Mountain Xpress 06.23.21

OUR 27TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 27 NO. 47 JUNE 23-29, 2021

C O NT E NT S

FEATURES

PAGE 22

NEWS

NEWS

SKY’S THE LIMIT 6 HEAR YE, HEAR YE Proposed noise ordinance could reshape downtown’s future

8 ZIP TO IT Electric bikes poised for larger role in WNC transportation

Nearly a decade after Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance became the first group to move into the then-derelict Foundy Street warehouses, the company returns to the now-thriving space for a trio of outdoor performances.

COVER PHOTO Irwin Fayne

15 ‘HORDES OF AUTOMOBILES’ City residents bemoan increasing traffic, 1925

3 LETTERS 3 CARTOON: MOLTON

WELLNESS

5 CARTOON: BRENT BROWN 18 GETTING ON ALONE Buncombe among state’s leading counties in elder abuse

A&C

ARCHIVES

COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

20 OPEN HOUSE Summer in Asheville kicks off with brand-new and freshly reimagined restaurants

6 NEWS 12 BUNCOMBE BEAT 16 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 18 WELLNESS 20 ARTS & CULTURE 28 CLUBLAND

A&C

30 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 24 SETTLE THE SCORE New local album interprets a classic Chinese film

30 CLASSIFIEDS 31 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

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STAFF PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Jeff Fobes ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson EDITOR: Thomas Calder ASSISTANT EDITOR: Daniel Walton ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Thomas Calder OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose STAFF REPORTERS: Able Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Cayla Clark, Brooke Randle, Jessica Wakeman, Daniel Walton COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Cayla Clark CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Mark Barrett, Leslie Boyd, Bill Kopp, Cindy Kunst, Gina Smith, Kay West ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson LEAD DESIGNER: Scott Southwick GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Olivia Urban MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Sara Brecht, David Furr, Andy Hall, Tiffany Wagner OPERATIONS MANAGER: Able Allen INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES & WEB: Bowman Kelley BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler-Tanner ADMINISTRATION, BILLING, HR: Able Allen, Jennifer Castillo DISTRIBUTION: Susan Hutchinson, Cindy Kunst DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS: Desiree Davis, Henry Mitchell, Tiffany Narron, Kelley Quigley, Angelo Santa Maria, Carl & Debbie Schweiger, Jess Traver

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OPINION

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

Asheville area’s boom is ruining quality of life It seems finally the rapid, unchecked development/housing boom we have been experiencing here in and around Asheville has become enough of a concern that it’s filling letters, commissioner and city meetings, campaign rhetoric, articles and so forth. I just read “Cutting Through the Clamor: Asheville Needs Less Shouting, More Listening,” [June 16, Xpress].

Oh what a levelheaded, community building, let’s-make-everybody-happier approach Ms. Liss offers.

What she seems to be ignorant about and why “people are screaming at officials” is the fact that the cards aren’t stacked fairly. Ultimately, favoritism is handed toward developers and bottom lines, while major impacting projects are slipped past under the radar. People don’t get a fair chance to oppose such, let alone win.

Another letter spoke of how south and east of Asheville were filled up, but there was still room here to the north [“Hoping That Asheville Isn’t ‘Sold Out,’” June 16, Xpress]. Well.

Not for long, at the rate Weaverville is booming. I have owned my little acre for 31 years now. Worked really hard pouring my money, love and sweat into it. Raised my daughter here. Buried 10 pets over the years.

Planted trees, shrubs and flowers.

Many slow-growing wildflowers.

Built my fabulous studio. Not something I can easily walk away from.

(Plus, I’m old now).

Last year, 12 houses went in at the beginning of my road. One was built directly across from my neighbor friends. The new neighbors put up a tall privacy fence that completely blocks the view of the sunsets my friends once enjoyed on their little porch. Now the new house has the view. The owners are oblivious of what they ruined. ... The deer I enjoyed left. The top of the hill was bulldozed and carved up, and only one ancient oak remains. I think.

There were four. My peace has been shattered, and I worry houses will go in right next to me. I need these woods. Not more people. ...

Driving to Asheville for work, I’m experiencing the same traffic gridlocks mentioned in still another letter [“Dense Development Will Ruin Asheville Forever,” June 9, Xpress], and now I avoid downtown at all costs. It’s painful watching tourists with their bags stepping over homeless people as if they aren’t there. I moved here in ’83 when downtown was dead. I was happy to see the ren-

C A RT O O N B Y R AN DY M O L T O N ovations and vibrancy when it first started to be revived. But now it’s gone the way of faux hip for the wellto-do. And even the RAD is pricing out the very artists that turned it in to something to begin with. Weaverville is bumper to bumper on its two main roads. With apartments, condos and subdivisions going in everywhere.

Great job, Weaverville! You were my alternative place to run errands to Asheville. Now where?

What’s being done to farmlands and mountains here is irreversible.

It will come back to bite us. With more droughts, flash floods and water issues. Mudslides, too. My home that I have loved so dearly is being inundated, and quality of life ruined before my eyes. My little sanctuary that brought me escape and peace violated. While houses go up with no regard how they affect their neighbors.

Yeah, people are screaming. They tried following the rules to get their voices heard and have been mostly ignored. Time and again, our local politicians sell out. It’s not an even playing field. And. It’s not sustainable. The fragile ecology of WNC will be devoured. By ever-increasing human numbers and the climate change they cause. And I feel utterly helpless as I watch it all unfold.

— Troy Amastar Alexander Editor’s note: A longer version of this letter will be posted at mountainx.com.

I don’t like seeing all of the deforestation going on. We are green and should stay that way.

— Shirley Waterkotte Asheville

Asheville needs a population cap I’ve lived in Asheville over 40 years.

I moved here in 1980 and fell in love with the lovely views, fresh air, friendly people and nonhurried way of life.

It was a small town back then with a population of about 50,000. Even though I was advised not to open a business here due to the lack of people, I loved the area so much that I went for it. The town and lifestyle here made it worth it to me to make less money than where I came from.

As an artist, I loved the camaraderie of so many other artists in Asheville.

Asheville was pretty run-down back then and from my perspective,

it was artists who moved in and began to revitalize downtown. We were a town of lively entrepreneurs.

Every shop was a unique business, except for Woolworths, which still has charm. Once we got Asheville rolling in a good direction and felt the support of the community for our businesses, the corporates seized upon the opportunity to ride on our unique coattails. For the past three decades, we’ve been robbed of the town we knew and loved and pushed out to make room for their greed.

The tourism officials of Asheville have spent way too much of our taxpayers’ money to entice more people to come. All the new hotels weren’t paying into the infrastructure that was needed, but instead their taxes were recirculated into advertisements to bring even more tourists here. The infrastructure has been directed to tourists; the noise pollution is over the top; crime has escalated; the traffic is horrible; rampant homelessness is embarrassing; and most of us don’t even venture to downtown anymore.

Many have had to move on because of the ridiculous increases in rent, real estate, property taxes and dismissal of officials to really care about permanent residents.

I live in Woodfin now, near the big water park that is being built. If there were any sanity to that plan, there would have been hydropower features installed to benefit the community. I put forth a proposal for that a few years ago, which was never responded to. It’s all about more revenue for the city, with a lack of care for the environment. At this critical time in the history of climate changes, this is no time to escalate the damage being done. The population has risen from 50,000 to over [92,000] since I’ve been here, and I believe we need a population cap now. Asheville is failing. It has lost its charm. It has

CONTINUES ON PAGE 4

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OPINION

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

lost numerous species of plants and birds. It has lost water purity. It has lost numerous eccentric artists, which made Asheville what it was.

Asheville’s not weird anymore, and I’m sad about that.

— Valerie Naiman Woodfin

Today’s concerned citizens must stop The Bluffs One of my neighbors on Richmond Hill told me how, 25 years ago, concerned citizens joined forces to fight off an asphalt plant that was proposed for Riverside Drive. Can you imagine? Not far from where so many good things are happening now. Others tell how downtown Asheville was nearly leveled in 1980 and replaced with a massive shopping mall that would now be an obsolete eyesore and not at all who we are.

These stories remind me how mitigation and careful planning are so much less costly than retrofitting.

What if those who came before us had allowed such atrocities?

These stories remind me that we do not simply live here; we are care-

takers of this special place. Where (and for what) do you stand?

In all the discussions surrounding The Bluffs megadevelopment being proposed to wipe out a pristine forest next to Asheville’s Richmond Hill Park, I have not heard one intelligent/forward-thinking person voice support for this project or explain how dumping thousands of renters, along with congested traffic, guns and toilets, at the end Richmond Hill Drive — a heavily traveled road that has been denied speed humps due to fire safety concerns and sloping toward the third-oldest river in the world — will improve our city or quality of life. Traffic and environmental issues, along with living wages, infrastructure, public safety, generational wealth and our very existence, are all intertwined.

We’re at a critical moment. If we do not stop The Bluffs, we will have no one to blame but ourselves for the unraveling of all that we have stitched together over time.

Few have crystalized it as well as Asheville’s own Wilma Dykeman in The French Broad: “Dwellers of the French Broad country are learning an ancient lesson in all their resources: it is easy to destroy. Because the river belongs to everyone, it is the possession of no one. And as towns and villages grew, they dumped their trash. Filth is the price we pay for apathy.”

Aren’t you glad that there were wise and visionary activists before us who chose not to be apathetic? What will your legacy be?

Please join concerned citizens in person at The Bluffs hearing on June 24 at 6:15 p.m. at the Woodfin Community Center, 20 Community Road (although the hearing may be postponed). Wear green to show solidarity.

We must protect our future and stop The Bluffs. In fact, the best use of Tourism Development Authority marketing dollars would be to buy the tract and put it into land conservation for future generations.

What better/more focused advertising could there be than to position Asheville as a visionary city?

— Robert McGee Asheville.

Asheville City Schools’ plans bode ill for students and city There is a move afoot in the Asheville City Schools district that bodes ill for our students and the city’s future. The ACS board and Superintendent Gene Freeman owe 4

JUNE 23-29, 2021

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our community an explanation for plans that clearly align with policies put forward by right-wing Republicans who aim to end public education in America. The strategy has been to shift school systems to charters, resegregate students and gradually weaken public schools.

In March, Freeman told Xpress, “Families of color have unfairly limited elementary school options for their children because the district is mandated to maintain antiquated racial quotas that were put into place 30 years ago” [“Separate But Better?

Asheville City Schools Seeks Changes to Desegregation Order,” March 17].

He advocates elimination of current integration rules but provides no data to back up his assertions.

Also, he laments ACS Black enrollment was down to 18% from 48% in 2004 and argues that Blacks are leaving Asheville at an “alarming rate.” But the district Black schoolage population is 17.6%, so why the alarm? From 2000-19, Asheville’s Black population fell 16%, while the white population increased by 36%.

The GOP plan is “to introduce normal market forces.” In a recent phone conversation, Freeman explicitly stated that he believes in the market versus the integration model for school choice.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg was the poster child for school integration until it wasn’t. Student performance rose dramatically into the 1990s as the system integrated, then a shift in policy permitted resegregation and expansion of charters. Test scores fell. The most segregated schools, whether white or Black, delivered the worst results.

Nor is CMS alone. All across the country, schools have resegregated with calamitous results.

As demonstrated in a 2012 study by the Civil Rights Project, “The consensus of nearly sixty years of social science research on the harms of school segregation is clear: separate remains extremely unequal.”

Now ACS is proposing a turn away from integration without offering any tangible reason for the change.

The new Asheville PEAK Academy, doubtless well-intentioned, is participating in the shift. The apparent goal is to pull Black students out of ACS. The PODS (Positive Opportunities Develop Success) activated during the COVID-19 crisis do the same. The ACS embrace of CHOSEN, a religious-based educational approach endorsed by Freeman, is another.

But the best academic research indicates that segregation always results in lower success for both white and nonwhite students. Meanwhile, ACS preschool classes are being

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN handed off to the Asheville Housing Authority, a move guaranteed to sort students by race.

Interestingly enough on its website, Forthright Advising — the Raleigh PR firm Freeman hired for $90K — touts its work for … the RowanSalisbury school district in 2017 and 2018. The resulting GOP legislation … exempted Rowan-Salisbury from rules governing North Carolina public schools. …

ACS claims to value transparency. The community deserves answers, but instead Superintendent Freeman obfuscates and complains that Asheville’s concerned citizens are the problem. Rather than listen to the parents of the students he is charged with educating, he told Xpress, “I mean, when I took this job, had I known how difficult the community was, I’m not so sure that it would have been something that I was eager to jump into” [“Use Your Words: Parent’s Story Highlights Difficulties Connecting with Asheville City Schools,” March 24].

“Difficult” because we actually give a damn. Asheville deserves better.

— Cecil Bothwell Asheville Editor’s note: Xpress contacted Freeman, Asheville City Schools and the Board of Education with a summary of the letter writer’s points, but ACS spokesperson Ashley-Michelle

Thublin declined to provide response for publication.

a

Trump and his WNC followers I have submitted this letter to Mountain Xpress because one of the key players … is Sidney Powell, who has a home in Biltmore Forest, and because I believe Xpress readers are intelligent enough to get it. I also believe that North Carolina as a whole will have a severe problem when and if Trump and his family are arrested.

Asheville is my hometown, and while I was there a few years ago, I saw the Trump campaign rally and believe there are a large amount of Trump die-hards in Western North Carolina.

Trump, his family and others, including Republican national and state politicians, realize that the only strategy many of them have to jail in the near future is to whip up as much political violence and calls for insurrection as they possibly can to their heavily armed followers so that the state attorneys general who are after them will be told to drop the charges or face armed civil war. This is not a joke, and if you do not believe this is going on now today, well, please think seriously about it.

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NEWS

Hear ye, hear ye

Proposed noise ordinance could reshape downtown’s future

BY BROOKE RANDLE brandle@mountainx.com In case you haven’t heard, Asheville is in the middle of a clamorous debate.

