Many residents in Western North Carolina are under the false impression that ticks in this region do not carry Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Experts, as well as those who’ve endured either illness, say more needs to be done to educate the public about the health risks associated with tickborne diseases.
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Haw Creek rezoning ignores community concerns
As feared, the Asheville City Council has approved the Meadows at New Haw Creek development, despite vociferous opposition from Happy Valley residents. This 84-unit residential project, with prices projected up to $550,000, is seen by Mayor Esther Manheimer as the panacea for Asheville’s housing crisis. With logic-defying finality, the mayor suggested these high-priced homes will somehow address the city’s homelessness and housing scarcity. It’s like suggesting a Rolex sale to solve the community’s need for affordable watches.
The mayor’s logic is a farcical comedy of errors: proposing that half-million-dollar homes will provide affordable housing is akin to proposing that a yacht sale will ease commuter rush hour. The suggestion that the developer coordinate with Habitat for Humanity to build two simple structures within the development is an anemic nod to “affordable housing” and is clearly a cynical attempt to
Word of the week
skinflint
(n.) a person who would save, gain or extort money by any means; miser
Admittedly, we came across this word when looking up synonyms for “bloodsucker” — this week’s cover headline. We found the word interesting and decided to roll with it. Please note that in selecting this word, we are not making assumptions or passing judgment on ticks. We imagine some of these tiny parasites are quite generous in their offerings and/or care very little about money. X
manipulate public opinion. As if the “public” is too dimwitted to see right through that farce.
The mayor’s attempt to make valid community concerns disappear with a wave of her rhetorical wand didn’t amuse the residents of Happy Valley. The neighborhood denizens are not laughing. We continue to raise several critical issues that the City Council cannot simply wave off; here are just a few:
• Health and safety: Increased traffic will significantly increase hazards to both.
• Community character: The project is overly ambitious, poorly conceived (what’s up with those two hovels in the back lot?) and threatens the neighborhood’s aesthetics, charm and natural beauty.
• Economic benefit: The development clearly benefits the developer and the city’s tax base at the expense of the community’s needs.
This isn’t the Council’s first foray into tone-deaf decision-making. Notable historic examples include:
• The hotel development moratorium: Ignoring community input led to widespread discontent and feelings of exclusion.
• Short-term rentals: Mishandling regulations alienated residents and exacerbated disputes within the communities.
• Stormwater mismanagement: Poor planning has led to significant flooding and environmental damage throughout Asheville.
• Vance Monument destruction: A costly and contentious project with minimal public outreach that left many questioning the city’s priorities and mental health.
While the Council may think it’s wrapped up this act, the show is far from over. Happy Valley residents are rallying for a development process that genuinely addresses Asheville’s
housing needs without compromising environmental and community integrity. We refuse to strike the colors.
— Jane Spence-Edwards Asheville
Advice for future anarchist events
As a child growing up in West Asheville, I loved the public library, and every week, my mother took me and my sisters there to return and check out books. Because of this free access to knowledge, I learned many things over many years.
Now, because of what just happened at this library, news reports from all over the world say a number of Asheville anarchists are facing charges for physically assaulting three Jewish people who were there to livestream their event held in support of Gaza and the Palestinian people, and what happened there absolutely did nothing to help promote a cease-fire or help the Palestinian people.
Some advice to the people who set up and promoted this event: What happened there is terrible and seems to me like it became similar to an event that the North Carolina Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan group might have held, so if you don’t want people at an event you sponsor, do not have it in a public library and do not physically attack those who do not agree with you if they show up and livestream your public event. Rent a private space and have organized security and let people know that those who show up who don’t agree with you are not welcome.
Personally, I have been a longtime supporter of the Palestinians and worked part-time for a New York civil rights attorney who did years of international legal work on their behalf, so this issue and the tragedy of Gaza now breaks my heart. Yes, it makes
CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON
me angry, too, but what happened at our West Asheville public library does as well.
As a photojournalist, I photographed many events like the Unite the Right tiki march in Charlottesville, Va., and got threatened there by Nazis but was not assaulted by them and continued my journalist work, which I later gave to the Charlottesville district attorney to prosecute Nazi torchbearers who violated the Virginia law in a similar way to the Asheville “anarchists” who are now facing charges. The Nazis attacked students who showed up to protest them, and they were openly protesting the Nazis, not just livestreaming and not disrupting the event as the Jewish people were doing at the West Asheville public library.
In closing, I welcome discussion on this letter and disagreement about my views, but please do not assault me if I show up in Asheville to photograph a protest because you disagree with my letter.
— John Penley Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
A farewell to ceramicist Bob Kinzie
Glenn Robert (Bob) Kinzie, a local ceramicist, passed away on July 17. Over his nearly 70 years as a potter, he worked and taught from studios in Southern California, Northern California and Asheville.
Aesthetics: a set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in art.
Whether it was a haircut, a painting, a wine glass, ceramics or anything in between, Bob Kinzie focused on aesthetics, appropriateness for use or space, and function. Environment and craft were never considered lightly or as ancillary to experience — to Bob, they were front and center. In this area, he had acute perception, robust knowledge and deep convictions.
He was a master craftsperson and left a legacy of remarkable ceramics. Today, his pieces are highly sought after. He was a pioneer and stubbornly and consistently pushed the limits of the craft and convention in his field. Generations of potters learned and adopted the techniques that he developed.
As in ceramics, he chose his own unique path in life. He cared little for convention and what we all “should” do. This endeared him to some and alienated others. Regardless, he held true to his chosen path and did not compromise or bend on his convictions. Agree or disagree with him, it is tough not to respect him for his commitment to his standards and code.
Bob had a strong hippie pedigree. He was 32 years old in 1964, when
Ken Kesey and 13 Merry Pranksters boarded “Furthur” at Kesey’s ranch in La Honda, Calif., and set off eastward to celebrate the publication of Kesey’s novel Sometimes a Great Notion and to visit the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. Tom Wolfe’s Electric KoolAid Acid Test chronicled the cultural shift — and the drug use — led by the Merry Pranksters. Bob hosted Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters at his studio in Southern California, visited Kesey’s ranch and traveled with the group.
Bob was a fan of LSD, and his experience with hallucinogens informed his views on life and death. He was totally unafraid of death based on his transcendent experiences while on acid. He described experiences when he left his body, visited other locations and people, and then returned. After the trip, he researched and identified where he was, what he saw and who he was with.
Bob hated yellow flowers, the color chartreuse and slow drivers in the fast lane. The latter he labeled “boobahs,” and he would mercilessly tailgate them until they were just as irate as he was. His terrified passengers often needed to replace their underwear after even a short drive. Later in life and right before he finally gave up his license, no mailbox in the neighborhood was safe nor any cart in the Home Depot parking lot. As in life, Bob had clear ideas about his death. He was perfectly content with the course of his life on Earth and completely fine with ending that time. Indeed, he hoped to accelerate the last months and was impatient for his body to catch up with his wishes. We are certain that it was a relief to him to pass.
Bob was born in Chicago on May 2, 1932, to Glenn Kinzie and Mary Kinzie (Slabaugh). He is survived by his spouse, Sandra Lanou Kinzie, and two children.
We wish him well in the next step in his transcendent journey.
— Randall Lanou Creedmoor, N.C.
Continue calling for truth, justice and peace
Hi, I’m Ed. My life experiences have taught me that I am part of a complex, tragic, mysterious and awesome universe. I’ve discovered there is no perfect ideology, political, social or religious life, and that I am part of a miraculous, yet flawed human species. What a relief. I’m not alone. We’re a blessed hodgepodge of human beings! I’ve referred to lifelong learning often in order to encourage the younger generations, parents, teachers and
those involved in caring for others to not give up on our democracy. With all the muck, foolishness and violence in the world, we’d best recognize that it’s the systemic dysfunction, not one individual or group. In other words, our way of life is dominated by money, greed and political power.
It is in the above spirit that I encourage local groups like the Veterans for Peace, Resist Raytheon, Asheville Democratic Socialists, churches and other groups to continue calling for truth, justice and peace. There has been much written locally about local concerns, which also reflect the national and global dysfunctional world we live in. Activity by Asheville groups gives us hope that we can transcend our narrow views — going beyond one political party, one program or one set of policies.
We are in a dark period of history. But, in the face of this darkness, ordinary people of hope and faith, locally and around the world, are coming together to resist injustice, violence and oppression. They are transforming themselves and the world to meet our challenges to democracy: authoritarian governments, economic inequality, rising gun violence and the militarization of our societies.
Our polarized politics and economic inequality do not support or encourage us to see the greatness of
our Constitution and the sacredness of religion’s mature spiritual values of freedom, equality, justice and peace. Despite centuries of violence, greed, lust, cruelty, hatred and wars by the human species, we still produce men and women who overcome evil with good, hatred with love, greed with charity and cruelty with sanctity.
Yes, yes, I know, Christianity and religion have a lot of negative baggage, but to paint all religious beliefs with the same brush is to oversimplify and ignore insights of neuroscientists, anthropologists and religious advocates like the Dalai Lama, Jewish rabbis like Michael Lerner, and Christians, Protestants,
Catholics, Muslims and the secular world calling for a healthier spirituality to widen the circle of inclusion.
There is much good in religion and government that is best recognized. Religions and governments are not going away, so let’s move on to include the positive goals and make the changes that will transform our society to better meet the promises of our revolutionary Constitution.
In this sense, our way of life and demonstrating for peace and justice is not liberal, conservative, Democratic or Republican, but a sacred act to heal our communities and the world: the goal of believers and nonbelievers alike. My belief is
ASHEVILLE’S
that it is the younger generation who will change the world. The goal being divine union, not personal perfection. You can challenge me on this; that’s how I learn.
Here’s a thought from Mahatma Gandhi: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
At my age, I don’t worry about aging but focus on living for truth, and the good and beautiful. You may email me at esacco189@gmail.com — Ed Sacco Asheville
Editor’s note: A longer version of this letter will appear at mountainx. com. X
CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN
Home sweet homeless
BY JERRY STERNBERG
These days, it’s hard to walk or drive around town without seeing homeless people sleeping in doorways, camping in parks and on private property, and panhandling downtown and at many traffic intersections. Meanwhile, the media are filled with horror stories about retail robberies and people — including employees going to and from their jobs — being threatened by aggressive behavior. Fox News has repeatedly singled out Asheville as a dangerous city, and in June, a panhandler was accused of stabbing a tourist with a hypodermic needle. All this might lead one to conclude that Asheville’s homeless population must number in the high hundreds, if not a thousand or more. Yet the 2024 Point-in-Time Count conducted by the City of Asheville back in January concluded that there were just 219 unsheltered people in our area.
The Gospel According to Jerry
Buncombe County’s population is approximately 275,000, and the city’s is about 95,000. In other words, it’s only a tiny fraction of the population — less than half of 1% — that’s wreaking havoc in our community, endangering the lives of our citizens and causing serious economic losses due to reduced tourism revenue and negative impacts on local businesses.
Clearly, we should never criminalize poverty or addiction, which are complex issues with many overlapping factors. At the same time, there must be guardrails to protect ordinary working people, business owners and visitors to our area from the problems associated with homelessness — including, in some cases, criminal activity.
TAKING CARE OF VETERANS
One of those factors is the plight of our homeless veterans. This one really hits home to me, as I’ve seen firsthand
how the military culture can lead to serious addiction problems that, in turn, can result in homelessness.
When I went to college, many of my fellow students were World War II veterans who were getting an education compliments of the GI Bill. These men were almost all in their early 20s, and in a matter of months, the military had transformed them from boys into men. For many of them, consuming copious amounts of alcohol was a rite of passage that eventually caused them to succumb to alcohol addiction.
When I was in the Navy during the Korean War, the cheapest form of entertainment was the low-cost drinks available in the officers’ and enlisted men’s clubs. And when my ship visited foreign ports, I particularly remember seeing both officers and enlisted men returning from liberty after having just destroyed themselves with even cheaper and less regulated booze in the native bars. The Vietnam and Afghanistan wars seriously escalated the problem by adding drugs to the mix, and many veterans are still dealing with those compulsions.
Yet another sad byproduct of military service is the rarely mentioned problem of female veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder after having been sexually abused while serving in our armed forces. In recent years, the percentage of these women who become homeless has risen sharply. A 2004 study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine found that women veterans with a history of military sexual assault were nine times as likely to have PTSD as their counterparts without such a history.
Add in the many civilians who are struggling with addiction to drugs
JERRY STERNBERG
“It’s only a tiny fraction of the population that’s wreaking havoc in our community.”
such as cocaine, opioids or alcohol, and the lack of suitable available housing, and you have alarming numbers of people wandering our streets who are in crisis themselves and, in some cases, are putting others at risk.
SAFE AND SOUND
Many worthwhile programs have been created and multimillions spent on efforts to address these issues. We have outstanding local charities as well as government and private counseling facilities that are producing very positive results with people who seek assistance and make a serious commitment to recovery. Yet the problems persist.
Some members of the public seem to think it’s fine for homeless people to pitch their tents on public property or sleep in doorways and behind shopping centers. But most public parks were not designed as campgrounds and therefore have no restrooms or other sanitary facilities. Besides, if we tolerate this practice, what’s to prevent tourists from pitching their tents in Pack Square Park, along the river or even in Grove Park to avoid paying the big bucks the local hotels charge?
When squatters camp on private property, they are not merely violating the law against trespassing. If you factor in the cumulative effects associated with these issues, we’re talking millions of dollars of unnecessary expense for property owners. I’ve seen this firsthand and in talking with other local business owners I know.
And meanwhile, our woefully understaffed Police Department suffers great frustration trying to balance compassion and protection. I recently watched an excruciating video of the Asheville Police Department carrying out orders to vacate a tent camp in Aston Park. The police were attempting to be as gentle and caring as possible while helping these people gather their belongings, yet bystanders were shrieking obscenities at officers who were just doing their job.
As I watched, I asked myself why the hell anyone would want to be a police officer.
COMPASSIONATE CONFINEMENT
I recently sat down with Sheriff Quentin Miller, one of our outstanding public servants and community leaders, who’s proposed a very promising solution to this problem — and it’s sitting right under our noses.
Right next to the downtown county jail sits a building called the annex. It is ready to go and could house and
feed up to 40 women and 40 men in separate sections. This secured compound includes several offices that would be perfect for health professionals, trainers and job facilitators to help get these patients back on their feet and, when they’re released, find homes to keep them off the street.
I don’t know what sort of legal structure this system would operate under, but basically, when street offenders are arrested and sentenced, they could be given the option of either serving time in the county jail or entering this proposed facility. I like to think of this as compassionate confinement that would recognize the difference between treatment and punishment. Accordingly, small amenities could be added to make the facility more comfortable, and as long as the inmates minded their behavior, they’d be treated more as patients than as prisoners.
Since this facility is already in place, the cost/risk factor is very low. Even finding first-class professionals to staff it would almost certainly be cheaper than the revolving door costs of continually arresting these people and the hit this community is taking due to crime and economic losses.
I have also spoken with Micheal Woods, executive director of the Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, about the project. This is a man who has extensive experience dealing with matters of homelessness and substance abuse treatment, and he is totally on board with the concept. Let’s listen to the folks who are working in the trenches and encourage our lawmakers to give it a try.
Asheville native Jerry Sternberg, a longtime observer of the local scene, can be reached at jvsternberg@gmail. com. An anthology of his columns is available from Pisgah Legal Services for a donation of $25 or more. To order your copy, visit pisgahlegal.org/jerry, or send a check labeled “Jerry’s book” to: PLS, P.O. Box 2276, Asheville, NC 28802. All proceeds support the nonprofit’s work. X
New digs
Montford North Star Academy merges with Asheville Middle School
BY GREG PARLIER
gparlier@mountainx.com
Not many adults remember their middle school years fondly. For those in the Asheville City Schools system at that awkward stage of life, the district has given students another source of anxiety: a forced move to a new school.
In March, the Asheville City Board of Education made the controversial decision to consolidate the district’s two middle schools for the 2024-25 school year in an effort to save money and free up space for its alternative program. That means the families of rising seventh and eighth grade students of Montford North Star Academy (MNSA) were left with a choice: Send their children to Asheville Middle School (AMS) or leave the district.
“We all know that middle school is like the roughest time in a kid’s life.
Green thumbs & aspiring gardeners alike!
Summer is here, and Xpress’ monthly gardening feature is fl ourishing based on reader questions. Please send all gardening inquiries to gardening@mountainx.com
And so every parent, every teacher tries to keep transitions and changes to a minimum. So to have this big of a change for middle schoolers is a lot more disruptive than people have acknowledged,” says Sarah Armstrong, parent of an eighth grader and former PTO president at MNSA.
