Mountain Xpress 09.09.20 by Mountain Xpress

OUR 27TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 27 NO. 6 SEPT. 9-15, 2020

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SEPT. 9-15, 2020

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C ONT ENTS

WELLNESS

NEWS

FEATURES 8 OUT OF OPTIONS Remote learning fails students with disabilities

10 FIRED UP Candidates for 11th Congressional District meet in first debates

PAGE 15 PAST IS PRESENT After decades of dedicated work to maintain the South Asheville Cemetery, volunteer George Gibson was honored recently for his efforts at the site, which began as a burial ground for enslaved people. COVER PHOTO Cindy Kunst COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

4 LETTERS 18 SILENT SCOURGE Human trafficking exploits vulnerable populations

4 CARTOON: MOLTON 5 CARTOON: BRENT BROWN 8 NEWS

GREEN

15 COVID CONVERSATIONS 20 ROUND ONE VICTORY Henderson planning board votes against asphalt plant

16 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 18 WELLNESS

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20 GREEN SCENE 22 HOW NOW, CHOW CHOW? Asheville relishes the quintessential Southern condiment

22 FOOD 24 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 27 CLUBLAND

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28 MOVIES 24 LIVE AND DIRECT Different Strokes and NC Stage produce new shows confronting racism

30 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 30 CLASSIFIEDS 31 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

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

C AR T O O N B Y R AN DY M O L T O N

ing COVID-positive asymptomatic staff to continue working. The question we must ask is: Can we afford to continue to allow HCA to endanger the welfare of our community’s patients and the staff at Mission in order for them to maximize shareholder profit, or are we going to support National Nurses United to be a firewall in the hospital as an advocate for patient and staff safety? What kind of community hospital do you want? — Tom Craig Asheville Editor’s note: A recent New York Times article identified HCA as among the wealthiest hospitals in the country. And an Aug. 25 Citizen Times article offered Mission Health’s rebuttal to the NNU complaint, with spokeswoman Nancy Lindell stating that the health care system has been following CDC guidance on testing patients and staff and that the union had “chosen to use this pandemic as an opportunity to gain publicity by attacking hospitals across the country.”

Don’t defund police, but properly train them

Encourage nurses’ union to improve hospital system

What Mission nurses should consider in union vote

We were surprised to see an anonymous letter with inflammatory points, and one particular misleading reference included [“APD Cannot Silence the Voices of Change,” Aug. 19, Xpress]. Jerry Williams was shot and killed by the Asheville Police Department in 2016. This shooting was thoroughly investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation, which found the APD response appropriate. Mr. Williams fled the scene of an assault complaint, was chased at high speed through Asheville with a woman and child in the vehicle who did not wish to be in the vehicle and reached for an assault weapon when he was stopped. It would seem public safety was at stake — safety of the woman, child and police officers. We urge Asheville City Council not to defund the police but make changes needed to rid police of the “bad apples” after due process, and to properly train officers going forward. There are better solutions. [Signed], an anonymous reader who is solidarity with other anonymous readers. — Name withheld Asheville Editor’s note: In order to further discussion on the issue, Xpress has agreed to withhold the name of this letter writer as we did for the writer of the previous letter referenced.

As a retired critical care and hospice nurse with over 30 years of practice at Mission, I am writing to encourage Mission nurses to vote for a union through National Nurses United and for community members to encourage the Mission nurses they may know to do the same. Ballots have been sent out and are due back soon so as to be counted on Sept. 16. NNU, of which I am a member, is a union formed in 1997 from a merger of the California Nurses Association and other nursing organizations that not only strives to improve conditions and compensation for nurses, but more importantly, advocates for high-quality patient care and universal access to health care. Since the for-profit HCA Healthcare took over management of Mission, serious concerns about patient care, staffing and working conditions have been expressed. HCA, the wealthiest for-profit health care company in the U.S. (earning $1.1 billion in the second quarter of 2020), has been plagued by ethical challenges in the past that have resulted in FBI and IRS investigations and insider trading settlements. NNU is currently trying to get OSHA to both inspect 17 HCA facilities, including Mission Hospital, and to request a court injunction calling on HCA to stop practices that are endangering staff and patients, which include management not disclosing to staff that co-workers have been exposed to COVID, and push-

To unionize or not to unionize — that’s the question facing the nurses of Mission Hospital. Here are three things they should consider before casting their votes:

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1. Your vote may be forever. Unions don’t have to stand for reelection, so a yes vote today may last a lifetime. Only 6% of private-sector union members today have ever actually voted in favor of the union that represents them. So, what can you do if it turns out the union isn’t representing you the way you want? Not much. While it’s possible to decertify a union, it’s extremely difficult to do so. Workers must get the signatures of 30% of the bargaining unit within a 30-day window that comes up only once every three years, and they can’t collect signatures while employees are on the clock or in work areas. In other words, fat chance. 2. Workplace flexibility and advancement opportunities are limited. Formal benefits like paid time off, flexible schedules and good health insurance are incredibly helpful. But so are flexible working arrangements — especially for working moms with young children. As the “middleman” between workers and management, union leaders get to pick which workers’ voices get heard and which are muffled. Inhibiting one-on-one communication can make

C AR T O O N B Y B R E N T B R O W N it difficult, if not impossible, to arrange schedule changes or time off to meet urgent, personal needs. Union contracts also often decouple performance and reward. Senioritybased pay and benefit structures eliminate performance-based promotions and bonuses. 3. Patients’ lives and well-being could be at risk. The NNU regularly calls strikes. Striking nurses lose their regular pay, and the NNU does not appear to have a strike fund to cover lost wages. It does, however, fine nurses who opt to cross the picket line. Aside from these financial concerns, nurses also worry about what will happen to their patients if they don’t or can’t work. And rightly so. Research shows that the rate of hospital mortality rates is nearly 20% higher among patients admitted during a strike than among patients admitted in nearby nonstriking hospitals at the same time. The nurses voting at Mission Hospital should know there is likely no going back if NNU wins this election. If the union makes changes they don’t like, denies them flexibility and opportunities, or calls strikes, they will have little recourse. That’s not good for them or their patients. — Rachel Greszler Bethesda, Md.

Editor’s note: Greszler reports that she is a research fellow in The Heritage Foundation’s Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget.

Wells offers proven leadership for county As a Weaverville native, I am excited that northwestern Buncombe County has an opportunity to elect a proven leader this November. Terri Wells is running as the Democratic candidate for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in District 1 (Weaverville, Jupiter, Woodfin, North Asheville, Sandy Mush, Leicester and Alexander). Like many of us, Terri has deep roots in the area; she is a former teacher and a ninth-generation farmer who cares deeply about our home. She advocates for environmental stewardship, equity and inclusion, public education and rural broadband. Please visit [avl.mx/86o] for more information and join me in voting for Terri! — Ellen J. Perry Teacher, author Weaverville Editor’s note: Perry notes that she is volunteering with Wells’ campaign.

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SEPT. 9-15, 2020

OPINION

Complete the census to get fair funding, representation Asheville and Buncombe County are in danger of losing a significant amount of financial support from the federal government by residents not completing and returning their census information by Sept. 30. If we don’t, we will lose funding for many programs that support highway planning and construction; school lunches; Medicaid; building schools, fire departments and medical clinics; and much more. These are only a few vital services dependent on the results of the census count and federal funding. Additionally, the U.S. Constitution requires a count of all citizens to determine congressional representation in the House of Representatives and for state legislatures. Once results are in, congressional districts are redrawn based on population growth or loss. North Carolina could receive at least one additional congressional representative if we increase our response to the U.S. census. Let’s safeguard our rights by having fair districts drawn that reflect the true number of people living here and receiving the financial support due us. Visit census.nc.gov to complete your census! It can now be completed entirely online. — Karen Depew Asheville

Peace Day can start the healing at home Peace in Asheville has never been more important than in the year 2020. Thousands in Western North Carolina are living with challenges brought on by the COVID-19 virus and lingering racism, both of which threaten our lives and livelihoods.

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During this pandemic, many have lost patience with local mandates forcing lockdowns, phased reopenings, required masks and social distancing. Some local businesses have gone on life support. Laid-off employees are unable to pay rents or mortgages, car payments or even purchase food. Unemployment benefits have been delayed or have run out. We are also sickened as we come face to face with the cruelty of racism and resulting social unrest here at home and across the country. Once again, we are reminded that Black lives do matter. Reparations resolutions, removal/repurposing of Confederate monuments, even possibly reforming and demilitarizing police, may begin to heal wounds that have festered far too long. We truly walk on fragile ground these days. Many are tempted to scapegoat neighbors, be they immigrants, political groups, protesters or even the homeless. Despite all these critical social, economic and infrastructure needs in our region, military spending is at an alltime high. These critical societal needs languish while federal lawmakers approve 53 cents of every discretionary dollar — our tax money — to fight and threaten unnecessary wars around the world. The modernization of our nuclear arsenal continues unabated even though use of such weapons could end all our lives. Let 2020 be the year citizens act with improved 20/20 vision, demanding that federal funds be prioritized for peace, diplomacy and healing essential social, economic and infrastructure programs. Peace groups and allies throughout WNC proclaim Sept. 21 as International Day of Peace. May that peace start with us here at home as we attempt to heal. — Rachael Bliss Asheville

Climate change must be addressed for WNC farmers In the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, you will find some of our state’s most beautiful views, a rich and varied farm community and a growing market for agritourism. But even before COVID-19 hit, the region’s small family farmers were struggling. The recent Democratic National Convention speakers made it clear that their hardships have not gone unnoticed, and the path back to prosperity is through addressing — not ignoring — the urgent threat of climate change. Agriculture has not been immune to the economic crisis created by COVID-19. Almost 80% of farmers in

the Southern Appalachian region report decreased sales and overall income loss. Two-thirds say that if this continues, they may have to consider bankruptcy. But even when our farmers recover from the immediate effects of the pandemic, they will still face the much longer-term threat of climate change. Temperatures across North Carolina will increase 2-5 degrees by 2050 if we do nothing, resulting in increased inability to produce crops — especially in the mountain region, which is more accustomed to lower temperatures — and the potential loss of farms through bankruptcy. We now have an opportunity to address the root cause of many problems our farming community faces, and the plans laid out by Vice President Biden at the DNC are our best chance at saving our agricultural industry in Western North Carolina and across the state. We can begin by giving our farmers the tools necessary to compete in the global marketplace long term. Biden’s plan for rural America provides low-cost financing for new equipment, research and development, and support to develop new income streams. It’s not enough to cut farmers a check every time a natural disaster ravages their land. We must build resiliency into our systems, creating jobs and preventing further local environmental damage as we do it. In Western North Carolina in particular, we can marry the community’s deep love of the land with Biden’s efforts to make American agriculture the world’s first to achieve net-zero emissions. Expanding the Conservation Stewardship Program would allow eco-minded corporations and individuals to contribute to offsetting costs of carbon sequestration on farms. The future painted at the DNC doesn’t only address climate change — it funds expanded broadband access, works to address racial inequities in agricultural communities and offers solutions to health disparities in rural areas. Still, without a direct and unflinching acknowledgment of the climate crisis, we cannot ensure the future of North Carolina agriculture. — Jenna Wadsworth Raleigh Editor’s note: Wadsworth notes that she is the 2020 Democratic nominee for North Carolina commissioner of Agriculture and the youngest woman ever elected to public office in the state. She currently serves on the Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. X

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SEPT. 9-15, 2020

NEWS

Out of options

Remote learning fails students with disabilities

BY MOLLY HORAK mhorak@mountainx.com Before COVID-19 — before Shannon Cooper’s world was flipped upside down — her two autistic sons were thriving. Angus, Cooper’s 5-year-old, was excited to start kindergarten at Avery’s Creek Elementary School. Avery, her 16-year-old, was enrolled in the Progressive Education Program at T.C. Roberson High School, learning how to do everything from expressing his needs to cleaning laundry. They aren’t thriving now. Virtual learning is a constant challenge, Cooper explains. Avery, who has difficulties with verbal communication, isn’t able to engage with his teachers or classmates as he usually would, if he can focus on online instruction at all. Angus has yet to meet many of his teachers in person, and Cooper feels he’s been lost in the system. Both Cooper and her

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IN TOO DEEP: Virtual learning is impossible for Avery Cooper, left, and Angus Cooper, right. Both boys have autism and are unable to receive services they need through a virtual platform. Photo courtesy of Shannon Cooper husband, Jason, work full time and leave their sons in the care of Jason’s mother during the day. Even with the in-person instruction, therapy and support provided by public schools in normal times, Cooper says, giving her sons a quality education hadn’t been easy. But those school-based resources aren’t available remotely — and federal limitations to Medicaid have kept the Coopers from filling that essential gap in help for their kids. Like many mothers of children with disabilities, Cooper is now having to make difficult decisions about her family’s future. Does she take her kids out of school? Should she quit her job to help her sons? If she stops working, how will her family pay their bills? “Most days, we don’t have a whole lot of hair left on our heads,” Cooper says with a sad chuckle. “It’s been so, so hard.”

