Mountain Xpress 11.09.22

OU R 29TH Y E A R OF W E E K LY I N DE PE N DE N T N E W S, A RTS & E V E N TS FOR W E STE R N NORTH CA ROL I NA VOL . 29 NO. 15 NOV. 9 -15, 2022

C O NT E NT S

FEATURES

PAGE 8

NEWS

HEFTY THEFTS 10 SETTLING IN Pro bono lawyers assist Asheville’s Afghan evacuees

Shoplifting numbers are on the rise in Asheville. In response, some local shop owners have gotten creative about theft prevention.

COVER IMAGE Brent Brown

WELLNESS

NEWS

12 PINNED DOWN? Pinners Cover residents blast process for proposed development

16 BABY BLUES Birth professionals lament labor unit closures

COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

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LETTERS

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CARTOON: MOLTON

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CARTOON: BRENT BROWN

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COMMENTARY

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NEWS

13 BUNCOMBE BEAT

A&C

18 THE HUMBLE STORYTELLER Mars Hill University launches the Bobby McMillon Legacy Project

14 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 16 WELLNESS 18 ARTS & CULTURE 26 CLUBLAND

A&C

24 AROUND TOWN Pop-up art show will feature Beatles cartoons and more

30 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 30 CLASSIFIEDS 31 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

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OPINION

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

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Veterans for Peace Western North Carolina will again this year assemble in remembrance and reclamation of the origins of Armistice Day. Over 100 years ago, the world celebrated peace as a universal principle. The First World War had just ended, and nations mourning their dead collectively called for an end to all wars. Armistice Day was born and was designated as “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated.”

After World War II, the U.S. Congress decided to rebrand Nov. 11 as Veterans Day. Honoring the warrior quickly morphed into honoring the military and glorifying war. Armistice Day was flipped from a day for peace into a day for displays of militarism.

Join us at the WNC Veterans Memorial near the Buncombe County Courthouse at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, for an hour of reflections on the local influence of militarism, readings and music leading up to hearing bells ring 11 times in honoring that day 104 years

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ago when the world celebrated the end of “the war to end all wars.”

— Gerry Werhan Asheville

It’s in our hands to transform schools and values It’s encouraging to read opinions addressing Olivia Senor’s question, “Does pushing students to succeed foster achievement or cause harm?” [“Emphasis on Excellence: Does Pushing Students to Succeed Foster Achievement or Cause Harm?” Sept.

21, Xpress]. Olivia is right on target.

This reinforces my hope for the world that younger adults are facing.

I’ve advocated that we must transform our educational system, starting with public schools. But there’s a big caveat in the way. It’s our way of life. Our dominant culture’s values are psychologically, physically, spiritually and socially stressful and toxic — poisonous.

This affects how we live individually, in our families at home and the larger human family. Schools will not change until we develop a revolutionary, nonviolent transformation of our cultural values.

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In other words, education is not a single, standalone issue.

I urge young adults to question your assumptions. Think deeply about who we are and how we can live more fully and freely. Dare to be free to follow your own hearts and not be led by today’s conventional thinking that stifles and corrupts our ideals of democracies. Pay attention to local groups that attempt to educate the public on issues going beyond the trivializing entertainment of our media. This affects your own future.

Do the brave and life-shaking work of examining the truth of your life and the cultural values. This is no easy task in a society of economic inequality, wealthy elites and political leaders unwilling or unable to institute transformational changes in our institutions.

If you are searching for your place in life, or even to be comfortable and secure, this is the time to expand your life to a bigger You as part of our community. Merely blaming the parents or the schools in isolation is not enough. It’s our system, our way of life. Parents do not raise children in isolation, and our culture does not support attuned, present, responsive, connected parenting. We need to take a good hard look at the challenges of raising children in a socially toxic environment that includes economic pressures on parents and schools, violence, inequality and a polarized political system.

Education is much bigger than schooling. There is much talk about schooling children, but what about your own education that helps you grow and find meaning in life? I recommend reading the classics as one way to get started. Classics are books that have universal appeal and have endured over time. There are various lists you can Google.

J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Orwell’s 1984 are examples.

Read for your own interest, not what formal schooling requires.

Here’s a question to ponder: “What do you really want out of life?”

Check out Michael Ringer’s short talk on YouTube that might motivate you to search for bigger truths in your process of lifelong learning.

Also, check out Dr. Gabor Maté’s recent book The Myth of Normal.

On YouTube, he talks about the dynamics that distort human development and the modern capitalistic wisdom that erodes our instincts.

Olivia Senor’s question is relevant: “How can we work to change not only the culture at the school but also within ourselves?”

— Ed Sacco Asheville

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

Write city leaders about Merrimon Avenue disaster Now that we are experiencing the effects of the changes to Merrimon Avenue and see that it is not working (nor should ever have been approved), let’s write to the people elected to do what is right for us to try to get this fixed.

Many folks having to contend with this terrible, wrongful decision write daily about their experiences of trying to travel Merrimon or access it from any side street or business on Nextdoor Beaverdam. I think the letters are better directed to our city leaders.

Take what’s left of the money to stop this endeavor now and use the funds to repaint the lines on Merrimon to their former, workable configuration.

Instead of creating this disaster, sidewalks could have been provided in the areas where they are so desperately needed.

— Patricia Wald Asheville

A threat to our voting rights We are facing one of the gravest challenges to our democracy and

voting rights here in North Carolina: The Moore v. Harper case brought by two North Carolina Republican legislators to the U.S. Supreme Court. The N.C. Supreme Court struck down the partisan gerrymandered congressional district maps that the Republican-controlled state legislature had devised. This case is set to be heard on Dec. 7.

This deeply concerns me for several reasons. I personally have been monitoring the Buncombe County Board of Elections’ meetings weekly since July and have been impressed with the transparent and procedurally correct manner in which they have proceeded to deal with many challenging issues and still continue with the big job of processing mail-in ballots, checking that everything on the mailed early voting ballot envelope and ballot match up and meet the strict criteria for inclusion in the count. This has restored my faith in the integrity of our electoral system.

Our courts and not local politicians need to make the decisions as to whether submitted district voting maps are fair. I call on the U.S. Supreme Court to back the finding of the North Carolina courts and reject this blatant and unfair partisan tactic to interfere with safe and fair elections in North Carolina.

— Catherine Anne Walsh Asheville

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OPINION

A step beyond

Don’t just celebrate Native American heritage — take it seriously

BY BEN STEERE November is National Native American Heritage Month, and for those of us who teach in the Cherokee Studies Program at Western Carolina University, it’s the time of year when our inboxes light up with requests from people seeking resources to learn about Cherokee culture and history.

I’ll share some of those resources here, but first, I want to share an idea. This year, don’t just “celebrate” Native American heritage: Take it seriously. Far too often, even well-meaning Native American Heritage Month programs present Indigenous cultural practices as interesting or exotic, but not clearly relevant to the world at large.

But Indigenous heritage, which includes a wide range of knowledge, beliefs and practices, should be taken just as seriously as Western scholarship when policymakers are looking for solutions to contemporary problems. Indigenous heritage is not just important for its cultural value: It offers solutions to some of the biggest problems we face as a society today.

Several recent books and articles

by Cherokee scholars and their colleagues prove this point.

IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING The new book Sounds of Tohi: Cherokee Health and Well-Being in Southern Appalachia (University of Alabama Press, 2022), written by WCU Cherokee Studies Program faculty Lisa Lefler (director of the Culturally Based Native Health Program) and Tom Belt (a Cherokee elder and retired coordinator of the Cherokee Language Program), arrives at a moment when America is having a mass reckoning with mental health crises.

Through a series of dialogues over seven chapters, Lefler and Belt explore the Cherokee concept of tohi, a holistic understanding of health and well-being. It links health with cultural values and connection with other people and the environment. The book teaches readers about Cherokee culture, history and philosophy, and it makes a convincing argument to take Indigenous knowledge seriously when it comes to improving health.

Melissa Lewis, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and associate research professor at the University of

BEN STEERE

“Indigenous heritage offers solutions to some of the biggest problems we face as a society today.”

Minnesota Medical School, conducts research on the efficacy of Indigenous wellness programs that employ a “culture as prevention/treatment” model.

In a recent long-term, co-authored study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, she and her colleagues demonstrate that participants in the Remember the Removal Program, a cultural leadership program developed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Cherokee Nation, had significantly improved diet and exercise measures that lasted six months after the program’s completion.

It is one of the first quantitative medical studies of its kind to show the positive health effects of cultural learning. This study has impacts beyond Cherokee country: It offers important advice for wellness programs that fail to consider the important connections between culture and physical health. You can learn more about Lewis’ work online at OsiyoTV, the Cherokee Nation’s award-winning documentary series.

CREATING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES Indigenous knowledge systems are also relevant to pressing ques-

tions about the economy. Sovereign Entrepreneurs: Cherokee SmallBusiness Owners and the Making of Economic Sovereignty (University of North Carolina Press, 2019),

by Courtney Lewis, citizen of the Cherokee Nation and associate professor at Duke University, is a detailed anthropological study that explores how Cherokee small-business owners on the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians responded to the challenges of the Great Recession in 2009.

Winner of the 2020 Mooney Award from the Southern Anthropological Society, this book is both a sensitive ethnography and a rigorous economic study that highlights the important roles small businesses play in creating healthy, resilient communities.

My final recommendation for your Native American Heritage Month reading list is about the environment: Roots of Our Renewal: Ethnobotany and Cherokee Environmental Governance (University of Minnesota Press, 2015) by Clint Carroll, Cherokee Nation citizen and associate professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Carroll’s book is full of specific information about Cherokee environmental knowledge, but more broadly it argues that Cherokee and other Indigenous people have been active stewards of American landscapes for thousands of years. Their knowledge, based on millennia of careful observations of the natural world, will be crucial for addressing current environmental problems, from preventing megawildfires to developing more sustainable farming methods.

As these Cherokee scholars and their colleagues show through their cutting-edge research, Native American heritage isn’t just “interesting” or “unique.” It includes a holistic body of knowledge about health, wellness, economics and environment.

This knowledge is grounded in both a scientific understanding of the world and an awareness of the importance of the connections between communities, culture, nature and well-being.

This heritage isn’t just worthy of celebration, it is relevant to addressing the world’s most pressing problems.

Ben Steere is an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at Western Carolina University and a member of the Cherokee Studies Program faculty. X MOUNTAINX.COM

NOV. 9-15, 2022

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NEWS

Hefty thefts

APD, local retailers team up to fight shoplifting

BY CARMELA CARUSO carmela.caruso@yahoo.com After a reduction in the number of incidents reported to the Asheville Police Department in 2021, the shoplifting numbers are rising again. As of Oct. 23, 1,094 such incidents had been reported in the city this year, compared with 971 for all of 2021. Still, the 2022 numbers are slightly lower than those for the same period in both 2020 and 2019.

Xpress reviewed 70 of this year’s reports. Those from big-box stores generally concerned merchandise worth hundreds of dollars and sometimes over $1,000. At smaller independent businesses downtown, in West Asheville and Biltmore Village, most of the thefts were of items costing less than $100.

Several area gas stations reported cases involving only a few dollars and, in at least one instance, a mere 85 cents.

But even petty thefts are significant, says Bill Davis, APD public information officer. (On Oct. 28, shortly after speaking with Xpress for this article, Davis left the department.) “You think it’s just a little pack of gum. Well, if it’s gum today, what’s it going to be tomorrow?” he points out.

Under state law, larceny involving items valued at up to $1,000 is typically considered a misdemeanor; beyond that threshold, it’s a felony. But a number of factors, including exiting through a fire door, tampering with product codes to obtain items for less than the actual price or “removing, destroying or deactivating a component of an anti-shoplifting or inventory control device,” can elevate lesser thefts to a felony charge.

In June 2021, the APD announced that, due to staffing shortages, officers would no longer respond to calls for

COMMERCE WITH A CONSCIENCE: Some local stores have gotten creative about theft prevention. Instant Karma’s Lindsay Dunbar says she’s seen this philosophical message posted in the shop stop potential shoplifters. Photo by Lindsay Dunbar a number of crimes, including “theft under $1,000 where there is no suspect information.” But that doesn’t mean they want the public to stop reporting such incidents, stresses Davis. Instead, businesses and individuals are encouraged to self-report via the department’s online system.

“The crime analyst or the detectives themselves, they can look at the possible trends, possible areas that are getting hit harder with criminal activity and then adjust accordingly with patrol efforts and other manpower efforts,” he explains.

BIG-TIME CRIME More than half of this year’s shoplifting cases — 619, all told — were

reported by businesses along Tunnel Road. Several big-box stores, including Target and Walmart, have reported over 100 incidents each. While neither store was willing to discuss the specifics of those thefts, Robert Arrieta, senior manager at Walmart Media Relations, said the retailer is “committed to working with local law enforcement officials.”

