of behavioral health and affordable housing work. On Friday, June 10, the film seeks its largest audience yet when it screens at the 500-seat Diana Wortham Theatre. The event includes blues music by one of the short’s subjects, Eric “The Blue Ridge Boy” Freeman; readings by local poet Daniel Suber; and a post-screening panel discussion with

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BLUE RIDGE BLUES: Eric Freeman is one of the three subjects in the documentary short film “Homeless: A Human Story,” which screens June 10 at the Diana Wortham Theatre. Photo courtesy of ANCHOR Collaborative Freeman and fellow film subjects Eric Hall and Victoria “Little Bit” Gilbreath. The panel will be facilitated by Michael Hayes, executive director of Umoja Health, Wellness and Justice Collective, who was selected for his lived experiences being homeless in Asheville. Tickets are being sold on a sliding scale. All are welcome, regardless of payment. Proceeds and funds raised will be distributed to various sheltering and homeless initiatives. Having witnessed the documentary’s powerful effects on viewers at a previous screening, Hall hopes that the film continues to reach receptive audiences and makes people more aware of the plights of others. The greater the awareness, he says, the more likely that problem-solving and collaboration will occur to help resolve issues around homelessness.

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In early September, Pizzo met Hall during a tour of the temporary home-

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less shelter at the East Asheville Ramada Inn, and the two became fast friends. His curiosity was piqued by a sign on Hall’s door reading “Zen Lounge.” Residents, Pizzo learned, regularly gathered inside Hall’s room as a community meeting space. Sensing Hall’s leadership role, Pizzo ran the idea of a resident council by Hall, who supported the notion. “Something I’m really passionate about is hearing the people rather than the professionals having their way,” Pizzo says. He notes that in his 15-plus years of working “in the helping field,” he’s seen few instances where aid organizations promote autonomy within such spaces. Since its formation last September, the Ramada Resident Council has attended neighborhood association meetings and public engagement meetings concerning sheltering and housing issues. The council has also conducted community cleanup projects and hosted various community leaders for tours of the Ramada shelter. Over that time, Hall says 116 peo-

ple have come through the Ramada and only 11 have yet to find housing. Those 11 include Hall himself, who’s passed up seven opportunities thus far in order for others to go first. But he notes that the remaining former residents — some of whom have returned to the streets after the temporary shelter closed March 31 — are set to receive housing “within weeks.” California-based for-profit developer Shangri-La Industries is set to take ownership of the Ramada within the next couple of months, and Hall has remained at the Ramada as a ShangriLa employee as the temporary shelter is being converted into permanent supportive housing. California-based nonprofit Step Up on Second Street will provide supportive services for the new residents. Wanting to raise awareness of the individual stories of those experiencing homelessness, Pizzo began thinking about producing a video. The finished work could then be used for training organizations that work with the unhoused, as well as businesses whose staff regularly interacts with the homeless population. But despite the video’s possibilities for good, Pizzo also recognized its potential for exploitation. “I didn’t want to create poverty porn,” Pizzo says. “I think that people’s stories are really precious, and when you come in with some money and this idea, oftentimes it can seem alluring, but then [the homeless people’s] story is out there — and your story might change one day.” In order to remove himself from the equation and give creative control to the Ramada Resident Council members, Pizzo decided to hire the council to produce the film, with the understanding that if they didn’t like the end result, they could opt to scratch the project while still receiving the agreed-upon compensation. To shoot the documentary, Pizzo hired local musician Ben Phan, who’d been expanding his videographer projects under the name Ben Phantom. The day after the Dec. 14 Asheville City Council meeting where the Ramada’s purchase rights were assigned to Shangri-La, Phan participated in a two-hour jam session at the Ramada with Pizzo (auxiliary drums), Hall (drums) and Freeman to help heal from hurtful public comments that continued to bother the Ramada residents. Through music, a bond was formed, and over the next six weeks, Phan met with Hall, Freeman and

Gilbreath to document their stories and, in Pizzo’s words, try to bring down some of the walls that separate people with different experiences. All three are credited as co-producers, along with fellow former Ramada residents Jeff “ATL” Davis and Steve “Steve-O” Defosses. Hall says it was difficult to put himself out there, knowing one of the hardest times of his life would be viewed by strangers. Even now, he notes, “I have a hard time watching it, but it’s getting easier.” THE POWER OF FILM During the film’s production, Pizzo was working with Trinity United Methodist Church’s pop-up emergency shelter, which filled the service gaps of Code Purple shelters — opened when temperatures drop to freezing or colder — that aren’t conducive to families, single-father families, couples and people with pets. Knowing that the Ramada Resident Council was proud of the film and wanted to share it, Pizzo arranged for a screening in Trinity’s basement, followed by a panel discussion. Approximately 80 people

AN INTRODUCTION: Victoria “Little Bit” Gilbreath discusses her past and hopes for the future in “Homeless: A Human Story.” Photo courtesy of ANCHOR Collaborative attended, half of whom were without housing and staying at the shelter. “You could hear the gasps and the laughter,” Pizzo says. “You could feel that thick emotion, and it really centered the discussion around the panel.” The emotional weight of the event manifested near the end of the evening, when an older man stood with tears in his eyes and asked everyone to stand in a circle, hold hands and pray.

“No matter who you are, you can relate to the human aspects of these stories — even the ones that might be quite different from our personal histories,” Pizzo says. “Whether people feel excitement, hope or discomfort, we want them to do a little bit of self-inquiry.” He adds that people are often simply told to donate money or volunteer their time, whereas he and his fellow film collaborators see Homeless and the conversations around it as an

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opportunity to reduce the distance between humans having different experiences — a sentiment with which Hall wholeheartedly agrees. “There’s so many different aspects that I wasn’t aware of before I [became homeless]. It changed me a lot — not from being a bad guy to a good guy or something like that, but from going down the street with blinders on to seeing all of this that’s in the middle,” Hall says. “Now I see it every time I walk out, and I should have been aware of [other people’s suffering]. Well, now I am, and hopefully nobody has to go through that to be aware. Hopefully this [film] will bring some awareness without putting you out there to have to live it.” X

WHAT Homeless: A Human Story WHERE Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave., avl.mx/bn5 WHEN Friday, June 10, 7 p.m. $0-20 sliding scale