RED TAPE

Governmental support for students with disabilities is typically distributed in two ways: Innovations Waivers

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and state services, explains Janet Price-Ferrell. She’s the executive director of FIRST, an organization that provides assistance to Western North Carolina families and individuals with disabilities. The main funding source is the Medicaid-supported Innovations Waiver, which provides school-age children with up to 54 hours of services a week during the academic year and up to 80 hours during the summer months, depending on the severity of their needs. The program’s waitlist, adds Price-Ferrell, is several years long; by the time recipients qualify, the majority are in their late teens. State services and other types of funding combine Medicaid and state money and rarely support more than 10 hours of help per week. No Medicaid-funded support can be used during the school day, says PriceFerrell. Normally, that’s not a problem — under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, public schools must provide a free, appropriate public education to all students, including special education programs and services like occupa-

tional, speech and physical therapy to help children succeed. In the spring, when states were still under lockdown orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19, those rules were relaxed by the Medicaid division of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services in alignment with federal recommendations. Families and caretakers were allowed to draw additional hours from their Medicaid plans to help with in-home services and accommodations, even though schools were operating remotely. Spring then became summer, and schools officially closed for vacation, meaning families continued to receive their maximum Medicaid hours. But in late July, the federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services determined that the previous flexibilities in increased hours for school-age children would not apply for the 202021 academic year, says Allison Inman, spokesperson for local Medicaid management organization Vaya Health. Medicaid services could no longer be used during the school day, despite the limited support students would receive from schools in the virtual learning environment. The announcement sent families reeling. “Parents are now literally deciding whether they keep their job or stay home with their kids,” PriceFerrell says.

SCHOOLS, DAZED

Every additional month that students with disabilities are kept out of the classroom compounds enormous setbacks in their learning, says Gaile Osborne, a child advocate and school liaison at FIRST. But as schools try to mitigate those setbacks, she says, they will by necessity focus on the most vulnerable groups, then shift efforts to higher functioning children who may be able to access virtual learning platforms. “The schools are triaging, in a sense,” Osborne says. “They’re going to peel the onion layers off slowly as they begin to serve our students.” To receive special education services, students must have an Individualized Education Plan, which outlines what support a child needs to learn. As soon as Medicaid announced that available service hours would be calculated based on the time spent receiving academic instruction, parents and special education teachers

rushed to amend IEPs to reflect a shortened school day, thereby qualifying for more federal support. At Asheville City Schools, says spokesperson Ashley-Michelle Thublin, all services that were in place before the pandemic are still being delivered virtually; IEPs are being adjusted to include telehealth visits, assistive technology and text-based alternative assignments. Special education staff members are closely monitoring student performance and will adjust future services accordingly, she adds. The Buncombe County school district serves over 3,000 students with IEPs, says spokesperson Stacia Harris. The district extended in-person learning opportunities to some of its most vulnerable students on Sept. 8, she says, including students enrolled in the Progressive Education Program or Intensive Intervention class and those receiving physical, occupational or speech therapy. “While these opportunities impact our students with the greatest need for in-person learning, the district intends to broaden its scope of outreach to students who are also in vulnerable learning situations,” Harris says. “This will include students who are in other Exceptional Children groups, English Language Learners students and other students with individual needs.” Local schools are genuinely trying to do the best they can, emphasizes Osborne. Teachers are willing to meet with parents over lunch breaks or in the evenings after work, she says, and administrators are eager to discuss alternative solutions. Yet some of the most important lessons children in special education classes learn — social skills, how to interact with others, how to communicate — can’t be taught over a computer. “Everyone is overwhelmed. The families are overwhelmed, the kids

OUTSIDE THE BOX: Schools are working to find creative ways to help children with disabilities access services at home, says Gaile Osborne with FIRST. But every month a child is kept out of the classroom means greater challenges down the line. Photo by Getty Images are overwhelmed, the teachers are overwhelmed,” Osborne says.

IMPOSSIBLE CHOICES

Life right now is all about survival, says Jillian Martin. Her 15-year-old son has autism, ADHD and other behavioral disorders, but instead of attending the Progressive Education Program classes at Valley Springs Middle School as he did before the pandemic, he’s stuck at home all day. He doesn’t understand what’s going on, Martin says, and wants to know when he can go back to school. Martin and her husband are both essential workers and can’t leave their jobs to stay home and help their son. Instead, they depend on the support provided by the Innovation Waiver

to get through the day. The Martins amended their son’s IEP so he could receive more Medicaid hours but are still waiting for confirmation that the changes were accepted. It’s hard enough for her son’s educational needs to be met in the classroom with a trained special education teacher, Martin says. Spending his day with a caretaker who doesn’t have much experience teaching, she continues, is a recipe for failure.

“He is regressing,” Martin says. “Without a shadow of a doubt, he is regressing.” Angela Roberts and her family are in a similar situation. Roberts’ autististic daughter, Anna, is a 10th grader at Hendersonville High School and is enrolled in an occupational program that teaches job skills to help her succeed after graduation. Virtual school means Anna and her classmates can’t go out in the community to complete the program’s requirements, Roberts says. Roberts is also concerned that the sudden federal Medicaid decisions set a dangerous precedent for cutting services in the future. “The irony is that the Innovations Waiver was designed specifically to keep our special needs loved ones out of institutions and in the home and in the community,” she says. “Eliminating the opportunity to have the supports in place during this critical time is going against everything that Innovations stood for to begin with.” As schools decide whether and how to bring kids back to the classroom, Martin urges them to consider the needs of students like her son, who don’t have any other options. “There is no virtual school for these kids,” Martin says. “For most, school really prepares them for life. And it’s devastating because the goal for all of these individuals is to live successful lives and learn the skills they need to function in the future. By not being in school, they’re not going to meet that goal.” X

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O FFI CI ALLY OPEN

NEWS

Fired up

Candidates for 11th Congressional District meet in first debates

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DEBATE DRAMA: Republican Madison Cawthorn, left, and Democrat Moe Davis engaged in a heated battle of words during their first two public debates Sept. 4 and 5. The two are vying for Western North Carolina’s open congressional seat, which was vacated by Mark Meadows, now President Donald Trump’s White House chief of staff. Photos by Paul King

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VIRGINIA DAFFRON, DANIEL WALTON, MOLLY HORAK news@mountainx.com Political scientists often claim that debates don’t have much effect on the outcome of an election, but Chris Cooper, professor of political science at Western Carolina University, begs to differ. “In a race like this, debates can matter,” Cooper said Sept. 4, minutes before Republican Madison Cawthorn of Hendersonville and Democrat Moe Davis of Asheville met for their first public debate. “When we’re still forming opinions of these candidates and learning more about who they are, then anytime we can hear from them in their own words, it’s an important moment.” Demonstrators on South Asheville roadways ahead of the event had already made up their minds. Veterans backing Davis hoisted banners and earned honks of support from motorists along Long Shoals Road, while nearly 100 Cawthorn devotees rallied outside Western Carolina University’s Biltmore Park instructional

site under the watchful eyes of Asheville police officers. The late summer evening rang with shouts, applause and the roar of unmuffled truck engines outside the event venue as the Cawthorn crowd waved signs and cheered pickups trailing huge flags at the Schenck Parkway roundabout. “He’s got the grassroots energy,” said Hendersonville resident Brett Ellison, 52, of Cawthorn. “I think he’s quite the guy. We need young blood up there [in Washington] to clean out some of that mess. So, he needs to go to Congress.” Tracy Fletcher, 52, of Hendersonville agreed. “One of the things that was very important to me about Madison is that he’s able to verbalize what he believes. He’s very conservative in his politics. He loves America. I think that’s very important.”

STATUS QUO V. FIREWORKS

Despite a court-ordered change to district lines for the 2020 election, Republicans still have the advantage in Western North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, Cooper said.

“Even with the redrawn lines, about 57% of this district voted for Donald Trump. So, I would expect that a status quo night is a good night for Madison Cawthorn, and a night with more fireworks is a better night for Moe Davis. “What Davis is going to want is the ability to land some blows that he can use as sound bites and that he can use to promote his campaign,” Cooper said. “What Cawthorn’s going to want is a solid, stable performance that doesn’t disrupt too much of the status quo.” By that standard, the Sept. 4 debate may have benefited Davis, who went after his opponent over claims that Cawthorn had been dishonest about the outcome of his bid to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, had sexually pressured young women in the years following his recovery from a near-fatal car accident and had used a racial slur in a text to a friend. Cawthorn vigorously defended himself and attacked Davis for his record as the lead prosecutor of accused terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as well as his support among a “fringe left element” that Cawthorn said wants to degrade the country. In comments posted on the Facebook livestream during the debate, Davis’ attacks seemed to resonate with his supporters, who described their candidate as the “only grownup in the room” and someone who “can solve problems, not spew empty words.” “Cawthorn is a D-student with no education and no experience, not sure why anyone would vote for him,” typed Susan Zitro a few minutes into the livestream. Her comment was echoed by Bob Gossett a few minutes later. “Most candidates run on their record of public service,” he wrote. “Madison Cawthorn does not have one.” The second debate of the two-part series took place the following night on Western Carolina’s Cullowhee campus. Cawthorn seemed to find his rhythm in responding to Davis’ challenges. Both candidates continued to attack one another with gusto, sometimes abandoning the substance of panelists’ questions altogether in favor of delivering zingers. If Davis — described by Cawthorn as a “liberal lawyer” for his career as a military attorney and law professor — expected his 25-year-old antagonist to wilt under rhetoric honed in the courtroom, he may have been disappointed. Policy issues frequently took a backseat to what Cawthorn called “character assassination,” and Davis described as Cawthorn’s “problem with the truth,” but the debates did include some substance. Below, assistant editor Daniel Walton summarizes the positions covered during the first night of the series, and reporter Molly Horak rounds up the main points of the second night.

The debates were sponsored by Smoky Mountain News, Blue Ridge Public Radio and Mountain Xpress and were streamed live via Facebook. Video of the first night is available at avl.mx/877; watch the second night at avl.mx/878.

— News analysis by Virginia Daffron

Sept. 4 debate

CLIMATE CHANGE

Both candidates acknowledged the danger that human-driven climate change poses to the planet and emphasized the development of alternatives to fossil fuels as their main policy tool. Beyond those basics, their differences in dealing with the problem appeared to be mainly rhetorical. Cawthorn, a self-described “green conservative,” called for an “all of the above” approach for clean energy that would include nuclear, solar and wind power. But he repeatedly criticized more comprehensive climate measures such as the Green New Deal championed by Democratic Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez of New York and Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts; on at least three separate occasions, he claimed that such legislation would “waterboard future generations” with unsustainable debt. (Davis resigned his former post as chief prosecutor of suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, over objections to the use of waterboarding and other torture techniques in interrogations.) Davis did not explicitly defend the Green New Deal but instead emphasized the “good jobs with a good wage” that could come from the alternative energy sector. He also suggested that lawmakers should extend tax credits for renewables that congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump have allowed to phase out.

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HEALTH CARE

Again, both candidates found a point of agreement as they concurred that America’s current health care system is in desperate need of reform. However, they offered starkly contrasting solutions to those systemic failures. Davis called for the creation of a public option, a government-sponsored form of health insurance that would compete with private insurers. That approach, he said, would provide more cost-effective care for those who don’t receive insurance through their employers.

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NEWS But Cawthorn argued that a public option was a Trojan horse for a complete government takeover of health care, saying it would cripple the consumer market to the point of infeasibility. Instead, he preferred expanding private competition in the insurance market, giving consumers more choices in an effort to drive down prices.

COVID-19 RESPONSE

Criticized by Davis for hosting large in-person campaign events during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cawthorn said he had encouraged his supporters “to make the decision that is best for them” regarding social distancing and mask wearing. “You need to wear a mask if you are in that area of your life where you may have a preexisting condition or you’re at an age where COVID-19 will greatly affect you,” Cawthorn added; state health officials, however, say masks should be worn by everyone, including healthy individuals who may be carrying the coronavirus without experiencing symptoms. “I prefer to get my advice from experts who actually made it through college,” Davis responded — an apparent dig at Cawthorn, who left Patrick Henry College after one year. The Democrat said he supported the recommendations of health officials and would follow them at all of his campaign events: “If you want to be in public service, the first thing you do is not put the public at risk, and I’m not going to do that to pander to my ego or try to win an election.”

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Davis said the government should create “concentric circles” of support to help individuals find paths out of poverty. He advocated for the development of broadband in rural areas, more funding for education, greater access to health care and a higher minimum wage. Meanwhile, Cawthorn drew from the traditional Republican playbook as he called for lower taxes and fewer regulations to encourage business growth. He also supported the expansion of opportunity zones, a provision in the Trumpsponsored Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that gives tax advantages to investments in low-income areas; critics of the program have said it accelerates gentrification and fails to help historically marginalized populations.

