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2. Climate.
OPINION
And the recent White House Housing Supply Action Plan pushes for “location-efficient, modest den sity that can ... reduce greenhouse gas emissions — particularly when paired with state and local policies that remove barriers to where these kinds of housing can be located.”
That last phrase is key. The barri ers that the White House is referring to are municipal codes, including lot-size minimums and single-fam ily-home requirements, that add up to “exclusionary zoning.” These codes prevent cities from building where homes are needed the most. They privilege the desires of well-todo property owners over the needs of both the climate and the hous ingMountainTrueinsecure. and Asheville for All are just a couple of local orga nizations that already see the con nections between the housing crisis and the climate catastrophe. I hope that Sunrise Asheville and the local Sierra Club, both of whom were mentioned in the above-cited article, will join with them and that the city will join, too, to see their interests and struggles as aligned.
Maggie Ullman Berthiaume is clearly the best candidate for City Council to address the highest pri orities for Asheville citizens.
Maggie Ullman is the best can didate running for City Council to make this happen. Her priorities, listed on her website Maggie4Avl. com, are as follows:
— AndrewAshevillePaul
Maggie has the experience to make these things happen, having worked for six years as the city’s first sustainability officer and hav ing run her own climate-focused consulting service since then.
Let’s elect representatives like Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and Cheri Beasley, who will vote for oppor tunities to help our senior citizens with inflated prescription drug costs, help protect our beautiful mountains, and make wealthy cor
CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON
I was perplexed to hear that Asheville’s Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment is “frustrated” because of City Council’s focus on “equity” and “housing” [“Resilience Road Map: Asheville Prepares Municipal Climate Action Plan,” Aug. 31, Xpress]. The issues facing our city aren’t at odds; they couldn’t be more Buildingcompatible.morehousing — in places where communities, jobs, transit, infrastructure and amenities already exist — is by consensus a key component of the fight against the climate crisis. It means shorten ing and eliminating car trips, which contribute enormously to green house gas emissions.
Chuck Edwards is the Republican candidate to replace the current Republican representative, Madison Cawthorn. As Cawthorn and all of the other North Carolina Republican congressional representatives did, Chuck Edwards probably would have also voted against the Inflation ReductionEdwardsAct.has told us in a cam paign ad that he’s only interested in everything liberals can’t stand. The Inflation Reduction Act is now law, no thanks to the Republicans. This Democratic-sponsored law will lower health care and prescription drug costs, lower energy costs, reduce the federal deficit, help combat climate change and make large corporations pay their share of taxes — things “liberal” Democrats know North Carolina folks want, but Republicans don’t want.
See the connections between housing and climate crises
Send your letters to the editor to letters@mountainx.com.
The national Sierra Club’s 2021 smart growth and urban infill guid ance statement suggests that densi ty in housing can “dramatically cut our climate emissions while creat ing more convenient and equitable neighborhoods” and simultaneously make “housing accessible to all.”
1. Housing.
Berthiaume will address citizens’ priorities
The Green Party’s 2020 platform aims to “promote urban infill with affordable housing, mass transit ... [and] bicycle and walking paths.”
In the Mountain Xpress dated Aug. 31, there is a section titled “Uniquely Asheville,” and in that section, each neighborhood has a list of things that are needed in thatEveryarea. neighborhood ranked “Affordable Housing” as No. 1 or 2. This is clearly a high priority for every neighborhood in Asheville.
3. Core city services.
Clearly, all three of these things are of high importance to Asheville. Maggie has the experience, values and drive to make these things hap pen. Vote for her on Nov. 8!
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change proposed that climate solu tions include “targeted infilling ... [to] achieve compact urban form” and using “density” to promote walking, biking and transit.
Editor’s note: Barrager reports serving as a campaign volunteer for the candidate.
MOUNTAINX.COM SEPT. 14-20, 2022 3
Beach-Ferrara and Beasley will help seniors and more
— Dane AshevilleBarrager
If your child has learning differ ences, needs a calming/nonover stimulating environment, or has
A local Montessori school worth considering
SEPT. 14-20, 2022 MOUNTAINX.COM4
Former Asheville activist John Penley in 2016 sent a letter to the Mountain Xpress The purpose of his letter was to comment on an NPR report concerning Russians preparing for a nuclear strike from the U.S. [avl.mx/bzo]. He wrote that he had called Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer’s office to inquire about our city’s readiness in case of a nuclear strike. Her aide laughed. “I could tell he thought I was nuts,” Penley wrote.
For decades, peacemakers, including Penley, now living in Las Vegas, have put their lives on the line to show there are bet ter ways of solving disagreements — local or global — other than mutually assured destruction. They’ve danced to a different beat, not the drumbeat of war, but one of WNCdiplomacy.peacemakers and those around the world often use non violent civil resistance to get their message to decision-makers, going as far as risking prison and injury to show the importance of diplo macy instead of weapons. Without the resources war-makers have, anti-war activists have to resort to civilMyresistance.journeyto peacemaking start ed on a snowy spring day back in 2008. I drove over the moun tains from Kingsport, Tenn., to join local peacemakers here. To me,
Anti-war activists, like Peacemaker Anne Craig of Asheville, were responsible for get ting the city’s support for this treaty many years ago before Manheimer was mayor. Today, we as a city can’t let up on our pressure to make this ban a reality, meaning getting the U.S. to actually sign the treaty, along with other countries with The Bomb.
ings for Montessori elementary school levels (first-third; fourthsixth grades). One that we do have — Black Mountain Montessori — is well-prepared to have full elemen tary classrooms, along with their Children’s House (ages 3-6 years) and new Stepping Stones class room (2-plus years).
When I contacted the mayor recently, I shared a video (“What if We Nuke a City?” on YouTube ) showing what one nuclear bomb would do to a major city. The mayor sent the following response: “Asheville has already joined many U.S. cities in the call for the U.S.’ support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”
Chandra Gilmore has 20-plus years of experience teaching and accommodating children who are dyslexic, ADHD or autistic. Chandra holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and is Montessori and Orton-Gillingham trained. The OG method is a well-regarded approach to teaching kids with reading dif ficulties. It introduces the idea of breaking reading and spelling down into smaller skills involving letters and sounds, and then building on these skills over time. Chandra can assess and meet children where they are in academics and emotion al maturity with many strategies in her toolbox.
— HannahOldEllisonFort
Celebrating the power of peace in Asheville
— John H. HendersonvilleFisher
It provides a range of learning opportunities for its elementary students, such as field trips and volunteer opportunities, cooking and baking in the fully prepped school kitchen, self-led science and research projects, and individu alized learning for every student. Children learn at their own pace, allowing for the exploration of theirLeadinterests.teacher
special interests they want to more freely explore, contact the school through its website: bmtmont. org. Black Mountain Montessori is located at 101 Carver St., Black Mountain.
porations and individuals protected by Republicans to finally pay their share of taxes.
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My awesome ADHD kid goes to Black Mountain Montessori and needs more friends in their class (first-third grade). We are totally in love with the school and staff and how progressive and warm their environment and com munity are. We are a two-mom household and feel supported and welcome. Very rich environment for our neurodivergent child. It is nonprofit and accepts the N.C. OpportunityBuncombeScholarship.Countyhas few offer
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— Rachael
The theme for Peace Day 2022 is “End Racism. Build Peace.” We hold up those who remind us that there is no peace without justice.
WNC peacemakers will read their own 2022 WNC Declaration of Peace at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, in the Elder and Sage Community Garden on Page Street. Musicians Rhoda Weaver and Caesar Williams will entertain and inspire us with song.
Correction
they were modern-day prophets. I still think that. Since 2003, on every Tuesday, you can see WNC Veterans for Peace challenging res idents to “make peace, not war” at Pack Square. Asheville is truly the place to start and learn from the pros. A few such teachers for peace are on our new honor roll, including Jim Brown, Lew Patrie and Gerry Werhan of Asheville and Ellen Thomas of Tryon.
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “I became convinced that noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation withAshevillegood.” peace activists are guided by MLK and many others who were often threatened and imprisoned for their acts of civil resistance. Their words ring true for all who continue to confront injustice and violence through civilWatchresistance.for more information about the power of peace in the days ahead on social media and chalked peace messages contribut ed by Trinity Episcopal Church’s youths on sidewalks around town. And may WNC activists’ civil resistance lead to a world where no one worries about the bomb ever again.
Editor’s note: A longer version of this letter will appear at mountainx. com.
BeLoved Asheville’s Ponkho Bermejo is our 2022 Peacemaker. Ponkho is a strong activist and Indigenous/Latinx com munity organizer who is brilliant at innovation and is also BeLoved’s media expert.
CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN
Last year, we honored Reject Raytheon Asheville, which grew out of citizens’ anger over the siting of Raytheon’s Pratt & Whitney facil ity on property along the French Broad River.
The cover photo for Part Two of the Best of WNC pullout section in the Sept. 7 issue should have been credited to Andy Hall.
Still, we count this as a victory. The system didn’t want to have the trial, and that in itself is telling. Who knows why? Maybe the district attorney’s office looked at the juris
Or maybe they looked at our prepa rations for a real trial and decided it wasn’t worth it. We believe and it is our opinion that Raytheon has engaged in war profiteering and is guided by an ecocidal business plan. Furthermore, we had four expert wit nesses lined up who were planning to testify that, in their expert views, the company’s actions are illegal under international law. And two of us were also going to take the stand to testify as to the necessity, in fact, the moral imperative, to intervene.
Why didn’t they just immedi ately arrest us and take us away? Apparently, we had chosen to stand in the very spot in the road that was not owned by Biltmore Farms or deeded over to Pratt & Whitney. We were in the National Park Service buffer zone that exists on both sides of the Blue Ridge Parkway. That road into the plant goes under the park way bridge that spans the French Broad River, and we were right in the shadow of that bridge. We had chosen that spot because it was easy to get to unobserved, and it provided a good photo op from above.
diction there. It took them a while to figure it out, with lots of comings and goings and phone calls.
It was this prophetic call that we wanted to bring to the judicial sys tem. While the prosecution would undoubtedly be focused on the immediate question of whether we trespassed, we wanted to defend our selves by saying our violation was trivial compared to Raytheon’s effects on people and the planet. We would flip the script, putting Raytheon on trial. But alas, we didn’t get to do that when our charges were dismissed. An assistant district attorney called and told our attorney by phone on Aug. 23. No reason was given.
meaningful public engagement that resembles democracy.
We planned for the direct action, then we planned for the trial. The first came off great; the second didn’t come off at all. Which was also great — all charges were dismissed. We won,Backtwice.on Earth Day, April 22, eight of us from the Reject Raytheon citi zens coalition had stopped traffic on a dirt construction entrance to the Pratt & Whitney plant, a division of Raytheon Technologies. We were mostly elders, ages 65 or older. The plan was to shut down the steam rolling operation getting the new military-industrial factory up and running, if only momentarily and symbolically. But we ended up block ing the way for two whole hours! It was a moment to savor.
We had done our nonviolent direct-action preparation, and it was a good thing because quickly confront ing us were some mighty irritated truckers, private security officers and management types from Biltmore Farms and Pratt & Whitney. Mostly, we just stood silently with our banner and signs through it all.
MAKING A NECESSITY DEFENSE
dictional issue and decided it was too messy to deal with.
SEPT. 14-20, 2022 MOUNTAINX.COM6
We had gone into this action agree ing, as many activists do, to see this through to a trial. The point was to extend the action as much as possible in order to shed more light on the issue through the added publicity of a trial. In the trial, we would plead not guilty on the grounds of what is called a necessity defense. This defense argues that, when faced with a greater evil, people have a responsibility to take action, even if that action violates some lesser law. It’s like breaking into a neighbor’s burning house to save the people inside. Indeed, with wars and fossil fuels burning up people and planet, this is exactly how we felt. The Pratt & Whitney plant would be one more profit-making enterprise pushing us all over an existential cliff.
Whatever the case, we may not have gotten all we wanted in this action, but we do feel successful. As planned, we bore witness and raised awareness about Raytheon, a com pany that racks up huge profits from selling weapons of war. And walked awayNiceunscathed.winthis time. It’s almost enough to want to do it again.
In particular, we planned to explain the twofold greater evil of this Pratt & Whitney plant to a judge and jury: (1) Likely half of the engine compo nents produced at this plant will go into fighter jets used in illegal and immoral U.S.-supported wars; (2) All of the engine components produced will contribute greatly to the climate emergency we are facing, despite company claims that these engines will be more energy-efficient.
Direct action
BEARING WITNESS
Ken Jones is a retired professor of education living in Swannanoa.
KEN JONES
None of the authorities converging on us seemed to know who had juris
Earth Day 8 walk away with a win
X OPINION
We were prepared to mount such a necessity defense. We sincerely felt that we had no other recourse than to commit this act of civil resistance because of the secrecy and complicity of elected officials and the business community in making this deal. It was a done deal before we ever knew it was happening. The system is cor rupt; there is no process for any
HOPING FOR A TRIAL
Our friends, 20-30 of them, were accompanying us from the bridge above, waving, taking pictures and singing. It felt like being in an extend ed, slow-motion timeout in a field contest of David vs. Goliath. It got hot out there in the sun, but we couldn’t have been more delighted to be left standing there, surrounded by the stalled forces of a land baron, war corporation and associated security and police groups.
Or maybe Jack Cecil and Biltmore Farms didn’t want the bad publicity for its ongoing plan to replace another 1,000 acres of trees with what we con clude will be an aerospace industrial park. As we know, Pratt & Whitney is just the start, the anchor for further development devoted to military-in dustrial businesses. The Chamber of Commerce and Buncombe County commissioners are pushing this agen da, too, so there is a lot of power invested in keeping the news positive, all about jobs and such.
The messaging on our signs, ban ner and even our shirts was to stop the war industry and to build wind turbines, not war machines. This was in sync with that of a national movement led by the War Industry Resisters Network to convert the war economy through a peaceful, just and green transition.
And so we hung around with the friendly sheriff’s deputies, while three of them wrote out our tickets. It was a little surreal, this all being treated so lightly, as if it were a scene out of the movie Alice’s Restaurant. Soon, we happily walked away, escorted by the captain, through some pretty sullen truck drivers, to the welcoming arms and water of our friends and supporters up on the bridge.
Eventually, the National Park Service asked the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department to take charge, or so we were told later. A Buncombe County sheriff’s captain arrived and very politely offered the eight of us options: We could each just walk away with no charge; walk away with a citation for criminal trespass; or get cuffed and go to jail and get the same charge. We decided to take the citation, not the free pass, because we hoped to get a trial. We were pre pared to go to jail, but when offered the option, we thought, nah, we don’t need that kind of abuse.
BY KEN JONES
Or maybe we just got a “lucky” draw of the cards in an overcrowded and under-resourced court system.
MOUNTAINX.COM SEPT. 14-20, 2022 7
jwakeman@mountainx.com
14-YEAR-OLD FEMALE SHOT
time is already filled with jitters about classes and
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When asked over email who decides when and how to notify parents about lockdowns, Huffman responded Sept. 7, “ACS district and school admin istration works with the Asheville Police Department on a case-by-case basis. We work as a team to make sure families are informed.”
Ray says her daughter, a sixth grad er at AMS, “believed the lockdown to be related to bears and so was not particularly alarmed.” (All candidates for the ACS Board of Education were given the opportunity by Xpress to comment via email for this article.)
Nearby shooting causes perimeter lockdowns at three ACS schools
and APD released information updates throughout the day Sept. 1. An APD media release sent at 8:58 a.m. stated officers were dispatched to Erskine Avenue at 8:01 a.m. after a juvenile was shot. “The victim has been transported to Mission Hospital with serious inju ries, but in stable condition,” it read. “Nearby schools are in lockdown as a precaution.”ACSliftedthe perimeter lockdown at 9:45 a.m., according to an email sent at 10:03 to parents by April Dockery, executive director of oper ations for ACS. That email explained the procedure of a perimeter lock down and said, “Our lockdown plan worked exactly as anticipated.”
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Some parents say ACS did a great job notifying parents during the
NEWS
POLICE PRESENCE
“The high school campus has been placed on a perimeter lock down,” an email sent at 8:18 a.m. from ACS public information officer Dillon Huffman said. “That means no one is allowed inside or out of the building. This is a precaution due to an incident that has happened in the community.” (A perimeter lock down also was placed at Asheville MiddleBack-to-schoolSchool.)
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Some thought there was a bear on campus. Others heard there had been a shooting at a bus stop. Some said as many as four people were injured.
Amy Ray, a candidate for the ACS Board of Education, says bears have caused perimeter lockdowns in the past at her daughter’s schools. A perimeter lockdown does not allow anyone to enter or exit a building, but they can move through the build ing; during a full lockdown, students remain in their classrooms.
Another rumor alleged the shoot ing occurred at a bus stop, although whether it belonged to the Asheville Rides Transit city bus system or ACS Transportation Department wasBothunclear.ACS
“There was an isolated incident that occurred near our campus. Please know that there is a lot of misin formation around this incident. We can confirm that the victim is in stableACScondition.”sentanother email to parents at 4:16 p.m. that day, reiterating the victim was in stable condition, and stating, “This incident DID NOT hap pen on ANY Asheville City Schools campus or at a bus stop.”
As happens during any breaking news incident, people exchanged information via phone calls, texts and social media. Much of the initial infor mation about the shooting shared between students and parents would turn out to be rumors.
homework. But the continual threat of school violence after the murder of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24 has compelled schools across the country to tighten safe ty Theprecautions.Asheville Police Department, Buncombe County’s Sheriff’s Office, ACS and Buncombe County Schools are upgrading security features in the schools. Nevertheless, parents of children who attend AHS, SILSA and AMS tell Xpress the experience of a perimeter lockdown Sept. 1 was rattling, and assessment of that response was mixed.
On Sept. 2, APD issued a media release that explained the incident “appears to be an accidental shoot ing.” (APD spokesperson Bill Davis declined to elaborate, citing the need for further investigation.) The release continued, “Further investigation revealed the juvenile was shot inside of a residence in the Erskine area. The juvenile, a 14-year-old female, was treated and released from Mission Hospital.”
Sept. 1 was the fourth day of school for the Asheville City Schools district, but before classes began that morn ing, an email from ACS announced a perimeter lockdown at Asheville High School and the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville.