Similarly, Target spokesperson Joe Unger said the company reports thefts “whenever a guest or team member’s safety is in question or if a situation is disrupting our business.” He added that the company works with local law enforcement “on an ongoing basis to address organized retail crime.”

Last month, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with

the APD, uncovered an organized theft ring and charged 14 people, including the owners and some employees of Denny’s Jewelry & Pawn in Arden, with organized retail theft, a felony.

The stolen items came from stores across the county — including Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Sportsman’s Warehouse — and had an estimated total value of more than $150,000.

And in April and May of this year, in response to reports of increasingly brazen shoplifting at big-box stores along Tunnel Road, the APD conducted special operations that resulted in more than 50 arrests. Many suspects were charged with multiple offenses, including possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. “There seems to be, with a lot of these petty crimes,

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a connection to opioid addiction, specifically fentanyl,” notes Capt.

Joe Silberman.

The police, he explains, were able to work with those stores both because of the large number of thefts they’ve had and because they already had strategies in place, such as high-quality camera and security systems and dedicated loss-prevention professionals on staff, that would help ensure arrests could be made.

According to Silberman, the APD has also carried out other operations that haven’t been publicized.

Although he wasn’t able to share the details for fear of disrupting those efforts, he did say, “There’s a downtown initiative going on right now to try to get some level of relief to businesses in the central business district,” including smaller, mom and pop shops.

EVEN SMALL LOSSES ADD UP As of Oct. 23, 44 shoplifting incidents had been reported in downtown Asheville this year, which is comparable to the figures for the same period in 2021 and 2019. In 2020, however, there were just 33 such reports during those months. And even small-scale theft can have a big impact when it happens regularly, says Carmen Cabrera, general manager of Mast General Store’s downtown Asheville location.

“They come in really quickly and leave really quickly, or they shop for a while, and we have to watch them,” she explains. “It’s generally one or two items at a time, but because of the frequency, it definitely adds up.”

There are thefts almost daily, she says, and the store loses several hundred dollars a week.

Staff members try to be vigilant, and the store also uses security tags and a camera system. But Cabrera says she doesn’t usually file a report unless the total value of the stolen items is more than $100, because the process is so time-consuming. She says it can sometimes take hours to capture a clear image of the perpetrator from the cameras, and even then, it may not provide enough detail to enable police to identify the person.

GETTING CREATIVE Still, some area businesses report that incorporating a variety of anti-shoplifting practices has yielded positive results. Lindsay Dunbar, the sales manager at Instant Karma in West Asheville, says local retailers use social media to alert one another to suspected shoplifters. Instant Karma also keeps photos of known perps

“It’s generally one or two items at a time, but it definitely adds up.”

— Carmen Cabrera, Mast General Store behind the counter to help staff members recognize repeat offenders.

Having worked in the store for a number of years, Dunbar says she’s developed an intuitive sense of whom to watch. “Body language tells a lot.

You can tell when someone’s uncomfortable and doesn’t want to be bothered, or when they aren’t giving any eye contact [because] they don’t want you to recognize them.” In those situations, she says, greeting the person or saying, “Hey, I remember you” can make them turn around and leave.

At Instant Karma, theft often involves smaller items — things like crystals, rings and bracelets — that can be pocketed or concealed in the hand. In the past year, the store has added new display cases for its more expensive jewelry. Items costing less than $10 aren’t kept behind glass, but the business has installed additional cameras and hung a “Karma Is Real Do Not Steal” sign that Dunbar says she’s seen deter would-be shoplifters, who actually put back palmed merchandise after reading it.

Lisa Genevieve Ziemer, who owns VaVaVooom boutique, says a combination of security cameras, locked cases and sensors on most items has kept theft to a minimum at both the downtown and West Asheville stores. She also participates in a merchant watch program with other local retailers.

But paired with those measures are efforts to build positive relationships with customers. “We happily provide information and referrals on all aspects of sexuality, which helps to create a sense of community,” notes Ziemer.

And that, in turn, “helps others see us as contributing as a local organization, rather than as some unknown corporate entity.” In the same vein, her business partners with the Western North Carolina AIDS Project to distribute free condoms, which Ziemer says has helped discourage shoplifting among younger adults.

And meanwhile, despite the APD’s current staffing issues, Davis says the department remains committed to supporting the local community and preventing theft. “Nobody likes to see any kind of shoplifting or theft, whether it’s the big-box stores or the local businesses just trying to make a living. If they ever have a concern, we want them to contact us.” X MOUNTAINX.COM

NOV. 9-15, 2022

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NEWS

Settling in

Pro bono lawyers assist Asheville’s Afghan evacuees

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN jwakeman@mountainx.com In August 2021, the Taliban violently took control of Afghanistan, and over 120,000 Afghans evacuated the country in the ensuing weeks. Many of those who fled had worked with the United States military, nongovernmental organizations or the media, and they were welcomed into the U.S. through the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Allies Welcome — including more than 120 evacuees who made their way to the Asheville area between November 2021 and February.

Over a year later, 76 Afghan evacuees remain in Western North Carolina. (The rest have moved to be with extended family elsewhere in the U.S.) Their focus has turned to filing immigration applications to remain in the country.

Katie Russell Miller, managing director of pro bono programs for Asheville-based nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services, says that process has proved challenging. Area nonprofits that helped initially resettle the evacuees, including Lutheran Services Carolinas and Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, had voiced concern in March that national organizations were unable to meet the immense and unexpected need for pro bono legal representation in the Afghans’ immigration cases.

Evacuees “were finding after months and months of waiting that [it wasn’t happening],” Miller says.

Immigration attorneys must determine which of numerous avenues works best for each Afghan national to remain in the U.S. lawfully and permanently. Navigating between those options can be complicated, and individuals who want to apply for asylum in the U.S. generally only have one year from their arrival date to do so, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

“The clock was ticking,” Miller says.

So, area lawyers rose to the occasion.

‘UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION’ Pisgah Legal Services has previously represented immigration clients from around the world. Yet Jacob Oakes, who directs the nonprofit’s immigration program and manages its Afghan Asylum Project, calls the latest influx of evacuees an “unprecedented 10

NOV. 9-15, 2022

situation” and a “learning experience” due to its breadth and magnitude.

People seeking permanent status in the U.S. apply for what’s called an “immigration remedy,” explains Oakes.

Pisgah Legal Services mostly assisted Asheville evacuees in applying for asylum, the only remedy for which most of them qualify. Being granted asylum would allow them to remain in the U.S. permanently and have a path to lawful permanent residency (also known as a green card) and eventual citizenship.

“We’re helping them to pursue any and all possibilities if we can,” he says.

For all the evacuees, “their ultimate goal is permanent status here.”

Some asylum cases are individuals.

Other cases may also include a spouse or minor children, so Pisgah Legal Services is assisting over 90 people worldwide who may benefit from these cases, Miller adds.

About 30 immediate family members of those being represented are in Afghanistan currently, Oakes explains. In some cases, during the haste of the evacuation, the evacuees left behind families who have since been threatened with violence.

“Many are living in hiding and facing threats from the Taliban,” Miller says. “If our clients secure asylum in the U.S., they can then begin a lengthy process of seeking permission to bring their spouses and children to safety in the U.S.” Immigration rules set particular limits on who can be granted asylum status, Oakes says. Applicants must prove they have been persecuted in their home country or have a well-founded fear of persecution, based on a protected characteristic such as religion, race, ethnicity, political opinion or social group.

“Even if you’ve suffered harm or would be likely to suffer harm, if that harm is not motivated by animus toward a [protected] characteristic that you possess, you might not be able to be granted asylum,” Oakes explains. “And so, we have to be really deliberate about the way that we present these cases.”

The evacuees in Asheville include at-risk women, people from minority ethnic groups, those who were connected with the prior Afghan government and people who were associated with the U.S. military, Oakes says.

Some speak English well, some speak

MOUNTAINX.COM

STEERING THE SHIP: Jacob Oakes, left, director of Pisgah Legal Services’ immigration program and manager of its Afghan Asylum Project, and Katie Russell Miller, managing director of Pisgah Legal Services’ pro bono programs, are coordinating applications to seek asylum for dozens of Afghan evacuees.

Photo courtesy of Evie White limited English, and “we have individuals who can’t read or write in any language,” he adds.

LEGAL LIFT The Afghan Asylum Project at Pisgah Legal Services relies on 52 volunteer attorneys — from Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh, Columbia and Charleston, S.C., and the Washington, D.C. area — to work on the asylum cases, says Miller.

As of Nov. 1, Pisgah Legal Services had filed asylum applications for 38 clients, who will undergo asylum interviews in Arlington, Va., explains Miller. Those interviews, if successful, could grant asylum to 61 adults and minors currently living in the U.S., she says. All interviews are expected to be completed by the end of November.

Approximately 30 volunteer attorneys helped prepare the applications, and about half of those attorneys committed to representing the cases at the asylum interviews in Arlington, Oakes says. Other volunteers are helping the Afghan Asylum Project effort with tasks like completing client intakes, gathering documents needed for asylum applications and transporting clients to appointments.

All 50 of Lutheran Services’ clients remaining in WNC have filed an asylum application, according to Hanna DeMarcus, resettlement director for Lutheran Services Asheville. She says Pisgah Legal is assisting nearly all of Lutheran Services’ Afghan clients.

(Two families are being helped by private attorneys who are working pro bono.) More than half of those evacuees have completed their asylum interviews in Arlington, DeMarcus says.

FRESH STARTS As the evacuees wait for clarity on their legal status, those who’ve stayed in Asheville are on a positive path. “We are happy to report that every household remaining in the area found stable housing and that at least one member of each household has found full-time employment,” DeMarcus says. Lutheran Services still assists clients who ask for help with medical referrals, job searches and other issues.

Noele Aabye from Catholic Charities originally settled 42 individuals in Asheville, and 26 of them remain in WNC. Those evacuees include three families, with five school-age children among them, and several men who were separated from spouses and families in Afghanistan.

All 26 are working or studying, and some are doing both, Aabye says. A few are working in caregiver roles in the home, and 19 are “working at least one job — many with two or even three,” she explains.

These jobs include positions in manufacturing, hotels and restaurants. At least one person has an administrative role. “Some have moved on from their first, entry-level jobs and are now training for careers that are more closely aligned with what they had done [in Afghanistan],” Aabye says.

A few individuals are in the English program at A-B Tech, and others are taking regular coursework to complete core requirements toward a degree at the community college.

“That’s very exciting,” Aabye says.

“Because I know a year ago, those dreams seemed really far away.” X

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11

NEWS

Pinned down?

Pinners Cove residents blast process for proposed development

BY SARA MURPHY smurphy@mountainx.com When Minneapolis-based developer KLP Pinners EAT LLC applied to rezone 73 acres for a mountaintop development near Pinners Cove Road last December, it was not prepared for the community pushback. Led by 30-year resident Scott Kuhlman, neighbors of the property formed the Say No to Pinners Cove Rezoning group and got to work.

They collected hundreds of signatures on an online petition against the project, displayed yard signs and even purchased a billboard.

When the rezoning application came before the Buncombe County Planning Board Jan. 24, over 40 residents had already submitted written public comments, and roughly the same number voiced their opposition during the meeting itself. Concerns focused on the lack of available infrastructure to support a large development, environmental damage from erosion and loss of the area’s rural character.

The Planning Board subsequently voted 7-1 not to recommend the rezoning to the county Board of Commissioners, and the developers pulled their request before the commissioners could consider it.

“We were thrilled, but we knew that this developer was going to figure out [an]other approach,” says resident Mignon Durham, one of the most vocal opponents of the development.

In May, KLP filed a new application for the same 176-acre property (avl.mx/c4q). This time, instead of a rezoning request that would have to be approved by the Board of Commissioners, the company submitted a site plan for a 269-unit major subdivision over 90 acres.

Major subdivision plans are created in conjunction with the Buncombe County Planning & Development Department using the guidelines of the county’s Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance — an administrative process with no avenue for public input.

According to Nathan Pennington, Buncombe County’s planning director, county planners receive 15-20 such subdivision applications every year and review their technical specifications for compliance with county rules. “If the application meets the standards, then permits are issued,” he says.

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TRAFFIC JAM: Tractor-trailers are often directed to Pinners Cove Road by their navigation systems, even though county signs instruct them not to use it. According to residents of Pinners Cove, it often takes hours to remove these trucks, which can completely block both lanes. Photo courtesy of Chloette Kuhlman Despite the new process, the Pinners Cove residents say they have no intention of backing down.

“Transparency is really important, and I don’t feel like we’re getting it on this particular development,” Durham says.

MOUNTAINTOP MOVES As an example of a process he feels is taking place behind the scenes, Kuhlman points to a series of emails between Buncombe staffers and representatives of the project. He only obtained the information after submitting a public records request to the county.