What started in 2018 as an effort to update the city’s noise ordinance has led to an impasse among different community factions concerning the specifics. In its current form, the draft ordinance would use decibel readings to validate nonresidential noise complaints and set daytime and evening limits while requiring venues to apply for exceedance permits based on the number of events they host per year.

And while the law would apply to all properties within the city limits, downtown Asheville, home to the largest number of bars, restaurants, music venues and event spaces, might bear the brunt of the revisions. Music industry professionals fear the proposed changes could restrict downtown businesses and culture; meanwhile, some residents say the ordinance doesn’t go far enough to protect the health of those living in and around the central business district.

Despite the lack of consensus, however, on June 1 the Public Safety Committee — consisting of Vice Mayor Sheneika Smith and Council members Kim Roney and Sandra Kilgore — unanimously approved sending the proposed ordinance to City Council for review and a possible vote by midsummer.

Key concerns, including the allowable decibel levels and specified enforcement mechanisms, are still being hashed out. And in the meantime, the issue has ignited a fierce debate over downtown’s future, calling into question the ability of Asheville’s entertainment industry to peaceably coexist with nearby residents as the city continues to grow.

A BOLD VISION

Although the local economy is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, a walk down almost any downtown street on a Friday night reveals a bustling city that’s brimming with tourists and residents alike. But it wasn’t always that way, says Pat Whalen, president of Public Interest Projects. The downtown development and investment company was founded by noted philanthropist Julian Price, who died in 2001.

“I moved here in 1976, and Asheville was a pretty quiet place,” remembers Whalen. “Downtown was pretty dead.

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LOUD AND CLEAR: A collaboration of The Orange Peel and Asheville Pizza & Brewing, Rabbit Rabbit is an open-air amphitheater located in downtown that is projected to hold thousands of concertgoers. Some downtown residents are concerned about rising sound levels, while others welcome the new venue for contributing to Asheville’s music and arts scene. Photo courtesy of Rabbit Rabbit A lot of the buildings were boarded up, and at 5 o’clock nobody was downtown. It was like you could bowl down the sidewalks if you wanted.”

Whalen was working as Price’s attorney when he was asked to help direct some of his client’s fortune into revitalizing downtown. Beginning in the ’90s, Whalen says Price began buying and renovating neglected downtown buildings through the newly formed Public Interest Projects, aiming to lure both visitors and locals downtown.

In cooperation with the city, the Asheville Downtown Association and other visionaries and dreamers, Price and Whalen worked to turn the upper floors of their buildings into apartments while investing in both new and existing street-level businesses. The recipients included such downtown fixtures as Malaprop’s Bookstore and the Laughing Seed Café. Despite the naysayers who claimed that no one would want to live downtown, what evolved in the following decades was a level of success that Whalen says the two men never imagined.

“It was great: People loved the idea of living downtown, and our

MOUNTAINX.COM

apartments rented really quickly,” he recalls. “We were trying to create this mix of businesses that would attract people to live downtown. It’s kind of ironic now, but that was the goal, and that’s still the goal.”

SOUNDING OFF

Today, roughly 1,500 people live in downtown Asheville in a diverse array of swanky condos, newly constructed apartments and renovated older buildings, and Asheville regularly receives accolades for being both a music-friendly destination and a livable city. As a result, both property values and noise levels have risen steadily.

By 2018, growing numbers of residents in and around downtown were calling on the city to update its noise ordinance, which hasn’t seen major revisions since 2000; the existing law, they maintained, had failed to protect them from the noise generated by commercial properties.

In 2019, the Development Services Department, led by its director, Ben Woody, hosted an extensive sched-

ule of public engagement sessions aimed at understanding community concerns and taking suggestions for possible solutions.

But even as those efforts collided head-on with the COVID-19 pandemic, work on the ordinance continued.

Last December, the city released a draft that was withdrawn after music industry professionals sharply criticized the recommended penalties for venues that exceeded the proposed decibel limits.

The current draft would limit daytime sound limits in the central business district to no more than 75 decibels from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., decreasing to 65 decibels after that. Music venues could apply for up to 30 exceedance permits per year that would allow up to 85 decibels, measured at the sound receiver’s property rather than the venue’s property line.

THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE

Despite Woody’s efforts to help community stakeholders reach consensus, disagreements remain.

Rick Freeman, president of the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods, says the proposed 75 decibel daytime limit doesn’t go far enough to protect downtown residents and those living adjacent to commercial districts from potentially harmful sound.

“Sixty-five decibels is just a number to most people, but that’s the equivalent of having people with a brisk conversation on your back deck all night long,” he explains. “And 70 and 75 is like a vacuum cleaner running full throttle in your backyard all day.

Those are the things that we think are just inappropriate and unhelpful.”

CAN recommends cutting the daytime level to 72, with additional evening and late night reductions.

Those changes might seem minor, but Freeman says even a small rise in decibels can significantly boost the potential for hearing damage. He cites a 1999 World Health Organization study that said continued exposure to excessive noise can negatively impact children’s development and increase the risk of diseases including cardiovascular illness and diabetes.

Jessica Tomasin, who manages Echo Mountain recording studio, takes a different view. She says Asheville Music Professionals, a nonprofit she co-founded, has been in discussions with both CAN and the city to ensure that the proposed ordinance is fair to Asheville’s multimillion-dollar entertainment sector.

“We started having these conversations in early 2019, because as Asheville Music Professionals and as an industry, we believe the noise ordinance can be a good thing,” Tomasin explains. “And if we want to be considered a legitimate music city, then that’s something that definitely comes with that territory.”

While conceding that the city is within its rights to consider new sound limits, however, she maintains that music venues have received extra scrutiny because they’re one of the few noise sources that residents can hold accountable.

“There’s a lot of things they can’t control, like drunk people, like cars.

Construction is another thing,” Tomasin points out. “I can imagine how frustrating that must be, especially if you’re somebody who works from home. If we’re talking about a power drill that’s going at 130 decibels all day, when it finally stops at 6 o’clock, I’m sure you want it to be quiet. But then is it really fair to penalize music because you can’t control the drill?”

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Whalen says he doesn’t receive many noise complaints from renters in

“At some point, we have to be able to fight for our industry.”

— Jessica Tomasin, Asheville Music Professionals the buildings his company manages, but he has seen an increase in complaints by downtown condo owners.

Bob Clifford says he’s lived in a condo off Church Street for the past 10 years and that while the area is getting noisier, that just comes with the territory.

“Most of the increase has been pedestrian flow to and from the South Slope, and there’s no controlling that.

If people are drunk at 2 a.m. and feel the need to yell, they do. I enjoy being able to walk everywhere. But at the same time, I’m aware that that comes with a bit of a cost.”

Nevertheless, Clifford does support the idea of a decibel-based ordinance to help regulate the sound from area businesses.

Allison Simpkins, who’s lived downtown for the last four years, says a desire to be in the center of the action was why she decided to move to the central business district.

“One of the main reasons we moved from the outskirts of town is that we wanted to be in walkable proximity to breweries, restaurants and music,” she explains. “If we wanted to be away from the Pubcycle, music and mobile comedy tours, we would’ve stayed in Woodfin.”

But Steve Levenberg, who owns a condo in The Aston, says he’s concerned about Rabbit Rabbit, an openair venue on Coxe Avenue that opened last August. It’s just a block away from the historic residence, and there’s a direct sightline from his unit to the stage. Although Rabbit Rabbit has yet to actually host a concert, Levenberg maintains that it’s a game-changer for downtown residents. The sound coming from the amphitheater, he predicts, will be “overwhelming.”

“It’s a precedent-setter that will, sadly, really affect some downtown property owners’ property values, because you go to sell your property and down the street is Rabbit Rabbit blasting you out of there twice a week,” says Levenberg, who serves on the board of the the 14-unit complex’s homeowners association. “It’s going to have a real negative effect.”

Liz Tallent, a partner in the venture who is Pat Whalen’s daughter, says the club plans to end concerts by 10 p.m., though the ordinance would allow later showtimes with the necessary permits. Tallent also manages The Orange Peel on Biltmore Avenue; both venues were developed

by Public Interest Projects.

Tomasin, meanwhile, says that Asheville’s lively music scene and businesses like Rabbit Rabbit are part

of what draws people here to begin with. “It’s hard not to see it as a form of privilege,” she argues. “There’s no acknowledgment of the work that was put in that made the property value $500 a square foot.”

THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ Tomasin and Freeman say their respective organizations, AMP and CAN, have been working closely with each other and with city staff to try to reach agreement on the allowable decibel levels. But so far, “We’ve hit a stalemate,” Freeman reports.

“Lots of people in the music business declared that any noise ordinance at all would be the end of live music in Asheville. There is no proof that that is the case,” he asserts. “And I would just say that we should all work together — not as a result of fear but as a result of respect for each other — and try to find reasonable common ground.”

Tomasin, though, is determined to make sure that music venues get a fair shake. “We want to be good neighbors; we want to be able to negotiate in good faith. But at some point, we have to be able to fight for our industry. We bring a lot of money to this town, and we employ a lot of people who live here.

We make up the second-biggest sector in the creative jobs in this community.

It’s worth fighting for, and it’s worth making some considerations for.”

To that end, she says, Asheville Music Professionals plans to collect decibel readings from around town to help educate City Council and members of the public so they can make informed decisions about whether the proposed levels are reasonable for downtown businesses. For his part, however, Freeman says CAN plans to pressure Council members to lower the decibel limits by reminding them of their responsibility for their constituents’ health and safety.

Whalen, meanwhile, points out that Julian Price’s original vision was of a downtown where local businesses and residents coexisted.

“I think it’s a little hard for somebody if they bought a condo, particularly if things change around them.

Our goal for Asheville has always been that it would be this great urban, livable place. And reading some of these condo owners’ comments, it doesn’t sound very livable. But it is an urban place. And to be a city means we’re going to keep evolving and growing, and that’s going to cause some more of these tensions.” X

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7

NEWS

Zip to it

Electric bikes poised for larger role in WNC transportation

BY DANIEL WALTON dwalton@mountainx.com On any given sunny afternoon, the recently completed Wilma Dykeman Greenway in Asheville’s River Arts District buzzes with the whir of spokes. Bicyclists cruise alongside the French Broad, taking advantage of a path that’s safely isolated from cars, smoothly paved — and almost completely flat.

Leave the floodplain for the slopes that lead into downtown, and bicycles become a much less common sight. While recreational pedalers are drawn to the ease of riverside routes, Western North Carolina’s rugged topography makes cycling a challenging prospect for many who might use bikes as transportation in daily life.

According to the 2019 American Community Survey compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, just 0.2% of workers in the four-county Asheville metropolitan area (Buncombe,

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Haywood, Henderson and Madison) commute by bike, less than half the national average. By comparison, 79.2% of area employees drive alone to work; 7.8% carpool, with the remainder walking, taking public transit or working at home.

Torin Kexel thinks he can change those numbers. Together with his wife, Alice, and business partner Ritchie Rozzelle, he opened Asheville’s first dedicated dealership for electric bicycles in May at 225 Coxe Ave. The business is co-located with The Flying Bike, an e-bike tour business that the Kexels have operated since 2017.

“E-bikes just in themselves allow people access to a lot of places that they might not otherwise go if they were on what my mechanic phrased as ‘acoustic bikes,’” Kexel says. “In Asheville, you can’t go more than a half-mile without hitting a hill. These just flatten the hills.”

And the time is ripe for e-bikes to take off, suggests Rozzelle. As engineers work to evolve other forms of

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electric transportation, such as cars and buses, technological improvements in cost and efficiency will likely trickle down to lighter vehicles such as bikes.

“There’s a future where the components, the battery and motor, are getting smaller and cheaper, so that there shouldn’t be much reason why you couldn’t get an electric version of almost any bike. I think it’s going to become much more the norm rather than the exception,” Rozzelle says. And that shift, he continues, could help transform how WNC gets around.

LEAN GREEN MACHINES

Research on the transportation impacts of e-bikes, says Tristan Winkler, director of the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization, indicates that they can make a significant dent in automobile use. He cites a 2017 survey of e-bike owners, conducted by the Portland,

Ore.-based National Institute for Transportation and Communities, which found that nearly 46% of commuting trips and over 30% of personal errands made by e-bike would otherwise have been made by car.

“Why do people travel the way they do? Really, it’s habit,” Winkler says. “We’ve all gotten into these habits based on safety, convenience, cost and general enjoyment. I think e-bikes are a new product that might make some people rethink their habits.”

Rozelle has already seen this rethinking in action through the bike dealership. He recalls selling an e-bike to a cook at The Lobster Trap in downtown Asheville who was looking for a new way to commute.

“He would have probably in some other scenario bought a scooter or an old car,” Rozelle says. “But he was interested in having something quiet and clean that could get him

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to work easily and affordably, so he bought an e-bike strictly for that utilitarian purpose.”

Compared to both gasoline-powered and electric cars, e-bikes are strikingly less polluting. According to the nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists, gas-only cars emit the equivalent of 381 grams (0.84 pounds) of carbon dioxide per mile; the power generated to run an electric car creates 123 grams (0.27 pounds) of CO2 per mile. The NITC estimates that running an e-bike emits less than 5 grams (0.01 pounds) of CO2 per mile.

Although e-bikes are more expensive than comparable standard bicycles — Pedego, the brand sold by the Kexels and Rozzelle, offers models ranging from $1,700 to $5,500 new — they cost less than most used cars, prices of which have been surging in recent months. And with a range of up to 55 miles on a single charge, Rozzelle says, e-bikes could complete most commutes within Buncombe County or even between Asheville and Hendersonville.

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vision, has sought ways to jumpstart the wider adoption of cycling and other forms of transport beyond the car. In 2018, the city contracted with Charlotte-based Alta Planning and Design to conduct a feasibility study on establishing bike-share and e-scooter programs.