GUN CONTROL

Some of the debate’s most contentious exchanges took place over the subject of firearms and their regulation. Cawthorn cited an article in The Blue Banner, the

student newspaper of UNC Asheville, in which Davis suggested he would lose the election if he publicly shared his willingness to ban assault weapons. “That’s exactly what Moe Davis wants us to do, to lay down our weapons and trust the government because they’re going to take good care of us,” Cawthorn said while pledging his support for the Second Amendment. “How did that work out for the Native Americans?” Davis responded that, while he “would like to have no assault weapons on the streets,” he was campaigning on a policy that would establish more stringent standards for gun ownership. Similar to current requirements for concealed carry, those rules would require prospective owners of assault weapons to undergo a background check and complete a fullday safety course.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Davis attempted to find a middle ground in the current national debate over the role of policing and its implications for racial justice; he noted that he had recently attended both a “Back the Blue” rally in support of law enforcement and a Black Lives Matter protest. While the Democrat decried “defund the police” as both a slogan and concept, he said he supported “reimagining” how agencies go about their duties and expanded treatment for residents with mental health or substance abuse issues. Noting that his fiancée is biracial, Cawthorn stated that law enforcement officers should treat everyone with “dignity, honor and respect.” He also criticized Trump for what he called a “lack of empathy” in the police killing of Black Minneapolis resident George Floyd. However, Cawthorn stopped short of proposing any systemic reforms to policing. “I truly believe that we should always hold each other to a higher standard,” he said. “I think that we need to have a level of personal responsibility to be able to self-govern ourselves.”

— Daniel Walton

Sept. 5 debate

BROADBAND The candidates agreed that limited access to broadband internet creates a barrier to education and telehealth services and that a strong digital network would spur regional growth. Davis voiced support for an $80 million Democratic-sponsored house bill which would expand access to rural communities using a model based on the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. “If you don’t

BROTHERS IN ARMS: Veterans Against Madison Cawthorn protesters lined up on Long Shoals Road to show their support for Moe Davis. Photo by Laura Hackett have broadband and you’re up in a holler, a laptop is just a paperweight,” he noted. The role of a conservative government is to create a strong infrastructure to “help the private sector flourish,” Cawthorn said after telling the story of a McDowell County mother who took her children to a local McDonald’s with free WiFi to do their homework. He advocated for tax incentives for companies “laying the extra mile” of broadband to connect rural residents.

NATIONAL, STUDENT DEBT

Dubbing the national debt the country’s “greatest national security risk,” Cawthorn argued that young people like himself should not be saddled with the spending of past generations. Citing traditional Republican policy positions, he said the only way to lower debt is by cutting taxes, so people have more money to “wean off of welfare programs.” Davis agreed that the size of the national debt was a problem for the country but aside from supporting more “prudent” spending on health care and the military, he didn’t offer specific strategies to reduce spending. Instead, he criticized Trump’s tax cuts, which he said had done little to help the district’s working class. “What’s great for Madison Avenue and Madison Cawthorn wasn’t so great for Madison County,” he said. Cawthorn asserted that Davis’ proposal to reform student loan programs and restructure existing student loan debt

would cause the federal deficit to balloon. Davis responded that he views education spending as an investment. The federal Department of Education should purchase outstanding student loan debt, he said, and allow borrowers to pay back their debt at 0% interest or through a commitment to public service. Cawthorn responded that rising college costs need to be checked. He blamed “liberal policies” for stifling the job market, making it impossible for college graduates to find high-paying jobs, pay off debt and build wealth through homeownership.

TRADE AND TARIFFS

The opponents offered differing approaches to foreign trade policy. Cawthorn, who “grew up in a house of financial advisers,” said he’s willing to use tariffs against countries like China that are “violating human rights” — especially if that would bring steady manufacturing jobs back to the region. Davis, a proponent of free trade, said he sees green technology as “the path forward.” He pointed to his record working as a federal Department of Labor judge processing H2A and H2B agricultural visa requests. Davis called for business owners to be held accountable if they exploit undocumented workers by pay-

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SEPT. 9-15, 2020

NEWS its aftermath, he felt “invisible,” so he “knows what it’s like to be someone who the government has left behind.” In Washington, he’s willing to look beyond individual differences and work together with all types of people. Davis leveraged a detail in Cawthorn’s personal story as the basis for one of the night’s fiercest attacks: After Cawthorn said he was 6 feet, 3 inches tall at the time of his injuries, Davis immediately referenced Cawthorn’s statement in a deposition that he had been 6-foot-1. “You make yourself bigger in every story you tell. But look at your actions, your use of the ‘N’ word, your actions toward women,” Davis said. “It’s a common trait among liberals to debate silly things,” Cawthorn countered.

A FRIDAY NIGHT OUTING: Madison Cawthorn supporters stand in Biltmore Park Town Square before the first NC-11 candidate debate. Photo by Laura Hackett ing them lower wages than documented employees. UNDERREPRESENTATION OF MINORITY GROUPS Asked by Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Richard G.

SEPT. 9-15, 2020

Sneed about minority representation in Congress, Davis said there are too many people in Congress who look like him and Cawthorn. If elected, his team will reflect people in the district, both in demographics and place of residence, Davis vowed. Cawthorn said his accident taught him “perseverance, grit and empathy.” In

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CHECKS ON EXECUTIVE POWER

The candidates agreed that Congress needs to do a better job of holding the president accountable and return an appropriate share of power to the legislative branch. Both President Barack Obama and Trump deployed their executive powers too broadly, Cawthorn said; he also criticized judges who “legislate from the bench.”

To effectively govern, Congress needs to work with the president while also holding the executive branch accountable, Davis responded. If elected, his first order of business would be to “bring ethics back to Capitol Hill” because “no one is above the law.”

— Molly Horak X

Learn more about the candidates To learn more about the two candidates, check out Xpress’ prior coverage: “WNC’s congressional seat may truly be in play this year,” avl.mx/87a 2020 Primary Guide: District 11 — Democrat avl.mx/87b 2020 Primary Guide: District 11— Republican avl.mx/87c Live debate coverage, night one: avl.mx/87d Live debate coverage, night two: avl.mx/87e X

FEA T U RE S

Name that creek

her elderly father could take part in a portion of the public recognition of his work. “He has health issues,” she reveals. “But my dad is strong.” Despite his declining health, Gibson remained a regular participant at the South Asheville Cemetery workday cleanups prior to COVID-19. “I’d try and surprise [volunteers] with refreshments and whatnot,” he says. “I’d mostly go out to show my appreciation for what they’re doing.” Both he and his daughter express deep gratitude to local organizations — including student groups from UNC Asheville and Warren Wilson College, as well as Hood Huggers International and the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County — for their dedication to maintaining the property. Even amid the current health crisis, notes Metz, she still sometimes sees smaller, informal groups working to maintain the site.

Kenilworth residents honor George Gibson

BY THOMAS CALDER tcalder@mountainx.com Since retiring from the American Red Cross in 1984, George Gibson, 92, has been a regular fixture inside the South Asheville Cemetery. Residents of the surrounding neighborhood would often see him trimming weeds, raking leaves, removing fallen tree limbs and cleaning off gravestones. His dedication has inspired others to join in the cause, though regular group workdays have been on hold since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March. Established in the early 1800s, the South Asheville Cemetery began as a burial ground for enslaved people. Adjacent to the St. John “A” Baptist Church, the cemetery continued operations until 1943. The majority of the 2,000 bodies interred on the site lie in unmarked graves. In August, members of the South Asheville Cemetery Association and Kenilworth residents recognized Gibson’s contributions with a small ceremony at the corner of Norfolk Street and Wyoming Road, where the group installed a new sign bearing the name Gibson Creek. The waterway, officially designated in 2018 through RiverLink’s Name That Creek program, honors Gibson’s family lineage. Carolyn Tingle, a member of the Kenilworth Residents Association and the event’s lead organizer, recalls the challenges of hosting the ceremony during COVID-19. “Everybody was wearing masks, and we stayed spread apart,” she says. But a few participants, happy for Gibson and moved by the celebration, broke with guidelines to shake Gibson’s hand. “I was right behind him with hand sanitizer,” Tingle says with a laugh.

A STONE’S THROW

At the event, Tingle adds, Gibson shared stories about growing up alongside the creek during segregation. “He lived in the [Black] South Asheville neighborhood, which was a stone’s throw away from [white] Kenilworth,” Tingle explains. “He said that they weren’t all good people [in Kenilworth], but there were so many good that the bad had to join in.” Segregation also factored into Gibson’s fondness for the South

NOT IN VAIN

And though the pandemic prevented a more formal gathering for the sign’s dedication — and continues to create delays in design proposals for the second marker, as well as fundraising initiatives — Metz says the recent outpouring of support has been overwhelming. As a child growing up in the segregated South, her father never could have imagined being recognized for his community work. “I’m just so grateful for him,” she continues. “For him to realize that his living has not been in vain.” X

FATHER AND DAUGHTER: Olivia Metz and her father, George Gibson, pose next to the Gibson Creek sign recently installed on the corner of Norfolk Street and Wyoming Road. Photo by Cindy Kunst Asheville Cemetery. As a Black youth growing up in the 1930s, he didn’t have the option to go wherever he pleased. “We weren’t allowed to run around all places,” he explains. “So we would mostly go to the [South Asheville] cemetery, read stones and whatnot.” Though Gibson has no family members buried at the location, he feels a deep connection to the space. “A lot of members of our church are there,” he explains. And as a boy, Gibson continues, he helped transfer bodies to the property.

MORE TO COME

The new Gibson Creek sign, designed and fabricated by Warren Wilson College professors Jeffrey Keith and James Darr, is the first of two planned markers. The second, which requires additional funding to complete, will include information about the Gibson family. To learn more about the cemetery and how to get involved, visit www. southashevillecemetery.net. Olivia Metz, Gibson’s daughter and a member of the SACA, says the initial installation was timed to ensure that

NEWLYWEDS: George and Louise Gibson on their wedding day in 1950. Like her husband, Louise was a lifelong Asheville resident and worked for the American Red Cross. The couple was married for 59 years. Louise died in October 2009. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Tingle

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SEPT. 9-15, 2020

COMMUNITY CALENDAR SEPT. 9-18, 2020 For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, ext. 137. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, ext. 320.

In-Person Events = Shaded All other events are virtual Registration required, Free, avl.mx/83p

MUSIC Turning Jewels in Water Electronic world music performance presented by Black Mountain College Museum. TH (9/10), 1pm, Free, avl.mx/848 Posey Piano Hour Jazz and swing performance. TH (9/10), 7pm, Free, avl.mx/7mx

LITERARY Haywood Library: Book Chat Open conversation with staff. WE (9/9), 6pm, Free, avl.mx/7kq Malaprop's Book Launch Allan Wolf presents The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep: Voices from the Donner Party. WE (9/9), 6pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/838 Stay Home & Write(rs) Group Community writing session with Firestorm. WE (9/9), 7pm, Registration required, Free,avl.mx/83c Malaprop's Author Discussion Gábor T. Szántó and Paul Olchváry discuss the anthology And We Came Outside and Saw the Stars Again. TH (9/10), 12pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/839 WNC Historical Society: Lit Cafe Wilma Dykeman's The French Broad presented by Jim Stokely. TH (9/10), 2:30pm, Registration required, $5-$15, wnchistory.org/events

Notorious HBC (History Book Club) How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr. TH (9/17), 7pm, Free, avl.mx/7ik YMI Cultural Center: Black Experience Book Club Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. TH (9/17), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/854 Firestorm Author Event: Beyond Alternatives to the Prison Industrial Complex Featuring Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law, authors of Prison by Any Other Name. FR (9/18), 6pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/85f

ART Yadkin Arts Council: A Collaborative Experience Opening reception with artists Kevin Calhoun and Bryce Hauser. TH (9/10), 5pm, Free, avl.mx/849

NC Stage: Blood Done Sign My Name One-man show performed by Mike Wiley. Learn more on Page 24. TH (9/10), 7:30pm, $20, avl.mx/82k Cider Cinema: Dirty Dancing Outdoor screening. FR (9/11), 6:30pm, Bold Rock Hard Cider, 72 School House Rd, Mills River Different Strokes Performing Arts: ...while Black Dramatic readings and poetry on the lives of Black Americans. Learn more on Page 25. FR (9/11), 7:30pm, By donation, avl.mx/86k The Magnetic Theatre: Black When I Was a Boy Written and performed by Cooper Bates. SA (9/12), 7:30pm, $15, avl.mx/87i Asheville School of Film Candid Conversations: Pre-production Featuring Ildy Modrovich, Adam Hendricks and Michael Claassen. SU (9/13), 3pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/85j Asheville Movie Guys: Black Panther Virtual discussion on the film. MO (9/14), 7pm, $5, avl.mx/868 Suspense: Ghost Hunt Radio drama performance. WE (9/16), 8pm, The Paper Mill Lounge, 553 W Main St, Sylva

Slow Art Friday: ThreeDimensional Art Discussion led by master docent Lin Andrews at Asheville Art Museum. FR (9/11), 12pm, Registration required, $10, avl.mx/83f

Movies in the Parking Lot: Jumanji, The Next Level Directions: avl.mx/86h. TH (9/17), 7pm, Free, A-B Tech, 340 Victoria Rd