The conversations show county planner Gillian Phillips working with developers to determine the best application path for the Pinners Cove project. Initially, KLP had applied for a “conservation easement hillside development subdivision,” which allows for greater housing density on part of a property if the remainder is set aside for conservation under the stewardship of a nonprofit.

But in a set of June 23 emails, a construction firm working with KLP shared that it could not find a nonprofit willing to accept the land.

Sunny Beddow, senior counsel for Bloomington, Minn.-based Doran Companies, wrote to Phillips, “it’s too small to interest [any of] them.”

MOUNTAINX.COM

In her reply, Phillips suggested that the developer instead apply for an “alternative path hillside development.” Those rules also allow densely clustered building if 30% of the parcel’s land is set aside for conservation and managed by the development’s homeowners association.

A meeting was scheduled for June 30 involving county staff, Warren Sugg of local engineering firm Civil Design Concepts and staff at Doran, but no further information was included in the email chain. KLP did not respond to requests for comment.

For Pinners Cove residents, finding that so much discussion about the project is happening without their knowledge or input was frustrating. “My problem with development in the county is that it happens in secret,” Durham says. “It [is] very difficult for ordinary citizens to mobilize and get anything accomplished.”

When asked about changes to the transparency of Buncombe’s development process, Pennington says that the county is updating its Accela Citizen Access system to provide more information to the public.

COMMUNITY CONSERVATION Living in Pinners Cove, Durham says, are people from all walks of life, income brackets and political leanings. What unifies them is the main

artery of Pinners Cove Road, which would be one of two access points for the proposed development; the other would be Chapel Hill Road.

Even though tractor-trailers are not permitted on the road, Durham estimates that one gets stuck on a switchback approximately every 10 days after being led there via GPS systems. “This road gets closed for four and five hours at a time, because it takes volunteers to come help get [them] out,” she says.

At the January Planning Board meeting, many residents also expressed concern about the impact of additional traffic on nearby Mills Gap Road and Sweeten Creek Road.

Because the N.C. Department of Transportation has pushed back plans to widen Sweeten Creek Road until 2033, they said, additional cars would only aggravate existing congestion problems.

Others are worried about a lack of sewer infrastructure for the proposed project and the potential for heavy storm runoff from the mountain slope. Pinners Cove resident Susan Van Ness says that despite land conservation and stream restoration work in the area, a bridge on Pinners Cove Road over Robinson Creek often floods during heavy rains. “If the road or bridge are washed out due to flooding, it could potentially eliminate access in and out of this community,” she says.

Those concerns no longer have a dedicated time to be aired before the county Planning Board due to the shift in the developer’s application. Instead, Pinners Cove residents have shifted their focus to Board of Commissioners meetings, where they are raising objections about the county’s subdivision regulations in general. As part of the county’s municipal code, the process to approve major subdivisions can only be changed by the county commissioners.

According to county spokesperson Kassi Day, “The [best] opportunity for the community to effect change would be in the Comprehensive Plan process.” From December through February, she says, the public will have its final opportunity to comment on the draft plan, which will set Buncombe’s strategy for land use and infrastructure over the next 20 years, before it goes to the commissioners.

In the meantime, Say No to Pinners Cove Rezoning will keep speaking out. “A lot of people said, there’s nothing we can do,” Durham says.

“Well, I don’t ever buy that.” X

N EWS

BUNCOMBE BEAT

Buncombe approves affordable parking program at Coxe garage Providing safe and affordable parking for lower-income workers was top of mind for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners as its members unanimously voted Nov. 1 to approve a reduced-price parking program. The initiative will make 150 spaces in the county’s Coxe Avenue garage available to low-income downtown employees at $40 per month — less than half the current $85 monthly rate — by the end of the year.

The vote marked a victory for Asheville Food and Beverage United, a group of local food service employees who have lobbied the board on parking. As previously reported by Xpress, the group’s members held a rally outside the commissioners’ chambers Sept. 6 and shared a petition with over 2,100 signatures in support of parking affordability.

Jen Hampton, AFBU co-chair, thanked commissioners for listening to the group’s concerns about how the cost of parking has affected their lives. “If the [affordable parking program] passes, that would cut down on the costs for a lot of workers,” she explained. “[Workers] are really excited to know that there are people in places of power that are not only willing to listen to us, but to actually take real-life actions to make our lives better.”

Fellow AFBU member Carly Schwartz emphasized that the program would have benefits beyond the financial for people who park and work downtown. Knowing she had a designated affordable parking space, she said, would alleviate the stress of circling downtown in search of a suitable spot. She also said workers would feel safer by being able to park in a well-lit area closer to their jobs.

At the recommendation of county staff, the program’s spaces will be awarded by lottery. Tim Love, Buncombe’s director of economic development and governmental relations, said that approach would be more equitable and give more people a chance at receiving a space.

Love also noted security concerns members of the public had raised through surveys about the program.

In response, he said garage attendants would be available for four

SAFETY AND LESS STRESS: Carly Schwartz, a member of Asheville Food and Beverage United, shares how Buncombe’s reduced-price parking program would alleviate stress around finding an affordable parking spot and help local employees feel safer. Screen capture courtesy of Buncombe County extra hours each weekday, with the Coxe Avenue facility staffed from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. He also said staffing would be increased to 24/7 when more employees can be hired.

Board Chair Brownie Newman voiced approval of the program and noted how important the workforce is to downtown’s atmosphere. He said downtown business was a vital part of the local economy that wouldn’t be possible without employees who show up and work hard.

If the program goes well, Newman said the board would consider offering further affordable parking at other Buncombe facilities. The county oversees nearly 1,700 down-

“It might appear to some that we’re losing money [on the program], but we’re not, because it’s the least we can do for the people who work downtown,” Whitesides said.

(Staff projections actually indicate that the program would increase Buncombe’s parking revenue by $72,000 annually. The county would still spend roughly $820,000 more per year on debt service for the Coxe Avenue garage than it collects in revenue.)

Hampton with the AFBU said her group would continue to work with the county to address not just parking, but also transit and affordable housing solutions. “The costs are really increasing all the time, as you know, for housing and just to live and work in Asheville. Our worker pool is dwindling fast,” she said.

“So, if we can address these issues together, I think that it would not only benefit workers but the community at large.”

“When we work together to find solutions to problems, I think that goes a long way to building community solidarity,” Hampton added.

“For me, that really is the essence of Asheville.”

— Brooke Dougherty X

town parking spaces across two garages and seven surface lots.

Newman added that he hopes local businesses will pay to cover parking for workers who qualify for the county’s program. Over the course of a year, he pointed out, a reduced-price parking space would still cost an employee almost $500.

“It’d be great if businesses who are supportive end up actively participating in a robust way and don’t put that cost on their workers,” he said.

Commissioner Al Whitesides agreed with Newman that the program would be a boon for the county’s workforce and said the safety of workers remains a top priority.

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NOV. 9-15, 2022

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR NOVEMBER 9 - 17, 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.

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Online-only events More info, pages 22-23 More info, pages 24-25

WELLNESS Zumba Gold for Adults 50+ This free class helps work on mobility while moving to the beat to burn off calories.

Every Wednesday and Friday.

WE (11/9, 16), FR (11/11), 11am, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd Henderson County School Employees Self Defense Workshops This co-ed training will teach what to do if confronted. Wear workout clothing, bring a water bottle,

school ID and a notepad.

FR (11/11), 5:30pm, Free, Hendokickboxing & Krav Maga, 245 N King St, Hendersonville Skate Night: Cowboys and Aliens Dress up and roll bounce with Asheville Parks and Rec. FR (11/11), 6pm, Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd Yoga in the Park Asheville Join together alongside the French Broad River for this all-level friendly yoga class based on Hatha and Vinyasa traditions.

SWING YOUR PARTNER: The Jonathan Creek Cloggers will perform at the Meadowlark Smoky Mountain Heritage Center at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. The event will include a short talk on the history and traditions of mountain dancing, as well as a barbecue dinner option. Photo courtesy of Meadowlark Motel SA (11/12) & SU (11/3), 1:30pm, $10, Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd Wild Souls Authentic Movement Class A conscious movement experience in a

100-year old building with a community of like-minded women at all life stages.

SU (11/13), 9:30am, Dunn's Rock Community Center, 461 Connestee Rd, Brevard

Dementia Partners Support Group AVL Providing a social setting for individuals to meet and discuss coping techniques, share experiences, and present resource speakers from a variety of agencies.

TU (11/15), 6pm, Scenic View Terrace Clubhouse, 60 Fallen Spruce Dr Low-Impact Hiking Treks for Adults 50+ This month's hike is South Mountains State Park. Must be in good physical condition to participate; ability to walk three plus miles on uneven terrain.

Transportation is provided. Registration required by Nov. 13.

WE (11/16), 9:30am, Asheville Recreation Department, 72 Gashes Creek Rd Therapeutic Recreation: Wednesday Morning Movement A variety of physical activities such as active games, aerobics and dancing. Open to individuals ages 17+ with disabilities - participants who cannot meet eligibility requirements can attend with a 1:1 worker. Contact the Therapeutic Recreation Program at (828)2324529 for additional information.

WE (11/16), 10am, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave Men's Cancer Support Group Safely meet in a large conference room and stay socially distant while wearing masks. RSVP to Will at (412)913-0272 or acwein123@gmail.com.

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WE (11/16), 6pm, Free, Woodfin YMCA, 40 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 101

ART Beatles Cartoon Pop Up Art Show Featuring works

by Ron Campbell, who worked on The Beatles cartoon series.

Nov. 11-12, 10am.

See p24 BlackBird Frame & Art, 365 Merrimon Ave We Will Not be Silenced: Standing for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women A series of photographs and sculptures that bring voice to the international Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement through the lens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Com anche Nation, Lumbee, and other Native American artists. Open 10am Tuesday through Friday.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee Explorations in Heritage & Nature: Paintings by Lelia Canter A unique and colorful collection of over 25 years of work that illustrate Cherokee, Celtic, Appalachian, and various cultural legends. Meet the artist and exhibit sale Nov. 17, 4-6pm and Dec. 15, 4-6pm. Open 8am, closed Sunday.

Zuma Coffee, 7 N Main St, Marshall Natural Collector | Gifts of Fleur S. Bresler Features around 15

artworks from the collection, which include important examples of modern and contemporary American craft including wood and fiber art, as well as glass and ceramics.

Open 11am, closed Tuesday.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Jazz '22 Story Walk This exhibit of informational panels about NC jazz greats is designed to share the history of jazz.

Outdoors, open daily 7:30am.

Stearns Park, 122 E Mills St, Columbus Inspiration Features jewelry, fiber, clay and wood from six Southern Highland Craft Guild members. Open daily 10am.

Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Parkway Annual Toe River Arts Studio Tour A self-guided journey of the arts through Mitchell and Yancey counties to visit 83 studio artists and eight galleries. A meet the artist reception will be held Friday, Nov. 11, 5:30-7:30pm.

FR (11/11) - SU (11/13) 10am, Toe River Arts Council, 269 Oak Ave, Spruce Pine Augmented Reality and Oil Painting Exhibition: Big, Bold, and Colorful Contemporary artist Jaime Byrd will be featured for the months of October and November, exhibiting her larger scale works.

Open daily 10am.

Through Nov. 30.

Trackside Studios, 375 Depot St

Rebel/Re-Belle: Exploring Gender, Agency, and Identity Combines works, primarily created by women, from two significant collections of contemporary art to explore how artists have innovated, influenced, interrogated, and inspired visual culture in the past 100 years. Through Jan. 16, 2023. Open 11am, closed Tuesdays.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square I Am Home Fall Art Show Showcasing works of art from the community’s unhoused artists or those at risk of homelessness. 100% of proceeds will go to the artists.

SA (11/12), 4pm, Ginger's Revenge, 829 Riverside Dr, Ste 100 Matewan as Metaphor by Jean Hess Mixed-media artist Jean Hess creates a personal story by combining real and imagined resources with the intention of healing her own memory and transcending limits on what is possible and allowed in creative and scholarly endeavors as well as in visual art.

Open Monday through Friday, 11am.

Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 850 Blue Ridge Rd, Unit A-13, Black Mountain North Carolina Works

by Martin Pasco Paintings from Barnardsville-based artist.

Open daily 11am.

Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave

Impressed: Print, Paint, Dye, Repeat Holiday group collection, through Jan. 22, 2023. Open 10am, Sunday 11am.

See p24 Marquee, 36 Foundy St

COMMUNITY MUSIC Museum Meditation: Morton Feldman’s Piano and String Quartet A series of guided contemplative listening practices. Following each practice, the group will reflect on experiences. No familiarity with Feldman’s work is necessary.

TH (11/10), 12pm, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández Fifth-generation Mariachi musician and internationally recognized musician, composer, and educator.