ACS officials project the middle school population will grow by a third in the upcoming school year, adding about 180 students to its classrooms.
A reconfiguration team composed of about 60 administrators, teachers, students and parents from both middle schools and the central office spoke in April with a meeting facilitator and formed five action teams to work over the summer on a transition, says Kim Dechant, chief of staff for ACS.
Group members focused on consolidation communication, community engagement, a procedures and expectations handbook, staff planning and bonding, and sense of belonging, according to the district’s reconfiguration webpage. The district held a social for rising seventh graders earlier in the summer and has another planned on the front lawn at New Belgium Brewing Co. for rising eighth graders Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Armstrong, who argued against the merger in March, says the groups have been especially successful in bringing together teachers from both schools, and she feels as if the district is really trying to make a difficult situation easier.
Dechant says she’s been impressed with how much time the entire community has given over the summer to make the consolidation a success, from assistant principals to students.
“While the decision [to close Montford North Star Academy] was a challenging decision, I do think everybody’s like, ‘OK, that decision has been made. And we’ve got to make the best of this.’ I’ve been very impressed with that outlook of ‘OK, we’ve got to make this work for our kids, you know?’”
NEW SCHOOL, NEW LEADER
Adding to the turmoil is a nearly wholesale leadership turnover.
Former AMS Principal Jo Landreth was promoted to a position in central office April 17 and later left the district for a principal job at
WELCOME PARTY: Asheville City Schools officials are working to make students of Montford North Star Academy excited about moving to Asheville Middle School. The district showed Guardians of the Galaxy in Pack Square July 12 for these rising seventh grade students. Photo courtesy of Asheville City Schools
Oakley Elementary in the Buncombe County Schools district.
Former MNSA Principal Shannon Baggett was promoted to central office in April. Assistant Principal Miranda Wheeler, who served as interim principal at MNSA after Baggett left, also left the district in June to become principal at Woodfin Elementary in Buncombe County Schools.
Leading AMS will be Blair Johnston, who was promoted from assistant principal to principal.
Johnston has worked in ACS for 17 years, including as a science teacher at the former Vance Elementary (now Lucy S. Herring Elementary).
The district is looking for an assistant principal for eighth grade, while last year’s assistant principals of sixth and seventh grade, Jennifer Adams and Brian Powchak, respectively, remain in their positions at the school, Dechant says.
Johnston acknowledges there are a lot of moving parts, and he is focused on making everyone feel comfortable in the new environment at AMS and with him as a leader.
“The one thing that was important to me as I became principal here is giving everybody an opportunity to [meet with me]. I wanted to meet with everybody that wanted to talk with me over the summer. So I’ve had these one-on-one conversations with staff,” Johnston says.
Montford staff members have taken that opportunity, he says.
“It’s been really good to hear their perspective about how they formed that kind of tightknit community at their school. One thing that they’ve kind of all said was just having the opportunity to be heard and then to problem-solve with each other. There wasn’t an expectation for somebody to bring up a concern, and then one person to solve it, but it was really this school community that was working together to do the best things they could for kids,” he says.
While the added change of a new leader at the school might add to the uncertainty, Armstrong points out that in some ways it might be beneficial to have a new principal to help create what is essentially a brand-new community.
NEW LEADER: Blair Johnston is leading Asheville Middle School into a new era as the only middle school in the Asheville City Schools district. Photo courtesy of Asheville City Schools
“He’s got a great reputation among parents and among teachers, and I feel like to make all of those groups happy separately means you’re doing something really well,” she says.
LINGERING DOUBTS
One of the biggest gripes from MNSA parents about AMS was the difference in size between the two schools. With the merger of the two, AMS only got bigger.
Landreth, the former principal, and Johnston both say the school’s “pod” system — a group of teachers in adjacent classrooms in which the same students rotate through daily — helps break it into smaller communities, making it more accessible to students who are used to a smaller school.
Armstrong, who taught at a large middle school in Buncombe County before becoming PTO president at MNSA, isn’t so sure they’ll be quite as effective as advertised.
“I don’t know if it matters. I used to teach at a huge middle school, and we also had pods like that, and it still felt like a huge school. I’m curious to see how that plays out. I hope that my kid comes home and feels like it’s still a small school, but I think that’s something I’m going to have to wait and sort of see how that goes,” she says.
Daniel Shetley, whose daughter is a rising seventh grader, says he and his wife looked into transferring to a charter school after the decision was made to close MNSA, but his daughter decided she wanted to stay in ACS despite her anxiety about going to a bigger school.
“[MNSA] is a more family-type building, and going into a three-story massive compound, she is worried, and there’s definitely some angst there,” he says.
Shetley says it has been a tough few years to be supportive of ACS. His daughter was in second grade when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person learning in the district, and just when it felt as if she was back on her feet in a middle school she loved, the district closed her school.
Because of all this, he is running for a seat on the Asheville City school board as a write-in candidate, partly because he says the district failed to be adequately transparent with parents in its middle school reconfiguration.
The school closure also played a role in the loss of good teachers, he added.
Of Montford North Star’s 20 teachers last year, seven have moved over to Asheville Middle School for the upcoming year. Two have moved to Asheville High School; two have stayed in Montford to teach at the Cougar Academy and Education and Career Academy at William
BIGGER DIGS: With the addition of students from the former Montford North Star Academy, Asheville Middle School’s population will increase by one-third in the 2024-25 school year.
Randolph; and nine have left the district altogether, Dechant says.
The district’s seemingly constant turnover in leadership positions, mixed messaging around why the school had to close just two years after it closed the beloved Asheville Primary School and its ranking as worst in the state for teacher turnover, according to a report conducted by the Department of Public Instruction, have many parents and teachers wondering if they should stick with the district, Shetley says.
YEAR AHEAD
Despite the lingering resentment from some parents about the closure of MNSA, there are some acknowledged benefits for students attending AMS. A major upgrade is the plethora of electives available to students and the school’s sports programs and facilities.
Armstrong’s daughter plays softball, and as an MNSA student, she had to take a bus to be on the AMS team.
Alternative program returns to Montford
Eleven years after moving its alternative program out of the William Randolph Center on Montford Avenue, Asheville City Schools is returning the program — and part of its name — to the building where former teachers say it had the most success.
Now called the Cougar Academy and Education and Career Academy at William Randolph, the program will be led by Director of Innovative Programming Darwin Carter in the building vacated this summer by Montford North Star Academy.
Carter was a high school and alternative education principal last year for Hickory Public Schools, about an hour east of Asheville.
Carter takes over a program that has been housed in the Arthur R. Edington and Career Center on Livingston Street since former director Randall Johnson revived the program in 2022. There, the ECA was limited to about 30 high school students and had to share space with the Housing Authority of
the City of Asheville, which owns the building, and multiple after-school programs. Johnson resigned from the district around the time Carter was hired, confirms district spokesperson Marilee Woodard
Before that location, the program, then known as Randolph Learning Center, thrived for 10 years on Montford Avenue, former teachers said. Then the district moved it into mold-infested trailers on the Southside, and the program eventually disbanded. The new program is adding a middle school component, called Cougar Academy, focused on “social-emotional development and individualized learning opportunities,” according to a district press release.
“[The Education and Career Academy] will provide high school students with career exploration opportunities and personalized goal setting so they can delve deeper into subjects they excel in,” the release adds.
Shetley’s daughter participated in the award-winning Science Olympiad team at MNSA, which is being carried over to AMS.
For Armstrong, as much as she regrets MNSA being gone, it’s time to invest in the AMS culture. She hopes her daughter and the other MNSA students will be able to adjust. Events like the rising seventh and eighth grade socials and special orientations for all new students, instead of the usual sixth grade orientations, should help, she adds.
NEW DIRECTOR: Darwin Carter will lead the new Cougar Academy and Education and Career Academy at William Randolph in the 2024-25 school year. Photo courtesy of Asheville City Schools
District officials intend to grow the program in its new home, but it’s unclear by how much in its first year. The district also moved student support services offices from its central office on Mountain Street into the Randolph building. X
Photo by Greg Parlier
Not yet resolved Dogwood
warns HCA of potential violations of terms of Mission Health deal
BY JANE WINIK SARTWELL CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS
Dogwood Health Trust notified the N.C. Attorney General’s Office July 30 that it plans to warn HCA Healthcare about potential violations of the terms of HCA’s 2019 purchase agreement for the Asheville-based Mission Health hospital system, based on HCA’s annual report and the findings of an independent monitor.
Dogwood is notifying HCA of three instances of potential noncompliance, concerning:
• Provision of emergency and trauma services and oncology services at Mission Health.
• Failure to remain “enrolled and in good standing” in Medicare and Medicaid.
• Issues with uninsured and charity care policies.
HCA, the Tennessee-based for-profit hospital chain, acquired the Western North Carolina nonprofit Mission Health system in 2019 for $1.5 billion. This purchase resulted in the creation of the Dogwood Health Trust, a foundation that holds the money HCA paid to the nonprofit. In allowing the acquisition, the Attorney General’s Office placed key stipulations on the agreement to which HCA agreed.
Dogwood has been entrusted with ensuring that HCA remains in com-
pliance with those stipulations. The trust is tasked with hiring an independent monitoring company to help make this judgment.
“It’s a little unusual,” Affiliated Monitors’ project manager Gerald Coyne said at a virtual media event July 30 hosted by Dogwood.
“In a lot of states, when you have a proposed hospital merger that’s approved with conditions, those conditions are directly enforced either by the State Department of Health or by the attorney general or by both. Under this agreement, the decision was made at the time that the monitoring would … not (be done) by the state directly.”
The first monitoring company, Gibbins Advisers, deemed HCA compliant each year, though two issues of potential noncompliance were resolved in 2020.
Meanwhile, tensions between HCA and its employees, as well as the communities which it serves, have risen to a boiling point. This year, Dogwood replaced Gibbins Advisers with Affiliated Monitors.
“When we hired the new independent monitor, we did expand the scope of their work to include more community engagement and education … and more communication with the AG’s (attorney general’s) office,” Dogwood Health Trust CEO Susan Mims said at the media event.
Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein has 30 days to inform Dogwood whether he agrees or disagrees with its findings. By Oct. 27, either Dogwood or the attorney general must notify HCA of any noncompliance.
“The only remedy (for potential noncompliance) under the asset purchase agreement is what we refer to as specific performance,” Rachel Ryan , Dogwood Health Trust’s attorney, said at the media event. “It’s really working with HCA to get them back into compliance: That’s what specific performance is about. There’s no monetary penalties or anything like that.”
If the parties are unable to come to a resolution through dialogue after HCA receives official notice, then Dogwood has the right to move toward resolution through the courts.
CONCERNING CONTINUATION OF SERVICES
Stein is already suing HCA over previous allegations of noncompliance concerning the first instance of potential noncompliance identified by Affiliated Monitors: discontinuation of emergency services and cancer care.
“Dogwood’s letter and the independent monitor’s report each highlight potential areas of noncompliance that are consistent with the serious
concerns that led our office to sue HCA last year,” Nazneen Ahmed, press secretary at the Attorney General’s office, told Carolina Public Press in an email.
Affiliated Monitors’ report indicates that it will allow the court to resolve this issue and not move forward with resolution plans of its own.
“The allegations that the attorney general made were very specific about the levels of care and how they had degraded,” Coyne said at the media event.
“Candidly, HCA’s counter to that was equally specific, and rather than us trying to sort out who was right and who was wrong there, without the benefit of the discovery process, without the benefit of additional legal memos, it would seem that we would be almost taking over the jurisdiction of the court, which we didn’t think was appropriate.”
HCA also faces litigation from several local governments in Western North Carolina, which allege that it has engaged in monopolistic activities that have reduced the availability of health care options in the region.
According to HCA, this is the only potential noncompliance that is not already resolved.
“In addition to recognizing that HCA Healthcare has been in compliance with the APA from 2019 to 2022, we agree with the findings of compliance in the majority of the
MAIN CAMPUS: The sprawling skyline of the Mission Health main campus complex in Asheville. Photo by Colby Rabon of Carolina Public Press
report,” Nancy Lindell told CPP in an email.
“There are two areas where the IM noted the potential for noncompliance relating to findings from CMS at Mission Hospital that were resolved earlier this year.”
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID ENROLLMENT
In December 2023, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) delivered a letter notifying HCA that its Asheville hospital was in immediate jeopardy due to nine instances of patient harm or deaths in 2022 and 2023.
Immediate jeopardy is the most serious citation CMS can deliver to a hospital, and Affiliated Monitors determined that because of this, HCA could no longer be considered ‘in good standing’ with CMS.
Mission Health received approval from CMS on its plan of correction, but because this occurred after Affiliated Monitors’ reporting year, it could not be fully taken under consideration in its report.
“The CMS is on its way to being resolved,” Coyne said at the media event. “I would not suggest that it is resolved yet. Even though they have certainly taken first steps towards (compliance), there remains work to be done. They couldn’t just shut it down now and say we’re all set.”
Lindell appears to disagree, calling the issue resolved.
“Mission Hospital is in compliance with governing regulations and at no time was the hospital suspended from treating Medicare or Medicaid patients,” Lindell told CPP.
UNINSURED AND CHARITY CARE POLICIES
Affiliated Monitors specifically requested information about any revisions to HCA’s charity care policy
at Mission Health, confirming that patient billings that qualify under the policy are not subject to collection procedures.
HCA told the monitor that no such revisions — or revisions of any kind — had taken place. Later, the company told the monitor that there had been a mistake, and a revision to the policy had been enacted. HCA deleted a provision that limited when liens could be imposed.
“As an organization, (HCA does) not pursue litigation activity that involves suing patients or filing liens on patient debt accounts,” Lindell told CPP.
Coyne did not necessarily see it that way.
“Even though there may not have been the intention by them to use liens, (changing the policy) certainly opens the door that if future administration or future leadership in the company were to change that position, the people of Western North Carolina would have lost an important protection,” Coyne said at the media event.
WHAT COMES NEXT
Affiliated Monitors is planning on returning to Western North Carolina for a week in September to continue community engagement and meet with groups whose opinions the agency might have missed last time.
“We recognize that during the two weeks that we spent on the ground, we really only scratched the surface in terms of all of the people that have viewpoints and information that they want to share,” Coyne said at the media event. “And we want to work as hard as we can to give folks the opportunity to share that with us.”
He is not certain yet what form that return visit will take.
This article first appeared on Carolina Public Press and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. X
“Join Kristin and Megan from Blue Sky Tallow Co. to learn about the benefits of using herbs in skincare and see what infusions they currently incorporate”
June tourism stays steady compared with June 2023
Asheville’s overall hotel and vacation rental occupancy ticked up slightly in June compared with June 2023.
Vic Isley, president and CEO of Explore Asheville, provided the information to eight members of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) at its July 31 meeting at the Explore Asheville board room at 27 College Place. Board member Elizabeth Putnam was absent, as well as BCTDA’s two ex-officio (nonvoting) members, Sandra Kilgore and Terri Wells. While hotel occupancy rates were down slightly from June 2023 to June 2024, 76% to 74%, the overall number of rooms occupied was up because of new hotels that opened in the past year, BCTDA spokesperson Ashley Greenstein told Xpress. Vacation rental occupancy was 63%, up 3 points from 60% in June 2023.
In June, 213,098 rooms were rented, compared with 209,498 in 2023. In the same period, 185,550 vacation rentals were rented, compared with 171,231 a year earlier.
Isley next spotlighted upcoming events supported by Explore Asheville and the BCTDA, including the 16th annual Asheville Comedy Festival featuring over 30 comedians at four showcases at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts from Wednesday, Aug. 7-Saturday, Aug. 10; and the McCormick Field centennial restoration and capital improvements groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 28. It’s also the second annual appreciation day for local travel and hospitality industry employees, which includes discount tickets to the Asheville Tourists vs.
LOOKING FOR GAMES
In a presentation titled “Focusing on Sports,” Michael Kryzanek, BCTDA vice president of business development, noted the board’s efforts to bring sports events and groups to the area.
This follows the organization’s decision last month to cut its remaining $60,000 in annual funding to the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission. In previous years, the independent sports commission
received $230,000 in funding from the BCTDA.
However, Kryzanek said that the BCTDA will work with the commission “when the opportunity presents itself.”