SEPT. 14-20, 2022 MOUNTAINX.COM8
Dockery’s email said ACS would work with the Asheville Police Department to investigate the inci dent. “We will keep you informed as we are able,” Dockery wrote.
Seed
office Aug. 1 about how to make decisions if a school has an active shooter. Photo by Jessica Wakeman
BY JESSICA WAKEMAN
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— Vicki Catalano, mother of a 14-year-old freshman at SILSA
“We have to trust that we’ve got professionals in our schools that are taking care of our children,” sheParentadded.
Amy Hurlston and her husband received emails about the shooting, she immediately texted her 14-year-old daughter, a freshman at SILSA. Her daughter shared what she had heard about the shooting. “I got all of that information from my daughter, not from any email I got from school,” she says.
Pepi Acebo, who is running for the ACS board, tells Xpress he saw AHS Principal Edwards and several APD police officers in front of the school when he dropped off his child around 8:20 a.m. “They had things under control [as] they received kids during the perimeter lockdown,” he recalls. Acebo hadn’t seen the first email from ACS when he dropped off his child and thought the police presence was unusual.
APD remained at AHS/SILSA and AMS Sept. 1 after the lockdown was lifted, spokesperson Davis says. ACS has not requested additional police presence at any school since the inci dent, Huffman adds.
“Even though I would have rather have gotten a robocall to let me know what was going on earlier, I think that the school system handled things well,” Acebo says. “And we did have good information get out to parents by 10 [a.m.].” Overall, he says he thought ACS “did a good job.”
“Two hours — we were freaking out for two hours.”
Hurlston’s daughter had arrived at SILSA that morning and saw ambu lances in the school’s neighborhood. On campus, “there were police offi cers telling us to go straight to class,” her daughter told Hurlston.
Catalano also feels frustration that there wasn’t communication from ACS to parents between the first email at 8:18 a.m. and the second email and robocall after 10 a.m. “Two hours — we were freaking out for two hours,” she says. Like some other parents interviewed by Xpress, she describes refreshing the webpage for WLOS, a local TV news station, look ing for any additional details.
Vicki Catalano , a marketing associate at Xpress and mother of a 14-year-old freshman at SILSA, felt frustrated that ACS sent its first email during a time many working par ents are midcommute. As a result, “I heard about it from my daughter in a locked classroom,” she says. Catalano tells Xpress she wishes the first notifi cation about the perimeter lockdown had been a robocall, which would have reached her more directly than an email. (Parents received a robocall from ACS after 10 a.m. when, simul taneously, spokesperson Dockery sent a second email to parents.)
‘“I will not be reaching out to him because his priority right now is 1,600 students in his school building,” she said. “I would not want a school administrator to take their eyes off the safety of our children” to commu nicate with parents.
“I understand that they don’t want to cause pandemonium and mass hysteria,” Hurlston says of ACS. But she says she wishes the early morn ing notification from the district had stressed the shooting “happened in the surrounding neighborhood and … that it wasn’t on campus.” (The ini tial email referred to “an incident that has happened in the community.”)
perimeter lockdown. Other parents expressed confusion and frustration with the timeliness of the commu nications and felt police presence at the three schools on lockdown was jarring, despite it being a safe ty Whenmeasure.
However, police presence at schools is not necessarily unusual. Both AHS/SILSA and AMS have one school resource officer, which is an APD officer working in the school system. And in a Sept. 7 email to Xpress, Huffman said APD was assist ing AHS/SILSA during the first week of school with morning drop-offs.
Rebecca Strimer, another candi date for the ACS board, has daugh ters in sixth and eighth grades at AMS. When notified about the perim eter lockdown, Strimer says she tried not to “jump to any conclusions. … It’s already scary enough.”
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Another AHS parent, Amanda Edwards, is vice chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and wife of Derek Edwards, the principal of AHS. Speaking with Xpress on Sept. 1, Amanda Edwards said she hadn’t contacted her spouse.
Strimer says there’s no correct answer for “how much is the right amount of information [to provide] in the moment. There’s no threading thatSheneedle.”adds, “I think that very often there’s information people are yearn ing for and it’s just not available. And it’s hard — it’s really hard to sit in that discomfort.” X
CONTACTING PARENTS
SEPT. 14-20, 2022 MOUNTAINX.COM10
Printing money
NEWS
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BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN
When you donate money to a polit ical campaign, where do your dollars actually go?
How local candidates put donations to use
Citing Re:Power, a progressive training organization founded by the family of former Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone, Lee says the average campaign mailer gets about three seconds of attention from a
When candidates contact Thurston, he asks what they’re running for and what political affiliations they want to target. Based on their answers, he generates a list of everyone meeting that description who voted in the
PAPER CHASE: Asheville City Council candidate Allison Scott, right, works the campaign trail with Sandra Patterson. Printed materials like the one Pat terson holds have made up the bulk of Scott’s campaign spending to date.
“I believe in [mailers] and I’ve seen it be effective enough that I think it’s worth it,” Thurston says. “Especially in a primary, postcards may be a better use of your money than in a general election, where it’s worth more to put money into TV [adver tisements]. Because with postcards, you can target the people who vote regularly in primaries.”
May primary, plus people who didn’t vote in the primary but cast ballots in at least two of the last three gen eral
When former Asheville City Council candidate Rich Lee has had enough campaign funds to afford it, he’s hired Thurston. Other times, he’s created lists and sent mail ers“Byhimself.far, they were my biggest expenses every time, the thing you’re saving up months for,” Lee says.
Photo courtesy of Scott
“Mail is going to reach more people than you’re going to be able to reach by phone or in person or online. But you’re going to pay for it.”
“That’llelections.be everybody who’s got about an 80% or greater likelihood of voting,” Thurston says. Then comes design work, printing, postage and addressing. Average costs for most campaigns come to about 50 cents per postcard, Thurston says, with a minimum order of 5,000.
For local candidates, the answer for the bulk of donations is almost unanimous: mailers. And for the past 20-plus years, many individu als running for office have turned to Ernie Thurston, owner of the Asheville-based Meda Corp., to get the job done.
earnaudin@mountainx.com
“I know advertising and social media presence is critical for suc cessful campaigns,” Sparks says. “I hope my contribution helps get her message out.”
“I really believe in Kim and the way she brings her full self to public office. She’s one of the only public officials who’s responded to every email I’ve sent, and that’s really meaningful to me,” Lustig says. “I really want that kind of leadership, transparency, warmth and humanness.”
“Whenproduces.I’m
City Council candidate Allison Scott used Asheville-based printer Allegra for her mailers. She set a working budget for her campaign and says the actual expenditures are “very close” to what she planned to Herspend.$13,300 estimate included $6,500 for printed advertising and postage, $2,000 for digital advertis ing, $2,000 for software and subscrip tion services, and $1,000 for cam paign staff and professional services. (According to campaign finance reports, Scott’s campaign took in $15,790 though mid-July and had spent $12,265.)
“I don’t give to candidates; I invest in them,” Pearsall says. “I’m not looking for anything out of them other than an exhibition of an informed, diligent, good judgment. That’s all I’m interested in, and that’s the reason I support her.”
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The biggest donor in Asheville’s elections is Fairview-based Mack Pearsall , a businessman and founder of climate science non
DONATION STATION
Butpictures.”even
“The biggest challenge this year has been printing on post-consum er, recycled paper, which has been difficult to source through supply shortages,” Roney says. “It’s import ant to me to extend an authentic invitation that shares my values andThoughcommitment.”shesays that “it shouldn’t be unique that [she’s] requesting recycled paper for printed materi als,” Roney has made doing so a pri ority to help “shift the culture of cam paigning” and raise awareness about its environmental impact to create change in and beyond Asheville. That commitment extends to her other campaign materials, such as signs built from repurposed materials.
profit The Collider. He has donat ed $3,500, the largest contribution by an individual in a Council race yet reported this cycle, to Maggie Ullman Berthiaume’s City Council campaign. (He also gave the same amount to Esther Manheimer’s mayoral reelection campaign.)
“I wouldn’t say any mailer I ever sent persuaded a voter; that’s not the point. The hope is seeing it coupled with an online ad, seeing you at an event, seeing a voter guide, hearing about you from a friend, that all those combine to get you across the line,” Lee says. “But it’s all just incremen tal, fractions of a percent, as far as effectiveness anyway. Then again, in races that come down to a few percent, maybe that’s your margin of victory or defeat.”
writing a check for mailings, I wonder how many are going straight in the trash. It’s so difficult, because I don’t want to do that,” she says. “I try not to be wasteful, but it’s tough with tem porary things like printed material. Unfortunately, that’s how you run a campaign and how our political system is set up to run.”
With political campaigns, there’s not a lot of places for that money to go. It’s either going to go into mail ings or a staff member or someone I hired, like the photographer I paid for
Having long been involved with politics, Pearsall says he “know[s] what it costs to run.” Based on his work with Berthiaume, who served
Lustig doesn’t expect Roney to use her contributions for any partic ular thing. But based on the candi date making her signs “out of scrap wood,” Lustig has complete faith that the funds will be put to good use.
Over in West Asheville, Lara Lustig gave $500 to Roney’s cam paign — more than she’s ever given to any political candidate. Though she’s never before felt moved to give that much money, she happened to have “a little more than expected” and wanted to put it toward a cause that’s important to her.
voter — enough time to register the candidate’s name, read the next larg est line of text and see a picture.
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Among Thurston’s clients this year is Asheville mayoral candidate Kim Roney. According to public records available via the N.C. State Board of Elections, Roney’s cam paign spent $9,956.75 on April 16 for Meda Corp.’s services, which she says came to just over 74% of her campaign’s expenditures for the pri mary. Remaining funds went toward office supplies, food, gas and other incidental expenses.
Scott speaks with everyone who donates to her campaign and says she treats them all equally, regardless of the amount they give. That approach appealed to Asheville resident Sally Sparks, who has given $160 to Scott’s campaign. Sparks says that amount felt like a meaningful sign of support.
with setting a budget and sticking to it, Scott says she experiences “internal angst” about the amount of money it takes to run a successful campaign, as well as the amount of waste it almost certain ly
“I definitely want her to reach as many people as possible with her message and help get the word out,” Lustig says. “I also want her to feel supported by the community and let her know we’re behind her.”
felt confident committing $1,500 to help her start her campaign. After she earned the most votes in the May primary, Berthiaume called Pearsall, requested additional support and received $2,000 more in early June.
CANDID CANDIDATES
“I make it clear to people that if they make a donation, I’ll spend it on my expenses,” Scott says. “The largest expense is mailings, and most people completely understand that.
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Asheville climate justice program makes little impact
GREENNEWS ROUNDUP
The initiative, which kicked off in April 2020 after the city signed a $29,500 contract with Asheville-
• Buncombe County’s Soil and Water Conservation District pre served over 156 acres of county farmland through conservation easements finalized this sum mer. The four properties, spread across Barnardsville, Fairview and Weaverville, include both pasture land and diverse forest ecosystems.
• MountainTrue launched a new website to provide real-time esti mate of E. coli levels in the French Broad River. The site calculates bacterial contamination based on measures of turbidity, which is tied to stormwater runoff, at Asheville’s Pearson Bridge. More information is available at avl.mx/bzi.
“Since [January], efforts have focused on education, building capacity for technical assistance within the organization and iden tifying strategies for implementa tion,” wrote Asheville Sustainability Director Bridget Herring , in response to an Xpress request for comment. “We expect utilization of this resource to increase during the fiscalNewyear.”plans under development support the city’s intent to use the tool more broadly moving forward. A draft framework for Asheville’s Municipal Climate Action Plan, released in late July, flags expand ing and implementing the tool as “high-impact activities” for achiev ing climate and sustainability goals.
• WNC Communities inducted two local leaders into the WNC Agricultural Hall of Fame. Greg Hoyt, a longtime faculty member at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River, was honored for his work on soil conservation and sustainable agriculture. Dennis Niemeyer, a nursery owner and
DOWN BY THE RIVER: Riverside Park and a whitewater wave will be key elements of the $30 million Woodfin Greenway & Blueway project. Graphic courtesy of the town of Woodfin
When former Asheville Chief Sustainability Officer Amber Weaver presented the results of the city’s Climate Justice Initiative in January, City Manager Debra Campbell called it “extremely, extremely important to all that we do.” Yet public records recently obtained by Xpress show that city staffers have made minimal use of the main tool to emerge from that effort.
Woodfin Greenway & Blueway gets $5.9M TDA boost
“The Woodfin Greenway & Blueway will create another river front amenity in northern Buncombe County that lessens impact on other areas and [creates] opportunities for visitor dispersal,” said Vic Isley, Explore Asheville president and CEO, in a press release announcing the grant. “It will also add four river access sites for all types of watercraft forAtresidents.”morethan $8.1 million, the TDA’s overall allocation to the project is its largest yet from the TPDF, which represents the 33% of occupancy tax revenues that state law requires to be spent on capital projects that increase over night visits to Buncombe County. That distinction had previously been held by the city of Asheville’s River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project; the collection of greenway and riverfront projects received roughly $7.1 million.
On Aug. 31, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority board unanimously voted to award $5.9 million from its Tourism Product Development Fund to the Woodfin Greenway & Blueway. The funding represents the final amount needed for the $30 million project, which has been under development sinceThe2011.money will go toward con structing 5 miles of greenway along the French Broad River and Beaverdam Creek, as well as park facilities and a wave feature for white water enthusiasts. Other support for the work has come from Woodfin town bonds, the N.C. Department of Transportation and Buncombe County government appropriations. (The TDA previously granted $2.25 million to the project in 2017.)
Community kudos
• The Polk County Community Foundation pledged $250,000 toward completion of the Saluda Grade Trail. The grant represents the first major gift for the estimat ed $60 million project, which aims to convert 31 miles of inactive rail way into a mixed-use trail between Inman, S.C., and Zirconia.
based Tepeyac Consulting, had culminated in a “Climate Justice Screening Tool.” According to an accompanying guide published by the city Office of Sustainability, the tool should be employed consistently across government operations “to identify, make and explain policy choices that build climate resilience” in minority However,communities.thecityprovided just two documents when asked for all instances the tool had been used since February. Both had been filed by Vaidila Satvika, a mem ber of Asheville’s Planning Design Department, regarding a redesign of Patton Avenue and a housing study.
MOUNTAINX.COM SEPT. 14-20, 2022 13
• The Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway was selected by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to lead red spruce restoration efforts throughout the Southern Appalachians. The nonprofit will raise 50,000 spruce saplings from seed to be planted on public lands throughout the region.
• Young anglers have the chance to show their skills during a kids fishing tournament at Lake Julian Park Saturday, Sept. 17, 8 a.m.noon. Prizes will be awarded in multiple age groups for longest fish, shortest fish and most fish caught, with a grand prize for overall longest fish. More informa
• Tracy Calla has been appointed as the new education director of Bullington Gardens. Formerly the senior manager of school and fam ily programs at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota,
OUTSTANDING IN THEIR FIELD: The flower beds near exit 4A on Interstate 240, maintained by local N.C. Department of Transportation staff, earned the William D. Johnson Daylily Award from the Garden Club of North Carolina. Photo courtesy of NCDOT
tion and registration are available at avl.mx/bzd.
Making moves
• Mountain BizWorks hired Amy Allison as partnership director for its WNC: MADE X MTNS ini tiative. Allison, who most recent ly served as director of the N.C. Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, will help develop the region’s outdoor economy by sup porting rural community leaders and encouraging outdoor-focused businesses to relocate in WNC.
More information is available at avl.mx/bzh.
• The WNC Sierra Club hosts its political committee chair, Ken Brame, for a Zoom program on the fall’s elections Thursday, Oct. 6. Brame will focus on state-level races and their potential impacts on the environment. Registration is available at avl.mx/bzf.
Organically grown hardneck & softneck garlic is now available for pre-order from our online store! Visit twoseedsinapod.com to order your seed garlic & browse our seed catalog for spring planting. Email: contact@twoseedsinapod.com @twoseedsinapod We are a family and farmer-owned small seed company that specializes in the traditional seeds of Turkey. Our seed stock is organically grown by us on our seed restoration, preservation and production farm in Reedsville, WV, and by other small farmers across the U.S.
Save the date
• The Organic Growers School has scheduled its spring conference for Friday-Sunday, Feb. 24-26, at Mars Hill University. The Asheville-based nonprofit is seek ing recommendations for confer ence speakers and topics, with an online feedback form available at avl.mx/bt5.
— Daniel Walton X
farmer, was recognized for his hor ticultural industry advocacy and promotion of native plants.
Fla., Calla replaces John Murphy, who retired after 23 years with the Hendersonville nonprofit.
• Local horticulturalist Greta Dietrich has opened Woodswise Botanicals in Mills River. The nursery focuses on native plants, with particular emphasis on medicinal herbs and pollina tor-supporting species. Hours are Fridays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Wednesday-Thursday by appointment. More information is available at WoodswiseBotanicals. com.
• Local N.C. Department of Transportation staff members earned praise for their decorative plantings on area highways in the 2021 Wildflower Awards, spon sored by the Garden Club of North Carolina. NCDOT Division 13, which covers Buncombe County, was recognized for having the best overall division wildflower pro gram, while the flower beds near exit 4A on Interstate 240 earned the first-place William D. Johnson Daylily Award. I-26 in Henderson County received second place for best regional wildflower planting in the Western Region.
• The Friends of DuPont Forest hosts the DuPont Forest Festival Saturday, Sept. 24, in the for est’s Guion Farm parking area. Activities at the free event include a kids bike clinic, a nature scav enger hunt and guided hikes.
• Conserving Carolina begins a series of five guided hikes at locations throughout WNC Friday, Sept. 30, with a 6-mile trek at Mount Mitchell State Park. Other options include a 6.5-mile loop hike in the Pisgah National Forest Friday, Oct. 14, and an out-andback excursion to Waterrock Knob Friday, Oct. 28. More information and registration is available at avl.mx/9sa.
Both on the streets and in the chambers of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, members of Asheville Food and Beverage United showed up Sept. 6 to advo cate for affordable parking. The group of local food service employ ees held a rally outside the county courthouse prior to making their case before the board during pub lic comment.