TH (11/10), 7:30pm, $5-25, WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee A Salute to Veterans The Hendersonville Swing Band, under the direction of trombonist Jerry Zink, will play music of the Big Band era of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s.

FR (11/11), 7:30pm, $20, Hendersonville Community Theatre, 229 S Washington St, Hendersonville Dinner & Dancing With the J. Creek Cloggers Featuring TikTok star Zeb Ross, the dance group will perform multiple examples of traditional mountain dancing, as well as teaching the audience several dance steps.

Group leader, Kim Ross, will also give a short talk on the history and traditions of mountain dancing.

SA (11/12), 6pm, Meadowlark Motel, 2878 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley Hub New Music A quartet of winds and strings with a distinct combination of flute, clarinet, violin, and cello.

WE (11/16), 7pm, Blue Spiral 1, 38 Biltmore Ave Soweto Gospel Choir A 30-member South African vocal ensemble.

WE (11/16), 7pm, Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave Metropolitan Opera Star Eric Owens With a unique reputation as an interpreter of classic works and a champion of new music.

TH (11/17), 7:30pm, Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Ln, Brevard

LITERARY The Road To Unforgetting: Book Launch & Talk With Pete Candler The Asheville-based writer and photographer discusses his book, a collection of 175 black-and-white film photographs from a series of road trips across the backroads of the American South from 1997 to 2022.

TH (11/10), 5:30pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave Plays Well with Others A literary reading series featuring works

by UNC-A students and faculty, as well as community members.

SU (11/13), 5pm, Ginger's Revenge, 829 Riverside Dr Edible North Carolina: A Journey across a State of Flavor University of North Carolina food historian and editor Marcie Cohen Ferris and other essayists will discuss the book, which provides a 360-degree view of a state known

for its farming and food, with essays from leading North Carolina writers, cooks, farmers, entrepreneurs, and food equity activists.

WE (11/16), 6pm, East Fork Pottery, 15 W Walnut St

THEATER & FILM Te Ata In honor of Native American Heritage Month, this free indoor movie night focuses on a movie highlighting Native American culture. Based on the true story of Mary Thompson Fisher (Q'orianka Kilcher), widely known as Te Ata, who traverses cultural barriers to achieve fame as an actress and a Native American storyteller.

Rated PG. TH (11/10), 6:30pm, Free, Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St One Act Play Festival The third annual festival will feature 20 short plays in a variety of styles, presented in two blocks of performances running Nov. 4-13.

The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St Black Starseed: Immaculate Conception Inspired by nature, Cortina Jenelle introduces Oshanna Church of Spiritual Activism, debuting as a dynamic experience rooted in ceremony and inviting nature as a co-facilitator through theater, art and spoken word. Ticket proceeds benefit cleanup of the French Broad River with the mission partner for this show, Asheville Greenworks.

FR (11/11), 6:30pm, $18-25, Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E Walnut St William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar The Moppets present a tale of pride, politics,

brotherhood and betrayal.

FR (11/11) - SU (11/13), 7pm, Free$10, Attic Salt Theatre, The Mills at Riverside, 2002 Riverside Dr Dog Video Fest A film compilation celebration of dogs. A portion of ticket sales goes to Mountain Pet Rescue Asheville.

SU (11/13), 10am, 12pm, $12, Grail Moviehouse, 17 Foundy St Josephine Baker: Portrayed by Becky Stone Ms. Stone will portray Josephine Baker, a Black actress and dancer who lived during the 1920s. A plate will be passed for a freewill gift.

Masks required.

SU (11/13), 3pm, Calvary Presbyterian Church, 44 Circle St

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS Third Thirsty Thursday - WCC Social Western Carolinas Coaches monthly social event. Rain or shine.

TH (11/10), 4:30pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy Introduction to Medicare: Understanding the Puzzle 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)2778288.

FR (11/11), 2pm, Goodwill Career Training Center, 1616 Patton Ave Swannanoa Valley Museum Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Black Mountain Museum staff will lead attendees through State Street, Cherry Street and Black Mountain Ave, relaying the history of several buildings and discussing topics including the

building of the Swannanoa Tunnel and the disastrous downtown fire of 1912.

SA (11/12), 1pm, Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, 223 W State St, Black Mountain Getting My Kicks Clogging: Clogging and Flatfooting in WNC This lecture/demonstration will compare and contrast the different styles of clogging and flatfooting found in the mountains of WNC, throughout the United States, and worldwide.

MO (11/14), 6pm, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain Game Designers of North Carolina (GDoNC) Meetup Meet local designers, playtest board game prototypes and provide feedback.

TU (11/15), 6pm, Well Played Board Game Café, 162 Coxe Ave Well Played Wipeout Players will be tasked with playing games that often use their hands and require skill beyond strategic prowess - from flicking and throwing to sliding and catching.

TH (11/17), 8am, Well Played Board Game Café, 162 Coxe Ave

LOCAL MARKETS RAD Farmers Market Winter Season Year-round access to fresh local foods, including produce, with 25-30 vendors indoors and outdoors.

Handicap parking available in the Smoky Park lot, free public parking available along Riverside Drive. Also accessible by foot, bike, or rollerblade via the Wilma Dykeman Greenway.

WE (11/9, 16), 3pm, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr

North Asheville Tailgate Market The oldest Saturday morning market in WNC. Over 60 rotating vendors.

SA (11/13), 8am, 3300 University Heights Makers Market Part of the RAD Studio Stroll. See p24 SA (11/12) & SA (11/13), 10am, 240 Clingman Ave Ext Asheville City Market Over 50 vendors and local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and more.

SA (11/12), 9am, 52 N Market St Black Mountain Tailgate Market Seasonal community market event featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, locally raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses, eggs and local arts and handcrafted items.

SA (11/12), 9am, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Enka-Candler Holiday Market Outdoor market featuring local art and goods.

SA (11/12) & SU (11/13), 11am, 1465 Sand Hill Rd Jackson Arts Market Makers & Music Festival With live, local music on Saturdays and an open mic on Sundays.

SA (11/12) & SU (11/3), 12pm, Downtown Sylva Fall Maker's Market Local artisans and crafters.

SU (11/13), 12pm, New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St West Asheville Tailgate Market Over 40 local vendors, every Tuesday.

TU (11/15), 3:30pm, West Asheville Tailgate Market, 718 Haywood Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

newbies.

SU (11/13), 10am, Purl's Yarn Emporium, 830 Hendersonville Rd

Cold Mountain Winter Ale Celebration With food trucks, music and entertainment. See p22 FR (11/11) - SU (11/12), Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy

Venardos Circus An animal-free circus act in a Broadway musical-style format.

Various dates and times through Nov. 20.

See p25 Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Rd

Veterans Day Barbecue Lunch A complimentary barbecue lunch for all veterans who served and are still serving in the Armed Forces, hosted by Farm Credit Associations of NC. See p22 FR (11/11), 11am, Buxton Hall BBQ, 32 Banks Ave Fourth Annual Sausage Festival With music from Mountain Top Polka Band, family friendly games, adults-only musical chair competition, and a costume contest.

SA (11/12), 9am, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, 57 Sugar Hollow Rd, Fairview Flags for Heroes Celebration Join the Rotary Club of Burnsville to see the display of over 400 flags in recognition of the many heroes in our lives. The Mountain Piecemaker's Quilt Guild will also recognize 50 veterans with Hero Quilts.

This fundraiser is benefiting the DAV Yancey County, Feed a Child Yancey County, Reconciliation House and Yancey County Rescue Squad.

SA (11/12), 11am, Town Square, Town Square, Burnsville Purl's Mini Fiber Fest Local yarn store is hosting a mini fiber festivalwith some local fiber farmers and crafters sharing their stories, skills, crafts and more. Family friendly event for longtime yarn lovers or

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BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING At Home with Miss Mary's Meatloaf This is your opportunity to pick up a to-go order of Miss Mary’s meatloaf with homemade sides to enjoy at home, with an accompanying video featuring Miss Mary and select partner chefs sharing Downtown Welcome Table stories. With family-style dinners for groups of 6 and 12 also available, this event sets you up for a “comfort food” dinner party while helping Downtown Welcome Table. See p22 TH (11/10), 3pm, Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood St Buncombe Partnership for Children Silent Auction Fundraiser The Buncombe Partnership for Children and Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty's event to support the Reach Out and Read partnership, bringing books to children and families.

TU (11/15), 6pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd

HOLIDAY EVENTS Thankful Thursday Pot Luck Early Friendsgiving - the turkey will be provided. RSVP which dish you are bringing: (828)350-2062.

TH (11/17), 3pm, Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St

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WELLNESS

Baby blues

Birth professionals lament labor unit closures

FLIGHT RISK: Molly Rouse of Burnsville experienced a postpartum hemorrhage after delivering her third child at home. She had to be taken via helicopter to a hospital in Asheville. Photo by Jason Bellamy

BY KIESA KAY kiesakay@gmail.com When Aleisha Ballew Silvers gave birth at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, she felt embraced with love.

“It felt like being surrounded by older sisters who would help you, cheer for you, help you learn to breastfeed, teach you to care for your newborn and let you know that the experience belongs to you,” Silvers says. She trained to become a labor and delivery nurse herself and was hired at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. It felt especially meaningful to her as her family has lived in nearby Burnsville for several generations.

“Labor and delivery nursing is a calling, not a job,” Silvers explains.

“We witness miracles. We are involved with the whole family, helping the mother, watching a man become a father, seeing a family forming before our eyes.”

Jamie Pate of Burnsville worked with Silvers at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital as a labor and delivery nurse, too. She proudly recalls their services.

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“We had water labor, a bathtub for hydrotherapy and cordless monitors so we could watch the baby’s heart rate while the mom relaxed in the tub,” Pate explains. “More relaxation means no epidural, and relaxation can expedite the labor process.”

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Mitchell County closed its labor and delivery unit in 2017 and consolidated those services at Mission Hospital McDowell in Marion in McDowell County.

“We were like a family at Blue Ridge,” laments Silvers, remembering how when her third child was born, the hospital CEO sent her flowers. “When one of us hurt, the others prayed for each other. We watched each other’s kids and delivered each other’s kids. We were such a family.

Not having that for our community breaks our hearts.”

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital was one of six that closed labor and delivery units in WNC from 201522. Closures began in 2015, when Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard in Transylvania County ended labor and delivery ser-

vices and transitioned patients to Mission Hospital in Asheville in Buncombe County, according to the Transylvania Times. Charles A. Cannon Jr. Memorial Hospital in Linville in Avery County ended its labor and delivery unit in 2015 as well, the Avery Journal Times reports.

In 2017, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital closed its labor and delivery unit, as did Angel Medical Center in Franklin in Macon County, according to WLOS. The labor and delivery unit at Erlanger Western Carolina in Murphy in Cherokee County closed in 2019, Blue Ridge Public Radio reports.

The Western North Carolina Birth Center in Asheville closed in 2021.

Currently, there are eight labor and delivery units among the 18 counties of Western North Carolina.

Silvers says financial reasons are often cited for labor and delivery unit closures. However, those considerations sadden health care providers who love working in the field. “It felt like we had a major death in our family,” she says.

‘HAVING A CHILD UP HERE IS CHALLENGING’ In 2021, Blue Ridge Partnership for Children published the Mitchell and Yancey Counties Perinatal Survey Assessment, conducted by Blue Ridge Partnership for Children, to look at the impact of the labor and delivery closure at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. It surveyed 176 mothers who learned of the survey through a Facebook group.

Researchers Molly Rouse, Natalie Monaghan and Heather Dawes found mothers reported increased anxiety about the uncertainty of travel, distant pregnancy care providers not being easily accessible and insufficient coordination among care providers. “The closure of L&D at BRRH [Blue Ridge Regional Hospital] has increased the risk for poor birth outcomes in Mitchell and Yancey counties, particularly for mothers experiencing poverty, substance use disorders, alienation or isolation,” the survey assessment asserts.

Rouse had no idea when she conducted the study that she would soon experience a long travel time from Burnsville herself. In June, after the home birth of her third child, she experienced a postpartum hemorrhage. If labor and delivery services had been available at Spruce Pine, which is 20 minutes from Burnsville, Rouse believes she could have been driven there easily. Instead, she says, “I got helivac’d out of the valley to Asheville.”

She continues, “My husband drove to the hospital as I flew there, with

my mom in the car and my newborn baby strapped into a car seat, just a few hours old.”

Rouse, who is certified as a postpartum doula through DONA International, a professional certification organization, was frustrated by the experience. “It did not need to be an emergency or treated that way,” she says. “And it wasn’t the way I wanted to spend my baby’s first 24 hours.”

When discharge papers sent Rouse to Mountain Area Health Education Center in Asheville for a checkup, which meant another trip down the mountain, she knew to self-advocate for a local care provider. “Even though I know how to navigate the system, having a child up here is challenging,” Rouse says.