River Arts District Second Saturday Open studios and galleries. SA (9/12), 10am, Free, Depot St Artist Support Grant Application Workshop Guidance for first-time applicants, led by Asheville Area Arts Council. MO (9/14), 6pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/84i

Swannanoa Valley Museum Book Club Hotter than a Pepper Sprout by Billy Edd Wheeler. MO (9/14), 11:30am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/84h

AIGA WatchStack: Group Talk & Signal Buzz Graphic design networking. TU (9/15), 5:30pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/7dr

THEATER & FILM

Think Big Prints Printmaking exhibition opening. FR (9/11), 10:30am, TRAC Gallery, 269 Oak Ave, Spruce Pine

Outdoor Book Launch & Signing Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle presents Even as We Breathe. TH (9/10), 6pm, Free, City Lights Bookstore, 3 E Jackson St, Sylva

West Asheville Library: Exploring & Settling the American West Discussion on Elizabeth Madox Roberts' The Great Meadow. TU (9/15), 7pm,

Asheville Art Museum. FR (9/18), 12pm, Registration required, $10, avl.mx/prv1

Third Thursday Open galleries. TH (9/17), 5pm, Free, Downtown Marshall Slow Art Friday: Is It Art? Part 3 Discussion led by touring docent Hank Bovee at

SEPT. 9-15, 2020

Reel Spirit Movie Project: The Truman Show Discussion on the film with Center for Spiritual Wisdom. TH (9/17), 7pm, Free, avl.mx/851

ANIMALS Drive-Thru Free Pet Food Giveaway First come, first served. MO (9/14), 9am-1pm, Blue Ridge Humane Society Adoption Center, 88 Centipede Ln, Hendersonville

BENEFITS Blanket Blessings: Community Mutual Aid Open donation swap with clothing, home goods, books and more. SA (9/12), 9am, Canton Recreation Park, 77 Penland St, Canton

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY SCC Small Business Center: Intro to Government Contracting How to register your business and access key resources. WE (9/9), 10am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/83h Deep Dive Lab: Business Blueprint for Creatives & Alternative Learners Webinar by Johanna Hagarty of Western Women's Business Center. TH (9/10), 10am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/83d SCORE: Grant Writing 101 How to fundraise for nonprofits. TH (9/10), 6:30pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/83g Western Women's Business Center: Digital Marketing Part I Sales funnels and processes. MO (9/14), 2pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/85e Sharing Impact in Ways that Generate Income & Interest Data management webinar by HCC Small Business Center. TU (9/15), 10am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/85s African American Business Association: On Collaboration Presented by Gene Ettison and J. Hackett, co-owners of GRIND Coffee. TU (9/15), 11am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/869 Effective Leadership during a Crisis Western Women's Business Center webinar. TU (9/15), 12:30pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/86a How to Build an Email Marketing Database HCC Small Business Center webinar with Aaron Means. TU (9/15), 2pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/85t Young Professionals of Henderson County Networking social. TU (9/15), 5:30pm, Dry Falls Brewing, 425 Kanuga Rd, Hendersonville Incredible Towns Business Network General meeting. WE (9/16), 11am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/7g8 AFP: Foundations of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Presentation by Aisha Adams. WE (9/16), 11:30am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/7xo UNCA Economics Webinar Series II Featuring Dr. Dietrich Vollrath, professor of Economics at the University of Houston. TH (9/17), 7pm,

Registration required, Free, avl.mx/86b

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS City of Asheville: 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Presentation of colors, invocation and remarks by fire chief Scott Burnette. FR (9/11), 8:30am, avl.mx/82l Tranzmission: Legal Name Change Clinic Questions: info@ tranzmission.org. MO (9/14), 12pm, Free, avl.mx/7jc Swannanoa Valley Museum: Preserving Family Heirlooms How to preserve photos, letters and textiles with director LeAnne Johnson. MO (9/14), 6:30pm, $10, avl.mx/852 Haywood Library: Starting Your Family Tree How to use digital library resources to trace ancestry. TU (9/15), 9am, Free, avl.mx/86f OLLI: Educational Equity for Students of Color Panel discussion with educators and advocates. WE (9/16), 4pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/84j

ECO & OUTDOOR Asheville GreenWorks: WNC Big Sweep Community river and roadside cleanup effort. Learn more: avl.mx/85d. Ongoing (thru 9/20) Pop up 5k in the Park WE (9/9), 6pm, $10, Fletcher Park, 300 Old Cane Creek Rd, Fletcher MountainTrue Green Drinks: Conservation Aviation Talk on environmental flight methods. TH (9/10), 6pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/82j Organic Growers School: Harvest Conference Two days of classes on organic growing and sustainable living. FR (9/11), 9:30am, Registration required, avl.mx/58j WNC Historical Society: French Broad River Experience Guided paddle tour on Wilma Dykeman’s The French Broad. Canoes, gear and return shuttle provided. Register: avl.mx/844. SA (9/12), 10am, $50, Amboy River Park, 180 Amboy Rd Black Mountain Library: Common Invasive Plants of WNC Identification and prevention. SA (9/12), 10am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/pruv

FOOD & BEER Ben’s Big Pop-up Menu by Chef Ben Hester of Cultura. SA (9/12), 1-7pm, The Odditorium, 1045 Haywood Rd Blue Ridge Brunch Farm-to-table pop-up celebrating the 85th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. SU (9/13), 12pm, Forestry Camp, 10 Shady Oak Dr MANNA FoodBank Express Free grocery items for neighbors in need. TU (9/15), 1pm, Sharing House, 164 Duckworth Ave, Brevard

WEEKLY MARKETS Tuesdays • West Asheville Tailgate Market. 3:30-6:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd • The Whee Market. 4-7pm, 563 N Country Club Dr, Cullowhee Wednesdays • Asheville City Market South. 12-3pm, Biltmore Park Town Square • Weaverville Farmers Market. 2:30-6pm,17 Merrimon Ave, Weaverville • RAD Farmers Market. 3-6pm, Pleb Urban Winery, 289 Lyman St • Locally Grown on the Green. 3-6pm, 35 Hwy 64, Cashiers • Jackson County Farmers Market. 3:30-6:30pm, Innovation Station, 40 Depot St, Dillsboro Thursdays • ASAP Farmers Market at A-B Tech. 9am-12pm, 340 Victoria Rd • Flat Rock Farmers Market. 3-6pm, 1790 Greenville Hwy, Hendersonville • Enka-Candler Tailgate Market. 3:30-6:30pm, 70 Pisgah Hwy, Candler Fridays • Marion Tailgate Market. 10am-3pm, 67 W Henderson St, Marion Saturdays • North Asheville Tailgate Market. 8am-12pm, UNC Asheville, Lot C • Hendersonville Farmers Market. Pollinator Day celebration w/ Apple Country String Band. 8am-1pm, 650 Maple St, Hendersonville

• Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market. 9am-12pm, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville

CIVICS & ACTIVISM PAHC: Informed Progressive Series Election talk featuring Sailor Jones, campaign director of Democracy North Carolina. WE (9/9), 2pm, Free, avl.mx/84a Centering Racial Equity: AVL City Council Candidates Forum Hosted by Keep It Moving Coalition and YMI Cultural Center. WE (9/9), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/85i Fairview Library: Absentee & Mail-in Voting Live Q&A with Kaylea Noce of Buncombe County Elections Services. TH (9/10), 3pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/853 Asheville Downtown Commission General meeting. FR (9/11), 8:30am, avl.mx/85u Silent Vigil for Immigration Reform FR (9/18), 4pm, Henderson County Courthouse, 200 N Grove St, Hendersonville Rally to Reconcile Sylva With speakers and music. FR (9/18), 6pm, Jackson County Public Library, 310 Keener St, Sylva

KIDS Haywood Library: Charcoal Drawing Techniques For teens. FR (9/11), 9am, Free, avl.mx/83v Haywood Library: Sail, Skim, Soar All about flight and how to make your own paper glider. WE (9/16), 9am, Free, avl.mx/86g Miss Malaprop's Storytime Ages 3-9. WE (9/16), 10am, Free, avl.mx/73b EcoEXPLORE: Insect Adventure Outdoor science activities. WE (9/16), 2pm, Registration required, Free, Madison Library, 1335 N Main St, Marshall

WELLNESS Intro to Medicare: Understanding the Puzzle How to avoid penalties and save money. WE (9/9), 2pm, Registration required, Free, coabc.org

• ASAP Farmers Market at A-B Tech. 9am-12pm, 340 Victoria Rd

Adult Eating Disorder Support Group Hosted by Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders. Register: groups@crcfored.com. WE (9/9), 6pm, Free, avl.mx/82e

• Black Mountain Tailgate Market. 9am-12pm, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Specialized Physical Therapy: Pelvic Floor Health Workshop by PT Zoe Martin.

• Yancey County Farmers Market. 8:30am-12:30pm,10 S Main St, Burnsville

TH (9/10), 1pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/84w Recovery Support Meeting Hosted by First Contact Ministries. TH (9/10), 6:30pm, Free, avl.mx/7ko Tranzmission: Trans, Nonbinary & Queer Recovery Support Meeting Questions: info@ tranzmission.org. SA (9/12), 2pm, Free, avl.mx/866 Black Mountain YMCA: Intro to Intuitive Eating Led by counselor Sadie Simpson. TU (9/15), 2pm, Free, avl.mx/871 Steady Collective Syringe Access Outreach Free educational material, naloxone, syringes and supplies. TU (9/15), 2pm, Firestorm Bookstore Co-op, 610 Haywood Rd Herbalism Ways in the African World American Herbalists Guild webinar with Ola Obasi. TU (9/15), 8pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/85m Recovery Support Meeting Hosted by First Contact Ministries. TH (9/17), 6:30pm, Free, avl.mx/7ko

SPIRITUALITY Spiritual Care during COVID-19 Small group session with Pastor Ken. WE (9/9), 3pm, Registration required, Free, Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 6th Ave W, Hendersonville Bahá'í Devotional: Creating Inclusive Spaces Prayer and music. WE (9/16), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/prv0 A Spiritual Revolution: The Quest to Experience God Christian Science Asheville webinar by Giulia Nesi Tetreau. TH (9/17), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/84c

VOLUNTEERING Literacy Council of Buncombe County: Volunteer Orientation Meeting Information on ESOL and adult and youth literacy programs. TH (9/10), 10am, Registration required, litcouncil.com

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SEPT. 9-15, 2020

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BY LESLIE BOYD leslie.boyd@gmail.com Angela Bradley was 10 the first time she was paid to have sex. A neighbor who was a gang member introduced her and became her “manager,” and when he paid her $100 after the act, she thought it was an incredibly easy way to make money. “I had already been molested by an older man who gave me candy and presents, so this was nothing new, really,” says Bradley, who today works for Legacy of Hope International, a South Carolina-based nonprofit. The group is organizing the second annual AntiTrafficking Summit, slated for TuesdaySaturday, Sept. 15-19. Co-sponsored by Mars Hill University and Life 107 Ministries, this year’s summit will be online only due to COVID-19. Bradley’s mother had a psychiatric illness and was addicted, so the young girl had no strong advocate at home. “I was trying to look older, and they wanted me to look younger,” she recalls. “And when they gave me $100, I thought it was great.” But by age 17, she was pregnant and in jail. “I gave birth to my daughter with one hand cuffed to the bed and one leg shackled to the bed,” she says. “That’s the moment I knew I had to turn my life around. It was a survival thing.”

A COMPLEX PICTURE

Trafficking takes many forms. According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services fact sheet, it can include not only sex for money involving coercion or fraud but also any kind of involuntary servitude. And while most folks associate trafficking with children, two-thirds of the more than 200 North Carolina cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline last year were adults. Still, the average age of children when they’re first trafficked is 15, says Bradley. According to the hotline, about 80% of trafficking cases nationally involve sex trafficking, and 90% of the victims are female. Although trafficking can happen to anyone, certain groups are more vulnerable: people who’ve recently migrated or moved; those with substance use issues and/or a mental illness; those 18

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LINE IN THE SAND: At last year’s Anti-Trafficking Summit, held at Mars Hill University, participants explored the Red Sand Project, a collaborative installation which creates “opportunities for people to question, connect and take action against vulnerabilities that can lead to human trafficking and exploitation,” according to the project’s website. Photo by Jennifer Wilson who’ve been in the child welfare system; someone who’s LGBTQ, a runaway or a homeless youth. Perpetrators also come from every race, ethnicity and gender demographic, the hotline reports. They may be business owners, members of a gang or network, parents or family members of victims, intimate partners — even corporate executives and government representatives. Some leverage their privilege, wealth and position to control their victims. In a high-profile 2019 case, financier Jeffrey Epstein allegedly procured girls for himself and his powerful friends. Epstein, a registered sex offender, died in custody while awaiting trial. Other perpetrators, however, come from more modest backgrounds. Traffickers use various tactics to control their victims, including physical and emotional abuse and threats, isolation from friends and family, and economic manipulation. Initially, they

often promise to address their target’s needs; victims then become afraid to leave for reasons including psychological trauma, shame, emotional attachment or physical threats to themselves or their loved ones.