“We are hearing from the com munity loud and clear that that’s a need,” said Newman of affordable parking. “We think that there’s some very good ideas coming for ward, but we would really like to hear from those who are directly affected by this before we make final decisions.”
“The commissioners listened to [our] stories, and their willingness to come to the table with a policy proposal so quickly is encourag ing,” the group’s statement read. “It’s proof that when workers in Asheville organize to demand change, people in power have to listen.”
DRIVEN TO PARK: Michael Schlotz, a member of Asheville Food and Bever age United, shares his struggles with parking as a downtown worker during a meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Screen capture courtesy of Buncombe County
Jen Hampton , the campaign’s lead organizer, presented com missioners with a petition signed by over 2,100 people in support of free or low-cost parking for downtown workers. “We’ve been talking to workers about our Fair Deal campaign, which is fighting for living wages, paid sick days and better scheduling practices,” she explained. “And in doing that, talking to workers, we discovered that while those issues are super important, they’re also very upset about the parking issue.”
offering lower rates for parking in the upper and middle levels of the parking deck to both reduce the cost for downtown employees and keep spaces on the lower levels accessible for short-term parking. He advocated for hearing more community input before voting on the rate change.
Four supporters of the petition, including Michael Schlotz , spoke about their personal experiences parking and working downtown. Over the past year, he said, park ing fees have cost his household between 7% and 10% of its gross annual income. Other commenters brought up the time it takes to find parking and safety concerns for those who park outside downtown and walk in to work to avoid fees.
Buncombe considers parking solutions for low-income workers
SEPT. 14-20, 2022 MOUNTAINX.COM14
“If you’re thinking about strat egies for how to increase utiliza tion, one strategy is rightfully to lower the rate. That’s a natural supply-and-demand approach,” Love said. “It makes sense from that standpoint — from a utilization perspective — or if you’re look ing to benefit those that are low in Boardincome.”Chair Brownie Newman , while in favor of reduced-rate park ing, said he would like to explore other options as well. He suggested
similar plan could be extended to additional decks in the future.
In a statement provided to Xpress after the meeting, Asheville Food and Beverage United described the proposal as “an important step in our fight for better parking.” However, the group still has some concerns about the exact amount of the price reduction and what workers would be able to purchase a reduced-price pass.
— Nikki Gensert X
BUNCOMBENEWS BEAT
The passes would be managed by Preferred Parking, the vendor that currently oversees parking garage operations for the county. Employees or employers would be able to purchase monthly pass es through an online application process. Applicants would need to provide proof of downtown employ ment and income and would need to recertify every 12 months. Love said the program could be imple mented as early as the fall.
During a briefing of the board earlier Sept. 6, Tim Love , Buncombe’s director of economic development and governmental relations, presented a recommen dation to address those workers’ concerns. The county may offer reduced monthly parking passes in its Coxe Avenue parking deck, cutting the monthly cost to rent a space in that garage from $85 to $40 for employees who work within about a mile of Pack Square.
The Coxe deck has a total of 664 spaces, 185 of which are currently leased monthly at the $85 rate. Love proposed making 150 additional spaces available at the reduced rate to downtown employees earning less than 80% of the area medi an income ($45,000 per year for a one-person household or $64,250 for a family of four). While the lower rates would only be available at the Coxe deck to start, he said, a
Buncombe currently loses money on the Coxe deck, Love added: The county pays about $1.27 million per year in debt service on the garage but only brings in around $400,000 in revenue. He said the affordable parking program could boost annu al revenue by up to $72,000 due to the increased number of monthly leases available.
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The bulk of the summit consisted of roundtable discussions between AARRC commissioners and groups of about 10 attendees. The groups spent an hour discussing issues affecting water quality, how to best address those challenges and “roadblocks” to creating change.
The high levels of bacteria, com bined with “increased development and impacts of climate change,” are cause for concern, Keller said. She cited data indicating a 27% increase in regional “extreme rainfall” between 1958 and 2016 and a 13% population increase for Asheville and Buncombe County over the past“Ifdecade.wedon’t address some of the challenges and protect our river now, it’s not going to get better,” Keller told the summit.
LEADING CHANGE
STORM’S A BREWIN’
The gathering had been prompt ed by two reports released earlier this year. The first was a study, commissioned by the French Broad River Partnership and led by econ omist Steve Ha of Western Carolina University, that placed an annual value of $3.8 billion on the French Broad. The river, Keller explained, attracts tourists and residents, provides recreation opportunities, hosts endangered species and sup ports more than 35,000 jobs. But its quality and cleanliness can impact each of those benefits.
Riverfront commission hosts special session on water quality
Anne Keller , a mem ber of the Asheville Area Riverfront Redevelopment Commission, set the stage for the River Improvement and Protection Summit held Sept. 8. About 100 people attended the special event — the first of its kind hosted by the AARRC — at New Belgium Brewing Co.
“The [French Broad] River belongs to no one in particular, so it belongs to all of us. We’re all responsible for what’s happening, good or That’sbad.”how
Sloan told the crowd that the board’s Environmental and Energy Stewardship Subcommittee, of which he is a member, will be developing water quality goals by January. He encouraged commu nity members to reach out to their commissioners and share feedback over the coming months.
Mayor Esther Manheimer was also at the meeting, along with Council members Sage Turner and Kim Roney . “I know all of us col lectively are concerned about water quality in our community and in our region,” Manheimer told the audience. “This is going to require a lot of work and collaboration with one another, and the city is excited to continue to collaborate and part ner with all of you to make a lot of these things come true that you’re going to be talking about today.”
BUNCOMBENEWS BEAT
Accordingly, working with “farm ers, forestry and cattle people to improve practices,” led the infor mal poll on how the city can bet ter address water quality issues. Groups also talked about incen tivizing “climate-friendly develop ment” to encourage developers to build more sustainably.
FLOW’S STATE: Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer addresses the River Im provement and Protection Summit at New Belgium Brewing Co. Sept. 8. Pho to by Carmela Caruso
The second report, released by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, added 19 miles of the French Broad from Long Shoals to Craggy Dam to its list of “impaired” waterways. High levels of fecal coliform bacteria, organisms found in the intestines and feces of humans and animals, were detected in the river. Hominy Creek, Cane Creek, Town Branch and much of the Swannanoa were also on the list.
and sustainability of the regional riverfront” and “for effective man agement of the public resources.”
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During the small group Xpress observed , as well as in an infor mal poll of all attendees taken at the end of summit, stormwater management was a key concern.
Heavy rainfall can wash unwanted debris into waterways, and Eric Bradford , director of operations at Asheville GreenWorks, said most of the fecal coliform in the French Broad comes from farmland runoff. “Cattle in bottom properties that cannot be developed, right there next to the river … that’s actually a huge amount that we’re receiving,” he told a small group.
The 14-member AARRC provides recommendations to City Council for “the continued development
“This is the beginning,” Keller said. “This is just the first conver sation to try to get people interested in and aware of some of the chal lenges and needs and start talking about how we can do better.”
— Carmela Caruso X
By convening a diverse group of community members at the sum mit, including small-business own ers, nonprofit leaders, lawyers, real estate agents and Council members, the commission hoped to identify the most pressing issues affecting area waterways and begin to strate gize“Oursolutions.ultimate goal is to galva nize stakeholders so that we can all contribute to making things better through the development of a coor dinated plan,” said AARRC Chair Darren Green .
The AARRC meeting comes at a pivotal time for the region’s longterm policymaking. Buncombe County Commissioner Parker Sloan told summit attendees that the county intends to finish its Comprehensive Plan 2043 by the end of the year. At that point, he said, “I and the rest of my col leagues on the commission will spend all next year thinking about and rewriting and developing and adjusting every zoning and land use regulation that Buncombe County has.”
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“Doincreases.Isupport affordable hous ing? Absolutely. We all do. How we get there is where we’re going to differ,” Penland said. “A typical household right now is going to pay $32 [a year]. … We cannot continue to burden the taxpayers. Thirty-two dollars to some may not be much. But to others, $32 is may be all they got.”
“For me, equity and inclusion has been a lifelong struggle,” Whitesides said, adding, “But I’ve found now that it starts with edu cation. You’ve got to be educated in order to take advantage of a capitalistic society.” Brooke Randle
million, and that’s what it should be taxed
TAXES AND REAPPRAISAL
Other candidates pointed out that the bonds will lay an unneces sary burden on taxpayers who are already grappling with property tax
MAKE YOUR
“When you start talking about equity, you’re already forcing something that is not equitable,” Yelton said. “You’re [already] look ing at the situation and designing specific programs for specific peo ple; that is not equity.”
For Moore and Whitesides, who are Black, equity and inclusion at the county level means fair access to opportunities and resources, particularly when it comes to edu cation and workforce development.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
At a Sept. 9 forum hosted by the Council of Independent Business Owners, all six candidates staked out their positions on a range of issues central to Buncombe County residents.
Candidates were split on the two bond referendums that will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot. The first would authorize the county to raise $30 million for spending on farm land and open-space conservation initiatives, as well as greenways. The second would allow the board to raise $40 million for affordable housing projects. Together, the bonds are projected to increase the median homeowner’s annual taxes by $32 dollars for the next 20 years. Several candidates saw the bonds as worthy long-term com munity investments.
Pressley said, “I don’t think it’s my opinion to approve or disap prove of this bond. My job is to explain to everyone what it really
“I support the affordable hous ing bond referendum,” Edwards said, adding that, “as an inaugural member of the Affordable Housing Subcommittee, I have seen first hand just how dire the situation is in our community for affordable housing. It is dire. And we do need this, on referendum, to address the
“I am a firm believer that we all are created in God’s image and I will treat you as such,” Penland said. “I don’t look at people’s skin color to make a decision. And it should never be that way. If we have programs in place that are doing that, it needs to stop now.”
“We want diverse workforces,” Moore said. “Let’s make sure that people have the skill set they need to be contributing members of the workforce. And then when the time comes, we’ll look at fair access and fair opportunity, making sure that everyone has an equal chance to be hired and considered for the jobs that we have.”
BONDS ON THE BALLOT
means. … We could go up on taxes [immediately] or we could do the bond. Either way, we’re paying for it.”
“It will give us the shot in the arm we need,” Whitesides said, “hopefully, to get affordable hous ing off the ground and to do more to help the citizens of the town.”
Buncombe County has taken specific actions on equity and inclusion over the last several years, including declaring racism a public health and safety crisis in 2020 and passing a nondiscrimina tion ordinance in 2021 that prohib its discrimination in employment, businesses and institutions that are open to the public. Without specifically mentioning those efforts, candidates offered varied views regarding the county’s role in promoting equity and inclusion.
issues of affordability and livability in our community.”
Edwardsat.”said, “One thing that I have supported … will continue to support is affordable homeowners initiatives, where people who do qualify can apply for a grant to help offset the cost of their increased property taxes. It’s a first step and not the only step to helping support local county residents.”
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This year’s election for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will come down to a battle between incumbents and newcomers. In District 2, Democrat and attorney Martin Moore will try to unseat Robert Pressley , the board’s only registered Republican; in District 1, incumbent Democrat Al Whitesides will face Republican and former Commissioner Anthony Penland ; and in District 3, Democrat Amanda Edwards will face conservative activist Don Yelton
“We need to focus on two prima ry populations,” Moore said. First, those who are retiring and, second, “our historic neighborhoods, the folks who have lived here who might have been low income. A lot of historic Black neighborhoods are a good example of that. Let’s put some programs in place that will actually support that, put real money behind it, so we don’t create further evictions and homeless nessPressleyproblems.”focused on keeping assessments accurate. “If we have a house valued at $700,000 but it sells for $1 million. [A]fter it’s sold, it goes back to being taxed on $700,000. Why can we not just raise [taxes on] that house? It sold for a
The candidates were asked to evaluate the county’s property tax appraisal process, which some consider unfair to low income resi dents and communities of color. All of the candidates agreed that the process needs an update but dif fered on how to address the issue.
Buncombe County Commission candidates talk policy, vision at CIBO forum CASE: All six candidates running for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners participated in a forum hosted by the Council of In dependent Business Owners Sept. 9. Photo by Brooke Randle
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MOUNTAINX.COM SEPT. 14-20, 2022 19
WE (9/14), 6pm, The Getaway River Bar, 790 Riverside Dr
Learn and share hula hoop fitness and dance basics.
Reset and ground through the vibrational frequencies of nature and sound healing. SA (9/17), 5pm, Inner Wolf Retreat Space, 2854 Puncheon Fork Rd, Mars Hill
sculptor and composer Guillermo Galindo, using the power of art to explore and humanize the complex issues surrounding the Mex ican-American border through a transforma tive and AshevilleThrougham,experience.multi-sensoryOpen11closedTuesday.Oct.24.ArtMuseum, 2 S Pack Square
A Clear Choice Abstract sculptures by recognizedinternationallymaster glass artist Karsten Oaks, through Sept. 25. Open 10am daily, 12pm on BenderSunday.Gallery, 29 Biltmore Ave Border Cantos | Sonic Border
Let it in, let it out, let it go. Hosted by Karen weekly.
The Way I'm Wired: Artist Reflections on Neurodiversity
TransylvaniaSaturday. Heritage Museum, 189 W Main St, Brevard
FR (9/16), 2pm, Blue Ghost Brewing Compa ny, 125 Underwood Rd, Fletcher
In this year’s exhibition, student researchers tell the stories of the museum’s glass collec tion, which includes a range of artists who have made Dr,Center,WCUthroughinStudiocontributionssignificanttotheGlassMovementWNC.OpenTuesdayFriday,10am.BardoArts199CentennialCullowhee
SA (9/17), 6pm, Fines Creek Center,Community190Fines Creek Rd, Clyde
SA (9/17), 8pm, $25-75, Thomas Wolfe Auditori um, 87 Haywood St
Mountain Legacies: Exploring Appalachian Culture
Drive-thruYiassou!only!LimitedMenu.23-24 SEPTEMBER 14 - 21, 2022 For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, opt. 1. Online-only events More info, pages 32-33 More info, pages 34-35
Monkeypox Vaccination Clinic
Native American artists. Open 10am Tuesday through Friday. WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee
A conscious movement experience in a 100-year old building with a com munity of like-minded women at all life stages.
of Black builders in our state. Through Oct. 10. Closed Sunday and PackMonday.Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St
Pop Up Art Show
WE (9/14), 6pm, Burton Street Center,Community134Burton St
Sound SaturdaysHealing
Featuring oil painter Anne Marie Brown.
SU (9/18), 9:30am, Dunn’s Rock Community Center, 461 Connestee Rd, Brevard
Monday MeditationMorningGroup
ART
A Walk in the Woods
TH (9/22), 11am, Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Local artists, every Thursday.
Goat Yoga SA (9/17), 11am, Whistle Hop Brewing Co., 1288 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview
Safely meet in a large conference room and stay socially distant while wearing masks. RSVP to Will, (412)9130272 or acwein123@
Waves on the Edge: 5Rhythms LGBTQ Sweat Your Prayers Follow the maps created by Gabrielle Roth. First time dancers $10. Hosted by Karen every Saturday.
This exhibit shows how early settlers made their way into the Appala chian Mountains and made them their home, dispelling the myth of an uncultured people and reveal lives rich with customs and traditions, including herbal medi cines, handicrafts, and bluegrass music. Open 12pm Thursday through
Monday Run Club
MUSICCOMMUNITY
We Will Not be Silenced: Standing for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
The opening of the 2022-23 withonment,writtenwithrangeMozartvirtuosostheMontgomeryseason,capturesenergyofyoungwithStarburst,spotlightstheoftheclarinetthefirstconcertofortheinstruandBrahmstakeshisidol,Beethoven,hisfirstsymphony.
Silent meditation to set the mood for the week. Registration required. MO (9/19), 8:15am, Asia House, 119 Coxe Ave
Men's Cancer Support Group
Dance Night in Fines Creek Clogging, line dancing, two step, swing and mountain dancing with traditional country and rock band Running Wolfe and the Renegades. With a cake walk and raffle, with 100% of proceeds going to FCCA in supporting scholarships, community needs, and Manna Foodbank.
We Built This: Profiles of Black Architects and Builders in NC From thetionalmulti-facetedexhibitNorthPreservationCarolina,thisispartofaeducaprogramabouthistoryandlegacy
Blue Ghost Blood Drive
WE (9/14, 21), 5:15pm, Homewood, 19 Zillicoa St
Five guest artists approach the Carolina woodlands through their personal perspectives, revealing Appalachia through a fresh lens, inspired by fall. Open daily 10am, through Oct. Marquee30. Asheville, 36 Foundy St Cultivating Collections: Glass
All ages and levels welcome, including walkers. In partnership with Mountain Running Co.
A series of photographs and sculptures that bring voice to the international Missing and Murdered Indige nous Women (MMIW) movement through the lens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Com anche Nation, Lumbee, and other
FR (9/16), 6pm, Push Skate Shop & Gallery, 25 Patton Ave
The Observers Opening Reception Showcasing art from the Theories of Atlantis camp. Through Oct. 23. A Belgium.providedreception.willstormTheories/PUSH/BraincollaborationskateboarddeckbereleasedattheRefreshmentsbyNew
5Rhythms Sweat Your Prayers
Wild Souls Authentic Movement Class
teacher, and Catholic nun, the artist used her art to bring people together and ignite social change. Open Tuesday through Friday, WCU10am.Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee
WELLNESS
In partnership with 103.3 Asheville FM and its LGBTQIA Talk Show, Sweet Tea, The Getaway and Buncombe County Health and Human Services.
A collaboration between American photographer Richard Misrach and Mexican American
All donors will receive a $20 Blue Ghost gift card. In partnership with The Blood Connection.