“Here’s an example of a partnership with Harrah’s Cherokee Center and the Sports Commission,” Kryzanek said. “Collaboratively, we worked together to bring in the Southern Conference Women’s Volleyball Championship.”
The championship takes place Thursday, Nov. 21-Sunday, Nov. 24 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center. The partners landed the event for Asheville for the next three years with Ingles as the title sponsor. The 2024 volleyball
championship marks the first time the tournament will be hosted exclusively at a neutral location for all teams.
“Coming to Asheville for your conference championship without going to a competitor’s facility, that’s something special [for an athlete],” Kryzanek said.
Kryzanek said that BCTDA’s recent Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF) investment in multisport courts for the ExploreAsheville.com arena, in partnership with the city, enabled the community to expand into women’s volleyball.
— Pat Moran
Hickory Crawdads baseball game at the field.
X
CALL TO ORDER: The July 31 Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority meeting featured a discussion on hotel occupancy rates. Photo by Pat Moran
Golden Agers
BY CAROL KAUFMAN
ckaufman828@gmail.com
Glenda McDowell isn’t sure whether she’s a collector or a hoarder, but she’s fine either way.
“My house is a museum,” she says. “From all the places I’ve traveled to during my 12 years in the North Carolina National Guard, let’s just say, I’ve collected stuff.”
Born in Morganton in 1953, McDowell and her mother relocated to Asheville in the late 1950s and lived with family in the East End neighborhood. Decades later, on the heels of urban renewal, McDowell purchased her home in the same area.
“The house was a mere shell at the time,” she says. “The builder was just trying to get rid of it. I saw its potential, so I made an offer. I was a single working mom with two kids and had to fight for shutters and gutters, as there weren’t any.”
After her 12-year stint with the National Guard, McDowell chose a different career path: mediation.
“I got my training at Asheville’s Mediation Center, then worked there for 21 years. Afterward, I spent the next 10 years with the Asheville City Schools (ACS), with a focus on conflict resolution. I seemed to be a natural at mediation.”
Church, however, has always been first and foremost for McDowell.
“From the age of 8,” she says, “my mom would take me to Sunday services at our neighborhood church. St. Matthias Episcopal Church became my anchor, my outlet, a place where strong leaders and powerful women took an interest in me.”
During those Sunday services, though, she couldn’t help but notice a certain void in the church’s leadership.
A calling to be a voice for the voiceless
BELIEVER: “From the age of 8,” local resident Glenda McDowell says, “my mom would take me to Sunday services at our neighborhood church. St. Matthias Episcopal Church became my anchor, my outlet, a place where strong leaders and powerful women took an interest in me.”
“No one there looked like me,” she says. “All the church leaders were white males. I soon realized my calling as an African American woman was leadership: to stand up and have a voice for those that didn’t have a voice.”
McDowell’s dream turned into reality when she became the first African American woman to be ordained as a deacon in the diocese of Western North Carolina. Having gone through a two-year training program at the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina in Asheville, she joined Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore Village in 2011.
by Carol Kaufman
“My title is ’reverend,’ but my actions are that of a deacon,” she says. “I feel nothing but gratitude for my life’s work,” she adds, “and I’ll continue be a strong voice through my community activism and volunteering.”
After working for 60 years, McDowell admits that she’s more than ready to retire, spend more time with her family, and sleep in on Sunday mornings.
McDowell’s last service at Cathedral of All Souls will be on Christmas Eve, then she’ll officially retire on Jan. 1.
Editor’s note: Golden Agers is a monthly feature that explores local residents who are retired or semiretired but remain active in the community. X
Photo
AUG. 7 - AUG. 15, 2024
For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, opt. 1.
Online-only events
Feature, page 29
More info, page 32-33
WELLNESS & SUPPORT GROUPS
Yoga & Coffee
An hour long hatha yoga class on the covered deck, with the option to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, tea or pastry afterwards.
WE (8/7, 14), 9:30am, Cooperative Coffee Shop, 210 Haywood Rd
Innerdance: Altered States of Consciousness with Soundscapes & Energy Work
A healing journey into altered states of consciousness as we flow through brain wave states with soundscapes & energy work.
WE (8/7), 6pm, The Horse Shoe Farm, 155 Horse Shoe Farm Dr, Hendersonville
Tai Chi for Balance
A gentle Tai Chi exercise class to help improve balance, mobility, and quality of life. All ages are welcome.
WE (8/7, 14), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Nicotine Anonymous
People share their experience, strength and hope to stop using nicotine. You don’t need to be stopped, just have a desire to attend.
A part of traditional Chinese medicine that involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind and spirit.
FR (8/9), TU (8/13), 9am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Nia Dance Fitness
A sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts.
TH (8/8, 15), 9:30am, TU (8/13), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Rise & Yoga on The Roof
Hot yoga sessions on the roof of the Radical.
SA (8/10), 9am, The Radical, 95 Roberts St Yoga for Everyone
A free-in person yoga class for all ages and abilities that is led by alternating teachers. Bring your own mat and water bottle.
SA (8/10), 9:30am, Black Mountain Presbyterian, 117 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Yoga in the Park Yoga class alongside the French Broad River, based on Hatha and Vinyasa traditions and led by certified yoga instructors. All experience levels welcome.
SA (8/10), SU (8/11), 11am, 220 Amboy Rd
Adult Water Aerobics
Gentle water aerobics to improve cardio fitness, build strength, boost mood, and ease joint pain. Free for ages 60 and up.
SA (8/10), 10am, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St
Magnetic Minds: Depression & Bipolar Support Group
A free weekly peer-led meeting for those living with depression, bipolar, and related mental health challenges.
Gathering for a combination of silent sitting and walking meditation, facilitated by Worth Bodie.
SU (8/11), 10am, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Summer Cooling Yoga w/Jamie Knox
Our practice slows down in the summer to focus on stretching, calming, and cooling the body. We still include strength building but more emphasis is placed on internal calm. Walk-ins welcome.
SU (8/11), 10:30am, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd
QiGong Class w/Allen Gentle movements that will improve your balance and increase your flow of life force energy. All levels and ages welcome.
TU (8/13), 10am, Asia House Asheville, 119 Coxe Ave
Dementia Awareness Session w/Lunch
An interactive session where you will learn to recognize Dementia symptoms and receive tips on how to help.
TU (8/13), 5pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
Asheville Kirtan
These ancient mantras, chanted in Sanskrit, help to connect us to our hearts- invoking feelings of well-being, meditation, and joy.
TU (8/13), 7pm, Weaving Rainbows, 62 Wall St,
Community Yoga & Mindfulness
Free monthly event with Inspired Change Yoga that will lead you into a morning of breathwork, meditation and yoga. Bring your own mat.
WE (8/14), 10:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
DANCE
Latin Night Wednesday w/DJ Mtn Vibez
A Latin dance social featuring salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, and reggaeton with dance lessons for all skill levels.
WE (8/7, 15), 8pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd
HAVE YOU HEARD THE BUZZ? Downtown Black Mountain hosts the annual Sourwood Festival Saturday, Aug. 10, and Sunday, Aug. 11, starting at 9 a.m. both days. The festival is a celebration of Black Mountain’s bees and locally produced sourwood honey, featuring more than 250 vendors, artisans and makers as well as live music and family-friendly activities. Photo courtesy of the Sourwood Festival
Weekly Zumba Classes
Free in-person Zumba classes. No registration required.
TH (8/8, 15), TU (8/13), 6:30pm, St. James Episcopal Church, 424 W State St, Black Mountain
Saturday Night Square
Dancing
Led by Frank Brown, relish in the tradition of Scotch-Irish and English music dancing and the celebratory cakewalk.
SA (8/10), 8pm, Geneva Hall, 86 High Ridge Rd, Little Switzerland
Tango Tuesdays
Tango lessons and social with instructors Mary Morgan and Mike Eblen. No partner required, and no experience needed for the beginners class.
TU (8/13), 6pm, Urban Orchard Cider Co. South Slope, 24 Buxton Ave
Western North Carolina Glass: Selections from the Collection
A variety of techniques and a willingness to push boundaries of American glass art can be seen in this selection of works. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through September 16. Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square
Lakisha Blount: When
We See Us This new solo exhibition honors the essence of
Blount's experiences and generational stories of Black mountain life in Appalachia through her figurative oil paintings. Gallery open Wednesday through Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through Aug. 10.
Tyger Tyger Gallery, 191 Lyman St, Ste 144
Honoring Nature: Early Southern Appalachian Landscape Painting
This exhibition explores the sublime natural landscapes of the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina and Tennessee. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through Oct. 21.
Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square
Daily Craft Demonstrations
Two artists of different media will explain and demonstrate their craft with informative materials displayed at their booths. These free and educational opportunities are open to the public. Open daily, 10am. Demonstrations run through Dec. 31. Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Pkwy
Robert Chapman Turner: Artist, Teacher, Explorer
The exhibition will include work by some of Turner’s students and colleagues as well as work by contemporary ceramic artists whose work fits within the context of the show. Gallery open
Tuesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through Sept. 7.
Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St
Aaron Fields: Hidden Colors
This art exhibition presents a story about the perfect summer day in the mountains through the use of mostly acrylic paint, paint markers and spray paint. Gallery open daily, 11am. Exhibition through Sept. 1.
Marquee Asheville, 36 Foundy St
Shifting Perceptions: Photographs from the Collection
A selection of photographs presented in a trio of sections, each featuring seemingly opposing forces: Natural/Unnatural, Together/Apart, and Inside/ Out. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through September 23. Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Summer 1-On-1 Pottery Lessons
Private lessons offering individuals 30 minute classes. Walk-ins will be welcome, schedule permitting.
SA (8/10), SU (8/11), 11am, Odyssey Clayworks, 236 Clingman Ave
The New Salon: A Contemporary View
A modern take on the prestigious tradition of the Parisian Salon with the diversity and
innovation of today’s art world. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through Aug. 19.
Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square
Lou Ella Tucker: Story/ Place Tucker's exhibition showcases her curiosity of how spaces influence us and how we influence them, has led her to record their unique stories of humanity around the world. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, noon. Exhibition runs through September 22. Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St
COMMUNITY MUSIC
Dark City Songwriter Round
The Dark City Song Swap takes place once a month and focuses on the art and craft of singer-songwriters. This week's featured country/folk duo Admiral Radio.
WE (8/7), 7pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Music to Your Ears
Discussion Series: Amanda Anne Platt & Bill Kopp
Amanda Anne Platt will join Bill Kopp for a discussion about Warren Zevon's album Excitable Boy. Amanda will add to the evening by performing a few of the
tunes which inspired her as a songwriter.
WE (8/7), 7pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr Fogo No Trio Virtuoso Brazilian trio will be bringing their renowned musicianship and diverse rhythmic palette.
WE (8/7), 7:30pm, AyurPrana Listening Room, 312 Haywood Rd Wings & Strings: Peggy R This music series at at the Sweeten Creek location will feature local bluegrass-style bands every week. TH (8/8), 6:30pm, Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack S, 3749 Sweeten Creek Rd, Arden David Lamotte A songwriter, speaker, author, former board member, and long time friend of the White Horse.
TH (8/8), 7pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Jazz Jam Open jam starts at 8 after a House Band set guaranteed to fill your soul with groove and joy.
TH (8/8), 7pm, LEAF Global Arts, 19 Eagle St Park Rhythms Concert Series: Greg Farley w/ Zachary Warren Briggs This series features many talented artists from across the east coast with Greg Farley and Zachary Warren Briggs providing the
ART
tunes this week.
TH (8/8), 7pm, Black Mountain Veterans Park, 10 Veterans Park
Dr Black Mountain
The Ada Khoury Band
A dynamic singer-songwriter who hails from Texas. She will be performing with Diane Matheson on bass.
TH (8/8), 7pm, Pub 319 Social House, 319 N Haywood St, Waynesville Singer Songwriter
Showcase w/Vince Junior, John Allen Keck, & Bill Melanson
A singer and songwriter showcase with award-winning artist Vince Junior, John Keck and Bill Melanson.
TH (8/8), 8pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr Bourbon & Bluegrass Patio Party
Enjoy the soulful tunes of the Pigeon River Messengers while sipping on premium whiskey.
FR (8/9), 3pm, District 42, 7 Patton Ave
The Ada Khoury Band
Ada will be performing a set of her original country, rock and blues songs at the historic Depot in beautiful downtown Marshall with her three-piece band.
FR (8/9), 6:30pm, Marshall Depot, 282 S Main St, Marshall
An evening of Carnatic music with renowned virtuoso Kamalakiran Vinjamuri. Joining him on stage will be violinist Krupa Sekhar and masterful percussionist Athrey Nadhan, for a captivating celebration of South Indian classical music.
FR (8/9), 7pm, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St Concert Series on the Creek: Robertson Boys
Free concert series for the community with the Robertson Boys bringing an eclectic bluegrass infused style of music. These events are free with donations encouraged. Everyone is welcome. There will be food trucks available on most nights.
FR (8/9), 7pm, Bridge Park Gazebo, 76 Railroad Ave, Sylva Drum Circle
A type of group drumming that have many benefits, including support, recreational music-making, celebration, spirituality, and personal growth.
FR (8/9), 7pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way
Scottish Sessions
A session of traditional Scottish tunes with a rotating group of musicians. Not an open
jam. SA (8/10), 4pm, Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr Mark's House Jam & Sunday Potluck
Bring a potluck dish to share with an a community of local musicians from around the globe.
Please note that this isn't an open mic.
SU (8/11), 3pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr Music from the Crosskeys Tavern Asheville Baroque
Concerts presents a program of Scottish Baroque and Celtic Tunes on baroque and traditional instruments.
SU (8/11), 3pm, Black Mountain Presbyterian, 117 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Jazzville
This dynamic jazz quartet will ignite your imagination with its boundless and transformational creativity.
TH (8/15), 6pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Park Rhythms Concert Series: Pink Beds
This series features many talented artists from across the east coast with Pink Beds providing the music for this week.
TH (8/15), 7pm, Black Mountain Veterans Park, 10 Veterans Park Dr Black Mountain
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS
DIY Video Marketing
Best Practices for Your Small Business Digital marketing expert Sarah Benoit discusses her favorite video platforms, simple ways to explore making your own videos, and tips from the experts to make your content stand out. Register at avl.mx/dyy.
WE (8/7), 2pm, Online
The Future is AI-RRIVING
This workshop is designed for small business owners and entrepreneurs who are seeking ways to optimize their productivity and efficiency using the power of AI tools. Register at avl.mx/dzy.
TU (8/13), 10am, Online
Discovering Brand Strategy
An enlightening session on brand strategy, designed to help you uncover and articulate the core essence of your business’ brand.
TU (8/13), 1pm, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler
LITERARY
Diamond Forde about their debut novel, Failure to Comply
This conversation will touch on abolitionist craft-praxis, trans/ Mad creativity, and anti-genre writing, and more.
Meet the Author: Jessica Leigh Local Fantasy Author
Jessica Leigh will be hosting a book-signing and meet and greet.
SA (8/10), 3:30pm, Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr
John Vercher In Conversation w/Jason Mott
Assistant teaching professor, John Vercher will be in conversation with author of two poetry collections and four novels, Jason Mott. See p32
SU (8/11), 7pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave
Summer Prosperity Book Study
Open yourself up to how abundance is already living in you and how it can be awakened in your life with the help of May McCarthy's book, Path to Wealth. MO (8/12), 6:30pm, $20, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way
Leonard Pitts: 54 Miles
Leonard Pitts, Jr. discusses his new novel, 54 Miles and will also host a book signing.
TU (8/13), 6pm, East Asheville Public Library, 3 Avon Rd
TBR Tuesdays Book Group
We'll be discussing The Maid by Nita Prose. Light refreshments are served.
TU (8/13), 6:30pm, Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain Reading & Book Signing w/Frances Mayes
A reading and book-signing by Frances Mayes in celebration of her new novel, A Great Marriage WE (8/14), 5:30pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O'Henry Ave
Asheville Storyslam: Hot Mess
Prepare a five-minute story about spectacular chaos. Faux pas and flamboyant fails. Calamitous confusion. Wearing two different shoes to work, butt dialing an ex, or tanking the interview.
TH (8/15), 7:30pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave
THEATER & FILM
when sharp-tongued Beatrice reunites with charming Benedick in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing FR (8/9), SA (8/10), SU (8/11), 5pm, Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 100 Gay St
Hamlet: A Play in 100 Minutes
Each year, acting Apprentices, together with professional company members, create and perform one of Shakespeare's plays. This year's undertaking features the classic Tragedy of Hamlet. See p32 FR (8/9), SA (8/10), 7pm, Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, 123 Kenilworth Rd
Mary Poppins: The Musical
Watch as everyone's favorite nanny brings joy and wisdom to the Banks family in this production filled with unforgettable songs and choreograpby.