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ARTS & C U L T U R E

ART

Creatives in the Crowd Emma Macchiarini’s metalwork carries on family tradition

As a third-generation metalworker and the first woman in her family to pick up the trade, Emma Macchiarini is accustomed to balancing tradition and innovation. Growing up in San Francisco, she began making jewelry at the age of 11 under the tutelage of her father, Dan Macchiarini, and grandfather, Peter Macchiarini, who still run Macchiarini Creative Design in the North Beach neighborhood. The Macchiarini men instilled in her that metalworking isn’t a high-minded endeavor but a practice, rooted in a physical relationship with objects in the material world. “The physical practice of how to be in the metal studio, of how to hold the tools, how to sit at the bench, how to use a file, use the power tools — all that stuff I learned from them,” Emma Macchiarini says. They also taught her the importance of accessibility to tools for people of all backgrounds and genders. “When I was growing up in the ’80s, there was still a big difference between the way that you treated girls and boys [in metalworking] — and there still is to some degree,” she says. “But they never made too much of a big deal about that, which is really a cool thing.” FINDING THE PATH Though she didn’t feel pressured to carry on the family tradition, Macchiarini was drawn to metalwork early in her life, and her appreciation for the craft has only grown with time. Part of the appeal, she notes, is the deceptive nature of metal. “It seems like it’s really hard, but actually

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SFO TO AVL: San Francisco native Emma Macchiarini runs Mountain Metalworks Asheville in Biltmore Village. Photo by Chase Hager it’s incredibly malleable and easy to manipulate and affect. It has this look of eternity, but you can make it into different forms and shapes,” she says. “And it’s beautiful. I think deep down inside, we’re all still just these monkeys who, when we see something shiny, we all go, ‘Ooh!’ So it appeals to that part of me, too, on a basic level.” Macchiarini additionally earned an MFA in studio art and, largely independent from the family practice, learned how to make jewelry, which has become her primary focus. “I don’t shy away from trying new things. I always try to make each piece somewhat of an adventure, and sometimes mistakes can point the way toward doing something a little bit differently,” Macchiarini says. “The process is the interesting thing to me — not just, ‘Oh, I want to make this.’ It’s more meandering than that for me.” She also never makes the same piece twice, which sometimes causes issues when she applies to be in shows. Organizers, she points out, often want consistency across a body of work. But Macchiarini favors diversity, moving between cast and fabricated work, enamel and the Japanese procedure of mokume-gane.

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“It can be challenging for some people when they look at my work and they want to see a body of work that’s consistent — but that’s not what they get,” Macchiarini says, with a laugh. “I’d say that’s a strong point for me.” RELOCATE AND RESTART After establishing MetalworksSF in 2015, Macchiarini moved with her husband, Sean Morris, and children Hanna and Leif Morris to Asheville in 2020. “I like the vibe here, the pace of life and down-home quality. It’s not snobby, but it still has a sophisticated vibe,” Macchiarini says. “There’s interesting artwork going on and people doing different stuff — not just the same thing that everybody else does. There’s a lot of exciting stuff going on.” Leaving the well-connected metalworking community in San Francisco and starting from scratch in Asheville has presented some challenges, Macchiarini notes. But overall, she’s experienced a welcoming group of jewelry makers in WNC. She’s also enjoyed getting to know members

of the local gem community and is impressed with the number of “rock hounds” in the area. At her Mountain Metalworks Asheville studio in Biltmore Village, Macchiarini continues to design and create rings, earrings, bracelets and other wearable art — all with an eye to ethical sourcing, another value handed down by her father and grandfather. Noting that there’s “plenty of stuff above ground,” she tries to recycle metal as much as possible, and most of her goldwork features melted and reshaped gold that she gets from the customers themselves. But Macchiarini’s signature offering may be her workshops for people who want to create their own wedding rings together. “I get to meet people who are at this place in their life where they’re just starting out together at the beginning of a journey, and I get to be part of that exciting time,” she says. “Being willing to sit with people and go through the fire and the intensity of creating something that needs to last for a lifetime — it kind of has to be good. If it’s not good, they’re walking around with this wedding band that they don’t like, so it’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also definitely a special process.” As for whether her 9-year-old daughter will become the fourth generation to carry on the tradition, Macchiarini is in “wait and see” mode. She describes her child as “sculpturally inclined” and brings Hanna into the studio for short spurts when she’s not at school or summer camp. The experience has given her daughter a head start over her peers, and while Macchiarini says Hanna’s making quality work, she doesn’t want to force metalworking on her. “Really, it’s got to come from her,” Macchiarini says. “So far, she’s kind of lukewarm about the metal studio and spending hours and hours in there. So when she comes to me and says that she wants to do it, that’s the time when we’ll start doing it.” To learn more, visit avl.mx/bly.

— Edwin Arnaudin X Editor’s note: This article is part of our feature Creatives in the Crowd, which focuses on local artists — both established and new. The feature spotlights unique stories and innovative artistic approaches within our creative community. Unlike much of our Arts & Culture reporting, these stories are not tied to upcoming events, exhibits or releases. The feature strives to represent a diverse range of voices, experiences and artistic mediums. If you’d like to nominate a community member for consideration, please reach out to ae@mountainx.com with the subject line “Creatives in the Crowd.”

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ARTS & C U L T U R E

FOOD ROUNDUP

What’s new in food Botanical Bones earns big treat

Like many people who were struggling to cope with pandemic lockdowns, Rachel and Mark Meyer adopted a puppy in spring 2020. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue had initially rescued the family’s newest member, Carnaby, from an unhealthy animal hoarding situation; but the canine struggled to adapt to his new life with the Meyers. “We weren’t sure we would be able to make it work, but our son Joel had fallen in love with him, so we needed to find a way,” Rachel Meyer remembers. Rachel began experimenting with recipes for treats with calming, natural ingredients and adaptogens geared toward animals. “Dogs are the best to bake for because if you put tons of peanut butter in it, they’re all over it,” she says with a laugh. Two years and countless batches of dog treats later, Meyer’s company, Botanical Bones, received a $50,000

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Results publish in August

grant from NC IDEA, a private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment in North Carolina. “It’s a game-changer for sure,” Meyer says. “All the hard work paid off.” The rigorous three-phase application process involved a live pitch process in Durham. “It felt like ‘Shark Tank,’” Meyer says. “It was nerve wracking.” Part of the grant money will go toward purchasing ovens, sinks and a buildout at the company’s new location — a 6,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Weaverville, which it shares with Darë Vegan Cheese. Gwendolyn Hageman, founder of Darë Vegan Cheese and a 2021 recipient of an NC IDEA grant, had been among Meyer’s early supporters, encouraging her to apply for the 2022 award. “I’m also in Venture Asheville’s Elevate mentorship program, and they were very supportive of me applying for the grant,” Meyer says. “I had never been through anything like that.” Though Meyer says she never anticipated Botanical Bones achieving this amount of success in such a short period, she always envisioned owning her own business. “When I started this, it was ‘Let’s see what happens,’ and it kind of took on a life of its own,” she says, noting her early days selling exclusively at tailgate markets and later leasing a commercial kitchen space from Caroline Dockery of Morsel Cookie Co. Today, Botanical Bones is available online. Treats can also be purchased at locally owned pet shops, specialty stores, Highland Brewing Co.’s

A DOG’S LIFE: Rachel and Mark Meyer, with son Joel and pup Carnaby — the inspiration behind Rachel’s superfood dog treat company, Botanical Bones. Photo courtesy of Botanical Bones weekly Sunday afternoon Meadow Market and pop-up retail events such as Uncommon Market. For more information, visit avl.mx/8qp.