Masterworks 1: McGill & Mozart
NCGC Pumpkin Patch Glassblowers will be filling D Space gallery with glass pumpkins in an array of colors, styles and sizes. Purchases support the nonprofit glass center. Open 10am, closed Tuesday. Through Oct. 31. North Carolina Glass Center, 140 Roberts St, Ste B
SA (9/17), 9:30am, Haw Creek Commons, 315 Old Haw Creek Rd
MO (9/19), 6pm, Cataw ba Brewing Biltmore, 63 Brook St
Hula Hooping with Mere
GREEN ACRES: The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project is holding its an nual Farm Tour on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17 and 18, noon-5 p.m., showcasing 19 working farms in four counties in Western North Carolina. The self-guided tour, which costs $35 in advance, includes Canton’s Sustainabillies/Two Trees Farm, pic tured. Photo courtesy of ASAP
When Was the Last Time You Saw a Miracle? Prints by Corita Kent Shaped by experiencesheras an artist,
Full Circle
TH (9/15), 7pm, Alley Cat Social Club, 797 Haywood Rd
gmail.com. WE (9/21), 6pm, Woodfin YMCA, 40 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 101
This exhibition invites artists to share their lived experiences with neurodiversity and how these experiences have impacted their work as an artist. Open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee
Craft Cinema: Phantom Thread
SA (9/17), 7:30pm, Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay St
MEETINGS PROGRAMS&
The class will explain how Medicare works, the enrollment process, how to avoid penalties, and ways to save money. To register, visit coabc.org or call the Council on Aging at (828)277-8288.
Family Discovery Day
SA (9/17), 10am, Ashe ville Farmstead School, 218 Morgan Cove Rd, Candler
MOUNTAINX.COM SEPT. 14-20, 2022 21
casts, where each host is tasked with inviting an artist previously featured on their show to come perform a short piece.
SA (9/17), 11am, $10-40, Center for Con nection + Collaboration
The Hemlock Resto ration Initiative will lead a 3.2 mile educational hike in Pisgah National Forest, where hikers will see several Carolina hemlock bluffs, rock outcrops, and a view of
Author event and history talk with Neal Hutcheson and David Joy. see p35 SU (9/18), 1pm, City Lights Bookstore, 3 E. Jackson St, Sylva
WE (9/14), 10:30am, $25-35, Swannanoa Valley Museum, 223 W State St, Black Mountain WNCHA Hikes with a Historian: Absalom Dillingham Walking Cemetery Tour
Inviting all artists: painters, sculptors, writers, performers and
A screening of the 2017 Paul Thomas Anderson film, set in a 1950’s London. provided.PoppyBrewingcourtesybeveragesComplimentaryandpopcornofBhramariCo.andHandcraftedare
FR (9/16), 10am, Dobson Knob Trailhead, Marion
SA (9/17), 9am, Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave, Tryon Bullington Gardens Fall Plant Sale
The sale features many hard-to-find perennials, shrubs, trees, native plant and dahlias. All proceeds benefit Bullington’s mission to educate and inspire children and adults in horticulture.
RSVP required: callingsavehemlocksnc.orginfo@or(828)252-4783.
Blood Knot
An assortment of plants grown in the Production Greenhouse, as well as 20 local growers and businesses for a parkingLions.musicandhouseplants,perennials,markettailgate-styleofferingannuals,natives,andartscrafts.WithlivefromTheRoaringOutdoorsinthelot.
A dance leader will teach each dancecontra, squares, circles and other formations in the American folk tradition - as a live band plays. All ages welcome, no experience necessary. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
LITERARY
FR (9/16), 7pm, $20-25, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd
This is the Last Dam Run of Likker I'll Ever Make Documentary screening with Emmy award winning filmmaker Neal Hutcheson. see p35 SU (9/18), 6pm, Lazy Hiker Brewing Sylva, 617 W Main St, Sylva
Family Folk Dance
Third Thirsty Thursday: WCC Social Western Coaches'Carolinasmonthly social event. A subchapter of the Charlotte.CoachingInternationalFederation,
TH (9/15), Highland Brewing Co, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy Hemlock Hike to Dobson Knob
A public star gaze in Madison County, weather permitting. Visit avl.mx/c01 for more information. Hosted by the Asheville Astronomy Club.
the North Fork of the Catawba River valley.
September Star Gaze
TH (9/22), 1pm, avl.mx/c05
FR (9/16), 7:35pm, Grassland MarshallGrasslandObservatory,Mountain2890Parkway,
Monthly meeting. Also available via Zoom. Visit avl.mx/bzv MO (9/19), 7pm, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Ave
A guided walking tour of the South (lower) side of the cemetery, which dates back to the 1830s.
A production that explores the com plexities of theatre.poetry,togetherproductiontheatricalThisoftheparticularofexperiencesemotions,andstoriesallpeoplebutinmanywhoareAmericanoffspringtheAfricandiaspora.celebrationandhealingissealedwithmusic,storytellingand see p34 TU (9/20), 5:30pm, East Asheville Library, 3 Avon Rd
This month features some of programsarts-centricAsheville’sradioandpod
more to a casual weekly drop-in gathering to share works in progress and chat about art and what’s happening in your community.
Originally developed as a movement theater technique, Noreen Sullivan has adapted the method to be inclusive for all artists and creatives seeking to expand their craft through modes of
Introduction to Medi care: Understanding the Puzzle
A comedy of manners, "without the manners." Part of The Black Box Series, where the audience and artists share the Leiman Mainstage in a Rock2661FlatVisittimesVarioustheatre-in-the-round.datesandSept.15-Oct.8.avl.mx/bzzRockPlayhouse,Hwy225,Flat
Cry it Out
Explore the 25-acre forest, ninja course, pine play and chicken field.
A litter pick-up on the French Broad River with an after-party in the tap room. Participants will receive a free Bold Rock product. In partnership with RiverLink.
Dogs six months or older must show poof of vaccinations and be spayed/neutered. 21+ SU (9/18), 11am, Wagbar, 320 Merrimon Ave, Weaverville
Swannanoa Valley Museum Walk through History: CemeteryTabernacleSouthSide
Join a Parkway ranger for an evening of odd illnesses and even odder remedies. From turpentine, to axes under the bed, we’ll examine how and why certain traditional med icines developed in the Southern Appalachians. Bring a blanket or chair. Outdoors, permitting.weather
A comedy about two mothers in affluent Long Island, by Molly Smith Metzler. Also Sunday at 2:30 p.m. FR (9/16), SA (9/17), 7:30pm, Attic Salt Theatre, The Mills at Riverside, 2002 Riverside Dr
THEATER & FILM
The story of Henry “Box” Brown, an African American born into slavery in Company,North(9/18)SAtheheartascrueltydemonstrating1816,thattheofslaverywasdevastatingtotheasitcouldbeonbody.FR(9/16)&(9/17),7:30pm,SU2pm,$10-46,CarolinaStage15StageLn
SA (9/17), 9am, Bold Rock Asheville, 39 N Lexington Ave
Plott Hound
Tales — People and Places that Made the Plott Breed Famous, followed by a book signing and BBQ dinner, culminating with acoustic music by Mike Ogletree and friends.
NC Arboretum Fall Plant Sale
SA (9/17), 10am, $1020, Downtown Asheville Michael Checkhov Method
can provide glimpses of social and community history within an area, and can reveal inter esting connections and patterns.
FR (9/16), 12pm, SA (9/17), 10am, NC Arbo retum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
Asheville Storytelling Circle
A play that asks us to dig beneath the surface of what makes us kin and what happens when we don’t like what we find there. Part of The Black Box Series, where the audience and artists share the Leiman Mainstage in a Rock2661Flat9.Sept.Varioustheatre-in-the-round.datesandtimes16throughOct.Visitavl.mx/c00RockPlayhouse,Hwy225,Flat
Dark Poets Society: Poetry Night Monthly permitting.Outdoors,event.weather
One of a four party series that features local cemeteries, which
Walk for Something We Aspire To Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 • Pack Square Park • Asheville NC ALL ARE WELCOME: Families, Businesses, Organizations, Churches, Groups, Friends FREE • Register Today 10:00am to 11:00am (walkers gather at 9:00am) Learn more at blueridgepride.org 11:00am to 7:00pm • 200+ Community Services, Businesses and Artists • Performances by: McKinney, Mar and the Mermaladies, Fancy and the Gentlemen, Convict Julie, Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus, Rocky Horror Music Show, Lo Wolf ... and our famous DRAG Showcase
TH (9/15), 6pm, The Low Down, 204 Black Mountain Ave, Black Mountain
Fridays at the Folk Art Center: It's for What Ails You
National Clean-Up Day
Raising Black: Joy, Pain, Sunshine & Rain
Breed Meet Up: Frenchies
Urban E-bike Tour
Chris MountainTrue'sJoyell, healthy communities director, will share his extensive knowledge about Asheville's urban core, including stories of how redlining has shaped our city and what the future could hold for Asheville. In partnership with Flying Bikes Tours.
WE (9/14), 11am, Big Ivy Community Center, 540 Dillingham Rd, Barnardsville
The PopcornMoonshinerSutton
Trap Trivia Answer questions about trap music. SA (9/17), 6pm, Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd
Blood of Carnage
The Three Musketeers The FRMontfordandcomedy,action/adventure/performedproducedbytheParkPlayers.(9/16)&
SA (9/17), 4pm, Free-$10, Meadowlark Smoky Mountain Heri tage Center, 2878 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley
FR (9/16), SA (9/17), 9am, HendersonvilleRedGardens,Bullington95UpperOakTrail,
Program & Book Signing with Bob Plott The book,GMauthoraward-winningandMSMHCdiscusseshisfifth
SA (9/17), 11am, Arthur R. Edington Education and Career Center, 133 Livingston St
FR (9/16), 7pm, Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Parkway
Faith in Arts: A Con versation with Rodger Kamenetz Award-winning poet, author and teacher, presented in conjunc tion with UNCA.
Artists & Writers Coffee
Project Fresh Start Free resume building and review, free shopping at an on-site professional clothing closets in a gender-in clusive settting, free professional headshots, free print-ready busi ness card template and connections to existing career opportunities in Buncombe County.
AVL Revue: On Air
SU (9/18), 3pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd
Mike Wiley's One Noble Journey
embodiment. Siding scale.
FR (9/16), 6pm, Center for Craft, 67 Broadway
WE (9/14), 2pm, coabc. org
WNCHA Hikes With a Historian: Hot Springs Cemeteries Walking Tour
SA (9/17), HendersonvilleMarket,Hendersonville8am,Farmers650MapleSt,
WE (9/21), 6:30pm, My Home, 17 Old U.S. 19-23, Candler
The oldest Saturday morning market in WNC. Over 60 rotating vendors.
SA (9/17), 10am, Mars Hill University, Mars Hill
Makers Market Each month will feature vendors and artisans selling tradeart,vintagehousewares,clothing,originalhandmadecrafts,fairimports.
TU (9/20), 6pm, $10, avl.mx/c06
All the basics of homemade pasta, from ingredients to kneading and shaping techniques, as she crafts several pasta forms, including tagliatelle, garganelli, farfalle and sorpresine. see p32
FR (9/16), 3pm, 954 Tunnel Rd
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
East Asheville Tailgate Market
SA (9/17), HaywoodFleetwood's,11am,496Rd
TU (9/20), 8:45am, Silvermont Senior Center, 364 E Main St, Brevard
Circling
Fresh produce, meat, sweets, breads, arts, and more, through October 26.
SA (9/17), Downtown9am,Brevard
MO (9/19)-WE (9/21), Harrah's Cherokee Casino, 777 Casino Dr Cherokee
In LivingWorks ASIST you will learn how to help someone thinking about suicide develop a personalized SafePlan to keep safe-for-now and connect with further help.
WE (9/21), 6pm, Black Mountain Brewing, 131 NC-9, Black Mountain
Local goods, every Friday.
Seasonal community market event featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, locally raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, chees es, eggs and local arts and handcrafted items.
Mills River Farmers Market
Fresh local produce and heritage crafts. Weekly.
Latin Cuisine with Martina Led by chef Martina Val dez, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
WE (9/21), Museum,Smith-McDowell10am,House283VictoriaRd
In LivingWorks safeTALK you will learn how to reach out to someone thinking about suicide and help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support.
Bingo Night
Local alongsidefoodstuffs,asmall lineup of craft and artisan vendors.
FR (9/16), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr, Weaverville
TH (9/22), 2:30pm, $22, Bullington Gardens, 95 Upper Red Oak Trail, Hendersonville Tik Tok Made Me Cook It Quick and easy recipes from Tik Tok.
Produce, meat, eggs, baked goods, coffee, crafts and more from 30+ local vendors. With live music, kids' activities and cooking demos weekly.
Making Demo
SA (9/17), 9am, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
SA (9/17), 12pm, Atelier Maison & Co, 121 Sweeten Creek Rd
SA (9/17) & SU (9/18), 1pm, Downtown Sylva
TU (9/20), Free, Well Played Board Game Café, 162 Coxe Ave
TU (9/20), 5pm, Burton Street Center,Community134Burton St
SEPT. 14-20, 2022 MOUNTAINX.COM
SA (9/17), 9am, 52 N Market St
Help Save a Life Suicide Prevention Workshops
Women's Fall Equinox Sacred Sound Immer sion
National Trail of Tears Conference & Symposium
Henderson County Tailgate Market
Locally micSaturdayfromgoods.minedforaged,produced,sourced,andhandcraftedWithlivemusicClaytonJusticeonandanopenonSunday.
Etowah Lions Club Farmers Market
Vintage and crafts from area-based vendors.
A diverse group of local produce farmers, jam and jelly makers, bread bakers, wild crafters, and merrymakers.
Doors open 4:30pm. Up to $2500 in prizes, weekly.
SA (9/17), 9am, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville
Asheville City Market
LOCAL MARKETS
Weaverville Tailgate Market
One of the oldest open-air markets in Western North Carolina, this unique market has a festival feel, with local growers who operate small family farms in Henderson County.
Haywood's Historic Farmers Market Located at HART Theatre, weekly.
Anne Chesky Smith, director of the WNC Historical Association, and Swannanoa Valley Museum staff will discuss some of the largest flooding disasters in WNC's history.
TU (9/20), 7pm, St. Pauls United Methodist Church, 223 Hillside St
WE (9/14, 21), 4pm, Fleetwood’s, 496 Haywood Rd
TH (9/15, 22), 3pm, Pinecrest ARP Church, 1790 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock
Spanish speakers of all ages and levels are welcome to join togeth er for conversation to practice the language in a group setting.
SA (9/17), 8am, 100 N King St, Hendersonville
SA (9/17), 8am, 3300 University Heights
Madison Co. Farmers & Artisans Market
The commemoratessymposium 184 years since the infamous Trail of Tears, which removed the majority of Cherokees in 1838-1839 to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma.
Enka-Candler Tailgate Market
Transylvania Farmers Market
Junk-O-Rama Saturday Vintage antiques market, every Saturday through October.
TH (9/22), 8:30am, Vet erans Healing Farm, 38 Yale Rd, Hendersonville
TU (9/20), 7pm, $25, American Legion Post 70, 103 Reddick Rd
This one-time, four hour course is the first course in the nation designed specifically for the over 50 driver.
HealthSicknessJourneyHealth:TransformationalOneWoman'sfromChronictoVibrant
SA (9/17), 8am, Mills River Elementary School, 94 Schoolhouse Rd, Mills River
WE (9/21), 8:30am, Vet erans Healing Farm, 38 Yale Rd, Hendersonville
Local goods and produce, weekly through October.
Fifty vendors offering fresh, handcraftedpreparedjams,flowers,coffee,eggs,produce,locally-grownmeat,poultry,honey,cheese,plants,herbs,cutbakedgoods,jellies,relishes,foodsanditems.
TH (9/15, 22), 3pm, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler
A deeply replenishing
WE (9/14, 21), 3pm, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr Wednesday Night Market: Vintage and Crafts
Guest speaker Michelle Miller discusses how changing her diet and health regime led her to a life without pain, anxiety or depression. WE (9/21), 7pm, avl.mx/8u5
Over 50 vendors and local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and more.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
AARP Smart Driver
A relational meditation and practice.communication
MO (9/19), 6pm, Free$5, Swannanoa Valley Museum, 223 W State St, Black Mountain Game Designers of North Carolina (GDoNC) Meetup Meet local designers, give feedback, and discover your next favorite game.
TH (9/22), 6pm, Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd
WE (9/14, 21), 3pm, 447 Etowah School Rd, Hendersonville
Hendersonville Farmers Market
A producer-only market, selling products raised or produced within 50 miles of the market. With local musicians, a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, and high-quality crafts.
North Asheville Tailgate Market
River Arts District (RAD) Farmers Market Located on the river with live music and over 30 local vendors. Safely accessible via the greenway, plus ample parking.
Black Mountain Tailgate Market
Hot Springs lies along the route of the former Buncombe Turnpike and later became a popular tourist resort as well. Its cemeteries contain travelers, early settlers from the 1800s, enslaved and free town.historyoutingtheandreinterred.POWsAmericans,AfricanandGermanwhowerelaterThesestoriesmoreintertwineincemeteriesonthisexploringlocalinamountain
Jackson Arts Market Makers & Music Festival
Flat Rock Tailgate Market
Pasta22
SU (9/18), 12pm, Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte St
For boys ages 11-18, free to attend first two meetings. Visit: avl.mx/bxq
and nurturing guided sound healing journey of Tibetan and Crystal bowls chimes tank drums and tuning forks, for women only. Advanced registration only.
Swannanoa Valley Museum History Café: Great Floods of the Swannanoa Valley and Western North Carolina
Boy Scout Troop 91 Fall Kick Off
WNCHA History Hour: Revisiting The Maya of Morganton In the 1990s, Morganton became the new home of several LiteraryThomastheLeonbasisoralprocessingunionizationforthecan-bornGuatemalanhundredandMexiworkers,andsiteoftheirstrugglelaborrightsandinapoultryplant.TheirhistoriesformedtheforpresenterDrFink’s2003book–winnerofWNCHA’sWolfeMemorialAward.
Spanish Club
Asheville
With in-town breweries including Brevard Brewing, Ecusta, Noble bräu, Oskar Blues and Upcountry and food trucks, games and live music from the Harrows and Mountain School of Strings students. A portion of the festival
TH (9/22), 4pm, LenoirRhyne University, 36 Montford Ave
SA (9/17), 8am, Historic HendersonvilleDowntown
This annual fami ly-friendly event is a chance to experience how food is grown and raised through guided tours, hands-ondemonstrations,activities,
Named one of the Best Kids TournamentsFishinginthe U.S., the tournament is open to anyone 15 years old or younger. Competitors will be divided into age groups with prizes in each for Longest Fish, Shortest Fish, and Most Fish Caught. The grand prize for Longest Fish is a kayak from Waterways and Feelfree Kayaks.
FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS
Rhythm & Brews Concert Series
proceeds go toward the school.
Oc t ob e r 15th , 202 2 burnpil e a v l . co m S C AN FOR TIC KE T S & 40+
Brevard's 2nd Annual Oktoberfest
TH (9/15), 6pm, High land Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy Art and Wellness Auction
SA (9/17), 1pm, BiltmoreRooftop/Poolside,Aloft51Ave
Stithes of Love
SA (9/17) & SU (9/18), $35, Multiple locations
Lenoir-Rhyne University Asheville Anniversary A ten year RSVPandcelebrationanniversarywithfoodentertainment.Tovisit:avl.mx/bzg
TH (9/22), 5pm, Shiloh Community Garden, 59 Hampton St
FR (9/16), 5pm, 100 Block N Lexington Ave
This event, in celebration of Recovery Month, includes over 50 art and wellness items up for bid, music by Laura Blackley, hors d'oeuvres, and a menu of non-alcoholic drinks. An online auction will be held in conjunction.
Downtown After 5 The last of the summer series, with live music from Who's Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jack son Experience and DJ Molly Parti. This month's non-profit partner is Asheville Music School.
ASAP Farm Tour
Sun & Moon Makers Market
Artisanal Cheese Farm Tour
There will be an array of baked goods made with Carolina Ground flour as well as flours, eggs, botanical dyed yards, books, and more from Hominy Farm, MIlkglass Pie, Beeswax + Butter and Bryson Homestead.
SA (9/17), 8am, Lake Julian Park, 37 Lake Julian Rd, Arden Art in Autumn Arts & Crafts Festival
SA (9/17), 7:30pm, $10, Haw Creek Commons, 315 Old Haw Creek Rd
Pups & Pints
MO (9/19), 3pm, Panera Bread, 1843 Henderson ville Rd
Indoor/outdoor monthly market featuring a rotating lineup of local makers, with half the vendor fees going directly to nonprofit Helpmate.
and tastings. All farms are located within an hour drive of Asheville and are arranged by cluster: Leicester,Haywood,McDowell and Henderson.
Under The Stars Fall Fundraiser Funds will go directly to providing free and discounted science education through exhibits, field trips,
SNAPSHOT
This event features over 100 juried artists and craftspeople, and live music performed by local artists.
SA (9/17), 12pm, Brevard Lumberyard, 200 King St, Brevard Clawtoberfest
see p32
36th Annual Music in the Mountains In honor of Madison County’s Sheila Kay Adams, Heartstrings.BandRitter,alsogeneration.teacherandballad-singingtwo-hundred-year-oldbearerseventh-generationtheofherfamily’straditionisthemotherandoftheeighthTheline-upincludesRiggsandtheBooneTrailandAppalachian
TH (9/15), 5:30pm, Historic HendersonvilleDowntown
A dance party to benefit local animal shelters.
Carolina Ground Pop-up Market
SPIRITUALITY
Sufi Dances of Universal Peace
see p35 SA (9/17), 5pm, Home place Beer Co., 6 South Main St, Burnsville
MOUNTAINX.COM SEPT. 14-20, 2022 23
BENEFITS VOLUNTEERING&
SA (9/17), 1pm, plēb urban winery, 289 Lyman St
mobile hands-onlearning,STEAM lab, or science camps.
Thanks to Henderson County Schools Back-toSchool Party With music and a sing along from local band Tuxedo Junction and remarks from the Master of Ceremonies former superintendent Dr. John Bryant. Food trucks and the Pepsi Wagon will also be onsite.
SA (9/17), 11am, Burton Street Center,Community134Burton St
The final installment of the summer series, with bluegrass band Unspoken Tradition and classic rock band The Greybirds. Outdoors.
SA (9/17), 6pm, Historic Henderson County HendersonvilleCourthouse,
FR (9/16), 7:30pm, Con tinuum, 147 Ste C, 1st Ave E, Hendersonville
Local breweries, beer tastings, live music, pet caricatures, compli mentary pet portraits and more for you and your pup.
An beers.man-inspiredfood,partyOktoberfest-stylefilledwithmusic,games,andGersmall-batch
West Asheville Tailgate Market
SU (9/18), 11am, Caroli na Ground, 1237 Shipp St, Hendersonville
Guided cheese tastings and education conducted by local chee semakers are included as part of the tour by Edibe Asheville. see p32-33 FR (9/16), 10am, Multiple locations
NC Mountain State Fair Opened in 1994, this family friendly stat e fair of the west show cases the many talents, cultures and traditions of WNC - with rides, food, vendors, tions,educationagriculturalandexhibiartsandcrafts, live entertainment and other regional traditions. Sept. 9-18, WNC Agricultural Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd
SA (9/17), 12pm, Highland Brewing Co, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy Asheville Mardi Gras Pool Party and Theme Reveal
Local beverages and
Learn more about AMG and find out next year's parade theme. Family friendly, costumes encouraged.
Fall Equinox Garden Dinner Party Chefs Robinson,ClarenceGene Ettison, Shaniqua Simuel and other local vendors will prepare appetizers, entrees and desserts specially prepared using fresh garden ingredients. With children’s activities, such as making seed bombs and potting plants, door prizes and cooking demonstrations. see p33
TH (9/22), 5pm, Pack Square Parking Garage - Top Level, 26 Biltmore Ave
Fairview Road Resil ience Garden Work Day Volunteers are needed at the garden every Wednesday. All ages and skill levels are welcome to join us as we harvest, weed, plant, and build community. WE (9/14, 21), 5:30pm, Fairview Resilience Garden, 461 Fairview Rd
Dance! 50s, 60s and 70s
Over 40 local vendors, every Tuesday.
FR (9/16), 6pm, Ginger's Revenge, 829 Riverside Dr, Ste 100
TU (9/20), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd
All funds raised will be distributed to various food pantries, which receive funds by means of an Chooseapplication.between a one mile fun run Jackson Park or the five mile route downtown.
A celebration of South ern Appalachian culture on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This festival has old-time music and demonstrations of the crafts of yesteryear, and a World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition at 2. SA (9/17), 10am, Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Parkway
50th Annual Hunger Walk
food trucks available for purchase.
A group which creates a variety of handmade items for local charities.
Kids Fishing Tourna ment
SA (9/17), 10am, Main Street Weaverville
An evening of simple melody and movement set to sacred phrases from a number of spiritual traditions. No experience needed, all dances and chants are taught.
42nd Annual Heritage Day
CELEBRATING LOVED ONES: Local infant Harlow Tarrant and her mother, Heather, will appear as part of the annual National Down Syndrome Society Times Square video presentation. The one-hour video will feature about 500 photographs of infants, children, teens and adults with Down syndrome. Harlow’s image was among 2,400 entries submitted. The presentation will be livestreamed on the NDSS Facebook page 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17. The yearly event aims to promote the value, acceptance and inclu sion of people with Down syndrome. Photo by Molly Dockery Photography
Pup Costume Party Dress up yourself and your dog and join a neighborhood parade. Treats and prizes available.
WELLNESS
It takes one to know one
FINDING COMMON GROUND
The relationship between PSS and their peers is one of support and gentle guidance; peer supports serve as coaches, mentors, advo cates and role models. The rela tionship typically lasts about six-12 months, says INspire coordinator Philip Cooper
Bryan Creech is one of four PSS trainers for Vaya Health, a managed care organization that oversees Medicaid for mental health claims in North Carolina.
Peer support specialists offer experience, strength and hope
lindarayaccess@gmail.com
Lauren Garvie is a former IV drug user who has experienced incarceration and being unhoused.
tions. Municipalities, first respond er agencies and schools contract with PSS services.
Peer support grew as a field during the mid-2000s. DeDe Severino , section chief for addic tions and operations team for N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, says the department began certifications here in 2007. All PSS trainers in North Carolina must hold the PSS certification themselves, she adds, because the theory that it takes one to know one is true for teaching PSS skills, too. According to N.C. Certified Peer Support Specialist Program data, Buncombe County has 242 certified PSS as of 2022.
“My life was touched by mental ill ness and took me out of the work force for about five years,” Creech says. He was assigned a PSS and then became one himself in 2012. He adds that Vaya’s 40-hour, oneweek peer support training is one of the most affordable at $30. It covers the cost of the training book and also explains the class’s long waiting
BY LINDA RAY
says Garvie. After two years in a long-term recovery house, Garvie earned peer support certification in 2018 and works full time for Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness, a nonprofit run byToPSS.be eligible for peer support certification, an individual must have a high school diploma or GED diploma and have lived through and currently manage their own challenges. During training, can didates learn how to find local resources, build community rela tionships and help peers with things such as obtaining a driver’s license, applying for assistance like food stamps, enrolling in training programs, finding housing and joining support groups.
PSS serve as front-line mental health workers for those dealing with substance abuse and home lessness; they work in hospitals, treatment centers, social service agencies and veterans’ organiza
THEY’VE BEEN THERE: From left, Philip Cooper, Jenna Woodman, Dillon Moss and Brandon Manson are part of the peer support specialist team in the Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems program at Land of Sky Regional Council. Photo by Linda Ray
According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, a non profit that has trained peer sup ports since 2004, “a peer support specialist is a professional with lived mental health experience who is trained and certified to pro vide help and encouragement for others working their way toward wellness.” Personal experience might cover depression, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, domestic violence or other issues.
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Anton Sluder never thought he’d be excited about his future. “Who was going to help someone like me?” he says. With a felony record and a history of substance use, he had little hope. But when Sluder left prison in September 2021, he was assigned a peer support specialist through Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems, or INspire, a program that assists people facing certain barriers to employment. “And look at me now,” he says. Sluder is employed with a temp agency, acquired a driver’s license for the first time in years, has stable housing and continues in his recovery. He’s also a recent grad uate of a peer support specialist training class; he can apply for a PSS job earning up to $20 an hour in Asheville and share with others the tools he’s learned
Peer support distinguishes itself from other mental health services
in that it can only be performed by someone who has lived through a mental health crisis. “The greatest gift we have is lived experience and the ability to listen,” says Michael Hayes , a PSS and founder and executive director of the Umoja Health, Wellness, and Justice Collective, which supports a range of mental health services in the Black and Latinx communities. His programs are “culturally specific, trauma-informed and resiliency-fo cused,” which are also important for PSS relatability, he says.
Otherlist.peer support training courses, which must include 40 hours of instructions to be state-ap proved, can cost up to $375. The list of upcoming courses, many of which are held on weekends, is available at avl.mx/c08.
Peer support “is a career path that gives a lot of us a chance when we don’t have many options,”
we have contracts to place them in good-paying jobs, such as MAHEC, RHA [Health Services, a mental health clinic], Buncombe County and Sunrise.” Sunrise and Umoja also rely on grants and donations to pay salaries, travel expenses and support services.
a leave of absence to get back onCoopertrack. stresses that account ability is a priority for his PSS. “It’s mandatory they practice a strong recovery program to be able to help others and deal with the stress,” he says. “We’re not a regular workforce. We can’t model ourselves after other kinds of jobs, so we need to be able to hold each other accountable. What qualifies us as PSS professionals is our lived experience, which means we’re also vulnerable to using again if we don’t practice a program of Inrecovery.”addition to regular 12-step meeting attendance, Jenna Woodman , an INspire PSS, says she hikes and attends regular church services. “Self-care is vital in this job,” she says.
“There really is no oversight at this time,” says Severino, referring to the continued successful recovery of each PSS and the effectiveness of their work.
Peer support services are funded by Medicaid, insurance for eligible low-income populations. Peer sup port may be provided as a one-onone service or in a group setting. It’s a covered benefit when deemed medically necessary for Medicaid recipients with a mental health or substance abuse diagnosis.
High-Rated Salon in West Asheville Consistent • Professional High Quality Designs Walk Ins Welcome! TUES FRI: 9am-7:30pm SAT−SUN: 9am-6pm MON: Closed OPEN SUNDAYS 511 Smokey Park Hwy, Ste 102, Candler, NC avantebeautylounge.comavanteavl@gmail.com828.747.733328715 2nd Location Coming Soon
MOUNTAINX.COM SEPT. 14-20, 2022 25
“With the grant, we pay our staff PSS and also pay peers we work with to go through the 40-hour PSS training,” says Cooper. “Then
SUPPORTING THE PEER SUPPORTS
Mahoney says he’s partnered with Sunrise to offer a PSS support group every two weeks. Garvie, one of 37 full-time PSS at Sunrise, says the support from her colleagues, volunteering at a women’s correc tional facility and regular meeting attendance keep her grateful and balanced in her recovery. X
WHO’S PAYING?
A future goal, says Severino, is to have peer support provided as a benefit in all mental health cov erage: “I would love to see private insurance cover it.”
But Kevin Mahoney , a PSS who supervises the peer support pro gram at MAHEC, disputes there is oversight of the peers. PSS are asked to self-report slip-ups with drug or alcohol use, or a mental health issue, and colleagues reg ularly check in with each other. Mahoney adds that if individuals struggle with maintaining recov ery, their employers may allow
While PSS must renew their certification every two years after participating in 20 continuing education hours, Severino says accountability is one of the areas that the growing PSS field needs to work on, in addition to funding and ongoing educational opportunities.
Joe Yurchak is program direc tor of certified community behav ioral health clinics at Mountain Area Health Education Center, a WNC health care provider, which received a $4 million grant in 2020 from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration. Some of the funding will be used to pay MAHEC’s seven full-time peer supports. (He says individuals who are not covered by Medicaid are also eligible for PSS services through the grant.)
INspire, the program Sluder attended, began in 2021 through NCWorks, the state’s work force development system and the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board. Its WNC Recovery to Career program is funded through a $1 million grant paid for by Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic devel opment agency, Vaya Health and Dogwood Health Trust.
“We’ve covered everything from Fela Kuti to Rage Against the Machine,” he says. “We’ve had fullon throwback ’80s and ’90s hip-hop sets where we did anything from Snoop Dogg to Jay-Z. But every thing we do, we put our own spin on it.”
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band got its start in Miller’s former basement in Boone. “The original concept was to [create] a fun party atmo sphere with high-energy, danceable music,” the guitarist says. From its earliest days, the band’s lineup was a constantly shifting roster of topflight“Asmusicians.ofright now,” Miller notes, “I’m the only original member left.”
That changed when dynamic key boardist Mary Frances and drum mer Lee Allen — both of whom sing — joined the group in 2009. With the two on board, the band established its trademark sound.
“And that’s when we really started touring heavily,” Miller says, “going back and forth across the country.”
At the height of its touring days, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band was on the road 200 days a year, play ing 150-170 shows annually. “We made a lot of good friends,” Miller says. “And we played in every state except Hawaii, plus Jamaica.”
TRADEMARK SOUND
“We’ve had our bus engine catch onOtherfire.” problems, he acknowledg es, were of the band’s own making. Around 15 years ago, the group was booked to play a set at the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic, “a presti gious, black-tie event in Pinehurst, N.C.,” Miller recalls. “Not only were we late, but when we start ed playing, our singer decided we should perform a song that had the most swear words of any song that we played.”
ARTS & CULTURE
SPIN ON IT
bill@musoscribe.com
BY BILL KOPP
DUAL DECADE DOMINATION: Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band remains a favorite among locals music lovers, 20 years into its run. Photo by Josh Branstetter/Jabberpics
THE JIMMY V RULE
Twenty years is a long time, espe cially in the life of a band. But despite lineup changes, relocation and count less road mishaps, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band has finally reached that milestone. To celebrate, the Asheville-based rock/funk ensemble is performing an anniversary show Friday, Sept. 16, at Salvage Station.
Deep-groove funkiness
Miller admits that the Booty Band’s most daunting challenge is its size. “A lot of bands are just three or four people,” he notes. His ensemble, he continues, has fea tured seven musicians over much of its 20-year run. And when touring, the number grows with an addition al three-person crew.
Xpress caught up with founder and guitarist John-Paul Miller to discuss the band’s origin, pivots and plans.
“When you’re traveling with 10 people on the road, it’s hard to even find places large enough for
But across two decades of chang es, the group’s vision has remained consistent. While covers have always figured into the band’s set list, Miller says that from the very beginning, the group was writing original mate rial. And when they did play other artists’ music, the band showcased its versatility and inventiveness by recasting songs into its own style.
Amid tours and on records, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band has regularly collaborated with guest musicians. “Some of the members of Dirty Dozen Brass Band have come onstage with us to perform their songs, done in our [style],” Miller says. And before his death in 2016, Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell joined the group for a performance of his song “A Joyful Process,” during a show in Aspen,AlongColo.the way, the ensemble has created a formidable catalog of recorded music. In addition to sever al live albums, the group has released four studio efforts under its own name — 2015’s Funk Life is the most recent — and has played on nearly every recording by kid-hop sensa tion Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. “He gave us the opportunity to write and record on a Grammy Award-winning album,” Miller says.
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band celebrates 20 years
These days, the group stays closer to Asheville, the city that all its members call home. “After a while, the band needed a little bit of a break,” Miller says. “So we decided to step back from full-time touring.”
the whole band to stay the night,” MillerSuchexplains.impediments have limited where the band can travel. For example, Miller says the group has received offers to play in Europe, but the costs involved in bringing a large band overseas made it impossible.
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The group relocated to Asheville in 2006. Miller says that the band’s early sound reflected the songwrit ing skills of founding member Josh Phillips; when he left, Miller contin ues, members went through a brief period where they felt unmoored and “floating around.”
As far as many of the other chal lenges Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band has faced, Miller and his band mates laugh them off; they make for good stories, he says. “We’ve been stuck on top of mountains and behind avalanches,” he recalls.
WHEN Friday, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m. $20 $25 advance, $30 day of show; all ages are welcome
After three songs, the band was told to stop. “They paid us and told us to leave,” he says with a laugh. “It was the most money per min ute we ever made!” The experience marked the implementation of what the group still calls the Jimmy V rule. “We’ve cleaned up a lot since then,” Miller says.
Salvage Station, 466 Riverside Drive, avl.mx/bye
“We’ve curated a list of songs that were everybody’s favorite back in the early 2000s,” Miller says. “Songs that we haven’t played in a long time.”