FR (8/9), SA (8/10), 7pm, Asheville High Arts Theater, 419 McDowell St
Inherit the Wind
A gripping courtroom drama that delves into the historic 1925 Scopes trial, exploring the clash between tradition and progress in a small-town that will keep you on the edge of your seat. See p29 FR (8/9), SA (8/10), 7:30pm, SU (8/11), 2pm, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville
Movies int he Park: Toy Story
A free family-friendly movie night held outside for all community members. Bring blankets and lawn chairs to participate in this fun summer tradition. This week's movie feature is Toy Story and kids will receive unique rubber duck toys.
FR (8/9), 8pm, Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza
Love From Appalachia:
An Evening of Storytelling
Local storytellers Charlie St. Clair, Catherine Yael Serota, Sandra Gudger and Pete Koschnick will present stories that will touch your heart and tickle your funny bone.
TH (8/15), 7pm, Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Dr, Weaverville
The Campfireball: The Nevers
A one-of-a-kind live experience inspired by the lives and stories of the people in the audience. This date's theme explores the things we never thought we’d do, the people we never thought we would become and the stories we fear might never come true.
TH (8/15), 7:30pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd
MEETINGS & PROGRAMS
Change Your Palate Cooking Demo
This free lunchtime food demonstration is open to all but tailored towards those with type 2 diabetes or hypertension and/or their caretakers.
WE (8/7), noon, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
Teen Mental Health First Aid Informative Session
Adults and teens have the opportunity to join separate info sessions to ask questions about the training and understand how it can benefit.
WE (8/7), FR (8/9), noon, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave,
Senior Splash
Grab your bathing suit, water bottle, sunscreen, and a towel for a day of swimming. This event is free and open to anyone ages 50+.
WE (8/7), 1pm, Asheville Recreation Park, 65 Gashes Creek Rd
NSA-WNC Meeting
Professional keynote speakers, coaches, trainers, facilitators, and consultants who cover a broad range of topics, skills and knowledge.
7 Origin Stories, Reflections on Warren Wilson's 130th Anniversary
In this discussion, Dr. Jeff Keith, will uncover the hidden complexities behind the origin story of Warren Wilson College. See p33
TH (8/8), 6pm, Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain
Dharma Talk: Paul Linn Meditation followed by a dharma talk with Paul Linn teaching Buddhist principles that can be applied to daily life. Beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome.
TH (8/8), 6:30pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Nerd Nite
A monthly event held in 100+ cities around the world featuring fun-yet-informative presentations across a variety of subjects.
TH (8/8), 7pm, The River Arts District Brewing Co., 13 Mystery St
SVM Valley History
Explorer Hike: Riceville Valley
A hike that will take participants to the stunning Bull Creek Valley Overlook to explore the history of the Riceville valley, established by Joseph Marion Rice in the 1780s.
SA (8/10), 9am, Swannanoa Valley Museum, 223 W State St, Black Mountain
Chinese Tea & Tai Chi Foundations
Settle your Qi with Chinese tea while learning the fundementals of Tai Chi to imorive your health. Beginner friendly so all levels are wecome.
SA (8/10), 10:30am, MO (8/12), 9:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Meowgical Voter Registration Event Fly on by during one of these voter registration events to fill out the appropriate paperwork
so you can cast your vote this November.
SA (8/10), 11am, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
Earthaven Ecovillage
Natural Building Tour
Earthaven is known for its wide range of natural buildings at all scales. See inside naturally built homes and common buildings and talk with their residents and builders.
SA (8/10), 1pm, Earthaven Ecovillage, 5 Consensus Circle, Black Mountain
Sunday Celebration
A Sunday celebration for the spiritual community.
SU (8/11), 11am, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way
Coloring w/Cats: Teens & Adults
Set time for yourself and cuddle with the panthers, meet other cat-lovers, and color a beautiful picture of a cat from our adult coloring books.
SU (8/11), 2pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
Stitches of Love Meeting
A small group of stitchers who create a variety of handmade items which are donated to
local charities. New members are always welcome to join.
MO (8/12), 2pm, Panera Bread, 1843 Hendersonville Rd
Parks & Greenspace Master Plan Public Input Meeting
A community input sessions on the draft Parks and Greenspace Master Plan. There will be a short presentation followed by discussion where community members are invited to give their feedback, MO (8/12), 5pm, Henderson County Public Library, 301 N Washington St, Hendersonville
Black Men Monday
A local group that has stepped up in the community to advocate for and mentor students through academic intervention. Kids, ages 7 and up, are welcome to join.
MO (8/12), 5:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
Why Vegan?
Explore the world of Veganism through this fun and informative group discussion. Learn how to make it work with mentoring and support available and
Trans/Mad Liberation & Abolitionist
its benefits.
MO (8/12), 5:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
Somatic Healing Circle
In this monthly exploration, you will learn to develop practical tools to heighten awareness of how you experience, embody, and express yourself in the world.
MO (8/12), 7pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Vino & Vulva: WTF, Hormones
This discussion is going to dive into the ways that these hormonal changes affect your sex life, relationships, and how you feel about yourself.
MO (8/12), 7pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave
IBN Biz Lunch: Candler
A discussion of future networking opportunities in the area, a roundtable business needs and solutions segment, lunch. and more.
It is the martial arts style that Airbending from the show Avatar: The Last Airbender was based on.
TU (8/13), 1pm and 5:30pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 Hendersonville Rockstar Connect Networking
An unforgettable evening of connection and opportunity hosted by Jeff Patterson. This event is all about building meaningful relationships with people who get things done in Hendersonville.
TU (8/13), 6pm, Trailside Brewing Co, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville
Psychedelic Therapy
Talk
Hear a talk from Dr. Tiffany Sauls about Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, a series of Q&A, and some delicious drinks from the Elixir Bar.
TU (8/13), 6:30pm, Asheville Dispensary, 919 Haywood Rd, Ste 111
The "Hot" Seat
A conversation with local industry professionals and economic stakeholders on one of Asheville's biggest exports and industries, Food and Bev. This event is free and open to the public.
WE (8/14), noon, YMI Cultural Center, 39 S Market St
The Power of Words to Feed the Soul Connie Matisse, writer and co-founder of East Fork Pottery, and David Gate, a poet, writer, and visual artist, are teaming up for a laid-back chat about the
magic of words.
WE (8/14), 5pm, YMI Cultural Center, 39 S Market St
Backyard Herbalism Summer Series
This class will meet weekly and will cover topics including: the wise woman tradition of healing, summer skin care, herbal support for stress, the medicinal uses of popular garden plants, and even a introduction both essential oils and flower essences.
WE (8/14), 6pm, Art Garden AVL, 191 Lyman St, 316
IBN Biz Lunch: Canton
A discussion of future networking opportunities in the area, a roundtable business needs and solutions segment, food and more.
TH (8/15), 11:30am, Southern Porch, 449 Main St, Canton
Historic Asheville Sessions Project Information Session
The public is invited to learn about the project, which presents, interprets, and celebrates recordings made by OKeh General Phonograph Corporation in the summer of 1925 in WNC.
TH (8/15), 5pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave
The Foxy Chef: A Night of Vegan Cooking Chefs will take us on a culinary journey, explaining health benefits of nature's herbs and spices. This class is open for anyone and everyone.
Two James Beard award-winning legends will explore their unique journeys, the intersections of food, culture, and history, and the power of storytelling in bridging communities and preserving heritage.
TH (8/15), 6pm, YMI Cultural Center, 39 S Market St
Dharma & Discuss Meditation instructions will be given during a sitting which will last 15to 20 mins. This will be followed by a talk and an opportunity to ask Roger questions afterwards.
TH (8/15), 6:30pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
GAMES
& CLUBS
Music Bingo Thursdays
Test your music knowledge and your luck with Music Bingo by DJ Spence.
TH (8/8), 6:30pm, Lookout Brewing Co., 103 S Ridgeway Ave, Black Mountain
Weekly Sunday Scrabble Weekly scrabble play where you’ll be paired
with players of your skill level. All scrabble gear provided.
SU (8/11), 1:30pm, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave
Dungeons & Drafts
An evening of adventure, drinks and company to play D&D. There will be premade characters for you to choose from and join the action.
WE (8/14), 6pm, Ginger’s Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside D
Murder Mystery: Murder at Stiletto Heights
An ultimate ‘80s-themed immersive murder mystery extravaganza with a dinner, and a full blast of nostalgia. Pull on those legwarmers and tease your biggest hair and get ready to plunge into a universe of neon lights, synth beats, and bold shoulder pads.
TH (8/15), 6pm, Ella Events at The Hideaway, 49 Broadway St,
KID-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS
LaZoom Kids’ Comedy Bus Tour
This educational and entertaining tour features a perfect blend of Asheville’s history and comedy with jokes for kids of all ages. Open daily, noon. LaZoom Room, 76 Biltmore Ave
Kids & Teens Kung Fu Learn fighting skills as well as conflict resolution and mindfulness. First class is free to see if it’s a good fit for you.
TH (8/8, 15), MO (8/12), TU (8/13), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Coloring w/Cats: Kiddie Edition
An artistic session with coloring books and markers for children ages 13 and under to relax by coloring as they pet cats to reduce stress and anxiety.
SA (8/10), 1:30pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
Foam Frenzy in Kenilworth Park
Gather with neighbors for foam-filled afternoons as parks turn into fluffy, foamy lands of fun and make-believe.
SU (8/11), 1pm, Kenilworth Park, 79 Wyoming Rd
Kiddie Cat Etiquette
Bring your kiddos for a fun and educating workshop where your kids will learn the fundamentals of cat behavior.
SU (8/11), 1pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
Imagination Monday
Children can enjoy giant building blocks, tunnels, and fun games on this special day of open play geared for ages 1-5 years-old. No advance
registration required, adults must accompany children the entire time.
MO (8/12), 10am, Kenilworth Park, 79 Wyoming Rd
LOCAL MARKETS
Etowah Lions Farmers Market
An array of farm-fresh local produce that features lettuce, collards, kale, mushrooms as well as local artisans, herbal products, plant starts, prepackaged meals and more. Every Wednesday through October.
WE (8/7, 14), 3pm, Etowah Lions Club, 447 Etowah School Rd, Hendersonville
Enka-Candler Farmer’s Market
A grand selection of local foods and crafts, everything from produce to pickles, baked goods to body care, and even educational resources. Every Thursday through October 31.
TH (8/8, 15), 3:30pm,
A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler
Leicester Farmers Market
A community-led farmers market local produce, cheese, meats and crafts, every Wednesday.
WE (8/7, 14), 3pm, Leicester Community Center, 2979 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester
RAD Farmers Market
Providing year-round access to fresh local foods from over 30 local vendors offering fresh produce, baked goods, pastured meats, cheeses, raw honey, and more. Located right on the Greenway, the market is safely accessible by bike, foot, or rollerblade.
WE (8/7, 14), 3pm, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr
Weaverville Tailgate Market
A selection of fresh, locally grown produce, grass fed beef, pork, chicken, rabbit, eggs, cheese, sweet and savory baked goods, artisan bread, body care, eclectic handmade goodies, garden and landscaping plants. Open year round.
WE (8/7, 14), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr
Weaverville
East Asheville Tailgate Market
Featuring locally grown vegetables, fruits, wild foraged mushrooms, ready made food, handmade body care, bread, pastries, meat, eggs, and more to the East Asheville community since 2007. Every Friday through Nov. 22.
FR (8/9), 3pm, 954
Tunnel Rd
Pack Square Artisan Market
Featuring local handcrafted goods in the heart of downtown Asheville. Browse unique products
and meet the folks that produce them. Every Friday through Oct. 25.
FR (8/9), 3pm, 1 South Pack Square Park
Henderson County Tailgate Market
Featuring Henderson County's finest produce, hand crafts, plant starts, vegetables, Sourwood honey, baked goods, fresh eggs, mushrooms, sausage and more. Every Saturday through Oct. SA (8/10), 8am, 100 N King St, Hendersonville
Hendersonville Farmers Market
Featuring fresh produce, meats, baked goods, crafts, live entertainment, food trucks, and more.
SA (8/10), 8am, Historic Depot on Maple St in Downtown Hendersonville’s 7th Ave District
North Asheville Tailgate Market
The oldest Saturday morning market in WNC, since 1980. Over 60 rotating vendors providing a full range of local, sustainably produced produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, breads, plants and unique crafts.
SA (8/10), 8am, 3300 University Heights
Asheville City Market
Featuring local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and other artisan products. Every Saturday through December 21.
Browse a great selection of adult, vintage, young adult and children’s books, puzzles, and more.
SA (8/10), 10am, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain
Mars Hill Farmers & Artisans Market
A producer-only tailgate market located on the campus of Mars Hill University on College Street. Offering fresh local produce, herbs, cheeses, meats, eggs, baked goods, honey, body care and more. Every Saturday through Oct. 26.
SA (8/10), 10am, College Street, College St, Mars Hill
WNC Farmers Market
High quality fruits and vegetables, mountain crafts, jams, jellies, preserves, sourwood honey, and other farm fresh items. Open daily 8am, year-round.
570 Brevard Rd
Junk-O-Rama
Browse vintage clothing vendors, local crafters, antiques and more.
SU (8/11), 11am, Fleetwood's, 496 Haywood Rd
Magical Market
Stock up on magical supplies in the shop, browse the market of local vendors, pet some panthers in the cat lounge, and intuitive reading.
MO (8/12), noon, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
West Asheville Tailgate Market
Featuring an array of goods including fruits, vegetables, baked goods, bread, eggs, cheese, milk, poultry, and fish to locally made specialty items such as natural beauty products, herbal medicine and locally made art and crafts. Every Tuesday through November 26.
TU (8/13), 3:30pm, 18 Haywood Rd
FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS
The 16th Annual Asheville Comedy Festival
The 16th Annual Asheville Comedy Festival returns with four days of performances by the country's fastest rising stars in comedy. Tom Segura will be headlining this festival on August 7th at Harrah's Cherokee Center.
WE (8/7), (TH (8/8), FR (8/9), 7:30pm, SA (8/10), 6pm, Wortham Center For The Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave
WNCCHS 30th
Anniversary Community Health Fair
Celebrate 30 years of WNCCHS with a family-friendly community health fair. This event is open to the public and will offer free health services and educational opportunities, fun activities, food trucks, entertainment and more.
TH (8/8), 4pm, A-B Tech Campus, Parking Lot A7, 71 Fernihurst Dr
Local Cloth: Twelve-byTwelve Textile Show
An annual exhibit featuring fiber art crafted by Local Cloth member artists that fit in a 12 inch by 12 inch square space. This year's Textile Show features 45 artists as well as a silent auction.
TH (8/8), 5pm, Local Cloth, 408 Depot St, Ste 100
The Puppeteers of America Southeast Regional Festival
Featuring an all-star line up of some of the best puppeteers working today, workshops, potpourri, puppet slam, and more. All are welcome to attend and be inspired at Puppet Paradise. See p32-33 TH (8/8), 5pm, Warren Wilson College, 701 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa
Hirshoshima & Nagasaki Vigil
Sponsored by WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility. We will have flyers, plants, community. All are welcome.
FR (8/9), 4pm, Pack Square Park, 22 S Pack Square
Woods & Wilds Annual Storytelling Event
Enjoy a magical night filled with the rhythm of live performances, the wonder of nature, and inspiring forest talks. This unique adventure offers an opportunity to connect with nature, learn from storytellers, and engage with the community FR (8/9), 7pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200 2024 Sourwood Festival
This annual summer celebration marks the beginning of the sourwood honey-selling season and will feature more than 200 vendors, artisans and makers. There will also be live music and kid-friendly activities.
SA (8/10), SU (8/11) 9am, Downtown Black Mountain, Black Mountain
Appalachian Mountain Health 2nd Annual Health Fair
This exciting event will feature giveaways, engaging health workshops, fantastic prizes, delicious food, and a live DJ to keep the energy high. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about your health and wellness in a fun, community-focused environment.
SA (8/10), 9am, Appalachian Mountain Health - Asheville, 77 McDowell St
Wood Day
A celebration of wooden crafts, one of the first mediums of handicraft. From branches, trunks, roots, and bark, watch as they’re used in both functional and decorative pieces. See p33 SA (8/10), 10am, Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Pkwy
Mongoose 50th Bike Jam
Celebrate Mongoose's 50th Anniversary with all-day sessions where you can party with the pros right out there on the dirt. All who ride bikes on dirt are welcome, including BMX riders, dirt jumpers, and mountain bikers.