Touch of spice Well Seasoned Table, the Candlerbased company that grows, blends and packages herbs, spices and seasonings, also represented WNC as a 2022 recipient of an NC IDEA grant. Company founder and CEO Sarah Wickers says, “We plan to use the grant to streamline a lot of our production and packaging processes. We currently handpack and label all of our products, which has put a cap on our production capacity. Our

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overarching goal is to be a nationally recognized artisan spice company and pivot into a larger market. But we will always hold to sourcing up to 85% of our ingredients from small, family-owned American farms, keeping money in our communities and the hands of the farmers.” For more information on Well Seasoned Table, visit avl.mx/a35.

Bear all Brews & Bears, the annual summertime fundraiser for the WNC Nature Center, ambled out of hibernation May 13 and will continue the second Friday of every month through August, 5:30-8 p.m. Along with food, drink and live music, attendees will get to see an enrichment activity for the Nature Center’s resident black bears, Uno and Ursa, and can stroll about the property and schmooze with Bryan the pygmy goat, Ben the red wolf and Boris the barn owl. Admission to Brews & Bears is $15 for members of the Friends of the WNC Nature Center nonprofit and $20 for nonmembers. Beer tokens can be purchased in advance, and a VIP option includes a Brews & Bears travel tumbler and insulator for cans. Highland Brewing Co. and Urban Orchard cider are these summer’s beverage vendors. Additionally, Gypsy Queen Cuisine food truck will be on-site for the June 10 and Aug. 12 events; Cecilia’s Kitchen rolls in for

the July 8 gathering. Blunt Pretzels and Kona Ice will be available for sale at all three remaining Brews & Bears. Proceeds from tickets and beverage sales support the Friends group. To learn more, visit avl.mx/blt.

Good brews Among the 22 recipients of the Asheville Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Sky High Growth Award, two are keeping locals and visitors spirits high. Ginger’s Revenge, Asheville’s first and only brewery focused on the production of alcoholic ginger beer, was recognized for growing its team to 18 people, increasing annual revenue in 2021 by 35%, increasing annual volume by 50% and distributing products to new territories. Hi-Wire Brewing was also recognized. Since its inception in 2013, Hi-Wire has seen substantial growth in territory, products, distribution, taprooms and collaborative projects with local, regional and national breweries. It was lauded by the chamber as a staple of the Asheville homegrown business community.

Drink up On June 1, the N.C. Craft Beverage Museum popped the top on its traveling exhibition, launched at Wicked Weed Funkatorium. “Pour Me Another: The Story of North Carolina Told Through Drink” documents the state’s boozy history. According to the exhibit, North Carolina dominated wine production in the U.S. in the 19th century; by the early 20th century, the state boasted the reputation of “Moonshine Capital of the World.” Today, N.C. is recognized as one of the most respected hubs of the craft beer industry. Kimberly Floyd, founder and executive director of the museum, says, “The traveling exhibit is designed to be movable and will be available to rent and travel across the state. Our museum tells the story of North Carolina, so it was important to have something that could go from the mountains to the coast.” Three permanent exhibits are already installed in partnership with local businesses, all downtown. An exhibit on wine is located inside The Aventine, 25 Page Ave., Suite 102; another on spirits is at Cultivated Cocktails Distillery, 25 Page Ave., Suite 103; and Wedge Brewing’s newest taproom at the Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave. Suite 152, is the home of an exhibit on the state’s craft beer.

The inaugural traveling exhibit can be viewed during Funakatorium’s operating hours, through the end of August. Wicked Weed Funkatorium is at 147 Coxe Ave. For hours, visit avl.mx/9m8. For more information on the N.C. Craft Beverage Museum, visit avl.mx/bmu.

Chow down The first day of summer is June 21; two days later, on Thursday, June 23, Summer of Chow Chow 2022 kicks off with an opening party at Atelier Maison, 121 Sweeten Creek Road. Chefs from Posana, Odditorium, Salsa/Modesto/Bomba, Red Fiddle Vittles, Nine Mile and Bear’s Smokehouse are among those who will be showing their culinary skills with their specialties; local beverages will be in abundance. Tickets for the party are $100 per person. Celebrations continue through Sunday; the other two Chow Chow 2022 weekends are Thursday, Aug. 4-Sunday, Aug. 7, and Thursday, Sept. 8-Sunday, Sept. 11. June highlights include Diaspora, a Friday event featuring seven chefs presenting a global spread of bites, accompanied by drinks from seven local beverage makers. Among Saturday’s standouts is Entrepreneurs of Color featuring dishes prepared by chefs Neomi Negron, May Sujitra Chubthaisong, Ramona Young, Patricia Saenz, Jamie Lauren Turner and Erica “Shorty” Glaubitz. The weekend concludes with Sunday Supper Series — a free event (though donations are encouraged) with chefs Gerald Hawkins, Jr., Daniel Wheeler, Chris Cox, Jill Wasilewski and Mallory Foster. Tickets for all June, August and September events are now on sale and a full schedule with prices, dates, times and locations can be found at avl.mx/6gm.

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We’re No. 1! S&W celebrates its first birthday on Saturday, June 11, with specials and giveaways from all vendors, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Circa 29, the speakeasy on the lower level of the historic building, will be open with a full bar available 5-8 p.m.; the first 20 guests receive a free glass of Champagne. Asheville 8 String Collective will provide live music on the Highland Brewing mezzanine 7-9 p.m. S&W Market is at 56 Patton Ave. For more information, visit avl.mx/9hl.