SUGAR DATING

Asheville resident Jennifer Wilson, who’s organizing the upcoming summit, works for Legacy of Hope International. “With COVID-19 and what it’s doing to the economy, even more people are becoming desperate,” she points out. “Sex can be used as an exchange for necessities like rent and food, not just drugs.” Amid widespread pandemic-related unemployment and the impending end of federal, state and local protections, some economists are predicting 30 million to 40 million evictions in the coming months.

He gets his music online. His t-shirts at the mall.

“With COVID-19 and what it’s doing to the economy, even more people are becoming desperate.” — Jennifer Wilson, Legacy of Hope International All these factors increase the risk of being trafficked, says Demetria Gilliam-Williams of Life 107. The faithbased organization works to eliminate sex trafficking and empower survivors. “We have to talk about familial trafficking right here in rural North Carolina,” she says. “These children are not being kidnapped; that’s not what it looks like here.” Traffickers, she explains, approach their targets the same way a child molester does — first grooming them by offering forbidden items such as alcohol or small amounts of money and telling them to keep the “gifts” secret. But when those “treats” become payment for sexual acts with someone under age 18, the law calls it trafficking. Even a teenager dating an older partner may be at risk, says GilliamWilliams. “It’s called sugar dating,” she explains. “If a young girl is dating an older male, and he asks her to perform a sex act with him or with someone else in exchange for gifts or money, that’s trafficking. Unfortunately, too many victims are very attached to their traffickers.”

BLAMING THE VICTIM

Many victims aren’t even aware they’re being trafficked, says Angelica Reza Wind of Our VOICE. “They’ll call and say someone is making them do things,” she explains. “They may not even know there’s a name for it, and they’re unaware there are resources to help them.” The Asheville nonprofit works to eliminate sexual violence. Despite the widespread belief that kidnapping must be involved for the law to consider it trafficking, that’s not true, stresses Wind. Any exchange of anything of value for sex with a minor, and any use of force, fraud or coercion in the case of an adult, is trafficking. Like Bradley, most people who are trafficked knew the perpetrator beforehand, and 80% are survivors of child abuse. Wind believes part of the reason people think most trafficking victims are abducted and spirited across the border is that the #SaveTheChildren hashtag has been appropriated by anti-immigration activists on the political right. Another major problem, she notes, is blaming the victim instead of the perpe-

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trator. “When we read the story, it too often says that Jane Doe was trafficked, not that John Smith was charged with trafficking,” Wind points out. “We ask why didn’t she leave, report him sooner, avoid being trafficked.”

LEGAL PROTECTIONS

In July 2019, Gov. Roy Cooper signed a law based on recommendations by the state’s Human Trafficking Commission. Among other things, it expands the definition of “sexual servitude,” prohibits the promotion or sale of “sex tourism” services, creates a mechanism for victims to recover damages from traffickers or those who benefited financially from it, and makes it easier for victims to expunge convictions for nonviolent crimes committed as a direct result of being trafficked. The law also funds education, says Wind. In October, Our VOICE will launch a project in the Asheville City Schools to help youths understand what trafficking is and how to avoid getting caught up in it. “Education is key,” says Wind. “Having the information helps prevent trafficking.” X

The second annual Anti-Trafficking Summit The free online event is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15; Thursday, Sept. 17; and Saturday, Sept. 19. Suggested donation for trainings is $10, and tickets are available online at avl.mx/87v. X

Getting help If you’re being trafficked or know someone who is, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888, text 233733 or visit humantraffickinghotline.org. To reach Our VOICE, call the 24-hour crisis line (828-255-7576) or visit ourvoicenc.org. X

Mountain Xpress

BEST OF WNC issues publish sept. 16 & 23

Look for the two big issues MOUNTAINX.COM

SEPT. 9-15, 2020

GREEN ROUNDUP by Daniel Walton | dwalton@mountainx.com

Henderson planning board votes against asphalt plant At nearly 11,000 signers strong, a petition against the proposed SE Asphalt plant off the Spartanburg Highway in Henderson County organized by Friends of East Flat Rock has garnered significant grassroots support. On Aug. 20, the community group scored its first official victory when the Henderson County Planning Board voted 5-2 not to recommend the project. Board member Rick Livingston, who made the motion to deny the recommendation, said the plant’s location in a “very residential area” was incompatible with both the county’s comprehensive plan and East Flat Rock’s community plan. He also noted that the board had received extensive email and phone comment opposing the project, some of which had been “on the edge of being threatening and intimidating.” Shannon Nicholson, a co-founder of Friends of East Flat Rock, called the vote “a big win” in an Aug. 21 blog post but emphasized that the final verdict on the plant lies with the Henderson County Board of Commissioners. “SE Asphalt will not slow down. Neither can we,” she wrote. The website for the asphalt company, which is owned by Jeff Shipman, said opponents’ concerns are unfounded and that the location exceeds all county requirements for setbacks from adjacent properties. “The only information I have seen supporting the opposition has all been debunked misinformation,” the site states. “We will continue to fight for our God-given right as an American and the American dream.” At press time, the Henderson County commissioners were scheduled to vote on the project at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Haywood, Transylvania tourism authorities debut outdoors education campaigns

The COVID-19 pandemic has led many vacationers to avoid crowded urban centers and seek adventure in the great outdoors of Western North Carolina — including some who haven’t previously set foot in the mountains. In response, two of the region’s tourism agencies 20

SEPT. 9-15, 2020

manager, and Sherry Wheat who, with Olson, runs Climate School Asheville. The Collider is hosting the series online at avl.mx/84d.

Watch and learn

• The Outdoor Economy Conference is moving online as a series of virtual workshops each Thursday in October. Keynote speakers will include Teresa Baker, founder of the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge; Lise Aangeenbrug, executive director of the Outdoor Industry Association; and Dr. Nooshin Razani, director of the Center for Nature and Health at the University of California at San Francisco. Additional information and tickets are available at OutdoorEconomy.org. • Outdoor history buffs now have access to over 8,000 photos, drawings and documents from the Blue Ridge Parkway’s archives. Kat Connelly, a visual information specialist with the

WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS: Henderson County seventh grader Brianna Warren won the Friends of East Flat Rock youth poster contest, which asked young people to imagine the impact of a proposed asphalt plant off the Spartanburg Highway. Photo courtesy of Friends of East Flat Rock have launched educational efforts to help those visitors enjoy nature responsibly. The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority is focused on hiker safety. Visitors to the county can obtain a card with safety tips and a free orange safety whistle to call for help in the event of an emergency. “As a reminder, a cellphone is not always a reliable option while hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or along the Blue Ridge Parkway,” says Lynn Collins, the agency’s executive director. Meanwhile, Transylvania County Tourism is going beyond the traditional “leave no trace” message with a “Leave It Better” campaign. Videos, ads and posters encourage visitors to pick up any trash they encounter in the wild to help protect public lands and the wildlife that calls them home.

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The Collider launches ‘Faces of Climate City’ series Since 2016, The Collider has been working to brand Asheville as “Climate City,” a place with leaders who understand the challenges and opportunities of climate change and the resources provided by the National Centers for Environmental Information. The nonprofit’s latest initiative aims to put many faces to that name. As explained by Mary Olson, a volunteer with the climate solutions collaborative, the yearlong photo exhibit seeks “to support Climate City as a growing community identity.” Each month, portraits by local photographer Marc Pierre will highlight two figures from the area’s climate research institutions, governments and sustainability-oriented businesses. The first two people to be featured are Mary Spivey, The Collider’s community

FACES TO FACE: Mary Spivey, top, and Sherry Wheat are the first two area leaders to be featured in The Collider’s “Faces of Climate City” series. Photos by Marc Pierre Photography

National Park Service, has recorded a webinar detailing how to find and download those assets at avl.mx/81h. • The Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock is hosting a video series for pet owners about safe hiking with dogs. Crystal Tysz, training and behavior manager at the Blue Ridge Humane Society, is posting new advice each Wednesday on the site’s Facebook page, available at avl.mx/81i. • As Asheville prepares to finalize the North Fork Dam Improvement Project by the end of October, officials have released a video about changes to the infrastructure for the city’s primary drinking water source. New spillways are expected to make the dam more resilient during extreme storm events and reduce the need for water releases, which have contributed to flooding in Biltmore Village. To view the video, go to avl.mx/81j. • The annual Hawk Watch returns to Grandfather Mountain throughout September. While visitors will not be permitted to participate in the official count due to COVID-19 safety concerns, the park continues to offer views of migratory raptor species such as broad-winged and red-tailed hawks.

PARKWAY TO GO: Fairview resident Virginia Ward, age 15, won a national award for youth volunteer service in recognition of her plant conservation efforts on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service refurbish a play space at the WNC Nature Center. Although the facility remains closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, patrons will enjoy a new fort-building station and sensory path when it reopens.

Community kudos

• The Buncombe County Sustainability Office earned an Excellence in Innovation Award from the N.C. Association of County Commissioners for its participation in the Energy Innovation Task Force. A public-private partnership involving the county, city of Asheville and Duke Energy, the task force helped prevent the construction of a natural gas-fired peaker plant at Duke’s Arden facility. • Fairview resident Virginia Ward, a volunteer with the Blue Ridge Parkway, received the 2019 Youth Award as part of the George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service. The accolades recognize the top volunteers across the entire National Park Service; Ward was honored for her work monitoring rare plant species. • Looking Glass Creamery in Columbus was rated Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World, an Oregon-based nonprofit that assesses sustainable agriculture practices. The label indicates that Looking Glass cows “are raised outdoors on pasture or range in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards in the U.S. and Canada.” • The Rotary Club of Asheville and Rotaract Asheville pitched in to

Educational endeavors

• UNC Asheville was honored as a Tree Campus USA for 2019 for the second consecutive year. Tree canopy covers approximately 70% of the campus — significantly more than the citywide average of 44.5% cited by Asheville’s 2019 Urban Tree Canopy Study. • Warren Wilson College received a STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The association’s report highlights the college’s divestment from fossil fuels, use of alternative fuel in campus vehicles and recently developed land innovation program. • Western Carolina University has been awarded a grant of more than $517,000 from the National Science Foundation to organize and curate its biological collections. Gathered in the Southern Appalachian Mountains since the early 1900s, the roughly 47,000 samples of plants, arthropods, birds and mammals illustrate the region’s rich biodiversity. X MOUNTAINX.COM

SEPT. 9-15, 2020

FOOD

How now, chow chow?

Asheville relishes the quintessential Southern condiment

BY KAY WEST kwest@mountainx.com Like countless mothers of small children seeking 10 uninterrupted minutes for a conversation, Ashley English was in hiding. In this case, the author of 11 books was sequestered in an alcove of her attic. The conversation was about chow chow, the relish, and Chow Chow, the Asheville culinary festival, which has been COVID-ed from September 2020 to September 2021. English is such an authority on the relish that she was asked to demo it on stage at the inaugural Chow Chow event in 2019. “Katie [Button, chef, owner of Cúrate and president of the Chow Chow board of directors] and I are friends, and she knew I had a recipe for chow chow in my book Southern From Scratch,” she explains. “She connected me with the festival director who was doing the programming for the weekend.” English happily accepted the proposal to make chow chow on stage with the

SEPT. 9-15, 2020

SEEING DOUBLE: Ann Gassenheimer brought Vegetable Kingdom’s award-winning green tomato chow chow to Chow Chow the festival in September 2019. Photo courtesy of Gassenheimer caveat that she could partner with her friend and mentor, Barbara Swell, cookbook author and instructor of “old-timey cooking,” as Swell describes it. “We have different styles, approaches and ingredients, which we talked about in the demo,” English says. “Barb talked about how she often puts in green tomatoes and sometimes even a chopped green apple. Chow chow is pretty democratic that way — there are so many permutations and iterations, you can customize it the way you want.” Ann Gassenheimer, founder and co-owner with husband Pat Gallagher of Vegetable Kingdom, which produces jarred, heat-and-eat meals and condiments, agrees on the diversity of chow chow representation. “Chow chow is made all over the world in some form, by some name,” she notes. But when it comes to her business’s award-winning green tomato chow chow, she sticks strictly to the recipe handed down from her maternal great-grandmother, who lived in Louisiana. “I made it every summer with my grandmother and great-grandmother,” Gassenheimer says. “We didn’t call it chow chow then, we called it green tomato pickle. When my great-grandmother wrote down the recipe for me, it was ‘Grannie’s Green Tomato Pickle.’” The couple were farming in Beaufort, S.C., in 2008 when they launched Vegetable Kingdom as a way to use their leftover produce. Gassenheimer, who grew up canning and preserving, says the company’s first product was kumquat marmalade. “People liked it and asked