SA (8/10), noon, The Riveter, 701 Old Fanning Bridge Rd Mills River
National Bowling Day
Celebrate National Bowling with a game at The Draftman's two-lane bowling alley.
SA (8/10), 4pm, The Draftsman Bar + Lounge, 68 Patton Ave
Fallout Art Market:
End of Summer Mini Fest
End of Summer mini fest featuring local vendors, food, and live music by Log's Electric Space Whistle, Mark's Trippy Noise Coaster, Waas Sauce and more. SU (8/11), 2pm, Fallout Art Space, 475 Fletcher Martin Rd, Alexander Bite Me AVL
A unique celebration of Asheville’s vibrant food culture with a diverse range of experiences, including cooking classes, gourmet dinners, interactive workshops, engaging conversations, and late-night events. Visit avl.mx/dzz for the full schedule of events and times,.
WE (8/14), noon, TH (8/15), 9am, Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave Lake Julian Park Picnic
A beautiful picnic in picturesque Lake Julian Park. Enjoy music, crafts, games, dancing, and more. Registration is required to help plan food and activities.
TH (8/15), 11am, Lake Julian Park, 37 Lake Julian Rd, Arden 2024 Rhythm & Brews: Empire Strikes Bass & Zydeco Ya Ya Free outdoor shows with a variety of established acts as well as up-and-coming artists from around the region. This week, Empire Strikes Brass brings their funk and rock sounds alongside Cajun band Zydeco Ya Ya.
TH (8/15), 5:30pm, Downtown Hendersonville S Main St, Hendersonville
BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING
Back-to-School Bash & Read 2 Succeed Donation Dr Blue Ridge shopping destination welcomes the community to enjoy family-friendly festivities such as balloon art, face painting, crafts and music while stocking up on fresh looks for fall. There will also be a collection of curated items that will be distributed to students at Read 2 Succeed.
SA (8/10), noon, Tanger Outlets Asheville, 800 Brevard Rd
Become a R2S Reading Tutor Volunteer as a Read to Succeed tutor with training included. Work one-to-one or in small groups during and after school. For more information visit avl.mx/bto.
WE (8/14), 6pm, Online
Ticked off
WNC grapples with Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever
BY JESSICA WAKEMAN
jwakeman@mountainx.com
In June, Alex Smith of Biltmore Village developed a crippling headache and a fever that spiked to 102. He lost his appetite and had overwhelming fatigue, but he couldn’t sleep. He assumed he’d caught a bad case of the flu.
Soon, Smith noticed a rash by his knee. It started out pink, then turned from red to purple and got very itchy. His physician told him, “That’s got to be from a tick bite.” The doctor prescribed a 10-day course of doxycycline — an antibiotic often prescribed for Lyme disease — as a precautionary measure.
But Smith’s condition worsened. So he returned to his doctor, who ordered blood tests. These came back negative for the antibodies that result from Lyme disease. However, the blood test revealed that Smith had Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), another bacterial disease spread by several types of ticks. The doxycycline helped Smith to eventually feel better, as the antibiotic is prescribed for both diseases. Still, he missed a week of work.
Smith is a recreation and environmental planner, sometimes outdoors, and says he suspects he probably has more knowledge than the average person about tick prevention. But even he was surprised by the chain of events. Although he hikes frequently, he hadn’t been in the woods recently. He hadn’t seen a tick embedded in his skin, and his doctor’s search through his hair didn’t turn up one. He doesn’t know where he got bitten or when. Smith’s experience underscores the importance of Western North Carolina residents having an awareness of RMSF and Lyme, as both illnesses cause symptoms that are often mistaken for other conditions. And the consensus among health care professionals and disease sufferers is that a lot more education about the increased local prevalence of the ticks that spread them is imperative.
TICK TALK
“It’s a myth that Lyme disease is new in this state,” says Marcia HermanGiddens, a UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health adjunct professor who co-founded the nonprofit TickBorne Infections Council of North Carolina. Many people associate ticks
infected with Lyme and RMSF with the Northeastern and the Western states, respectively.
But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Lyme can be found across the eastern half of the U.S. in infected black-legged ticks (also called deer ticks). RMSF can spread from infected American dog ticks, which are also found in the eastern half of the U.S., and brown dog ticks, which are found nationwide. (Distribution maps can be found at avl.mx/dze.)
Herman-Giddens, who has a doctorate in public health, says the first reported case of Lyme “that was confirmed to be locally acquired” was in Wake County in 2009, and it may be attributable to “the black-legged tick … traveling down the Appalachian chain.” However, many health care providers who were trained before tickborne infections like Lyme took hold here may not know this, says Biltmore Forest resident Angela Newnam, who has suffered from Lyme.
Newnam grew up in WNC and knew the region had ticks. But “I didn’t even know we had Lyme in North Carolina,” she tells Xpress
She believes many health care providers have been trained to only look for a ring rash (a rash resembling a bull’s-eye) or to expect the presence of an embedded tick to confirm a bite.
“I never got a ring rash,” she explains. “But I started having very bizarre ailments: neuropathies, overly sensitive skin, nervous system kind of going crazy, body aches [that] eventually evolved to brain fog and blurry vision and just basically symptoms across almost every body part function.”
She saw a neurologist, a dermatologist, an ophthalmologist and physical therapists and received brain and spinal scans. Multiple blood tests said she was negative for Lyme disease, Newnam notes. She was misdiagnosed with early arthritis, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, among other conditions.
Newnam eventually learned that the antibody thresholds for a Lyme diagnosis are different for men and women, which she thinks many health care providers don’t know, either. In 2021, after five years of ailments, a polymerase chain reaction test, commonly called a PCR, confirmed a diagnosis for Lyme and tick-borne bacterial infections babesia and Bartonella.
RASH DECISIONS: Alex Smith was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain spotted fever in June. “Honestly, if I didn’t see a rash on me, I probably would have assumed it was just something I was going to get over if I stayed in my bed for a few days,” the Biltmore Village
UNDERCOUNTED
Lyme has become more prevalent in WNC over the last five years, HermanGiddens estimates. But how widespread are Lyme, RMSF and other tick-borne diseases? It’s difficult to quantify.
Positive cases of vector-borne diseases, such as from ticks, are required to be reported to local health departments, says Buncombe County Public Health nurse Susan Creede. The county then reports the cases to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), which passes along those figures to the CDC.
The Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services (BCDHHS) conducts an investigation about every report it receives from a
says.
health care provider in order to confirm cases, Creede says. A communicable disease nurse will follow up with a patient about a positive lab analysis. Since January of this year, Buncombe County has received 104 reports of Lyme, says BCDHHS spokesperson Stacey Wood. Of those, 19 have been confirmed cases, five met the definition for suspect or probable cases and 23 are currently under investigation.
Everyone with whom Xpress spoke about tick-borne illnesses acknowledges that Lyme and RMSF are more prevalent than the current confirmed cases. If a person has symptoms associated with Lyme, a doctor often prescribes
CONTINUES ON PAGE 22
resident
Photo by Claire Sheehy
How to remove a tick
Buncombe County Public Health nurse Susan Creede recommends these steps for finding and removing a tick:
• Check your body after every six hours that you’re outside, such as when you’re doing yardwork, hiking or camping. Don’t forget to check the nape of your neck, under waistbands, behind your knees, under breasts and inside armpits. “If you see a tick and get it removed, then it [may not] have the opportunity to transmit disease,” Creede says, noting it can bite and transmit infections between six and 24 hours of being on your body.
• If you find a tick, wash your hands and get a clean pair of tweezers.
• Go down to where the tick head is meeting skin and pull directly upward — “not at a slant,” Creede says. It’s important to remove the head, not just the body.
• If you want to destroy the tick, put it in rubbing alcohol. If you want to save the tick, in case you have concerning symptoms and want to get the tick tested, place it in a zip-close bag.
• Noting on your calendar the date and location that you removed a tick can be useful later if you experience symptoms. It can take three to 30 days for early Lyme disease symptoms (fever, headache, joint ache, chills) to appear.
Buncombe County Public Health Communicable Disease Control can be reached at 828250-5109. For more information, visit avl.mx/dzx. X
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Join Susan and become a member at SupportMountainX.com
doxycycline without initiating a blood test for confirmation, Creede explains. (This is what Smith’s doctor did.) That is useful in the sense that if the patient actually has Lyme or RMSF, the antibiotic can prevent it from worsening. However, since only positive cases of Lyme and RMSF are reported to health departments — not just evidence of ring rashes or tick bites — an untold number of cases aren’t officially being reported to the state and CDC.
In fact, Herman-Giddens says the CDC’s figures about Lyme in North Carolina — 2.39 confirmed and probable cases per 100,000 residents in 2023, per NCDHHS Lyme disease surveillance data — are just “the tip of the iceberg.”
TESTING THEMSELVES
The NCDHHS Division of Public Health Communicable Diseases Branch can test ticks found on humans and large animals to identify species for surveillance purposes. However, BCDHHS and NCDHHS don’t test ticks for potential pathogens. Both departments can only confirm positive cases based on blood work.
Some residents are taking it upon themselves to get ticks tested by private labs. On TickReport.com, for example, for $50-$200 depending on the services, individuals can find out what diseases a tick is potentially carrying within one to three days. This information can be useful if they experience symptoms. Not everyone who is bitten by an infected tick will necessarily become infected themselves.
In June, Hannah Consky felt a tick on her earlobe while putting on earrings. As she was 29 weeks pregnant, she found this slightly unnerving. Her husband removed it with tweezers. The tick was fed, but not fully engorged, Consky says, and her husband, who is a physician, recommended getting it tested rather than starting her on antibiotics. He placed the tick in a zip-close bag and mailed it to a lab in Boston to be tested for a $50 fee, she says. Fortunately, the report didn’t indicate the tick was infected with anything concerning.
While BCDHHS collects countywide data on vector-borne diseases, Newnam is informally gathering information about people in Biltmore Forest who experience symptoms. The town is heavily forested and home to many deer, which ticks feed from. She is spearheading tick testing through a local task force, Lyme Education and Awareness Deliver Solutions (LEADS): Residents collect ticks in zip-close bags, and Newnam mails them in batches to be tested at private labs. The town of Biltmore Forest foots the bill for these tests, covering $1,500 in testing last year,
THEY ARE HERE: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease can be found across the eastern half of the U.S. in infected black-legged ticks (also called deer ticks). Rocky Mountain spotted fever can spread from infected American dog ticks, which are also found in the eastern half of the U.S., and brown dog ticks, which are found nationwide. Photo courtesy of Able Allen
with an additional $1,000 budgeted through 2025, according to Town Manager Jonathan Kanipe
In summer and fall 2023, Newnam tested 75 ticks that people collected off themselves or their pets. Among them were positive infections of Lyme, Bartonella, RMSF and, in some cases, four or five pathogens in a single tick, she says. This year, she continues, she’s only mailed ticks that were attached to people. Of the six she’s sent out so far, half tested positive for Lyme. She says she has 20 more ticks ready to mail and anticipates collecting and sending off another batch in midfall.
Newnam also keeps a list updated with local cases of people who had symptoms, like a ring rash, and/or got a positive test; she does not count people who simply found a tick or had a tick bite or people who took antibiotics preventively but had no symptoms (even if they had the tick tested and it came back positive). She notes that her list would be a lot longer if she included those categories. But so far, she’s gathered the names of 50 potential Lyme infections — 40 in adults and 10 in children. (Newnam emphasizes that she isn’t a health care provider and the information in her list isn’t officially confirmed.)
Armed with hyperlocal information, Newnam seeks to educate Biltmore Forest’s 2,000 residents about preventing tick-borne illnesses. She’s given presentations to her neighbors, relying on CDC data; in the quarterly LEADS print newsletter, she shares advice on making residential yards “as tick-unfriendly as possible” by discouraging deer and mice.
There are “a lot of things from the landscaper perspective that you can
do,” Newnam says, citing the removal of leaves, debris and thickets from yards. Even if a person doesn’t walk through a thicket themselves, pets might do so and bring ticks into the house. She adds that there are spray programs that can kill ticks in residential yards, though she notes some people prefer not to do that out of concern they might hurt pollinators.
RADAR FOCUS
Newnam says her work through LEADS is meant to put tick-borne illnesses “on the radar screen” for more people.
Smith, for example, has had previous exposure to Lyme, which he learned from an antibody test administered due to past health issues, he says. But he admits RMSF hadn’t been on his radar.
He calls his experience with the condition “startling,” especially after the communicable disease nurse from BCDHHS who contacted him to follow up on his report said RMSF is rare in WNC. The department has also confirmed two cases of RMSF in 2024, says spokesperson Wood.
“I do feel lucky my doctor even thought about [testing for tick-borne infections],” he says. From reading up on RMSF, “I know if you don’t treat it and just let it go, it can get very bad.” According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, untreated RMSF can lead to nerve damage, hearing loss and, in rare circumstances, death.
“Honestly, if I didn’t see a rash on me, I probably would have assumed it was just something I was going to get over if I stayed in my bed for a few days,” he says. X
ARTS & CULTURE Ripple effects
Local theater companies respond to the loss of UNCA’s drama department
BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN
earnaudin@mountainx.com
Lise Kloeppel has been experiencing what she describes as “a roller coaster of emotions but mostly grief” in the buildup to and official elimination of UNC Asheville’s drama program. Yet the department’s chair is working to balance that pain with gratitude for the 16 years that she’s worked in its ranks and its overall impact that long predates her time on campus.
“For over 50 years, the department has produced exceptional graduates and consistently contributed to the intellectual and creative life of the campus and Asheville communities,” Kloeppel says. “I’m extremely proud of our work and saddened by this tremendous loss.”
On July 24, the program was officially cut by the UNC System Board of Governors, which unanimously approved UNCA Chancellor Kimberly van Noort ’s proposal, which also included the end of the philosophy, religious and ancient Mediterranean studies programs, plus French and German language concentrations. The measures were in response to a $6 million budget deficit — the result of several factors, including a 25% decrease in student enrollment since 2019.
Following an academic portfolio review process that began in February, van Noort announced the proposed cuts on June 13. Kloeppel and her drama colleagues quickly got to work, organizing the 10-day “Keep Theatre at UNCA” letter-writing campaign, which resulted in over 1,200 letters from community members being sent to van Noort and Peter Hans, president of the UNC System. In addition, Kloeppel was one of 24 UNCA department chairs to co-author and sign a 25-page faculty letter, arguing the drama department’s merits and those of the other proposed departmental cuts.
The UNCA faculty senate also issued a statement, which Kloeppel thinks most accurately represents the faculty’s collective response to the academic program review process and proposal. Among the statement’s key points is that the humanities division was the lone division targeted for elimination or curtailment and that “the metrics for how programs were
chosen for elimination or curtailment are unclear, inconsistent and have yet to be fully shared with the campus.”
With the discontinuation of the program now official, UNCA will start a “teach-out” process to help currently enrolled students in the impacted concentrations finish their degrees. Kloeppel says the drama department began meeting with the administration the week of July 29 to develop teach-out plans.
“I’m still learning what this process will look like for the department,” she says. “I hope the university can continue to give the students a high-quality educational experience that will prepare them to pursue their postgraduation personal and professional goals.”
But once the class of 2028 graduates, the professional future for Kloeppel and her drama department colleagues remains murky.
“I’ve been told by the administration that personnel decisions should be finalized sometime in late September,” she says. “As far as my future employment with the university goes, the only thing I know for sure is what the UNC System code states: ‘One who has permanent tenure shall be given not less than 12 months’ notice.’”
INDUSTRY IMPLICATIONS
While Kloeppel and her colleagues are confident that the loss of the drama department will have negative impacts on UNCA at large, the decision is likely to reverberate beyond the campus, impacting the local theater community that’s come to rely on the program’s students and alumni.
Among those preparing for the changes is Jeff Catanese, artistic director of Attic Salt Theater Company and founder of the Asheville Theater Alliance. When the industry veteran moved to Asheville from New York City in early 2010, he was worried that there would be no theater opportunities. Instead, he was happy to discover that they were myriad and quickly noted a common thread.
“Performing in my first show in Asheville, I was surprised by the overwhelming number of graduates of UNCA’s theater program I was working with,” Catanese says. “They came from all over, both in- and out-of-state, and filled the stage
and backstage alike. They stayed in Western North Carolina to partake of the vibrant arts scene they just spent four years learning about.”