The nearly $64,000 study, completed in May 2019, recommended that Asheville adopt an e-bike share system with designated parking stations at a potential cost of $3.4 million over five years. Although the results were shared with several city committees, staff never brought the proposal before City Council.

“At that time the bike-share and e-scooter industries were rapidly evolving, and the legal system (including in North Carolina) was attempting to catch up. Additionally, community input that was received during the development of the draft plan was very split on whether e-scooters would be appropriate in Asheville,” says Jessica Morriss, the city’s assistant transportation director, regarding the project’s stalled progress. “There also was no identified budget to implement either the bike-share or an e-scooter program.

These reasons ultimately led us to decide to pause the conclusion of the study.”

Morriss says city staff has recently restarted conversations on the bike share portion of the study with the Bicycle Pedestrian Task Force and the Multimodal Transportation Commission. She adds that Asheville is also developing master plans for greenways, accessibility and pedestrian infrastructure to further nonautomobile transportation and will conduct additional public engagement in the coming months.

Rozelle, who previously worked as the transportation demand management coordinator for the Land of Sky Regional Council, worries that Asheville may be unprepared

for the change in transit modes he anticipates. “I think the city’s going to find itself in a place of catching up with the demand that’s created by e-bikes,” he says. “Before this, the hills were kind of keeping the number of bikers low. Now, that’s not an impediment.”

PAVING THE WAY

Winkler with the FBRMPO says that the best way local governments can respond to e-bikes is by constructing more bike infrastructure.

He emphasizes the need to stitch together existing routes, as outlined in the 2013 Blue Ridge Bike Plan, and create regional interconnectivity through projects like the proposed Hellbender Regional Trail.

Federal action, Winkler adds, may help WNC build out those facilities.

He points to additional transportation funding approved by Congress as part of COVID-19 relief bills, as well as $20 billion for roadway safety and “vulnerable users” — including cyclists — included in President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan infrastructure proposal. Winkler says Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has also expressed greater willingness to think beyond the car in his department’s work.

But regardless of governmental policies, Torin Kexel is confident that e-bike use will grow across the region. The experience of zipping up a hill on electric power, he says, is enough to make converts out of first-time riders.

“I’ve seen people, 80% of whom have never been on an e-bike before, make joyous noises right here in this parking lot when they first pedal out. If I could have a montage of all the ‘Woo! Wow!’ moments, it’d be incredible,” Kexel says. The use of e-bikes is, he says, “really going to replace car miles, because it’s more joyful.” X

Getting equipped Many of the region’s other bicycle shops offer electric bike options alongside traditional models. The following local retailers are among those with e-bikes in inventory.

Asheville Bicycle Co. 1000 Merrimon Ave., Asheville. avl.mx/9mb

Motion Makers Bicycle Shop 878 Brevard Road, Asheville. avl.mx/9m9

Liberty Bicycles 1378 Hendersonville Road, Asheville. avl.mx/9m3

Sycamore Cycles 743 Locust St., Hendersonville. avl.mx/9mc

M2S Bikes 206 Vista Blvd., Arden. avl.mx/9md

Youngblood Bicycles 233 Merrimon Ave., Asheville. avl.mx/9m4

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JUNE 23-29, 2021

11

BUNCOMBE BEAT

Buncombe budget hikes taxes, funds rebate program As the Buncombe County Tax Department taketh away, so may the county’s Health and Human Services giveth. That was the gist of the proposal for property tax relief that Phillip Hardin, Buncombe’s economic services director, outlined during a June 15 briefing to the county Board of Commissioners.

Buncombe’s fiscal year 2021-22 budget — passed unanimously by the board at its regular meeting later that day — includes an effective property tax increase of 2 cents per $100 of valuation. For the median home in the county, that equates to a rise of about 16%.

However, many modest homes saw higher percentage increases in value than did more expensive properties during the county’s recently completed revaluation. Commissioners had expressed concerns that low-income residents would thus bear a disproportionate share of the tax hike and asked staff to explore how that burden might be reduced.

In the program as described by Hardin, homeowning households making up to 80% of the area median income ($60,100 for a family of four) could apply for county assistance. The grants would cover increases in tax bills from 2020 to 2021 — but only up to $1,000 total and only for Buncombe County and city of Asheville taxes.

Tax hikes for other municipalities, Asheville City Schools and volunteer fire districts would remain the homeowner’s responsibility.

Jennifer Pike, the county’s tax collector, said that the grants would be significantly more generous than existing property tax relief programs.

Those exemptions are limited to residents who are over age 65, disabled or veterans, and have lower income thresholds.

FULL HOUSE: A capacity crowd of Buncombe County staff and residents awaits the Board of Commissioners’ vote on the county’s fiscal year 2021-22 budget. Photo by Daniel Walton Buncombe’s budget includes $300,000 for the grant program, for which Hardin said residents could apply on a first-come, first-served basis once tax bills are sent in August.

But board Chair Brownie Newman encouraged staff to think about simpler or automatic approaches to providing aid, suggesting that the application process might prove a barrier to those most in need.

“We know from some of the other communities that are doing this that they’ve had trouble really getting participation,” Newman said. “Our intention is to create a program that would be widely utilized by the residents of our county who would meet the criteria.”

Feedback on the proposal can be submitted through Friday, June 25, to prteam@buncombecounty.org.

COUNTY ENDS COVID-19 EMERGENCY

More than 15 months after Buncombe declared a local state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020, commissioners unanimously approved a resolution declaring the emergency’s end on June 15. Stacie Saunders, the county’s public health director, delivered her last formal COVID-19 briefing earlier that day.

“Due to the success of masking, social distancing precautions and COVID-19 vaccination efforts, we

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have seen a decline in COVID-19 cases in Buncombe County,” said Angela Ledford, a planner with Buncombe’s emergency management team. As of June 15, the county was seeing just 15 cases per 100,000 residents per week, with a test positivity rate of 1.2%.

While Ledford emphasized that the pandemic is not over, especially for those who remain unvaccinated, she said the county no longer needs its emergency operations center to coordinate a response. She also noted that Buncombe’s COVID-19 vaccine operation will move to the county’s Health and Human Services building at 40 Coxe Ave. on Wednesday, June 23.

— Daniel Walton X

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JUNE 23-29, 2021

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FEA T U RE S

Q&A with Joshua Darty, director of Riverside Cemetery When Joshua Darty moved to Asheville in 2006 with a freshly minted forest management degree from N.C. State University, an open position at the city’s Parks and Recreation Department seemed like a potential fit. But when he showed up for his interview at 53 Birch St., he was in for a surprise.

“I’m like, ‘This is a cemetery! I think I’ve got the wrong address!’”

Darty recalls.

He had the correct address, in fact, and became a landscaper for Riverside Cemetery, a city-owned 87-acre burial ground and public park. In 2013, he became the cemetery’s director, and he’s since learned that the job entails a lot more than administering funerals and maintaining the scenic surroundings.

Darty has also become an amateur historian and teaches visitors about Asheville’s history through the stories of its deceased. Since Riverside Cemetery’s establishment in 1885, it’s served as the final resting place for many of Asheville’s famous residents: Thomas Wolfe, O. Henry, Zebulon Vance, George Masa,

GRAVEYARD SHIFT: Riverside Cemetery Director Joshua Darty keeps history alive at the city-owned burial ground. Photo by Jessica Wakeman

SNAPSHOT

LINE OF DUTY: Nurses and their community supporters picketed outside Mission Hospital on June 15 to protest what they called unsafe staffing levels enacted by the facility’s owner, HCA Healthcare. National Nurses Organizing Committee-North Carolina, the union Mission’s nurses voted to join in September, is currently in contract negotiations with HCA. Photo

by Neil Jacobs

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Lillian Exum Clement Stafford and many others. Darty, 37, spoke with Xpress about interpreting old maps, visits from ghost hunters and the most popular gravesites for tourists.

This interview has been condensed and lightly edited.

Why do you think cemeteries are important to our heritage?

Cemeteries in a lot of ways are our first museums. They preserve history; they preserve people. There’s not a day that goes by without someone coming in here to tell me about a relative. Usually it’s just a small anecdote, but a lot of times it’s not something I’ve known before and I can dive in and do some research.

Everyone is fascinating.

You apprenticed under Paul Becker, the previous manager of Riverside. What did you have to learn about managing a cemetery?

The biggest thing is learning how to read the maps, because we have superold maps. What is on a map and what’s actually, physically in the cemetery is usually miles apart.

My job is trying to interpret what a former manager might have written down in their notes and determining how that relates to what you actually see, in order to know where to bury the next person.

What’s the oldest map of the cemetery?

The first set of maps we have in here were drawn in 1885. Those are almost unusable, because they will fall apart the second you touch them.

The set I use the most right now is the 1954 set, which was done when the city of Asheville took over the cemetery in the ‘50s. I also have aerial maps, done on a Google overlay, that I helped do in 2015.

What other records does the cemetery keep?

We have the old internment books that date back to the 1880s. It’s the book where you write the names of who’s passed away and the service details. Every time we have a service, I still will update the newest version of those books.

You’ll see there’s a lot of interesting notes in them. Depending on who was taking the notes, they sometimes gave a cause of death: a lot of streetcar deaths and gunshots early in Asheville, but mainly the flu. You can look through 1918 and see all the influenza deaths. Thomas Wolfe’s brother is one of those.

How frequently are you asked if there are ghosts at Riverside?

Easily two to three times a week.

We have ghost hunters who come in here and a lot of people who are interested. Guests always ask what my experiences are. I’ve not had any experience and I don’t want one, because I have to work here. I’d hate to be afraid of where I work. I’m a skeptic as well.

Which gravesite do visitors most want to see when they come here?

Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry.

Of our tourists, I’d say a good 75% come to see them. And W.O. Wolfe’s angels, a lot of people want to see those. There’s more of his angels here than probably every other place combined. We have at least four made by him and one disputed — “historians disagree” is the term.

Do you have a favorite beautiful spot in the cemetery?

There is a Celtic cross that was from Zebulon Vance’s second wife’s family. It’s an exact replica of the St. Martin’s Cross at Iona Abbey in Scotland. It’s at the top of the hill, so you have this beautiful mountain view. It is one of the prettiest spots, especially in the morning, because it faces east and you can see the sun rise right behind that cross.

— Jessica Wakeman X

ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES

by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

‘Hordes of automobiles’ City residents bemoan increasing traffic, 1925 The news was bright on March 23, 1925. “Electric traffic signals recently purchased by the city will be in operation May 1,” The Asheville Citizen declared. In total, four signs were set for installation at the intersection of Market and College streets.

The announcement was the latest in a series of articles featured in the local paper about traffic woes and needs.

Of course, the issue wasn’t unique to Asheville.

“Hundreds of American cities are earnestly considering how they may best deal with the traffic problem created by hordes of automobiles,” one editorial read in the Feb. 21, 1925, edition of The Asheville Citizen. “It is a perplexing matter and in many places a gravely serious one.”

Throughout the country, the article continued, ideas for addressing the issue were being discussed. “There are schemes for wider and arcaded streets; for new streets; for more traffic police; for one-way roads and detours; for subway streets and two-story streets; for more regulations and new regulations.

But these remedies give but brief relief because the traffic rapidly increases.”

For Asheville, the editorial declared, the solution came down to the voluntary actions of everyday citizens to forgo their vehicles when they could,

opting to travel by foot or streetcar instead. Furthermore, the piece asserted, delivery companies should reroute all trucks to less crowded streets to help reduce city street congestion.

Enthusiasm for the topic of traffic continued into the spring. On April 20, another editorial featured in The Asheville Citizen informed readers of a development in the nation’s capital.

“Long live the pedestrian!” the piece began. “Down with the chauffeur!”

According to the article, a new rule was being considered in Washington, D.C., empowering pedestrians to control the flow of traffic with the snap of the wrist. A raised right hand, the paper explained, would alert drivers that the individual intended to cross the street, requiring motorists to stop.

The editorial marveled at the possibility, asserting: “The pedestrian, no longer compelled to emulate a frantic grasshopper, will never lose his head or his limbs in a traffic jam. On the contrary, surveying the roadways of a nation’s capital, he will twirl a supercilious mustache and lift an inquiring eyebrow when, at his royal gesture, engines are choked and quivering fenders come to a stop within an inch of his contemptuous coattails.

And, if the upraised right hand works

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TRAFFIC JAM: In 1925, as more motorists flooded the roads, local residents sought solutions to the city’s growing traffic problems. Photo courtesy of Buncombe County Special Collections, Asheville; photo ID MS247.002M satisfactorily in Washington, it will be tried throughout the country.

Picture that amazing situation! From the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Lakes to the Gulf, the pedestrian the newly crowned king of traffic!”

There is no clear evidence the raised-right-hand rule ever made its way to Asheville. Instead, the city had its new traffic signs (equipped with lights and bells) to consider.

“Asheville’s automatic traffic signals went into operation yesterday and blue-coated minions of the law reported no causalities and comparatively little bloodshed,” The Asheville Citizen wrote on June 11, 1925. “The city

echoed with the insistent clamor of bells, which apparently, were of little more use than alarm clocks in the dormitory of the Seven Sleepers.”

Despite the excessive noise, the signals brought “a more urban air [and] seemed to flaunt the fact that Asheville is indeed a city,” the article stated. Meanwhile, the lights themselves triggered “memories of other and more social days [prior to prohibition], the amber of pure rye whiskey, green of fresh mint and red, ah the luscious cherry which makes of the julep a jewel.”

Editor’s note: Peculiarities of spelling and punctuation are preserved from the original documents. X

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR JUNE 23-JULY 2, 2021 For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, opt. 1.

Online Events = Shaded All other events are virtual

FITNESS & WELLNESS Nutritional Support for Every Age and Every Stage of Life Nicole Drake, PA-C will share how nutrition can help you feel whole and take control of your health and wellness.

WE (6/23), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/6lk COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic The Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available on site. 12+.