MOUNTAINX.COM

if I could make this thing or that thing,” she recalls. “We added a pear chutney and some salsas, and that’s how the chow chow got started. We named the company Vegetable Kingdom, and it grew from there.” In 2017, they moved their residence and company to Asheville, where she says they have found an abundance of ingredients for their products and an enthusiastic market. In 2019, Vegetable Kingdom’s green tomato chow chow won the Best Condiment award from the N.C. Specialty Foods Association and was featured in the makers tent at Chow Chow 2019. Chef John Fleer, owner of Rhubarb, The Rhu and Benne on Eagle, did not have chow chow running through the veins of his culinary heritage but jumped on board when he found himself working at Blackberry Farm resort in Walland, Tenn., in the 1990s. “My discovery of it came with the exploration of the aliento-me planet of East Tennessee,” he says with a laugh. “It was not something I grew up with. But we needed to have it, and I developed a recipe replicating what I was seeing at farm stands and in markets around there.” Along with his grandmother’s pepper relish, the Winston-Salem native says, chow chow has been one of the two core relish-type condiments on his menus “for longer than I want to admit.” In Benne’s first year, it was the accompaniment for chef de cuisine Ashleigh Shanti’s potlikker wings, and at Rhubarb it sidles up to Fleer’s lamb ribs. “When you need something tangy that has lots of character,

it will find its way onto a dish,” he says. “We use it liberally.” English says chow chow is key to her summer meals. “We live in a 1930s bungalow with no air conditioning,” she says. “In the summer, we end up eating lots of cold soups and sandwiches, and chow chow really livens them up.” “Chow chow is just an essential Southern table condiment,” Gassenheimer asserts. “You can eat chow on anything, on everything and on nothing, with a spoon right out of the jar. It’s a Southern thing.” The recipe English and Swell demoed from Southern From Scratch can be found at avl.mx/855. Vegetable Kingdom’s green tomato chow chow is sold at The Rhu and on the company’s website, avl.mx/856. See the sidebar for the recipe Fleer says he developed “from tasting lots of chow chow.” X

John Fleer’s chow chow Makes 6-8 cups • 2 quarts chopped Napa cabbage • 4 cups chopped tomatoes • 4 cups chopped zucchini • 4 cups chopped onions • 4 cups chopped green bell peppers, medium dice • 2 cups chopped red bell peppers, medium dice • 1 cup fresh horseradish, grated (or use 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish) • 5 tablespoons kosher salt • 2 cups rice wine vinegar • 3 cups cider vinegar • 3 cups granulated white sugar • 1 tablespoon celery seed • 1 tablespoon dry mustard • 2 teaspoon mustard seed • ½ teaspoon turmeric • 1 teaspoon ground ginger Toss all the prepared vegetables and a half cup of the fresh horseradish (or a ½ tablespoon of prepared horseradish) in salt and let stand for three hours in a colander at room temperature. Combine vinegar, sugar, spices and the other ½ cup fresh horseradish (or ½ tablespoon of prepared) and simmer. Add vegetables, bring back to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes. Cool and store. X

Help wanted

MANNA FoodBank seeks volunteers

ORANGE AID: MANNA FoodBank volunteers portion fresh produce to include in food boxes for distribution across 16 WNC counties. Photo courtesy of MANNA FoodBank Between March 1 and July 31, MANNA FoodBank distributed 10.5 million pounds of food, an increase of 31% over the same time period in 2019. The Asheville-based nonprofit is a vital link providing crucial help to over 200 partner agencies fighting hunger in Western North Carolina. While need in MANNA’s 16-county service area continues to grow, its pool of volunteers has declined, and the organization is asking for a hand — many hands, in fact — to help out at its warehouse on Swannanoa River Road. “When this crisis started back in March, many of our regular volunteers we relied on were higher-risk individuals and needed to stay home to stay safe,” says Kara Irani, director of marketing and communications. “In their place, a lot of low-risk volunteers stepped in to help.” Those volunteers included high school and college students, families that had kids out of school and people furloughed and laid off from their jobs. “As schools have reopened, young

adults have gone back to college, and some jobs are back. We are seeing a serious shortage of volunteers needed to keep up this work,” says Irani. “Our partner agencies rely on volunteers to distribute the food boxes we pack from their locations, so we want to get as much packed on-site as possible to support them.” Three-hour volunteer shifts take place morning and afternoon five days a week, and volunteers are trained in the warehouse on all projects. Strict safety precautions are followed; volunteers are required to bring their own masks. “We encourage people to sign up for a regular shift once a week or once a month, so we know what to expect. But we’re not saying no to anyone,” Irani says. “We are feeding close to 100,000 people a month. The need is just staggering.” For details on volunteering with MANNA, visit mannafoodbank.org.

— Kay West X

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SEPT. 9-15, 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Live and direct

Different Strokes and NC Stage produce new shows confronting racism BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com Two Asheville theater companies — moved to address racial injustice by whatever means possible — are finding innovative ways to offer live performances via Zoom. Building on such standout efforts as Asheville Community Theatre’s live reading of Little Women in May, The Magnetic Theatre’s Virtual One-Act Play Festival in June and Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre’s North Carolina premiere of Couples in August, Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective and North Carolina Stage Company are staging their most ambitious digital shows thus far.

UNITING OVER TRAGEDY

With Different Strokes’ 2020 season pushed to 2021, managing artistic director Stephanie Hickling Beckman has shifted to what she calls a “COVID-19 modified 10th season.” In mid-August, the collective streamed a live, staged reading of Sinclair Lewis’ 1936 cautionary dark satire It Can’t Happen Here, which Hickling Beckman describes as being “about a demagogue — a rich man who’s elected to be president of the United States and starts to systematically destroy everything that the country was built on.” Up next on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m., is …while Black, a curated evening of dramatic readings, poetry and spoken word from Black Asheville-based artists. Hickling Beckman says the production arose out of her “own personal crisis.” Following George Floyd’s death, she was having a rough time with the state of the nation and was sensing “the lack of community in this community,” noting Asheville’s low number of fellow Black residents. Feeling alone, yet knowing there must be others with similar woes, she put together a group of local Black creatives and began meeting regularly with them to discuss ways to artistically express themselves. From these conversations arose the It Can’t Happen Here reading and … while Black, the timing of which is far from coincidental. Hickling Beckman calls the events of Sept. 11, 2001, “the biggest act of terrorism that we’ve experienced in this country, on this soil by people who are not from this coun24

SEPT. 9-15, 2020

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RENAISSANCE MAN: Actor and playwright Mike Wiley rehearses Blood Done Sign My Name at The Clayton Center, not far from his home in Raleigh. In partnership with NC Stage, the performances will be livestreamed from Clayton to viewers across the world, who will in turn be visible to Wiley via projection screens in the theater. Photo by Tracy Francis try.” With the show, she seeks to make a point that racism and the killing of Black people is also an act of terrorism — one that “deserves as much respect as what happened on 9/11, because this is by people who live in this country against people who live in this country, which makes it worse.” “We have all this division happening now, and I feel like, then, people did come together more than we probably ever have in my lifetime. People were appreciating each other more and recognizing the balance that kind of hangs between life and death,” she says. “There has to be something that puts people there again, and if we really recognize racism as a virus and an act

of terrorism, maybe that will open eyes that haven’t fully been open yet.” Eugene Jones, Kaity Taylor, Kevin Evans, ZaKiya Bell-Rogers and Hickling Beckman’s 9-year-old son, Zay, will perform live from their respective homes, while Shanita Jackson’s movement-intensive contribution will be filmed in advance to better facilitate its elaborate nature. Stage manager Jim Abbott will act as the show’s board operator on Zoom, offering an array of artist support. “He’s making sure everything is going right in the [Zoom] room. He’s making sure that actors have their cameras on or have them off if they forget to, or have their mics off,” Hickling

Beckman. “It’s an OK substitute for right now. I think it’s going to have to improve a lot for something like that to continue past the pandemic, but I think aspects of it will stay.” More specifically, she sees Zoom as having the potential to greatly increase accessibility to theater, which, preCOVID, she feels was at the point where something drastic needed to take place. “Now, people from all over the world can pretty much see what’s going on,” she says. “I’ve often felt like Different Strokes made such big statements in a lot of the plays that we’ve done that I wished that more people could have had the opportunity to see it. Now, we’re in that place where we can advertise more widely and not have to worry about a fire code or how many seats.” differentstrokespac.org

THE TWO-WAY LIVESTREAM

After successful runs of his one-man shows Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till (2018) and The Fire of Freedom (2019) at NC Stage, Raleigh-based actor and playwright Mike Wiley was looking forward to returning to Asheville for a third consecutive year. But when the

pandemic hit and traditional theatrical performances were put on hiatus, a 2020 collaboration seemed unlikely. Charlie Flynn-McIver, artistic director and co-founder of NC Stage, likewise wished to continue the partnership, but knew that Wiley’s penchant for audience participation called for something more than a one-way livestream. Meanwhile, at home, FlynnMcIver had staged a successful substitute for his high school daughter’s canceled senior prom — using their living room as a dance hall and broadcasting Zoom’s gallery view of loved ones on a projection screen while a webcam streamed the festivities live from Asheville. Within weeks, he tested out an upscaled version at NC Stage, thanking loyal donors and subscribers with a mini-concert from local actor and singer-songwriter Ben Mackel, who performed to a projection screen full of appreciative faces. Flynn-McIver shared his idea with Wiley, who quickly signed on. In the wake of the deaths of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, Wiley says it “felt right” to perform Blood Done Sign My Name, his adaptation of Timothy B. Tyson’s acclaimed memoir. The show recounts the killing of Henry

“Dickie” Marrow, a Black, 23-year-old U.S. Army veteran who, in 1970, was beaten and shot to death in an Oxford, N.C., street by three white men, whose subsequent acquittal by an all-white jury sparked a season of violent unrest in the city. Flynn-McIver proposed that Wiley come to Asheville, but with The Clayton Center just outside Raleigh already doing virtual concerts, Wiley suggested the performances take place there — an option that wouldn’t require him to travel, find a place to stay or socially distance with a new set of people. Wiley’s offer would also allow for Raleigh-based gospel singer Mary D. Williams, who he says serves as the show’s Greek chorus, to participate from the theater’s balcony. Flynn-McIver agreed and will be in Clayton to help facilitate Blood Done Sign My Name, which runs Thursday, Sept. 10-Sunday, Sept. 27, with shows Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. He compares the theater’s size to that of the Diana Wortham Theatre, big enough for three large projector screens set up in the audience, on which viewers will be displayed in gallery view. The experience will mark the first time Wiley has done a

two-way livestream performance, and while the parameters aren’t his first choice, he sees it as far superior to merely performing for a camera and an invisible audience. “Early on, when artists were craving outlets to perform and were just kind of doing monologues to a camera and posting them on Facebook, I was really opposed to that,” Wiley says. “Theater for me is a bridge to other human beings that are experiencing the moment in the moment. It’s symbiotic — there’s a give-and-take to it that is deeply lacking when I cannot see who I’m performing for and they know that I am trying to make a connection with them. However, when I can see them and they know I can see them, we come closer to bridging the connection that’s there when it’s an actual live and in-person performance.” Similar to an athletic competition being “more fierce when you can look up and see someone rooting for you to succeed,” Wiley says he works harder when he witnesses audience members’ expressions reflecting their desires to be entertained, moved and educated — a palpable energy that motivates him to “try and make deeper connections” as best he can. ncstage.org X

MOUNTAINX.COM

SEPT. 9-15, 2020

A&E

Creating a monster Nomadic War Machine’s new EP finds an audience

Although the EP Are We Not Monsters is the latest output from the prolific local artist Margaret Killjoy, it’s just one of many creative ventures the musician, writer and activist has been at work on. “I’ve been doing this thing where I’m engaged in a million different projects in a million different mediums, functionally, my entire adult life,” Killjoy explains. Her Patreon page lists stories, podcasts and a “zine of the month,” as well as music. “I write books and short fiction. I tend to write about squatters, travelers, queers, anarchists, criminals and rebels ... people like myself or my friends who aren’t represented often or well in fiction,” she pens on her crowdfunding profile. Killjoy started SteamPunk Magazine “before steampunk became a thing” and also ran a publishing company that produced fiction and nonfiction. Her books include an anarcho-punk fantasy series following the heroine Danielle Cain and the utopian novel A Country of Ghosts, among other works. Killjoy is also a member of the atmospheric black metal band Feminazgûl. “Now, when I finish a project, I have to think about how to make it matter to people,” she says. “I don’t want to create art in a vacuum. … I want to say something and have people hear it, and I want people to hear it who it might resonate with.” Are We Not Monsters, released earlier this summer by Killjoy’s solo project Nomadic War Machine, is possibly her most accessible album to date. The synth sounds are crisp, the melodies inviting and the musician’s haunting

FEAR NOT: Nomadic War Machine’s EP Are We Not Monsters has been finding its audience. The collection’s tracks “come out of love songs from and to trans people,” says musician Margaret Killjoy, pictured, a trans woman and activist. Self-portrait by Killjoy vocal pulls listeners into to the poetic writing. “I want your claws to cut me,” she sings in “I’ve Grown So Fragile,” the pop-noir lead track. And, on the prophetic-feeling “The Flood Came Over Me,” she chants, “I cannot find the way/It’s gone, it’s gone,” over a wash of shimmery keys and tart percussion. “I don’t find any particular value in having the form of my art be outside of the mainstream,” Killjoy says. Earlier Nomadic War Machine output was a lot more experimental, she reveals,

adding, “I don’t play black metal to be edgy. I play it because I like it.” But, “I’m proud of the work I’ve been able to do with the new Nomadic War Machine to move in a more consciously pop direction.” Reaching that pop sensibility, she says, required growth in her skills as a musician. It’s a challenge to make one’s creative work approachable, she points out, but notes that “it’s not fun to be misunderstood. … I value clarity in terms of my art.”