For other birthing moms, transportation can be a significant barrier to care as well. A 2020 study, Navigating Perinatal Care in Western North Carolina: Access for Patients and Providers, by Carol C. Coulson and Shelley Galvin in the North Carolina Medical Journal cites a need for labor and delivery services throughout rural WNC. “Women had to drive 29 miles on average,” the study says. “Twentynine miles of serpentine mountain roads is not a short, half-hour trip even in the best weather with a reliable vehicle.” It notes how the terrain can be “challenged by rock slides, flash floods, ice and snow.”

These problems beset families at a time that ought to be joyful and sacred, says Pate.

“You’re not medically sick if you’re pregnant,” she explains. “Moms should be able to deliver close to home and not have to travel while having labor pains.”

‘IMPORTANT MOMENTS’ The labor and delivery nurses who previously worked at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital would like to see options for moms and babies in all 18 counties of WNC. “We need a birthing center with midwifery and natural childbirth here, in close proximity to the hospital, if someone needs medical attention immediately,” Pate says.

Most of all, the nurses agree, communities want to have labor and delivery services back so they can take care of each other again.

“Working in labor and delivery means we are there for the most important moments in family life,” Silvers said. “A small-town hospital can be so important to a family. We are Southern people. We take care of each other because it is the right thing to do.” X

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ARTS & CULTURE

The humble storyteller

Mars Hill University launches the Bobby McMillon Legacy Project

BY BILL KOPP bill@musoscribe.com Award-winning, Lenoir-based ballad singer, storyteller and folklorist Bobby McMillon passed away in November 2021, but The Liston B. Ramsey Center for Appalachian Studies at Mars Hill University is keeping his work and memory alive through the Bobby McMillon Legacy Project.

“Bobby had a completely disarming personality,” says Leila Weinstein, program coordinator at the Ramsey Center. “He was very soft-spoken, but he had a dry wit. He could pull you in telling stories in his quiet, understated way. And before you knew it, you were rapt with attention and in his spell.”

With a $10,000 grant from South Arts, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, the new initiative includes ongoing work to digitize McMillon’s personal archives, artist residencies, student collaborations and the development of a podcast by ballad singer Sheila Kay Adams and folklorist/musician William Ritter.

Community performances are also a key component of the project.

On Thursday, Nov. 10, the Ramsey Center will host its first Round Robin Ballad Circle, featuring Adams and Ritter. The event runs 6-9 p.m. at the Broyhill Chapel, 338 Cascade St., on the Mars Hill University campus.

Similar events are currently being planned for the spring, including a formal tribute to McMillon. The goal of these gatherings, notes Weinstein, is to introduce the public to the broader project.

In addition to McMillon’s cultural importance as a guardian of songs and stories, Weinstein adds, he was “personally important” to a lot of people in the traditional music community. “Everybody loved him,” she says.

VAST OCEAN OF KNOWLEDGE In speaking to Weinstein, you get a sense of the depth of McMillon’s contributions to the region. “He was a historian at heart,” she explains. “If there was a ballad that was about a real event, he would learn all about it.

“He was also very much a folklorist,” she says. “He would get songs and stories from people, find out where a person learned the song from and write down all the information.”

McMillon’s notes make up a substan18

NOV. 9-15, 2022

OF MANY TALENTS: Bobby McMillon was a regular performer at the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival. This photo was taken Oct. 6, 2012. Photo courtesy of Mars Hill University tial portion of the archive being preserved at Mars Hill University.

“Bobby left us a wealth of writings, recordings and books that can serve as the seed for countless projects, albums, programs and presentations,” adds Ritter, who in addition to being a folklorist is a longtime friend of McMillon’s.

“He had a vast ocean of knowledge about Appalachia, and not just its old songs. He was eager to share what he knew and just as eager to learn more.”

One of Ritter’s primary goals for the overall project is to make sure McMillon’s materials are easily accessible. “That’s why we wanted his collection to go to Mars Hill University,” he explains. “Madison County is one of the very last places with a real living, breathing ballad singing tradition that stretches back centuries.”

Ritter — who describes himself as a “serious heirloom seed saver” — says that his personal goal within the broader project has a special area of focus. He wants to complete an unfinished work based on recorded interviews McMillon conducted with his great-aunt Mae Phillips in the 1970s.

“He stopped and started a book about her and her songs and stories [many times],” says Ritter.

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AWARDS AND ACCOLADES McMillon’s dedication also resulted in statewide recognition. In 1995, he received the North Carolina Folklore Society’s Brown-Hudson Award. In 2000, he and five others were honored with the North Carolina Heritage Award, an annual presentation by the N.C. Arts Council that recognizes artists “for their contributions to our state’s cultural vitality.”

That same year, author Daniel W. Patterson’s book A Tree Accurst: Bobby McMillon and Stories of Frankie Silver came out, weaving together a nearly 200-year-old murder mystery, McMillon’s life story and the folk tales of the region. The book explores the roles that folklore, storytelling and ballads play in preserving the history of people and their communities.

“I certainly think Bobby had a sense of his importance in preserving or passing along Appalachian songs, stories and folkways,” Ritter concedes. Nevertheless, he opines that in McMillon’s twilight years, “he may have felt a little overlooked, a tad forgotten.” The Legacy Project should go some way toward setting things right.

Ritter believes the Bobby McMillon Legacy Project will make clear the cultural importance of the humble man from Lenoir. He’s also hopeful that the project will help preserve the singer and storyteller’s “blue books” in a more user-friendly format.

“Bobby carefully wrote down lyrics, sayings and stories in these blue ruled-paper notebooks,” Ritter explains. “They’re an absolute treasure, the kind of thing that should be on a shelf next to Cecil Sharp’s classic English folksongs from the Southern Appalachians.” He emphasizes that at present, interested parties can only access McMillon’s collection of blue books at Mars Hill University; photocopies of some of these books are also stored in the Southern Folklife Collection at UNC Chapel Hill.

Furthermore, Ritter considers McMillon’s body of work of value for “anyone wanting to take a deep dive into Appalachia, or look for sayings for their Appalachian novel, or even just to find a very complete and beautiful version of a song from the 1600s to add to their repertoire.”

And thanks in part to McMillon’s emphasis on continuing the oral tradition of songs and stories, there’s a living legacy to his work that extends beyond the archives at the Ramsey Center. “Bobby knew every song, and he knew ten variants of every song,” says Weinstein.

She recalls reflecting on McMillon’s enduring presence shortly after his passing. “I remember thinking that felt like his stories and songs weren’t quite gone,” she says.

“It’s almost like they were floating around somewhere in the ether; you could have caught them. You just couldn’t imagine all of that information disappearing with somebody.”

Ritter agrees. He also has additional thoughts on extending McMillon’s legacy. “I love the idea of getting a dedicated group of singers together to each learn a different song Bobby collected,” he says, suggesting the creation of an album organized around a “song stewards” theme.

“That could be the springboard for getting these songs back out into the wild,” Ritter enthuses.

“For a man who talked so much,” Ritter adds with a chuckle, “Bobby was one of the best listeners I have ever known. And he was deeply grateful for his roots and the culture he was a part of.” And the Bobby McMillon Legacy Project will preserve key parts of that culture for future generations. “All in all, Bobby asked us to ‘keep it a-going,’” Ritter says. “And we aim to do that in any way we can.”

For more information, visit avl.mx/c5g. X

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AR T S & C UL TU R E

POETRY

The recruiter

Lee Stockdale on poetry’s ability to heal deep wounds

BY THOMAS CALDER tcalder@mountainx.com On Dec. 2, 1963 — 10 days after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated — Grant Stockdale, the deceased president's former ambassador to Ireland, committed suicide in Miami. His son, Lee Stockdale, was 12 years old at the time.

Nearly 60 years later, Lee recently published his debut collection of poetry, Gorilla. While several of the poems grapple with his father's

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death, the Fairview resident also explores other elements inspired by the many lives he's lived as a New York City cabdriver, U.S. Army military police officer, Judge Advocate General officer and public defender in North Carolina.

“I don’t want Gorilla to be seen as a suicide book but as a journey of joy and healing, because that’s where it ends up,” Stockdale says.

“I’m hopeful that readers are able to substitute my difficult event with any difficult event in their own lives and

Are You Jackie Kennedy?

by Lee Stockdale I pick up my cab near the West Side docks, shoot into midtown by my regular route, when three men flag me down for 70th and Park.

I drop them off and on the opposite corner, a woman I recognize raises her hand.

She gives me an address on Central Park West.

I know who it is but ask, Are you Jackie Kennedy?

Yes, she says.

Do you know who I am!

No. I’m Grant Stockdale’s son!

How weird, she says and, leaning forward, You look just like your father.

Your voice, I tell her, is so soft, it’s hard to hear you through this bullet-proof glass.

Yes, she says—pointing to the round holes we must talk through—they even look like bullet holes.

I’m suddenly embarrassed to be driving a cab, the son of President Kennedy’s Ambassador to Ireland.

I don’t tell her I live next door to the Hell’s Angels, and chase rock and roll poetry up East Village fire escapes.

I’m taking time off from college. I don’t really know what I want to be. Maybe a psychiatrist. Or an Episcopal priest.

Oh, John and Caroline don’t know what they want to do either.

And just like that, she makes me feel like one of her kids.

Light chatter now—the city, February cold.

She comes around, pays the fare at my window.

If there’s anything I can do for you, just let me know.

She begins walking away, then turns back to give me the famous Jackie Kennedy smile.

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come away with their own feelings of joy and healing. I’m hopeful it’s a book readers may want to pass on to someone they think might benefit from it.”

Xpress recently spoke with Stockdale about his past trauma, his early exposure to poetry and his passion for introducing others to the form. Along with the conversation is his poem “Are You Jackie Kennedy?”

Xpress: Take readers through the process of selecting this moment in your life to memorialize through poetry. How did you go about reentering the experience that resulted in “Are You Jackie Kennedy?”

Lee Stockdale: I was 12 when, 10 days after the assassination [of President John F. Kennedy], my father committed suicide. I was traumatized. And everywhere in America would spring new triggers for that trauma: Kennedy Airport, Cape Kennedy, Kennedy avenues.

Meeting Jackie — and having her recognize me as looking “just like your father” — was truly healing.

Her dear attitude made me feel like I should not be ashamed of my father but embrace him, be proud of him, find out who he was.

I would find out by doing things he had done: going back to college, enlisting in the military, going to officer candidate school, ultimately falling in love, getting married and having a family, as he had. Entering that cab, again, with Jackie, through that poem, was an easy and pleasant joy. I’m grateful she needed a cab that day.

When and how did poetry come into your life?

My mother was winning university poetry prizes before I was born, so poetry was always part of the family.

I can still hear the nighttime staccato of her typewriter keys that put me to sleep. When she sold her first poem — to The Saturday Evening Post or Ladies' Home Journal — the whole family celebrated.

In ninth grade, for Christmas, I got a used, standard-sized Royal typewriter, which did not excite me until I realized how physical writing could be. I used it more like a percussion instrument to pound out short stories, articles, poems, lyrics.

Patti Smith was the first poet to induce me to change my life course.

Immediately after hearing her read

POETRY AS MEDICINE: “I don’t want Gorilla to be seen as a suicide book but as a journey of joy and healing, because that’s where it ends up,” says poet Lee Stockdale. Author photo by Vera Miljković in New York, I moved into the Lower East Side. I was 22.

There is that moment in the poem when you become hyperaware of the situation that you’re in and embarrassed by it. There’s so much vulnerability in that stanza, which for me, is one of the joys of poetry.

Can you speak to that aspect of the form and how, as a poet, you go about hitting such notes?

I try to express difficult thoughts in such a way that the reader sees, or intuits, the poem’s escape hatch.

The very act of submitting an idea to poetry enters it into a kind of safe zone. I’m fortunate to have experienced trauma at such a young age. It gave me time to heal, to experience life, to be able to voice through poetry, “Yes, pain happens, but I made it through. You will, too.”

I’m a recruiter. Anyone can write poetry and be amazed at what comes out. It’s as if the poetry art form is an actual place of imagination anyone can walk into, like one walks into a house, a garden, a labyrinth. Poetry provides endless mystery to express joy, wonder, grief, the mundane, the incomprehensible sacred. I feel free and protected by this art form, allowed to be vulnerable, authentic, true to myself and my visions.

I love this idea of poet as recruiter. I don’t think it’s a stretch to also say that this particular collection is a plea of sorts to readers to discuss difficult topics, in particular, suicide. Can you speak to that aspect of Gorilla?

Shame, guilt, confusion, blame, suppressed anger, loss of a moral compass — this is where I spent

10 years after my father’s suicide, because suicide was too shameful to talk about. There was no vocabulary to discuss it.