Since then, Catanese has worked with dozens of current UNCA drama students and alumni and says he can count on roughly a quarter of his cast and crew for any given Ashevillearea show coming from its department. Furthermore, he can count on them, noting that they have always shown a great amount of knowledge and professionalism.
“They feed our community and, subsequently, the city,” he says. “Losing the drama program at UNCA will be a travesty for our theater scene. Although actors, directors, writers, designers, set builders and people in every aspect of Asheville drama come from all over the country, the heart of all of them are the UNCA grads that fill our local theaters. I find the prospect of losing them very disheartening.”
Katie Jones, co-artistic director of The Magnetic Theatre, has collabo-
rated with multiple UNCA students and alumni over the years, hiring them as actors, stage managers and technicians.
“They were skilled, creative and bright young people who greatly contributed to the atmosphere of our theater,” she says.
Jones’ work with the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival for several years also brought her into contact with UNCA interns on an annual basis.
Using the students helped the organization keep costs down, but it also benefited from, in her words, “having passionate, organized students on board to keep the festival running.”
“The loss of UNCA’s drama department is a major one for our community,” Jones says. “Not only do students participate in community events, but community members got the experience of directing and teaching in the university setting, which is an important source of creative work and income for artists in our area. Pay for artists, especially theater artists, in Asheville is low, and this situation will
be even harder without the support of UNCA’s drama department.”
Jones adds that the department’s demise will eventually result in a lack of UNCA alumni going out into the world and telling people around the U.S. about the artistry and passion of Asheville.
“This is an effect that can’t be quantified but will certainly affect the reputation of our town as an arts-focused community,” she says.
Steven Samuels, producing artistic director and publisher of The Sublime Theater & Press, says that his theater troupe and the Magnetic, which he also co-founded, wouldn’t have come into existence or been able to function
effectively without UNCA graduates in every aspect of the company’s work.
“But it gets worse: The shuttering of Warren Wilson [College]’s theater program hurts, too. I understand the economics of these schools, but theater in particular and the arts in general are wrongly devalued despite all they provide to the public, not only emotionally and intellectually but economically,” Samuels says.
“The loss of training programs will make the furtherance of local theater harder than it always is anyway, and it’s terribly shortsighted regarding positive economic impacts on the community and the educational benefits of vibrant arts programs.”
SEYMOUR STYLE: The UNC Asheville drama department’s recent productions include “Little Shop of Horrors” in fall 2022. Photo by Adam Sorgi
Dog foodies
BY BROOK BOLEN
Locals and listicle makers alike know Asheville is unabashedly fond of man’s best friend. The city regularly lands atop national rankings of dog-friendly locales based on the number of businesses and facilities that welcome canine customers with open arms, including breweries, hotels, parks, restaurants and more. As a town obsessed with both dogs and delicious cuisine, it’s not surprising that Asheville also boasts several makers focused on crafting doggie meals and treats. For many of these entrepreneurs, better health for our four-legged companions is the bottom line.
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
In recent years, the market of attentive pet parents has shifted its attention away from kibble and toward fresh, high-quality food brimming with organic produce, minerals, vitamins and pre- and probiotics. In a 2019 study by The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 96% of survey respondents in the U.S. prioritized healthy food for their pets as much as or more than they prioritized it for themselves — which helps explain why popular, high-end fresh pet food startup The Farmer’s Dog, brought in over $800 million last year.
Kristi King , owner of Green Earth Pet Food, says the death of her 8-year-old German shepherd, Shadow, in 1998 from aggressive bone cancer was the origin of her interest in making her own pet food. During Shadow’s illness, her veterinarian had encouraged King to feed her chicken and rice, which prompted her to begin looking into the ingredients of the kibble she had previously used.
Asheville makers ensure pups get their share of farm-to-table fare
Christie Willett, pictured with canine buddies, from left, Jax and Lil’ J, was inspired to launch her business after the death of her dog Jack brought to her attention the importance of nutrition for pets.
Photo by Caleb Johnson
“I discovered it included atrocious things,” she says, citing online reports of animal euthanasia drugs found in pet food products The widespread pet food recall of 2007, in which the consumption of melamine, a type of plastic, caused the deaths of thousands of family pets, further informed her anti-kibble convictions.
DIY doggie dinner
King offers this raw food recipe for folks who want to try their hand at making a DIY feast for their dogs.
Ingredients:
• 5 pounds raw meat grinds, any kind (beef, chicken, turkey, etc.)
• Two raw eggs (without shell)
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt or kefir
• 2 cups vegetables and/or fruit (see note below), chopped or
run through a food processor or blender
• 1/8 cup each green tea leaves, raw pumpkin seeds and raw flax seeds, all ground
If using meat grinds with no bones, add one teaspoon of eggshell powder (available at some health food shops or search online for easy DIY directions) per pound of meat. If using
After lots of research and consulting with her veterinarian, King says, she started making Shadow’s food from scratch. She continued for about six months but found the process of buying, chopping and cooking ingredients extremely time-consuming.
Around the same time, she began hearing about the benefits of a raw-
meat grinds with no organ meat, add ½ pound of ground liver.
This recipe makes about 6 pounds (or 12 cups) of food. Feed about one cup of food for every 25 pounds of dog weight, or 2%-3% of your dog’s ideal body weight.
IMPORTANT NOTE: King says it’s crucial to be sure not to include any of the following items, which can be toxic for dogs: chocolate, grapes/ raisins, walnuts, onions, macadamia nuts and xylitol. X
food diet for pets. “I thought, ‘OK, I’ll try it,”’ she says. “That’s been 24 years now; I’ve not looked back.”
While she recognizes that each dog is an individual and that raw foods aren’t necessarily right for every pooch, King says she has witnessed numerous benefits, both in her own dogs and through customers’ testimonials. She especially appreciates the digestibility of uncooked foods.
Ground raw meats and the other ingredients that she includes in her foods, such as organic yogurt, eggs, carrots, kale, apples and green tea leaves, are rich in digestive enzymes, she says. But when foods are cooked at high temperatures, like commercial kibble, she continues, those beneficial components are destroyed. “[With a raw foods diet] their pancreas is not having to produce these massive amounts of digestive enzymes, and this helps prevent diabetes and other pancreatic issues.”
PUPPY LOVE: Waggin Meals owner
King also makes a line of raw foods for cats. She markets her products locally at the French Broad Co-Op, the Grateful Dog in Brevard and Paws on the Mountain in Cashiers. Otherwise, she sells them directly to consumers from her website.
LABOR OF LOVE
Similarly, Waggin Meals owner Christie Willett launched her business after the loss of her beloved 14-year-old dachshund, Jack. After he was diagnosed with liver disease, Willett’s veterinarian urged her to feed Jack prescription or homemade meals. Sadly, Jack only lived one more night, driving home to Willett the vital importance of diet to a dog’s health.
In response, she began making her own dog food, ultimately becoming a certified pet nutrition coach. “I learned that everyone thinks kibble is the only way to feed your dog, but it’s not,” Willett says, noting that kibble as we know it today became commonplace in the 1950s due to its convenience and economy.
Willett agrees with King that the problem with kibble lies in the process used to create it. She explains that the ingredients are ground together, processed at a high temperature then extruded through a die-cut machine to create little shapes before being dried and sprayed with flavors, fats and vitamins. Broadly speaking, she says, these practices can dilute nutritional value and can create toxic byproducts.
“With my food, you can pronounce all the ingredients,” she says. “It’s not made in the factory. It’s made by my hands. I source the ingredients — I go to the farms and get it. I developed the recipes.”
Willett makes her products — which are gently cooked, not raw — in a commercial kitchen space in her new West Asheville retail facility, where she also offers pet nutrition and cooking classes. Meals are a mix of proteins, such as chicken, turkey, beef or sometimes fish or venison, with other ingredients that can include such things as rice, green beans, sweet potatoes, blueberries, coconut oil and flax seeds. She sources her meats from Maverick’s Cattle Co. in Weaverville, grows her own spinach and kale and gets other veggies, like sweet potatoes, from the WNC Farmers Market.
Gently cooking the foods, says Willett, not only helps it retain more nutrients than kibble but also kills off potential pathogens. “Because I make dog food in such mass quantities, cross-contamination really concerns me,” she explains.
While Willett is relishing her new Johnson School Road storefront, which opened in June, she’s also actively fundraising to build a holistic palliative care center for terminally ill dogs — Last Resort Pet Sanctuary — on the same property. She hopes for those plans to come to fruition by late 2025.
FOOD ON THE MOVE
In 2015, Adventure Hounds Supply Co. owner Kelsey Kuehl began researching ways to help her rescue dog, Kaline, put on weight and soothe his sensitive stomach. She discovered that pumpkin is good for canine digestion, but she wanted to do more than just add a scoop to his meals.
Because both she and Kaline enjoy hiking, it was also important to her to create something portable. “With us spending so much time outdoors, I wanted to have something that I could bring on hikes, because your dog’s going to need that energy and those calories, too, just like we do,” she says.
She began baking pumpkin-based snacks for Kaline to fuel their outdoor adventures and supplement regular meals. Along with pumpkin, Kuehl’s treats incorporate ingredients such as quinoa, oats, freerange eggs, peanut butter, uncured bacon and locally foraged turkey tail mushrooms, which she adds to help with digestion, boost immunity and decrease inflammation. While she regularly offers three flavors, she says the two most popular ones are peanut butter-pumpkin and bacon-peanut butter.
Kuehl doesn’t have a storefront but sells her wares online and in a few local businesses, including Signs for Hope and New Moon Marketplace in Fairview, Wildwood flower shop in Canton and the taproom at Wicked Weed West, where she sources spent grains from the beer-making process to include in her products. She’s also recently started making cakes for dogs, which can be ordered through Adventure Hounds’ Instagram page, @adventurehounds_avl.
Like King and Willett, Kuehl focuses on creating simple, natural products. “I only use ingredients you can pronounce, as well as things that [people] could eat,” she says. “I always get those dad jokes, like, ‘I could eat this.’ And while you could, I don’t think you would like them as much as the dogs do.”
For more information on Green Earth Pet Food, visit avl.mx/dxc. Visit Waggin Meals online at avl.mx/dxd. Adventure Hounds Supply Co. is at avl.mx/dxe. X
Hounds on the town
Want to treat your pup to a real Asheville dining experience? The following area restaurants cater to canines with special doggie menus.
Twisted Laurel (130 College St.): Order your pup a dish made by Waggin Meals or choose something fresh from the kitchen, including items such as grilled trout, Brussels sprouts, doggie ice cream or celery with peanut butter. Visit avl.mx/dxh to see the full menu.
Posana (1 Biltmore Ave.):
Dogs can dig in to a fourcourse meal at this gluten-free downtown eatery. The menu offers dog biscuit appetizers, a grilled Joyce Farms chicken-andrice entrée, seasonal doggie ice cream for dessert and, of course, doggie beer to wash it all down. Find the menu at avl.mx/dxj.
Lured Market & Grill (2655 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure):
After working up an appetite at the lake, dogs can refuel with a bowl of ground chicken or beef or a yogurt or strawberry pup-sicle from the eatery’s Puppy Chow menu. Visit avl.mx/dxk for the latest menu.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar - South Asheville (1829 Hendersonville Road): This farm-to-table favorite offers a Bone Appetit menu for dogs at its South Asheville location that features items such as bacon, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and grilled chicken breast. For more information, call Tupelo Honey - South Asheville at 828-505-7676. X
Playbill picks
BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN
If you’re a fan of local theater, Western North Carolina offers plenty of options. Below are some highlights of productions hitting stages across the region.
SING CITY
As NBC’s popular 1950s-’60s police procedural series “Naked City” proclaimed at the end of each week’s episode, “There are 8 million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them.”
Over at Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville, theatergoers can see not one but four of those stories in Adam Gwon’s sung-through musical Ordinary Days, which runs Friday, Aug. 9-Sunday, Aug. 18.
The work debuted in 2008 and centers on Deb (played by Kelli Hall), Warren (Joby Lavery), Jason (Eric Martinez) and Claire (Lily Bartleson), chronicling the comedic and poignant ways that their lives intersect in New York City.
“The talented performers singing some beautiful melodies is reason enough to see the show,” says director and costumer Jeff Catanese. “But I think everyone will find a character or situation here that they can greatly relate to.”
To learn more, visit avl.mx/9ol.
READY FOR TAKEOFF
Following the consecutive gut punches of The Shawshank
Redemption and Cabaret, Flat Rock Playhouse goes decidedly lighter with the beloved comedy Boeing-Boeing.
Set in 1960s Paris, Marc Camoletti ’s play (translated from French to English by Beverley Cross and Francis Evans) revolves around playboy architect Bernard (played by Keith Rubin) and his three fiancées: Gloria the American (Jessica Mosher ), Gretchen the German ( Maddie Franke ) and Gabriella the Italian (Carissa Fiorillo). The international air hostesses are blissfully unaware of each other — that is, until surprise schedule changes bring all three to his apartment in the French capital.
Directed by Reggie Law, the audience favorite returns to the Rock for the first time since 2014 and also stars Cabaret scene-stealer Marcy McGuigan and Grayson Powell, the memorable lead in FRP’s 2022 production of the mystery Catch Me If You Can
“I am very stoked about working with Flat Rock Playhouse on BoeingBoeing after the wonderful experience of directing Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner in 2022,” Law says. “I am excited about this project not only because the playhouse is a wonderful community of creative professionals, but also I am particularly drawn to shows with farcical premises and absurd situations — and Boeing perfectly fits the bill.”
To learn more, visit avl.mx/dzl.
SEE YOU IN COURT!
Arthur Miller ’s 1953 play The Crucible is often credited as the
definitive artistic response to McCarthyism, the “Red Scare” and the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings. But also in the conversation is Inherit the Wind, written by playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee in 1955.
Similar to Miller returning to the 1690s Salem witch trials, Inherit the Wind critiques a contemporary issue by reviving a story from the past: the Scopes “Monkey” trial of 1925, which found Tennessee educator John T. Scopes in court for teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, thereby violating state law.
Haywood Arts Regional Theater (HART) in Waynesville brings this timeless drama to the stage Friday, Aug. 9-Sunday, Aug. 25. HART Artistic Director Candice Dickinson calls it
“a nail-biting courtroom drama” and reveals that she “literally could not put the script down” the first time she read it. Director Terry Martin was likewise moved by the material.
“What I find so interesting about this play is that the playwrights directed the playbill to read: ’PLACE: A small town. TIME: Summer. Not too long ago,’” Martin says.
“They realized that this man-made battle between fundamentalism and freedom of thought would always be lurking around the corner, and their story needed to be a timeless allegory, not a history piece. And how correct they were: It is now 99 years after the original Scopes ’Monkey; trial’ and the same battle, under different names, continues to divide the nation.”
To learn more, visit avl.mx/dzm. X
SHIFTING GEARS: Local theater companies explore a range of tones in their August productions. Photo by iStock
What’s new in food
Haywood Famous brings Cuban coffee and sober nightlife to West Asheville
If your experience of a coffee shop is multiple parties of one sitting alone at tables for two, wearing earbuds, staring at a screen, bouncing between tapping quietly on a keypad and texting on a phone while intermittently scrolling through social media, Eva Rodriguez-Cué invites you to step into her way-back machine at Haywood Famous, the charming Cuban coffee-centric café she opened earlier this month in West Asheville. Rodriguez-Cué was nostalgic for the type of gathering place she had never experienced — dark and cozy coffeehouses of the 1960s and ’70s filled with a mishmash of shabby-chic furnishings, earnest young people writing poetry, girls with guitars singing sad songs, regulars dabbling in flirtations, building friendships and engaging in lively discussions of ideas, art, literature and politics.
Or, in a more contemporary frame of reference, what she saw watching reruns of the sitcom “Friends.” “They’d all meet at Central Perk after work and talk about their day,” she says. “I craved a place like that. So many of the coffee shops we know open early in the morning and close in the afternoon.”
She adds, “I’m Cuban-American, and we drink coffee day and night!”
Perched cross-legged on a gold-velvet upholstered vintage sofa she bought on Facebook Marketplace, in the shotgun space that has been a tattoo parlor, barbershop and florist, the 23 (and a half)-year-old-entrepreneur fairly brims with ideas, positivity and an earnest desire to create connection for a technologically connected but personally disconnected generation.