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There is still room for misinterpretation, though. On June 12, Skyline News posted on Facebook about a music video in which “Killjoy is seen … participating in some type of satanic ritual.” The story drew mixed reactions from online viewers. Killjoy reports that she received death threats following the article, but — as someone who honed her resistance skills during Portland’s anti-war movement in the early 2000s — she’s weathered worse. “I’ve been an anarchist activist for a long time. [I’m] used to having the enemy be the state and global capitalism. … I was followed around by an SUV full of feds when I was 21, in Portland,” she says. “Some [people] who don’t like me — that doesn’t bother me.” She continues, “I’m proud to have created ‘Satanic Panic,’ not that I’m a satanist. [But] I really like leveraging Nazi hate and transphobic hate for fame. … Not that I want fame, but I want them to know that them going after me helps me.” Indeed, Are We Not Monsters has been finding its audience. The collection, she says, “comes out of love songs from and to trans people.” A trans woman, Killjoy speaks to how those in the trans community are viewed as frightening or undesirable. The sensitivity and rawness of her writing, for those willing to listen, shines truth, humanity and a deep desire for connection. There’s also something of the universal in Are We Not Monsters. Though crafted as dance music, its darkness speaks to this moment of uncertainty and loss; to revolutionary thinking and dismantling of outmoded systems. But when asked if she feels her experiences as a protester and anarchist have positioned her as a leader in the current social climate, she demurs. “I do feel in some ways positioned to use my platform, but it’s complicated by my whiteness,” she says. The necessary focus on equity for Black and brown people means “I should not take on any leadership roles in the struggle.” Instead, to effect positive change, Killjoy has been tying her musical projects to fundraisers, in the form of benefit compilations and donations of sales from Bandcamp Fridays (when all proceeds go directly to the artists) to Black-led grassroots organizations. “As an anarchist, my goal is not to tell people what to do or think,” Killjoy says. “I try to be useful. I think everyone should look at their strengths and apply them to the current struggle.” Learn more at birdsbeforethestorm.net and nomadicwarmachine.bandcamp.com.

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SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Western Carolina Writers (folk), 6pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Sarah Tucker (solo acoustic), 6pm

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

NANTAHALA BREWING SYLVA Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 6pm

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APPALACHIAN RIDGE ARTISAN CIDERY 3 Shades of Gray (rock, folk), 6:30pm

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ISIS MUSIC HALL Lawn Concert w/ Earleine (indie, folk), 6:30pm

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DRY FALLS BREWING CO. The Unexpected (classic country), 7pm

185 KING STREET Team Trivia & Games, 7pm THE CASUAL PINT Friends Trivia Night, 7pm SOVEREIGN KAVA q Poetry Open Mic, 8:30pm, avl.mx/76w THE PAPER MILL LOUNGE Karaoke X, 9pm THE SOCIAL Karaoke w/ Lyric, 10pm

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Friday (Grateful Dead tribute), 5:30pm WHITESIDE BREWING CO. Doug Ramsay (jazz, soul), 5:30pm

TRISKELION BREWERY Andrew Thelston Band (rock), 7pm THE GREY EAGLE PATIO: Barnyard Stompers (country), 7pm MAIN STAGE: Southern Culture on the Skids (rock ‘n roll), 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Bag O' Tricks (Americana), 8pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN q Ashley Heath (Americana, soul), 8pm, avl.mx/86q

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CONCERTS BEGIN AT 6:30PM ONLINE AFTER FIVE: Asheville’s Downtown After 5 has transitioned its usual summer street party into a virtual concert series. Featuring dance-rock band The Fritz, pictured, with steel pannist Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, the next installment will stream live Friday, Sept. 18, 5:30 p.m., on iamavl.com. Newly-opened outdoor venue Rabbit Rabbit will offer a public screening. Photo courtesy of The Fritz THE GREY EAGLE PATIO: Funkelstiltskin (alternative), 7pm MAIN STAGE: Sean Hayes (folk, soul), 8:30pm GUIDON BREWING Sunlight Drive (acoustic duo), 7:30pm 185 KING STREET Supatight (funk, indie), 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Jamison Adams Project (folk, rock), 8pm WILD WING CAFE Karaoke Night, 9:30pm THE SOCIAL Karaoke Show w/ Billy Masters, 10pm

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Brian Ashley Jones (blues, country), 2pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 2pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Shakedown Sunday w/ Still Walkin’ (Grateful dead tribute), 4:30pm RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO. Drinkin’ & Thinkin’ Trivia, 5pm TRISKELION BREWERY JC & the Boomerang Band (Irish trad, folk), 6pm 185 KING STREET Open Electric Jam, 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL Lawn Concert w/ Jesse Barry & The Jam (blues, funk), 6:30pm

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TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic w/ Thomas Yon, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE Patio Show w/ Laura Blackley (blues, soul), 7pm

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 ARCHETYPE BREWING Old Time Jam w/ Banjo Mitch McConnell, 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Totally Rad Trivia w/ Mitch Fortune, 6:30pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. It Takes All Kinds Open Mic Night, 7pm

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THE CASUAL PINT The Office Trivia Night, 7pm THE GREY EAGLE Red Wanting Blue (rock), 8pm SOVEREIGN KAVA q Poetry Open Mic, 8:30pm, avl.mx/76w THE PAPER MILL LOUNGE Karaoke X, 9pm THE SOCIAL Karaoke w/ Lyric, 10pm

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OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Kid Billy (solo multi-instrumentalist), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL Lawn Concert w/ Jackson Grimm Band (Americana, bluegrass), 6:30pm MOUNTAIN SPIRIT q Gretchen Peters (solo acoustic, 7pm, avl.mx/85z THE GREY EAGLE Patio Show w/ Drip A Silver (Grateful Dead tribute), 7pm TRISKELION BREWERY Jason’s Technicolor Cabaret: Music & Comedy, 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 8pm BALSAM FALLS BREWING CO. Open Mic Night, 8pm

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MOVIE REVIEWS THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS

Hosted by the Asheville Movie Guys EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com HHHHH

= MAX RATING

Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President HHHHH

DIRECTOR: Mary Wharton PLAYERS: Jimmy Carter, Bob Dylan DOCUMENTARY NOT RATED Republicans may have Elvis and Nixon in the White House, but Democrats have Jimmy Carter and Bob Dylan in the Georgia governor’s mansion, an encounter that one of the participants remembers as life-changing. (That would be Dylan.) It’s just one of countless remarkable relationships detailed in Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President. Don’t be put off by the title that sounds like a “Saturday Night Live” sketch. This well-paced documentary is an excellent primer on the man and his presidency, seen from the angle of his links to musicians of all sorts. Veteran music-doc filmmaker Mary Wharton (Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound) artfully blends a deep trove of archival footage and photos with fresh interviews, including Carter. The film describes how fundraising concerts during the 1976 presidential campaign helped get Carter elected and how he cultivated his musical connections in the White House and after. Along the way, Wharton also reminds viewers that Carter’s was perhaps the last — if not the only — successful grassroots campaign for president, and how grace and humanity can be used to wield the office’s power. Carter was a history-making politician in part because he was a 28

BRUCE STEELE bcsteele@gmail.com

SEPT. 9-15, 2020

Southerner who spoke out for racial justice and stood up to white supremacists, and his musical connections reflected his egalitarian convictions. What’s evident throughout the film is that people dearly love this man for his innate goodness and that his humility is backed by a toughness and determination that his demeanor disguises. There hasn’t been a lot of joy associated with the White House for some time, so it’s quite moving to see so many purely celebratory, politics-free moments unfold as part of one man’s presidency. This is also a music documentary, of course, so expect fine clips of performances from Dylan, Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers, Charlie Daniels, Dizzy Gillespie, Loretta Lynn, Paul Simon and many others — plus an uninterrupted verse from Aretha Franklin, whom one dare not reduce to snippets. REVIEWED BY BRUCE STEELE BCSTEELE@GMAIL.COM

Critical Thinking HHHH

DIRECTOR: John Leguizamo PLAYERS: John Leguizamo, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Kenneth Williams FACT-BASED DRAMA NOT RATED

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Michelle Keenan

Cameron Allison

John Leguizamo makes his feature film directorial debut with Critical Thinking, a classroom drama based on the true 1998-set story of the first inner city high school chess team to win the National Chess Championship. At the outset, the film may seem like just another clichéd offering in this well-trodden genre, but to dismiss or underestimate it on that basis would be a mistake. Critical Thinking does for this thematic staple what Stand and Deliver and Lean on Me did for it in the late 1980s. Although taking place more than 20 years ago, the film has a contemporary sensibility and brings realistic dimensions to its primary characters, making their victories even more meaningful for current audiences. The script by Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints) is solid, and Leguizamo, who not only directs and produces but also stars as the unconventional teacher and champion for these kids, is perfect at the helm. He has the cred and the charisma to inspire his young cast and viewers alike, the technical and aesthetic sensibility to choreograph chess tournaments with energy to spare, plus a heart-centered spirit that makes the entire film accessible and uplifting. Leguizamo wisely dials back his own performance while extracting powerful turns from his relatively unknown ensemble players, each of whom brings distinct elements to the group. Of particular note are Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (Love, Simon) and Corwin Tuggles. If Hollywood has any smarts, we’ll hopefully see more from all of them. The film suffers from some minor pacing issues and a couple of underdeveloped subcharacters, but these are minor infractions. There’s no way Montiel and Leguizamo could avoid all the trappings of a classic underdog story, but they manage to avoid cloying and manipulative choices while still leaving audiences cheering. Made two years ago, it’s unfortunate that Critical Thinking didn’t get a theatrical release, but its timing on the home-viewing front couldn’t be better. With the challenges facing our nation, a true story with this much heart can do a country good. You don’t have to be a chess player to know Critical Thinking makes all the right moves.

Meeting the Beatles in India HHS

REVIEWED BY MICHELLE KEENAN REELTAKES@HOTMAIL.COM

REVIEWED BY BRUCE STEELE BCSTEELE@GMAIL.COM

DIRECTOR: Paul Saltzman PLAYERS: David Lynch, Pattie Boyd DOCUMENTARY NOT RATED Who wouldn’t like Morgan Freeman to narrate their home movies? All you need to make that happen is a wealth of photographs taken during the week you spent hanging out with the Beatles in India during their historic two-month stay with Transcendental Meditation guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. “Home movies” is a misnomer, since TV producer and documentary filmmaker Paul Saltzman (Prom Night in Mississippi) didn’t have any film footage of his 1968 encounter. Instead, he commissioned drawings and sketchlike animations of his memories, doing his best to stretch a few dozen images and seven days of memories into a fulllength documentary. It is a great story, like something out of Zelig: Saltzman, then in his 20s, manages to get himself to India, in search of inner peace, and winds up at the gate of the maharishi, asking for TM lessons. He’s told the ashram is closed because the Beatles are inside, so he sleeps in a tent outside the gate for eight days, waiting. And, finally, they let him inside. The Beatles — along with Mia Farrow, Mike Love and others in their party — quickly befriend Saltzman, and they spend a week meditating and hanging out and having retrospectively profound talks, all meticulously reconstructed by Saltzman. He interviews himself, his daughter, Beatles experts and — inexplicably — meditation fan David Lynch (yes, that one), but only the narrative about the Beatles encounter has any real weight to it. Watching Saltzman sort through his mildewed Beatles LPs is less captivating. If you love the Beatles or Transcendental Meditation, this is a must-see movie, although it has no real global insights into either subject. And if you really love the Beatles and TM, Saltzman also has a limited-edition book of his story and his photographs available in $325 and $875 editions. Have at it.