I was blessed with a compassionate older sister and her wonderful husband, who took me under their wings, let me live with them for a time and introduced me to their friends, church community and a therapist. That therapy, in my early 20s, opened me up to what was churning inside, gave me light, began a healing. Before therapy, I thought I’d have to kill myself because my father had, and people said I was just like him.

I’m confident that family, spiritual and mental health resources are out there for anyone who desires to become more spiritually whole and mentally healthy. The courage to take that first step will absolutely be rewarded.

Is there a new collection of poetry by a local poet that you’re particularly fond of or excited to read?

I opened Keith Flynn’s The Skin of Meaning at random and read “The Justice System,” a surrealist poem that spun my head around so much, I immediately put the book down until I could carve out enough time to give the entire collection the focus it deserves. Keith is a master craftsman. The Skin of Meaning is a master work.

Who are the four poets on your personal Mount Rushmore?

Patti Smith, T.S. Eliot, Mary Ruefle, Louis Glück, W.S. Merwin, Alice Notley, Jillian Weise, Bob Dylan, Allen Ginsberg, Robert Frost.

I guess that’s more than four. X

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A R TS & CU LTU R E

FOOD ROUNDUP

What’s new in food Highland Brewing Co. hosts Cold Mountain Winter Ale Festival

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Whether you’ve lived in Asheville your entire life or just moved here, chances are you’re familiar with Highland Brewing Co.’s seasonal Cold Mountain Winter Ale. “We have some die-hard Cold Mountain fans — those who aim to be first in line each year decked out in their vintage Cold Mountain hats and shirts,” says Nikki Mitchell, Highland’s vice president of brand development. “People will happily tell you their stories of which release year was their favorite flavor profile.

We have even had marriage proposals and folks who plan their weddings around when Cold Mountain is on tap. It means a lot that Highland and this beer have become part of so many people’s fond memories.”

Friday, Nov. 11, marks the kickoff of the Cold Mountain Winter Ale Festival: a weekendlong release celebration marking the ale’s 26th year.

Festivities include release events at both Highland taprooms, the return of previous years’ special Cold Mountain variations such as Imperial and Coconut Cold Mountain and a rotating list of bands and food trucks supplying tunes and foods each day of the festival. Volleyball tournaments and a silent disco are also on the docket.

Meanwhile, this year’s new variation is the Chocolate Hazelnut Cold Mountain.

Guests are required to pre-purchase Celebration Session access passes to visit the brewery, where Cold Mountain releases will be available for purchase on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Daytime access tickets, which will feature a more family-friendly atmosphere from noon-4 p.m., cost $10 (children 5 and younger get in free); tickets for evening sessions designated for the 21-and-older crowd run from 6-11 p.m. and cost $20.

Guests may also pre-purchase Cold Mountain holiday and cheer packs featuring each of this year’s Cold Mountain variations. The party will continue Monday, Nov. 14, and no access pass will be required to visit the brewery.

“Cold Mountain Winter Ale is almost as iconic in Western North Carolina as Highland itself,” says Mitchell. “Over 26 years, the beer has really become a cultural touch-

stone. Like a lot of folks, my family celebrates the holidays with Cold Mountain every year. There is nothing like sipping Cold Mountain in front of the fire!”

Highland Brewing Co. is at 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Suite 200. Visit avl.mx/anm for tickets and information.

Mary’s meatloaf Haywood Street Congregation, a downtown church, partners with a number of local restaurants on Thursday, Nov. 10, for the fundraising event, At Home with Miss Mary’s Meatloaf. Since 2013, the congregation’s restaurant partnership program, Downtown Welcome Table, has created a weekly space for Asheville’s unhoused and at-risk community to enjoy a hot meal and build community with both homeless and housed citizens alike. The initiative has grown to serve over 1,000 meals each week. Money raised during the Nov. 10 event will go toward DWT. The event’s name is in honor of Mary Littlejohn, a frequent volunteer at the congregation whose family meatloaf recipe dates back 30 years. Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian, Strada Italiano and French Broad Chocolateswill be providing desserts for the event, and Sunny Point Café will supply biscuits to accompany the titular meatloaf served with mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Haywood Street Congregation is at 297 Haywood St. Visit avl.mx/c4v for a full list of meal and donation options.

Complimentary Veterans Day BBQ This Veterans Day, Buxton Hall Barbecue is observing the holiday by offering a complimentary barbecue lunch for veterans, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The offer is part of a statewide partnership with Farm Credit of North Carolina. Other participating restaurants include Prime Barbecue in Wake County and Southern Smoke BBQ in Sampson County.

All who have served or are still enlisted in the U.S. armed forces are welcome to a complimentary lunch

Local artist, national recognition

TWENTY-SIX AND COUNTING: Highland Brewing Co. gears up to celebrate the latest Cold Mountain release with its annual Cold Mountain Winter Ale Festival. Photo courtesy of Highland Brewing Co. with proper ID. The Farm Credit of North Carolina will also provide curbside pickup for wounded warriors.

Visit avl.mx/c4s for additional information.

Celebrating fall’s harvest Interested in expanding your perspective on the possibilities of food and farming? The Utopian Seed Project, alongside four North Carolina chefs, will help you do just that at the Trial to Table: Fall Celebration. The gathering takes place at Smoky Park Supper Club’s event space, The Boat House, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

The Utopian Seed Project is a local nonprofit exploring and celebrating diversity in food and farming. Expect this event to be a casual, yet illuminating, showcase of both traditional and unique crops and ingredients.

Chefs Luis Martinez (Tequio Foods), Ashleigh Shanti (Good Hot Fish pop-ups), Jamie Swofford (Old North Farm) and Terri Terrell (co-founder of Ladies Who Brunch) will each prepare two tapas-style plates for all guests, including one vegetarian dish. Additional treats include: a harvest red saison specially brewed in collaboration with Cellarest Brewery; Turkish butternut squash from Two Seeds in a Pod and The Utopian Seed Project; and a pie and ice cream collaboration between Gospel Ice Cream and Terrell.

“We want people to be energized about exploring and connecting with food on a different level,” says Chris

Smith, executive director for The Utopian Seed Project. “We will tell stories about the food, offer different varieties to experience and talk about the importance of food and climate change.”

The Boat House is at 350 Riverside Drive. Tickets cost $50 per person.

For additional information, visit avl.mx/c4t.

Authentic Argentinian asado On Nov. 12, from 12:30-4 p.m., chef Eric Scheffer (Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian, Jettie Rae’s Oyster House and Cielo Catering) invites the community to attend Authentic Argentinian Asado at Fonta Flora’s Whippoorwill Farm in Nebo. Picada (a charcuterie-style starter), beef empanadas, choripán (Argentinian sausage and bread with chimichurri), short ribs, flank steaks, vegetables and dulce de leche-stuffed cookies comprise the family feast.

Fonta Flora beer will be served à la carte, and the Centerprice Jazz Trio will provide live music beginning at 1 p.m.

“Communion with family and friends is important to Eric,” says Sarah Urman, brand manager of the Scheffer Group. “His passion as a culinarian, his love of food and hospitality and the joy it brings him to be of service to others is what he hopes to share.”

Tickets are available for $85 per person. Fonta Flora Brewery Whippoorwill Farm is at 6751 N.C. 126, Nebo. Visit avl.mx/c4u for additional information.

Cider and a cause Following the success of a fundraising event held last year, Barn Door Ciderworks will again help raise funds for Root Cause Farm on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2-5 p.m. Root Cause Farm is a nonprofit located in Fairview driven by a mission to grow community solutions to hunger and work toward a just, equitable and resilient food system where all types of hunger are nourished.

“Last year, Root Cause Farm was our first fundraising event, and we had a fantastic turnout,” says Barn Door Ciderworks co-owner Dan Fowler in an official announcement. “We were so happy to support our Fairview neighbor and the important role that Root Cause plays in our community.”

The start of an online silent auction will coincide with the event, and Root Cause Farm representatives will be on-site sowing the seeds of education on how the organization operates and how people can become involved.

Barn Door Ciderworks will have its full array of small-batch ciders, local beers, wine, nonalcoholic beverages and a small-bites food menu available during this free-to-attend event. A portion of all sales on Barn Door products will directly support the Root Cause Farm fundraiser.

The Flying Cloud Band will play live music throughout the event, and raffle prizes from East Fork, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Biltmore Estate and more will be on display to encourage online bidding in support of Root Cause Farm.

Barn Door Ciderworks is at 23 Lytle Road, Fairview. Visit avl.mx/bct to learn more about Root Cause Farm.

Earlier this year, local artist Hannah Bunzey’s submission to the Pabst Blue Ribbon 10th annual Art Can Contest was one of 10 designs selected from nearly 7,000 original entrants to be featured on a special run of PBR cans. Over 140 million cans of the classic beer will feature these 10 designs and have begun rolling out to all stores that carry PBR. Bunzey received a prize of $10,000 for her winning submission, which has allowed her to leave her parttime job to focus on her artwork. “I have been working toward becoming a full-time artist for about five years, and winning the contest has really helped me do that,” says Bunzey.

If PBR isn’t your beer of choice, you can still view her winning artwork on two billboards around town on Patton Avenue and Haywood Road. “It is an awesome feeling and a great way to get my art out there,” says Bunzey.

Visit avl.mx/c4r for more information on the contest and its winners.

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ARTS & C U L T U R E

ROUNDUP

Around Town

“Blackbird” is a beloved Beatles song, but it’s also the name of an Asheville frame shop. The coincidence was enough to convince Scott Segelbaum to bring a Fab Fourfriendly pop-up art show to town.

“It was meant to be,” says Segelbaum, owner of Rock Art Show, which runs the touring exhibition.

BlackBird Frame & Art will host Beatles Cartoon Pop Art Show, featuring the works of Ron Campbell, Thursday, Nov. 10-Saturday, Nov. 12. Campbell, who died in 2021, was a legendary animator known for his work on “The Beatles” cartoon series that originally ran on ABC from 1965-67 (with reruns airing until 1969) as well as the 1968 feature film Yellow Submarine.

The show will feature Beatlesthemed paintings Campbell created after his retirement as well as art based on other projects he worked on, including “Scooby Doo,” “The Smurfs,” “Rugrats,” “The Flintstones” and more.

“Ron was active for 50 years in cartoons, basically the entire golden age of Saturday morning children’s television,” says Segelbaum. “He literally animated our childhood.”

The Australian-born Campbell had never heard of the band when he was approached by producer Al Brodax about directing episodes of a new cartoon show based on the Beatles. “Ron said, ‘That’s great, but insects make terrible characters for children’s car-

Pop-up art show will feature Beatles cartoons and more

toons,’” says Segelbaum, who worked on several shows with the illustrator.

Nonetheless, Campbell went on to direct nine episodes of the Saturday morning show, which featured real Beatles recordings but actors voicing the roles of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

A few years later, Brodax called on Campbell to help animate several key sequences of the Yellow Submarine movie.

The show is free, and paintings will be available for purchase. A preview night will be Thursday, Nov. 10, 4-6 p.m. The exhibition continues Friday, Nov. 11, 1o a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

BlackBird Frame & Art is at 365 Merrimon Ave. For more information, go to avl.mx/c4w.

Sew what?

A year after Sew Co. moved to a space in the River Arts District, founder Libby O’Bryan figured it was time to share its work with the people of Asheville.

Sew Co. and its in-house clothing brand Rite of Passage will host a Makers Market on Saturday, Nov. 12, and Sunday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at 240 Clingman Ave. Extension.

“We thought the weekend of the RAD Studio Stroll would be a great

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IN THE LAND OF SUBMARINES: Late animator Ron Campbell worked on “The Beatles” cartoon series and the feature film Yellow Submarine in the 1960s. Photo by Nick Follger time for our team to gain exposure to an art-going audience,” Bryant explains.

The market will feature items made

by Sew Co. and Rite of Passage workers, including bags and accessories by Leigh Hilbert; jewelry and accessories by Meri Hannon; hand-braided goods and cyanotypes by Zee Ship; illustrated patches, bandanas, stickers and pins by Beka Addison; and photography by Anne Gerhardt.

Rite of Passage’s newly released fall collection also will be on display “We feel so grateful to have such a skilled and creative group working with us,” Bryant says. “We want to help foster that creativity, drive and craftsmanship further in new ways.”

Bryant founded Sew Co. in 2010 as a cut-and-sew manufacturer with socially responsible and unconventional business concepts. She was motivated by a desire to preserve the skill of sewing and a domestic manufacturing economy as thousands of textile jobs were shipped overseas.

The business operated out of Oriole Mill in Hendersonville for a decade but made the move to RAD after the mill shut down during the COVID19 pandemic.

“This is our first Makers Market, but we hope it’s the start of many to come,” she says.

For more information, visit avl.mx/c4z.