Raised in Greenville, N.C., Rodriguez-Cu é immediately knew the first time she visited her older brother in West Asheville 10 years ago that she’d found where she was meant to be. “It felt authentic and artsy and right for me,” she says.
After high school, she enrolled at UNC Asheville, but midway through the second semester of her freshman year, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. “I was already home for spring break and didn’t get back for six months,” she says. “I lost the heart for school, but my heart to start a business of my own grew.”
Rodriguez-Cué got an apartment in West Asheville with her twin sister and created her own hospitality
industry apprenticeship, working back and front of house in restaurants and coffee shops. She made a business plan and found a small space on the lower level of a house on Westwood Place behind Harvest Records, then began previewing Haywood Famous on social media.
The name, she explains, is an inside joke with friends. “I was walking down Haywood [Road] one day, and two different people I didn’t know said hello to me by name,” she recalls. “I was working at Flora at the time, and they knew me as customers there. My friends and I started joking about being ‘Haywood Famous,’ and it seemed perfect.”
The name really fit after the Westwood spot fell through and she stumbled upon the available space at 508 Haywood Road across from Golden Pineapple and The Whale. Through a series of serendipitous events, she signed a lease on it in April.
One week before her Aug. 1 soft opening, much of the room was still a work in progress, except for the mural on the back wall painted by her friend, tattoo artist Ash Grey. Also installed were the counters built by Evie Horton and Matisse Araque and the shiny
equipment used to make the Cuban coffee drinks that distinguish Haywood Famous — the Cubano, cafecito, café con leche, cortadito and, for sharing, the colada. Friend Mel Hanley’s Brown Sugar Boulangerie provides the Cuban pastries, cake and macarons.
Rodriguez-Cué sees Haywood Famous as a place where high school kids can go after school to do homework or in the evening to hang out; a home for poetry readings, movie screenings, book clubs, knitting circles and, yes, maybe girls with guitars singing sad songs.
“My generation is statistically the most sober and the most socially isolated,” she says. “I wanted to create a gathering place for people to get off their phones, get off social [media] and be with each other. Come to Haywood Famous: I’ll make you a cup of coffee, and we’ll talk.”
Haywood Famous is at 508 Haywood Road. August soft-opening hours are 3:30-10:30 p.m. daily except Wednesday. Permanent hours will be 3:30-10:30 p.m Monday and Tuesday, 5 p.m.-midnight Thursday-Sunday. For more information, follow Haywood Famous on Instagram at avl.mx/dzo.
Dinner with chef Jay Medford
Storm Rhum Bar owner and executive chef Jay Medford will present the second in an ongoing series of private chef dinners on Friday, Aug. 9, in partnership with Sage and Spice Catering and Market.
“I’ve started working with [owner Tori Frasher and chef Sergio Castro] on some catering and rehearsal dinners at the market,” he says. “We decided to do some pop-up dinners because it’s a really good space and gives me a chance to stretch.”
For the debut dinner’s menu, he mined inspiration from his time in New York cooking Asian cuisine. For the second installation, he stays closer to home with five courses of what he says are comfort classics from his North Carolina roots. “I’m sourcing everything from the farmers and vendors at the North Asheville Tailgate Market,” he says. “And the entire dinner will be gluten-free.”
That includes the upside-down peach mochi cake, the sweet finale to courses that include a chilled cucumber gazpacho, heirloom tomato salad, Sunburst Trout Farms trout with succotash and sous vide pork loin with stone-ground grits and skillet-charred greens.
Sage and Spice is at 1056 Patton Ave. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and is $75 per person or $120 paired with wine. Reservations can be made through Sage and Spice Market’s Instagram
CUBAN NIGHTS: Along with Cuban coffee and pastries, Haywood Famous owner Eva Rodriguez-Cué aims to provide a comfortable spot for alcohol-free evening socializing on Haywood Road. Photo by Caleb Johnson
at avl.mx/dzf to avoid fees or through Eventbrite at avl.mx/dzg.
Cocktail collab at Nine Mile
Devil’s Foot Beverage Co. is the local talent behind two new draft cocktails just added to the drinks menu at Nine Mile, perennial winner of multiple Xpress Best of WNC awards, including Favorite Restaurant.
Both beverages complement Nine Mile’s Caribbean-inspired, vegetarian-friendly fare. Dancing Feet hits the beat with Muddy River Spice Carolina rum, Devil’s Foot Fuego ginger beer, plus a touch of guava and lime. Roland’s Rita is made with Espolon Blanco tequila, Grand Marnier and Devil’s Foot Sparkling Limeade, and finished with fresh orange and lime juice.
Both drinks are available at all three Nine Mile locations. For more information, visit avl.mx/ax3.
New Cúrate
Spanish-style cider
In the U.S., it’s cider; in Spain, it’s sidra. At Cúrate, La Bodega by Cúrate and Botanist & Barrel, it’s Cúrate Cider, a new Spanish-style cider made for Cúrate by Botanist and Barrel. Launched in late July, Cúrate Cider is made from crabapples and heirloom apples grown in North Carolina and Virginia orchards, finished in cognac and chardonnay barrels, then bottled for its final fermentation. Called the ancestral method, this process yields very little residual sugar for a dry, slightly effervescent cider.
Curate Cider is available by the glass or bottle at Cúrate, La Bodega by Cúrate and Botanist & Barrel in Asheville. It can also be ordered online through Cúrate at Home at avl.mx/dzi.
Wine releases
On July 26, Addison Farms Vineyard released four new wines for summer quaffing at home or at the winery in Leicester.
Coming Home 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the first vines planted at Addison Farms in 2009
and was aged for 18 months in French oak. Bottle Rocket 2023 is a bubbly blend of Petit Manseng grapes from Addison Farms and Spring Branch Vineyard in Mount Airy, bottled just before fermentation.
Jovis 2022 is a half-and-half blend of Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese grapes aged for 18 months in French oak. Bellatrix is the latest installment in the Lore series of experimental wines, a dry, bubbly blend of Chardonel piquette and Chambourcin with flavors of tart cranberry and candied orange peel.
Addison Farms Vineyard is at 4005 New Leicester Highway, Leicester. Tasting room hours are noon-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit avl.mx/dzh.
Summer dishes at Golden Hour
WNC farms and farmers markets are bursting with summer produce, which in turn is showing up in the kitchens of local restaurants. Golden Hour’s new chef de cuisine, Kevin Chrisman, a North Carolina native, has worked with executive chef Jacob Sessom to add several freshly harvested dishes to the menu of the wood-fire restaurant in the Radical Hotel.
New options include marinated Carolina peaches with Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery blue cheese and Gaining Ground Farm herbs; tomatoes from The Culinary Gardener Evan Chender, cut and served with seasoned tomato water, olive oil and dehydrated, slightly fermented tomato dust; summer succotash with butterbeans, Tuxapeno hominy, Sleight Family Farm corn, peppers, sweet onion, fresh garlic, fried corn nuts and herbs; North Carolina Berkshire peach- and chili-glazed pork chops with smoked Hendersonville peaches and smoked eggplant purée; and Edna Lewis’ Sunday cornmeal cake with peach marmalade and sorghum marshmallow roasted on live coals.
Chrisman is also adding weekly specials to showcase the seasonal bounty.
Golden Hour is on the ground floor of The Radical boutique hotel at 95 Roberts St. It opens at 5 p.m. daily with brunch served 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit avl.mx/dzj.
— Kay West X
Around Town
Local theater company Venture Shakespeare will present Hamlet: A Play in 100 Minutes on the lawn at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church on Friday, Aug. 9, and Saturday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m.
The ensemble production will remain faithful to Shakespeare’s text, though it has been abbreviated by Kirstin Daniel, Venture’s creative director, to fit into 90 minutes. “I think it’s interesting that we ended up choosing Hamlet,” Daniel says. “It’s important, you know, uncovering what the play is for us at this moment. I’m excited to see what that sort of artistic conversation will be like with our audience.”
Daniel will share the stage with performers Ashleigh Stochel, Casey Morris, Lindy Booth, Lochlan Angle, Lori Evans and Lucius Robinson
Vendors will offer locally made cutting boards and paintings at each performance, and cupcakes will be available for sale. Live music will precede each show, starting at 6 p.m.
Venture Shakespeare also provides education for local aspiring theater artists. Each year, apprentices receive training from professional actors free of charge. The apprenticeship culminates in creating and performing a play with the company.
“The apprenticeship is aimed at college-aged students,” says Daniel. “We are rehearsing and teaching at the same time, moving away from thinking of ‘director as auteur’ and instead finding ways for every student to unpack the text, find their own connection to it and hone their growing skills as an agent of their own learning and career. I think now more than ever, being in a creative community is important to human survival.”
The outdoor shows are free to the public, though donations are appreciated. In the case of inclement weather, the play will be moved indoors to the sanctuary. All ages are welcome, but Venture asks that dogs remain at home.
Kenilworth Presbyterian Church is at 123 Kenilworth Road. For information, visit avl.mx/dzp.
Author event at Citizen Vinyl
Malaprop’s Bookstore & Café will present a conversation between
nationally acclaimed authors John Vercher and Jason Mott at Citizen Vinyl on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m.
Mott is an associate professor at UNC Wilmington. His debut novel, The Returned, was made into a TV series that ran for two seasons. His most recent novel, Hell of a Book, won the National Book Award for Fiction in 2021. In 2024, he was selected as a National Endowment of the Arts Creative Writing Fellow.
Vercher serves as an assistant teaching professor in the Department of English and Philosophy at Drexel University and was the inaugural Wilma Dykeman writer-in-residence at UNC Asheville. His debut novel, ThreeFifths, was named one of the best books of the year by both the Chicago Tribune and Booklist. His second novel, After the Lights Go Out, was named a Best Book of Summer 2022 by BookRiot and Publishers Weekly and a Booklist Editor’s Choice Best Book of 2022. The event is free, and doors open at 6 p.m. Reservations are required.
Citizen Vinyl is at 14 O. Henry Ave. For information, visit avl.mx/dzq.
Puppet festival at Warren Wilson
Warren Wilson College will host Puppet Paradise, a puppetry retreat, Thursday, Aug. 8-Sunday, Aug. 11. Puppet Paradise, the official festival of the Southeast Regional Puppeteers of America, will include a variety of shows and workshops. Lee Bryan (aka That Puppet Guy) will lead a discussion titled “Art of the Business: Organizing and Creating a Better Puppet Business,” offering tips on finding and organizing bookings, marketing and more. Jacqueline Wade will lead the workshop “BIPOC Bodies in White Spaces in Puppetry and Beyond,” which will incorporate shadow puppetry. Aretta Baumgartner will host a Puppetry 101 workshop. Performing puppeteers also include Quintron & Miss Pussycat, The Wham, Bam! Puppet Slam, Toiley T. Paper, Street Creature Puppet Collective, Shadow Girls Cult, Edwin Salas, Rabbit Foot Puppetry and Puppet Pants Productions. The puppet slam will take place at Warren Wilson’s outdoor pavilion, and the mainstage performances will take place in the Kittredge Theater.
SHARING SHAKESPEARE: The ensemble theater company Venture Shakespeare performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Photo courtesy of Kirstin Daniel.
Warren Wilson College is at 701 Warren Wilson Road. For information, visit avl.mx/dzr.
Blue Ridge Public Radio changes format
At midnight Aug. 5, Blue Ridge Public Radio divided its programming into two distinct listening choices: BPR music and BPR news.
The new format, called BPR Classic’s Key Change, is aimed at making it easier for listeners to find the programming they are looking for. Both broadcasts will still be found on the same frequencies.
BPR Classic’s music station will now feature classical music from 4 a.m.-10 p.m., with late-night traditional and contemporary jazz from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Weekend programming will be refreshed with six new programs.
On Saturday from 5-6 p.m., “From the Top with Peter Dugan” will feature live performances by young and classically trained musicians from across the country. From 8-10 p.m., host Frank Dominguez will present “Concierto,” with music in Spanish and English by both Spanish and Latin American composers. From 10-11 p.m., “Latin Perspective” will play contemporary and classic Afro-Latin and Latin jazz music. Sunday kicks off with “Sunday Baroque,” 7-11 a.m., featuring classics from the Baroque era. In the evening, “Modern Notebook” will run from 8-10 p.m., with host Tyler Kline presenting new releases from contemporary
classical artists. Finally, jazz musician Christain McBride will present live jazz in “Jazz Night in America” from 10-11 p.m.
BPR News will feature all NPR hourly newscasts as well as the signature NPR lineups throughout the week and weekend.
For the full lineup, visit avl.mx/dzs.
Artist Support Grant accepting applications
ArtsAVL is accepting applications for the N.C. Arts Council’s Artist Support Grant until Tuesday, Sept. 3.
The regional grant is open to artists across all disciplines who reside in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties. Grantees will be awarded $500 to $3,000 in categories including visual arts, literary arts, film, music, choreography, interdisciplinary arts and more. Applicants may be individuals or collaborating artists at any stage of their career.
Grant money may be used to create new work, improve business operations or reach new audiences. Past awardees have used funds from the grant to secure materials and equipment, cover travel costs to exhibitions and conferences and attend professional development courses. Last year, $44,000 was distributed to 21 regional artists that spanned disciplines such as ceramics, filmmaking, fiber arts, acting, metalpoint and dance, according to a press release.
The N.C. Arts Council created the Artist Support Grant in 2020 in response to the economic struggles of artists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant cycles are organized by 19 regional councils. Region 17 is composed of ArtsAVL, the Haywood County Arts Council, the Arts Council of Henderson County, the Rutherford County Arts Council, the Transylvania Community Arts Council and the Tryon Fine Arts Center.
For information, visit avl.mx/cns.
Wood-based folk art reception
American Folk Art & Framing will host an opening reception for the show Against the Grain on Friday, Aug. 9, 5-8 p.m.
The show features the work of Doug Frati and Kent Ambler, two artists who use wood as their primary material. Ambler makes woodblock prints, and Frati makes low relief carvings. This exhibition will include woodblock prints and relief carvings, as well as carved headboards, chests and abstract woodblock assemblages. “I have made these sculptural wall pieces by cutting up my old woodblocks and reassembling them into quiltlike pieces,” says Ambler. “This is the first time in four years that I’ve made the block constructs, so I’m excited to see how well they are received.”
Ambler lives just outside of Greenville, S.C., and has been making woodblock prints since studying at
Ball State University in Indiana. Frati is a Maine native who works with old wood salvaged from antique objects, often scrapped from barns and attics. Frati and Ambler will both be available during the reception. The event is free, and complimentary refreshments will be provided.
American Folk Art & Framing is at 64 Biltmore Ave. For information, visit avl.mx/dzt.
Warren Wilson history reframed
The Black Mountain Public Library will host a discussion about Warren Wilson College’s history on Thursday, Aug. 8, 6-7:15 p.m.
The discussion is part of The Swannanoa Valley Museum’s “This Is Home: Western North Carolina Past and Present” monthly lecture series. Jeff Keith, a professor in Warren Wilson’s Global Studies and History department, will discuss the college’s 130-year history within the Swannanoa Valley.
Keith is currently writing the first of a three-volume historical exploration of Warren Wilson, titled A People’s History of Warren Wilson, which examines the environmental, cultural and sociohistorical conventions of the school. The first book, The Valley Remembers, will explore stories of the Swannanoa region in the context of the college’s founding. The project is funded by a Grant for Reframing the Institutional Saga, awarded to Warren Wilson by the Council of Independent Colleges in 2021.
The event will take place in Black Mountain Public Library’s Education Room. General admission is $10. Black Mountain Public Library is at 105 N. Doherty St. For information, visit avl.mx/b99.
— Oby Arnold X
MOVIE REVIEWS
TRAP: M. Night Shyamalan’s third consecutive dud is the most flagrant case of nepotism since The Godfather Part III Grade: D — Edwin Arnaudin
Naomie April & The Moments (soul, pop & jazz), 8pm
EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY
Karaoke Night w/KJ Marcula, 8pm
EULOGY
SK The Novelist (hiphop, rap), 8pm
FALLOUT ART SPACE
Open Mic Night, 7pm
FRENCH BROAD
RIVER BREWERY
Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm
IMPERIÁL
DJ Mark Majors (hiphop, funk, R&B), 9pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm
JUNEBUG RETRO RESORT
The Candleers (country), 5pm
LAZOOM ROOM BAR & GORILLA
Modelface Comedy
Presents: Kevin McCaffrey, 8:30pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.