TH (6/24), 2pm, TC Roberson High School, 250 Overlook Rd Yoga in the Park Asheville Weekly outdoor yoga.

SA, SU (6/26, 27), 1:30pm, Registration required, Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd Full Moon Series: Yoga under the Full “Strawberry” Moon Full moon yoga session taught by Ceiara Cartony.

TH (6/24), 8pm, Registration required, Chimney Rock State Park, 431 Main St, Chimney Rock

Summer Yoga Flow A special yoga flow led

by Ceiara Cartony guide for Namaste in Nature and owner of Yoga in the Park Asheville.

FR (6/25), 6:30pm, $5, Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd Hip Hop Fitness in the Meadow Hip Hop Fitness is a lead and follow format class with fun, easy to learn moves that help work up a sweat. Increase your cardio while having fun dancing to new and old R&B and Hip-Hop. SU (6/27), 10am, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy #200 Steady Collective Syringe Access Outreach Free naloxone, syringes and educational material on harm reduction.

TU (6/29), 2pm, Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd

ART At First Light: NCGC Lighting Invitational Through July 5, 10am-5pm, North Carolina Glass Center, 140 Roberts St., Suite B

THE FEHR PIANO STUDIO

PEACHY KEEN: Highland Brewing Co. will host a picnic in the Meadow on Saturday, June 26, noon-4 p.m. The picnic will celebrate all things peachy, and many local vendors — including Farm Girl Foodie, Freshly Squeezed, Botanical Bones, Meadowsweet Creamery and more — will be peddling peach-inspired goodies. The event is family friendly and free to the public.

Learn more at avl.mx/9mq. Photo courtesy of Highland Brewing The Asheville Gallery of Art June show Soul of Place: Images Inspired by the Places We Love. Featuring art

by Karen Keil Brown and Cathyann Burgess.

Gallery open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.,

(828) 777-0061

Westside Creative Market Local handmade goods and artwork.

SA (6/26), 11am, Haywood Quick Stop, 495 Haywood Rd

BUYING OLD PAPER MONEY 10 yrs WNC/ETN notes, bonds, maps, currency etc.

Piano Lessons: all ages, experienced artistic teaching fully vaccinated Sand Hill Road: 1 Mile from 1/26 & 1/40 Juncture

Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave

Member SPMC, NCNA, SCNA, TNS

msg/ txt 865-207-8994 or email papermoneybuy@gmail.com

Circle Earrings of Copper, Brass, and Silver Artist Debbie Skelly offers a class on earring making.

WE (6/30), 12pm, $40, Haywood County Arts Council, 86 N. Main St, Waynesville Artists’ Reception: Mars landing Galleries Light bites and refreshments will be served.

RSVP required.

SA (6/26), 5-8pm, Mars Landing Galleries, 37 Library St, Mars Hill The Black Wall Street MarketPlace An opportunity for finding all kinds of wonderful gifts, great services and amazing networking, while supporting Blackowned businesses in Asheville.

SA (6/26), 10am, Grind AVL, 346 Depot St

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD Asha Lemmie presents Fifty Words for Rain, in conversation with Sarah Addison Allen Malaprop’s presents a live streamed conversation with New York Times-bestselling author.

WE (6/23), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/prw1

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Reader Meet Writer: My Mistress’ Eyes Are Raven Black with Terry Roberts Malaprop’s presents a live streamed conversation.

TH (6/24), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/prw2 WNC History Lecture Series #5: Sites of Resistance Two researchers and historians who will present on sites of African American history and resistance here in western North Carolina.

TH (6/24), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/9ir Lecture & Book Signing: Tao te Ching: Power for the Peaceful Professor Mullinax will speak on Tao and his unique and powerful translation of the Tao te Ching TH (6/24), 6pm, Registration required, Heaven’s Cloud Event Center, 130 Sardis Rd Science Fiction Book Club Malaprop’s presents a live streamed book club the last Monday of every month.

MO (6/28), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/7on

Reader Meet Writer: Nowhere Girl with Cheryl Diamond Malaprop’s presents a live streamed conversation with an award winning author.

TU (6/29), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/prw3 Connect Beyond Book Club Third book club of 2021 will feature Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers.

TH (7/1), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/9m0

THEATER Billy Goat Gruff Family friendly one act show; tickets only available at the door.

FR-SU & FR (6/25-27 & 7/2), 10am, $15, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville Magnetic in the (Smoky) Park Outdoor variety show, all summer long.

TU (6/29), 7pm, $18, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr

FILM Listen to This: Stories and More on Screen A Touch of the Vapors: an evening of fainting stories. Hosted by Tom Chalmers via Zoom.

TH (6/24), 7:30pm, Registration required, $15, avl.mx/9lu

Summer of Soul: Film Screening & Q&A A virtual screening of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s debut film documentary, the winner of the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival, as part of Connecting Beyond: A Digital Journey and Celebration of Creativity, Learning, and Connection program.

FR (6/25), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/9lz Black Movie Club Series Launch The YMI and Grail Moviehouse will launch the Black Movie Club series with a hybrid in-person/virtual viewing and discussion of Spike Lee's CROOKLYN. SA (6/26), 10:30am, Grail Moviehouse, 17 Foundy St

ANIMALS Pet Food Giveaway Hosted by Blue Ridge Humane Society, the giveaways are located across Henderson County and open to anyone who needs help.

SA (6/26), 10am, Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County, 1304 Ashe St, Hendersonville

K9 Service Dog Fundraiser Throughout July, Pet Supermarket stores will be selling themed pet bandanas for $5 and will donate 100% of the proceeds from sales to the U.S. War Dogs Association.

TH (7/1), 11am, Pet Supermarket, 244 Tunnel Rd

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS Montview StoryLane 2021 StoryLane is a complete book laid out on yard signs and posted among 14-17 homes on Montview Dr. The story begins at house #5 and ends at #77 with a take home activity sheet based on the current book.

WE (6/23), 5 Montview Dr Introduction to Medicare: Understanding the Puzzle The Council on Aging of Buncombe County, in conjunction with SHIIP, is presenting a webinar that will explain how Medicare works, the enrollment process, how to avoid penalties and ways to save money.

TH (6/24), 2pm, Registration required, avl.mx/9hz

Globallin: Glow in the Dark Volleyball Dress in white, neon, or costume to really “glow” under the stars. No preregistration required just check in at the Meadow Bar. FR (6/25), 7pm, $5, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy #200 Fridays at the Folk Art Center Join a Parkway Ranger to learn about the animals that come out after dark.

FR (6/25), 7:30pm, Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Pkwy 1st Annual Hardware & Hot Rods Car Show & Customer Appreciation Day Hot dogs, drinks and chips available for a small donation to Toys For Tots.

Food trucks and samples.

Eddie Foxx from 99.9 Kiss Country will be there with a live radio spot.

SA (6/26), 9am, Madden's Ace Hardware Swannanoa, 2319 US Hwy 70, Swannanoa Farm Fam Fun Day June Edition Papa’s Express will be there serving Mexican cuisine and John Kirby and the New Seniors will be performing on the main stage.

SA (6/26), 12pm, Ross Farm (Formally Jack Young Greenhouses), 91 Holbrook Rd, Candler

Autism Support Group Welcomes all autistics including those who are self-diagnosed. Bring up any topic (related to autism) you would like to discuss.

TH (6/24), 5pm, Arms Around ASD, 191 Charlotte St

BeLoved Asheville to receive Champion of Civil Liberties Award Annual public celebration highlighted by the presentation of the Evan Mahaney Champion of Civil Liberties Award to BeLoved Asheville, whose mission has been to help Buncombe County’s homeless and Latinx communities.

SA (6/26), 3pm, Land of The Sky UCC, 123 Kenilworth Rd

Expand Your Circle: Speed Connecting for Women Entrepreneurs Networking event for female entrepreneurs.

TH (6/24), 5:30pm, $10, Focal Point Coworking, 125 South Lexington Ave Suite 101

Ben's Friends - Support Group A support group for people in the hospitality industry struggling with addiction.

MO (6/28), 10am, AB Tech Culinary Arts & Hospitality School, 30 Tech Dr

Sunrise Asheville Monthly Hub Meeting Connect with other hub members and hear the updates on what we're working on and what's going down in Asheville.

MO (6/28), 7pm, avl.mx/9ep Hemlock Treatment Demonstration Learn to protect your hemlock trees from the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid. Sign up required by June 24 by emailing volunteer@ savehemlocksnc.org or calling 828-252-4783.

MO (6/28), 10am, Free, Big Ivy Community Center, 540 Dillingham Rd, Barnardsville Educational Hemlock Walk Join the Hemlock Restoration Initiative will be taking a walk through the Botanical Gardens at Asheville to look at some of the healthy hemlocks there. RSVP by emailing volunteer@ savehemlocksnc.org.

TU (6/29), 5pm, Botanical Gardens at Asheville, 151 W T Weaver Blvd

FOOD & BEER RAD Farmers Market A variety of local farmers, artisans and makers.

WE (6/23), 3pm, Pleb Urban Winery, 289 Lyman St Flat Rock Farmers Market Local farmers and artisans.

TH (6/24, 7/1), 3pm, Flat Rock Farmers Market, 1790 Greenville Hwy, Hendersonville Mills River Farmers Market Weekly market featuring a variety of produce and goods.

SA (6/26), 8am, Mills River Elementary School, 94 Schoolhouse Rd, Mills River North Asheville Tailgate Market Tailgate market featuring local farmers and vendors.

SA (6/26), 8am, West Asheville Tailgate Market, 3300 University Heights

Brewery Bootcamp, Peachful Edition Fitness activities happening at breweries across the U.S. We aim to educate and entertain around both beer & wellness — encouraging living a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

SA (6/26), 10am, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy #200 Peachful Picnic Everything peachy, and peach puns galore.

Local businesses will be featured at the event, vending their own peachy specialty. DJ Kipper will playing at the Meadow stage.

SA (6/26), 12pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy #200 Meadow Market A rotation of local bakers, makers, and artisans.

SU (6/27), 12pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy #200

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SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING: Jennifer Teague, who manages Buncombe County’s programs for older adults, encourages community members worried about an elder to share their concerns. Photo courtesy of Teague

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN jwakeman@mountainx.com It can be difficult to grasp how some older adults live without security. Yet 1-in-6 of those adults may be affected by elder abuse, according to a 2017 review published in The Lancet Global Health.

Buncombe County’s Aging & Adult Services receives hundreds of reports each year that allege neglect, abuse or exploitation. In fact, Buncombe County has one of the highest numbers of reports of elder abuse in the state, says Jennifer Teague, who manages the county’s programs for older adults.

Buncombe’s Adult Protective Services received 2,000 allegations of abuse of individuals 18 and older in 2019, Teague says, of which 1,336 involved people ages 60 and older.

In 2000, APS received 1,794 such reports, with 1,190 involving older residents; she says that decrease was likely due to the isolation that the 18

JUNE 23-29, 2021

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community experienced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2019, the latest year for which data is available, Buncombe County had the largest population of adults ages 60 and older in the state with 71,578 people, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Teague attributes the high number of reports to a community on the lookout for elder abuse. And on June 1, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners furthered that vigilance by proclaiming June to be Elder Abuse Awareness Month. “Protecting Buncombe County’s vulnerable adults is a community responsibility, and it is imperative that communities work together to help reduce and prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation,” the proclamation read.

LACK OF CARE

The UNC School of Government notes that elder abuse is a “catch-

all term” that isn’t defined by North Carolina statute, and Buncombe APS focuses on adults who are “functionally disabled” rather than distinguishing by age. But state law does define elder adults as people age 60 or older who are not able to provide for their medical, social, financial, psychiatric, psychological or legal well-being.

Older adults who experience abuse are “much more likely to report higher levels of depression and anxiety, as well as a trauma and stressor-related disorder” (similar to post-traumatic stress disorder) from chronic abuse, explains Katie Rowe, a psychologist for the Asheville-based Mountain Area Health Education Center.

Neglect is the most prevalent form of elder abuse in Buncombe County.

Self-neglect comprises almost half of the reports, says Teague. Self-neglect can be an indication of diminished cognitive capacity. A health care provider will need to assess whether individuals have the cognitive capacity to be aware if they are able to care for themselves.

In other cases, self-neglect may be caused by more logical or financial issues, such as inaccessibility to access food or medications. In those cases, Teague says, APS will make referrals to services such as pharmacies that deliver medications or transportation to medical care.

Nearly a quarter of the reports to APS allege neglect by a caretaker, Teague says. In this case, the individual being cared for is experiencing poor hygiene, malnutrition, unsanitary living conditions or not taking necessary medications.

A caretaker is often a family member, guardian or someone to whom an elder adult has granted power of attorney. APS follows statutory definitions of abuse, exploitation or neglect in assessing whether a caretaker is at fault; considerations include signs of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as a caretaker’s refusal to allow the adult to be seen alone.

ANONYMITY GUARANTEED

Teague encourages community members worried about an elder adult to share their concerns with APS. “We always tell people, it doesn’t hurt to make a report,” she explains. The reporter is always kept anonymous, and two APS social workers will screen the report before any action is taken.

Reporters do not even need to know the name or residence of the person who may need help, as long as they have some identifying information so APS can locate the individual. “Are you seeing people in your community who are withdrawing from involvement in activities?” asks Teague. “Are you seeing individuals that don’t appear to be bathing regularly? Maybe you’re seeing that they’re losing weight or becoming more disheveled. Maybe you’ve noticed that they haven’t left their home and you’re concerned about their access to resources. Those would be reasons to make a report.”

APS investigates about two-thirds of received reports, Teague says.

For the county to take action, she explains, an individual must be functionally disabled; actively experiencing abuse, neglect or exploitation; and in need of protection with no other potential source of help.

Increased screening for elder abuse by health care providers is also important. Rowe notes that older adults are “very unlikely to report this to us” without being prompted.