— Kay West X MOUNTAINX.COM

JUNE 8-14, 2022

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AR T S & C UL TU R E

ROUNDUP

Around Town

Preserving a Picturesque America to auction French Broad River paintings

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EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY: “The Smokies — Weavers Bend” by artist Bryan Koontz will be one of 15 paintings up for auction by Preserving a Picturesque America, Thursday, June 16. Photos courtesy of Preserving a Picturesque America

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Scott “Doc” Varn loves sharing the story of Picturesque America with modern artists. “They all of a sudden see a sense of purpose, the thing that inspires them, the reason that they’re painting,” says the Asheville artist and printmaker. Picturesque America was a series of nearly 1,000 prints published by Appleton Press in the 1870s. The prints depicted natural and historic landmarks from across the country for the purposes of education, conservation and preservation. After becoming aware of the series more than a decade ago, Varn founded local nonprofit Preserving a Picturesque America. One of the group’s missions is find and re-create all of the original pieces. Now a group of Western North Carolina artists has come together to help PAPA move closer to that goal and to raise money for local conservation organizations. PAPA will hold an auction on Thursday, June 16, 5:30-9 p.m. at Brunk Auctions to sell 15 paintings. Fourteen of the works depict modern-day versions of scenes along the French Broad

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River originally captured in Picturesque America. The 15th is a portrait of Harry Fenn, one of the major contributors to the original series. “It has been no problem getting new artists, because those that do care about this wonderful place that we live in are like, ‘Yes, I’m happy to do this,’” Varn says. “And they love the idea of the adventure aspect. They love repeating what the artists here did 150 years ago. And they want to give back in some way.” The event opens with an art preview and artist reception, complete with food, wine and entertainment, 5:30-6:55 p.m. The live auction kicks off at 7 p.m. Those who can’t attend in person can bid online for free, but they must pre-register. Each artist will receive 50% of the sale price; the other half will benefit a designated conservation group. These organizations include the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Asheville GreenWorks, Carolina Mountain Club, Chimney Rock State Park, Friends of the Cherokee National Forest, MountainTrue, Pisgah Conservancy and RiverLink.

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Cost to attend the auction is $75 per person or $125 per couple. Tickets to the event also include a drawing for over $1,000 worth of prizes. Brunk Auctions is at 117 Tunnel Road. To get tickets or to view the art, visit avl.mx/bn3.

Is this just fantasy? Mindi Meltz doesn’t like most fantasy literature, which may seem a bit strange. After all, the Henderson County author has penned several novels full of imaginary lands, mythical creatures and magical beings. “I did not think of myself as a fantasy writer until I got pigeonholed that way by the genre gods,” she says. “What I write is more like myth or fairy tale. I’ve always been fascinated by dreamwork, and to me, myths are like the dreams of our collective psyche.” Meltz’s latest novel, The Queen’s Rain, will be published Tuesday, June 14, by Logosophia Books. It will be the third part of her After Ever After trilogy, which also includes The Ritual of Forgetting and This Blood Means Life. “The last few years have illuminated our exile and disconnection from our bodies, our oneness with others, our dependency on nature and our animal selves,” she says. “My story is about returning to those things. It’s about sickness and healing, and with its unique emphasis on the heroine’s journey, the many aspects of the feminine denied.”

Meltz will hold her book launch at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva on Saturday, June 18, at 3 p.m. She will also read, discuss and sign copies at Of Wand & Earth in Marshall on Saturday, July 23, 3-5 p.m. To order the book, go to avl.mx/bn0.

A day to remember Tyler Houston, a rising senior at North Henderson High School, has been selected to represent the U.S. in the inaugural All-American D-Day Band, which will perform in June 2023 in Normandy, France. “It is important to me because I have multiple family members that served our country in the military, and this is a way for me to give back and celebrate them,” Houston says. “Not many of those people [who fought on D-Day] are still here with us today, and it will be amazing for me to honor those who are still here, as well as those who have passed.” Houston, a percussionist who plays mallet, timpani and drums (among other instruments), is one of 125 high school musicians nationwide selected for the honor. He was nominated by his band director, Steve Sigmon. Once he was named a finalist, he had to submit a video audition. The band originally was supposed to travel to France this year, but the process was pushed back a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The All-American D-Day Band will perform the ceremonial music for the officially recognized commemoration and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Brittany and Normandy American cemeteries and memorials. In the historic village of Sainte-MèreÉglise, the band will perform in the International Salute to Liberation and lead the D-Day Memorial Parade. “I am very proud and honored to be able to represent North Henderson High School and Henderson County on the global stage like this,” he says. For more information, go to avl.mx/bn2.

Epic trail The Fairy Trail is back at Hendersonville’s Bullington Gardens. The whimsical trail, which started five years ago as a way to entice families to visit the gardens and cultivate an interest in gardening, winds along a wooded path for about 300 yards and includes the homes and villages of fairies and gnomes. All are prepared by volunteers. The Fairy Trail is free and open Mondays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. through Wednesday, Aug. 31. Visitors are sent through the trail in 10-minute

intervals on a first-come, first-served basis; short waits aren’t uncommon. The first Fairy Market is on Saturday, June 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and will feature face painting, Zentangle art classes and a gnome scavenger hunt. Handmade crafts, crowns, wands and wings will be available for purchase. This year’s trail includes some new installations, including the Tooth Fairy, a unicorn stable and a photo opportunity featuring fairy wings. Bullington Gardens is at 95 Upper Red Oak Trail, Hendersonville. For more information, go to avl.mx/bmy.

Zipping for Autism Zipping for Autism, a fundraiser benefiting Camp Lakey Gap, will be Sunday, June 12, at Adventure Center of Asheville. Individuals and teams of up to 10 people can participate in the zip lining event. All donations and funds raised will go toward helping WNC residents with autism attend Camp Lakey Gaps’ summer programming and support services. Camp Lakey Gap is a weeklong residential camp and year-round service provider for people on the autism spectrum. It serves both children and adults, grouped together by age. Adventure Center of Asheville is at 85 Expo Drive. For more information or to register as a team or individual, go to avl.mx/bn4.

— Justin McGuire X

MOVIE REVIEWS Local reviewers’ critiques of new films include: CRIMES OF THE FUTURE: There’s plenty to admire about the latest boundary-pusher from writer/ director David Cronenberg, especially his creative production design and Howard Shore’s edgy score. But this tale of a society where evolution has resulted in humans growing previously unknown organs, leading to performance art centering on the public removal of said growths, plays more as empty provocation instead of a film with a coherent message. Grade: C-plus — Edwin Arnaudin

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

JUNE 8-14, 2022

CLUBLAND

KNOTTY BY NATURE: Husband and wife Chuck and Gill Knott, also known as The Knotty G’s, return to their home base of Asheville to play three shows this week, beginning with an evening featuring their full band at One World West on Thursday, June 9, at 7 p.m. The “soul-soaked Americana” band performs with all of its members again on Friday, June 10, at 7 p.m. at Catawba Brewing on the South Slope, and then as a duo on Saturday, June 11, at 8 p.m. at The Root Bar in Oteen. Photo courtesy of The Knotty G’s

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm 185 KING STREET Trivia and Karaoke, 7pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Beauty Parlor Comedy: Jeremy Alder, 7pm • Aquanet Goth Party, 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 LASKA (folk infused pop and rock), 7:30pm

SALVAGE STATION Wifisfuneral (hip-hop, rap), 8pm SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jason DeCristafaro's Weekly Wednesday Jazz Night & Jam, 6pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic Hosted by Caleb Beissert, 8pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm THE DUGOUT Thursday Night Open Jam w/Paul Liford, 8pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Jam, 5pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Sausage Party, 7pm