Kid Billy (Americana, blues, indie-folk), 7pm
CLUBLAND
TIE-DYED SOUTHERN ROCK: On Saturday, Aug. 10, Asheville-based Pocket Strange performs at The Meadow at Highland Brewing Co., starting at 6 p.m. Expect Southern rock with a dash of psych-rock indie and some spacy jamming. Photo courtesy of Travis Bordley
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
The Lumpy Heads (Phish tribute), 10pm
ONE WORLD BREWING
Shady Grove Stringband (bluegrass, folk, country), 8pm
ONE WORLD BREWING WEST
Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm
PISGAH BREWING CO. Asheville Mountain Boys (bluegrass), 6:30pm
RABBIT RABBIT
Sold Out: Cake (rock, alt-indie), 7pm
SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/DJ Franco, 9pm
SHILOH & GAINES
Karaoke Night, 8pm
SOVEREIGN KAVA
Django & Jenga Jazz Jam, 7pm
STATIC AGE LOFT
Auto-Tune Karaoke Night, 10pm
THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR
Karaoke w/Terraoke, 7pm
THE GREY EAGLE
Michelle Malone Duo (rock'n'roll, folk, country-soul), 8pm
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR
Hope Griffin (folk), 7pm
THE ODD
The Welcoming, Aylum 213 & Platitudes (rock, experimental), 8pm
THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
Isaac Hadden's Thursday Throwdown (funk, jazz, rock), 9pm
THE OUTPOST Erika Lewis & Liliana Hudgens (jazz, indiefolk, Americana), 7:30pm
WICKED WEED BREWING
Owen Walsh (folk), 6pm FRIDAY, AUGUST 9
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR
Mr Jimmy's Friday Night Blues, 8pm
ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Guavatron w/Mad Mike (funk, rock, electronica), 9pm
CATAWBA BREWING CO. SOUTH SLOPE Don't Tell Comedy: South Slope, 9:15pm
One Leg Up w/D'Jango Jazz (jazz, swing, Latin), 8pm
CROW & QUILL Firecracker Jazz Band, 7pm
EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY
Tina & Her Pony (indiefolk, country), 9pm
EULOGY Good Trauma, Tombstone Poetry, Rob Robinson & Motocrossed (indie-rock, neo-psych), 8pm FLEETWOOD'S Sonambula, Werewolf Hours, Nikki & the Phantom Callers, Sounding Arrow & DJ Rat Breath (indie, postpunk), 8:30pm
INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACE
4,000 Sq Ft taproom &
Live
Music On Our Outdoor Stage
Wednesday, Aug 7 7-9pm
Dan 's Bluegrass Jam Open Jam - everyone welcome!
ThurSday, Aug 8, 7-9pm
Dan Signor
Known as the modern-day piano man, Dan Signor blends his masterful piano skills with soulful, raspy vocals, acoustic guitar, and his signature percussive kick drum. Americana/Rock.
Friday, Aug 9, 7-9pm
Bryce Hensley
Kick off Sourwood Festival Weekend at The RailYard with local country musician Bryce Hensley.
Saturday, Aug 10, 7-9pm
Kelle Jolly
Join us for an enchanting evening with the incomparable Kelle Jolly, a song stylist whose voice carries the rich timbre of Ella Fitzgerald, the profound depth of Sarah Vaughan, & the captivating storytelling of Billie Holiday.
SUNDAY, Aug 11, 1-3pm
DJ 5
Round out your Sourwood Festival experience with DJ5, one of Asheville’s dance party gurus. Blending pop, soul, blues, & funk, DJ 5 crosses generations and creates unity through music.
Details, food menus and more at railyardblkmtn.com
your Olympics viewing pleasure
+ 20 taps + full bar + in - house restaurant + private event space + ice cream sammies + fun for the whole family
HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN
TAPROOM
Aunt Vicki (indie-rock), 6pm
IMPERIÁL
DJ Malintzin (Latin, hiphop, electronic), 9pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Mucho Gumbo (Cajun, Zydeco, country), 9pm
MAD CO. BREW
HOUSE
Hope Griffin (folk, acoustic), 6pm
ONE WORLD BREWING
Kyran Daniel (acoustic), 8pm
ONE WORLD
BREWING WEST
Bald Mountain
Boys (Appalachian, bluegrass), 7pm
RABBIT RABBIT
Silent Disco, 9pm
SALVAGE STATION
Same As It Ever Was (Tribute to Talking Heads), 8pm
SHAKEY'S
• Hungry & Dangerous Band (rock'n'roll), 9pm
• DJ Ek Balam, 10pm
SIERRA NEVADA
BREWING CO.
The Get Right Band (psych, indie-rock), 6:30pm
STATIC AGE LOFT
Baby Cousin Tay, Nostalgianoid, Ebony Red & DJ Bed Time Stories, 9pm
THE ODD Party Foul Drag, 8pm THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
Jeremy Short (Appalachian, funk), 10pm THE OUTPOST We Have Ignition, Carpal Tullar & Fire Flower (surf-rock), 7pm THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN Kelle Jolly (folk), 6pm WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT
DJ RexxStep, 7pm
WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN
Polly O’Keary & The Rhythm Method (blues, funk, jazz), 8pm
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
27 CLUB Places, Acid Jo & Yawni (psych-punk, electronic, pop), 9pm
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Legend tells us that the first person to drink tea was Chinese Emperor Shennong in 2737 BCE. As he lounged outdoors, tree leaves fell into his cup of water and accidentally created an infusion. Good for him that he was willing to sample that accidental offering. It took many centuries, but eventually tea drinking spread throughout the world. And yet the first tea bag, an icon of convenience, didn’t become available until 1904. I don’t expect you will have to wait anywhere near that long to move from your promising new discoveries to the highly practical use of those discoveries. In fact, it could happen quickly. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to ripen your novel ideas, stellar insights, and breakthrough innovations.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I hope that in the coming months, Taurus, you will be refining your skills with joy and vigor. I hope you will devote yourself to becoming even more masterful at activities you already do well. I hope you will attend lovingly to details and regard discipline as a high art — as if doing so is the most important gift you can give to life. To inspire you in these noble quests, I offer you a quote by stage magician Harry Blackstone Jr.: “Practice until it becomes boring, then practice until it becomes beautiful.”
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Wohlweh is a German word that means “good pain” or “pleasurable pain.” It might refer to the feeling you have while scratching a mosquito bite or rubbing your eyes when they’re itchy from allergies. But my favorite use of the word occurs when describing a deep-tissue massage that may be a bit harrowing even as it soothes you and provides healing. That’s a great metaphor for the kind of wohlweh I expect for you in the coming days. Here’s a tip: The less you resist the strenuous “therapy,” the better you will feel.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): I earn my living as a writer now, but for many years I had to work at odd jobs to keep from starving. One of the most challenging was tapping the sap of Vermont maple trees during the frigid weather of February. Few trees produce more than three gallons of sap per day, and it takes 40 to 50 gallons to create a single gallon of maple syrup. It was hard work that required a great deal of patience. According to my analysis, you Cancerians are in a metaphorically comparable situation these days. To get the good results you want, you may have to generate a lot of raw material—and that could take a while. Still, I believe that in the end, you will think the strenuous effort has been well worth it.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I love the fact that Antarctica doesn’t belong to anyone. Thirty nations have research stations there, but none of them control what happens. Antarctica has no government! It has a few laws that almost everyone obeys, like a ban on the introduction of non-indigenous plants and animals. But mostly, it’s untouched and untamed. Much of its geology is uncharted. Inspired by this singular land, I’d love for you to enjoy a phase of wild sovereignty and autonomy in the coming weeks. What can you do to express yourself with maximum freedom, answering primarily to the sacred laws of your own ardent nature?
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Babylonia was an ancient empire located in what’s now Syria, Iraq, and Iran. Among its citizens, there was a common belief that insomnia was the result of intrusive visitations by ancestral spirits. Their urge to communicate made it hard for their descendants to sleep. One supposed cure was to take dead relatives’ skulls into bed, lick them, and hold them close. I don’t recommend this practice to you, Virgo. But I do advise you to consult with the spirits of deceased family members in the coming weeks. I suspect they have a lot to tell you. At the very least, I hope you will explore how you might benefit from studying and pondering your ancestors’ lives.
BY ROB BREZSNY
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran tennis player
Naomi Osaka is one of the highest-paid women athletes ever. She is also a staunch political activist. That blend of qualities is uncommon. Why do I bring this to your attention? Because now is an excellent time to synergize your pragmatic devotion to financial success with idealistic work on behalf of noble causes. Doing both of these activities with extra intensity will place you in alignment with cosmic rhythms—even more so if you can manage to coordinate them.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio actor Sally Field told a story about an agent who worked for her early in her career. In those formative years, all her roles were on TV. But she aspired to expand her repertoire. “You aren’t good enough for movies,” the agent told her. She fired him, and soon she was starring in films. Let’s make this a teaching story for you, Scorpio. In the coming months, you will be wise to surround yourself with influences that support and encourage you. If anyone persistently underestimates you, they should not play a prominent role in your life’s beautiful drama.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): One Sagittarius I know is building a giant sculpture of a humpback whale. Another Sagittarius is adding a woodshop studio onto her house so she can fulfill her dream of crafting and selling fine furniture. Of my other Sagittarius acquaintances, one is writing an epic narrative poem in Greek, another is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Northern California to the Columbia River in northern Oregon, and another has embarked on a long-postponed pilgrimage to Nigeria, the place of her ancestors’ origin. Yes, many Sagittarians I know are thinking expansively, daring spicy challenges, and attempting fun feats. Are you contemplating comparable adventures? Now is an excellent time for them.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): When I opened my fortune cookie, I found a message that read, “If you would just shut up, you could hear God’s voice.” In response, I laughed, then got very quiet. I ruminated on how, yes, I express myself a lot. I’m constantly and enthusiastically riffing on ideas that are exciting to me. So I took the fortune cookie oracle to heart. I stopped talking and writing for two days. I retreated into a quiescent stillness and listened to other humans, animals, and the natural world. Forty-five hours into the experiment, I did indeed hear God’s voice. She said, “Thanks for making space to hear me. I love you and want you to thrive.” She expounded further, providing me with three interesting clues that have proved to be helpful in practical ways. In accordance with your astrological omens, Capricorn, I invite you to do what I did.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Scientists at the University of California devised a cheap and fast method for unboiling an egg. Their effort wasn’t frivolous. They were working with principles that could be valuable in treating certain cancers. Now I’m inviting you to experiment with metaphorical equivalents of unboiling eggs, Aquarius. You are in a phase when you will have extra power to undo results you’re bored with or unsatisfied with. Your key words of power will be reversal, unfastening, unlocking, and disentangling.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Every week, I imbibe all the honey from an eight-ounce jar, mostly in my cups of hot tea. To create that treat for me, bees made a million visits to flowers, collecting nectar. I am very grateful. The work that I do has similarities to what the bees do. I’m constantly gathering oracular ideas, meditating on the astrological signs and contemplating what inspirational messages my readers need to hear. This horoscope may not be the result of a million thoughts, but the number is large. What’s the equivalent in your life, Pisces? What creative gathering and processing do you do? Now is a good time to revise, refine and deepen your relationship with it.
MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Wayne Buckner (Southern-rock, Americana, country), 6pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. West End String Band (bluegrass,country, roots), 7pm
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
The Lumpy Heads (Phish tribute), 10pm
ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm
OUTSIDER BREWING Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm PULP
Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic, 7pm
PISGAH BREWING CO. Auragami (rock), 6:30pm
SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/DJ Franco, 9pm
SHILOH & GAINES Karaoke Night, 8pm STATIC AGE LOFT Auto-Tune Karaoke Night, 10pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Terraoke, 7pm
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Moonshine State (Americana, alt-country), 7pm
THE OUTPOST
Sister Ivy (neo-soul, jazz, R&B), 7pm THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN Brian Ashley Jones & Melanie Jean (multigenre), 7pm
WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Dirty Logic (Steely Dan tribute), 7:30pm WICKED WEED BREWING Andy Ferrell (folk, blues, bluegrass), 6pm
MARKETPLACE
Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember the Russian proverb: “Doveryai, no proveryai,” trust but verify. When answering classified ads, always err on the side of caution. Especially beware of any party asking you to give them financial or identification information. The Mountain Xpress cannot be responsible for ensuring that each advertising client is legitimate. Please report scams to advertise@mountainx.com
RENTALS
APARTMENTS FOR RENT
APARTMENT FOR RENT
Lower level 1 bed 1 bath apartment East of Asheville near Warren Wilson College. Owner shares laundry room. $1050/month, plus $150 for utilities. Includes heat, A/C, and Wi-Fi. 828-545-0043
EMPLOYMENT
ADMINISTRATIVE/ OFFICE
COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST
Carolina Financial Group LLC has an opening in Brevard, NC. Compliance Specialist (Securities/Metrics): Anticipate & research issues; produce memos re: potential regulatory reform; review co's systems, applicable regulatory filings & business info docs. May be assigned to various, unanticipated sites throughout U.S. Remote work may be permitted. Submit resume (principals only) to: melliott@carofin.com. Must include recruitment source + full job title in subject line. EOE
PROFESSIONAL/
MANAGEMENT
EVENING MANAGER, MAR-
SHALL Madison Natural Foods is seeking an evening manager. Retail and management
experience preferred. 30-40 hours/week, paid time off, great work environment. Resumes to madisonnaturalfoods@gmail.com or stop by for an application.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
AFFORDABLE TV & INTER-
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Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New,
energy efficient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & FREE quote today. 1-877-248-9944. (AAN CAN)
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Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Heuer, Daytona, GMT, Submariner and Speedmaster. Call 1-855-402-7109 (AAN CAN)
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TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS! 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D'Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. 1-855-402-7208. (AAN CAN)
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY The following is a list of unclaimed property currently being held at the Weaverville Police Department. Electronics,
personal items, tools, weapons (including firearms) and other miscellaneous items. Anyone with a legitimate claim in the listed property has 30 days from the date of publication to contact the Weaverville Police Department, M-F 9AM - 3PM, 828-645-5700. Items not claimed within 30 days will be disposed of in accordance with North Carolina General Statute.
WATER DAMAGE CLEANUP
& RESTORATION A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. We do complete repairs to protect your family and your home's value! For a free estimate, call 24/7: 1-888-290-2264. (AAN CAN)
YOU MAY QUALIFY For disability benefits if you have are between 52-63 years old and under a doctor’s care for a health condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. Call now! 1-877-247-6750. (AAN CAN)
FOR MUSICIANS
MUSICIANS’ BULLETIN
WANTED: BANDMATES FOR ROCK/METAL Possible limited practice space. Bass, drums, other. Equipment necessary. Chevelle, Tool, Måneskin, Clutch, Paramore, Pantera, not Ghost. Text Lee W. (828) 335-0930
edited by Will Shortz
ACROSS
1 Org. formerly called the Bureau of Labor Standards
5 Japanese rice cake often filled with ice cream
10 “___ to your knitting” (“Mind your own beeswax”)
14 Related
15 Pottery supplies
16 Plant harvested for its gel
17 Observation deck?
19 Marked, as a box
20 Multispeaker system
21 Most suggestive
23 ___ Thompson, U.S. soccer star who made her World Cup debut at 18
26 A lot of farm yards?
27 In a frenzy
30 Much of Greenland
32 “The Marvels” director DaCosta
33 Glass eye?
38 Feature of high heels popularized in the 1920s
40 Muslim place of worship
41 Metal detectors?
45 Founding NATO member
46 Take a turn for the worse
47 Number cruncher’s skill
48 Nordic toast
51 Inventor Tesla
54 Ones splitting the billing
56 Pass up, using a less common spelling
60 With the bow, musically
61 Predictive text?
64 Word after golden or before Girls
65 “The Hobbit” dragon
66 Roman poet who said “Ah me! Love cannot be cured by herbs”
67 Delhi wrap
68 Matchmaker in “Fiddler on the Roof”
69 Takes in DOWN
1 Foal fodder
2 Three-player trick-taking game
3 Employ
4 Thick hooded jacket
5 Real ___ (genuine article)
6 São Paulo salutation
7 Pixar’s Lightning McQueen, for one
8 Curbside water source
9 Rae of “Barbie” 10 Vehicles with a redundant name
Someone to respect
Whiz or bang
Significant impacts, so to speak 18 No. on a resume
Rocker Santana
Where hogs go wild 25 Shady, in modern slang
27 Set against
28 This and that: Abbr.
Courtroom profession? 31 Word with “straight” or “right”
Kind of cooking oil
Activities that might require 20-sided dice, for short