Providers could ask about abuse during conversations with their elderly patients, Rowe suggests, in particular when caretakers are not present so they feel free to speak.

“We know we’re not catching this in the way it should be and we really should be screening in the way we screen for depression or anxiety now,” she says. X

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ARTS & CULTURE

Open house

Summer in Asheville kicks off with brand-new and freshly reimagined restaurants

BY KAY WEST kwest@mountainx.com Without question, 2020 was one of the most daunting years the hospitality industry has ever faced, with particularly extreme ramifications for Asheville, a town deeply dependent on that sector of the economy.

More than two dozen restaurants and bars permanently closed in the city due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while others scrambled to find new operating models.

And yet, imbued with the sense of eternal optimism critical to any entrepreneur, new restaurants have continued to be birthed. Last week saw the opening of S&W Market — Asheville’s first food hall with six food and beverage concepts grouped under one historic roof. And the Grove Arcade’s Restaurant Row is now fully leased.

“During the last 15 months, the number of potential restaurant owners looking to establish themselves

dinner bar & patio indoor dining patio dining take-out/delivery open 7 nights / 4:30-9

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JUNE 23-29, 2021

COME ON IN: Amanda Hoagland, manager of Andaaz Indian restaurant in Biltmore Village, invites community members to dine at the recently opened eatery. Photo courtesy of Andaaz has been pretty incredible,” says Jane Anderson, executive director of Asheville Independent Restaurant Association. “Some have ‘landed,’ some have openings scheduled and some are still hovering.”

With capacity restrictions and mask mandates lifted and tourists streaming into town as tourists do, another wave of restaurants — some brand new and some relaunched

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veterans — have turned on their open signs.

FRESH FACES

Al Singh spends a lot of his workday driving to the 18 Citi Stop convenience stores he manages in the Asheville region, but late last year he braked when he spied a “for lease”

sign in the Biltmore Village building at 28 Hendersonville Road that formerly housed Rezaz restaurant, one of the COVID casualties. Partnering with several of his childhood friends from India’s Punjab region, Singh signed the lease in January and recently launched Andaaz, a fine-dining Indian restaurant.

Over the next few months, Singh and partners had the walls and pressed tin ceilings painted, new lighting fixtures hung and booths built. Additionally, they relocated the bar and furnished a cozy lounge and separate private dining room with plush chairs and luxurious finishes.

Singh recruited well-known New York chef Bobby Chhikara to design and staff the kitchen and create a menu. “He has a very rich cooking style — a North Indian, Punjabi style,” says Singh. “His menu was the starting point, and we added dishes we wanted.” By late April, Andaaz began offering takeout before its May 26 opening.

Singh says acquaintances questioned his sanity when he decided to open a restaurant post-COVID. But standing in his dining room on a Tuesday afternoon, he smiles as he checks the screen at the host table.

“We are fully booked for tonight,” he says.

Meanwhile downtown, Michael Sponagle is slightly out of breath when he answers his phone. “There’s a lot of running up and down stairs preparing to open a restaurant,” he says.

Situated on the corner of Biltmore and Hilliard avenues, Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse is slated to open Tuesday, June 29. Despite the location’s previous run of short-lived endeavors, including Bartaco and Futo Buta, Sponagle is pleased with the space. “I don’t bet my success on what came before,” he says. “This place just spoke to me.”

Ukiah’s opening, he continues, will be the culmination of a 10-year plan largely discussed over beers with Asheville business partners Kevin Wojtowicz and Derek Allen.

When COVID-19 hit, the partners decided it was now or never and began a serious search for locations, rejecting multiple possibilities before saying yes to the space at 121 Biltmore.

“At first it felt too big; it’s about 250 seats inside and out,” Sponagle says. “But when we talked about all the things we wanted — a smoker outside, a raw bar inside, sashimi,

ramen noodles and a four-sided bar — we realized we needed a big space.” Once the lease was signed, they brought on chef/partner Michael Lewis.

Sponagle has a passion for introducing people to Japanese street food, which he describes as less formal and precise than what many Americans are accustomed to finding in sushi restaurants. “It’s kind of the soul food side of Asian cuisine,” he explains. “It has a humility and honesty to it.”

OLD IS NEW AGAIN

Along with these two new additions, the community is also welcoming back a few established names.

Seated on a banquette two days before opening Table restaurant on June 10, Jacob Sessoms is calm, collected and centered. Granted, this isn’t his first foray into the industry; in fact, it’s not his first Table.

The original Table opened in 2005 on College Street, imagined as a classic American restaurant serving New American cuisine. But after a nearly 16-year run, Sessoms had intentions of selling the business to segue into the next phase of his career.

“It was tired,” he says. “The dining room was tired, it needed a change.”

COVID, however, changed Sessoms’ plans once again. Rather than sell the two-story space on College Street, he and chef Luis Martinez flipped the venue to El Gallo AVL and Imperíal bar and turned his vision to the former Calypso storefront on North Lexington Avenue. Sessoms partnered with Atlanta-based commercial realty and design firm Hatteras Sky and reimagined Table in that space, building Right There Bar through a connecting door and adding a three-level outdoor deck.

Table’s longtime chef Patrick Rumley is director of back-of-house operations; Nate Snyder has been hired as executive chef. “The menu will hew in some part to the philosophy of the original Table, but because that began to encompass any culinary tradition that exists in the U.S., I’ve kind of dialed that back to the genesis of seasonal New American,” Sessoms explains. “Think of Chez Panisse and Zuni Café — more European with a California vibe.”

The small, simple opening menu was confined to one page sprinkled with lots of familiar local farm names.

Table, which opened June 10, no longer feels tired to Sessoms. “It feels wonderful, very in the now and alive.”

In West Asheville, The Golden Pineapple at 503 Haywood Road,

has also risen again, with an entirely new cocktail repertoire — and one eponymous exception — and a newly installed kitchen.

“Our original concept was focused on cocktails, natural wines and good beers,” says Katey Ryder, who first opened The Golden Pineapple in spring 2019 with partner Donnie Pratt. “In November of that year, we did a very small upgrade of a kitchen with a couple of induction burners and a little oven thing and started doing food.”

The culinary side was growing at a surprising pace until COVID-19 mandates required Ryder and Pratt to temporarily close the bar. The shutdown proved to be the kick they needed to commit to building a real kitchen.

“People would walk by and tap on the windows, and regulars were asking for months when we would open again,” says Ryder.

The magic day was June 5. Along with new cocktail creations, a new slushie machine and a new shot chiller filled with Eda Rhyne product, Ryder and Pratt debuted a large food menu. Pratt, who is primarily responsible for conceptualizing the dishes, describes the cuisine as “savory but not fried bar food.” Choices range from hot and numbing spiced peanuts to hearty sandwiches like Wagyu beef bologna on Japanese milkbread.

“We were crazy busy the night we opened,” Ryder reports. “People walked in we hadn’t seen in over a year, and it was like, ‘Oh, it’s so good to see you!’ I had almost forgotten how that whole experience of hospitality works, but it came right back and felt so good.” X

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Locations and links For locations of featured restaurants, as well as links to menus and hours of operation, please see below.

Andaaz 28 Hendersonville Road avl.mx/9kf Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse 121 Biltmore Ave. avl.mx/9kg Table and Bar Right There 18 N. Lexington Ave. avl.mx/9kh The Golden Pineapple 503 Haywood Road avl.mx/9ke

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JUNE 23-29, 2021

21

AR T S & C UL T U R E

DANCE

Sky’s the limit

Terpsicorps returns to its RAD roots for outdoor performances

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com

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Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance’s upcoming performances at the River Arts District’s Foundation might as well be called “Homecoming Weekend.”

In 2012, the company became the first group to move into the Foundy Street warehouses, which Terpsicorps artistic director Heather Maloy notes were all derelict, many with caved-in roofs. In what’s now the RAD Skatepark, Terpsicorps worked with artists Jeremy Russell and Sean Catinella, entrepreneur Ander Schreiner and others to build out the space. They also cut a deal with local street artists, allowing them to paint whatever they wanted on the exteriors as long as they kept the front of the Terpsicorps building unadorned.

These partnerships resulted in a vibrant artistic community, and throughout the two years that the dance company was in the Foundy space, Maloy saw potential in another piece of the property.

“I’ve always looked at that big, huge concrete slab [between Foundy Street and Riverview Station] and gone, ‘I want to do something cool there,’” she says.

Maloy will see that vision realized on Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26, when Terpsicorps transforms the space into an outdoor venue.

For details: distro@mountainx.com or call 251-1333 ext. 112 22

JUNE 23-29, 2021

UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

While the recent lifting of state and local restrictions regarding indoor performance spaces technically allow for such events to occur inside, that wasn’t the case in spring when Maloy and her board of directors had to decide whether to proceed with shows in 2021.

Like many performance arts groups, Terpsicorps canceled its summer 2020 events amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In anticipation of resuming operations, Maloy lined up dancers from across the U.S. and overseas but couldn’t confidently commit to a date without knowing for sure that a health-conscious indoor show was possible. With time running out, inspiration struck.

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ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE: Terpsicorps dancer Michael Caye rehearses for the company’s June 25-26 outdoor performances, which will take place on Foundy Street. “It’s sort of a fundraiser, gala dinner and dance thing happening in a Mad Max urban wasteland environment,” says artistic director Heather Maloy. “It’s so Asheville.” Photo by Anita Prentiss “A couple of months ago, I was like, ‘Well, let’s just do it outside so that we know that we can do it,” Maloy says. “It’s actually creating a very unique experience. Not only will people feel safe because they’re outside, it’s just going to be totally different than anything we’ve ever done before.”

Adapting to the pandemic-related uncertainty, Maloy chose small pieces that make the most of the six dancers involved while limiting their interactions. She adds that the selections focus on fun and escape rather than gloom and doom, including the world premiere of “Famous

Last Words,” created to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and featuring local comedian Tom Chalmers. Maloy is also confident that the program’s lighthearted works will translate well to Terpsicorps’ inaugural family matinee on June 26 — a shorter, less expensive show composed solely of performances that she and her colleagues feel will be entertaining for children.

SWEAT EQUITY

In Terpsicorps’ 18 years of operation, Maloy says the company has yet to host an official outdoor per-

formance. But she and the dancers are no strangers to being out in the elements. In summer 2014, after losing their Foundy practice space, Maloy held rehearsals outside at Pack Square Park to raise awareness regarding Terpsicorps’ need for funds. While the intense midday heat and frequent rainstorm interruptions led Maloy to swear that the company “would never do anything like that again,” the Foundy opportunity presents a far more appealing scenario.

“We’re not going to be outside at the peak heat of the day this time, so that’s a plus,” she says. “But we don’t have a covering, which will have its own intricacies.”

Minus its usual indoor venue perks, Terpsicorps also has to build a stage; rent lights, chairs and a sound system; handle ticketing and parking; and coordinate the supper component of the Gala Night on June 26.

“The entire staff [assistance from] the Diana Wortham Theatre that we usually get to utilize, we have to figure that all out on our own,” Maloy says. “It makes you really appreciate how wonderful it is to walk into a theater.”

Despite these novel challenges, Maloy stresses that it’s all worth-

while if it means getting to perform in front of an audience again. Two weeks after the Asheville shows, Terpsicorps will take the outdoor program to Winston-Salem’s Corpening Plaza, and while indoor dance at DWT is the goal for the following season, Maloy is thinking about how different kinds of openair shows could further the company’s mission.

“I would love for Terpsicorps to have the ability to basically have a theater on the back of a truck and pull into a town, open it up and do performances,” she says. “It’s sort of a dance missionary kind of thing — bringing the arts to people who don’t have access to it.” X

WHO Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance WHERE Foundy Street, terpsicorps.org WHEN Friday, June 25, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, June 26, at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. $12.50-$35

Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre Concert Schedule

Presented by Plugged-In Productions

Grateful Ball | June 30 @ 5:30PM The Travelin’ McCourys

Molly Tuttle | July 7 @ 6PM Gabe Lee

Jon Stickley Trio

Del McCoury Band | August 5 @ 6PM Still Inside: A Tribute to Tony Rice

ft. Travis Book of Infamous Stringdusters & Friends

Sam Bush Band | August 11 @ 6PM

More shows to be announced!

Tickets and Information

HAZELROBINSONAMPHITHEATRE.COM @HAZELROBAMP // @PLUGGEDINTUNES MOUNTAIN XPRESS PRESENTS

Concert June 26th at 6 PM Principal winds of the Asheville Symphony and Brevard Philharmonic join forces to present Mozart Wind Octets

July 4th Celebration at 7 PM 30 Piece Professional Concert Band brings an evening of Patriotic Entertainment.

Steve Loew (loewclarinet@gmail.com) conducts these rare and fun events

To purchase tickets & receive additional information visit ashevillemusic.org

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JUNE 23-29, 2021

23

ARTS & C U L T U R E

MUSIC

Settle the score

New local album interprets a classic Chinese film

BY BILL KOPP bill@musoscribe.com In 1934, writer/director Wu Yonggang’s silent film Shénn ǚ (The Goddess) was released in China. Critically praised and popular among audiences, it was and remains an exemplar of China’s first cinematic golden age. The tale’s favor endured long after its release.

Yet, some three decades after its premiere, Yonggang’s film was effectively written out of Chinese history. The 1966 Cultural Revolution, launched by Mao Zedong, chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, did not look favorably upon a story with a prostitute as its lead character. As a result, subsequent generations barely knew of its existence, much less found any opportunity to see the work.

Such was the case for Ashevillebased musician Min Xiao-Fen, who moved to Western North Carolina in 2020. Born and raised in China, Min says she was unaware of the film until the 1990s, after leaving her native country.

Decades since her discovery of The Goddess, Min’s fascination with the forbidden tale has resulted in White Lotus, an original score for the film. The album debuts Friday, June 25. Min will celebrate with a live performance set to the film at The Orange Peel on Wednesday, June 30, at 8 p.m.