LAZY HIKER BREWING SYLVA Trivia Night, 6:30pm

THE GREY EAGLE The Travis Book Happy Hour ft Graham Sharp of Steep Canyon Rangers, 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Mountain Music Jam, 6pm

THE ODDITORIUM Magic and Comedy w/ Danny Whitson, Criswell & Toybox, 8pm

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

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Wild Wednesdays w/ local musicians, 10pm

DOUBLE CROWN Western Wednesday w/ The Old Chevrolet Set, 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING Pingo Wednesdays, 7pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic, 6pm Wednesday Open Mic, 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWING The Office Trivia Night, 7pm

RABBIT RABBIT Rebelution (reggae), 6pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 7pm

JUNE 8-14, 2022

THE POE HOUSE Team Trivia w/Wes Ganey, 7pm

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THURSDAY, JUNE 9 185 KING STREET Congdon & Co. w/Hope Griffin (covers), 7pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Kiki Thursdays Drag and Dancing, 8pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR KB and the LMD (jazz standards, classic pop) k 7:30pm ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO. Stand Up Comedy, 7:30pm BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 5pm CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Thursday Night Trivia w/ Kelsey, 6:30pm FLEETWOOD'S Tommy Goodroad, Julia Sanders & Boy Howdy (honky tonk country), 8pm FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm GIGI'S UNDERGROUND Mr Jimmy (blues), 7pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Shane Meade and the Sound (folk rock), 6pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Asheville Sessions w/ Charlotte Sommers (jazz, blues, rock), 7pm • Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light & Liv Greene w/Alice Bradley (Americana, storyteller), 8:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7:30pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Phirsty Phursdays w/ Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 9pm ONE WORLD BREWING Tristan Dougherty (folk), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Knotty G's (rock, soul, Americana), 7pm RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY Circus Mutt (bluegrass, Americana), 6pm SALVAGE STATION Old Crow Medicine Show w/Gangstagrass (bluegrass, Americana), 6:30pm THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm THE BURGER BAR The Waymores (folk, blues, honky tonk), 9pm

THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Pimps of Pompe (jazzedup pop & hip-hop), 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR • Rum Punchlines Comedy Open Mic, 6pm • Karaoke w/Terraoke, 9pm THE GREY EAGLE Destroy Boys (alt/ indie), 8pm THE ODDITORIUM Desolation: Free Industrial Night w/DJ Exo, 9pm

BIG PILLOW BREWING Colin Cutler (Americana), 6pm BREWSKIES Karaoke, 10pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Andrew Finn Magill (violinist), 3pm CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Knotty G’s (rock, soul, Americana), 7pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Cannibal Corpse (death metal), 7pm

CORK & KEG Kelli Jones & Daniel Coolik (psychedelic jazz, Cajun), 8pm

THE ROOT BAR Melodic AF (soul, jazz, country), 7pm

CROW & QUILL DJ Dr. Filth (old school vinyl)k 8:30pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 9pm

DRY FALLS BREWING CO. Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs (folk), 7pm

WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT Christina Chandler Trio (folk, soul, Americana), 7pm

FRIDAY, JUNE 10 185 KING STREET Unspoken Tradition (bluegrass), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S The Dead Bolts, Guy Roswell & Machine 13 (indie, psych rock), 8pm GUIDON BREWING Collin Cheek (acoustic), 7pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Venus (dark house dance party), 10pm

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Jeff Thompson (singer-songwriter), 7pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr Jimmy's Big City Chicago Bluesk 7:30pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Laura Nicholson (singer-songwriter, Americana), 7pm

• Strung Like a Horse (Americana, bluegrass, roots rock), 8:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB The Well Drinkers (progressive bluegrass Americana), 9pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Laura Thurston (Americana, folk), 2pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Buffalo Kings (soul, pop, funk), 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Friday ft All Local Musicians, 6pm ONE WORLD BREWING 5j Barrow (folk rock), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Urban Soil (Americana, rock, soul), 9pm PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Phuncle Sam (Grateful Dead tribute), 6:30pm RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY River Logic (blues, Appalachian, roots), 6pm SILVERADOS Kentucky Music Mafia (country rap), 7pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Flint Blade & Wyldheart (alt/indie), 9pm

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JUNE 8-14, 2022

CLU B LA N D STATIC AGE RECORDS Dish, Aunt Ant, Convalesent & Tulpas (indie), 9pm THE DUGOUT Fine Line (rock), 8pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Getaway Comedy: 'Sugar Daddy' ft Sam Morrison, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE • Matt Fassas (Americana, jam, blues, rock), 6pm • New Madrid (alt/ indie), 9pm

305 LOUNGE & EATERY Old Men of the Woods (folk, pop), 1pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Beauty Parlor Comedy: Kelsey Rosen, 7pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Phutureprimitive w/ Living Light, Phist, Rex Neu & Special Guest (edm), 8pm BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah's Daydream (Gypsy jazz), 5:30pm

THE ODDITORIUM Mass Extinction Volume 2: The Rapture (hip hop, trap), 8pm

BIG PILLOW BREWING Circus Mutt (bluegrass, acoustic), 6pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Gaelic Storm (Celtic), 9pm

BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Mr Jimmy (blues), 6pm

THE ROOT BAR Ashley Heath (country, blues), 9pm

BOOJUM BREWING COMPANY Shane Meade & the Sound Trio w/Bonnie Rossa (rock), 9pm

WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT DJ RexxStepp, 7pm

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 185 KING STREET • Music for Meals on Wheels w/Spalding McIntosh & guests, 1pm • John Trufant & Friends (roots), 8pm

BREWSKIES Pool Tournament Saturdays, 7pm

CROW & QUILL The Krektones (surf rock, exotica)k 8:30pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. Twisted Trail (Southern rock, blues, country), 7pm FLEETWOOD'S Safety Coffin, Rikki Rakki & Camgirl (punk, garage), 8pm GUIDON BREWING Hunnilicious (vocal duo), 5pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Greylan Hall and the Nasty Kings (blues, rock), 6pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Asheville 8 String Collective (jazz, funk, blues), 7pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 the HawtThorns (Americana, country soul), 7pm

BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Roots and Dore (roots), 2pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB • Nobody's Darling String Band, 4pm • Drayton & the Dreamboats (Latin, jazz), 9pm