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WHO Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
SATURDAY!WEAVERVILLE2022 Arts & Crafts Festival Free Admission, Fine Art & Craft Exhibitors, and Live Music MAIN WEAVERVILLESTREET, ARTINAUTUMN.COMNCS 10AM-6PM17ept.at. AUTUMNARTIN
In recent times, the lineup of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band has sta bilized. That, plus the fact the drum mer Allen is a recording engineer, means new Booty Band music may be on the way. “Nobody wants to force a record out,” Miller observes, “because that never produces good results. But everybody [in the group] has been talking about recording some new music. When bands get their own studio, that’s when they start getting experimental and really have fun with it.”
WHERE
TALK OF NEW MUSIC
“We’re doing a total throwback set of early material,” Miller says.
And as the band approaches its 20-year anniversary show, the musi cians see the hometown gig as an opportunity to look backward and forward at once.
The Salvage Station performance will feature the current group, augmented by four members from the band’s original lineup: Phillips, saxophonist Greg Hollowell, gui tarist Grady Gilbert and vocalist Suzanna Baum
And, of course, the current Booty Band lineup — Miller, Frances and Allen, plus Derrick Johnson on trombone, Jonathan Cole on sax ophone, Ben Bjorlie on bass and trumpeter Alex Bradley — will be on hand to celebrate 20 years of deepgroove funkiness. X
“All of our big federal funding programs included investments in the arts — the New Deal; the Great Society,” Prather said. “We’ve always recognized how important it is to invest in our arts, especially when we’re in times of recovery.”
cited “big picture pieces” like afford able housing and Medicaid expan sion so that creators don’t get priced out of SubsequentAsheville.questions addressed the importance of arts education, including growing the number of the state’s A+ Schools, which use a whole-school transformation model that views the arts as fundamen tal to teaching and learning, and supporting Senate Bill 681, which requires all North Carolina high schoolers to complete one arts course before“We’vegraduating.gottomake sure that we maintain funding for those programs, even when resources are scarce,” Ager said. “It’s those students who get an artistic, creative education who are going to solve the world’s biggest challenges. They’re the ones who are going to solve the problems of engineering and architecture and medicine. It’s that outside-the-box thinking that art encourages.”
X ARTS &
All except Prather — a Wake County native who stayed in Buncombe County after graduat ing from UNC Asheville — grew up in the Asheville area. But she and her fellow candidates commented throughout the hourlong event on the arts being a cornerstone of the city’s identity and one that merits additional financial support to grow that
CREATIVECULTURESOLUTIONS:
Audience questions were collected throughout the event via an online form, but while none of the can didates exceeded their allotted two minutes per answer, not enough time remained to incorporate attend ee suggestions. Cornell noted that future series installments would be modified in order to make sufficient room for audience participation.
From left, N.C. General Assembly candidates Caleb Rudow, Lindsey Prather, Eric Ager and Everett Pittillo participate in the first Arts AVL Town Hall. Photo by Edwin Arnaudin
Caleb Rudow has a very particular set of skills that set him apart from his fellow legislators: As far as the House District 114 representative knows, he’s the only member of the N.C. General Assembly who’s also the lead singer in a David Bowie coverThisband.and other artistic revelations were shared on Sept. 7 during the first of three Arts AVL Town Halls that the Asheville Area Arts Council will host over the next month. Joining Rudow on the Diana Wortham Auditorium stage were candidates running for District 114 — Democrat Eric Ager and Republican Everett Pittillo — and Lindsey Prather, the Democratic candidate for District
The art of politics House candidates participate in AVL Town Hall
All four candidates are also in favor of increasing N.C. Arts Council grant funding, with Prather and Pittillo noting the importance of working with constituents to iden tify priority needs on a local level. Every candidate also found common ground on investing in arts man ufacturing within the region, with several participants pointing to its bipartisan appeal and the higher quality of locally made products, the purchase of which keeps revenue within the community.
The event’s final question con cerned whether establishing a WNC Museum of History and Culture would be a good use of state funds. All again agreed on such distribu tion, with Prather stressing that non alcohol-centric cultural resources would encourage more families to relocate to the area; Rudow pointed out that the museum is a pet project of Ager’s father, John Ager, who is not seeking reelection for a fifth term representing District 115.
NC
115. Rudow, who was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to replace Susan Fisher after her retirement, is run ning to represent District 116.
AAAC’s Arts
20 2 22 0 2 2
“It’slegacy.the essence of Asheville. It generates revenue. It’s been here since I can remember — since I could walk,” Pittillo said. “So many people say, ‘Well, that’s just art. They don’t need that money. They don’t need that help.’ But it’s what inspiresRegardingimagination.”thestate’s role in the creative sector’s ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Pittillo is in favor of tax breaks to bring film productions back to Western North Carolina and stimulate the economy. Prather supports a third phase of the Business Recovery Grant — phase 2 recently concluded — and, referenc ing her years as a U.S. History teach er, noted that funding arts is part of the country’s traditions and history.
The Arts AVL Town continues Wednesday, Sept. 28, with Buncombe County commissioner candidates, and Wednesday, Oct. 12, with Asheville mayor and City Council candidates. Both events are free to attend, but registration is required. To learn more, visit avl.mx/af1.
BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN
Warren Daniel (Republican, Senate District 46), John Anderson (Republican, Senate District 49), Julie Mayfield (Democrat, Senate District 49), Pratik Bhakta (Republican, House District 115) and Mollie Rose (Republican, House District 116) were also invited but did not Followingparticipate.an introduction by AAAC Executive Director Katie Cornell and an overview of the local creative sector’s economic impact, the four candidates were asked ques tions by AAAC Arts Coalition chairs Rae Geoffrey and Laura Mitchell that centered on arts funding at the state level.
Calling artists “essential workers” who helped others get through the hard times of the pandemic, Rudow
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earnaudin@mountainx.com
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Dead poets: George Herbert, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Emily Dickinson, Rainer Maria Rilke. Living poets: Jane Hirshfield, Jericho Brown, Christian Wiman, Li-Young Lee.
Let’s jump to the ending. Can you speak to the poem’s final image, which pulls readers away from the natural world?
That being said, not all poems will speak to all people in the same way or to the same degree. So, it’s a good thing there are so many poets. We can each find the work that speaks most deeply to us.
Even the River by Luke Hankins
Hankins: Like many of my poems, this one was inspired by a real-life event, a circumstantial separation from someone I cared about, but it became highly fictionalized. The actual event had nothing to do with guilt on any one’s part, but the feeling of loss led me to imagine a character experiencing loss for which he did feel guilt and the way that sense of loss and guilt might overwhelm him to the point that he felt that the natural world around him was also grieving and accusing him of driving the person away. On one level, the poem is an exercise in an intentional “pathetic fallacy” — the projection of human feelings onto the nonhuman world. It’s not meant to reflect a material, objective truth, but a psychological one.
“For a town this size, we’re lucky in that regard.” Photo courtesy of Hankins
BY THOMAS CALDER
The founder of Orison Books, a local nonprofit literary press, Hankins is also the author of two poetry collections and the 2016 collection of essays, The Work of Creation: Selected Prose. His latest book of poems, Radiant Obstacles, came out in 2020.
Lastly, who are the four poets on your Mount Rushmore?
The speaker doesn’t literally move inside, is still at the river, but through metaphor, a completely different scene is overlaid or, better, intertwined with the literal scene. Together, they become (I hope) more than either could be in isolation.
Is there a collection from a local poet that excites you and why?
My poems tend to engage philosoph ical or spiritual dilemmas, often using the natural world as an occasion or a vehicle for the meditations. “Even the River” is actually sort of an outlier for me, though it does appear in a section of Radiant Obstacles focused on human interconnection and relationships more than is typical for me, and the poems in the section are on the more narrative side of the spectrum. So, I do have at least some range, I suppose!
While in graduate school at Indiana University, he held the Yusef Komunyakaa Fellowship in Poetry. And his work has twice been shortlisted for the Montreal International Poetry Prize. But in the end, the poet says, “the only accomplishment any writer should worry about ... is remaining devoted to the craft and calling of writing.”
I have faith that delving into my own experience of the world will resonate with others because humans share so
Local poet Luke Hankins isn’t short of literary credentials and publications.
tcalder@mountainx.com
much in common despite all the super ficial differences. The reason I fell in love with poetry as a teenager, in fact, was for that very reason — reading something written in a very different place and time, but which struck me as a profound expression of something I recognized, something I, too, had felt or thought. As John Keats wrote, poetry “should strike the reader as a wording of [their] own highest thoughts and appear almost a remembrance.”
X ARTS & CULTURE
Spiritual dilemmas
Xpress recently spoke with Hankins about his writings, the power of metaphor and his interest in spiritu al dilemmas. Along with the chat is his poem, “Even the River,” featured in Radiant Obstacles.
ON THE SCENE: Originally from Louisiana, local poet Luke Hankins’ family relo cated to Asheville the summer before his freshman year of high school. Today, he remains active within the city’s writing scene. “The poetry community in Asheville is not only supportive, but full of truly talented and passionate poets,” he says.
That, to me, is part of the magic of metaphor — things can simultaneously be one thing and a quite different thing.
For readers less familiar with your work, what are some recurring themes and topics that you find your self returning to as a poet, and what attracts you to them?
How do you hope your poetry impacts readers?
Poet Luke Hankins on the role and power of poetry
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I think that everyone who writes or makes art or music tries to make something that’s true to their own expe rience of what it means to be human. So, I don’t set out to offer something that I think is outside the bourn of oth ers’ experiences. There’s the old saying — overused, but still useful, I think — “The particular is the universal.”
Eric Tran just moved away from Asheville — but for the purpose of this question, I’m going to consider him a local. His second poetry collection, Mouth, Sugar, and Smoke, was recent ly released by Diode Editions. These powerful poems delve into grief over a former lover’s substance dependence and also celebrate queer eros.
Can I cheat? I’m going to cheat.
Xpress: Take us to the start — what inspired this poem?
In a constant murmur of leaves and branches the mountains have been speaking to me about how you left them, cardinals flashing in and out of branches signaling in red semaphore their grief at your departure. All of nature seems to address and blame me. I walk around holding out my hands, palms upturned, in a gesture of bewilderment and surrender, suggesting my innocence but also my willingness to hold the guilt that finds no other place to rest. I go out at midnight to comfort the river near the tracks where the trains pass in a slow, unrelenting fury all night, the spark of metal on metal winding through the dark, blaring their enormous questions that I don’t know how to answer. And even the river resists my touch, like a small child who continues to feel slighted no matter how long her father sits by her bed stroking her hair and singing.
MOUNTAINX.COM SEPT. 14-20, 2022 31
“Clawhammer, our Oktoberfest beer, celebrates its 14th year as our fall seasonal,” says Nikki Mitchell, vice president of brand develop ment. “It’s a fantastic beer that con tinues to resonate with lager fans.”
“Our Clawtoberfest will blend lots of old and new traditions,” says Mitchell. “In addition to Clawhammer, our innovative brew ers created three new Oktoberfestinspired small-batch beers.”
“A lot has changed over these 10 years in the cider world,” says Lief Stevens, co-founder and cider maker. “When we started, there were very few cideries in the U.S., so there wasn’t a template to follow. We had to figure everything out ourselves, which was challenging but also Anniversaryexciting.”party festivities include the tapping of Wild Berry Knight, a new mixed berry cider made with whole fruit strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blue berries. This release is the first new addition to Noble Cider’s collection of flagship ciders in six years.
Tour de fromage
Highland Brewing Co. will kick off the season’s arrival Saturday, Sept. 17, noon-5 p.m. with Clawtoberfest, a new annual celebration of autum nal beer, food, fun and games.
Metro Wines will offer wine tast ings and light snacks during the demonstration, and various pas ta-making tools and Italian wares will also be available for purchase at a special q.b. cucina pop-up shop taking place during the event.
A decade of nobility
traditional cask) filled with a special conditioned cider will be tapped. Live music, door prizes, cider spe cials, apples and produce from Bright Branch Farms and food from Cecilia’s Kitchen food truck round out the day’s offerings.
Oktoberfest is here again.
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“We’ve gone from delivering kegs of cider from our cars to distributing in multiple states. It’s an incredible thing,” says Stevens.
Metro Wines is at 169 Charlotte St. Tickets are $30. Visit avl.mx/byr to reg ister and for additional information.
to fall at Highland Brewing Co.’s Clawtoberfest 48 College St. Downtown, Asheville
FOOD ROUNDUP
When it comes to pasta, there are those content with boxed noo dles topped with sauce from a jar and those who yearn for something
A number of traditional Oktoberfest games and competi tions, including a keg roll, stein hoist, stein race and a mustache contest, will be held throughout the event, as will pickup volleyball, ax throwing from Axeville Throwing Club and interactive juggling demos from Asheville Aerial Arts.
ARTS & CULTURE
PROST!: Highland Brewing Co. welcomes the return of fall with its inaugural Clawtoberfest celebration Saturday, Sept. 17, noon-5 p.m. Photo courtesy of Highland Brewing Co.
Practice makes perfect (pasta)
Cheese aficionados are encour aged to attend Edible Asheville ’s Artisanal Cheese Farm Tour, the first taking place Friday, Sept. 16 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., for an inside look at some of Asheville’s award-win ningThecheesemakers.tourwillbegin at Round Mountain Creamery, a working goat farm and farmstead cheese maker, then progress to Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery, where guests will tour a hand-built cheese cave, before ending at Plēb Urban Winery for a special wine and cheese pairing.
Highland Brewing Co. is at 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Suite 200. Visit avl.mx/xmasjbe for addition al information.
more. If you identify with the latter, mark your calendars and get ready to take your pasta game to the nextCiaolevel.Asheville is teaming up with Metro Wines and Sarah Ubertaccio of q.b. cucina for a live pasta-making demonstration Sunday, Sept. 18, noon-2 p.m. Ubertaccio will cover all the basics of homemade pasta, from ingre dients to kneading and shaping techniques, as she crafts several pasta forms, including tagliatelle, garganelli, farfalle and sorpresine.
ORDER ONLINE: zellasdeli.com 828-505-8455
Prost
As the crunchy leaves and crisp evening air of fall return, so, too, does the time to break out the leder hosen and raise a stein of mäerzen.
Cold Mountain Winter Ale tickets will be offered as priz es for these games, and a por tion of every Clawhammer pint poured will benefit the efforts of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Lagerhosen, a Black Mountain-based band, will play tra ditional Oktoberfest music through out the event.
A special plum mead will also be released, and a firkin (small,
Noble Cider, the first cidery estab lished in Asheville and the second in North Carolina, celebrates 10 years in business with a special event set for Saturday, Sept. 17, 2-9 p.m., at its taproom and production facility.
What’s new in food
Several food trucks and pop-ups are expected to participate, featuring themed menus from Deli Volv and Root Down, as well as apple cider and pumpkin spice doughnuts from MunchOs Mini Donuts. Additionally, Eddy Schoeffmann, Blunt Pretzels’ co-founder and Munich native, will be making a special beer cheese using Highland’s Clawhammer to complement his pretzels.
The Cidery Taproom & Production facility is at 356 New Leicester Highway. Visit avl.mx/byy for more information.
HOT BUNS & TASTY MEAT
“We hope people take away an appreciation and awareness of the 30-plus community gardens in the Bountiful Cities Community Garden Network,” says Cathy Cleary, out reach coordinator for Bountiful Cities. “We want to acknowledge and celebrate the work that community garden leaders put in this season.”
The Shiloh Community Garden is at 59 Hampton St. Tickets are avail able on a sliding scale of suggested donations ranging from free to $15. Visit avl.mx/byu for registration and additional information.
The new location also serves as a space for private events and com munity gatherings, which Devil’s
“The North Carolina Craft Beverage Museum is dedicated to preserving and interpreting our state’s craft beverage story and cele brates its role in building and defin ing our local, state and national com munity,” says Kimberly Floyd, N.C. Craft Beverage Museum board president, in a press release. “Come celebrate with us on this brand-new tour in downtown Asheville.”
Yet another new beverage option has landed on Sweeten Creek with the arrival of The Mule, a new tap room from Devil’s Foot Beverage Co.
“Many of our longtime partners are bars and breweries who are really eager to carry a craft bever age that’s nonalcoholic ... for special occasions,” says Ben Colvin, pres ident of Devil’s Foot, in a company release. “Our new space will really allow us to meet the moment by tripling our production capacity.”
JK’s Kitchen is at 6 Long Shoals Road, Arden. Visit avl.mx/byx for the menu and additional information.
— Blake Becker X
Taco Boy, a Mexican cuisine-in spired eatery based in South Carolina, has announced plans to open two new Asheville locations by nextThespring.firstnew restaurant will open by the end of 2022 in the former Zia Taqueria location at 521 Haywood Road in West Asheville. An addition al location in Biltmore Park Town Square at 2 Town Square Blvd., No. 130, will follow.
New owners resurrect JK’s Kitchen
Chefs Clarence Robinson, Gene Ettison , Shaniqua Simuel and other local vendors will prepare appetizers, entrees and desserts specially prepared using fresh gar den ingredients. Children’s activ ities, such as making seed bombs and potting plants, door prizes and cooking demonstrations will round out the evening’s events.
JK’s Kitchen, a local eatery fea turing fast and friendly country cooking, closed last month after over 15 years in business. Shortly after the closure was made public, it was announced that new owners have stepped in to take over and keep the restaurant alive.
You’ve heard of the “walk and talk,” now get ready for the “sip and stroll.” The N.C. Beverage Museum and Asheville Free Walking Tours have announced a partnership that will culminate in a new experiential tour allowing participants to learn about and taste the history of North Carolina craft beverages.
“One of our primary goals at Edible Asheville is to help people cultivate a deeper appreciation of local food,” says Tenille Tracy Legler, publish er of Edible Asheville. “By taking folks directly to the farms, where the magic begins, we hope they can fall in love with our local food scene in a more authentic way.”
Foot will use to support and host local nonprofit community partners.
Garden grub
Visit avl.mx/bys for more informa tion on the tour and its schedule.
“I couldn’t be more excited to bring Taco Boy to Asheville,” says founder Karalee Nielsen Fallert in a press release announcing the expansion. “We believe that all good things are possible with the power of inclusivity, generosity, interconnect edness and tacos.”