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Ridge Parkway for more than 30 years and Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 20. But he has gained a new appreciation for the beauty of America’s two most visited national park sites over the last few years.

“When COVID shut down the country along with most of my business operations, it freed me up to spend more time exploring and photographing both parks,” he says. “Along the way, I made surprising and fascinating discoveries.”

The result is two books of Graham’s photographs, Blue Ridge Parkway: A Magnificent Journey and Great Smoky Mountains: A Magnificent National Park. The hardcover books, Graham’s first in nine years, are each 80 pages and include images of sunrises, spring wildflowers, wildlife, fall colors and more.

Some of the photographs are accompanied by short essays that started as Facebook posts by Graham. The brief social media posts generated genuine engagement with his followers, he explains, making them a natural fit for the book.

“I hope viewers develop a great appreciation for these locations and are inspired to experience them in person,” he says. “Though I have photographed other destinations throughout North America, these two locations remain closest to my home and to my heart.”

For more information or to purchase the books, go to avl.mx/c4y.

Making an impression ARTSVILLE Collective at Marquee in the River Arts District will host Impressed: Print, Paint, Dye, Repeat through Sunday, Jan. 22.

The holiday group exhibition will feature hand-crafted gifts by 10 artists, including pop contemporary artist Daryl Slaton, painter Cynthia Llanes, glass blower Christian Hessler, paper sculptor Leo Monahan and mixed media artists Lynn Bregman Blass and Sarah St. Laurent. Four artists sponsored by Local Cloth will show scarves, lamps, books, bags, clothes and neckties made using dyed and printed paper and cloth.

ARTSVILLE Collective, a joint partnership of Sand Hill Artists Collective and Crewest Studios/LA, sponsors discussion groups, podcasts, blogs, parties and events.

Marquee is at 36 Foundy St. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.5 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, go to avl.mx/c53.

Under the big top Hurray, hurray, step right up! The circus is in town.

Venardos Cirus has pitched its tent at Asheville Outlets for a series of performances through Sunday, Nov. 20.

The animal-free circus is held in a custom-made classic red-and-white striped big top with an intimate feel and limited seating. Created by former Ringling Bros. Ringmaster Kevin Venardos, the circus features a cast of aerialists, acrobats, comedians, jugglers, contortionists and daredevils as well as Broadway-style opening and closing routines.

Venardos has been touring the U.S. since its debut at the Los Angeles County Fair in 2014 and counts Asheville among its annual stops.

“Guests can expect to be transported back in time to the center ring of a centuries-old tradition, but one that has been reinvented for the next generation,” the circus says in a press release.

Ticket prices range from $16.50$27. Showtimes are WednesdaysSaturdays at 7 p.m. with additional shows Saturdays and Sundays at 1 and 4 p.m.

The Asheville Outlets are at 800 Brevard Road. To buy tickets, go to avl.mx/ala.

Holiday Market The Enka-Candler Tailgate Market will present its third annual Holiday

Market Saturday, Nov. 12, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 13 at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at 1465 Sand Hill Road in the parking lot of the Small Business Center at A-B Tech Enka Campus.

The outdoor market will feature local art, food, body care goods and gifts.

For more information, go to avl.mx/c52.

Wolfe winners Nine local students in grades four12 were winners in the Thomas Wolfe Memorial’s annual “Telling Our Tales” Student Writing Competition.

Students submitted their own work of fiction inspired by Wolfe’s 1941

MOVIE REVIEWS Local reviewers’ critiques of new films include: ARMAGEDDON TIME: Writer/ director James Gray’s semiautobiographical, 1980-set drama features one of the year’s best ensembles — including Anthony Hopkins as the family’s wise but ailing patriarch. Grade: A — Edwin Arnaudin TICKET TO PARADISE: Julia Roberts and George Clooney remind us why they’re two of our best movie stars in this silly romcom about divorcees who try to break up their daughter’s surprise wedding in Bali. Grade: B — Edwin Arnaudin

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

short story “Return of the Prodigal: The Thing Imagined.”

The winners, in order from first to third in the elementary school category, were Nayelli Hoelscher, Hendersonville Elementary, fifth grade; Ella Charlotte Oblinsky, Bruce Drysdale Elementary, fifth grade; and River Ruiz, Hendersonville Elementary, fifth grade.

Middle school honors, in order from first to third, went to Laura Hunt, Asheville Christian Academy, seventh grade; Lillie Thompson,

Rugby Middle, eighth grade; and Samuel Steed, Rugby Middle, eighth grade.

In the high school category, the winners, from first to third, were Cheyenne Sherman, East Henderson, 12th grade; Graham Neelon, School of Inquiry and Life Sciences, ninth grade; and Lola Houston, Hendersonville, 11th grade.

For more information about the contest, visit avl.mx/81k.

— Justin McGuire X

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CLUBLAND For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Beauty Parlor Comedy: Matt White & Friends, 7pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Survey Says, 7pm BOLD ROCK MILLS RIVER Trivia Night, 6pm FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm GRATEFUL ORGANIC DINER Open Mic, 6pm HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Well-Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith, 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Cruz Contreras (acoustic, Americana, country), 7pm • Michelle Malone Band (Americana, folk rock, blues), 8:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Latin Night Wednesdays w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8pm SALVAGE STATION Dopapod (jam band), 8pm SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. David Zoll Trio (acoustic), 5pm SILVERADOS Wednesday Night Open Jam hosted by Hamza Vandehey, 6pm SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night w/Jason DeCristofaro, 6pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/ Host Caleb Beissert, 8pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Andrew Finn Magill (acoustic), 7pm

TAKE A LOAD OFF FANNY: The Weight Band, which features members of legendary classic rock groups The Band and the Levon Helm Band, will perform at The Grey Eagle on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m. The quintet performs songs by The Band, as well as originals. Photo courtesy of Jim Weider

THE GREY EAGLE The Weight Band (ft members of The Band and Levon Helm Band), 8pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Wednesday Open Mic, 5:30pm

THE ODD Sister Kill Cycle & Mr. Lugosi (metal), 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 7pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Alvvays (alt, indie), 8pm THE SOCIAL Wednesday Night Karaoke w/LYRIC, 9pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 185 KING STREET Congdon & Co. ft Jonathan Pearlman (covers), 7pm

27 CLUB Drunken Spelling Bee, 10pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR MGB (covers, singer-songwriter), 7:30pm BLUE GHOST BREWING CO. Harry Potter Trivia, 6:30pm BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Trivia Night, 7pm

FLEETWOOD'S Istari, Tight & Scrap Metal (indie, garage, punk), 8pm GIGI'S UNDERGROUND Mr Jimmy (blues), 10pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Drayton & The Dreamboats (vintage pop), 6pm HOMEPLACE BEER CO. Cody Fair (country & rock classics), 9:30pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Tim Grimm (Americana), 7pm • Jennifer Knapp & Sarah Peacock (indie), 8:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm

THE ROOT BAR Panthertown (alt-country, rock), 6pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 8:30pm

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 185 KING STREET The Feels (roots, soul, R&B), 8pm 27 CLUB Sacrilege: Goth Party w/Avel Veeta, DJ Nato & Ash Black, 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING Andrew Wakefield (folk, rock, bluegrass), 6pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Wreckno w/NotLö (edm), 6:30pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Rum Punchlines Comedy Open Mic, 6pm

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THE OUTPOST Drip A Silver (Jerry Garcia tribute), 5pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr Jimmy (blues), 7:30pm

THE FOUNDRY HOTEL The Foundry Collective ft Pimps of Pompe (jazz, acoustic), 7pm

NOV. 9-15, 2022

THE ODD Osi and The Jupiter, US Christmas, Khandroma (neo-folk, rock), 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Two Step Two (rock), 7pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm

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THE GREY EAGLE • Darrin Hacquard (old-time, psych rock, country), 5pm • William Clark Green (country rock), 8pm

BIG PILLOW BREWING Highland Reverie (Americana, folk), 6pm BOLD ROCK MILLS RIVER Fall Concert Series: Country Pour (country), 6pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Bob Zullo (pop, rock, jazz), 3pm

CEDAR MOUNTAIN CANTEEN Jazz Night w/Jason DeCristofaro, 2pm CORK & KEG The Uptown Hillbillies (honky tonk, classic country), 8pm FLEETWOOD'S Busy Weather, Small Doses & Wolvesx4 (punk), 5pm FROG LEVEL BREWERY Alma Russ & Friends (country, folk, Appalachian roots), 6pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM • Mr. Jimmy Trio (blues), 3pm • Peggy Ratusz (blues, jazz, soul), 7pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • John Bullard: Bach, Banjos and the Hero’s Journey, 7pm • Tammy Rogers, Thomm Jutz & Mike Compton (Americana, bluegrass), 8:30pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Chris Jamison (singer-songwriter), 6:30pm MEADOWLARK MOTEL Friday Night Karaoke, 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Florencia and The Feeling (pop, funk), 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Friday, 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Magenta Sunshine (jam band), 9pm STORY PARLOR Descoladaw/Jon Charles Dwyer & Vandiver (Americana, roots, country), 7:30pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Getaway Comedy: Harrison Tweed, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE • The Black Twig Pickers (modern oldtime), 4pm • The Arcadian Wild w/Oh Jeremiah (progressive bluegrass & folk), 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL Godspeed You! Black Emperor (post-rock, ambient), 8pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Dirty Logic (Steely Dan tribute), 8pm

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Old Men of the Woods (folk, pop), 3pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Beauty Parlor Comedy: Blake Wexler, 7pm ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 8pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR The Tallboys (rock, regggae, singer-songwriter), 7:30pm BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah's Daydream (Gypsy jazz), 5:30pm BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Bluegrass Brunch, 10am BOOJUM BREWING CO. BadRabbit (alt-country/ rock), 9pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Ben Phantom (acoustic), 2pm FLEETWOOD'S Ink Swell, Socialist Anxiety & Usually (punk, psych, indie), 8pm

FROG LEVEL BREWERY Pleasantly Wild (indie/ alt, surf rock), 6pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Take Out (acoustic duo), 3pm HOMEPLACE BEER CO. Chris McGinnis (singer-songwriter), 6:30pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards (Americana), 7pm • Zoe & Cloyd (Americana, bluegrass, world), 8:30pm • Angela Perley & the Howlin' Moons (Americana, country, rock and roll), 9:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Twisted Trail (Southern rock, country), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING Justin Moyar (singer/ songwriter), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST • Kaizen (rock), 2pm

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C LU BL A N D • The Quasi Kings & Rockstead (reggae rock), 6pm

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

SALVAGE STATION The Orange Constant w/KillaKeyz (alt/indie), 8pm

305 LOUNGE & EATERY Old Men of the Woods (folk, pop), 5pm

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Brandon Holder & Toma Fuller (acoustic duo), 2pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY Old Time Jam, 5:30pm

THE GREY EAGLE Skegss (rock), 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL The California Honeydrops (blues, R&B), 9pm

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mark's House Jam and Beggar's Banquet, 3pm BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Bluegrass Brunch, 10am BOTANIST & BARREL TASTING BAR + BOTTLE SHOP Fancy Marie (alt country, honky tonk), 2pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Rick Praytor (rock, blues, jazz), 2pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Russ Wilson's Birthday Bash (jazz, Big Band), 7:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB • Bluegrass Brunch, 12pm • Traditional Irish Jam, 4pm LITTLE JUMBO Casey Driessen's Sunday Experiment (fiddle), 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. High Sierra (acoustic trio), 4pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST • Sunday Jazz Jam Brunch, 1pm • The Live Wires (jazz, blues, standards), 5pm SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Alex Krug Combo (Americana), 2pm SILVERADOS Karaoke Sunday Nights w/Lyric, 9pm THE GREY EAGLE The Soft Moon w/ Model/Actriz & Cold Choir (post-punk, alt/ indie), 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL Joe Pera (comedy), 6pm

HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB Taylor Martin's Open Mic, 6:30pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Totally Rad Trivia, 6pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Open Mic Night, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Ashevillians: A Local Comedy Showcase, 7pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Christine Havrilla (roots, folk, funk), 7:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

LITTLE JUMBO Asheville Jazz Collective, 7pm

BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm

NOBLE CIDER DOWNTOWN Freshen Up Comedy Open Mic, 6:30pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. It Takes All Kinds Open Mic Night, 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Mashup Mondays (funk, soul, jazz), 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Will Sheff, Okkervil River w/mmeadows (indie rock), 6pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Mr Jimmy at and Friends (blues), 7pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Susi Gott, Robin Bullock, Sue Richards (Celtic), 7:30pm

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15 185 KING STREET Jeff Sipe & Mike Seal (jazz, funk), 5:30pm 5 WALNUT WINE BAR The John Henrys (jazz, swing), 8pm LITTLE JUMBO Jay Sanders, Zack Page & Alan Hall (jazz), 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Early Tuesday Jam (funk), 8pm

BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Survey Says, 7pm BOLD ROCK MILLS RIVER Trivia Night, 6pm FLEETWOOD'S Shutterings, Sleeping Jesus, Rhinestone Pickup Truck (indie rock), 8pm FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm GRATEFUL ORGANIC DINER Open Mic, 6pm HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Well-Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith, 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Galvezston (surf rock and roll), 6pm • Rod Picott & Wild Ponies (Americana, folk), 7:30pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Latin Night Wednesdays w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8pm

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Purple (pop, jazz, soul), 5pm SILVERADOS Wednesday Night Open Jam hosted by Hamza Vandehey, 6pm

HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Lady and The Lovers (funk, Top 40), 6pm HOMEPLACE BEER CO. Cody Fair (country & rock classics), 9:30pm

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night w/Jason DeCristofaro, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/ Host Caleb Beissert, 8pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Karen Clardy (singer-songwriter), 7pm

PULP Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic, 8pm THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm THE FOUNDRY HOTEL The Foundry Collective ft Pimps of Pompe (jazz, acoustic), 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Rum Punchlines Comedy Open Mic, 6pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 8:30pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Andrew Finn Magill (acoustic), 7pm THE GREY EAGLE Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius w/Paul Burch (Americana), 7pm THE ODD Halloween Costume Contest, Paper Pills, Diana Superstar (punk, indie, rock), 8pm THE SOCIAL Wednesday Night Karaoke w/LYRIC, 9pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Wednesday Open Mic, 5:30pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17 ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Blue Ridge Jazzway, 7:30pm BLUE GHOST BREWING CO. Disney Trivia, 6:30pm BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Trivia Night, 7pm FLEETWOOD'S Cam Girl, Minka, Cloud City Caskets (punk), 8pm GIGI'S UNDERGROUND Mr Jimmy (blues), 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (JGB, Dead tribute, rock, jam), 6pm SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Eleanor Underhill (Americana, pop, R&B), 5pm THE ORANGE PEEL Lingua Ignota (neoclassical darkwave, industrial), 8:30pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Sultans of String w/ BJ Liederman (rumba, jazz, Middle Eastern), 7:30pm

THE SOCIAL Travers Freeway Open Jam Tuesdays, 7pm

ZILLICOAH BEER CO. Sunday Bluegrass Jam Series, 4:30pm

WAGBAR Tuesday Night Trivia With Your Dog, 6pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Tuesday Night Trivia, 7pm

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FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): When you Aries people are at your best, you are driven by impeccable integrity as you translate high ideals into practical action. You push on with tireless force to get what you want, and what you want is often good for others, too. You have a strong sense of what it means to be vividly alive, and you stimulate a similar awareness in the people whose lives you touch. Are you always at your best? Of course not. No one is. But according to my analysis of upcoming astrological omens, you now have extra potential to live up to the elevated standards I described. I hope you will take full advantage.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In my experience, you Tauruses often have more help available than you realize. You underestimate your power to call on support, and as a result, don’t call on it enough. It may even be the case that the possible help gets weary of waiting for you to summon it, and basically goes into hiding or fades away.

But let’s say that you, the lucky person reading this horoscope, get inspired by my words. Maybe you will respond by becoming more forceful about recognizing and claiming your potential blessings. I hope so! In my astrological opinion, now is a favorable time for you to go in quest of all the help you could possibly want. (P.S.: Where might the help come from? Sources you don’t expect, perhaps, but also familiar influences that expand beyond their previous dispensations.)

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Sometimes, life compels us to change. It brings us some shock that forces us to adjust. On other occasions, life doesn’t pressure us to make any shifts, but we nevertheless feel drawn to initiating a change. My guess is that you are now experiencing the latter.

There’s no acute discomfort pushing you to revise your rhythm. You could probably continue with the status quo for a while. And yet, you may sense a growing curiosity about how your life could be different. The possibility of instigating a transformation intrigues you. I suggest you trust this intuition. If you do, the coming weeks will bring you greater clarity about how to proceed.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality,” wrote ancient Roman philosopher Seneca. That’s certainly true about me. If all the terrible things I have worried about had actually come to pass, I would be unable to function. Luckily, most of my fears have remained mere fantasies. What about you, fellow Cancerian? The good news is that in the coming months, we Crabs will have unprecedented power to tamp down and dissipate the phantasms that rouse anxiety and alarm. I predict that as a result, we will suffer less from imaginary problems than we ever have before. How’s that for a spectacular prophecy?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Poet Matt Michael writes, “Sure, the way trees talk is poetry. The shape of the moon is poetry. But a hot dog is also poetry. LeBron James’ tomahawk dunk over Kevin Garnett in the 2008 NBA Playoffs is poetry. That pothole I always fail to miss on Parkman Road is poetry, too.” In accordance with current astrological omens, Leo. I’d love for you to adopt Michael’s approach. The coming days will be a favorable time to expand your ideas about what’s lyrical, beautiful, holy, and meaningful. Be alert for a stream of omens that will offer you help and inspiration. The world has subtle miracles to show you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo author Michael Ondaatje was born in Sri Lanka, but as a child moved to England and later to Canada.

His novel Running in the Family describes his experiences upon returning to his native Sri Lanka as an adult. Among the most delightful: the deluge of novel sensory sensations. On some days, he would spend hours simply smelling things. In accordance with current astrological omens, I recommend you treat yourself to comparable experiences, Virgo. Maybe you

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could devote an hour today to mindfully inhaling various aromas. Tomorrow, meditate on the touch of lush textures. On the next day, bathe yourself in sounds that fill you with rich and interesting feelings. By feeding your senses like this, you will give yourself an extra deep blessing that will literally boost your intelligence.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You evolved Libras understand what’s fair and just. That’s one of your potencies, and it provides a fine service for you and your allies. You use it to glean objective truths that are often more valuable than everyone’s subjective opinions. You can be a stirring mediator as you deploy your knack for impartiality and evenhandedness. I hope these talents of yours will be in vivid action during the coming weeks. We non-Libras need extra-strong doses of this stuff.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Here are tips on how to get the most out of the next three weeks: 1. Be a master of simmering, ruminating, marinating, steeping, fermenting and effervescing.

2. Summon intense streams of self-forgiveness for any past event that still haunts you. 3. Tap into your forbidden thoughts so they might heal you. Discover what you’re hiding from yourself so it can guide you. Ask yourself prying questions.

4. Make sure your zeal always synergizes your allies’ energy, and never steals it. 5. Regularly empty your metaphorical trash so you always have enough room inside you to gleefully breathe the sweet air and exult in the earth’s beauty.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I straddle reality and the imagination,” says Sagittarian singer-songwriter Tom Waits. “My reality needs imagination like a bulb needs a socket.

My imagination needs reality like a blind man needs a cane.” I think that’s great counsel for you to emphasize in the coming weeks.

Your reality needs a big influx of energy from your imagination, and your imagination needs to be extra well-grounded in reality. Call on both influences with maximum intensity!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sometimes, Capricorn, you appear to be so calm, secure, and capable that people get a bit awed, even worshipful. They may even get caught up in trying to please you. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily — as long as you don’t exploit and manipulate those people. It might even be a good thing in the coming weeks, since you and your gang have a chance to accomplish big improvements in your shared resources and environment.

It would take an extra push from everyone, though. I suspect you’re the leader who’s best able to incite and orchestrate the extra effort.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): If you have been posing as a normal person for too long, I hope you will create fresh outlets for your true weird self in the weeks ahead. What might that entail? I’ll throw out a couple of ideas. You could welcome back your imaginary friends and give them new names like Raw Goodness and Spiral Trickster. You might wear fake vampire teeth during a committee meeting or pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster to send you paranormal adventures. What other ideas can you imagine about how to have way too much fun as you draw more intensely on your core eccentricities?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I suspect you will have metaphorical resemblances to a duck in the coming weeks: an amazingly adaptable creature equally at home on land, in the water and in the air. You will feel comfortable anywhere you choose to wander. And I’m guessing you will want to wander farther and wider than you usually do. Here’s another quality that you and ducks will share: You’ll feel perfectly yourself, relaxed and confident, no matter what the weather is.

Whether it’s cloudy or shiny, rainy or misty, mild or frigid, you will not only be unflappable — you will thrive on the variety. Like a duck, Pisces, you may not attract a lot of attention. But I bet you will enjoy the hell out of your life exactly as it is.

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BY ROB BREZSNY

REAL ESTATE & RENTALS | ROOMMATES | JOBS | SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENTS | CLASSES & WORKSHOPS | MIND, BODY, SPIRIT MUSICIANS’ SERVICES | PETS | AUTOMOTIVE | XCHANGE | ADULT Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember the Russian proverb: “Doveryai, no proveryai,” trust but verify. When answering classified ads, always err on the side of caution. Especially beware of any party asking you to give them financial or identification information. The Mountain Xpress cannot be responsible for ensuring that each advertising client is legitimate. Please report scams to advertise@mountainx.com RENTALS APARTMENTS FOR RENT

2 BED 2 BATH APARTMENT NEAR BILTMORE PARK (ASSUME LEASE) Assume lease of 2 bed 2 bath corner ground floor apartment.

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EMPLOYMENT GENERAL 2ND SHIFT WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS - PICKERS & PACKERS AFG Distribution is looking for several fulltime employees to join our growing shipping & receiving departments.

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FOOD MANUFACTURING FACILITY HIRING MULTIPLE POSITIONS Dover Foods Manufacturing facility in Mills River NC is hiring for multiple positions including Production Associates and Bending Operators. The hours for these positions are currently Monday- Thursday 7:00 am-3:30 pm and Fridays 6:00 am-2:30 pm. Positions are full time offering benefits and a sign-on bonus. Applications can be placed online under the

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ART/CRAFT FAIRS CRAFT SHOW AT LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER There will be a craft show at the Leicester Community Center featuring local crafters November 12, 2022. Come do your Christmas shopping with us. 9AM-3PM.

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT COUNSELING SERVICES ASTRO-COUNSELING Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions.

Stellar Counseling Services.

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Give online to 48 local nonprofits & get stuff back!

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THE N EW Y OR K TI M ES C ROSSWORD P UZ Z LE edited by Will Shortz | No. 1005

ACROSS

We have a massive selection — from wooden and floor puzzles to 5,000 piece jigsaws!

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1 Home to the Viking Ship Museum 5 No longer on deck 10 Many a viral tweet 14 It means nothing to the French 15 Ancestor of a termite, surprisingly 16 Egglike shape 17 Common horse breed 18 Group at the top 19 Toy whose name is derived from the Danish for “play well” 20 Memoirs of a dance contest champion?

23 De-wrinkles 24 “Challenge accepted!”

28 Brushing, flossing and avoiding sugar?

32 “___ a lot!”

(Dracula’s expression of gratitude?)

33 Once named 34 Conceited 35 D.M.V. issuance 36 L.G.B.T. History Mo. 39 Rainbow’s path 41 Sch. whose student newspaper is The Daily Reveille 42 Brazilian greetings 44 Schnauzer sound 46 Gives a boost 48 Disney classic without any extra features?

52 Word with rock or soap 53 Alternative to a tweet?

54 What Mary might have had if she were into Italian sports cars?

60 11-Down’s firstborn 63 Work period 64 Animated type, for short 65 Personal space on the internet, maybe 66 Stars that are blowing up?

67 Actress/inventor Lamarr

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68 Hamlet, for one 69 It’s hot 70 River of Hades

DOWN 1 Like Freud’s first stage of development 2 Assistant with many different voices 3 Flip (through) 4 Peabody-winning radio show about spirituality 5 One side of a playground argument 6 Refused 7 Leaves hanging, as a date 8 Drama starter?

9 Classic creature feature about giant irradiated ants 10 ___ cocktail 11 First lady 12 Inc. or Ms. 13 “Mr. Blue Sky” band, to fans 21 Other side of a playground argument 22 Ballpoint brand 25 Beats by Dre logo, essentially 26 San Luis ___ 27 Like intl. addresses, to Americans

28 Get promoted despite poor performance 29 As a backup 30 Gossip, slangily 31 What’s-___-name 32 Sprinting star at the Seoul Olympics, familiarly 37 “Silent” prez 38 Singsong syllable 40 Boorish sort 43 Mystical “Doctor” of Marvel Comics 45 Invented 47 They know how you feel 49 Chum 50 One who likes watching Ducks or Penguins, say 51 Cut down on the calories

55 “If winning ___ everything, why do they keep score?”: Vince Lombardi 56 Wielder of the hammer Mjölnir 57 Champagne name 58 Soul’s partner 59 Deep black 60 Compound found in marijuana, for short 61 “___ peanut butter sandwiches!”

(The Amazing Mumford’s catchphrase on “Sesame Street”) 62 Charged particle

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