CORK & KEG The Uptown Hillbillies Honk 'n' Tonk (classic country), 8pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Imij of Soul (Jimi Hendrix tribute), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Supper Break (bluegrass), 8pm RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY Rooster (folk), 6pm ROOT BAR Knotty G’s (rock, soul, Americana), 8pm SALVAGE STATION Struggle Jennings w/ Caitlynne Curtis & Brianna Harness (rap), 8pm SILVERADOS The Del McCoury Band (bluegrass), 7pm SMOKY MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Jimmy Fortune & Connie Smith, 7:30pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Spiro and the Conspirators (rock, soul, blues), 8pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Dance Party w/Quisol, Atelier, Celeste Moonchild, DJ Malintzin, DJ Solace (A Benefit for MAADCO), 9pm THE GREY EAGLE Cut Worms (alt/indie), 8pm THE ODDITORIUM Party Foul Drag and Whiskey & Gogo, 7pm

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

JUNE 8-14, 2022

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THE ORANGE PEEL Shep Rose (TV personality), 8pm THE ROOT BAR Knotty G's (jam, rock, soul), 8pm UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Dirty Dawg (acoustic, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia), 3pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Zoe & Cloyd (bluegrass, folk, old-time), 8pm

SUNDAY, JUNE 12 185 KING STREET Open Electric Jam w/the King Street House Band ft Howie Johnson, 5pm ARCHETYPE BREWING Sunday Sessions w/ Riley Burke (singer-songwriter), 3pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Life's A Drag Brunch w/Ida Carolina, 12pm • SOL Dance Party w/ Zati (soul house) BLUE RIDGE HEMP CO. Comedy Night w/Cara Connors, 8pm

BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Steve Weams (acoustic), 2pm

SALVAGE STATION The Devon Allman Project (blues, rock), 7pm

CITIZEN VINYL Laura Boswell (singer-songwriter), 11am

STATIC AGE RECORDS P.e.r.i.s.h.e.s., Powder Snout & Telephone Larry (rock), 9pm

CROW & QUILL The Roaring Lions (parlour jazz)k 8pm FLEETWOOD'S Sunday Night Country w/Vaden Landers GUIDON BREWING Mark McDonald (folk, rock, Americana), 4pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Laura Blackley & The Wild Flowers (Americana, folk, blues), 2pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Blues and Brews w/Mr Jimmy & Friends, 1pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Irish Jam, 3:30pm ONE WORLD BREWING Jeffrey Messerole (Americana), 5pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST The Travis Williams Project (Arabic, jazz, rock), 6pm PLEB URBAN WINERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 4pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Circus Mutt (rock, bluegrass), 3pm THE GREY EAGLE Benefit Concert for Hawthorn & Fox Flower Montessori School, 6pm THE ODDITORIUM Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm ZILLICOAH BEER CO Sunday Bluegrass Jam Series, 4:30pm

MONDAY, JUNE 13 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Freshen Up Comedy Open Mic, 7pm BREWSKIES Open Jam w/Tall Paul, 7:30pm HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB Taylor Martin's Open Mic, 6:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7:30pm

LITTLE JUMBO Asheville Jazz Collective, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. It Takes All Kinds Open Mic Night, 7pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Petey and Jessie & The Jinx (country), 9pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Trivia by the River w/ James Harrod, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE • Afton Wolfe (blues, country, rock), 6pm • mewithoutYou (experimental rock), 8pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN John Doyle and Mick McAuley (Celtic duo), 7:30pm

TUESDAY, JUNE 14 185 KING STREET Tuesday Casual Collaborations hosted by Barrett Davis w/ Jackson Dulaney, Derrick Gardner & JT Linville, 6:30pm 5 WALNUT WINE BAR The John Henrys (jazz, swing), 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Downtown Karaoke w/ Ganymede, 9pm

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JUNE 8-14, 2022

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): “It takes a spasm of love to write a poem,” wrote Aries author Erica Jong. I will add that it takes a spasm of love to fix a problem with someone you care about. It also takes a spasm of love to act with kindness when you don’t feel kind. A spasm of love is helpful when you need to act with integrity in a confusing situation and when you want to heal the past so it doesn’t plague the future. All the above advice should be useful for you in the coming weeks, Aries. Are there any other variations you can think of? Fill in the blank in the next sentence: It takes a spasm of love to _____________. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “The great epochs of our life come when we gain the courage to rechristen our badness as what is best in us,” wrote philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. When I read that ambitious epigram, I didn’t know what he was referring to. By “badness,” did he mean the ugly, pathological parts of us? That couldn’t be right. So I read scholars who had studied the great philosopher. Their interpretation: Nietzsche believed the urges that some religions seek to inhibit are actually healthy for us. We should celebrate, not suppress, our inclinations to enjoy sensual delights and lusty living. In fact, we should define them as being the best in us. I encourage you Bulls to do just that in the coming weeks. It’s a favorable time to intensify your devotion to joy, pleasure and revelry. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): It’s an excellent time to correct and uplift your self-image. I invite you to speak the following affirmations aloud: “I am not damaged. I am not on the wrong path. I am not inept or ignorant or off-kilter. The truth is, I am learning how to live. I am learning how to be a soulful human and I am doing a reasonably good job at that task. I do a lot of things really well. I’m getting to know myself better every day. I constantly surprise myself with how skilled I am at adjusting to life’s constant changes. I AM AMAZED AT HOW MUCH PROGRESS I HAVE MADE IN LEARNING HOW TO LIVE.” CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the Tibetan language, the term nyingdu-la means “most honored poison of my heart.” Many of us know at least one person who fits that description: an enemy we love to hate or a loved one who keeps tweaking our destiny or a paradoxical ally who is both hurtful and helpful. According to my analysis, it’s time for you to transform your relationship with a certain nyingdu-la in your life. The bond between you might have generated vital lessons for you. But now it’s time for a re-evaluation and redefinition. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Don’t pray for the rain to stop,” advises Leo poet Wendell Berry. “Pray for good luck fishing when the river floods.” That’s useful advice for you, my dear. The situation you’re in could turn out to be a case of either weird luck or good luck. And how you interpret the situation may have a big impact on which kind of luck it brings. I urge you to define the potential opportunities that are brewing and concentrate on feeding them. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo writer Julio Cortázar (1914–1984) once remarked, “How tiring it gets being the same person all the time.” That’s surprising. In fact, Cortázar was an innovative and influential author who wrote over 30 books in four genres and lived for extended periods in five countries. It’s hard to imagine him ever being bored by his multifaceted self. Even if you’re not a superstar like Cortázar, Virgo, I expect you will be highly entertained and amused by your life in the coming weeks. I bet you will be even more interesting than usual. Best of all, you will learn many fresh secrets about your mysterious soul. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The blogger Frogbestfriend says, “One of the biggest problems with society nowadays is that I am so, so sleepy.” Frogbestfriend is humorously