LEAVING CHINA

Prior to immigrating to the United States in 1992, Min performed as a soloist with the Nanjing National

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JUNE 23-29, 2021

Copies of the film circulate illicitly in China, but even today, says Min, “you don’t see [The Goddess] officially” there. According to the musician, a story about a gangster forcing a woman into a life of prostitution is still considered “a little bit too pornographic” for the Chinese government.

SUFFERING AND EXPRESSION: Nearly 90 years after its premiere, a classic from the golden age of Chinese cinema receives a new soundtrack. World-famous pipa soloist Min Xiao-Fen presents “White Lotus,” an original score to Wu Yonggang’s The Goddess. Photo by Jiang Yu Music Orchestra for over a decade.

Her primary instrument was and remains the pipa, a plucked, four-stringed traditional Chinese

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instrument dating back to the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.).

Upon her arrival in the U.S., Min developed an intense obsession with popular culture — past and present — due to previous restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. In addition to working with artists across multiple disciplines and genres — including Chen Yi, Carl Stone, John Zorn and Björk — Min discovered the work of Buck Clayton. A jazz trumpeter with the Count Basie Orchestra, Clayton was responsible for introducing Kansas City swing to 1930s Shanghai.

Through her research into the bygone era, Min uncovered The Goddess. She was moved by its realistic depictions and characterizations, and the lyrical beauty of the silent onscreen images.

MUSIC AND SILENCE

Like White Lotus, Min’s previous five albums have forged connections between seemingly different aesthetics. For example, her 2017 album, Mao, Monk and Me celebrated the 100th birthday of Thelonious Monk by interpreting the American jazz legend’s works using traditional Chinese instrumentation.

Against that backdrop, White Lotus seems a natural step.

Accompanied by jazz guitarist and 2021 Guggenheim Fellow Rez Abbasi, Min plays pipa, guqin (a stringed bass instrument) and ruan (a Chinese banjolike instrument), with occasional vocals. She explains that while she composed the suite of songs as a modern-day accompaniment to the silent film, the album versions of the 12 pieces are designed to stand on their own.

But there’s something extra special about experiencing the original compositions in the context of a screening of The Goddess, says Min. “With a film,” she explains, “you can’t play whole pieces.” Some scenes, for example, are too short and require only brief excerpts of a song; others are more complex and require restraint.

As an example of the latter, Min points to a key scene in The Goddess, featuring the unnamed protagonist defending herself against the gangster. “She grabs a bottle. And the moment she hits the guy’s head, I decided: silence,” says Min. “Just let the action speak.”

Several seconds go by. When the man falls to the ground, dead, the music starts again.

Min smiles. “You can’t do that on an album,” she says. X

WHO Min Xiao-Fen with Rez Abbasi, White Lotus album release WHERE The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave., theorangepeel.net WHEN Wednesday, June 30, at 8 p.m. $10 advance, $12 day of show

VISUAL ART

Mindful messages

The Booth Fairy Project and Positive Signs of Love spread joy with painted slogans

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com Driving in Asheville isn’t always relaxing. But in these stressful moments, seeing a painted sign that encourages drivers to “Take a deep breath” might just, well, encourage drivers to take a deep breath.

At least that’s the hope for Elle Erickson, founder of the local nonprofit The Booth Fairy Project. Since 2012, Erickson has plastered positive messages across her many endeavors, including the Free Advice Booth, a vintage clothing pop-up shop, Free Hug Happy Hours, and Bliss Mobs — faux protests where people hold positive signs.

But at the onset of COVID-19, when interactions with the public shifted to “air hugs” and “air high-fives,” Erickson saw an even greater potential for her painted signs campaign.

“Once the pandemic hit, I said, ‘Oh my gosh! We need to raise the happiness level or just spread love and positivity and uplift people,’” she says.

A CONTAGIOUS THING

With help from a few friends and what she calls “a mini sign-making station,” Erickson is able to paint numerous wooden signs in a relatively short amount of time. She then places them at “stressful intersections” and in front of potentially challenging interior spaces, including grocery stores and Planned Parenthood.

Perhaps none of these projects have been more impressive than the “Take a Deep Breath” billboard on Interstate 240, which was installed May 24. The rare bit of outdoor advertising without a commercial message was made possible by a GoFundMe campaign that raised nearly $4,500, along with The Booth Fairy Project’s monthly Patreon supporters and Roots Hummus. Erickson aims to raise more funds to keep the billboard up and add others. She notes that if 5,000 people donate $1 each month, her uplifting phrase could adorn the billboard indefinitely. “‘Take a Deep Breath’ is really effective,” says Erickson. “It’s kind of a magical action phrase where you read or hear it, and it makes you do it.

It’s a contagious thing.”

POSITIVE PROTEST: Elle Erickson, center, and a group of Booth Fairy Project volunteers spread cheer on their way to Pack Square Park. Photo by Jaze Uries Erickson is also particularly fond of her “This Is a Positive Sign,” slogan.

“I use humor to get people’s guards down, to get people to smile and remind them that it’s OK to be silly and have fun,” she explains.

ASHEVILLE AND BEYOND

Spreading similar cheer throughout Asheville is the Positive Signs

of Love project, whose anonymous founder largely offers single-word messages, including “Love,” “Unity,” “Equality” and “Peace.” Consistent with Erickson’s strategy, yet operating independently, the PSL project distills its messages in high-traffic areas.

Though vandalism does occur, both projects’ founders have been encouraged by the community’s overall positive response. Separately, each is exploring ways to establish chapters in

other cities. And though the signs can feel like a distinctly Asheville-centric phenomenon, Erickson is optimistic that others will carry on her mission.

“I feel like there should be a Bliss Mob at least once a month in every city. It makes so many people smile and feel like things are going to be OK,” she says. “I really do get that feedback. Like, ‘You have restored my faith in humanity.’” X

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ARTS & CU L T U R E

ROUNDUP

Around Town

Podcasts to the people

In March 2018, Matt Mittan and Michele Scheve brought Biz Radio Asheville to the local AM radio scene — community talk radio, focused on local business innovators and nonprofit leaders. Since that time, the couple has transitioned to digital and launched Buzz Radio.

More recently, on June 11, the couple celebrated the debut of their third station, Radio Free Asheville.

“Our plan is to help change the local radio landscape and bring ‘allin’ attention to our local small businesses, musicians, artists, podcasters and comedians,” says Mittan.

One thing that sets the stations apart is their direct-connect option, which allows listeners to directly follow, purchase from and/or book the people they’re hearing in real time. “This is a vital part of helping build audience and income for people and organizations featured on our stations,” notes Mittan.

The station will feature a range of shows, from horror stories and radio dramas to a series on the local craft beverage industry. “The subject matter is wide open, except for partisan political shows,” says Mittan. “We figured there are already plenty of platforms for that type of content.”

Learn more about Asheville’s new radio station at avl.mx/prvz.

Live art, plein and simple

Heart of Brevard is partnering with Transylvania Community Arts Council for a first-time festival — Art Is in the Air, described as “a weekend of en plein air in downtown Brevard,” happening FridaySunday, June 25-27.

“Brevard is known for its vibrant arts scene, and we wanted to create an event to invite artists to showcase their craft in iconic Brevard locations,” says Nicole Bentley, executive director of Heart of Brevard, a local nonprofit.

Festivalgoers will have the opportunity to see 25 local artists in action, then purchase finished works on Sunday beginning at noon.

Admission to the festival is free, but the Wet Paint Show and Sale

requires advance tickets until it opens to the public Sunday at 3 p.m.

For more about the festival, visit avl.mx/9kk.

The Southern Atlantic Hemp & Arts Expo launches The Southern Atlantic Hemp & Arts Expo and AsheJam are partnering to produce a three-day festival celebrating art, music, wellness and hemp. The event kicks off at the WNC Agricultural Center, 761 Boylston Highway, Fletcher, FridaySunday, June 25-27.

“This is our inaugural event, and we’re coming out of the box as a major national event,” says Donald Pickett, creator of SAHAE and AsheJam, and founder of Southern Atlantic Hemp Inc., a Candler nonprofit promoting hemp-based education.

The expo will feature 36 musical acts, including British dub reggae artist Mad Professor, who will be flying in for his only North American appearance this year, and American rock band Pure Prairie League. Local acts include the bluegrass-reggae hybrid band Snake Oil Medicine Show, rock band Hard Rocket and Americana-rock band The New Rustics, among others.

Along with live performances, the event will include 25 presenters, including Steve DeAngelo, “one of the [hemp] industry’s major pioneers,” says Pickett.

Ticket holders will also have access to art installations, yoga classes, healing arts presentations, fire dancing performances, food and libations.

However, the expo’s core mission is to provide a platform for the hemp industry. “This is one of the reasons that we created AsheJam,” says Pickett. “As a music festival, we’ve been able to reach millions through social platforms, radio, TV and street teams in several states.”

Single-day general admission tickets start at $28; VIP tickets (which include food and beverage vouchers,

SAVE THE WAVE: Matt Mittan and Michele Scheve recently launched the newest addition to their radio station family — Radio Free Asheville. The 24/7 online radio station will feature nothing but WNC-based podcasters and will allow listeners to follow or book the people they are hearing in real time. Photo courtesy of Matt Mittan VIP tent access and other perks) start at $179. For more information on the festival and more comprehensive ticket pricing, visit avl.mx/9kl.

‘Sites of Resistance’ in Black history The Western North Carolina Historical Association’s history lecture series will continue with its fifth installment, “Sites of Resistance,” Thursday, June 24, 6:30-8 p.m. The latest virtual talk features researchers Ronnie Pepper, chair of the Black History Research Committee of Henderson County, and Lisa Withers, a doctoral candidate at N.C. State University.

Trevor Freeman, public programs director at WNCHA, says Pepper’s talk will examine the importance of visiting the Zirconia historical landmark honoring the Kingdom of the Happy Land, an autonomous community founded by formerly enslaved people following the Civil War. Meanwhile, Withers will explore historical locations throughout the state featured in the Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide used

by Black citizens during the Jim Crow era.

“These places, some of which still exist, help us see local Black history not simply as a story of marginalization, but as alive with resistance and determination in individuality and community,” says Freeman.

The event is free for WNCHA members; $5 for nonmembers.

Register at avl.mx/9kj.

— Cayla Clark X

MOVIE LISTINGS Bruce Steele’s and Edwin Arnaudin’s latest critiques of new films available to view in local theaters and via popular streaming services include: TRUMAN & TENNESSEE: AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION: Archival interviews with Messrs.

Capote and Williams are far more compelling than distracting audio imitations by Jim Parsons and Zachary Quinto in this overall entertaining documentary.

Grade: B. Not rated THE HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD: Bring earplugs for this excessively noisy action/“comedy” sequel that makes poor use of Salma Hayek’s talents. Grade: D-minus. Rated R

Mountain Xpress 27th Annual

RDS X AWA

2021

Thanks for Voting! Results will be published in September

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

MOUNTAINX.COM

JUNE 23-29, 2021

27

CLUBLAND

A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS: The Orange Peel is booking more local musicians this season in light of COVID-related challenges. Local rock trio Chilltonic opens a show on Friday, June 25, at 8 p.m., and Americana group Eleanor Underhill & Friends follows with a headlining set. The show, open to everyone, is $10 at the door and in advance. Purchase tickets at avl. mx/prvy. Photo by John Gellman For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23 W XYZ BAR AT ALOFT George Trouble w/Matt Kinne (acoustic duo), 5pm SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night w/Jason DeCristofaro (jazz), 5:30pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Well Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith, 6pm HOME GROUND COFFEE BAR & DELI Bluegrass Jam, 6pm ISA’S FRENCH BISTRO Jay DiPaola’s Live Lounge, 6pm FBO AT HOMINY CREEK Old Timey Jam, 6pm MILLS RIVER BREWING Open Mic Night, 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm THE GREY EAGLE 5j Barrow (folk, rock), 6pm THE 2ND ACT Open Mic, 6pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic Night w/ Tommy Yon, 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Mountain Music Jam (open jam), 6pm

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JUNE 23-29, 2021

TRISKELION BREWING CO. Triska Trivia, 7pm

FLEETWOOD’S Terraoke! Karaoke with Terra!, 6pm

HANDLEBAR & GRILL Ladies Karaoke Night, 7pm

ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM Patrick O’Neil (solo musician), 6pm

185 KING STREET Trivia Night, 7pm THE BARRELHOUSE Open Mic/Free Jam, 8pm BENS TUNE UP Big Blue (jam band), 8pm THE DOUBLE CROWN Western Wednesdays (country), 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Beauty Parlour Comedy w/Mandee McKelvey, 8:30pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/Caleb Beissert, 8:30pm BOOJUM BREWING CO. Karaoke Night, 8:30pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Karaoke Party, 9pm ONE WORLD BREWING Blooming Bass w/DJ Ephcto, 6pm Latin Night Wednesday, 9pm

THURSDAY, JUNE 24 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherrill (singer-songwriter), 1pm THE GREY EAGLE Hotel Fiction (indie, pop, rock), 5pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Belmont Franklin (jazz), 5pm

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

CITIZEN VINYL Community Spins (open DJ jam), 5pm

MOUNTAINX.COM

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Rod Sphere (classic covers), 5:30pm

WHISTLE HOP BREWING CO. Adi the Monk (jazz), 6pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Open Mic, 6pm ONE WORLD BREWING Dark Side of the Dead (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm SALVAGE STATION The Paper Crowns, 6:30pm 185 KING STREET South Carolina Blue Alliance (blues), 7pm THE DOUBLE CROWN Roy & Revelation (gospel), 7pm

THE MAGNETIC THEATRE Modelface Comedy presents Aaron Naylor & Stephen Taylor, 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL F*ck Dis Pandemic Comedy Tour, 7pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Karaoke w/KJ Salina, 8pm BENS TUNE UP DJ Lyric (dance), 8pm CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Drag Show Hosted by Alexis Black, 8pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Open Mic, 9pm