The Mole Agent HHHH DIRECTOR: Maite Alberdi PLAYERS: Sergio Chamy DOCUMENTARY NOT RATED The Mole Agent is an emotionally complex film, certain to charm viewers with its cute characters while also devastating them with its honest depictions of the realities of growing old. The documentary follows 83-year-old Sergio Chamy, a man hired by a private investigator to be a spy in a Chilean nursing home and uncover alleged mistreatment of its residents. He’s a kind and earnest person with a loving family and caring spirit. Watching him work to find a wrong that needs to be righted — while making friends with the residents in the process — is consistently rewarding. As The Mole Agent progresses, it becomes apparent just how fortunate Sergio is to have a strong support system, as well as a sound mind and conscience to be an effective spy. His fellow residents yearn for what he has — and he never takes his good fortune for granted. With few visitors, the residents keep their spirits high with parties, poetry and phone calls, but even with the community that they’ve built together, there’s still a hard, crushing loneliness that affects them all — and these moments in the film can be painfully difficult to watch. But witnessing them in this sad condition is crucial to the full effect of director Maite Alberdi’s message that the elderly should not be forgotten or neglected — a theme that works nicely in tandem with the steady warmth derived from Sergio interacting with his fellow residents. To her credit, Alberdi keeps her focus on their inspiring strength and perseverance, even when it seems like they may not have much left to live for. REVIEWED BY CAMERON ALLISON CAMERONRTALLISON@GMAIL.COM

Mulan HHHH DIRECTOR: Niki Caro PLAYERS: Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen ACTION/ADVENTURE RATED PG-13 The Maleficent films have proved that quality live-action adaptations of Disney animated classics are indeed possible in the special effects era — if the perspective is shifted to the villain. Mulan at last shows that good faithful versions are likewise attainable. It’s the first Disney reheat not tragically reliant on creepy enchanted objects (Beauty and the Beast); Will Smith auditioning for Blue Man Group (Aladdin); atrocious child actors (Dumbo); or talking animals giving emotions their CGI faces

can’t pull off (The Jungle Book and The Lion King). And it doesn’t play things safe to the point of being forgettable (Cinderella). The tale of Mulan (Liu Yifei, The Forbidden Kingdom) disguising herself as a boy to join the Chinese army in lieu of her hobbled older father Zhou (Tzi Ma, The Farewell) receives a decidedly feminist sheen under the guidance of New Zealand director Niki Caro (Whale Rider), working from a script where three of the four writers are women. Appealing from the start thanks to her nonconformist ways and martial arts dexterity, our badass hero and her skills as a warrior are at the forefront early and often. Wisely embracing the story’s core elements that translate well to live action, the filmmakers allow the human performances to shine, utilizing stunning exterior locations, grand battles and expertly staged fight sequences, turning to CGI only for tasteful embellishments rather than relying on them.

AVAILABLE VIA FINEARTSTHEATRE.COM (FA) GRAILMOVIEHOUSE.COM (GM) At the Video Store (NR) HHHHS (GM) Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint (NR) HHHS (FA) Coup 53 (NR) HHHHH (GM) Creem: America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine (NR) HHHH (GM) Critical Thinking (NR) HHHH (GM) Desert One (NR) HHHH (FA, GM) Driven to Abstraction (PG) HHS(FA) Epicentro (NR) HHHH (GM) F11 and Be There (NR) HHHH (FA) Fantastic Fungi (NR) HHHH (FA) The Fight (PG-13) HHHH (GM) Flannery (NR) HHHH (FA) Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind (NR) HHHS (GM) Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful (NR) HHH (FA) I, Claude Monet (NR) HH (FA) I Used to Go Here (NR) HHHHS (GM) Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President (NR) HHHHH (FA, GM) (Pick of the Week) John Lewis: Good Trouble (PG) HHHH (FA) Made in Bangladesh (NR) HS(GM) Meeting the Beatles in India (NR) HHS (FA) The Mole Agent (NR) HHHH (GM) Mr. Soul! (NR) HHHHS (GM) My Dog Stupid (NR) HHHH (FA) Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin (NR) HHHH (GM) Out Stealing Horses (NR) HHHHS (FA, GM) Papicha (NR) HHH (FA) Proud (NR) HHH (FA) Rebuilding Paradise (PG-13) HHHS (GM) Represent (NR) HHH (GM) River City Drumbeat (NR) HHHHS (GM) Someone, Somewhere (NR) HHHH (FA) Starting at Zero (NR) H (FA) The Surrogate (NR) HHHHS (FA) The Tobacconist (NR) HHHS (FA) Vinyl Nation (NR) HHHS (GM) You Never Had It: An Evening with Bukowski (NR) HHHS (FA)

For example, the animated film’s comic-relief talking dragon Mushu is absent (lesser artists likely would have cast Kevin Hart in place of Eddie Murphy) and nobody bursts into song, though the handful of subtle instrumental reworkings of the lyrical numbers from the original movie are a nice touch. In turn, the performances by Yifei and Ma are allowed to more fully shine and receive ample support from a Who’s Who of talented Asian supporting players, including Donnie Yen (Ip Man) as Mulan’s leader, Commander Tung; Gong Li (Curse of the Golden Flower) as shape-shifting witch Xianniang; Jason Scott Lee (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story) as the usurper Böri Khan; and a nearly unrecognizable Jet Li as the cool-as-ice Emperor. But as well as these elements work together, there remains a disappointing sense of predictability and repetitiveness to the proceedings. No matter how beautiful it looks or thrilling its action sequences are, Mulan is still a standard Disney story that’s already been told — though considering the low bar set by its remake predecessors, it’s nevertheless an encouraging step in the right direction. Available to own via Disney+ REVIEWED BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN EARNAUDIN@MOUNTAINX.COM

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FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): “It’s not that some people have willpower and some don’t,” observes author James S. Gordon. “Rather, it’s that some people are ready to change and others are not.” Lucky for you, Aries! Your willpower is even more potent than usual right now, and your willingness to change is growing stronger. And so very soon now, I expect you will reach the threshold that enables you to act crisply and forcefully. You will become so convinced that it’s wise to instigate transformation that you will just naturally instigate transformation. Adjust, adapt, improvise, improve! TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi is an expert on the mental state known as being in the flow. He defines it as what happens when you’re completely absorbed in what you are doing: “immersed in a feeling of energized focus” with “full involvement and enjoyment in the process of the activity.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, you are extra likely to enjoy such graceful interludes in the coming weeks. But I hope you will be discerning about how you use them. I mean, you could get into a flow playing video games or doing sudoku puzzles. But God and Life and I would prefer it if you’ll devote those times to working on a sublime labor of love or a highly worthy quest. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): According to researcher Rosalind Cartwright, “Memory is never a precise duplicate of the original. It is a continuing act of creation.” Neurologist Oliver Sacks agrees, telling us, “Memories are not fixed or frozen, but are transformed, disassembled, reassembled and recategorized with every act of recollection.” Reams of additional evidence also suggest that our experience of the past is always being transformed. In accordance with astrological potentials, I invite you to take advantage of this truth. Re-imagine your life story so it has more positive spins. Reenvision the plot threads so that redemption and rebirth are major features. Engage in a playful reworking of your memories so that the epic myth of your destiny serves your future happiness and success. CANCER (June 21-July 22): All of us are susceptible to fooling ourselves and lying to ourselves. And all of us are susceptible to the cowardice that such self-sabotage generates. But the good news is that you Cancerians will have an expansive capacity to dissolve and rise above self-deception in the coming weeks — and will therefore be able to call on a great deal of courage. As Cancerian author and Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön says, “The essence of bravery is being without self-deception.” LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): If you like, I will give you the waning crescent moon and the dawn breeze. Do you want them? How about sudden bursts of joy for no apparent reasons and a warm greeting from a person you thought had a problem with you? Would you be interested in having those experiences? And what about an unexpected insight into how to improve your financial situation and a message from the future about how to acquire more stability and security? Are those blessings you might enjoy? Everything I just named will be possible in the coming weeks — especially if you formulate a desire to receive them and ask life to provide them. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo poet Mary Oliver was renowned for giving herself permission. Permission to do what? To become a different person from the self she had been. To shed her familiar beliefs and adopt new ones. To treat every experience as an opportunity to experiment. To be at peace with uncertainty. I think you’ll be wise to give yourself all those permissions in the coming weeks — as well as others that would enhance your freedom to be and do whatever you want to be and do. Here’s another favorite Mary Oliver permission that I hope you’ll offer yourself: “And I say to my heart: rave on.”

SEPT. 9-15, 2020

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “The more unintelligent people are, the less mysterious existence seems to them,” wrote philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. I agree with that idea, as well as the converse: The more intelligent people are, the more mysterious existence seems to them. Since I expect you to be at the peak of your soulful intelligence in the coming weeks, I am quite sure that life will be exquisitely mysterious to you. It’s true that some of its enigmatic qualities may be murky and frustrating, but I suspect that many of them will be magical and delightful. If you ever wanted your life to resemble a poetic art film, you’re going to get your wish. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Comedian and actor Aubrey Plaza bragged about the deal she made. “I sold my soul to the devil,” she said. “I’d like to thank the devil.” Plaza is quite popular and successful, so who knows? Maybe the Prince of Darkness did indeed give her a boost. But I really hope you don’t regard her as a role model in the coming weeks — not even in jest. What worked for Plaza won’t work for you. Diabolical influences that may seem tempting will not, in the long run, serve your interests — and may even sabotage them. Besides, more benevolent forces will be available to you and at a better price. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Many of you Sagittarians specialize in generous breakthroughs and invigorating leaps of truth. Often, you make them look easy and natural — so much so that people may not realize how talented you are in generating them. I hope you adjust for that by giving yourself the proper acknowledgment and credit. If this phenomenon shows up in the coming weeks — and I suspect it might — please take strenuous measures to ensure that you register the fullness of your own accomplishments. To do so will be crucial in enabling those accomplishments to ripen to their highest potential. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel wrote, “When you die and go to heaven, our maker is not going to ask, ’why didn’t you discover the cure for such and such? why didn’t you become the Messiah?’ The only question we will be asked in that precious moment is ’why didn’t you become you?’” I hope that serves as a stimulating challenge for you, Capricorn. The fact is that you are in an extended phase when it’s easier than usual to summon the audacity and ingenuity necessary to become more fully yourself than you have ever been before. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Years ago, comedian Lenny Bruce observed, “Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.” His statement is even truer today than it was then. Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank, has gathered the concrete evidence. Church attendance was way down even before the pandemic struck. Now it’s even lower. What does this have to do with you? In my astrological opinion, the coming months will be prime time for you to build your intimate and unique relationship with God rather than with institutions that have formulaic notions about who and what God is. A similar principle will be active in other ways, as well. You’ll thrive by drawing energy from actual sources and firsthand experiences rather than from systems and ideologies that supposedly represent those sources and experiences. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Psychologist Carl Jung wrote, “The function of dreams is to restore our psychological balance by producing dream material that reestablishes the total psychic equilibrium.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, you especially need this kind of action right now. To expedite your healing process, meditate on what aspects of your life might have become too extreme or one-sided. Where could you apply compensatory energy to establish better equipoise? What top-heavy or lopsided or wobbly situations could benefit from bold, imaginative strokes of counterbalance?

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T H E NEW Y O R K T IM E S C R O S S W O R D P UZ Z L E 1

20 23 26

39 41 43 46 50

19 This, in Spanish 20 Canine’s coat 15 16 21 High-occupancy vehicle? 19 23 Family nickname 25 Some flock 21 22 members 26 <<< button: Abbr. 24 25 30 Have a problem with 30 31 32 33 34 32 Suffix with well and 37 38 good 35 2002 basketball 40 movie starring Lil’ Bow Wow 42 37 Last word of a famous F.D.R. 44 45 quote 39 Breakfast order 47 48 49 suggested by the answers to the 53 54 55 56 57 58 starred clues 41 Puts through beta 60 61 testing 42 Largest moon in 63 64 the solar system 43 Tickle Me Elmo 66 67 toymaker 44 “Bummer!” 45 Word after nothing, 10 Story of a lifetime, 16 Hundred Acre something and in brief Wood resident anything 14 Man with a spare 17 *Wicked Witch’s 46 “By yesterday!” rib? trap for Dorothy in 15 Convicted criminal “The Wizard of Oz” 48 Sphere 5

59 62 65

ACROSS 1 Deep-sea catch 5 Provide an address

edited by Will Shortz

No. 0805 50 Box-office winner 54 Big draw for Icelandic tourism 59 Rolling rock? 60 *Colorful architectural features of Moscow’s St. Basil Cathedral 62 Pop sensation 63 The Rosetta Stone, e.g. 64 Like a shrinking violet 65 Bit of progress, metaphorically 66 She won Album of the Year honors in 2012 and 2017 67 Elusive parts of rainbows

DOWN 1 Marathon finish line 2 Type of wheat noodle 3 Major oenotourism destination 4 Switch on a clock radio 5 Like Area 51 6 Portuguese king

puzzle by Michael Paleos 7 Guinness of film 8 Rang, as a bell 9 Fund, as a university 10 *Storybook password 11 Variety of pear 12 Leader of Kappa Lambda Mu? 13 Partner of Iron Man and Captain America 18 One of two answers in Twenty Questions 22 Passed 24 Believer in the Five Thieves (lust, wrath, greed, attachment and ego) 26 Stated one’s case 27 Bit of hardware on denim jeans 28 Just barely manage 29 *Bratty girl in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” 31 What might be said in a horse voice? 33 Jason of “How I Met Your Mother”

34 Iditarod conveyances 36 “Goodness me!” 37 Bliss, they say 38 Head for the hills 40 iPod type 44 Weighed in 47 Opposite of luego 49 Future flower 50 Dirtied a baseball uniform, in a way 51 Inducted, as a Mafioso

52 Stream of Shakespeare 53 Draw from a Scrabble bag 55 Foreign city that surrounds a country 56 Foreboding sign 57 Saxophonist’s accessory 58 Names as a price 61 It can be extracted from peanuts and coconuts

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE

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