JUNE 8-14, 2022

BY ROB BREZSNY

suggesting that his inability to maintain good sleep habits is rooted in civilization’s dysfunctions. He’s right, of course! Many of our seemingly personal problems are at least partially rooted in the pathological ways the whole world operates. Our culture influences us to do things that aren’t always healthy and wise. I bring this to your attention, Libra, because now is a favorable time to meditate on society’s crazy-making effects on you. Now is also a pivotal moment to heal yourself of those crazy-making effects. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Poet Maggie Smith writes, “We talk so much of light. Please let me speak on behalf of the good dark. Let us talk more of how dark the beginning of a day is.” I offer her proposal as a fertile theme for your meditations. Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Scorpios are most skilled at teasing out the good stuff from shadows, secrets and twilight. And your potency in these matters is even higher than usual right now. Do us all a favor and find the hidden redemptions and potential regenerations. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): When actors and other creative people in film win Oscars at the Academy Awards ceremony, they come on stage and deliver short talks, acknowledging their honor. These speeches often include expressions of gratitude. An analysis revealed that over the years, Sagittarian director Steven Spielberg has been thanked by winners more often than anyone else — even more than God. Based on my reading of astrological omens, I believe you deserve that level of appreciation in the coming weeks. Please show this horoscope to everyone you know who may be willing to carry out my mandate. Be proactive in collecting tribute, credit and favors. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In the ancient Greek story of Odysseus, the hero leaves his home in Ithaka to fight in the Trojan War. When the conflict is over, he yearns to return to the beloved life he left behind. But his journey takes 10 years. His tests and travails are many. The 20th-century Greek poet C. P. Cavafy offered advice to Odysseus at the beginning of his quest: “As you set out for Ithaka, hope your road is a long one, full of adventure, full of discovery . . . Keep Ithaca always in your mind. Arriving there is what you’re destined for. But don’t hurry the journey. Better if it lasts for years, so you’re old by the time you reach the island, wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way.” As you begin your new phase of returning home, Capricorn, I invite you to keep Cavafy’s thoughts in mind. (Read the poem: tinyurl.com/ HomeToIthaka. Translated by Edmund Keeley.) AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “I have never, ever, EVER met anyone who has regretted following their heart,” writes life coach Marie Forleo. But what exactly does she mean by “following their heart”? Does that mean ignoring cautions offered by your mind? Not necessarily. Does it require you to ignore everyone’s opinions about what you should do? Possibly. When you follow your heart, must you sacrifice money and status and security? In some cases, yes. But in other cases, following your heart may ultimately enhance your relationship with money and status and security. Anyway, Aquarius. I hope I’ve inspired you to meditate on what it means to follow your heart — and how you can do that intensely during the coming months. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Actor and author Jenny Slate testifies, “As the image of myself becomes sharper in my brain and more precious, I feel less afraid that someone else will erase me by denying me love.” That is the single best inspirational message I can offer you right now. In the coming months, you will earn the right and the capacity to make the same declaration. Your self-definition will become progressively clearer and stronger. And this waxing superpower will enable you to conquer at least some of your fear about not getting enough love.

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CLU B LA N D ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tuesday Night Funk Jam, 10pm CASCADE LOUNGE Tuesday Bluegrass Jam, 6pm CORK & KEG Jesse Lege Cajun Dance Party, 4pm FBO AT HOMINY CREEK Open Mic and Jam, 6pm FLEETWOOD'S Heavy Metal Mixer w/ Reuben, 6pm FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Team Trivia, 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Early Tuesday Jam w/ local musicians, 9pm

185 KING STREET Trivia and Karaoke, 7pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Beauty Parlor Comedy: Andrew Sleighter, 7pm • AQUANET Goth Party w/Ash Black, 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO. Trivia! Trivia! Night, 6:30pm DOUBLE CROWN Western Wednesday w/Kelsey Rae & Momma Molasses, 8pm FLEETWOOD'S Vominatrix, Kangarot & Cities Fall (acid grind), 10am HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic Hosted by Caleb Beissert, 8pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm THE DUGOUT Thursday Night Open Jam w/Paul Liford, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Jobi Riccio & Sadie Gustafson-Zook (singer-songwriter, classic country), 5pm THE ODDITORIUM City Mouse, NOMORE & Busy Weather (alt/ indie), 7pm THE POE HOUSE Team Trivia w/Wes Ganey, 7pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic, 6pm Wednesday Open Mic, 6pm

THURSDAY, JUNE 16

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Dead tribute), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Well-Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith & Moon Water Duo, 6pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Open Jam hosted by Lactones, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Jam, 5pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Amygdala, DsHk, Crucif**ks (hardcore punk), 9pm

LAZY HIKER BREWING SYLVA Trivia Night, 6:30pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR MGB (covers, singer-songwriter)k 7:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Mountain Music Jam, 6pm

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

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Wild Wednesdays w/All Local Musicians, 10pm

CORK & KEG Nadine Landry & Sammy Lind w/Fond d'Culotte (old time country/Cajun), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING Pingo Wednesdays, 7pm

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

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Of Good Nature and Leisureville (rock, funk, groove), 5:30pm

FEED & SEED The Byrds Bluegrass Band, 7pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING All Arts Open Mike w/ Mike Waters, 6pm THE ORANGE PEEL Aldous Harding (folk), 8pm TURGUA BREWING CO Tuesday Jam Sessions: Swing Jam, 5:30pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Tuesday Night Trivia, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

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

185 KING STREET Sideline (jam), 7pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Kiki Thursdays Drag and Dancing, 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm GIGI'S UNDERGROUND Mr Jimmy (blues), 7pm

HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Jacqueline Kelsh (folk, country), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Asheville Sessions ft Cary Fridley (jazz, blues, rock), 7pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE David Hughes (roots), 6pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Phirsty Phursdays Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 9pm ONE WORLD BREWING Isaac Hadden (jazz, funk-rock), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Magenta Sunshine (jam, rock), 6pm PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Ashley Heath and Her Heathens (Americana rock), 6:30pm RABBIT RABBIT Whiskey Meyers (Southern rock, country), 6pm THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR • Rum Punchlines Comedy Open Mic, 6pm • Karaoke w/Terraoke, 9pm THE GREY EAGLE Carrie Morrison and The Neverwhere Trio (singer-songwriter, rock), 5pm THE ODDITORIUM The Music Circuit Artist Showcase, 7pm THE ROOT BAR Allen Dale Sizemore, 6pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 9pm

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MARKETPLACE REAL ESTATE & RENTALS | ROOMMATES | JOBS | SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENTS | CLASSES & WORKSHOPS | MIND, BODY, SPIRIT MUSICIANS’ SERVICES | PETS | AUTOMOTIVE | XCHANGE | ADULT EMPLOYMENT GENERAL TOUR GUIDE-CDL DRIVERS If you are a "people person" you could be a great TOUR GUIDE! Part-time and seasonal FULL-TIME. Training provided. MUST have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Call 828-436-0202 or email Info@ GrayLineAsheville.com.