FRIDAY, JUNE 25 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL CENTER AsheJam Music Festival, 11am

TRISKELION BREWING CO. Jason’s Technicolor Cabaret, 7pm

BLUE RIDGE HEMP CO. - Mad Mark Martinez (vinyl DJ), 3pm - Beat Makers Series Presents: Spaceman Jones, 5pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Honey Magpie (indiefolk), 7pm

BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Canaan Cox (solo acoustic), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew & the Boys (bluegrass), 7pm

CUP OF JOMO Terry Wing Combo (blues, rock), 6pm

BOOJUM BREWING CO. Trivia Thursdays, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Dave Desmelik (singer-songwriter), 7pm RABBIT RABBIT Sunset Rooftop Comedy Show, 7pm SILVERADOS Mr Jimmy Power Trio (jazz), 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE - The Scatterlings (Americana), 6pm - Daniel Donato: An Evening of Cosmic + Western Jams (night one), 8pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING The Lads AVL (Americana, classic rock), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 The Burnett Sisters Band w/Colin Ray (bluegrass, folk), 7pm

CATAWBA BREWING Spalding McIntosh (acoustic band), 7pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Jason Whitaker (solo acoustic), 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING Mike Dillon & Punkadelick w/Nikki Glaspie & Brian Haas (funk), 7pm SALVAGE STATION Badfish w/Of Good Nature (Sublime tribute), 7pm

SOQDET IN SYLVA Wachacha & Friends w/ Orion Records Linz-E (drum & bass), 9pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Total Request Live Dance Party, 10pm

SATURDAY, JUNE 26

THE BARRELHOUSE Riyen Roots (blues), 7pm

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL CENTER AsheJam Music Festival, 12pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Eleanor Underhill & Friends (Americana), 7pm

W XYZ BAR AT ALOFT DJ Phantom Pantone & Friends (dance), 1pm

THE POE HOUSE Bill Altman (solo acoustic), 7pm

APPALACHIAN RIDGE ARTISAN CIDERY Ken & Nichole (acoustic duo), 3pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Sons of Ralph (bluegrass), 7:30pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Zoe & Cloyd (folk, bluegrass), 8pm 185 KING STREET Colleen Orender Trio (jazz), 8pm THE GETAWAY TIKI BAR Getaway Comedy featuring Lace Larrabee, 8pm

BLUE RIDGE HEMP CO. Mad Mike Martinez (vinyl DJ), 3pm SAINT PAUL MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS The JackTown Ramblers (gypsy jazz), 3pm BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah’s Daydream (jazz), 5pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Burnt Reputation (acoustic rock), 5pm

THE GREENHOUSE MOTO CAFE 50 Year Flood (classic rock), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING Free Radio w/Datrian Johnson Band (soul, rock, pop), 6pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Blake Ellege Band (pop, dance), 8pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE Barnacle Boi, Trinity Justice, Vera Fox, G3Ms, Rex Neu, Hiltron & Yung Earthy (bass, EDM), 6pm

FLEETWOOD’S Julia Sanders w/Ashes

By Now (Americana, country), 8pm BENS TUNE UP DJ Kilby (all-vinyl set), 8pm

FALLOUT ART SPACE Comedy Campout w/ Brad Sativa, 7pm SILVERADOS CKB (three man band), 7pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Terry Wing Combo (blues, rock), 7pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Americana Rising w/ Jane Kramer, Kristen Englenz, Jason Erie, and Jon Latham (Americana, folk), 7pm ODDITORIUM Party Foul Outdoor Drag Show, 7pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Supper Break (bluegrass), 7:30pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. The Abbey Elmore Band (pop, rock), 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Daniel Donato: An Evening of Country + Western Songs (night two), 8pm THE ORANGE PEEL Sang Sara h w/Harriers of Discord (metal, doom), 8pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Asheville Jazz Orchestra (jazz), 8pm 185 KING STREET Andrew Thelston Band (rock), 8pm THE SOCIAL Karaoke, 9pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Karaoke Dance Party, 9pm

SUNDAY, JUNE 27 JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Brunch, 12pm WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL CENTER AsheJam Music Festival, 12pm BURIAL BEER CO. Brunch & Beats w/ Electrolust (funk), 1pm MILLS RIVER BREWING Mr Jimmy Power Trio (jazz), 2pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN EJ Jones, The Blue Ridge Brass, The Brothers McLoyd (folk), 2pm BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWERY Dark City Kings (classic rock, punk), 2pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. The Live Show & Love Child (two local bands), 3pm THE GREENHOUSE MOTO CAFE Tools on Stools (acoustic fusion), 3pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Izzi Hughes (singer,guitarist), 3pm ARCHETYPE BREWING CO. Sunday Sessions (live music, rotating WNC bands andf solo artists), 3pm

TRISKELION BREWING CO. Myron Hyman (classic rock, blues, country), 3:30pm ONE WORLD BREWING Jazz Jam Brunch (jazz), 1:30pm Community Drum Circle, 4pm SALVAGE STATION Remembering Ruby: A Celebration Of The Life & Music Of Ruby Mayfield, 4pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Cat and Crow (soul, bluegrass, country rock), 4pm RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO. Thinkin’ & Drinkin’ Trivia w/Allie, 5:30pm 185 KING STREET Open Electric Jam ft. King Street House Band w/Howie Johnson (electric), 6:30pm FLEETWOOD’S Greg Cartwright Acoustic!, 6:30pm ONLINE Steve James & Del Rey Concert (acoustic, blues, folk), 7pm, avl.mx/9m2 THE MAGNETIC THEATRE Modelface Comedy presents Mark Chalifoux, 7pm THE GREY EAGLE Dirty Dozen Brass Band (New Orleans soul), 8pm

MONDAY, JUNE 28 185 KING STREET Friends of Pisgah Collective Trivia Night, 6:30pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Service Industry Night, 7pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 The Floyd Philharmonic (Pink Floyd tribute), 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. It Takes All Kinds Open Mic Night, 7pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Blue Monday w/Mr Jimmy (blues), 7:30pm

TUESDAY, JUNE 29 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherrill (singer-songwriter), 1pm GREEN MAN BREWERY Old Time Jam (musical collaboration), 3pm

MILLS RIVER BREWING Weekly Trivia Night, 6pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Tuesday Trivia with Eister, 7pm

TRISKELION BREWING CO. Triska Trivia, 7pm 185 KING STREET Trivia Night, 7pm

185 KING STREET Fireside Trio (jazz), 6:30pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Open Mic/Free Jam, 8pm

ARCHETYPE BREWING Trivia Night, 6:30pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Min Xiao-Fen “White Lotus” album release (original score), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Team Trivia, 7pm SLY GROG LOUNGE Theatrical Freak Folk Musical Menagerie, 7pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Open Mic at White Horse, 7pm ODDITORIUM Open Mic Night, 8pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Open Mic Night, 9pm THE GETAWAY TIKI BAR Turntable Tuesdays (dance), 10pm

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night at SAB w/ Jason DeCristofaro (jazz), 5:30pm HAZEL ROBINSON AMPHITHEATRE The Travelin’ McCourys Present: The Grateful Ball (bluegrass), 5:30pm

THE DOUBLE CROWN Western Wednesdays (country), 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Beauty Parlour Comedy featuring Shaunak Godkhindi, 8:30pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Karaoke Party, 9pm ONE WORLD BREWING Latin Night Wednesday, 9pm

THURSDAY, JULY 1 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherrill (singer-songwriter), 1pm CITIZEN VINYL Community Spins, 5pm FLEETWOOD'S Terraoke! Karaoke with Terra!, 6pm ONE WORLD BREWING Isaac Hadden (solo acoustic), 6pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Open Mic, 6pm WHISTLE HOP BREWING CO. Mattick Frick (jazz), 6pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic Night w/ Tommy Yon, 6pm

RABBIT RABBIT Sunset Rooftop Comedy Show, 6:30pm

FBO AT HOMINY CREEK Old Timey Jam, 6pm

SALVAGE STATION The Blue Dragons (Grateful Dead, Phish covers), 6:30pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Well Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith, 6pm THE GREY EAGLE Lo Wolf (folk), 6pm

TRISKELION BREWING CO. Jason’s Technicolor Cabaret, 7pm

ISA'S FRENCH BISTRO Jay DiPaola's Live Lounge (solo acoustic), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew & the Boys (bluegrass), 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm

185 KING STREET Unpaid Bill & the Bad Czechs (acoustic blues, swing), 7pm

ARCHETYPE BREWING BROADWAY Trivia Night, 5pm

BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWERY Jay Brown (Americana, roots), 6pm

THE GREY EAGLE “Rotations” DJ Arieh x DJ Lemon Pop (dance), 5pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

TURGUA BREWING CO. Jam Sessions (open acoustic jam), 5:30pm

ONLINE Kim Richey (Americana), 7pm, avl.mx/9mt

HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Music Bingo, 6pm

12 BONES BREWERY Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

Tickets On Sale NOW SilveradosWNC.com

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Seth Mulder and Midnight Run (bluegrass), 7pm

HOME GROUND COFFEE BAR & DELI Bluegrass Jam, 6pm

MILLS RIVER BREWING Open Mic Night, 6pm

EXPERIENCE WNC’S NEWEST OUTDOOR CONCERT VENUE

AMERICAN VINYL CO. Libby Rodenbough (of Mipso) w/Trippers and Askers, 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL The Old-Time Radio Comedy Show w/StandUp Acts, 7:30pm THE GETAWAY TIKI BAR Getaway Comedy featuring Kenny DeForest, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Love Bubble (acoustic trio), 8pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Karaoke w/KJ Salina, 8pm

FRI 7/2

Saliva

With Opening Guests Contagious

SAT 7/3

Jim Lauderdale

FRI 7/9

Rich Homie Quan Funk You

SAT 7/3

& Songs From The Road

With special guest Lyric

All Outdoor Concerts are rain or shine • Parking and Shuttle Available Uber/Lyft HIGHLY recommended

Gates 5pm • Show 7pm • ALL AGES SHOW

2898 US 70, Black Mountain NC 28711 Across from Ingles Warehouse MOUNTAINX.COM

JUNE 23-29, 2021

29

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): Author Albert Camus advised everyone to “steal some time and give it freely and exclusively to your own self.” That’s excellent advice for you to heed in the coming days. The cosmos has authorized you to put yourself first and grab all the renewal you need. So please don’t scrimp as you shower blessings on yourself. One possible way to accomplish this goal is to go on a long stroll or two. Camus says, “It doesn’t have to be a walk during which you’ll have multiple life epiphanies and discover meanings no other brain ever managed to encounter.” But I think you are indeed likely to be visited by major epiphanies and fantastic new meanings.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Robert Mugabe was Zimbabwe’s leader for 37 years. In the eyes of some, he was a revolutionary hero. To others he was an oppressive dictator. He was also the chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, where his wife Grace received her Ph.D. just two months after she started classes. I suspect that you, too, will have an expansive capacity to advance your education in the coming weeks — although maybe not quite as much as Grace seems to have had. You’re entering a phase of super-learning.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “We were clever enough to turn a laundry list into poetry,” wrote author Umberto Eco. Judging from astrological omens, I suspect you’re now capable of accomplishing comparable feats in your own sphere. Converting a chance encounter into a useful new business connection? Repurposing a seeming liability into an asset? Capitalizing on a minor blessing or breakthrough to transform it into a substantial blessing or breakthrough? All these and more are possible.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “I was so flooded with yearning I thought it would drown me,” wrote Cancerian author Denis Johnson. I don’t expect that will be a problem for you anytime soon. You’re not in danger of getting swept away by a tsunami of insatiable desire. However, you may get caught in a current of sweet, hot passion. You could be carried for a while by waves of aroused fascination. You might find yourself rushing along in a fast-moving stream of riled-up craving. But none of that will be a problem as long as you don’t think you have something better to do. In fact, your time in the cascading flow may prove to be quite intriguing — and ultimately useful.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In my opinion, psychology innovator Carl Jung, born under the sign of Leo, was one of the 20th century’s greatest intellects. His original ideas about human nature are central to my philosophy. One of my favorite things about him is his appreciation for feelings. He wrote, “We should not pretend to understand the world only by the intellect; we apprehend it just as much by feeling. Therefore, the judgment of the intellect is, at best, only half of the truth, and must, if it be honest, also come to an understanding of its inadequacy.”

I bring this to your attention, Leo, because the coming weeks will be a favorable time to upgrade your own appreciation for the power of your feelings to help you understand the world.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): For the indigenous Ojibwe people, the word Adizokan means both “story” and “spirit.” In fact, story and spirit are the same thing. Everything has a spirit and everything has a story, including people, animals, trees, lakes, rivers and rocks. Inspired by these thoughts, and in accordance with cosmic omens, I invite you to meditate on how your life stories are central elements of your spirit. I further encourage you to spend some tender, luxurious time telling yourself the stories from your past that you love best. For extra delightful bonus fun, dream up two prospective stories about your future that you would like to create. (Info about Adizokan comes from Ann and John Mahan at SweetWaterVisions.com.)

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JUNE 23-29, 2021

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Author Aslı Erdoğan writes, “It had been explained to me from my earliest childhood that I would know love — or that thing called ’love’ — as long as I was smart and academically brilliant. But no one ever taught me how to get that knowledge.” I’m sorry to say that what was true for her has been true for most of us: No one ever showed us how to find, create and cultivate love. We may have received haphazard clues now and then from our parents, books and movies. But we never got a single day of formal instruction in school about the subject that is at the heart of our quest to live meaningful lives. That’s the bad news, Libra. The good news is that the rest of 2021 will be one of the best times ever for you to learn important truths about love.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Before he journeyed in a spaceship to the moon in 1971, Scorpio astronaut Alan Shepard didn’t think he’d get carried away with a momentous thrill once he arrive at his destination. He was a manly man not given to outward displays of emotion. But when he landed on the lunar surface and gazed upon the majestic sight of his home planet hanging in the sky, he broke into tears. I’m thinking you may have similar experiences in the coming weeks. Mind-opening, heart-awakening experiences may arrive. Your views of the Very Big Picture could bring healing upheavals.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian author Clarice Lispector observed, “In a state of grace, one sometimes perceives the deep beauty, hitherto unattainable, of another person.”