Tickets cost $112 per person. Visit avl.mx/byv for tickets and addition al information.
The Devil’s Foot Beverage Co.’s production facility and taproom is at 131 Sweeten Creek Road. Visit avl.mx/ajm for addition al information.
MOUNTAINX.COM SEPT. 14-20, 2022 33
Guided cheese tastings and edu cation conducted by local cheese makers are included as part of the tour, as is transportation from and to downtown Asheville via tour part ners Van in Black.
The tours will take guests through various museum exhibits located at Plēb Urban Winery’s Aventine Wine Bar, 25 Page Ave., Suite 102; Cultivated Cocktails Distillery, 25 Page Ave., Suite 103; and Wedge Brewery’s newest taproom at the Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave., Suite 152. Along each stop, tastings of local spirits, wine and beer will be pro vided and paired alongside shared insights on the origins and evolu tions of the local beverage scene.
Kick it at The Mule
No such thing as too many tacos
For additional information on Taco Boy, visit avl.mx/byw.
The JK’s Kitchen name will remain, as will the menu’s breakfast and lunch staples with a few new additions soon to be announced.
Experiential learning
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Connected to the beverage mak er’s latest 14,400-square-foot pro duction facility expansion, The Mule features a full-service bar show casing cocktails and nonalcoholic mocktails made from Devil’s Foot’s farm-to-can craft sodas.
Bountiful Cities’ Community Garden Network will host a Fall Equinox Garden Dinner Party wel coming the new season at the Shiloh Community Garden on Thursday, Sept. 22, 5-8 p.m.
FOOD ROUNDUP
That’s when she decided to turn some of her poems into skits and monologues to be performed onstage. “I have been busy rous ing a collection of good Black folk in Asheville to help me bring the material alive with singing, acting and dancing to bring the mes sage across,” she says. “I consider what I’m doing to be Black poet ry Thetheater.”result is Raising Black: Joy, Pain, Sunshine & Rain, which will be performed in the East Asheville Public Library community room on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m. In addition to poetry, skits and mono logues, the free show will include gospel singing as well as music from the likes of B.B. King, James Brown and Michael Jackson
SEPT. 14-20, 2022 MOUNTAINX.COM34
attends the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville. “We try to branch out to play many varieties and many colors of jazz — fast, slow, happy, sad.”
during its first Finch show. “They approached us after we played and asked if we would like to play for their Sunday brunches,” says Michelle Baker, Vest’s mother and the group’s unofficial publicist. “Of course we said, ‘Yes.’”
Raising hope
“It is about reminding us of our resiliency and hope, to remind us that we have all been through ups and downs in life, and now is the time to take stock of how we survive
What is radio art?
“We are using ‘radio art’ in the broadest sense, meaning it doesn’t have to be music at all,” she says.
Adolescents bring classic jazz to local venues
during these difficult times,” says Meacham, who moved to Asheville during the pandemic. “Now is a time for all of us to reevaluate our connections to friends, family, com munity and/or faith before the next thing comes along.”
ARTS & CULTURE
“By the time we decided to start the jazz trio, we had all seen, heard and experienced jazz in varied degrees and in different spaces and styles,” says guitarist Raustol, who
The Altamont Jazz Project will play Wednesday, Sept. 21 and Wednesday, Sept. 28 at Finch Gourmet Market & Wine Bar, 10 All Souls Crescent, 5-7 p.m. The Finch shows will move to Saturdays, 12:30-2:30 p.m., starting in October. The band plays Sunday brunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at Skylaranna Hotel & Resort, 2075 N. Rugby Road, Hendersonville. For more informa tion, go to avl.mx/prwv.
Don’t touch that dial
drums and Glasser plays keyboard for the Altamont Jazz Project, which takes its moniker from Thomas Wolfe’s fictional name for Asheville in his classic novel Look Homeward, Angel . “We wanted something that referenced where we are from,” Raustol explains.
“It’s the creative use of airwaves, the wireless communication between people and things to communicate ideas,” says Kimberly English, out reach manager for Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. The organization recently selected the artists who will make up the second cohort of its BMC Radio ArtTheprogram.program began last year as a collaboration among Ashevillebased modular synthesizer man ufacturer Make Noise, radio sta tion 103.3 Asheville FM and the center. The goal is to have artists investigate their own connections to the experimental and innovative spirit of Black Mountain College, to take creative risks and to share their work with the community, English explains.
The three started playing together in the sixth grade as part of a rock/ funk band called the Seven Lemonz, before shifting their focus to jazz. Vest and Glasser attend Carolina DayVestSchool.plays
This year’s participants, selected from more than 50 applicants, are:
Dave Brubeck, Art Blakey and George Benson are legends in the jazz world, but they’re not exactly household names to the typical high school student.
East Asheville Public Library is at 3 Avon Road. For more informa tion, go to avl.mx/bz0. For additional information about Meacham’s poetry collections, visit avl.mx/bz1.
After publishing several collec tions of poetry, Penny Meacham asked herself: Now what?
Around Town
“Our open call invited applicants to submit sound recordings, cell phone recordings, field recordings, meditations, movement scores, text scores, sound collages, spoken words, audio art, experimental DJ work and more.”
MUSIC MEN: From left, Gabe Glasser, Wilson Vest and Espen Raustol recent ly formed the Altamont Jazz Project. Photo by Michelle Baker
Finch owner Dema Badr hired the band after Vest and Raustol played as a jazz duo at her other business, Scout Boutique. The owners of Skylaranna Hotel, Kevin and Anna High , caught the trio
It’s safe to say Wilson Vest, Gabe Glasser and Espen Raustol are not typical high school students. The trio of 17-year-old juniors recently formed the Altamont Jazz Project, which has secured week ly gigs at Finch Gourmet Market & Wine Bar in Biltmore Village and Skylaranna Hotel & Resort in AlongHendersonville.withBrubeck, Blakey and Benson, the musicians cite Buddy Rich, Ryo Fukui, Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass and Bill Evans as influences.
process through which folks become folklore.
local film info
In the book, Hutcheson recounts Sutton’s path to fame and attempts to sort fact from fiction, conclud ing that the numerous stories, songs, eulogies and tributes about the mountain man illustrate the
Admission is free, but dona tions and T-shirt sales help fund the festival.
For more information or to pur chase tickets, go to avl.mx/bz7.
the breathtaking Nantahala Gorge surrounded by the majestic Smoky Mountains and back to Bryson City,” states the historical society in a press release. Much of the route hugs the banks of the Little Tennessee and Nantahala rivers.
Homeplace Beer Co. and Hog Hollow Wood-Fired Pizza are at 321 W. Main St., Burnsville. For more information, visit avl.mx/bzc.
• Erika Funke, a senior arts pro ducer at WVIA public radio/TV in Scranton, Pa.
MOUNTAINX.COM SEPT. 14-20, 2022 35
MOVIE REVIEWS
Grab the Popcorn
SEE HOW THEY RUN: Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan make for a delightful detective duo in this twisty murder mystery centered on a production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap in 1950s London. Director Tom George is clearly a Wes Anderson fan. Grade: B-plus — Edwin Arnaudin
— Justin McGuire X
City Lights Bookstore is at 3 E. Jackson St., Sylva. Lazy Hiker Brewing - Sylva Taproom is at 617 W. Main St. For more information, go to avl.mx/bzb.
Find
• Joo Won Park , who makes music with electronics, toys and other sources that he can record or synthesize.
The one-day trip will cover most of the operating tracks of the rail road. The track follows the route of the former Southern Railway’s Murphy Branch Line, established in 1891, with its 5% grade and many“Ourbridges.scenic rail excursion takes us from the historic depot in Bryson City through the beautiful country side of Western North Carolina, into
At 1 p.m., Neal Hutcheson will discuss his 2021 book The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton with novelist David Joy at City Lights Bookstore. At 6 p.m., Hutcheson will present a screening of his 2002 documentary This Is the Last Dam Run of Likker I’ll Ever Make at Lazy HikerTheBrewing.scrawny, long-bearded Sutton rose to international recog nition before his death in 2009 at the age of “Brazen62. and outspoken, his defi ance of the law in deference to tra dition won him a broad fan base that has multiplied exponentially since his death,” notes a press release from the events’ organizers.
CLERKS III: Writer/director Kevin Smith’s painfully unfunny retread of his 1994 indie darling is as manipulative and sappy as filmmaking gets. How the mighty have fallen! Grade: D-minus — Edwin Arnaudin full reviews and at
The train will board starting at 11 a.m. at the Bryson City Depot, 226 Everett St.
• Kamikaze Jones, an interdis ciplinary artist who is working on a series of loops using found audio and sonic ephemera from queer pornography.
All aboard
103.3 Asheville FM will begin broadcasting the selected pieces over the next few weeks.
The Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum will
The hills are alive
• Jonah Rosenberg, a Brooklynbased composer, musician, sound and multimedia designer, and charles theonia, a poet and teacher from Brooklyn.
• Brett William Naucke , an experimental composer and visual artist who recently relo cated to Asheville.
Maggie Valley native Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton got his colorful nickname after he attacked a faulty popcorn vending machine with a pool cue. But that fact is far down the list of most interesting things about the legendary moonshiner andThebootlegger.remarkable life and death of the man called the “King of Moonshine” will be in the spotlight Sunday, Sept. 18, in Sylva.
Local reviewers’ critiques of new films include:
sponsor a train excursion on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Saturday, Sept. 17.
patreon.com/ashevillemoviesashevillemovies.com IMPERIAL 48 College St., AVL, NC 28801 Above Zella’s Deli imperial-avl.com • 828-505-8455 Closed on Wednesdays Call about Private Events Asheville'sMezcalleriaonly DJ every night!
The 36th annual Music in the Mountains Folk Festival takes place Saturday, Sept. 17, 5-8:30 p.m. at Homeplace Beer Co. and Hog Hollow Wood-Fired Pizza in TheBurnsville.festival, sponsored by Toe River Arts, will honor Madison County’s Sheila Kay Adams , a seventh-generation bear er of her family’s 200-year-old ballad-singing tradition. The lineup also includes Riggs and Ritter, the Boone Trail Band and Appalachian Heartstrings.
• Casey Edwards, a local inter disciplinary academic who specializes in archives and spe cial collections.
For full artist bios and more infor mation, go to avl.mx/byz.
HIGHLAND BREWING CO.
FLEETWOOD'S Punk/Indie Karaoke, 8pm
ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Asheville Sessions ft Claire Hoke (folk, pop, blues), 7pm • Nefesh folk),(bluegrass,MountainAmericana,8:30pm
Old Time Jam, 5pm
STATIC AGE RECORDS Rose Hotel, Perishes, Fleur Girl, VV light body (dream pop, indie), 9pm
ONE BREWINGWORLD
HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm LA TAPA LOUNGE AL Lyons “StumpWater” Music (acoustic, fok), 7pm
Karen Clardy er-songwriter),(sing6pm
STORY PARLOR Skylar Gudasz, Kate Rhudy & Libby Roden bough 7:30pmsinger-songwriter),(Americana,
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Friday w/ Generous Electric and Gus & Phriends, 6:15pm
SEPTEMBERFRIDAY, 16
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Jazz Night DeCristofaro,w/Jason6pm
185 KING STREET Tools on Stools (rock, jam), 7pm
SEPTEMBERTHURSDAY, 15
Classical Cello w/Patrick, 6pm
FINGERCLUBLANDPICKIN’GOOD:
The Blushin' Roulettes' (Americana), 6pm
Seth and Sara (Ameri cana, country, pop), 3pm
RABBIT RABBIT Jack White (rock), 7pm
12SEPTEMBERWEDNESDAY,14BONESBREWERY
FLEETWOOD'S Jon Worthy and the Bends, Zillicoah & The Discs (rock'n'roll, pop punk), 8pm
DOUBLE CROWN Western Wednesday: Charles Latham and the Borrowed Band, 8pm
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR
UNDERGROUNDGIGI'S
VINEYARDSBURNTSHIRT
FRENCH BREWERYBROAD
Mr Jimmy's Big City Blues, 8pm
CAFE CANNA SpanGLISH Karaoke Patio Party, 9pm
RABBIT RABBIT Ween (alt/indie), 7pm
THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR
CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Trivia w/Billy, 7pm
SALVAGE STATION Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band w/Josh Clark’s Visible Spectrum (funk), 6:30pm, see p26
Blue Ridge Jazzway, 8pm
Friday Night Karaoke, 7pm
THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Getaway Comedy: Herbie Gill, 8pm
ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Ashevillians: a local comedy showcase, 7pm
For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. Feature, page 26 More info, pages 32-33 More info, pages 34-35
ASHEVILLE CLUB
SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/Host Caleb Beissert, 8pm
Ashe County native Tray Welling ton will play three-finger style banjo on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. at 185 King Street in Brevard. The musician is the recipient of the 2019 International Bluegrass Music Associa tion’s Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year Award. Photo courtesy of 185 King Street
THE IMPERIAL LIFE DJ Press Play (disco, funk and lo-fi house), 9pm
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm
THE BARRELHOUSE Guy Smith (blues, country, rock), 8pm
ONE BREWINGWORLDWEST
Thursday Residency w/ Ben Balmer (rootsy con temporary Americana), 7pm
HALL
WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Traditional Irish Music Session, 7pm
THE FOUNDRY HOTEL
RENDEZVOUS Albi (musique Francaise), 6pm
PISGAH COMPANYBREWING Spiro jam),(blues,Nicolopoulossoul,Americana,4pm
185 KING STREET Tyler Neal Band ft. Jeff Sipe (rock), 8pm
Jay Brown (classic country, jazz, ragtime), 6pm
BREWERYAPPALACHIANSOUTHERN
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Phirsty Phursdays w/ Lumpy Heads (Phish tribute), 9pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.
SEPT. 14-20, 2022 MOUNTAINX.COM36
Mountain Music Jam, 6pm
Wild Wednesdays, 10pm
SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm
THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Andrew Finn Magill (acoustic), 7pm
BLACK BREWINGMOUNTAIN
BLACK BREWINGMOUNTAIN
Survey Says: Family Feud Style Trivia, 7pm
Well-Crafted Wednes days w/Matt Smith, 6pm
SILVERADOS Line Dance Thursdays w/ DJ Razor, 9pm
Rum Punchlines Comedy Open Mic, 6pm
BLACK BREWINGMOUNTAIN
BOLD ASHEVILLEROCK
GREEN BREWERYMAN
CORK & KEG Siempre (acoustic,Puentefolk),8pm
• Western Carolina Writ ers ft Joshua Singleton, Jon Edwards and Nick Mac (singer-songwriter),
SILVERADOS Wednesday Night Open Jam hosted by Hamza Vandehey, 6pm
BIG PILLOW BREWING Roy Hurley (Americana), 6pm
CATAWBA BREWING BILTMORE Singo (musical bingo), 7pm
BOLD ROCK MILLS RIVER Trivia Night, 6pm
CAMDEN'S COFFEE HOUSE
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC
ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Sneezy (funk, rock, soul), 10pm
Thursday Trivia w/Billy, 6:30pm
Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm
BOLD ASHEVILLEROCK
Jason DeCristafaro (jazz), 2pm
Trivia Night w/Mindless Minutia, 7pm
•7pmDarren Nicholson Band (bluegrass), 8:30pm
Sons of Ralph (blue grass), 9pm
MOTELMEADOWLARK
MILLS RIVER BREWING The Knotty G's (soulful roots rock), 7pm
Mr Jimmy After Hours (blues), 10pm
Open Mic hosted by Kathryn O'Shea, 7pm
Stephen Evans (rock), 6pm
THE POE HOUSE Team Trivia w/Wes Ganey, 7pm
RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY Ionize Reggae, 6pm
TAPROOMDOWNTOWNHIGHLAND
RENDEZVOUS Gin Mill Pickers (Amer icana, Piedmont blues, ragtime), 6pm
BREWSKIES Karaoke, 10pm
ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743
TAPROOMDOWNTOWNHIGHLAND
Drag Music Bingo w/ Divine the Bearded Lady, 7pm
CEDAR CANTEENMOUNTAIN
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR
HIGHLAND BREWING CO. The Get Right Band (psychdelic indie rock), 7pm
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm
The Foundry Collective ft Pimps of Pompe (jazz, acoustic), 7pm
CATAWBA BREWING BILTMORE
5j Barrow (folk rock), 8pm
Beauty Parlor Comedy: Roman Fraden, 7pm
HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB
ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
FRENCH BREWERYBROAD
TUESDAYHALL
Mountain Music Jam, 6pm
MOUNTAINX.COM SEPT. 14-20, 2022 37
Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7:30pm
CORK & KEG
NOBLE CIDER Anniversary Party, 2pm, see p32
SEPTEMBERMONDAY, 19
Swing Dance & Lesson w/Swing Asheville, 7pm
12SEPTEMBERWEDNESDAY,21BONESBREWERY
SEPTEMBERTHURSDAY, 22
Red Dress Army (blues, rock), 9pm
RJ Smith (country, West ern swing, jazz), 6pm
MILLS RIVER BREWING
Peggy Ratusz Trio (blues, jazz, soul), 7pm
• Gin Mill (blues•blues,(Americana,PickersPiedmontragtime),2pmNickMac&TheNoiserock),7pm
Mr Jimmy (blues), 8pm
• Bluegrass Brunch, •12pmTraditional Irish Jam, 4pm
PISGAH COMPANYBREWING
CASCADE LOUNGE
GREEN BREWERYMAN
THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR
Mr Jimmy Duo (blues), 1pm
ASHEVILLE MUSIC
CAFE CANNA SpanGLISH Karaoke Patio Party, 9pm
Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm
GREEN BREWERYMAN
Altamont Jazz Project, 5pm, see p34
Shakey Graves w/The Ballroom Thieves (alt/ indie), 6pm
The Afghan Whigs (alt rock), 8pm
BREWSKIES
Survey Says: Family Feud Style Trivia, 7pm
ZILLICOAH BEER CO Sunday Bluegrass Jam Series, 4:30pm
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm
THE OUTPOST
185 KING STREET
WAGBAR
SEPTEMBERSUNDAY, 18
HIGHLAND TAPROOMDOWNTOWNBREWING
BREWSKIES
ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743
ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY
Pat Kelleher (traditional Irish folk), 8pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Jay Brown (classic country, jazz, ragtime), 6pm
The Feels (roots, soul, R&B), 6pm
Freshen Up Comedy Open Mic, 7pm
Tuesday Night Trivia With Your Dog, 6pm
HIGHLAND BREWING CO.