HUMAN SERVICES

EXPERIENCED CREDENTIALED COUNSELOR FIRST at Blue Ridge, a Peer Run, Peer Driven, Modified Therapeutic Community which is 12 Step Based with an Intensive Clinical Overlay is seeking a credentialed counselor to work with men and women in long term residential treatment and individuals in transitional housing. The position involves treatment planning, group and individual therapy sessions, and clinical interaction with a diverse population as they progress through our program. LPC/ LCMHC, LCSW, and/or LCAS preferred with one evening per week. Please contact careers@firstinc.org for more information. www.firstinc.org

SALES/MARKETING

PROFESSIONAL/ MANAGEMENT MOUNTAIN HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IS SEEKING A DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY IN ASHEVILLE, NC! To apply, click on the link to the Director of Philanthropy position profile at ArmstrongMcGuire.com/jobs. Upload cover letter, resume and salary requirements. Please provide all requested information to be considered.

CAREGIVERS/ NANNY SENIORS HELPING SENIORS Are you an active, mature person interested in helping other seniors? Check out SeniorCareAsheville. com or call 828-989-5671 for a meaningful part-time employment opportunity.

SALON/ SPA ATTN: BOOTH RENT OR COMMISSION HAIRSTYLISTS We have the perfect opportunity for you to set your schedule, surround yourself with talented stylists and work in a modern salon that has been in business for over 20 years Now is a great time to start in a new salon for your clients! Only 2 chairs available. Applicants must be experienced and professional. Stylists with existing clientele are preferred, but not required. We will provide opportunity to build with both booth rent or commission options. Signing bonus! Don’t miss this great opportunity, call today! Set up an interview at 828-236-9191.

XCHANGE

Community Action Opportunities HELPING PEOPLE. CHANGING LIVES.

SEEKING SUBCONTRACTORS: Community Action Opportunities is looking for reliable subcontractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, insulation, etc.) to perform residential weatherization services in FY 2022-23. Minority, women, disabled owned businesses are encouraged to apply.

Visit communityactionopportunities.org/contractors/ for details and application instructions. 38

JUNE 8-14, 2022

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SALES ASSISTANT Entry level administrative assistant position to our vibrant sales team. Position includes handling house accounts, organizing outreach schedules, collections, and other tasks in support of the sales staff. Strong organization and communications skills as well as computer competencies required. Opportunity for advancement depending on skill level and abilities. Includes benefits and a positive team environment with an emphasis on community engagement. Please send a resume and cover letter explaining why you are a good fit for Mountain Express to: xpressjob@ mountainx.com.

ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES STILL BUYING ANTIQUES Seeking old stuff! Cast iron, advertising signs, military, primitives, collections, art, pottery, estates, crocks, bottles, silver, license plates, unusual stuff, taxidermy, rifles, bbguns, more. Call/Text 828-582-6097,steadyaim1@ yahoo.com.

GENERAL MERCHANDISE GOT BEDBUGS? Kill them ALL yourself with HARRIS famous BEDBUG products. Available at all 3 MADDENS

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SERVICES AUDIO/VIDEO DISH TV SPECIAL $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-5661815 (AAN CAN) HUGHESNET SATELLITE INTERNET Finally, no hard data limits! Call Today for speeds up to 25mbps as low as $59.99/ mo! $75 gift card, terms apply. 1-866-544-5758. (AAN CAN)

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

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THE N EW Y OR K TI M ES C ROSSWORD P UZ Z LE edited by Will Shortz | No. 0504

ACROSS 1 Quickly microwave 4 Stock index founded in 1885, informally

Grants, Scholarships, Payment Plans based on eligibilty

10 Cooler in glasses

CenterForMassage.com/apply • 828-252-0058

13 Afflictions

Call or Apply Online

15 Elder Levy in “Schitt’s Creek” 16 Islanders’ grp.

M E S A L E S A S S O C I AT E I T T R A P Ten Thousand Villages, a unique, nonprofit retail organization, is currently recruiting for a part-time Sales Associate at our store location in Asheville.

Qualifications: • Enthusiastic support of and commitment to our mission and goals. • 1-2 years customer service and retail sales experience preferred. • Self -motivated, outgoing, energetic and enjoys working with people. • Basic arithmetic and data entry skills. • Ability to stand for extended periods of time and lift heavy objects. Living wage certified of $17.30 per hour No phone calls, please apply at our store downtown.

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17 People who acknowledge when they’ve been verbally bested? 19 Berkeley, familiarly 20 Paper opener 21 Two for a basket: Abbr.

PUZZLE BY ERIC BORNSTEIN

15 18

27 31

29 36

46 49

47 50

19 21

56 60

61 64 67

22 “Sweet!” 23 Ruins a shiny fabric, as a pet might?

62 Undefined ordinal

22 Maggie Smith, for one

44 At the original speed, in scores

63 Feared fifthcentury ruler

24 “I’ll do that right away!”

28 Shot taker

64 Diez menos dos

30 Computer scientist Turing

65 Turn red, maybe

25 International pact that ended in 2020

46 Psychoactive drug from a cactus

33 “Should that be true …”

66 Summit attendee

36 Determined to do

67 Corral, e.g.

27 Stratovolcano in Sicily

37 Power, as an engine 38 Embassy staffer … or a hint to 17-, 23-, 49- and 59-Across?

DOWN 1 Cylindrical pasta 2 ___ the way 3 Dog owned by a talking mouse

57 Revolutionary Trotsky

34 Took a load off

59 Eight pts.

35 Group of eight

42 Without

60 Fútbol cry 61 Game with the objective of winning all the cards

39 Suspend

6 King Tut’s land 7 Profundity 8 “Be right with you” 9 Director Anderson

49 Bad advice from grandpa?

10 Payroll deduction

54 Without

11 Parent on a field trip, often

58 Parabola piece

12 Woman’s name that sounds like a letter of the alphabet

59 Managed to stomach a cracker spread?

18 Run the show, say

56 Spammer’s medium

54 Castle material

32 Overwhelming amount

5 Cabana

55 Desire

53 10% offering

31 Bacchanalian cry

41 Colosseum country

47 MCAT subj.

52 Org. co-founded by W. E. B. Du Bois

30 Handel’s “La giustizia,” for one

40 “S.N.L.” alum Gasteyer

45 Numb, as a foot

51 Reversed

29 Fussy in the extreme

38 “The ___ have it!”

44 Skating jump

50 Volkswagen compact

26 Blast with a beam of photons

4 Equipment not needed in miniature golf

43 Lead-in to girl

48 “So true!”

14 Vet

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JUNE 8-14, 2022

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