I suspect that this state of grace will visit you soon, Sagittarius — and probably more than once. I hope you will capitalize on it! Take your time as you tune in to the luminescent souls of the people you value. Become more deeply attuned to their uniquely gorgeous genius.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Trailblazing Capricorn psychoanalyst Ernest Jones (1879–1958) said, “There is no sense of contradiction within the unconscious; opposite ideas exist happily side by side.” In other words, it’s normal and natural to harbor paradoxical attitudes; it’s healthy and sane to be awash in seemingly incongruous blends. I hope you will use this astrologically propitious time to celebrate your own inner dichotomies, dear Capricorn. If you welcome them as a robust aspect of your deepest, truest nature, they will serve you well. They’ll make you extra curious, expansive and non-dogmatic. (PS: Here’s an example, courtesy of psychologically-savvy author Stephen Levine: “For as long as I can remember the alternate antics of the wounded child and the investigations of the ageless Universal played through me.”)

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian guitarist Django Reinhardt was a celebrated jazz musician in occupied France during World War II. Amazingly, he was able to earn good money by performing frequently — even though he fit descriptions that the rampaging Germans regarded as abhorrent. Nazis persecuted the Romani people, of which he was one. They didn’t ban jazz music, but they severely disapproved of it. And the Nazis hated Jews and Blacks, with whom Reinhardt loved to hang out. The obstacles you’re facing aren’t anywhere near as great as his, but I propose we make him your role model for the next four weeks. May he inspire you to persist and even thrive in the face of challenges!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean author Richard Matheson believed we’ve become too tame and mild. “We’ve forgotten,” he wrote, about “how to rise to dizzy heights.” He mourned that we’re too eager to live inside narrow boundaries.

“The full gamut of life is a shadowy continuum,” he continued, “that runs from gray to more gray. The rainbow is bleached.” If any sign of the zodiac has the power to escape blandness and averageness, it’s you Pisceans — especially in the coming weeks. I invite you to restore the rainbow to its full vivid swath: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Maybe even add a few colors.

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MARKETPLACE

BY ROB BREZSNY

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EMPLOYMENT

SKILLED LABOR/ TRADES GREEN ROOFING & LANDSCAPE CREW MEMBER LRI is seeking a Green Roof Technician to join our team, with a positive attitude, punctuality, and a willingness to travel throughout the Southeast.

Email your resume to info@livingroofsinc.com.

ADMINISTRATIVE/ OFFICE LOCAL TECH COMPANY HIRING FOR DATA COLLECTIONS TEAM Looking for a full-time office job with a great culture and team? A good fit will be organized, enjoy research and like being part of a goal oriented team.

Contact Maggie.Nixon@ Verisk.com to apply!

SALES/ MARKETING

GENERAL MAINTENANCE/INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNICIAN Costa Farms is a place for accountable employees who want to win by growing their personal lives and careers safely through servant leadership, teamwork, and resilience. We are currently looking for people that share our values and are ready to turn their skills in maintenance into a career.

As a member of our maintenance team, you will help us maintain the 30 acres of greenhouses that require constant maintenance on the infrastructure as well as irrigation pumps and piping while developing your leadership and teamwork skills in our personal development program. Only minimal experience is needed. You only need the attitude to learn because at Costa Farms, we don't just grow plants, we grow people.

Please come apply at 1468 Bear Creek Rd, Leicester, NC 28748. Phone number 828-683-4222.

PART TIME CASHIERS We are looking for part time cashiers in our Asheville and Weaverville thrift stores. Average of 20 hours a week, Saturdays required. dpaez@wncbridge.org RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER If you've never met a stranger, believe in the power of community, and love connecting others to ways that they can support issues close to their heart, join us! unitedwayabc. org/employment-opportunities

SALES PROFESSIONAL Mountain Xpress is looking to add a new member to our sales team. Ideal candidates are personable, organized, motivated, and can present confidently, while working within a structure. Necessary skills include clear and professional communications (via phone, email, and in-person meetings), detailed record-keeping, and working well in a team environment. While no outside sales experience is required, experience dealing with varied and challenging situations is helpful. The position largely entails account development and lead generation (including cold-calling), account management, assisting clients with marketing and branding strategies, and working to meet or exceed sales goals. If you are a high energy, positive, cooperative person looking to join an independent, community-minded organization, please send a resume and cover letter (no walk-ins, please) explaining why you are a good fit for Mountain Xpress to: xpressjob@ mountainx.com

HUMAN SERVICES FT POSITION: OVERNIGHT AWAKE/3RD SHIFT COMMUNITY MENTOR Onsite overnight awake/3rd shift position at treatment center for LGBTQ+ folx struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues. Exp. Req./$33-36k.

Contact info@elevatewellnessandrecovery.com.

FT POSITION: SHIFT SUPERVISOR Onsite shift work position at treatment center for LGBTQ+ folx struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues. Exp req/40-43k. Contact i nfo@ elevatewellnessandrecovery.com .

HOUSE ADVISOR FT Position Evening Shift, supporting residents with mental health challenges in meeting goals and oversee all aspects of community living. Send resumes to hr@cooperriis.org.

RECOVERY COACH FT Day shift; supporting residents with mental health challenges in attaining goals and maintaining structure. Send resume to hr@cooperriis.org.

PROFESSIONAL/ MANAGEMENT EVENTS & EXPERIENCE MANAGER Do you love creating events and experiences where people come together to build authentic and strong relationships?

This new position supports event planning with school and community partners. unitedwayabc.org/ employment-opportunities .

EVENTS & EXPERIENCES ASSOCIATE (PT) Logistics and project management for events and experiences that bring people together to build a united and resilient community where everyone belongs and everyone thrives. unitedwayabc.org/employment-opportunities

TEACHING/ EDUCATION A-B TECH IS HIRING A-B Tech is currently taking applications for a Lab Assistant Instructor, Small Animal Clinical position .

For more details and to apply: https://abtcc. peopleadmin.com/postings/5614

ARTS/MEDIA

NEWS REPORTER WANTED Mountain Xpress is seeking an experienced reporter to join our team.

You should have the chops to cover a wide range of issues of community concern including local government, community activism, education, economic issues, public safety and criminal justice, as well as some arts and culture coverage. You must be able to craft stories that convey important, timely information and empower readers to take part in meaningful civic dialogue and effect change at the local level. Qualified applicants will have experience in news-writing, have social-media skills, write efficiently and enjoy a fast-paced news-gathering environment. Must have knowledge of Asheville and WNC, be community-minded, have a keen sense of fairness with respect for differing points of view and be committed to Xpress’ mission of community-based journalism. Flexible availability required to cover some after-hours meetings and weekend events. This is a full-time position with some benefits.

Send cover letter, resume and clips/links to xpressjob@ mountainx.com .

COMPUTER/ TECHNICAL A-B TECH IS HIRING A-B Tech is currently taking applications for a Full-Time Limited position Computer and Online Training Coordinator. For more details and to apply: https:// abtcc.peopleadmin.com/ postings/5648

XCHANGE WANTED

A-B TECH IS HIRING A-B Tech is currently taking applications for a PartTime position New Student Orientation Facilitator. For more details and to apply: https://abtcc.peopleadmin.com/postings/5649

BUYING ANTIQUES Vintage, cast iron, pottery, advertising signs, primitives, old collections, estates, old tools, taxidermy, rifles, decoys, wood carvings, signs, clocks, and much more! 828-582-6097 • steadyaim1@yahoo.com.

A-B TECH IS HIRING A-B Tech is currently taking applications for a Veterinary, Lab Assistant, Laboratory Techniques and Anatomy & Physiology position. For more details and to apply: https:// abtcc.peopleadmin.com/ postings/5613

FEMALE PIT BULL COMPANION Male neutered Pit Bull; 10 years old; Needs female companion for play dates. Your dog can play in my fenced backyard or we could go on walks together. I am in my 70's and live in N. Asheville. Please call Joan at 706.323.4670

THE N EW Y OR K TI M ES C ROSSWORD P UZ Z LE TOY TRAINS & OLD METAL TOYS Cash buyer for Toy Trains and Old Metal Toys. Search your barn, cellar and attic and call Dick, a summer resident, at 941-374-2288.

SERVICES AUDIO/VIDEO CABLE PRICE INCREASE AGAIN? Switch To DIRECTV & Save + get a $100 visa gift card! Get More Channels For Less Money. Restrictions apply.

Call Now! 877-693-0625 (AAN CAN) 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 7/21/21. 1-855-380-2501 (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. 1-844416-7147 (AAN CAN)

HOME 4G LTE HOME INTERNET NOW AVAILABLE! Get GotW3 with lightning fast speeds plus take your service with you when you travel! As low as $109.99/ mo! 1-888-519-0171 (AAN CAN)

NEVER PAY FOR COVERED HOME REPAIRS AGAIN! Complete Care Home Warranty COVERS ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE. $200.00 OFF + 2 FREE Months!

1-877-673-0511 | Hours Mon-Thu, Sun: 9:30 am to 8:00 pm Fri: 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (all times Eastern) (AAN CAN)

HOME IMPROVEMENT ELECTRICIAN ELECTRICAL SERVICE Power to the People!

Serving Asheville and abroad. Troubleshooting, fixture hanging, can lights, generators, car chargers, remodels, new construction, we do it all! Licensed and insured.

Free Estimates. 828-5519843

HANDY MAN HIRE A HUSBANDHANDYMAN SERVICES Since 1993. Multiple skill sets. Reliable, trustworthy, quality results. Insured.

References and estimates available. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254 .

ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE YOU BEHIND $10K OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll

issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 855-955-0702 (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST) (AAN CAN) BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 844-511-1836. (AAN CAN) DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting Trucks, Motorcycles & RV’s , too! Fast Free Pickup – Running or Not - 24 Hour Response - Maximum Tax Donation – Call 877-2660681 (AAN CAN) STILL PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MEDICATION? Save up to 90% on RX refill! Order today and receive free shipping on 1st order - prescription required. Call 1-855-7501612 (AAN CAN)

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT BODYWORK FEELING WHACKED? Let Kaye's revive you back!

Incall/Outcall 280-8182

COUNSELING SERVICES ASTRO-COUNSELING Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships

and life directions. Stellar Counseling Services. Christy Gunther, MA, LCMHC. (828) 258-3229.

AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES CASH FOR CARS! We buy all cars! Junk, high-end, totaled – it doesn’t matter!

Get free towing and same day cash! NEWER MODELS too! Call 866-535-9689 (AAN CAN)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

edited by Will Shortz | No. 0519

ACROSS 1 This is the way the world began, per 51-Across 8 Track makers 14 Refuge

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18 Words before a date 19 Just below C level?

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WEATHERIZE 1000 HOMES WITH ESN & HACA Help low-income households save money on their energy bills with simple energy-efficiency upgrades to their home (insulate water heaters, install low-flow water fixtures, etc). volunteer@ energysaversnetwork.org • www.energysaversnetwork.org/1000-homes.

31 Small battery type

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20 OPEC unit: Abbr.

24 Literature Nobelist who penned 71-Across

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WEATHERIZE 1000 HOMES WITH ESN & HACA Help low-income households save money on their energy bills with simple energy-efficiency upgrades to their home (insulate water heaters, install low-flow water fixtures, etc). volunteer@ energysaversnetwork.org • www.energysaversnetwork.org/1000-homes.

21 Develop wrinkles, say

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15 Form a scab, say 16 At an ungodly hour

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32 Away 33 Salon brand with 100% vegan products

71 “This is the way the world ends,” per 24-Across

35 Throngs 39 Tomorrow’s cash flow assessed today 43 Boris Godunov, for one 44 World capital NE of Vientiane 45 ___ lab 46 “Yadda, yadda, yadda” 49 Fictional N.Y.C. locale on children’s TV 51 Physics Nobelist who co-discovered cosmic microwave background radiation, confirming 1-Across 55 ___-mo 56 Home of the Rosa Parks Museum: Abbr.

DOWN 1 What do ewe say?

2 “In that case …”

3 Make good progress 4 Chinese dumpling 5 Man’s nickname that omits “-old” 6 It’s a must 7 [OMG!] 8 “This land,” in “This Land Is Your Land” 9 It’s west of Yemen 10 “Dig in!”

11 “It was my evil twin!” is not a convincing one 12 ___ octopus, creature so named for its large, earlike fins

57 Fishing net

13 Like C-O-L-O-U-R or M-E-T-R-E

60 E.P.A. targets since the ’70s

14 Spot for a soothing scrub

64 Classic film series that anticipated the invention of hoverboards

17 All-consonant diner order

68 Mosey

23 Rain gutter locale

22 Reverse, e.g.

69 Spots for hoops

25 Dalai ___

70 Conical construction

27 Shades

26 “I ___ bite”

28 James played

by Beyoncé in a 2008 biopic 29 Gym shorts material 30 Notions 34 Actress Hathaway 36 Ye ___ Shoppe 37 Supply at a barbecue 38 Airline assignment 40 Head of a country, informally 41 Chuck 42 Container for nitroglycerin, say 47 Dot in “i” or “j” 48 King of music 50 Hairstyle popularized by the Beatles

51 ___ Blue Ribbon 52 Bring joy to 53 Shiny button material 54 Day after 66-Down: Abbr.

58 “That was close!”

59 Two-time Emmy winner Remini 61 27, to 3 62 Family member, in rural dialect 63 French possessive 65 Keystone ___ (character in slapstick comedy) 66 Day before 54-Down: Abbr.

67 Einstein’s German birthplace

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