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
Gin Mill Pickers (Amer icana, Piedmont blues, ragtime), 6pm
Pianist Brian Turner, 7pm
ASHEVILLE CLUB
THE BURGER BAR C U Next Tuesday! Late Night Trivia w/Cervix-ALot, 9pm
• AmiciMusic presents “The Folk Cello”, 6pm • Moon Water w/The Grey Birds (Americana, soul), 7:30pm
THE IMPERIAL LIFE
BOLD ASHEVILLEROCK
• Old Sap Americana),(Appalachian9pm
THE IMPERIAL LIFE DJ Mad Mike: Music for the People, 9pm
RABBIT RABBIT
Early Tuesday Jam (funk), 9pm
Allan Day (rock, R&B), 6pm
Bluegrass Jam Mondays w/Sam Wharton, 7pm
Open Mic w/Taylor Martin & Special Guest, 6:30pm
URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE
Pool Saturdays,Tournament7pm
SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/Host Caleb Beissert, 8pm
Father John Misty (alt/ indie), 7pm
Well-Crafted Wednes days w/Matt Smith, 6pm
Old Time Jam, 5pm
THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN
• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Sunday Jam hosted by Spiro and Friends, 6pm SALVAGE STATION Brooks Nielsen (alt/ indie), 8pm
Old Men of the Woods (folk, pop), 1pm
TAPROOMDOWNTOWNHIGHLAND
BLACK BREWINGMOUNTAIN
BREWERYAPPALACHIANSOUTHERN
SILVERADOS Struggle Jennings (rap), 7pm
Mr Jimmy at and Friends (blues), 7pm
Mr Jimmy After Hours (blues), 10pm
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm
SALVAGE STATION
FRENCH BREWERYBROAD
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR
HIGHLAND BREWING CO.
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
WAGBAR Dave Desmelik (sing er-songwriter), 5pm
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
185 KING STREET
The John Henrys (jazz, swing), 8pm
Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm
THE IMPERIAL LIFE
Beauty Parlor Comedy: Gabe Pacheco, 7pm
CORK & KEG Soul Blue (soul, R&B), 8pm
CATAWBA BREWING BILTMORE Singo (musical bingo), 7pm
SUNNY POINT CAFÉ Albi (fingerstyle guitar), 6pm
Wednesday Night Open Jam hosted by Hamza Vandehey, 6pm
Phirsty Phursdays w/ Lumpy Heads (Phish tribute), 9pm
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm
THE IMPERIAL LIFE DJ Short Stop (soul, Latin, dance), 9pm
BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR
5 WALNUT WINE BAR
305 LOUNGE & EATERY
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Open Mic Night, 7pm
RENDEVOUS
Sunday Honky Tonk w/ Vaden Landers, 6pm
CAMDEN'S COFFEE HOUSE
TAPROOMDOWNTOWNHIGHLAND
MGB (covers, er-songwriter),sing8pm
Jazz Night DeCristofaro,w/Jason6pm
SALVAGE STATION Amy Ray Band & Katie Pruitt (folk, songwriter),singer8pm
THE POE HOUSE Team Trivia w/Wes Ganey, 7pm
Dinah's Daydream (Gypsy jazz), 5:30pm
Trivia Night w/Mindless Minutia, 7pm
HIGHLAND BREWING CO.
185 KING STREET Dave Desmelik & Friends w/Mike Ashworth and Mike Guggino, 6:30pm
RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY Andrew (singer-songwriter),Wakefield 6pm
DJ Lyric (90s & 2000s), 9pm
HEMINGWAY'S CUBA Para Gozar (Cuban), 6pm
NIGHT
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR
THE ORANGE PEEL River Whyless (folk), 9pm
Mr. Carmack w/Jon Casey (edm), 10pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.
Hearts Gone South w/ Kenny George Band (honky tonk, rock), 8pm
Wild Wednesdays, 10pm RENDEZVOUS Albi (musique Francaise), 6pm
DJ Short Stop (soul, Latin, dance), 9pm
Open Mic hosted by Kathryn O'Shea, 7pm
Beer and Hymns, 6:30pm
FINCH MARKETGOURMET
CATAWBA BREWING BILTMORE
CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Trivia w/Billy, 7pm
Thursday Trivia w/Billy, 6:30pm
Mark's House Jam and Beggar's Banquet, 3pm
THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Andrew Finn Magill (acoustic), 7pm
Coustin TL (throwback hip-hop dance party), 7pm
Old Time Jam, 5:30pm
SILVERADOS
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
BLUE BREWINGGHOSTCO.
ASHEVILLE CLUB
ONE BREWINGWORLD
SEPTEMBERTUESDAY, 20
FUNK JAM, 10PM BOTTLE RIOT
SKYLARANNA HOTEL & RESORT Altamont Jazz Project, 11am, see p34
BOOJUM COMPANYBREWING
Open Mic Willingham,w/Tony8pm
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5 WALNUT WINE BAR
THE ORANGE PEEL Demon Hunter (metal), 8pm
SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm
THE GREY EAGLE
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SALVAGE STATION Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters w/ Cristina Vane (Ameri cana), 8pm
Phuncle Sam (Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia tribute), 6pm
SEPTEMBERSATURDAY, 17
ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743
BIG PILLOW BREWING
PLĒB URBAN WINERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 4pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Tray Wellington Band (acoustic newgrass), 7pm
UNDERGROUNDGIGI'S
THE FOUNDRY HOTEL
The Foundry Collective ft Pimps of Pompe (jazz, acoustic), 7pm
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR
Tuesday Bluegrass Jam, 6pm
Rum Punchlines Comedy Open Mic, 6pm
Not Rocket Science Trivia, 6:30pm
UNDERGROUNDGIGI'S
SILVERADOS Dark City Rock Fest, 6pm
CASCADE LOUNGE Industry Night, 6pm
Chris Jamison's Ghost (singer songwriter), 2pm
THE IMPERIAL LIFE DJ Ek Balam (lo-fi, electronic, soul, funk), 9pm
SILVERADOS
Don't Tell Show),(DowntownComedySecret11pm
Turntable Tuesday w/DJ Lil Meow Meow, 7pm
ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY
BLACK BREWINGMOUNTAIN
BENT CREEK BISTRO Old Men of the Woods (folk, pop), 1pm
Open Jam w/Tall Paul, 7:30pm
BOLD ASHEVILLEROCK
HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm
SALVAGE STATION Steel Pulse (reggae), 8pm
FLEETWOOD'S Lydia Lunch w/Tim Dahl (spoken word, punk), 8pm
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ARIES (March 21-April 19): My reader Monica Ballard has this advice for you Aries folks: “If you don’t vividly ask for and eagerly welcome the gifts the Universe has in store for you, you may have to settle for trinkets and baubles. So never settle.” That’s always useful counsel for you Rams. And in the coming weeks, you will be wise to heed it with extra intensity. Here’s a good metaphor to spur you on: Don’t fill up on junk snacks or glitzy hors d’oeuvres. Instead, hold out for gourmet feasts featuring healthy, delectable entrées.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “I am lonely, yet not everybody will do,” observed Piscean author Anaïs Nin. “Some people fill the gaps, and others emphasize my loneliness,” she concluded. According to my reading of the astrological omens, Pisces, it’s your task right now to identify which people intensify your loneliness and which really do fill the gaps. And then devote yourself with extra care to cultivating your connections with the gap-fillers. Loneliness is sometimes a good thing — a state that helps you renew and deepen your communion with your deep self. But I don’t belief that’s your assignment these days. Instead, you’ll be wise to experience intimacy that enriches your sense of feeling at home in the world. You’ll thrive by consorting with allies who sweeten your love of life.
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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Sometimes serendipity is just intention unmasked,” said Sagittarian author Elizabeth Berg. I suspect her theory will be true for you in the coming weeks. You have done an adroit job of formulating your intentions and collecting the information you need to carry out your intentions. What may be best now is to relax your focus as you make room for life to respond to your diligent preparations.
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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Tips to get the most out of the next six weeks: 1. Be the cautiously optimistic voice of reason. Be the methodical motivator who prods and inspires. Organize as you uplift. Encourage others as you build efficiency. 2. Don’t take other people’s apparent stupidity or rudeness as personal affronts. Try to understand how the suffering they have endured may have led to their behavior. 3. Be your own father. Guide yourself as a wise and benevolent male elder would. 4. Seek new ways to experience euphoria and enchantment, with an emphasis on what pleasures will also make you healthier.
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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s impossible to be perfect. It’s neither healthy nor productive to obsess on perfectionism. You know these things. You understand you can’t afford to get bogged down in overthinking, overreaching and overpolishing. And when you are at your best, you sublimate such manic urges. You transform them into the elegant intention to clarify and refine and refresh. With grace and care, you express useful beauty instead of aiming for hyper-immaculate precision. I believe that in the coming weeks, dear Virgo, you will be a master of these services — skilled at performing them for yourself and others.
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If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember the Russian proverb: “Doveryai, no proveryai,” trust but verify. When answering classified ads, always err on the side of caution. Especially beware of any party asking you to give them financial or identification information. The Mountain Xpress cannot be responsible for ensuring that each advertising client is legitimate. Please report scams to advertise@mountainx.com
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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): According to Libran poet T. S. Eliot, “What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” Those are your guiding thoughts for the coming days, Libra. You’re almost ready to start fresh; you’re on the verge of being able to start planning your launch date or grand opening. Now all you have to do is create a big crisp emptiness where the next phase will have plenty of room to germinate. The best way to do that is to finish the old process as completely as possible.
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“I’m a great believer in luck,” said my Uncle Ned. “I’ve found that the harder I work, the more luck I have.” He was correct, but it’s also true that luck sometimes surges your way when you’ve taken a break from your hard work.
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GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Your mind is sometimes a lush and beautiful maze that you get lost in. Is that a problem? Now and then it is, yes. But just as often, it’s an entertaining blessing. As you wander around amidst the lavish finery, not quite sure of where you are or where you’re going, you often make discoveries that rouse your half-dormant potentials. You luckily stumble into unforeseen insights you didn’t realize you needed to know. I believe the description I just articulated fits your current ramble through the amazing maze. My advice: Don’t be in a mad rush to escape. Allow this dizzying but dazzling expedition to offer you all its rich teachings.
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CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Poetry is a life-cher ishing force,” said Pulitzer Prize-winner Mary Oliver, who published 33 volumes of poetry and read hundreds of other poets. Her statement isn’t true for everyone, of course. To reach the point where reading poetry provides our souls with nourish ment, we may have to work hard to learn how to appreciate it. Some of us don’t have the leisure or temperament to do so. In any case, Cancerian, what are your life-cherishing forces? What influences inspire you to know and feel all that’s most precious about your time on earth? Now would be an excellent time to ruminate on those treasures — and take steps to nurture them with tender ingenuity.
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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Now and then, you slip into phases when you’re poised on the brink of either self-damage or self-discovery. You wobble and lurch on the borderline where self-undoing vies with self-creation. Whenever this situation arises, here are key questions to ask yourself: Is there a strategy you can implement to ensure that you glide into self-discovery and self-creation? Is there a homing thought that will lure you away from the perverse temptations of self-damage and self-undoing? The answers to these queries are always yes — if you regard love as your top priority and if you serve the cause of love over every other consideration.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian author Richard Ford has advice for writers: “Find what causes a commotion in your heart. Find a way to write about that.” I will amend his counsel to apply to all of you non-writers, as well. By my reckoning, the coming weeks will be prime time to be gleefully honest as you identify what causes commotions in your heart. Why should you do that? Because it will lead you to the good decisions you need to make in the coming months. As you attend to this holy homework, I suggest you direct the following invitation to the universe: “Beguile me, mystify me, delight me, fascinate me, and rouse me to feel deep, delicious feelings.”
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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Please promise me you will respect and revere your glorious star power in the coming weeks. I feel it’s important, both to you and those whose lives you touch, that you exalt and exult in your access to your magnificence. For everyone’s benefit, you should play freely with the art of being majestic, regal and sovereign. To do this right, you must refrain from indulging in trivial wishes, passing fancies, and minor attractions. You must give yourself to what’s stellar. You must serve your holiest longings, your riveting dreams, and your thrilling hopes.
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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I will remind you about a potential superpower that is your birthright to develop: You can help people to act in service to the deepest truths and strongest love. You can even teach them how to do it. Have you been ripening this talent in 2022? Have you been bringing it more to the forefront of your relationships? I hope so. The coming months will stir you to go further than ever before in expressing this gift. For best results, take a vow to nurture the deepest truths and strongest love in all your thoughts and dealings with others.
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The following is a list of unclaimed firearms currently in possession of the Asheville Police Department: Black/ Brown, Remington, 870, 12 ga; Black, Kel-Tec, P-32, 32 cal; Blue/Silver, Kel-Tec, P-11, 9mm; Black, Smith & Wesson, Bodyguard, 38 cal; Black, Smith & Wesson, Bodyguard, 38 cal; Black, Mossberg, 715T, 22 cal; Black, Mossberg, Maverick, 12 ga; Black/Silver, Ruger, P97DC, 45 cal; Brown, Glenfield, 25, 22 cal; Black/Brown, NEF, R92, 22 cal; Black/Brown, Kel-Tec, PF-9, 9mm; Black/Cream, Lorcin, L22, 22 cal; Black, MAB, A, 6.35 cal; Black/Silver, Taurus PT, 111 Pro, 9mm; Black/Silver,Ruger, SR9,
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37 “Morning on the Seine” painter 38 Not let go to waste 39 Singer who funded Central Park’s Strawberry Fields memorial 40 Best-selling video game 1997,beginningseriesinforshort 42 “Get it?” 43 Curved lines on sheet music 45 Muscle 47 Had for lunch 48 Promotional buzz 49 Queasy, perhaps 51 “Got it!” 53 “Dear” one 54 Fruity drinks 55 Nitpicker’s lead-in … or a response to 20-, 28- and 49-Across, if they were posed as questions 60 Big name in acne medication 61 It winds up on a fishing boat 62 Welty with a Pulitzer 66 Threw one’s hat in the ring 67 Defer a informallydecision, 68 Junk ___ 69 First musician to have his first five albums debut at #1 70 Chooses 71 Construct DOWN 1 Texting format, in brief 2 Iced ___ 3 First in line? 4 attendeesReunion 5 Asgard trickster 6 guides?High-minded 7 Glow 8 Distinctive BMW feature 9 Some cookedslow-meals 10 Nail polish layer 11 Hankering 12 Lead-in to bottle or batter 14 Goose “TopMaverick,vis-à-visinGun” 21 Place for a stud 22 Basic settingcamera 23 Sneak attack 24 Insultingly small 25 Approachgradually 29 conveyancesSci-fi 30 Crowns collectivelyscepters,and 32 Merely implied 33 Ladybug, for one 34 Toughens 37 Grammy-winningAimee 41 Played with, as a mustache 44 Not made up 46 Sports scores 49 How cardsblackjackaredealt 50 Sense orientation?of 52 companyProductionthat’s its founder’s name spelled backward 55 One of six in this clue 56 Reason to cram 57 Wildcat with tufted ears 58 Something to pitch 59 Entice 63 Carry a balance 64 Remote button 65 Coffee table book subject edited by Will Shortz | No. 0810 | PUZZLE BY KAREN LURIE THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE 12345 6789 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 OR AL AD Z MOM S TA CO S CU E RE VE L IN AS CR AB BL EG AM E SK IT RI P RI VA LE D PI MP AB IT SE EP EL F ER OS WH AT TI LE IS WO RT H OA RS SL AS H NO RI ON T BA A HU P MA N ST AR RY TA KE IT HY GI ENE V ISI ON S TW OP OI NT S ST RA P OD D EM BE R UH URU DI E LE AK Y R AN D B E CO TR EE
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9mm; Black/Brown, EIG, E15, 22 cal; Brown/Silver, Jennings, J22, 22 cal; Brown/Silver, Raven, MP-25, 25 cal; Black/Silver, Sig Sauer, P238, 38 cal; Black, CZ, P-10C, 9mm; Black, Ruger, LCP, 9mm; Black, Jennings, T380, 38 cal; Black/Silver, Ruger, SP101, 357 cal; Black/Silver, Taurus, 38 Special, 38 cal; Black/Brown, Smith & Wesson, 38 Special, 38 cal ; Black, Crusader, ST 15, 223; Black/Brown, Charter Arms, 38 Special, 38 cal; Black/Silver, Accu-tek, AT-380, 38 cal; Black, Marlin, 25, 22 cal; Black/Silver, FEG, PA-63, 9mm; Black, Colt, 38 cal; Black/Brown, RG, MOD RG 31, 38 cal; Black, Smith & Wesson, Airweight, 38 cal; Black, Ruger, LC95, 9mm; Black/Silver, Smith & Wesson, 38 Special, 38 cal; Black, Beretta, 21A, 22 LR; Brown/Silver, RG, RG 25, 25 cal; Black/Brown, Armi, Tanfoglio, 25 cal; Black, Astra, Unceta C, 38 cal; Black, Harrington & Richardson, Pardner, 20 ga; Black/Brown, Springfield, 1911, 45 cal; Black, Colt, Police Positiv, 32 cal; Black/Silver, SCCY, CPX2, 9mm; Silver/White, Senorita, B, 22 cal; Black/Silver, Smith & Wesson, DS40 VE, 40 cal; Black, Colt, New Frontier, 22 cal; Black/Brown, Marlin, 39A, 22 cal; Black/Gray, Glock, 43, 9mm; Black/Silver, PW Arms, PA-63, 9 x 18mm; Brown/Silver, Harrington & Richardson, 949, 22 cal; Black/Silver, Taurus, PT 738, 38 cal; Black, Glock, 20, 10mm; Black, Hi-Point, C9, 9mm; Black, Smith & Wesson, 14-4, 38 cal. Anyone with a legitimate claim or interest in this property must contact the Asheville Police Department within 30 days from the date of this publication. Any items not claimed within 30 days will
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